“Yeah,” Moose replied over his shoulder, already turning back towards the stream. Aiden quickly grabbed his axe and caught up to him. Sure enough, beside the small stream was a tiny black cub, an arrow sticking out of his chest. Turning away, he swallowed the bile that had filled his mouth. Something about killing and eating a bear made him feel sick.
“Come on, let’s get him and go,” Moose was saying. He crouched down beside the animal and lifted it unceremoniously over his shoulder. He turned to look back at Aiden, then froze. A look of sheer panic filled his face. There was a low rumble behind him.
“It’s the mother isn’t it?” he asked, not turning to look himself. Moose looked at Aiden, but he didn’t nod his head. It didn’t matter, Aiden knew. Without waiting for it to attack first, Aiden took a deep breath, then turned quickly, moving forward as he did, his axe raised high in the air. A cry filled the air, which Aiden realized afterwards was his own. The bear was huge, but he had almost singlehandedly taken out an army of beasts that were made of harder skin than this bear was. For some reason, he wasn’t scared. He was thrilled.
The bear stood up, towering over him, and let out a loud growl. Aiden swiped down quickly, sinking his blade into the bear’s right side. It screamed in pain and anger, claws narrowly missing his face. Dropping into a roll, he quickly moved around to the back of the massive animal, slicing the back of its hind leg. Another furious growl filled the quiet solitude of the forest, followed by a loud thump as it hit the floor. No longer able to stand, the bear turned on all fours, charging towards Aiden with speed that was unexpected for its size. Cursing, Aiden fell backwards into a bush alongside the water. Thorns bit deep into the back of his legs and arms, pain searing throughout his body. The mother bear was on top of him now, her breath blowing into his face. Large white teeth dripped with saliva as she prepared to kill him. Suddenly she reared up, toppling away from him long enough for Aiden to regain his footing. An arrow stuck out of the back of the animal, Moose stood frozen in the same spot, his bow empty. Having no breath to say thank you, or time, Aiden quickly rushed at the bear again, swinging a fatal blow with his axe right into the back of the mother’s skull. It collapsed onto the ground, a final growl escaping her mouth before she lay still.
Aiden stood over the animal, his breath coming out sharp and quick. He looked back over at Moose, who had lost all the colour in his face. “Thanks,” he said between gasps. Moose mutely nodded his head back. The small stream sounded oddly quiet now after the attack. None of the other Riders had come.
“Well,” Moose said, interrupting the silence. “That was – unexpected.”
“You did kill her child,” Aiden pointed out, looking down at the large mound of fur.
Unexpectedly Moose began to laugh. Aiden looked questioningly over at him. “I can’t believe you just killed that thing,” he chuckled. “My father is going to have a feast in your honour. Come on, let’s get it out of here.” Shifting the small cub further up between his cheek and shoulder, Moose walked over and grabbed one side of the mother bear.
“You want to bring this back?” Aiden asked, his voice betraying his surprise, and horror.
“Are you kidding? This is going to feed the whole village! Damn right we’re taking it.”
“Uh, Moose, do you realize how heavy a bear is? There is no way the two of us will be able to carry it back ourselves,” Aiden pointed out, eyeing the animal warily.
Moose brushed him off. He bent down and grabbed the shoulders. “How much could it possibly weigh?” Aiden watched as Moose tried to lift its shoulders. He laughed as Moose’s face turned red with exertion.
“I told you –”
Moose quickly cut him off. “Don’t say it! Come and help me. This is only difficult because I’m doing it by myself.” Cleary there was no dissuading him. With a heavy sigh, he walked to the other end and grabbed hold of the bear. “Ready?” Moose called out, rubbing his hands together. “On the count of three.”
Aiden waited until three, and lifted his end effortlessly. He looked over at Moose, who was watching him with wide eyes.
“You’re not even breaking a sweat,” Moose said, awed.
“Maybe this end just isn’t as heavy as yours,” Aiden offered.
Moose shook his head emphatically. “My side isn’t even that heavy anymore, Aiden. You’re compensating for most of the weight right now. Isn’t it heavy for you?” he asked while he eyed Aiden’s arms suspiciously.
Aiden shrugged. He didn’t have an explanation, but for some reason the weight of the bear felt like nothing to him. He eyed himself, wondering why that was. He wasn’t that strong.
“You’re so weird,” Moose whispered. Aiden looked up at him, offended. “It’s so awesome.”
“Let’s just go,” Aiden sighed.
When they came out of the forest almost everyone else was there. Hawk turned to look at the boys, his eyes widening in the surprise at the kill they both carried. Moose smiled his boyish grin over at his father.
“Looks like the great warrior has proven himself!” he called out. Aiden’s cheeks immediately heated. There was a moment of silence before everyone erupted into laughter and cheers. Hawk walked over and gave Aiden a slap on his back.
“You are officially a Rider now, my boy!” he said, affectionately. “Let us feast!”
* * * * *
She woke with a start. Something wasn’t right. Diana looked around her small cottage. It was still night. Sweat dripped down the sides of her face, her hair matted to her head. There was a dream – no, a feeling. Something had passed over her while she slept. Getting up, she walked over to the small kitchen and put water over the hearth. There was no point in going back to sleep now – not until she figured out what had woken her so suddenly. Looking out her front window, she scanned the perimeter of the clearing, looking for any intruders that might have interrupted her rest. It was unlikely, especially with all the spells she cast about the place. If anyone approached, she would have been warned much sooner. Still, something felt wrong. Something in the very pit of her stomach.
The two moons shone brightly in the sky, casting their blue glow down on the ancient forest. It was a beautiful, clear night. As far as Diana could see, nothing seemed amiss.
“What is it?” she wondered out loud. Just as she thought it, a flicker of movement caught her eye. It was white and quick. Casting out a sensory spell, Diana searched the surrounding area for threats. She felt her then, not far from where the forest cleared around her cottage. Grabbing her cloak, Diana walked out to meet the visitor, knowing there was no way she would enter the clearing willingly. Forest people did not like the magic Diana and her kind used. They rarely came as close as this one did to the home. Something must have happened to bring her here.
“Show yourself,” Diana called out, her voice firm. A small figure stepped out from behind a tree, formally curtseying low to the ground.
“My Lady,” she greeted in a light, smooth voice. Her hair was white with streaks of blue throughout. It was cut just below her ears, and stuck out in wild directions as if it had been caught in the trees of the forest while the girl ran. Leaves and twigs stuck in between the strands. Even in the lighting, Diana could see the bright whiteness of her eyes. It was disconcerting to look at her, Diana thought. It felt like the girl could see right through her. There were no pupils, just white. She had the tiny, pointed features, but her thin lips held none of the mischief Diana was used to.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” Diana asked, her voice even, despite the nervousness the girl ignited in her.
“Pleasure is a false word, I should think, but I won’t hold it against you,” she replied, smiling softly. “I have come on behalf of my sister. She has informed me that the great warrior has returned, and thought it would be wise to inform you.”
“The great warrior? Aiden?” Diana gasped. It came back to her then, the image she had as she slept – or more, the feeling. Something had disturbed the guard aro
und Eden, and now she knew what. Aiden. “How is that possible? Where is he?”
“With the Riders, my Lady, in the west. My sister assumed you did not bring him here yourself. Something…” she paused, “doesn’t feel right.” There was no disagreeing there. Diana took a deep breath before smiling at the girl.
“Thank you for bringing me this news. It is indeed worrisome. Tell your sister I thank her as well.” The forest girl sank to the floor again before disappearing quickly. Turning back to her house, Diana went inside and began packing a small bag. She was going to have to take a trip into the Capital. Diana did not like leaving her home, especially when she had to go inside the city walls, but the forest girl had been right. Something didn’t feel right and Jameson needed to know.
CHAPTER TEN
The halls of the castle were cold. Freezing winds assaulted the stone walls outside, and little traces of bitter air seeped through the cracks. It had been much warmer inside the library. This was, by far, her favourite room in the unfamiliar castle, but the ladies there would not stop looking at her and Rose had finally had enough. Excusing herself, she told them she was going for a walk. A round of objections erupted, until she clarified that she meant only within the halls of the castle. No one would let her outside the walls, except when she was with Callum. It was increasingly frustrating the way everyone treated her like she was either a fragile piece of glass that would break at any moment, or like an outsider that they didn’t trust and therefore wanted nothing to do with. Not everyone had accepted Callum’s girl when they returned from the battle, but because of who Callum was, they were forced to treat her with at least feigned kindness.
Looking out through a small window along the north side of the castle, Rose saw only the snow covered peaks of the mountains around them. She desperately wished Callum was here with her, but he was meeting with Brutus all morning. They would not see each other until that evening. Back in her home village, before she had been taken by the northern army, she had been allowed out to explore the forests nearby, or go riding in the afternoon sun. It was different here. Despite her condition, she wanted to feel free if this was to be her new home, but the court ladies would not hear of it. Absently she ran her hand over the bump that was growing larger each day, humming a nursery song that her mother sang to her when she was a girl.
Turning, she began walking slowly down the poorly lit hall, enjoying the simple pleasure of walking, instead of sitting in silence among the other ladies. It had been half a year since the battle in Central Eden, and ever since, her life had taken a sudden and unexpected turn. In truth, it had started even before that, but her decision to stay with Callum had sent her into unknown territory.
After Callum, the youngest son of the late High King Elrond, and brother to the current High King Jameson, had taken her from her home as a prisoner of their war, she had stayed by his side for reasons that were unclear to her at the time. What was more surprising was the odd sense of familiarity and comfort she began to feel around him and Brutus the Red, leader of the North, even though it was their fault her whole family was dead, save for her brother Felix who was with the High King’s army in the Capital City. Many nights, before she fell asleep, Rose thought about her brother, and wondered what he was doing. She missed him, and often regretted not reuniting with him, but she had made her decisions, even though they were difficult to make. She shuddered at the thought of what her father would say if he were alive.
Before the battle began, Callum had sent her away, giving her a horse and the opportunity to escape the imprisonment of the northern army – and to find Felix. In the beginning, she had every intention of doing just that, but then he had kissed her before she left. Something inside her told her what she once believed was very different from the truth. Despite telling herself that she hated Callum, and only wished to find her brother, she found herself turning around and going back to the northern army’s camp. It was the most nerve wracking thing she had ever done, but she didn’t regret it – despite the cold welcome she received from the northern court upon their return. She had Callum. That was all that mattered. Her thoughts travelled back to that day, a small smile creeping onto her face as she remembered.
* * * * *
The horse ran full out the whole time. They had made better timing on the way back than they had when they left. She became nervous as she realized what she was doing, but she couldn’t stop herself. His deep chocolate brown eyes filled her mind, the way they sometimes looked so sad, or the way they held humour when she was defiant. And his mouth – its perfect shape, and the way his lips had felt against her own, even though it had only been for a brief moment. It made her heart speed up, and pushed her forward even faster as she rode. When they finally reached the camp again it was empty. The sound of fighting was not far off and raised goose bumps along her arms. It was stupid for her to stay out in the open, so she slid off the horse, tied it to a nearby tree, and quickly found her way back to the tent they shared. Sounds of men yelling filled the air around her, making her sick to her stomach. Lying in the bed, Rose pulled the thick fur blankets over her head, trying to hide herself from the horrors that took place not far from where she was.
Without realizing she was doing it, Rose fell asleep beneath the warmth of the furs, and only awoke when she heard the heavy footsteps of soldiers. Men were yelling orders, and from the sound of it, they were packing up to leave again. Something had happened. They lost. Despite her feelings for Callum, she couldn’t help but feel relieved, praying that Felix would be safe now. Trying her best to flatten her red curls, she waited patiently for Callum to return, expecting an immediate departure. It wasn’t long before the flaps of the tent were pulled back, and he came through, dropping bloody weapons down in exhaustion. He was lost in thought, and didn’t notice her at first. Not wanting to startle him, Rose waited silently for him to see her. Slowly, his head lifted, and the dark eyes she had grown to love – yes love, she would have to admit it now, it was the only explanation for her actions – found her sitting in the middle of the bed. An array of emotions flitted through his eyes has he stared at her.
“I know you told me to leave –” she started to explain, but got no further. Without a moment’s hesitation he was across the small space, lifting her off the bed into a strong embrace as if she weighed nothing. She clung to him, wrapping her arms around his neck as he buried his face in her long hair. They stayed like that for what seemed like forever, neither saying a word. Then he pulled back, and the most beautiful smile was on his face. She smiled back at him, a wave of relief washing over her. “I didn’t know if you’d be angry.”
“Angry? Why?” he said, the first words out of his mouth.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d want me here,” she replied honestly. It had occurred to her on the way back that she might be a nuisance to him, which would explain why he had let her leave. The fear had made it that much harder to return, but she had to be sure.
Callum chuckled darkly, his eyes looking over her face slowly. “You are the most beautiful creature I have ever met, and the only thing in my life that makes me truly happy. Why, in all of Eden, would I be mad that you came back? It was the one thing I truly hoped for.” Warmth spread in her stomach and tears sprang to her eyes again. “I love you Rose, and I never want to part with you again.” Then he kissed her before she could respond. This kiss was not like the other. It was a deep kiss, one that left her breathless. His mouth was urgent on hers, hungry and full of emotions that made her feel fuller than she had ever felt. Her arms tightened around him, crushing her body against his. His hold tightened in response, making it difficult for either of them to breathe.
Carrying her to the bed, he laid her down gently, his large body hovering carefully above hers. They finally broke apart, each breath coming out fast and hard. Staring into his gentle eyes, Rose knew there would never be anyone else that she loved like she did Callum. She didn’t remember exactly when she said the words, but at some point within that
hour she had told him at the height of their passion, and he said them back over and over again. After, they had lain in each other’s arms and he told her they had lost the fight. The whole army was to return to the north to recuperate. It wasn’t over, he said, but for now they would leave.
* * * * *
Although it wasn’t truly her home, Callum had done his best to make her comfortable, and when they found out she would be bearing his first child, he hardly ever left her side. Today was the first day that they were separated. Rose assumed that meant that their army was strong again, and would resume their assault against the High King. She rubbed her stomach again at the thought of Callum going off to fight. They hadn’t talked about it yet, but she was worried he would expect her to stay at the castle. That was something she refused to do. The idea of being away from him for that long made her sick. Regardless of her condition, she would accompany him. Smiling, she knew her best bet was to bring it up in front of Brutus. Despite his reputation of being a cold, ruthless killer, Rose found Brutus charming, kind, and often quite funny. It was odd that she had grown affection for the man, but it seemed to be returned on his end, and he would often pick her side during arguments. She knew he would agree that she should go, simply for the fact that it would get under Callum’s skin.
As she walked past another window, warm rays of sunshine began to peer through the cloud-filled sky. Stopping to look, Rose suddenly had the urge to be out of the stone prison that was her home. It had felt like forever since the last time she went for a ride, and the day was starting to turn into a nice one. There was no point in wasting it inside. Picking up her pace, Rose began the decent down a spiral staircase that led to the main hall. The castle was older than Rose could even imagine. Grey stones made up the inside and outside walls. It was a solid structure, built into the side of a mountain. Soldiers stood on guard along the perimeter wall all day in case of an attack. It hadn’t happened yet, and Rose doubted it ever would. Not only was it well guarded, but the ascent to the castle was long and often treacherous. An army would find it quite difficult to make it without attracting a lot of attention.
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