Iris's Guardian

by Lisa Daniels

  The captain nodded, then strode out of the room.

  Chadwick was looking at the ground as Heath turned his attention to the attendant. “Chadwick, I have something very important to ask of you.”

  The young man’s expression was of clear concern, but the man looked the shifter in the eye as he gave a curt nod.

  “I would like for you to get Velius into a raft and make sure he does not get hurt again. He was just attacked by some noble half-wit who didn’t have a clue who he is or what kind of world he is now entering. But once you get Velius home, I want you to give this to his father to contact me.” Heath flicked his wrist and a small piece of paper appeared in his hand. Kerensa still rested in his arms, so the shifter was not able to stretch his arm far.

  “How did you-” Chadwick looked down like the man had just used magic. His hand finally reached out to take it, but it was clear the man was apprehensive.

  “I have plenty of these. Tell him it is about the deplorable behavior of one Stinton Entrengo Brattle. He will know how to get in touch with me.”

  Chadwick looked up at Heath, then back at the paper, “How can you be so sure?”

  Heath smiled, “Because Sir Gwavas is a legend among humans.” The shifter moved his arms a little under Kerensa as if he were debating whether to actually let her go. Chadwick looked surprised at the mention of his employer’s name, but one look at Kerensa’s face and the servant knew how the stranger knew the identity of the young woman.

  Kerensa frowned, “What if I do not want to go?”

  Heath looked down at her, “There is no reason to debate a hypothetical.”

  “Then let me be plain. I do not want to go.”

  Heath raised his brow, his eyes searching hers, “Are you saying you want to go down with the ship?”

  Kerensa sighed, “No, I want to stay with you.”

  “My lady!” Chadwick said, his voice unable to hide his anxiety at her words.

  Heath simply shook his head, “That would be unwise.”

  “I feel safer with you.”

  Whatever Heath had thought she might say, that was not among them. His head leaned to the side, “Why? Were you not frightened of me in your cabin?”

  “Not nearly as much as I was of being alone with Brattle. I admit there was something terrifying about you, but it was not directed at me.”

  “But it could just as easily have been.”

  Kerensa smiled up at him, “Not so easily.”

  Heath couldn’t help but give her a small smile in return. “Do you think you know me so well.” Suddenly the smile fell and he shook his head, “I cannot take you with me. That would be irresponsible and dangerous.”

  “I don’t think you would call me either of those either, yet you have worked with me to improve me.”

  “That is not the same thing. Not by a long shot. If you are thinking that you will learn something you can document about the Aeolians, you are very much mistaken.”

  Kerensa frowned at him, “I hadn’t even thought of that. However, this could be an opportunity-”

  Suddenly she was shifted in his arms. Looking up into his sparkling eyes, Kerensa saw that he was not pleased with her words, “I just told you that you would not be able to do that, and you ignore me? Will you not at least pretend to be interested in self-preservation over acquiring knowledge. For the love of the gods, what good will it do if you learn something while your brains are being dashed out.”

  Kerensa frowned at him, “I am not staying out of scholarly interest. I am staying because I don’t think that you should do this alone.”

  Heath looked at her for a moment, his mouth open. He looked away from her as he tried to process her words, “And just what do you think a tiny human can do to fight one of the cruelest warriors on the planet?”

  “As someone who has spent nearly two decades immersed in the study of wars, I think I may be of some help. Do you honestly think that you can face them alone?” Out of the corner of her eye, Kerensa thought she saw a familiar haze. Her head moved a little so that she could look at the area with part of her glasses. Her peripheral vision was horrible.

  “I will not put you in unnecessary danger. Especially as you seem to have quite the penchant for harm all on your own.”

  Most of her attention was still on Heath as she took in his reply, “You still did not answer my question.”

  “I don’ see that it is necessary. You are like a child pitching a fit for something, and I will not give in to whatever your infantile understandings of the world are.” He was frowning at her when he spoke, his increasingly clouded features becoming scarier as he did.

  It reminded Kerensa of her mother after a long day of trying unsuccessfully to train Kerensa, “Well, it is a damn good thing that my infantile understanding was around earlier tonight when you and Cyprian were missing one of the most obvious diversions in the history of war.”

  “You shouldn’t have been there.”

  “You shouldn’t be trying to take on a whole army of demonic warriors on your own.”

  “Who said anything about demonic warriors!” Chadwick finally entered the conversation, his grasp of their argument only paper thin. This was the one thing that he did know.

  Heath held Kerensa away from his body, “No one did until your master opened his big mouth. Take him and leave.”

  Chadwick paused as Kerensa glared at him, “If you take me out of his arms, I will never speak to you again Chadwick.”

  The poor man looked between them unsure what his best course of action was.

  Suddenly Kerensa turned an angry look to the corner of the room, “And just what is that hanging out in the corner of the room? Someone please tell me that my eyes are going bad, because it looks to me like we have some kind of distortion in this room.”

  Both of the men turned their heads to follow where her eyes were directed. Chadwick began to rub his eyes, but Heath pulled Kerensa back to his body and bowed.

  A clear voice from the distortion spoke, “The human is right, Heath. You need to take her with you.”

  Heath stood up and looked at the moving air as it approached them, “Why would you say that? The Aeolians are attacking. It will take everything I have to-”

  The air murmured, “You know as well as we that you will not survive the encounter. Take her with you.”

  Still not ready to concede, the shifter tried to argue his point, “What makes you think that I will survive if I have him along with me?” He lifted Kerensa up for emphasis.

  “If you take her with you to your destination, we will take care of the Aeolians.”

  “Why would you do that?” The surprise was evident on his face, “Demons never get involved in the affairs of other species.”

  “We are repaying a favor.”

  “You intentionally involved a non-demon in your own affairs?” The look of shock on Heath’s face was impossible to understand, but Kerensa was trying to take in everything that was being said and the shifter’s reactions. In all of their time together, she had seldom seen him surprised.

  “She had a very clever way of finding out what our fiery brethren were up to.”

  “Do you mean this boy?” He shifted Kerensa in his attempt to find out who had helped the demons.

  Kerensa wondered if she should speak up, but the light breeze in the room suggested that the wisps were laughing. “No, the sorceress.”

  Kerensa did not need to look at Heath to know that this was a potentially dangerous bit of news. She shivered and it had nothing to do with the breeze or the cool feel of Heath.

  “There is a sorceress? Alive? What are the risks?”

  “The last time we saw, she was under the care of Calixto, so I dare say that her existence is no longer a risk to anyone.”

  Heath was trying to process everything, “Calixto? The head of the Volsci clan? Has he trapped her? And how is your dealing with the Aeolians paying her back? What is her interest here? Why wouldn’t she use the repayment to set her
self free?”

  The air shifted rapidly, “You question as if you were still 50. How young you still are.” Kerensa thought she detected a hint of pride and interest in the words. The beings continued to speak. “She is with him by choice, and the last I saw, it appeared she was the one in control.”

  “Of Calixto? We are talking about the same shifter? Tall? Imposing? Statuesque, including that ice-cold heart of his? The guy who almost single-handedly reduced the number of dragon attacks in Volsci to practically zero? That Calixto? ”

  There was a definite laugh, “We have heard of no other. He was rather surprised when we last saw the couple. Likely because of the position she had him in but it could have been the fact that she had tired him out.”

  “Calixto and a sorceress. Now that is a strange thing to imagine. And here I had expected him to refuse to mate forever, and defy logic by living that long.” Heath shrugged, “I can’t imagine anyone more capable of handling a sorceress though. Still, what is your interest here? Why the Aeolians?”

  “The sorceress’ somewhat vague idea of how to be repaid, but she is letting us determine how to get there. After observing you and Kerensa, it is obvious that taking her with you is the best way to achieve our goal. And it comes with the added pleasure of reminding the Aeolians that they do not own the waters.”

  “Kerensa?” Heath looked confused.

  Kerensa spoke up, “Why is she interested in me?”

  The air stirred, “I would assume because you met the sorceress and she liked you. We’ve been watching you for a few days, and you do seem like the kind of human she would take an interest in for good reasons.”

  The young woman could feel Heath’s eyes boring into her as she objected, “I don’t know any sorceress! If I did, I would probably have already begged to be allowed to study her.”

  There was a chuckle from Heath as the demons answered, “And her being a sorceress, Bree likely introduced herself as something else. Ah, by the look on your face, that must have been it.”

  Kerensa shook her head trying to hide her own shock, “I still don’t understand why she would want repayment by helping me.”

  The air stirred, “It’s not like Bree explains her whims and desires to us. Nor would we want her to given what she and Calixto were up to when last we saw them. Heath, take the young woman with you, and we will take care of everything else. Chadwick,” the man looked afraid as someone finally remembered he was there. “Go help the captain, and make sure Kerensa’s father learns about Stinton. We are certain the sorceress would wish that, and we are interested to see how that works out as well.” With that, the demons were gone.

  Chapter 8

  Shifting Intentions

  As soon as the demons were gone, Heath looked at Kerensa, “You met the first known sorceress in more than 200 years and didn’t even realize it?”

  Kerensa frowned at him in response.

  “And she liked you? Well, actually, that part isn’t so much of a surprise. You are quite likeable.” His eyes were warm as he gave her a smile.

  The young woman began to blush. Chadwick stepped toward them.

  “Ah, yes, Chadwick, I guess given what we learned, it would be best for you to get moving and see how the captain is doing. Don’t forget to deliver the note to your master so that the attack can get the attention it deserves once everyone is safe.”

  Chadwick looked at Kerensa, his eyes sad. “I guess this is the part where I leave you. I do not know if that is the best course, but I am not going to argue with everyone. I wish you luck and I humbly apologize for not having been there when you needed me most.”

  “Don’t worry about it Chadwick,” she smiled at him, “I am excited for a chance to experience things I could never have imagined.”

  “No, my lady. I mean about what happened in your cabin this evening.”

  “That was not your fault.”

  “But you were put in my care for this trip, and I have constantly failed you.” The man’s eyes looked moist as he watched her.

  Stretching out a hand, Kerensa patted the servant on his check. “Come here Chadwick.”

  The man stepped close to her. She leaned forward and gave him a gentle kiss on his lips. Forgetting himself, the servant wrapped his hands around her, and moved closer to her. For that moment, they ignored everything else.

  When he finally stepped back, Chadwick had a sad smile, “You always were too sweet for your family. I am sorry that I could not have been the man to deserve you.”

  Kerensa shook her head, “It wasn’t about deserving. It was about situation, and you could not see past it. I am just sorry that I could not have done better for you.”

  “You could not possibly have done better for me or been better to me. I will forever be indebted to you.”

  The young woman patted his cheek, “You talk like we will never see each other again. I am in perfectly capable hands, so you had best not go getting all depressed – you will see me again. And when you do, I hope that you will be happy because you deserve it. Let go of your past so that you can move forward.”

  The servant leaned forward and placed his lips on her forehead. Without another word, he strode out of the room.

  Kerensa sighed as Chadwick disappeared around the corner. When she finally remembered where she was, the young woman ran a hand up under her hat, knocking it off. “Oh, geez,” her hair spilled down her shoulders and for the first time since her talk with Chadwick, Kerensa looked at Heath.

  The look on his face was one of confusion, “I thought…I mean, aren’t you…don’t you…never mind.” There was a faint blush on the man’s cheeks, “I have no idea what just happened, but that will have to wait.”

  “I think I am more confused than you. What in Letera were we speaking to? Was Bree really the one who sent them, because - oh gods, yes, that does make sense. She was the one who convinced me to come on this voyage, and-”

  “Stop!” Heath’s voice was firm and louder than normal, “We do not have time for this, we have to get out of here. The Sentil, or the wind demons we were just talking to are going to stop the Aeolians long enough to let everyone escape. I’m not quite sure what I should do with you because I had not planned on brining a m-hmmm,” he paused and looked at Kerensa with a curious expression, “a human with me. That will pose a unique challenge.”

  “I do apologize for imposing, but it makes me feel better to know that you are not going to be in danger now.”

  “What makes you think that?” Heath’s eyebrow was raised as he looked at her.

  “Well, won’t you be? You won’t be fighting the Aeolians.”

  He smiled at her, “They were hardly the worst part of my mission, they were just unexpected. Had I remembered that they were present, I would have taken care of them some time ago, but they have had too much time now and I cannot hope to stop them and protect the people on this ship.”

  “Why do you want to help the people aboard the ship? I thought shifters did not like humans.”

  “How many shifters have you known?”

  “Um, none as far as I know,” her voice was faint.

  “Given whose daughter you are, I’ve no doubt that you have known many shifters. It’s not like we go around introducing ourselves by our species any more than you go around announcing your gender.”

  Kerensa nodded, “It’s not quite an accurate comparison since humans tend to make sure gender is obvious, but I understand what you mean.”

  “Clearly you have not thought much about yourself when you say that.”

  “I am an exception,” Kerensa said with a shrug.

  “Is that so?” He looked down at her a little icily, “Considering I’ve met hundreds of human women who dress like men, you are not so unique as you may think.”

  Kerensa frowned, “Is dressing like a man common? I’ve never heard of anyone who did it. Oh, actually I guess Bree did it.”

  Heath began walking toward a different exit than the captain and Chadwick took,
“I dare say you know how annoying it is to be seen for your gender, species, or other physical attribute over who you actually are. In fact, that fact is somewhat more pronounced after what I just learned.”

  Kerensa looked up at him, “What is that supposed to mean? What did you just learn?”

  Heath’s eyes looked down at her for a moment. They looked uncertain and Kerensa thought she saw a little fear in them, “That is something I will have to deal with later.”

  “Uh?”

  Heath pushed open a door and they were immediately blasted by a cold wind. Kerensa immediately put her face in Heath’s chest.

  “Are you cold?” His arms pulled her close to him.

  “Are you not?” She looked up into his face.

  The man shook his head, “I do not get cold. But if this bothers you, then we will need to get you something else for the trip. I have something in my quarters and it is closer.”

  Several people rushed past them, but none stopped to say anything to the pair as they returned to Heath’s cabin.

  As soon as they were inside, Heath closed the door and placed the young woman on the bed. “Wait right there.” There was a sternness in his voice that she had only heard him use on others. Kerensa watched his back as the shifter pulled things out of a chest. He quickly closed it as he pulled a long, furry coat from the depths.

  “It looked like you had a lot of valuable stuff in there. It is a shame that you have to leave it behind.”

  Heath looked at the chest as he approached her, “Not at all. I just need to ask Cyprian to get it for me later. He won’t be happy, but he owes me after everything I’ve done for him.” The young woman had no idea how to respond to that, so she let the subject drop as the shifter approached her. There was no way she was going to ask Heath in his current mood how the chest could be retrieved from the bottom of the ocean.

  His movements were quick and efficient as he returned to Kerensa and placed the coat around her shoulders. The shifter’s eyes were on the pendant fastening it, his face within a few inches from her own. Heath had been acting strange since the appearance of the demons, but Kerensa could not understand why.