Frustrated, she forced her legs to stand, a new wave of nausea nearly causing her to fall back to her knees. Errors had been forgiven in the past when a casualty of war was unavoidable, but the victims had been strangers. There was no room for error where Sivar was concerned. She may have failed her parents but she wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.
With slow, barely controlled steps Kaori made her way back to where her horse remained standing, nibbling on the tall grass alongside the road. Amidst the tumult of her mind there was one detail which remained at the forefront. You need to get home. If Therek was looking for her, he may have left a message in Rothdara. It was a start. Better than nothing. If Deliao suspected any of them, they could more easily feign innocence if they were safely tucked away in their houses and not wandering the streets where the rebels were known to be. She could send word to everyone to leave Amalo and await further instruction. It would be easier to think on what those instructions would be if she wasn’t surrounded by the evidence which fueled so much fear inside her heart.
Satisfied with her decision, she lifted herself onto the horse, renewed determination flashing in her eyes. She was going to find her brother, one way or another. Deliao and the Emperor believed her weak and foolish. And she couldn’t wait to see their expressions when she proved them wrong.
The wait was miserable. Kaori laid in her bed, staring up at the ceiling, lost in the depths of her own thoughts. Sleep had evaded her for days since she returned from Amalo. Therek was nowhere to be seen in Rothdara and, when questioned, the servants advised the Duke hadn’t come to call during Kaori’s absence. She had nothing to go by which could offer even the slightest solace. None of the people who followed her brother that night had been heard from since. Their disappearance heightened the quickly rising tensions amongst the rebels. Some feared the fate of lost friends and relatives while others were concerned that the General would uncover the identities of the rest and come for them all. While it was a valid concern, Kaori maintained an image of strength when a frightened Vor’shai showed up on her doorstep. They were going to find the others. The soldiers wouldn’t learn anything. Their friends would be returned safely soon enough. Lies. She knew they were, but it was the only way to keep everyone from succumbing to panic.
She continued to cling to the hope that Therek would come. Any news from Eykanua would be more than beneficial to the cause. Her followers wouldn’t be so easy to keep calm forever. There was already talk of a few men wanting to storm the Emperor’s palace. She didn’t hesitate to voice disapproval whenever the topic arose. Such a reckless act would accomplish nothing. Whatever they did, they had to be united or it would just serve to anger the Emperor and spark some new ridiculous decree which would suppress the Vor’shai even more.
Gradually, her eyelids began to feel heavy, dropping low as her thoughts became less coherent. Fatigue made it difficult to focus. Still, she continued to fight it. Afraid she might miss something if she allowed herself to drift off. Not that there was anything to miss. It was the middle of the night. The servants were asleep in their quarters and her visitors had all left for the evening. What would it hurt if she gave in to the darkness for a few minutes? An hour, perhaps. Just enough to rejuvenate her mind and help her think clearly again.
Everything around her started to fade away, the sweet release of sleep overtaking her body. It was within reach, muscles relaxed, the rampant flow of thoughts finally beginning to ease. She was nearly to a state of dreams when a clatter could be heard from somewhere in the house. One of the servants? Go back to sleep…
It came again, louder this time, like footsteps pounding along the hall outside her room. She couldn’t deny the closeness of it, her eyes instantly open to stare at the closed door through the darkness. Someone was coming. At the speed with which they moved, the person would be on her before she could get out of bed and retrieve the sword from her desk. If they attacked, she would have to defend with her hands. Idiot; she scolded silently. You shouldn’t have let your guard down.
At the sound of her bedroom door opening, Kaori sat up straight in bed, fists balled up in front of her in preparation to strike. Backed against the headboard she began to swing her arms wildly into the darkness, a scream building inside with a long inhale of breath, though no sound escaped before a slender, masculine hand clamped over her mouth, his hold gentle yet firm. Non-threatening. A soft voice hushed her from the shadows, a familiar cologne invading Kaori’s nostrils from where the intruder was positioned on the bed, one arm wrapped around her waist from the side to hold her still while the other remained securely across her mouth.
“Quiet. They will hear you if you scream.” Therek’s words didn’t register right away, confusing Kaori with their meaning. They? Did he refer to the servants? Oh, gods! Her heart raced, blood pulsing painfully hard through her temples, suddenly afraid of the man she had considered so trustworthy before. What did he intend to do to her? Maybe Liurn was right. Had she been wrong to defend his honor? Even Davian had voiced concerns about allowing Therek alone with her.
If her heart beat any faster, she feared it might burst through her breast and she would die there in Therek’s arms. Everything about their current position was inappropriate. This man was in her room in the middle of the night, on her bed, his arms and hands all over her body with nothing more than the thin fabric of her nightgown between him and her bare skin. She felt naked. Vulnerable. Therek was a better fighter than her. If he desired to force her into anything, he would succeed. And the worst part of it all was that she wasn’t entirely sure she minded.
The thought disgusted her. How can you think such a thing? It was improper. Lewd. Sinful. The gods would surely strike her down for being so lascivious. Trembling, she eased some of the tension in her muscles, hopeful that Therek would feel her giving in and release his hold over her mouth. She wouldn’t know the real reason for his unexpected visit to her bedchamber if she wasn’t able to speak.
Seeming convinced that Kaori wouldn’t disobey his request, Therek’s fingers loosened, the tips brushing her skin as he lowered his hand slowly, as if he feared she would tense again and scream just to spite him. She couldn’t deny that the thought crossed her mind. The only thing stopping her was the way he continued to hold her against him, protective. No malice or intent of force. “What are you doing here?” The question came without approval of conscious thought, her voice barely above a whisper.
His face was right by her ear, the warmth of his breath sending a shiver down her spine when he spoke. “General Deliao and an entire unit of his men are outside your front door.”
“What?” she gasped. It was the last thing she expected. Deliao was there? In the middle of the night? It didn’t make sense. There was no reason for him to be there, especially not at this hour.
With incredible speed Therek’s hand returned to her mouth at the high pitch of Kaori’s response, tightening his hold on her to prevent her from breaking free. At least for the moment. “I said be quiet,” he exhaled, the quickness of his breath noticeable to Kaori now for the first time. He was winded. His chest lifted and fell in a rapid pattern, fighting to maintain enough air in his lungs to speak. “Deliao is here to arrest you. If you desire to remain a free woman, I need you to come with me. Do you understand?”
He didn’t give Kaori a chance to argue, his long legs straightening to lift himself off the bed with Kaori still in his arms. She gave little resistance, her head reeling. This was her worst nightmare. Maybe it’s not real. She was so close to sleep. It was possible she had drifted further under than she thought and this was nothing more than a bad dream. But even in a dream she refused to stand there and let the soldiers take her away.
Once on her feet Kaori pulled out of Therek’s grasp, her eyes locked on the hook where her robe hung from the wall beside her bed. She may be a fugitive but she still had her dignity. Riding about the countryside in nothing but her nightclothes was unacceptable. “How are we going to get out without the
m seeing us?”
“Just follow me.” It was such a simple statement. As if he had absolute confidence in his ability to help her past the guards. If he possessed even the slightest concern, he didn’t show it. Other than his quickened breath caused by the exertion of running, he maintained his usual air of pride and self-assurance. Something in the way his eyes locked on hers, unwavering in their brilliant azure glow; she believed him. If she followed Therek, everything was going to be okay.
Without argument she fell into step behind him, the bottoms of her bare feet thudding harder along the wooden floor than she liked. Not the most graceful of displays but Therek would have to forgive her. In a matter of life and death there was no time to worry about trying to float on her feet with the elegance expected of a noblewoman. Therek’s own stride lacked his usual grace, leading her down the stairs and deeper into the large house toward the exit to the rear gardens.
She couldn’t help the confusion she felt at how familiar Therek was with the passages of the Levadis home. It was easy to forget how many years separated them in age. Long before she was born, Therek had walked these halls while visiting her parents. He probably knew them better than anyone outside the Levadis family.
A loud crash erupted from near the front of the house. Splintering wood. Heavy footsteps echoed through the spacious foyer, resounding throughout the house as a voice boomed, causing Kaori’s blood to run cold at the sound. “Kaori Levadis!”
General Deliao. Fearful that he had somehow taken notice of their presence, Kaori froze, inhaling a deep breath, her head turning to look behind them. It was impossible to see the front door from where they were. The only thing that would give away their location was the sound of Therek’s footsteps coming back for her, clasping her hand to urge Kaori onward. “Come, Kaori. We cannot linger here.”
A firm tug on her arm nearly caused Kaori to fall forward, stopped only by the support of Therek’s outstretched hand. He paused long enough to make sure she was steady before pulling her along again. Her heart ached as she followed him past the paintings mounted on the walls. Faces of her ancestors. Revered members of the Levadis line. She couldn’t help feeling as if she had let them down. There was no telling what the soldiers would do to the home if she got away. For generations the house had been in her family but that could very well end this night. Sivar’s voice rang through her head, reminding her of his concerns prior to his acceptance of her decision to lead the rebellion. He feared they would lose everything. With every passing second, she realized his warnings held more truth than she cared to admit.
She followed Therek to the back door, her eyes opening wide to see it shattered around the lock, its hinges pulled away from the frame, broken under the pressure from whatever had bypassed the latch. It was pointless to take offense to the damage, given the circumstances, but somehow the shock of the situation clouded her ability to see the reason for why it had to be done. “You broke into my house?” she gasped, mouth agape. At her question Therek turned to face her, posture straight, shoulders back, a hint of agitation visible on his regal features.
“Is this really the time?”
It wasn’t. Kaori didn’t have to speak the answer to know she was being irrational. Therek had come to warn her of Deliao’s arrival. His only option to reach her was to enter by force. Abashed, she shook her head, lowering her gaze to the floor. It was a wonder Therek bothered with her at all.
Movement could be heard throughout the house. Glass shattering. Furniture scraping across wood, crashing to the floor. Footsteps came from somewhere close-by, Kaori’s legs moving without conscious direction, running outside with Therek on her heels. They ignored the open door behind them as they hurried across the lawn toward the woods. It made little difference if the house was left unsecured. Protecting against thieves was pointless when the worst criminals in Carpaen were already inside.
By the time they reached the tree line she thought her lungs would explode. Strenuous activity was never something she had been good at. There was no reason for a young woman to exert herself in this way. If not for Therek’s insistent coaxing, she couldn’t say that she wouldn’t have given up.
Noise could still be heard from the house. Screams from the servants’ quarters rang through the night, growing louder with every window broken by the soldiers. Guilt crept over Kaori to think of the poor souls she left behind. They were innocent. Mere maids and cooks. She didn’t want to believe the Emperor’s men were cruel enough to slaughter someone accused of no crime. But they were within the Levadis home. Association alone was enough to condemn them to death. “I have to go back,” she breathed hard, trying desperately to inhale enough oxygen. “I cannot leave our servants to die.”
“You will only die with them if you go back,” Therek grabbed her shoulder, stopping her from turning around. His strength was both impressive and infuriating. As long as he had it in his mind to hold her back, she wasn’t going to go anywhere. “My horse isn’t far. Do not let them win.”
Win. Yes, in the end that was what this was all about. Victory. Loss. It was nothing but a game. One they had been playing since the day Deliao made the first move by arresting her parents. The first round may have been his, but she refused to give him the pleasure of besting her again. Giving in to Therek’s urging she tore her eyes from the house, allowing him to guide her further into the woods. It wouldn’t be long before the soldiers realized she was gone. Once that happened, escape would no longer be possible. Deliao would order his men to scour every inch of the property and there were too many of them to avoid for long.
Branches snagged her robe with every step, grabbing at her from the darkness like skeletal fingers. Hands of the dead Vor’shai she had been unable to save, now trying to get their revenge by holding her back. Frightened by the macabre thought she brought her hand up to slap at one of the branches, a sense of satisfaction coming over her to hear it snap under the force. It was just a branch. The dead weren’t coming for her. Not yet, anyway.
She couldn’t help admiring Therek’s figure as he moved swiftly along in front of her, the details registering in some deep level of her brain which sought to distract her from the chaos that had become her life. He was a thing of beauty amongst so much evil. The way his body seemed to glide across the ground, the leather of his knee-high boots perfectly polished, their sheen noticeable despite the lack of light, catching an occasional pocket of moonlight through the trees. Wind tousled his hair, the slight imperfection in his appearance almost seeming to make him more attractive. The angle of his jawline was perfectly sculpted. He turned to face her upon reaching his horse, offering her his hand. In that moment he looked perfect. His alabaster skin flawless, like that of a statue while his eyes shone brightly through the darkness, the beautiful shade of blue unlike anything she had seen before in her life.
What was wrong with her? The world was falling apart around her and all she could think about was his eyes. The shape of his muscular form. Of all the things she should be thinking about in that moment, Therek was definitely not one of them. Blood rushed to her cheeks at the realization that she had been staring at him, a blank look upon her face, his voice not registering as he tried to get her attention, waving toward the horse to direct her onto the animal’s back. Shaking her head she forced herself to release the reverie that had overtaken her so unexpectedly. “I am sorry,” she whispered, trembling slightly as she let her hand come to rest against Therek’s outstretched palm to accept his help in lifting her onto the saddle. “I must still be half-asleep.”
“You do appear rather dazed. I was beginning to fear you had gone into shock.” He looked her over with concern as he boosted her up, keeping a firm grip on Kaori’s hand until he was certain she wouldn’t slide back off the horse. Carefully, he let his fingers slip away, checking the tightness of the saddle before pulling himself into the seat behind Kaori.
Warmth built in the tips of Kaori’s ears, offering silent thanks to the gods that Therek couldn’t see he
r face. They were too close. The way his arms hugged tightly around her to hold the reins, feeling the movement of every muscle in his shoulders and chest as he directed the horse forward with a sharp dig of his heels against its sides. “Where do I go?” she turned her head toward her shoulder, hoping conversation might ease the disorientation she felt. It was a valid question. One which she genuinely desired to know the answer to. There were few places the soldiers wouldn’t think to look, all of which provided no guarantee of safety. Liurn would take her in, but his known friendship would make him a possible target. And Pehrona’s recent increase in affiliation with them both would place her in the line of suspicion as well.
Perfectly controlled in his movements, Therek snapped the reins before responding, his words partially carried away on the wind, though loud enough for Kaori to barely make out what he said. “Avishul. It will buy us enough time to think of something better.”
Avishul? He put himself at heightened risk by daring to take her in. If she was discovered in his company, the Emperor was sure to strip him of every title ever bestowed upon his family. Friend of the Emperor or not, it would make him an accomplice to treason. Even he wasn’t above the law when it came to betrayal. “Are you sure that is wise?” A lump began to build in the back of her throat, making it difficult to talk. Emotions weren’t something she gave in to frequently. She hated to think of Therek seeing her in such a state… again. Somehow he always managed to be the one with her when she lost composure. Tears already threatened, stinging the corners of her eyes at the thought of what just happened. Her brother was gone. The Levadis home was now left in the hands of the Emperor’s soldiers. Everything she owned was inside that house. All of it was gone. She couldn’t go back. Not without risk of arrest. And now Therek, a man whom she didn’t deserve any kindness from, was willing to throw his own life away to save hers. I have been so ungrateful. He deserves so much more...
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Four: In the Beginning Page 45
