Heirs of War, Crown of Flames

by Mara Valderran

  Zelene narrowed her dark eyes when Rhaya pointed the proverbial finger at her. “And Raemann is following you because what? You're so happy?”

  Rhaya shrugged and pulled Zelene from the shadows so they could resume their trek. “No, he's following me because he saw us sneak out of my room.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Because he winked at me when he saw me.”

  Zelene stopped at the edge of the courtyard and stared at the back of Rhaya's head dubiously. The Cynewards spying on them was the last thing she needed right now. Between Varrick and Solanna, Zelene didn't know how she was supposed to get any kind of privacy. She opened her mouth to lament over the lack of trust given to them, but then closed it, realizing she had probably earned it. And she was about to earn a whole lot more.

  “It's almost midnight. Bianca should be here soon.” Rhaya craned her neck, searching the area for any sign of the paion.

  “Are you sure she's coming?”

  Rhaya mulled this over for a moment before answering. “She said she would when we talked. I guess she could have changed her mind.”

  “I guess we wait.” Zelene plopped down on the ground as they lapsed into silence.

  “So…good lesson with Adelphi the other day,” Rhaya began.

  “Yeah,” Zelene agreed. Adelphi had started teaching them the basics of how magic works, and had even demonstrated how to use air as a defense. Zelene still couldn't do any of it, so it was all still theory to her. The closest she could come to using air as a defense would be to blow a raspberry in someone's face. “None of it's any match for what Kellen can do, though. Not from what Isauria's told you.”

  Rhaya watched her quizzically. “Are you planning on going one-on-one with Kellen anytime soon?”

  “No,” Zelene answered a little too quickly. Truthfully, she hadn't ruled it out just yet. Especially if the Duillaine failed to act with any information she and Rhaya were able to uncover about Ariana's whereabouts. “And anyway, none of it matters if we can't go one-on-one with anyone for practice. Maybe Adelphi would let us beat up on Tate if we asked her nice enough.”

  “Tate's not bad,” Rhaya defended softly.

  Zelene scoffed. “You've got to be kidding. He's a spy, Rhaya. That's his job.”

  “No,” Rhaya corrected, drawing out the word, “he's a treior. And his job is study Dhara and if need be help people acclimate there. Besides, you just don't like him because of all that stuff he said about you at your review.”

  Zelene's jaw dropped at the accusation and she pinched Rhaya's arm. “That is not true!” As the skeptical blue eyes turned to her, she amended, “Okay, maybe it's a little true. But you're too trusting. Enlisting Bianca is a sterling example of that.”

  “Please, Ainnir Zelene, explain to me what it is I have done that has earned your distrust,” was the scathing reply that came from behind them.

  Both girls jumped, Zelene clutching her chest and shooting a reproachful look up at the paion. “Sneaking up on me doesn't help.”

  Bianca stared down at them for a moment before drawing in a deep breath and lowering herself onto the ground in front of them. “I thought it prudent that I not announce myself to this little secret meeting of ours.” She cocked her head to focus her stern gaze on Rhaya. “Speaking of which, might we get started?”

  Rhaya nodded eagerly. “Sorry! It's just . . . this is exciting! Stealth meetings in the bushes about covert operations, going undercover . . . ”

  Zelene rolled her eyes and turned to the blonde. “Here's the deal. Rhaya told me that the Duillaine Banair said we couldn’t visit Isauria anymore. The thing is, I have a way of getting around here unnoticed. It's how I've done most of my exploring.”

  Bianca looked doubtful. “A Duillaine Ainnir wandering around Anscombe without anyone seeing you?”

  Zelene didn’t want to answer that question, but knew she had to. If they wanted Bianca’s help, then she would have to trust the paion and hope she wasn't going to regret divulging her biggest secret. “I can blend in pretty easily when I'm dressed like a Tainted. No one even so much as looks at me.”

  “Still, a Tainted wouldn't address me.”

  “No, but they might have a reason to be in the same room as you. Alone,” Rhaya pointed out innocently. “Like maybe with a certain unconscious patient?”

  Bianca's gaze shifted between the two girls with disbelief. “You think that you can just float in and out of the leigheas without anyone noticing? Don't be ridiculous. Sylvanna and Solanna come by daily, as does Nolan to ask about Isauria.”

  “I'll be careful,” Zelene insisted. “I always am. And if you put me to work, they won't even look at me. You know I'm right. Hell, I don't think they'd recognize you outside of the leigheas. No offense.”

  Bianca brushed this off, not offended in the slightest. “And what do you know of healing, Ainnir Zelene?”

  Zelene shook her head. “Just call me Zelene, okay? And I don't know anything about healing but I'm guessing one of the Tainted wouldn't. They would do the grunt work, right? And I'm pretty familiar with grunt work. Some of the families I was placed with seemed to think foster kids were akin to slave labor. So I can clean and change sheets and do any of the other crap the other servants do.”

  “And what about your lessons with Adelphi?”

  Rhaya clucked her tongue. “Please, she barely shows up for those anyway. I think the only reason she hasn't gotten in trouble for it is because they don't want her loud mouth running around Anscombe talking about how much she hates this place.” She turned her attention briefly to Zelene, who merely shrugged as if to say this was true. “See? Not a problem. So what do you think? Will you help us? This way you can tell Zelene anything significant that Isauria sees and no one's the wiser. Then we can find Ariana, the Duillaine Banair can go rescue her, and this whole mess will be over with.”

  Bianca pursed her lips and thought about this, letting the silence linger for a few moments before responding. “I will, but if we get caught, I had no idea who you really were. I'm not going to lose my position and all I've worked for because you've got it in your mind that you need to be knee deep in the middle of everything going on with Ariana.”

  “Fair enough,” Zelene agreed. “When do I start?”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Ariana and Alec had been on the move constantly for over a week. They moved swiftly, and though it was hard on her, Ariana didn't dare complain. She wanted to put as much distance as possible between them and the bodies of the Cahiran soldiers. She suspected that no matter how far they went, the ghosts of the men Alec had slaughtered to save her would somehow find their way into her dreams. The gruesome scene was another horror to add to the list of nightmares that haunted her.

  They hiked their way through the lower parts of the mountains, which meant temperatures dropped significantly. Ariana found that she much preferred to keep moving rather than stop and make camp even though the sun was setting. The cold set in once the sun disappeared and the only warmth they could find was in moving. Alec managed to steal more blankets and supplies for them on the road, but it didn't do much to stave off the chill of the mountain air. Every now and then she would start shivering and he would wrap his arm and part of his blanket around her as they walked.

  “You know,” she said through the chattering of her teeth when he did this again, “I almost expected you to run hot.”

  “What do you mean?” he asked. He rubbed his hands up and down her arms.

  “Like have a higher body temperature than normal people?” she asked, wondering if he would understand what body temperature was.

  He nodded, hearing the question in her voice. “Why would I run hot? Because I'm a different race than you?”

  “No,” she said, teeth still clacking together. “I've decided you're a werewolf. Or a shape shifter. But either way, in stories back in Dhara werewolves and shapeshifters always ran hot.”

  “I wish. And I don't change shape, so shapeshifter wo
uld hardly apply. If the creature does as its name implies, I mean.”

  She nodded, curling her arms around him while they continued to walk to try to get more warmth from their contact. “They do. Change shape, I mean. Werewolves can only shift into wolves. And generally they have to have been bitten, though some stories have made it about genetics.”

  “Genetics?” he asked, pointing out another term he wasn't familiar with.

  “Traits you inherit from your parents,” she put simply. Truthfully, she only had a vague understanding of genetics though they had touched on it in her biology class. “And yeah, it's a shame that you don't run hot. Would really make this trip through the mountains more about the scenery and less about getting the hell out of here.”

  “Well, we could stop and you could make a fire. I'd like to find a safe place to camp before the sun sets completely.”

  She stopped in her tracks and nodded to the sky ahead. “Is that smoke?”

  “Yes, and it looks like it’s right where we need to go.”

  “What are you going to do?” She asked the question hesitantly, worried about the answer. She had seen what Alec was capable of when it came to protecting her, and she didn't want to see anything close to that level of violence ever again.

  “I don't know. We could try to pass them by, or possibly go around them.”

  “Or join them.”

  He laughed, and then realized she wasn't kidding. “Are you serious? We're on the run, Ariana. How do you expect us to hide if we join up with others?”

  “By hiding in plain sight,” she answered with a shrug. “It's worth a try, at least for a little while. The Cahirans already found us once when we were on our own.”

  “And if these people recognize me for what I am, or you for your lavender eyes and birthmark? What then?”

  “Hope they want to help us because of who I am? We'll act like we're betrothed for now, and hope they buy it. You should probably let me do the talking.”

  “Very well. And tell me, my beloved, are we a happy couple, or one that's been forced together against our will?”

  “No, we're getting along right now. Check with me when we're fighting again,” she teased.

  He shook his head, bemused. “I've never even kissed a girl and I find myself suddenly—and happily—betrothed.”

  She stopped short, grimacing at him. “Are you sure you can pull this off?”

  “Please. I pulled off my role well enough when we escaped.”

  “Yes, you did. But that was doing something you were good at.”

  “Fighting with you?” he asked with a mix amusement and disbelief.

  She smirked at that. “Pretty much. Seriously though. You said you aren't capable of falling in love. How are you supposed to pretend like you are?”

  He turned her around to face him, stroking a loving finger down her cheek. “My father used to do that to my mother all the time.” His eyes sparkled as he looked down into hers with lips pursed in a sexy pout. “He would just stare at her like the world around him had disappeared.”

  Ariana swallowed hard, trying to ignore the heat from his breath as it danced across her skin. “I thought your race couldn't fall in love.”

  He ran his hand over the top of her head, letting his fingers dangle at the edges of the dark locks as he twisted them around. “No, they can. I won't be able to. Because of what I am. But I've observed it enough to be able to play the role well, don't worry.” He stepped away from her and she immediately missed his warmth, in more ways than one. “I suppose we can try your way. I don't like it, but hiding in plain sight might be a good idea for now. Depending on who these people in our path are, of course. They could be terrible people who want to kill us regardless of who we are.”

  “Happy thoughts,” Ariana remarked and gestured for him to lead the way.

  ***

  Bianca stood in the middle of the largest room of the leigheas, surveying the beds now filled once more. She exhaled in a slow and calming manner to steady her mind, then reached out and touched the head of a young man with blond hair. His face was battered beyond recognition, the smooth line of his jaw and cleft chin littered with cuts and bruises that increased to his broken nose and swollen eyes. She closed her eyes, focusing on the feel of his skin underneath her fingertips and sending her own energy through him. She sensed the surface wounds first and then dug herself deeper, examining the skull for any signs of fractures and then the tissue within for any sign of bleeding or swelling.

  “Ah, there you are,” she said to herself when she found a bruise on her new patient's brain.

  “Dear Great Mother, what happened to him?”

  Bianca turned around to find Terrena standing behind her. “Have you heard of the illegal fighting rings that have been spreading like wildfire?”

  “Unfortunately, yes.” Terrena surveyed the man on the bed with sympathy and came closer. She laid her hand on his swollen cheek, commanding his fractured cheekbone to knit itself back together and the swelling to go down until she could see the baby face underneath. He didn't look much younger than Rhaya.

  Bianca wiped her hands off on her apron and picked up the book on his bedside table, scribbling down her notes. “Well, as you can see, this young gentlemen and his friends did not fare so well in the fights. They were found in Baileton.”

  “That isn't too far from here. Will he recover?”

  Bianca nodded confidently. “He's suffered from repeated head trauma and this last one left him with quite the bruise on his mind, but he will live. I won't know how much damage was done until he wakes up, but he'll get there. Now, as I am certain you didn't come to ask about patients you knew nothing about, tell me how I can be of service to you, Ainnir Terrena.”

  “Well, I hoped that I might be of service to you,” Terrena offered shyly. “I know you have many duties here in the leigheas and that your time with Isauria takes away from your work. Isauria mentioned that you could use some assistance. My connection to the earth element gives me the ability to heal as well.”

  Bianca mulled this over, brushing a hand over her neat hair in its usual bun. “I appreciate your offer, but I'm not sure the Duillaine Banair will be happy with the idea of you working in the leigheas. It is the reason Sylvanna herself does not come to our aid. If word spread that we had one of you here healing people, it would be very easy for an assassin to slip in and attack you.”

  The Duillaine Ainnir was clearly disappointed by this and looked around at the half dozen patients in various states on the beds around her. “Maybe . . . maybe I could help with Isauria then. You could teach me how to do what you do, to enter her mind and follow her to Ariana. I'm certain I could convince Sylvanna to let me help.”

  Bianca couldn't say the same. She followed Terrena's gaze to the many people in need of her attention right now, and her focus rested on the young man she had just been examining. “I can teach you the theory, using him.” She hesitated, and then turned to face Terrena. “You say that Isauria sent you here to aid me in the leigheas. Are you sure it wasn't your sister hoping to plant another spy near Isauria?”

  Terrena looked momentarily wounded. “I . . . I am afraid I know nothing about any plot in which my sister needs someone to spy on Isauria. Why would she do such a thing?”

  Bianca swallowed hard, knowing she had already said too much. “She's not happy that the Duillaine have restricted Isauria's visitors. She and Isauria were close before, as I understand it.”

  Terrena was unconvinced. “You're almost as bad of a liar as Rhaya is. I will discuss this with her, and return tomorrow to help you tend to this patient. Which I am certain the Duillaine would not object to.”

  “Thank you, Ainnir Terrena. I'll have him moved to a private room.”

  ***

  Convincing the group of travelers in Alec and Ariana's path was easy enough. Alec stayed quiet, allowing Ariana to take the lead and do all the talking. Her story about traveling to see Alec's ailing parents proved to be convinci
ng enough. She had the only woman of the group, Anne, eating out of the palm of her hand by the time she was done. Anne traveled with her husband, Jonathon, and his two mining apprentices while they searched for untapped resources in the mountains.

  The older couple, looking to be in their forties or fifties, generously invited Alec and Ariana to join them for the meal they’d prepared. They were quite personable, their accent reminding Ariana of Australians though it was disjointed and less fluid. The younger men, who were clearly there for work and not for social reasons, kept to themselves.

  Ariana and Alec sat next to each other on their blanket while they ate their meal. She leaned toward him and whispered, “Do I want to know what this meat is?”

  “Delicious, is what I'd call it,” he said and popped another piece in his mouth.

  “Ignorance is bliss,” she muttered. She could only be happy that their new friends hadn't left any disgusting bits around, which Alec had been prone to doing. It had caused her to nearly lose her lunch on a number of occasions. “Personally,” she said, plucking a cherry from his plate, “I prefer these.”

  “Hey,” he protested with a half-laugh before swiping a piece of fruit from her plate. “What was it you've told me before? Keep my grubby little fingers to myself?”

  She tried to snatch it back, but he quickly moved his hand out of her reach, causing her to tumble into his lap. “Yes, and the order still stands. Those are my favorites.”

  A chuckle from across the campfire interrupted their wrestling. Ariana and Alec both looked up to the source of the sound, the eldest man Jonathon. He watched them with contentment, a dreamy sparkle in his eyes.

  “Forgive me,” he said with a chortle still in his gruff voice. “You are just like me and my Anne when we first fell in love.”

  Ariana extracted herself from Alec, feeling her face warm. “What do you mean? Fighting over food?”