Ra' van (Book Three of the Items Trilogy)

by H. Lee Morgan, Jr

  Both Kyri and Zara stole a glance at the other, but it said enough.

  “Allow me to further make an assumption. You cannot eat meat.”

  “H… How do you know?” She asked

  Sheer flitted closer, but not close enough to make either feel frightened or defensive. “Because female Furions can rarely stomach meat. It makes them sick. From what I’ve been told, your late cousins and distant relatives couldn’t eat meat of any kind. Mostly their partners required it, but they themselves abhorred killing. Alex doesn’t know that females cannot partake in meat for it wasn’t pertinent to his training, but he knew you never killed anything. Kyri needs meat to live, but you understand this and allow her to take life and do not condone her. Alex also noticed you would rather maim or incapacitate rather than kill. We learned all about your skirmish through the flocks who fly with him and were sent after us. Although we’re glad another Furion exists I’m still upset you tried cutting off my daughter’s beautiful talons.”

  “Your daughter?” Zara thought back and remembered the last swing of her sword back when she and Alex met in combat. “You mean the little one with yellow legs?”

  “Ava,” Sheer corrected. “And how you Kyri somehow got the better of Shade. If we can get over the situation I might commend you on besting him. Not many could boast such a fact.”

  Kyri sneered down at the overgrown pigeon. “I defeated him, but he scored several claw marks on me.”

  “Be grateful he didn’t lace his claws with his toxins or else you’d not be here.” Sheer added. “And he was tired too so don’t think just because you’re a Makkien your better. There’s a reason you, Elo and Shade are considered the Big Three. Your kinds are the only natural threat to each other. You believe he is an easy opponent, but remember if it is easy for you to win over him he has the same advantage. Alex has gifted partners as unique as himself so if you ever face them, beware they will come back stronger each time.”

  “What to talk about next…” Gerieg suddenly said and looked around the room. The situation began spiraling and they weren’t here to fight or make the two young ones feel insignificant for now is the pivotal time. “How about you confide in us and explain why you both ran in here with such sadness.”

  “Before that…” Elo stepped over and lay down on a thick carpet near the bed. “Kyri, if you could please breathe a fire into the hearth. We need to push the chill away and speak comfortably.”

  The inseparable pair glanced at each other and Kyri sighed before walking over to the cold fireplace. She noticed freshly cut wood stacked beside mouth and several logs already prepared for her. She only took her eyes off the intruders for a moment to open her maw and bathe the fireplace in an orange blaze of flame. She then quickly moved back to stand protectively at her beloved’s side.

  “Please sit.” Gerieg offered as he moved over and did the same while propping his back against Elo’s large side.

  “I will go find the nest I hatched in and watch out for any visitors.” Sheer said and hopped her way out of the room.

  Kyri began to feel more at ease now that they weren’t outnumbered and she could take on the Beran, but after witnessing the skill the older version of the king she understood they were still in danger. She wondered what would be quicker, her flames or his Furion abilities. A gentle tug on her side brought her attention around as Zara said “There is no harm in sitting.”

  The princess sat on the edge of her bed while her dearest companion sat on her haunches. Sitting in such a way that they can react much more quickly than laying flat on the ground or on their bellies.

  Minutes of silence stretched on as the four gazed upon each other. If not for the crackling fire in the large fireplace it would have been unbearable. As the fire continued growing so too did the light and warmth envelop the large room. While they were content to simply watch each other Zara began contemplating where she sat.

  The lone tower stands at five large levels with thirty enormous bedchambers. Each one is built identically to the next and a central stairwell links all of them. All hold a large, open mouthed, fireplaces that connect to a interconnected ventilation tube that spills out of the very tip of the tower. Each fireplace stands over seven feet and is over ten feet wide, plenty of space for a Furion and their partner to curl up together in front of. The enormous beds also were designed for the same purpose. Zara knew this tower belonged to Furion rulers for a great many generations and was designed to incorporate even the largest of fiends. She had been so lonely and rarely did she receive a visitor so she chose the highest room that could overlook the grandest city of all. All other rooms were bare and dusty in comparison for they’ve been vacant for many, many years. Around the tower grew many edible plants that Zara enjoyed since she grew queasy at the sight of meat so she had little need for the kitchen except to make her own bread. Chicken lived there and was Kyri’s source of meat for awhile and Zara ate the eggs since it wasn’t particularly meat. It took nearly two years for the princess to even learn how to scale the deep walls surrounding the tower, but it helped block much of the sudden blasts of wind that plagued the upper portion of the mountain they found themselves on. But with winter setting in they knew that the snow will fill in several feet of the sunken courtyard and all the plants, luckily neither of them have ever gone hungry for a special room beneath the tower holds a great many mirrors that allow plants to thrive without dying in winter’s deadly grip… then Zara’s line of thought became interrupted as Gerieg asked “Well? Are you going to tell us why you’re so upset?”

  The image of him became blurry as Zara remembered what has happened and couldn’t contain it any longer. Words of what happened as she returned to the palace spilled forth and couldn’t be stopped, not that she wanted it to. She needed to speak and it didn’t matter to whom. She became choked up when she saw Gerieg also reveal grief at what he heard and also reliving such painful memories. “And I always idolized my father. He was so strong, commanding and a great teacher. He instilled in me the path to give up my own happiness to help others, but then he talked about killing as if it were such an easy thing. He told me how he killed Sheul and your wife, his own mother, and everyone else. I so believed that if I sacrificed myself to help him further the ideal to make people’s lives easier by fighting in his name then I’d do it, but when I hear what he told us I can’t help but think it’s all wrong.”

  “Come here, Zara.” The older man said and she realized he stood with his arms wide, completely exposing himself.

  “Is anything I just said and learned this day a lie?” The last sliver of hope severed itself as the older man shook his head.

  Understanding washed over her as she rushed from her bed and embraced the man. Comforted by his mere presence, the tears long locked away from learning she’d been imprisoned and hidden away from such a loving person she never knew existed began flowing without hesitation. Never before had she been so emotional and heartbroken, but his warmth and loving embrace eased the suffering forced upon her. Sobs escaped her as she heard a soft whine and familiar whiskers on the side of her bare arm.

  Gerieg stepped away as Zara turned and clutched her arms around her dearest friend next and comforted each other.

  “Even though Runkamon raised you to believe in his twisted belief’s in sacrifice you’ve some understanding he’s wrong all on your own. Making another’s life easier by shouldering their entire burdens on yourself is simply laziness for the recipient.” Elo said cautiously since anything could be construed as uncaring or old bitterness and he didn’t want to jeopardize something that could turn out to be beneficial to his longtime companion. “Your father has tasted power and craves it absolutely and has come to believe that if everyone does as he says then he’ll become forever known as a god among men, but that isn’t how life works. We are free to live as we choose and must be steadfast in that pursuit. Hard times hit everyone, no matter how hard you try to avoid it. Living as we choose is the only freedom we are truly blessed wi
th, but you’ve merely tasted such labors since you’ve been forced to live here, away from anyone or anything that would allow you do step out of the murderer’s shadow.

  “What did you think of the world outside these walls?”

  “Words cannot describe the complexities and beauty. The balance of life and death is so delicate, but I’ve never felt so free.” Zara said as she returned to sit on the edge of her bed while Kyri nodded.

  “Would you like to leave with us?” Gerieg purposed. “We can leave immediately and you can see what life out in the wild truly offers. I can show you the truest way for a Furion and partner to live free and do as they wish. Take life into your own capable hands and do whatever you want.”

  “I’m afraid we cannot.” Kyri informed although what he said sounded too good to be resist. “Whatever Alex did to us that got us to return is nothing compared to what the traitor king has done. Although Zara couldn’t force herself to say what he’s done I will.” And she went on to explain how they cannot leave until someone is sent to retrieve them when they are found suitable breeding partners. Her predatory eyes saw anger rising in the two males by the new setting of their jaws and the rigid positioning of their posture. Eventually she twitched her long tail to ask “Just what have these other two Furions done to us?”

  Gerieg eventually stopped grimacing as he looked between the pair. “It’s the ultimate skill a Furion can possess. It’s known as Dominance.” The grandfather then began explaining exactly what the effect is capable of. After the lengthy explanation he said “Most learn the skill in their mid to late thirties. Alex is the youngest to ever harness the technique, but he’ll never use it unless there isn’t any alternative. I’m so very sorry dear ones. I cannot believe Runkamon has forced you to do this. It’s beyond wrong to be forced into marriage for what my son is doing is nothing short of rape.”

  “Is there any way to free us?” Kyri pleaded for she never wanted anything bad to happen to her Zara and this is the second worst thing that she could think of. Death is the absolute worst.

  The original king shook his head in sorrow. “I’m afraid it doesn’t work like that. There is very little I can do. Since he didn’t send me, I cannot take you for fear of what will happen. It wouldn’t kill you, but you’d be in constant pain and discomfort. The situation has been made doubly more complicated because of what he’s done. It would be impossible to place an opposing order for the one originally placed has been locked with an absolute order that doesn’t interfere in anything your will sees as something you’d never be willing to do. I would only make your suffering worse by doing what he did.

  “The only conceivable way to break your father’s Dominance, Zara, is to be able to use the very same skill yourself.”

  “Can you teach me?” She pleaded and wrung her hand together. “I don’t want to stay here. I want to leave with Kyri and get as far away from my father’s reach as possible…”

  She stopped as she watched her grandfather’s head shake again. “Nay… I’ll tell you like I told Alex and my sons, Dominance cannot be taught. It must come through skill and be honed by the individual. My Dominance is unique to me and cannot be honed in the same way as another. I can tell you what to do as your father has or put a cloak on another nearby to protect my partners from another’s dominance. Your cousin’s, I suspect from the two times I felt his, will cover greater range than mine ever could, but cannot ever be used on a specific target. No two Furions use the exact same kind of dominance. The only thing I may be able to offer in advice is to search deep within yourself and search for a way to harness the ability in a similar and opposite way from how you were taught to heighten your body’s strengths and senses.” Then he cocked his head slightly. “By the way, what was the initial trigger for heightening your body’s abilities.”

  Her blue eyes roamed for a moment before answering. “Now that I look back I can see I’ve just been fooling myself. My father’s been a tyrant my whole life, but I blindly believed what he said is true. I cannot believe how much I’ve overlooked just to be loyal to my parent.

  “When I first began to learn of my abilities I listened to my father’s stories. I felt something burn in my chest on one of them and the next day Father brought slave children here and tortured them until I broke the chains he bound me to. My trigger was to stop children from being harmed, but I couldn’t believe what my father did and back then… I figured it was a necessary sacrifice to bring about my skills. Now I remember, his smile when he pulled fingernails or used red hot iron to hurt children…

  “I’m getting sick talking about this… Can we please change the subject?”

  “Certainly.” Elo spoke. “What would you prefer we change it to?”

  “Why are you here?” Kyri spoke for she’s been wondering many questions since they found that the tower wasn’t alone. “How did you get here? What do you want and just why did you risk your lives coming?”

  Elo grinned as he began thumping his tail absently against the plush red carpet. “Fair enough. Gerieg, Sheer and I came here to meet someone who we never knew existed till recently. We were beyond surprised another Furion still lived, even if you were born of my enemy’s seed.” Zara gulped and Kyri let out another puff of smoke in warning. Both females knew about Beran acid and hoped they were far enough away to avoid it. “Be not afraid, I have no quarrel with either of you. Your fathers are to blame for their actions, not you. So long as you remain docile and amiable I will not see you as an enemy.

  “Back to why we are here… We hoped to see what each of you are like and after speaking I can sense you’ve been nothing but truthful. You’re both exactly what a true Furion and partner should be. We came to spirit you away, but it looks as if our plans need to be altered since you’re being forced to stay here against your will and cannot disobey. Gerieg, Sheer and I will both reflect and look for a solution to the problem, you have my word. None should be forced to live as he’s done to you both.

  “As to how we got here… After learning of your existence, Zara, I carried Gerieg here all the way from Nicronane after our war ended. It ended about the same time as you led the Royal Guard in the battle with Freelan. I’d relentlessly run nearly for two days and rested for a half. That way of running allowed me to reach here two days ago, even though you had weeks of a head start. We originally tried scenting you in the attempt to tell you about what really happened as to how Runkamon rose to power, but by the time I caught your trail you were already within sight of Runkamon.

  “We couldn’t allow ourselves to be spotted so I chose to run northward and there we had an old ally help us cross Grizon Lake so that we could avoid Royal Guard patrols. Once we reached the north face of this mountain we ran up it and circled around till we managed to reach the safety of this tower.

  “Like I said we’ve waited patiently for you to arrive for two days. It’s gotten cold here and we couldn’t afford to use a fire till you arrived.” He grinned, revealing menacing teeth. “Thanks for finally showing up.

  “Lastly I’d just like to say I’m glad the spoiled king has gotten comfortable, otherwise the patrols would be more aggressive and we’ve not had the first sign of trouble. I just hope it’ll last…”

  For the next few hours both Zara and Kyri spoke with their elders and their presence alone was comforting. They knew so very little of each other, but it is as if they’ve known each other all their lives. Although their future still looked bleak, the two females weren’t nearly as tense and cruelly mistreated after speaking and getting to know the two older males. Eventually Elo traded places with Sheer and allowed her to mother over the two young girls in a way they desperately craved, even if they didn’t outright say it. The elder Beran stood at watch, gazing over the city he once called home, vigilant for anyone coming to ruin the girls lives further.

  Little did they know, another presence watched and heard all that underwent in the princess’s room. In the shadows, a pair of murderous eyes has been waiting for just su
ch an event to reveal itself. The forgotten one smiled evilly, knowing he’d get his revenge after so long.

  When the two groups separated and bedded down for the night the spy slipped out of the castle unnoticed and headed down the mountain to claim his reward.

  ***

  Chapter 18

  “The time has come!” Crest announced loudly and stopped everyone from the continuous run.

  Shade locked his legs in the loose soil, nearly throwing off Alex and Krum. His wide eyes grew more intense when he realized what his mate meant. He excitedly padded over and asked “Are they…?”

  “They are.” She admitted and licked his furry cheek.

  “Alex? What’s the hold up?” Calosh said from atop his average sized Grizon, Demek.

  The Furion prince looked towards all the humans and explained “It’s Crest. She says they are coming.” Ava saw them stopped below and hurried down to hear the same thing. She became the most excited of all and shivered from beak to tail feathers for chicks and other young always gave her warm feelings.

  Krum grabbed a fist full of fur along Shade’s side and used it as one would a ladder to safely drop himself to the ground while Niranene waited for Clift to stop prancing. Marlin helped his wife off the saddle and together both of the human and fiend healers moved closer to check on Crest’s condition and she lowered herself to the ground for their ease. As she did so Lily slipped off and began rubbing her partner’s stiff neck.

  “It was time for a break anyway.” Calosh’s Juguan partner Isabelle announced from atop her Beran lioness Quee. “We’ve been running hard for nearly two months now and only spend a day gathering provisions and latest intelligence from Sheridan yesterday. It would have been nice to take a day off from running…”

  While she continued speaking Shade lowered himself beside his mate while impatiently watching Niranene press her oval item against the patient’s broad side, just above her milk swollen teats. Moments later she said something and Alex grinned while patting his partner’s large head. “She just said they are indeed coming. Crest, she also asks that you refrain from pushing for the moment and try to reach the brush to get out of the sun. The road between Sheridan and Jugo is well used and it wouldn’t be good if travelers spotted you when you’re at the most vulnerable.”