Rasi watched as her breathing returned to normal. With her out of imminent danger, he turned his attention to his paralyzed strap. He cocked his head to the side and wondered why the other straps hadn’t helped their brother.
He reached for the leech.
As though another threat had arisen, the other confused straps shot into the air. One of them gently slithered around his neck and tightened slightly. Another one tied around his wrist. He froze. Eaaasy, he whispered while withdrawing his hand from the injured strap. The tension around his neck and wrist loosened. Once his hand was far enough away for their comfort, they released.
Rasi scanned the moonlit trees. Now what do I do with her? he wondered. Leaving her in the forest wasn’t an option, nor was being seen with her in town. He sighed again as he rubbed his forehead. He had no choice. If for no other reason than honor, he had to help her until she could take care of herself. Besides, ochrids were never far from their packs. He cradled her body in his arms and carried her to safety.
By the time he reached the base of Shadows Peak, his legs hated him, his sides stung with cramps, and his head spun worse than before. He glanced back at his worthless strap dragging behind and cursed it.
He carried her past the jagged rocks to where Salient drank from a small puddle. No dinner tonight, Salient. But I found a guest.
He draped the girl over Salient’s back and climbed up behind her. Salient clopped along the narrow canyon path until he came to Rasi’s cave.
CHAPTER 12
EMERALD MEMORIES
Rasi considered making the journey up the mountain to his home in the clouds but knew the day’s travel wouldn’t be wise. The lower cave had been his refuge from the cold so many years before and it would serve as refuge for this young girl this night. He leaned against the outside wall and dozed while the moon crossed the sky. His guest slept inside, snuggled in a fur beside his freshly built fire.
The peace of the early dawn erased the chaos from the night before. Rasi wiped the sleep from his tired eyes. A cool breeze brushed across his face. He wondered if it had been created by the wingspan of a stunning, rainbow-colored butterfly that fluttered past his nose. Gently, he guided his finger toward the soft creature and it landed atop his knuckle. Such reminders of the good left in the world were rare, but when one presented itself, he cherished it. Then, as quickly as his gift had landed, it floated away.
Rasi was excited, not because of the butterfly – well, not entirely – but because of his new company. He hadn’t heard a voice, other than the one in his head, for many years and was giddy about the prospect. Add that the voice would be a pretty woman’s and he could hardly bear the wait.
A rustle from inside startled him. He felt like a schoolboy about to meet his secret crush for the first time and yanked away the makeshift wood-and-twig door from the cave’s entrance. Not seeing her at first, he took a couple steps inside. The dawn’s light flickered across a pair of feet poking from the shadows. She clutched her knees against her chest, hiding her toes from the light.
He wanted to tell her everything was alright but was afraid his jumbled speech would frighten her more and feared that his voice wouldn’t be strong enough. He decided silence was a better route.
“Stay away from me,” she said.
Rasi slowed, his hands hovering in front of his chest in calm, nonthreatening movements.
She asked in his head, Who are you?
I am Rasi of Shadows P … He paused and took a stunned step back. I heard your thoughts, not your voice. How is this possible?
She ignored his question and scooted into the sunslight, perhaps to keep warm. Her fearful eyes followed his menacing straps. What do you want from me? Where is Blair? she asked, again in his head.
I shall not hurt you, young one. I only mean to help. Rasi took a gentle step closer. The man you were with did not survive, I am afraid.
She leaned from the shadows and for the first time Rasi saw her eyes – magnificent emeralds that stirred his memory. Eyes so beautiful, he could never forget them.
Her lower lip quivered and she turned away. “Where am I?” she asked.
You are at the base of Shadows Peak. You are safe. Still unable to fathom that she was indeed whom he thought, he asked, What is your name?
“I am Princess Alina of Epertase, daughter of King Elijah,” she said as if scripted.
Rasi tilted his head to the side. Young Alina, you have grown since we first met.
Again she brushed past his comments. “You say your name is Rasi? I’ve heard your name spoken in Thasula. They say you are evil – that you’ve killed many people.”
Well, not everything you are told is always truth. I have killed, that is undeniable, but I was a soldier.
She stared at him with wondering eyes. “Why do you not speak?”
Life is difficult here. He opened his mouth, halfheartedly showing her the hunk of mangled meat that once was his tongue.
She recoiled with a gasp.
He crept closer and kneeled on one knee, careful to keep a comforting space between them. He swayed, drunk on the ochrid’s poison, and braced himself with his hand against the floor. All but one of his straps floated behind him, following her every movement.
She scooted fearfully away. “Stay away from me. They say you were one of the men who killed my grandparents.”
They say a lot of things. He could tell she didn’t accept his answer but he didn’t much care. He was in no mood to be interrogated and especially not at the hands of his enemy’s daughter. She didn’t pursue, maybe out of fear of angering him.
She stared at his floating straps and asked, “And those? How is it that you wear those on your back?”
Again young princess, life is difficult here. He had no interest in elaborating and it would do her little good to persist. He bowed before her. How is it that you hear my thoughts?
She seemed more concerned with her surroundings than his pestering questions. “What?” she snapped. “Oh. I don’t know. I’ve always been able to communicate with Epertasians in such a way. I was born with the ability, I suppose. I suspect it is so even the mute in our kingdom has a voice.”
Can you hear all of my thoughts?
She pushed herself to her feet, consumed with her own worries.
Princess. Can you hear all of my thoughts?
“What? No, only those you project outward. Like talking.”
Can you hear me from your home?
She seemed agitated. “No. I can only hear as far as I can shout.”
One of Rasi’s straps floated past her face, forgetting she was there. She poked it as if no longer afraid. She was indeed brave, or at least curious to a fault. The startled strap retreated behind Rasi and cocked back for a strike.
Rasi snatched her wrist. Stay back. I cannot control them.
But she swatted his hand away and reached for it again. Her movements were gentle and calming. The other straps flared out, watching for the slightest flinch. But she didn’t cower and they didn’t attack. Rasi’s heart pounded against his ribs.
Don’t hurt her. Don’t hurt her. Don’t hurt her.
She touched the one nearest. The strap balked at first, flexed, and then, sensing her warm demeanor, relaxed into her hand.
Another strap drifted toward her face and brushed her cheek.
Incredible, Rasi said in his mind. They do not trust even me.
“Maybe they just need a woman’s touch.”
Rasi grinned for the first time in years. Her voice was everything he imagined. His grin faded as he wobbled and again slammed his hand to the ground.
“What is wrong with that one?” she asked, pointing to the paralyzed strap.
It was injured in battle. The ochrid that attacked you and your friend left a creature on it, a leech of some sort. Like the one that was on your back.
She crawled toward it, determined and fearless. She touched the wounded one, which sent the others into the air again.
Rasi r
eached for her hand. Stop! They will hurt you.
Again, she ignored him. She slid her fingers along the strap until she came to the leech-like creature. Fearlessly, she ripped it away. The once-paralyzed strap sprung into the air and retreated behind the others like a scared child. She threw the leech onto the cave floor. Rasi withdrew his sword and pierced the creature.
The dizziness and nausea faded until he felt normal again, or at least as normal as he had felt at any time during his banishment. They’ll be looking for you. We’d better get you back.
He escorted her from the cave, helped her onto Salient’s back, and led her over the rocky path into the forest.
At the edge of the Great Plains she leaped from Salient’s back. “Come with me. You deserve praise for rescuing me.” She touched his hand.
He shook his head. You shouldn’t be seen with me. He turned, felt her eyes on his back, and retreated into the woods.
CHAPTER 13
GIFTS
The rain fell with stinging regularity as Rasi ended another day of successful hunting. His prey, the cotee, though feisty, barely stood a chance. His salivating mouth could already taste the extra-salty meat of the rare creature. Even more than the short-lived flavor, he was excited for the softness of its endangered coat. She would make a fine pelt, he was sure. Maybe he would give it to Alina … if he ever saw her again.
Rasi slung the creature’s carcass onto the ground within eyesight of his cave’s entrance. The heavy rain allowed him to gut the creature closer to his home than he normally would as the rain would wash away the aroma, thus preventing other curious creatures from stumbling upon his cave. He withdrew a sharpened rock from his waistband and squatted over his catch. With a handful of fur clenched in one hand, he guided his rock toward the creature’s gut. Such brutality gave him little pause anymore.
While dressing his tasty meal, his mind continuously replayed his encounter with Alina as it had for the seventeen moons since they had met. He kept one cautious eye on his cave as the suns dropped behind the mountains. The cotee’s guts washed into the roaring river.
Rasi’s straps remained tense. Rasi, however, had long since ceased worrying about even the most vicious hunters in the region as, during his mountain solitude, he had likely slaughtered one of every species of killer alive. Or so it seemed.
He was almost finished when movement near his cave drew his ire. Though only a flash, something definitely moved. His straps cracked themselves against the rocky river bank in a display of dominance.
Stop drawing attention, he screamed in his head. Amazingly, the straps lowered calmly onto the rocks. If Rasi didn’t know better, he might think his appendages had understood him. He knew their first instinct was to attack, yet they relaxed. Maybe, he wondered, their years of hunting with him as their host had taught them a bit of trust in his skills. Perhaps they finally realized that his way, in the end, gave them ample opportunity to kill. Or maybe they simply had the same plan. No matter the cause, Rasi told himself it was progress.
He crouched to hide himself. Could Elijah’s soldiers have found him after all this time? Did Alina tell them where he was? He left the cotee on the rocks as he crawled toward the cave.
The intruder shuffled back into the dusk light briefly before disappearing into the mouth of his cave. That one fleeting glimpse of the intruder’s face caused him to forget how to breathe.
She came back?
His feet moved faster than he ever thought they could. Within ten horse-lengths, he froze with a terrible realization.
A trap!
He backed from the trail into the dark shadows of brush and rock, angry for allowing his emotions to best him. Where are the soldiers? How could he have been so sloppy?
“Rasi,” her voice echoed from inside.
Her voice was as melodious as he remembered. It had to be a trap.
“Rasi?” she shouted again, this time from deeper within the cave. “Are you here? It is I, Alina.”
Rasi didn’t know how to respond. He barely knew her, yet something about her seemed safe. He eyed the terrain for as far as he could see. Nothing appeared out of place; most importantly, nothing led him to believe he had been set up. Besides, if she had brought soldiers, surely they wouldn’t let her get so far in front of them. Not with a hated criminal such as himself. His mind argued with his heart. He knew not to fall for such an obvious ploy, but he also needed to see her more than he needed food or water or even life. With a grit of his teeth, his heart won.
Alina? He peeked into the cave. The flicker of his almost doused fire bounced across the soft silk of her exposed cheek. The soaking blanket draped over her head for cover dropped to the floor.
She looked at him with unsure excitement.
He wanted to smile but expected to be pounced on from behind and that fear brought him sadness unlike any he had felt in many years.
His face must have reflected his sadness because she asked, “Rasi, what troubles you?”
Rasi braced for the swarm of guards. When they come, he had already decided, he wouldn’t fight them. Her face alone was worth his hanging.
Why did you come back? After what I did for you, why would you lead them to me?
“What do you mean? Rasi, no.” Her shoulders dropped; her face wore concern. She scooped her wet blanket into her arms and ran toward him. He stumbled back a step. His straps rose above, uneasily.
“Rasi, I’d never.” She stopped before she reached him with her eyes on his straps. He stared at the ground. One by one his straps lowered, as if sensing that the threat had passed. She wrapped the blanket around his chest and pulled him against her soft body.
This couldn’t be real. He felt her breathing on his chest and it sent a chill up his neck. Against his every instinct, for a reason he still couldn’t explain, he trusted her completely. Maybe because she smelled like angels must.
You shouldn’t have come, he whispered in his mind.
“I had to see you again. You saved me. I’ll never forget that. I wasn’t followed, I assure you. My father believes I’ve turned in for the night.”
She whispered, “They say you killed a girl. I don’t believe it.”
Rasi turned away. I’ve killed a lot of people.
Her silence told him that his words startled her. He turned back and stared into her green eyes. I would never hurt you.
“I can tell that about you.” She hesitated with a slight grin.
You don’t fear me from these stories you’ve heard?
“I like to make my own judgments and from what I’ve seen, you have done nothing but help me.”
You are a princess. You cannot be here with a criminal.
Her eyes went wide and she ignored his concerns as she blurted, “I brought supplies.” She ran to a pack that rested against the cave wall near the entrance. She returned, full of enthusiasm, and presented it to him like a Matthew Day’s gift.
I don’t understand.
“I just thought … maybe … you could use some things.” She dug into the bag with tremendous zeal before pulling out a frilly white handkerchief wrapped around something silver. With the huge grin never leaving her lips, she unrolled her prize – a set of eating utensils.
Rasi forced a smile but his labored attempt gave him away. Her shoulders slouched. “How silly of me,” she said and turned away. “You don’t need things like this out here.”
Rasi strained to come up with comforting words and then they came to him. Nonsense. Do you know how long it has been since I was able to enjoy a meal like a regular man?
She gazed at him seemingly searching for a hint that he was lying. “Are you sure?” she asked.
Everything that can make me remember life away from here is something I cherish. Thank you.
She smiled, pleased with herself. “Wait, I brought more.” She dug through the pack until she pulled out a folded piece of fabric. “I made a blanket for you.” She unfolded the multicolored patchwork blanket and it was the ugliest yet
most beautiful thing he could imagine.
I love it, he told her with enough sincerity to show he meant it. Are you doing alright? After your friend died, I mean.
Her green eyes blurred with tears. She quickly swiped her hand across her eyes, first one and then the other. With a deep breath, she seemed to ignore his question.
“I brought something else for you. I want you to think about what I say and consider my offer.” She removed a dark knitted hat, a pair of laced leather shoes, and a bag of gold and silver coins. “I want you to come back to Thasula. I want you to wear this hat and cover your straps with your furs. I will help hide you until I can convince my fath …”
Rasi pulled away, shaking his head. I cannot come back. I will not hide in a kingdom where the people turned their backs on me. No, I will return on my own one day when I am welcomed. Or be carried when I am dead.
He could tell his words made her sad because she hesitated and stared at the ground. She searched for comfort. “Well,” she said. “I am leaving this here in case you change your mind. I can only hope that the gold and silver will aid you in some way one day.”
Rasi nodded his appreciation. Are you hungry? he asked.
“No. Are you?”
His stomach’s rumble answered for him even as he shook his head that he wasn’t.
“Please, do not let me stand in your way.”
He backed out of the cave and onto the path. The rain was slowing and the suns were nearly gone but he could see his prize – his cotee. It was being dragged into the brush by a lucky scavenger or two.
He walked back into the cave. I wasn’t much hungry anyway, he told her.
She smiled the same smile he had replayed in his head a thousand times since their first meeting. She said, “I see you have berries over there.”
Yes.
Light of Epertase 01: Legends Reborn Page 6
