The Stone Eater (The Magic Eaters Trilogy Book 3)

by Carol Beth Anderson

  Ulmin knelt. The boy drew back, bumping into his father’s leg. “It’s all right, son,” Ulmin said, gently taking the boy’s hand and his mind. He had to hold back a delighted laugh at the simple beauty he sensed in the child. “I’m a good man, and I’m here to protect my people. You’ll be one of my most loyal citizens, won’t you?”

  “Yes.” The boy nodded, his brown curls bouncing.

  “I knew it.” Ulmin squeezed the boy’s hand and sent him a strong sense of loyalty, praying some of it penetrated deep enough to remain in that precious mind forever. After several lovely moments, he broke the connection.

  The boy’s little forehead wrinkled in confusion. “What happened?”

  “You showed me what a delightful, loyal young man you are.” Ulmin turned his attention to the father. “I know you’ll continue to teach him to love God and serve his king.”

  “I will.” The words sounded strained as they left the man’s tight lips. “Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you.”

  7

  Yesterday, Ulmin told me he’d leave today for a week-long trip to New Therro. He surprised me by interrupting my breakfast to say goodbye. (I wasn’t in a robe—I learned my lesson the first time!) We chatted in the living room for almost an hour before a royal guard told him it was time to go.

  Ulmin wanted to kiss me; I know he did. I wanted it too. But the guard and Uncle Quin were watching, so he kissed one of my hands instead.

  He’ll only be gone a week, but I miss him already. Is that weird, Dani? Or pathetic?

  Don’t answer that.

  -Letter from Ambrel Kaulder to Dani Kaulder

  Dated Centa 18, 180 PD

  “Want to dance?” Nora asked.

  “Sure,” Ovrun said.

  “I was asking Zeisha.”

  Laughter flowed over their little table. Zeisha stood and joined Nora on the makeshift dance floor.

  Nora figured it must be nearly midnight. Before long, it would be time to leave for whatever farmland Sarza had seen in her vision. Nora, Ovrun, Krey, and Zeisha were celebrating their last night together. They’d invited Sarza and Hatlin to join them, but both had declined. With just the four of them relaxing and laughing, it felt like the early days in Deroga, after the militia was freed.

  Eira had heard of the plan and sent two musicians to play for them. The current song was a fast one. Nora and Zeisha made up their own dance moves, kicking and whirling until they were out of breath.

  The two of them had grown fairly close as the weeks passed in Deroga. On the nights Nora didn’t stay up too late in the library with Krey, she and Zeisha often spent hours whispering and laughing from their neighboring beds in the bunkhouse. She kept hoping her friend’s joy would rub off on her.

  The next song was slow. Nora took Zeisha’s hands, and they swayed to the music, catching their breath. “I wanted a minute alone with you,” Nora said, “to tell you how glad I am we became friends.” She gestured with her chin toward Krey and Ovrun. “The guys are great, but . . . well, they’re not the same. I’ll miss you.”

  Zeisha dropped Nora’s hands and drew her into a tight hug. “I’ll miss you too.”

  Nora pulled back and gripped Zeisha’s shoulders. “Will you be happy here?”

  Zeisha smiled. “I will. It’s my home.”

  “Good.” Nora froze when she heard Osmius in her mind. A few seconds later, she said, “We have to leave soon. Osmius is on his way. Have you said goodbye to Krey?”

  “No.”

  “Do you want to?”

  Zeisha nodded.

  “I’ll send him over.” Nora returned to the table. “Krey, Osmius will be here soon. You’d better fuel up if you haven’t. And Zeisha wants to talk to you.”

  Krey nodded, pulling open his pack and retrieving a full bag of feathers.

  “I’ll get Hatlin and Sarza,” Ovrun said, standing.

  Krey walked to Zeisha, who was sitting at a table across the room. Nora knew she shouldn’t watch them, but she couldn’t help herself. She tried not to be too obvious about it.

  Krey sat across from Zeisha, eating feathers as they spoke softly, their words drowned out by the continued music. When they both smiled, then laughed, Nora felt a relieved grin steal over her own face. The conversation ended with a long, tight hug. When they returned to Nora, they were laughing again.

  “It’s good to see the two of you . . . you know,” Nora said.

  Krey’s brows drew together. “Good to see us what?”

  Nora felt the skin on her cheeks grow warmer. “Being, uh . . .” She fumbled for the right words.

  “He’s messing with you, Nora,” Zeisha said.

  Krey smirked, a feather protruding from his lips.

  “You’re an ass,” Nora said with a laugh.

  They thanked the musicians, then went outside, where Hatlin and Sarza waited, along with Eira. The trog gathered them into a circle, then said, “You will always be members of the Star Clan.”

  Nora had expected a longer speech from the woman they’d worked with for months, but the simple statement turned out to be just what she needed to hear.

  Eira lifted her hand. In the trog way, she touched fingertips with the five of them who’d soon depart.

  They walked to the wide, deserted street where Osmius was waiting. After giving Zeisha another hug, Nora mounted the dragon, along with Sarza and Ovrun. It would be a leisurely trip, with Krey and Hatlin flying alongside Osmius and setting the pace.

  “Fly toward Cellerin City,” Sarza said. “I’ll tell you any time I have an urge to change direction.”

  They lifted into the starry sky.

  Hours later, they passed south of Cellerin City. Nora was chatting silently with Osmius when Sarza said, “We’ll land on a hill, just ahead.”

  “How do you know?” Nora asked over her shoulder. “Can you see it?” In the bare light of predawn, details of the landscape below were impossible to make out.

  “I just know. We need to descend now.”

  Sarza continued to shout directions until Osmius alighted atop a particular hill. Krey and Hatlin landed behind him. Nora, Sarza, and Ovrun dismounted onto the broad, rocky hilltop. The sound of a rushing river floated up to them.

  “This is it,” Sarza said. “Now, we wait until I get another urge or vision.”

  “How long do you think that’ll take?” Krey asked.

  “No idea. We’ll be here at least until there’s enough light for us to look at all the farms. That’s what I saw us doing in my vision.”

  Hatlin passed out bread and fruit he’d carried in his pack, and they all began to eat.

  Nora-human, Osmius said, I must go. Once dawn arrives, people may see me.

  She handed her food to Ovrun and made her way back to Osmius’s shadowy form, holding her arms in the air. He lowered his neck, and she wrapped her arms as far as she could around it.

  I’ll let you know where we end up, Nora said. You do the same.

  Osmius had agreed to find a new den. His home in the mountains south of Deroga was too far away for telepathic communication. You know where I will stay.

  He’d told her he planned to return to the cave where Taima had been held prisoner, but Nora had discouraged him from it. He was grieving enough already. Osmius, are you sure—

  I am strong enough to face my memories.

  Nora squeezed his neck tighter. I know you are. She released him, and he rose into the air.

  Ovrun took Nora’s hand and led her several dozen mets away from the others before sitting with her in a small patch of wiry grass. In comfortable silence, they ate the rest of their breakfast.

  When they were done, Nora asked, “How do you feel about leaving Deroga?”

  “The trogs were good to us, but you know I love getting away from all those tall buildings. Flying felt great.” He pulled her tight into his side and kissed the top of her head. “This feels great too.”

  She lifted her chin and pressed her lips to his.

  They sa
t silently for several minutes before she spoke again. “The palace is somewhere in that direction.” She pointed north and slightly east. Right now, all they could see were patches of shadows that would turn into buildings, trees, and fields as the sun rose. “I’ve been thinking,” she said lazily, cuddling closer to Ovrun, “we’ll have to build a new palace after we take down my father. I can’t imagine dismantling that stone dome, and I’m certainly not planning to live inside it.”

  His chest vibrated with soft laughter. “That would pretty much be my definition of hell, being trapped under a stone ceiling all the time.”

  Nora pulled away. Ovrun’s arm slid off her shoulder and down her back. She tried to see his features in the dim, gray light. “Sometimes a palace does feel like a trap, Ovrun. Even with sunlight overhead.”

  His hand found her cheek and rested there, warm and solid. “You’ll be there. It’ll never feel like a trap.”

  They’d had similar conversations countless times since Ovrun had first told her he was willing to wear a crown. The offer was incredibly selfless. He’d always dreamed of living in the country, surrounded by nature—not living in a palace, surrounded by sycophants. He claimed it was what he genuinely wanted to do. Why was it that the more he assured her, the less she believed him?

  Nora snuggled into Ovrun’s side again and shut her eyes. She’d dozed off when he murmured, “Look.”

  She followed his pointing finger, turning to the east. The sun was barely visible over the horizon. Nora stood and faced it. The sky was cloudless, which didn’t make for a particularly beautiful sunrise. But the warmth and brightness brought calm to her spirit. She drew in deep breaths, imagining the light filling her up.

  She didn’t turn back to Ovrun until the sun was completely over the horizon. He was standing too, his gaze fixed on the land below. Past the river at the base of the hill sat countless farms with fields both lush and fallow, barns, and homes. Not all of the land was cleared. There were groupings of trees and even a few orchards. In the distance, she could barely make out a small vineyard.

  Nora’s eyes found Ovrun again. He was gazing at the rural landscape with an expression she’d only ever seen directed at her.

  Desire.

  He wasn’t looking at crops and buildings. He was looking at his dream.

  As Nora watched him—the shoulders that could support a mountain; the eyes whose adoration she so often basked in; the tilt of his chin, which spoke of his longing for the open land—she came to two simultaneous realizations.

  She loved Ovrun.

  And he would never be happy at the palace.

  She gaped at him, unable to breathe. Her body was frozen, but her mind sprinted ahead. Why is this happening now? Maybe I’m just freaked out because we’re moving. Maybe I’m just scared. Maybe—

  But the maybes were lies. She’d been avoiding the truth for months, and now it spread across her mind, as clear as the sunlit farms spreading across the landscape. He’s offering me a gift, but I can’t accept it if it’ll make him miserable. Especially not when I love him. I can’t. I can’t.

  Emotion built in her chest, bubbling like a boiling pot. All at once, her lungs drew in the air she’d been denying them. Her loud gasp broke the silence.

  Nora’s hand came to her mouth just as Ovrun spun to look at her, eyes wide. “What’s wrong?”

  She held her mouth tight as tears filled her eyes. Ovrun closed the distance between them and pulled her to his chest.

  Nora refused to cry. They weren’t alone, and by the sky, this was supposed to be a good day. They were looking for a farm to settle on, a home base from which they could bring down her father. She should be focused on strategizing, not relational insecurities.

  But that look she’d seen in Ovrun’s eyes had branded itself on her mind. I can’t do this right now! she silently insisted. Quick, panicked breaths expanded and contracted her chest. With every inhale, she smelled Ovrun’s distinct scent. With every exhale, she tried to expel her unwelcome emotions.

  “Hey,” Ovrun said softly. “Sit down. It’s okay. Come on, let’s sit.” He guided her to the ground, not letting go of her.

  Nora tried to slow her breaths, spitting out curses when she couldn’t.

  “Deep breaths,” Ovrun said. “It’s okay.”

  Footsteps approached. Nora buried her head deeper into Ovrun’s shirt.

  “She’ll be okay,” Ovrun said.

  “What happened?” It was Krey’s voice, soft and concerned.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Let me know if I can do anything.” Krey’s footsteps departed.

  When Nora finally caught her breath, she sat up, eyes on the farms below.

  Ovrun shifted to face her and took her hands, looking miserable. “What happened? What’s wrong?”

  Nora shook her head hard. “This is really not the time to talk about it.”

  “Seems like a good time to me. We’re stuck here until Sarza tells us something.”

  “I—” Nora’s throat tightened, but again, she refused to cry. “I don’t want to talk with them here.” She pulled one hand from Ovrun’s and used her thumb to point over her shoulder.

  “They can’t hear us. They’re way over there, and besides, the river is loud.”

  “I don’t even know what to say!” Her breaths were coming too fast again. By the stone, there was never a good time to have a complete emotional breakdown, but this had to rank as the worst timing ever.

  Ovrun chuckled softly. “I think we’re past having to come up with perfect words, don’t you? Just tell me what’s going on.” When she remained silent, his forehead wrinkled up. “Come on, Nora. You know I’m gonna worry about you until I know what’s wrong.”

  That plea convinced her. She couldn’t keep this inside. Bad timing or not, she couldn’t suddenly lose her mind in front of Ovrun, then claim everything was fine.

  “I saw you looking at the farms.” She kept her voice quiet, though she knew the others couldn’t hear a word she said.

  He tilted his head, a confused smile pulling up one corner of his lips. “That made you panic?”

  “Ovrun”—she ran her free hand through her hair—“I saw how you looked at them. It was the same way you look at me. That down there—that’s the life you want to live. It always has been.”

  He laughed again, but it sounded awkward. “If you’re saying I want a farm in the same way I want you . . . that’s ridiculous, Nora.”

  She huffed. “Not in the same way. But you do want it. You wanted it for years before you met me.” She let go of his hand, suddenly annoyed, though she wasn’t sure why. Pulling her knees into her chest, she said, “Living at a palace would crush your dream. Don’t you see that?”

  “No!” A hint of anger hardened his face. “All I see is the girl I love. We’ve gone over this so many times! I don’t need all that.” His hand gestured emphatically toward the farms, but his eyes didn’t leave her. “You’re what I want more than anything.”

  Nora pulled her legs in tighter, drawing in deep breaths. Ovrun scooted closer and leaned his forehead against hers. He brought up one hand and cupped the back of her neck.

  “You’re what I want,” he said again.

  Her chest tightened. “I can’t be the one to take your dream away.”

  “You’re not. I’m just swapping one dream for a better one. That’s my choice. I’ll never regret it, I swear to you.”

  “I think you will,” she whispered.

  “Believe me.” He pulled back far enough to meet her gaze. “I won’t.”

  She pushed herself to her feet, welcoming the pounding of her heart and accompanying wave of anger. She shouldn’t be forced to convince him of something he knew was true. At least, he’d know it if he were honest with himself. They’d gotten closer and closer on the premise that he could live happily as a king. And it had all been a lie—one he’d convinced himself of, then convinced her of. We should’ve ended this thing months ago, the minute our feel
ings deepened.

  Ovrun’s hand found her shoulder, and when she didn’t turn toward him, he stepped around to face her. His muscular arms were crossed over his broad chest. Did he know how stupidly distracting he was when he stood like that? She was trying to think here. With her brain, not her hormones.

  “I love you, Nora,” he said, his voice low and tight. “I think you love me too. I think that scares you, and you’re sabotaging this because you don’t know what to do with those feelings.”

  “Seriously?” Nora flung her hands wide as she shouted the word. Suddenly remembering where she was, she looked across the hill. Sure enough, Krey, Hatlin, and Sarza were all watching them.

  She stomped off, descending the gradual slope until she couldn’t see the others. Ovrun followed. They faced off, both breathing hard, crossed arms creating a double barrier between them.

  “I do love you.” Nora spat the words, regretting them as soon as she saw Ovrun’s expression soften. When he unfolded his arms and reached for her, Nora held out both hands. “Please don’t touch me—just listen.”

  Ovrun froze, eyeing her warily.

  Nora gave up on keeping her voice quiet. “It’s because I love you that I can’t let you lose part of yourself! I’ve always known your dream to live in the country was important to you. I’ve spent a lot of time lately doubting whether you could actually be happy giving that up. And when I saw you over there, I realized—you can’t. You think you can, but . . . that dream’s too deep in you! It’s not just going away!”

  “So you’re asking me to give you up instead of giving up my dream of living on a farm?” Now he’d raised his voice too.

  “Ovrun, the palace will never meet your need to live peacefully in nature! But you can fall in love with another woman! Someone else can meet that need!”

  He stepped closer and took her shoulders. Despite the fire in his eyes, his grip was gentle. “Why would I want another woman when I can have you?”