by C.K. Bryant
Chapter Thirty Nine
“Octavion!” Kira grabbed him by the arm and shook, trying to wake him, but he didn’t respond. Lydia. Octavion’s hurt. I need your help!
Where are you? Altaria asked.
In the clearing. Hurry.
Kira. Give him the medicine. I’m almost there.
Octavion lay on his side, so she rolled him to his back and slid her hand into his pocket to pull out the vial. The violent leap had sapped her own strength and her fingers barely gripped the container. With trembling hands, she managed to twist off the lid and place the opening to his lips. At first he coughed, choking down the first few drops, before swallowing the rest.
Altaria broke through the trees at a run, Toran at her side roaring like thunder.
“It’s all right, boy—he’ll be fine,” Altaria reassured him. “Kira, are you hurt?”
“No.”
Octavion moaned.
Altaria rested her hand on his chest, while Kira sat back in the dirt and waited. “Is he okay?” Kira asked.
“Yes, give him a moment.”
But several minutes passed before he came around. “Kira,” he said, taking Altaria by the arm. “Where is she?”
Altaria motioned toward Kira. “She’s fine.”
He rolled to his side and tried to push up on his elbow.
Kira lurched toward him, pushing him back. “Don’t get up.” Kira told him.
“I thought you knew not to come back so soon,” Altaria chided.
“I didn’t have a choice.” He clamped his hand over Altaria’s shoulder. “Help me up.” Once again, he rolled to his side, this time toward his sister. He used Altaria for support and pulled himself to his feet. “We are in trouble.”
“What happened?”
Kira stood on shaky legs and leaned against a nearby tree. “It’s my fault. The picture Lydia took. I was stupid to keep it.”
“They came while we were there,” Octavion added. “They almost caught us.”
He looked at Kira. “What exactly did the picture show? Could you see the canyon?”
Kira tried to remember the scene. She’d cropped most of the background out, but she was sure the canyon was partially visible. “Part of it—but only the rocks—I cut off the rest.”
“Good. It may take her some time to find us.” He grabbed his head and groaned, rubbing his temple. “She is vicious and raging mad.”
“You can hear Shandira?” Kira asked. “I thought you were blocking her thoughts.”
“Normally I can, but I am weak and my defenses are low.” He furrowed his brow, made a horrible rumbling noise, and then rubbed his forehead again.
Altaria clenched her jaw and let out a deep sigh. “Enough! It’s time I showed my sister some manners.” She grabbed Kira’s hand and pulled her close enough to take Octavion’s arm around her neck. “Help him to his lair. I have something to do.”
“Do not do anything foolish,” he called after her, but she’d already gone.
“Are you okay?” Kira asked him.
“Yes.” He pulled away from her and straightened. “Did I hurt you? I don’t remember landing.”
“I’m fine. But, Bastian—he’s coming, isn’t he?”
“I believe so, yes.” His forehead wrinkled and Kira didn’t have to guess why—Shandira was taunting him again.
“We need to see what Altaria is up to,” he said.
Kira took his hand and found her way through the trees to his lair. Altaria was rummaging through an old trunk in the back of the cave.
“Finally,” she said, as she stood, turning to face them. “This will really make her angry.”
When she came closer, Kira noticed a small pouch in her hand. It was made of a fine tapestry with shiny silken threads and a gold drawstring cinched the top. Altaria pulled it open enough to retrieve its contents—on the end of a silver chain dangled a heart-shaped pendant. Its several shades of brown sparkled when she moved it in the candlelight as though tiny ribbons of light bounced across the surface.
“It’s beautiful.” Kira stepped closer to get a better look. “What kind of stone is this?”
“Tiger’s Eye,” Octavion said as he snatched it out of her hand. “I will not allow this, Altaria. It is too dangerous.”
“It is time, brother. We have endured enough.”
“Time for what?” Kira asked. “What does it do?”
“It was Estaria’s,” Octavion said. “She was a commoner, and when father called her to be our caregiver, she had no way of communicating with Shandira and me when we were away from her. My father had it fastened as both an engagement present and a communication device.” Octavion opened his hand and rubbed his finger across the polished surface of the stone. “It helped keep us out of trouble.” He looked at his sister and grinned. “Most of the time.”
Altaria took off her ruby necklace and showed it to Kira. “It is like my ruby, only much more powerful.”
“So why will this make Shandira angry?”
Altaria smiled again. “We have been blocking her thoughts for a long time. I want to wear this and, how do you say it? Blow her socks off.”
“Yep, that’s it,” Kira said. “Kinda like turning up the volume on a stereo.”
“Yes,” Altaria said.
Both women looked at Octavion with determination. For the first time, Altaria and Kira were allies. Kira had to admit, it felt pretty good.
“No,” he said, puffing out his chest as if preparing for battle.
“Why not?” Kira asked. “It sounds to me like Shandira deserves a taste of her own medicine. I think it’s worth a try.”
“It works both ways,” he said. “If she can hear Altaria’s thoughts, Shandira will be able to sense where we are. Her communication skills are much stronger than ours. It is her gift and it is too dangerous for us to meddle in something she has perfected.” He closed his fist again and held out his other hand. “Give me the pouch.”
“I will not.” Altaria stood firm.
Good for her, Kira thought. She was beginning to like Altaria’s strong will and feistiness.
Octavion growled. “Altaria!”
“Do you think I am foolish enough to lead them straight to us? I will go away from this place. Lead her in the wrong direction.”
“And how will you travel?” He folded his arms. But when she didn’t answer, he dropped his hands and clenched his fists at his sides. “No. I forbid it.”
“I can do it,” Altaria said.
“No, you cannot!”
“Yes, I can. I’m just not as good as you are.” She turned her attention to Kira. “The royal prince is of pure blood and seems to think he is better than his half-breed sister.” There was Lydia’s sarcasm shining through.
“Ha! I land true,” Octavion said. “You are the one who has to be rescued. It is too dangerous.”
“I have two spirits. One does not always think as the other and it gets confusing, but I can do it.”
Octavion paused for a long moment, then let out a huff of air. “If I allow this, I must come with you. With my help, it might work.”
Altaria shook her head. “No, you cannot travel so soon.”
“She’s right,” Kira added. “What good will you be to her if you’re unconscious?”
“I can draw from her strength, remember?” He looked at Altaria for a moment and turned back to Kira. “This means you will be alone. If I leave Toran with you, will you feel safe?”
“I’ll be fine.” Kira’s voice sounded more confident than she felt. The thought of Bastian and his buddies paying her a visit didn’t make her feel all that great about being left alone.
Octavion opened his hand and took the necklace by the chain while Altaria lifted her long blond hair out of the way, letting him fastened it behind her neck. She placed her fingers over the heart-shaped pendant.
Altaria held out her hand and opened it. Inside was her ruby. “Kira, would you hold this?”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I know you will keep it safe,” she said.
Kira took it from her and placed it in her pocket.
“I need to change,” Octavion said. “Do you mind?” He motioned to the opening in the cave.
“Um . . . oh, of course,” Kira stuttered.
Before leaving, Altaria went back to her trunk and reached behind it, pulling out her weapons. As she led Kira out of the cave she began strapping them on.
“Do you expect danger?” Kira asked.
“We must expect it from here on out, Kira. It would suit you to do the same. Keep your weapons close and your mind clear. Be prepared for anything.”
Kira’s heart rose into her throat. She’d known they were in danger, but Altaria’s words made the threat more real. “I will.”
“You will have the advantage of Toran. He will alert you if anyone comes near. Keep him close, as well.” She finished strapping on her last two pieces of leather—cuffs that ran from her wrists, half way to her elbow.
“Why do you wear those?” Kira asked.
“They protect my forearms when defending myself.” She stood back and adjusted everything. “There’s another set of forearm guards in my trunk. They will protect your arm from the bow string. You will need to have your healing mixtures with you. And don’t forget to refill your vial. Do you remember which mixture to use?”
Kira nodded.
When Octavion appeared through the trees, his attire wasn’t the only thing that was different. His demeanor had darkened, as if he had psyched himself up for the task ahead—a man to be reckoned with. He wore a pair of black leather pants with a thick black belt. Like his sister, he wore leather cuffs on his forearms, only his were black. He also wasn’t wearing his vest; he’d strapped his sword on his back—the straps intersecting across his bare, bronzed chest.
“Breathe, Kira,” Octavion said as he stepped closer. He lifted her chin with the slightest touch of his finger, then leaned in and pressed his lips to hers—a passionate kiss, with so much heat it stirred something deep in her gut and made her crave more. But he didn’t give it. Instead he trailed his fingers down the length of her arm until he found her hand, then raised it to his mouth, tenderly kissing her knuckles. “Be safe and stay close to the cave. We will not be long.”
“You better be careful,” Kira said, holding back tears. Then she looked at Altaria. “That goes for both of you.”
Altaria nodded. “We will.”
Octavion opened his arms toward Altaria. “How do you want to do this, sister?”
“Just like when we were children.” She walked around to his back. As he bent his knees to lower himself, she wrapped her arms around his neck, lacing her fingers together in front. “Where are we going?”
“Someplace without water, cliffs or trees,” he teased.
“Ah, the desert.”
With that, they closed their eyes and were gone. Kira expected to see the blinding light or feel the rumbling and shaking she’d experience when she’d leapt, but she only felt the familiar eeriness for an instant before they completely disappeared, leaving a puff of mist and her alone in the silence. The hair on Kira’s arms pricked at her skin. She hugged herself, scanned the clearing and went back to the cave where Toran was waiting near the entrance.
