“Are you going to heal me, or are you just going to stare at my leg like a half-witted fool?”
Uh-oh, he thought as he rubbed his hands together. She’s in one of her foul moods again. Perhaps she knew he’d been spying on her last night. Thankfully, though, he saw only impatience in her eyes, not accusation. He exhaled, and the white magical light flowed from his fingers, closing the wound.
She stared at the jagged scar on her thigh and sighed. “I suppose that will have to do,” she said and pulled her tunic over the wound. “Are you going to get breakfast?”
“Breakfast, of course. You didn't get dinner last night. You must be starving.” He was so distracted by the goal of getting food, it wasn’t until he left the kitchen that he realized he left her alone and fully healed.
He raced up the stairs, almost dropping the plate with two steaming meat pies Sal had just taken out of the oven. The door opened with a bang, startling Ranealya. “You're still here?” he asked.
She slid into the chair, stretching out her long legs. “Yes, I'm still here.” She sniffed the air. “I suppose you slept through breakfast, and this is lunch?”
He placed the plate on the table. “It’s just that the last time I left you alone after I healed your shoulder, you—um—”
“—flew out the window?” She pinched a corner of a meat pie, blowing on it before she tossed it into her mouth.
“Precisely. But back to my question—”
“You weren’t asking a question—you were stating a fact.” She smiled and reached for another piece of the pie.
“Will you please quit interrupting me? It's difficult enough to keep my thoughts straight without having to hear yours.” He bit into the other pie, burning his tongue. Of course, that amused her. She found pleasure in every embarrassing moment he had. He refrained from spitting his food out and swallowed quickly to prevent any more damage to his already blistered tongue. “What I was trying to ask is how long are you going to stay now that you're healed? Not that I'm in any hurry for you to leave. You're welcome to stay in my home as long as you want.”
She took her time chewing. Then she looked out the window and back at him before answering, “You don't want me here too long. The Azekborn will be back, and I wouldn't wish their wrath upon you.”
“My land is protected by spells. No one can find it unless they know the way here. You're completely safe.”
“You obviously know nothing about the Azekborn,” she snarled, but then calmed herself and added softly, “which is a good thing. The less you know, the better.” She stood and began pacing the room, flexing her claws as if preparing for an attack.
“On the contrary, I think my ignorance of them may do more harm, especially if you think they will come back.”
“They'll come if I stay here, which is why I must leave.”
“Oh,” Gregor whispered. The food tasted like sawdust now, and he tossed the rest of the meat pie to Duke. It was stupid of him to think she would be happy here. He stared at the table while he mentally berated himself. He didn’t realize she was standing next to him until she touched his shoulder. When he looked up, her face had lost its angry intensity and appeared almost mournful.
“Why did you save me that day you found me in the cave?”
She searched his face, and he swallowed the large knot that formed in his throat. There are so many reasons—the finding of a new race, all the secrets she could share with him, her strange wild beauty—but the answer he gave surprised even him. “Because it was the right thing to do. I couldn't leave you there to die.”
Her face softened. “Even though I wasn't a human?”
“I didn't care if you're a human or not. Unlike the rest of the kingdom, I don't believe the lies Anilayus has spread to justify his greed. You were hurt and needed help, and that's all that mattered. I'm sure you would have done the same thing for me.”
Her mouth twisted into a wry smile. “You're the only human I would help.”
“I’m glad to know you hold me in such high esteem.”
Ranealya laughed. “You're still a human.” She began pacing again beside him. “So, you're willing to help members of the other races, even though it's against the law?”
Gregor winced. By helping a non-human, he’d broken the Law of the King, and if Anilayus found out about it.... “What I do on my own land is my business.”
“I see, but you still didn't answer my question.”
He wondered why he’d ever thought of her as more beast than woman. Maybe it was because she didn’t say a word during their first encounter. Now, her questions were part of the most thought provoking conversations he had had in months. “I suppose I would.”
“Interesting.” She stopped in front of the window and looked out on the snow as it glistened in the sun. She started to ask him another question but hesitated and resumed pacing.
“Is there something you wish to add?”
She stopped. Her eyes peered deeper into his soul, stripping his defenses away. “If you were given the chance to help hundreds of defenseless people, would you do it, even if it meant breaking the law?”
“I—” He stopped himself. Sure, he could help her and most likely get away with it. But to help that many people would surely gain royal attention, and his actions wouldn’t go unpunished. Would it be worth the risk? “I don't know.”
She raised her eyebrows. “You don't know? Gregor, it was a simple yes or no question.”
He stood and turned away from her, unable to bear her dissection of his soul any longer. “There's nothing simple about it. You're asking me if I would put the lives of nameless, faceless beings before my own, and I'm not sure if I would.”
“You didn't know my name, yet you helped me.”
“That was different. You were one person, not hundreds. I don't even know if I possess the ability to help hundreds of people to begin with.” He ran his hands through his hair, which did little to soothe his now throbbing head. How does she always find a way to make me doubt myself? How did she know what subjects trouble me the most?
He turned back to tell her to end this conversation, but his heart thudded to a stop and ached when he saw the disappointment on her face. “I'm sorry, Ranealya, but I won't lie to you.”
She sighed and reached out for him. Her claws retracted, revealing very human appearing hands, and she stroked his cheek. “I think you could be a great man, Gregor Meritis, if only you could find the courage to do what you know is right.”
Her words stung as if she had slapped his face instead of the gentle way her fingers grazed it. He wanted so hard to please her, yet it was obvious she wanted more from him.
She lowered her eyes and went to the window, keeping her back to him. She probably thought he was a coward and no longer wanted to look at him. Not that he blamed her. He had to admit she was right in her assessment, and that disgusted him.
“Isn't it about time to take Duke for a walk?”
Relieved she’d changed the subject, he replied, “I suppose so.” He moved to the door. “Will you be here when I get back?”
She looked over her shoulder at him. “What do you think?”
He shook his head. He knew she’d be gone, perhaps flying out of the window as a snowy owl or some other winged creature. “Will I ever see you again?”
“Of course. I'm not finished with you, Gregor.”
CHAPTER 8
Galen stood on the hill and crossed his arms. The wind blew the smells of roasting meat in his direction, but his mouth didn’t water. His sharp eyes scanned from campfire to campfire in the late afternoon light, searching.
“Do you see her?” Jaius asked beside him. “She's there.”
Galen followed where his finger pointed, and at last he found her. Kira stood at the edge of a campsite, watching a Master teach a group of elvan children basic spells. When they tried the spell, she joined them, producing the flash of green light on her first attempt.
He scowled.
“What is it about this human girl that intrigues you so?”
“I'm worried she may be a threat to the Resistance.”
Jaius laughed wryly, and Galen could understand why. With her threadbare clothes overwhelming her petite form, she hardly appeared to be a threat to anyone. From here, she appeared no older than the children whose lesson she’d joined. But he knew appearances were deceiving.
Unease crawled down his spine when he remembered the silver haze that formed on the edge of his vision when he looked into her eyes. “There was something strange about her when I tried to read her mind. I can't explain it, Jaius, but she refused to make eye contact with me after that.”
“Your suspicions are based on something as simple as that?”
“Why would she avoid my gaze unless she had something to hide? Her mind was completely closed to me.”
Jaius shrugged his shoulders. “What did Tyrrus say about her?”
“That she's trustworthy, naturally. After all, she's been under his tutelage for years.”
His sarcasm did not go undetected by his friend. “Is that all?”
Galen turned his eyes away from her for a moment. “You saw her aura.”
“Yes, and there was no evidence that she had ever cast any dark magics.”
“But the intensity of it.” His feet itched to pace, but he forced himself to remain still. “I've never seen one that bright before, and for it to be in a human...”
Jaius nodded in agreement. “Perhaps we should be grateful, then, that Tyrrus took her in and trained her rather than allowing her to unleash that power without restraint. Or worse yet, having someone else teach her to use that power for some other means. Someone like Anilayus.”
“I still think she needs to be watched closely. How can you trust someone when the first thing you notice about them is deception?”
“I can understand your concerns.”
“What did you notice about her?”
Jaius knitted his brows together. “I sensed a feeling of awe in her. And fear.”
“And why would she be fearful unless she had something to hide?”
Jaius studied him. “I sensed a similar fear in you. There's something more to this than you're telling me, isn't there?”
Galen ignored his friend’s hurt expression. How could he explain it to Jaius when he couldn’t even explain it to himself? When he looked into her eyes, a strange silver glow filled his vision and vanished as soon as she looked away. That had never happened to him before. It was as if his vision was clouded, that his ability to read a person's mind was disabled for that moment, and the whole world disappeared except for her.
Jaius turned around and began to climb down to the camp. He knew that Galen wouldn’t answer his question by now.
Galen lingered on the hill for a few more minutes. Jaius had a point—he should be grateful that Tyrrus had discovered her before Anilayus did. He wondered if the King would have spared her life once he knew of the power she possessed. He shuddered as he imagined what she could be capable of doing if she’d been trained under him. The Azekborn would have been the least of his worries if she’d traveled along that path.
Night had fallen by the time he returned to the camp. He proceeded to the yellow tent and entered without warning. The air hung thick with the sweet smell of pipes. Tyrrus sat on a pile of cushions with a mug of beer resting on his protuberant belly, surrounded by a mix of dwarves and humans. He chuckled at a joke one of his guests had told them before turning.
“Galen, good to see you!” he shouted. He struggled to come to his feet but fell back on the cushions, causing several of his guests to erupt in laughter. His eyes remained glazed as he righted himself. “What brings you here this fine evening? Care for a bit of ale?”
“No.” Their drunken behavior made his skin crawl, and he couldn’t wait to leave. “Where's your apprentice?”
“Kira? She's out and about,” he replied with a casual wave of his hand.
“When she comes in, tell her to meet me at daybreak tomorrow on the western edge of the camp. And tell her not to be late.” He spun around and exited the tent.
“Wait!” Tyrrus wobbled after him. “What are you planning to do to her? Hopefully, not something that would harm her in any way.” He tried to sound threatening as he wavered on his feet, still clutching his mug.
“I'm going on a journey, and I want her to come with me.”
“I know you can't lie to me, so promise me you won't do anything to her that would upset me.”
“Such as?”
“Kira is like a daughter to me, and I've done my best to shield her from the real world and what goes on between men and women—”
“If you are an implying that I have any lustful aspirations for your apprentice, you are sadly mistaken.” Tyrrus belched, and Galen wrinkled his nose at the combination of smoke and beer. It always amazed him how a simple drink could turn the most respectful human into a vile beast. He took the mug and emptied its contents onto the ground before returning it to Tyrrus. “You've had enough.”
He ignored the old man's protests and went straight to his tent. As he lay down, his mind remained focused on her. Nothing about her behavior today seemed suspicious, from her usual early morning dive into the river while fully clothed to her wanderings around the campsite. He wondered if she knew he had been watching her most of this week. One thing was for certain—he was determined to learn her secrets.
***
Galen was surprised to see Kira waiting at the edge of the camp the next morning as he’d instructed. Tyrrus must have sobered up enough to relay his message.
She turned away when she saw him, pulling her hood over her head.
He examined her appearance. Her cloak was nothing more than an old blanket fitted with a drawstring around the neck. Her tunic and trousers appeared to be relics from Tyrrus’ childhood, and her thin leather shoes were developing holes near the toes.
Her breath formed a white mist, and she shivered. “Master Tyrrus said you wanted me to be here.”
He motioned for Jaius to bring the two horses forward. She retreated from the horses, placing him between her and them. How sheltered Tyrrus had kept her? He took the horses’ reins from Jaius and brought them close to her.”You and I are going to go on a little quest.”
Her voice trembled. “We are?”
He extended one set of reins to her. “Yes.” He took a step closer to her, and she backed away. “It's faster on horseback than on foot, and these are two of the best horses in the camp. Take yours.”
She took the reins with a shaking hand and approached the still animal. Galen mounted his horse and waited for her to do the same, yet she continued to stare at it with wide eyes. She reached up to stroke its nose and snatched her hand back with a squeal when it jerked its head.
He grew impatient. “Get on your horse so we can go.”
Her gaze never wavered from the horse. “I don't know how.”
Galen closed his eyes and leaned forward in the saddle. It was going to be a long journey if this was how she was going to act. Did I make a mistake wanting to take her along? No, she needed to be watched, and he did not want anyone else to be burdened with that responsibility other than himself. “Jaius, help her up.”
In one fluid motion, the dark-haired elf lifted her off the ground and placed her in the saddle. He handed her the reins, which remained limp in her hands.
Bewildered, she looked from him to the reins. “How—I mean, what—” She shivered again. “I don't know how to ride a horse.”
Irritation prickled his skin. Jaius must have sensed it because he began explaining to Kira how to control the horse with the reins and how to nudge it into a walk. Her confidence increased, and at last, it jerked forward in a slow walk.
Her lips formed a tight smile as they left the camp behind them. “This—this doesn't seem too difficult.”
She still avoided eye contact with him. “Good. Then let's try something a little bit faster than
an old nag’s pace.” Galen kicked his horse into a canter.
A few seconds passed before he heard the gallop of another set of hooves behind him, followed by a scream. Her horse raced past him with Kira holding on to its neck for her life.
Groaning, Galen chased after her. He focused on maintaining control of his own horse as he reached for her reins. She continued to scream for it to stop, keeping her eyes closed. He reached out and missed the reins, his own horse almost colliding with the other. Tears streamed down her ashen face, and Galen realized at that second that he cared whether she lived or died.
He moved closer to her and reached his hand out again. The leather straps slipped through his fingers as he tried to close them. He felt a tug on his arm, and he knew he had them then. Both horses slowed to a stop.
His pulse pounded in his ears, but he could hear her whimpering softly next to him. Her arms clung around the horse's neck like a noose, as if it was still on its wild run. He waited a few minutes for her to regain her composure and then became impatient. Have I taken a grown woman or small child with me?
He reached his arm around her waist and after a few forceful tugs, he pried her lose and slid her on to his horse in front of him. He almost expected her to cling to it as she did hers, but she wiped her face with the backs of her hands instead. She sat in front of him, her back tense.
“You can ride with me today, I suppose.” Galen fastened the reins of the riderless horse to his saddle before he wrapped his left arm around her waist and urged his horse on.
She gasped when it accelerated to a full gallop and clutched his sleeve.
“Don't worry,” he murmured in her hair. “I have you.”
Kira loosened her grip and leaned back against him as the countryside passed by them in a blur. The sun had risen by this time, lighting up the green hills that rolled like waves on the ocean. In the distance, a small gray fleck grew larger and larger as they approached it. It was late afternoon by the time it rose into the first ridge of the Silver Mountains. Galen then steered his horse to the northwest, keeping the mountains to his left until he reached the rim of what appeared to be a vast green bowl of land surrounded by a crescent of mountain ranges. Satisfied with their progress, he stopped and dismounted.
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