Turning to the maps, I studied them again.
If I could just find whatever this place was, I was sure we'd get some answers.
A dozen small square rooms were arranged around a large rectangle, each with names scribbled inside. Mages who worked there, perhaps?
I'd just never heard of a mage library on the mainland.
If it were accurate, though, the entrance would be somewhere near here.
Maybe it was closer to the cliff? I strode over and looked around. Except for the small columns jutting out of the ground occasionally through the clearing, that tower and the surrounding grotto were all that remained.
"My lord, be careful!" Riarlo's voice echoed in my skull as he swooped in and gripped on to my shoulder, talons pressing into the padding there.
"Did you find anything on your hunt?" I asked, taking a few steps back until his grip relaxed.
He bobbed his head. "There has been a recent resurgence of twisted creatures according to the fleiral pack I spoke with. There were also some gremlyns and an intriguing human in the cove by the fort. I tried speaking with the vrytra, but they just spoke nonsense."
I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes as I peered at the ocean again. "What do you mean nonsense?"
"Something about their queen. But it's all jumbled in crying and moaning, so I'm not sure."
"Where did you see them?"
He flapped his four wings a few times and then dipped his head towards an area beyond the bridge that looked treacherous even from here. Stone columns peaked out from the ocean, and white crests crashed around them. Most of it was blurry from this distance, though. Perhaps if I'd brought my magnifying spectacles, I'd have been able to make them out …
"I should offer help," I said, as I dropped my shielding and reached out. They were too far away, though.
Damn. Perhaps I could swim from one of the coves along the coast? A few seemed to have somewhat accessible beaches.
"NO, my lord." Riarlo's words stopped my thought. "Please? It's too dangerous. The entire sea floor is full of ruins. The only way out there would be to swim, and we both know you aren't the best at that."
Gods. I'd never live that one incident down, would I? "I was training! I was SUPPOSED to pretend to drown."
"That's what you say, but Jaiel agrees with me."
Damn that Jaiel. He'd even gotten to my revyn! Was no one safe from his Fae charms?
"My lord, we really should head back. The storm is worsening."
"What did I say about the ‘my lord' bit? None of that while we're here. I'm supposed to be a Reaper this time." I looked up at the clouds, then back down at the ocean, and over at the ruins, "Look. You can head home if you'd like, but I won't have another chance to explore until later this week. I'm so close to figuring this out, I can feel it."
Riarlo nudged his head against the side of mine and trilled twice, flapping his wings insistently. "I really don't think that's a good idea." His golden eyes spun agitatedly. "What would your grandmother say?"
Ahh. He was playing the grandmother card? He must actually be concerned.
I looked back over my shoulder, towards the ocean and the mist-shrouded island in the distance. "I'm an adult. It doesn't matter what she'd say." My chest ached at the thought of my home, but I pushed it away, forcing a smirk instead. "Besides, I'm positive she'd understand. She always said I was meant for more fun than a stuffy chieftainship."
"I'm not sure that's what she —" The revyn broke off abruptly as another bolt of lightning shot overhead, quickly chased by the rumble of thunder, and the winds picked up sharply. It was getting worse. " — really. We should go, my lord."
I looked at the tower again. It was beautiful in the grey tinged storm light, stones darkening with falling rain.
But Riarlo was correct. We'd have to come back another day.
Taking a deep breath, I slipped my notebook into my pack, then considered the ocean and waves slamming against the cliff.
A sudden cracking sound had me looking to my left and stepping back from the edge as a giant piece of stone wall fell into the ocean.
What secrets were already lost to erosion like that? How many more would be lost after today's storm?
A loud rumble and a shudder in the ground beneath my feet made my heart lurch.
Fuck. I turned to run. Riarlo let go of my shoulder and leaped into the air.
"MOVE!" His scream rang inside my mind as the world around me lit up.
Then I was falling, the cliff beneath me no longer stable, my panicked cry foreign to my own ears.
I tried to reach out, to grab something, but my hands met open air.
My vision tightened to a single speck — the cliff edge moving farther away.
Then it all stopped.
Pain shot through my body like a jolt of lightning, and the world went dark.
7
Kaiya
I walked quickly, forcing the simmering anger in my stomach to stay contained for just a bit longer. Clouds rolled across the sky, and a few raindrops fell to further soak the cobbles of the surrounding road.
I ignored them.
Clenching my jaw, I put my head down and walked faster. I should head home now, but if I took a shortcut through the forest instead of the bridge, I could make it to the ruins at the edge of our estate, my haven, without running into anyone I knew.
I'd be safe there to let all these emotions free without reproach.
My heart throbbed in my chest, and I walked even faster. Each step was a punch to the ground, an outlet for the anger simmering inside of me.
Frustrated tears burned at the back of my eyes, but I brushed them away.
To think — that woman had dared to first insult my aunt and then to insinuate I'd be better off in her world!?!
Her world with intricate gowns and lavish Balls that served no purpose. Where words spoken rarely meant words intended. Where women were married off to the highest bidder with no concern for their own desires or safety.
No. The thought alone made my blood boil.
And, to think, my lack of response had made it sound like I agreed!
I'd wanted to scream and rage and tell her just how wrong she was. But I just stood there, curtsying and scraping while she inspected me like an animal at auction.
My fists clenched, nails biting into my palms, and I walked as fast as I could. Fast enough to outrun my emotions.
Why did she hate us so much, anyway? There were other poor people in our town, yet she consistently went out of her way to make our lives a living hell.
Finally, the forest, with its dark and tangled depths, loomed directly in front of me. I heaved a sigh of relief.
The ruins poked above the trees, and I walked faster. If I could get there, I could think in peace for a bit. Aunt Grace would probably kill me for staying out in the rain, but she'd understand when I explained the situation.
Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, I shifted my pack and ran, booted feet moving as fast as possible until I reached the first worn column. I slipped into a collapsed portion and slumped against the remnants of a statue, letting the sound of water crashing on the cliffs outside calm me.
I ran my fingers over the etched words in the stone, the Druid and the Drake. How many other people had been here and done the same thing over the years? People in similar or worse situations to mine.
It had been the start to my interest in the legend, and it felt fitting that it was also the end.
How had we gotten to this? I looked down at the pack of supplies — fabric, ribbons, thread, and needles. We'd come that close to not being able to pay our debt. My head throbbed. Without the supplies, Aunt Grace couldn't sew, and if she couldn't sew, we'd have no income to pay for our home or to repay the debt.
Gods, Uncle Calix would have been horrified to see us like this.
We always said it would end once we paid off the debt, but this was the third year and it didn't look to end anytime soon. Lady Ellingsworth a
lways had some additional fee to add on, and we never made quite enough during the Season to set us up for the next year.
The rain picked up outside, mimicking the pain inside my chest, and I rested my chin on my knees, letting my mind drift … imagining a life where I'd never gone off to explore that day.
One where Uncle Calix was still alive, and we were still happy.
A low voice filtered through the storm. I peeked through a hole in the stone wall but saw nothing.
Perhaps it was just in my head …
Just as I settled back, the muffled sound came again. The storm masked whatever the person was saying, but it was clearly coming from near the cliffs.
It seemed my pity party was over. I didn't need someone stumbling in on me moping here.
I stood up slowly, wiped my wet cheeks, stretched my stiff limbs, and shook out the tingles that had overtaken them as I listened for more sounds.
This was why we had signs up everywhere telling people not to trespass. But of course people didn't listen.
I couldn't just leave them out there, though.
Groaning, I slipped my pack back on and stepped out of the shelter of the ruins.
A masculine scream tore through the forest, and my heart sank.
Feet flying, I broke into a run, dodging around fallen stones and new tree growth. Gods damn it … they had better be okay!
8
Kaiya
The scream had come from the ruins near the cliff. If the person had been exploring them when the cliff collapsed …
"I'm coming!" I yelled. Images of a broken body sprawled on the coast, waves lapping at the blood seeping from their wounds bombarded my mind. That had happened right before Uncle Calix had died, and he'd been able to help the family. Something we were no longer in a place to do.
I broke into the clearing, crumbling tower looming to my left and just beyond it — oh no. An entire copse of trees had vanished!
Heart in my throat, I ran as close to the crumbling cliff as I dared before dropping to my stomach and crawling to the edge. "Please be alive. Please, please, please."
I fought the rising panic as I reached the edge and paused, then took a deep breath and forced myself to look down.
One hundred feet down, dark waters pummeled the fallen earth and stone. And yet, somehow, a dark haired man lay sprawled on a small outcropping just fifteen feet below me.
He must have the luck of the Kings.
Relief filling me, I cupped my hands around my mouth and shouted above the storm, "Hellooooo? Can you hear me?"
No response.
"Please, sir. If you can hear me, just move your head."
Still nothing.
Stomach in knots, I examined his body as best I could from this distance, but there didn't seem to be any obvious injuries. If I could rappel down, perhaps I could get a better look.
Reaching back, I grasped my pack, heavy with fabric and ribbons for Aunt Grace, and grimaced. I'd just sold the equipment I'd need. Gods damn it.
There had to be another option!
I searched the area frantically.
Short grass covered the cliff with a few stone pillars jutting out at angles here and there.
A small tree — the only one left in the area after the collapse — stood about six feet back from the new cliff edge. It wasn't the ideal anchor, but it could work. Without rope, though, it wouldn't do me much good.
Damn!
I looked down at the man again. If he wasn't bleeding internally, perhaps it would be best for me to return to town and get help. Though that would take a while, and gods only knew how long that ledge would hold.
A revyn swooped and landed atop a stone to my right, blue feathers rustling in the wind.
My heart leaped. The revyn from the cove earlier! It had to be. But what was it doing here?
"You're just rescuing everyone today, aren't you," I cooed.
Even from this distance, its swirling golden eyes were arresting. It seemed to narrow its eyes as it cocked its head and looked down, setting the red plumage atop its head bouncing.
Part of me wanted to get closer and study it, but this wasn't the time for that. So, I forced my gaze back down to the still unconscious man and watched as a small chunk of rock broke off his outcropping and fell into the ocean below.
I needed to get down there, and fast.
A loud trilling chirp made me look back at the revyn. It sat atop the rock still, but as I watched, it shook its head sharply and bent down to peck at something beneath its curling orange talons. I froze. Was that a bag?
Perhaps it belonged to the injured man?
"Smart little revyn!" I said, moving towards the bag as fast as I dared. Perhaps it had a rope or climbing supplies inside? No one could be stupid enough to explore the area without one.
The revyn trilled again and took off over the ocean, leaving the bag behind.
I quickly grabbed it and flipped open the top, the worn leather folding gently beneath my fingers. It was stuffed full of lemon cakes! Hopefully, he had something besides food in there.
I flipped it over so the contents fell to the ground, then rummaged through the pile, carelessly tossing aside items that were of no use.
"Rope. Rope. PLEASE let there be rope!" I muttered.
At the bottom of the pile, sitting partially submerged in a puddle, was a slim stylus worn to little more than a nub and a small sketchbook with bent corners and tan stains along the edges. I grimaced. Hopefully, it wasn't too important.
No rope in sight, though. Gods be damned.
What now?
I sat back on my heels and looked around. Hidden beneath a patch of grass to my left was a small, round object covered in sculpted metal vines. It must have fallen out of the pack when I'd dumped it …
Unable to resist the pull, I grabbed it and gasped as a little pixie undulated beneath the surface of the amber crystal. Something in it tugged at me and I desperately wanted to inspect its korra, but now was not the time.
What was that man doing with an intact relic? Could he be a Reaper?
Jealousy bit at me, and I pushed it away.
I slipped the relic back in the bag and searched the outside pockets for something helpful.
"Just what do you think you're doing, little thief?" A raspy voice came from behind me. I bit my tongue to hold back the shriek bubbling inside, then withdrew the small knife from inside my sleeve and turned to face the intruder.
Sure, the knife was for exploring rather than fighting, but it was something.
Looking at the man standing before me, though, it felt extremely lacking.
He was tall — even taller than me — and scowled down at me with glinting silver eyes. His long chestnut hair fell in tangled waves around his sculpted cheekbones, strong jaw, and wide shoulders. While his clothing was obviously homemade, it was crafted well to fit his muscular body, emphasizing his strong shoulders and narrow hips. There was even a strange sort of leather plating covering his shoulders and chest. An armor of some sort? It almost reminded me of some of the design plates from the war during the Fall.
A grunt brought my attention back to the man's face.
"I'm not a thief," I said, holding the bag up. "The cliff collapsed," I motioned towards the freshly torn soil, "and a man fell with it. This is HIS."
His brows dropped as he looked past me. "Oh, it is? And who might he be?"
"How am I to know? I was simply attempting to find rope so I could rescue him."
He just cocked his head and looked down his long nose at me. "So you say. But how did you plan to get there and bring him back up?"
Gods. This man …
"What reason would I have to lie? I planned to rappel down there and get him, but instead I'm standing here wasting potentially life-saving time arguing with YOU. Are you going to help, or not?"
We stared at each other until he finally narrowed his silver eyes and pulled a coil of rope from his pack.
Triumph made me smile, but
lightning struck nearby and I motioned towards the cliff. "We need to hurry."
He grunted. "I can pull you up, but can you climb down?"
I quirked my brow and bent to unfasten my skirts. Cool air brushed the bare legs below my drawers, and my skin prickled.
If only my leathers hadn't been ruined by those damn gremlyns.
"Shouldn't I know your name before watching you undress, little thief?" The stranger's gravelly voice sent a shiver down my spine.
I rolled my eyes threw the clothes towards the tower. "Surely a man's life is more important than my bare legs? I can't very well rappel down a cliff with skirts on!"
He crossed his arms and stared at me, straight-faced, that damn rope still hanging from his hand. "Your name?"
Fine. I sighed and dropped into an awkward curtsy. "Kaiya Maderoth, at your service."
His eyes widened. "I see."
Well, what did that mean?
"And you?" I pushed. If he knew mine, the least he could do is tell me his.
Lightning arced overhead. Gods. We needed to go faster.
"Lynk."
That name …
The conversation I'd heard at the Fort earlier filtered through my mind and I stared at him, mouth agape. "You're the monster hunter!" He was attractive, to be sure, but not enough to lose your mind like the ladies of the Ridge. "Are you hunting on our land?"
He cocked a single dark brow. "There are missing people and a contract, so I'm here."
I hadn't heard about missing people, but at least he wasn't hunting the vrytra.
"Well then, Lynk … may I rescue the injured man now?" I reached for the coil of rope he held hostage. "Or do you need to know my waist size, as well?"
He tossed the coarse rope to me, and I looped it around the single remaining tree.
Gods, Aunt Grace would kill me if she knew what I was doing.
Lynk still stood there, arms crossed, and I grimaced. So much for helpful men! I'd heard all those stories of chivalrous men stepping in to save the day, but it appeared I was the chivalrous one today.
Forsaken Secrets: A slow-burn new adult fantasy romance (Isle of the Forsaken Book 1) Page 4
