He gave a devious wink before turning away, moving toward the door at a swift pace. Disconcerted by his unexpected shift in demeanor Kaori quickly fell into step behind him, her hand reaching out to try and grab at the back of his doublet, desperate to stop him from leaving. She wasn’t keen on the idea of Therek taking the document with him. After all his arguments for why that piece of parchment could lead to his ultimate demise, it baffled her to think he would now decide to present it and risk sparking Sulel’s ire. “Therek, wait,” she pleaded, her fingertips brushing along the soft fabric at Therek’s back, barely missing him as he took another step. At her protest he gave a brief pause, throwing a curious glance over his shoulder to where she stood.
Brow raised, he waited quietly for her to say something. Kaori’s mouth hung open, sentences flowing through her mind that she wanted to say, none of which would be appropriate. She didn’t want him to go, but every reason she was able to decipher from her incoherent thoughts went against everything she had preached about emotions getting in the way of their mission. His return to Eykanua was a necessary risk they needed to take for the sake of the cause yet she yearned to keep him in Siundel so she could make sure he was safe. Free from harm at Sulel’s hands. Therek was a loose end that Sulel would have to cut in order to ensure his continued reign as Emperor. She couldn’t bear the thought of letting him go, knowing that if anything were to happen, she would be powerless to stop it.
She had to say something. Her outburst was too desperate to let it linger between them without giving a reason. Think quick. There had to be a request she could make which would explain the interruption. Racking her brain, she tried to come up with a clever remark to conceal the real reason for trying to stop him but nothing came to mind which would merit the urgency with which she had called out. “Be careful.” You idiot! Of all the things she could have said, that was the most ridiculous statement of all. After so many attempts to appear indifferent, the request sounded too sincere. Worried. Overly solicitous. It belied the image of cool confidence she wanted so badly to portray.
“My, my, Kaori,” he tossed a charming smile over his shoulder. “Is it possible the great Lady Levadis is concerned for my safety?”
Wrinkling her nose in disdain she jutted her chin out in defiance, embarrassed by the jab so clearly aimed at her. Did he really think her so heartless or did he merely seek to aggravate her? Not that he had to work very hard to accomplish that. “I was only attempting to be civil. You will have to forgive me if I have not yet perfected the art of feminine etiquette and gave you the wrong impression.”
The lighthearted expression on Therek’s face gradually faded, replaced by the usual somberness Kaori had become so accustomed to seeing there. His eyes held her gaze, their azure glow brightening, beautiful in that instant, like two shimmering gemstones perfectly positioned at the center of his elegant features. Turning slightly, he granted himself a better view of where Kaori stood, drawing in a deep breath before saying anything. “The sentiment is appreciated. I, however, must request that you be careful as well, though I do not do it out of mere civility. This world is more dangerous than you know and while you are a remarkably strong woman, there will come a time when you will have to realize that it is not a show of weakness to ask for help. I only regret that if such a time comes to pass while I am in Eykanua, I will not be here to provide the assistance you need.”
Touched by the sincerity in his words, Kaori lowered her head, the harshness in her eyes dissipating to reveal the gratitude in the depths of her silvery gaze. She couldn’t repay his honesty by throwing more lies in his face. They were preparing for war. And though she hated to consider the possibility, she couldn’t deny that there was a very real chance she may never see him again after this moment. He deserved at least some show of compassion from her after everything he had done. “I share a similar regret that I will not be there with you as well. Promise me that you will not let Sulel be responsible for you not making it back to Siundel.”
The steadiness of Therek’s gaze faltered somewhat. He had never responded well before when she attempted to show benevolence. She only hoped he wouldn’t press the matter. The last thing she wanted was to break down in front of him now. If anything happened to either of them, she prayed he would continue to remember her as the strong woman he revered her for being.
Overcome by some strange emotion Therek moved toward Kaori once again, his arms wrapping around her in a tight embrace before she could back away, squeezing her against him protectively, yet gently, not wanting to hurt her. She stood perfectly still at first, unsure of how to react. There was so much fervor in the gesture! Like a man embracing his lover before going off to war. It pained her to feel him there, knowing that he was leaving and there was nothing she could do to make him stay. Putting aside her suspicions and fears, she allowed her heart to win the battle, her own arms lifting to wrap around Therek, burying her face in the velvety folds of his doublet. Inhaling deeply, she took in the scent of him. Savoring it. Not wanting to forget anything about the way he looked and felt in that moment. Once they separated from each other, she couldn’t be sure they would ever find themselves in such an amicable display again.
“I will come back,” he whispered softly into her ear, tightening his hold on her one last time before slowly forcing his arms to release their impassioned grasp. Without giving her a chance to say anything in response to his unusual show of affection he stepped backward, holding her gaze for a final moment before turning away, pausing only briefly to face her one last time from the doorway. “Whatever happens in Eykanua, rest assured that I will not leave you to fight this battle alone. When my business with Sulel has concluded, I will be yours to command as you see fit. Have faith in me, Kaori. I give you my word that I will not let you down.”
The house felt empty without Therek. He hadn’t been gone more than a few minutes, the scent of his cologne still lingering in the air, Kaori’s eyes fixed on the door where he had said his final goodbyes. An ache in her chest felt as if she had been run through with a blade, an invisible string pulling her in the direction he’d gone, blocked by the heavy wooden door which stood between her and the outside world. She couldn’t go through it. There was no way to know what lurked in the trees along the road.
Her head reeled over the last conversation with Therek before his departure. He was a confusing man. Impossible to understand. Since helping her escape Deliao in Rothdara she couldn’t deny a noticeable difference in his behavior, especially the manner in which he regarded her. From the night they first met he had been a sarcastic, sometimes cruel man when it came to putting her in her place and reminding her of the limited experience she possessed in all things. Pride made her hate him for saying the things he did because she disliked the fact that he was right. She was sheltered. Naïve. Coddled by her parents for far too long before being allowed to stretch her legs and learn what life was really like. It was just unfortunate that their inability to let her grow up was what hindered her now. Wanting so desperately to be the sagacious and resourceful leader her people needed but constantly falling short of the expectations she placed upon herself. Therek’s blunt honesty had a way of throwing her shortcomings in her face and knocking her ego back down when she found herself built up too high by Liurn’s inflated praises bestowed upon her in hopes of gaining her affection.
At the same time she found herself drawn to Therek. When she was a child she read books which claimed that love and hate went hand in hand. That couldn’t be more true when it came to her feelings for that man. She hated him for keeping her grounded, wanting nothing more than to push him away but her arms instead sought to draw him in. Mingled with the frustration he made her feel, the flutter in her chest when in his presence was enough to let her know why she no longer experienced such things with Liurn. There was a distinct difference between the two men. Both were admirable in their own way. Perfect mates for any woman. Liurn had a wild passion about him. Young and exuberant. Full of life.
At times overzealous. Easily distracted by his heart.
Then there was Therek. Older. Wiser. A bit hardened in comparison, though Kaori sensed a similar passion inside him which he fought to restrain. Somewhat jaded by the things he had seen and experienced over the years. He didn’t feel the need to build anyone up with false compliments or seek the approval of those around him. He was comfortable with who he was and there was something oddly attractive about that in a man. It showed strength. Confidence. His levelheaded nature made him perfect for Kaori’s free spirit, preventing her from flying away and losing herself while not holding so tight that she couldn’t spread her wings. He kept her balanced. Made her feel whole. With him gone, she already felt the emptiness in her arms, having been granted a taste of what it was like to hold him against her only to then have him taken away.
Lost in thought, she shuffled dreamily across the foyer, the bottoms of her feet never lifting from the floor with each slow, distracted step. Her fingers lightly played over the thin fabric of her dress, the violet-blue color looking darker in the dimmed light of the spacious room. Only one of the magnificently large chandeliers had been lit overhead, providing barely enough illumination to see more than a few feet ahead of her, each flickering flame playing atop the candles, shadows writhing across the walls in an eerie dance. It looked so different now than it had the night she first set foot in the Losuva home. The massive foyer had been filled with people, brilliantly lit from end to end, servants bustling to offer refreshments to the guests. Coming to stand in front of the entrance to the ballroom she let her eyes lift to stare up at the heavy pair of doors, taken back to that night in her mind. She could picture the servant who stood at the door, the sound of his voice announcing her and Sivar’s arrival to the party. I present Mister Sivar Levadis and the Lady Kaori Levadis. She lifted her chin up high at the memory, reminded of the way everyone had stopped to look at her when her name was spoken. No one knew her then. She was new to society. A mystery. Now it seemed everyone was aware of the name Kaori Levadis, speaking of her as if she was a character in some great legend. But that legend remained in the process of being written and up until now it was far from great. Still, she couldn’t help the feeling that she could make it better. If she could arise victorious against Sulel and General Deliao, the name Kaori Levadis would become a fixture in history, her story told throughout generations of free Vor’shai. A smile played over her lips to consider the possibility. How amazing it would be if the Levadis name was forever remembered as the savior of her people.
A loud click from somewhere caught Kaori’s attention, her eyes darting through the darkened room in search of what made the noise. One of the servants, perhaps? They moved about the house so soundlessly, it was easy to forget they were there at times.
Nervously, she let her gaze trail over to the door, on guard, afraid of what she might find. The soldiers had caused damage to the latch when they forced their way inside. It would be an easy task for someone else to apply force to the same area of the door and achieve entry. Click. The sound came again, this time followed by a short rattle of the knob. Someone was outside. Therek? No. He wouldn’t have need to spend so much time getting in. It was his house. Whoever was out there now clearly sought a way inside without use of a key.
Horrible images flashed in front of her eyes. Pictures of soldiers bursting through the door to take her away. And she was just standing there! If it was Deliao, she was making herself far too easy to catch. Run. It didn’t matter who was outside. If it wasn’t Therek, she shouldn’t allow herself to be seen.
Frightened at the thought of what might happen she gasped to hear the sound again, a hard thud resounding through the spacious room. Like something hard being slammed against the outside of the door in attempts to break through. She was in motion before her mind registered what was happening, moving through the house to find someplace to hide.
Her lack of familiarity with the home made the task more difficult. Without Therek to help her, the hidden room in his study was out of the question. She may be able to get inside on her own but she couldn’t replace the rug to conceal its location. There had to somewhere else. Her heart pounded wildly, slamming against the inside of her chest, making it difficult to breathe. She felt foolish for not having prepared for the possibility of Deliao’s return. Therek’s supposed orders to return to Eykanua could have been a clever trick. A lie to get him to leave the house so Deliao could search every inch of the home for some sign that she was there. And if she didn’t think of something fast, he might find exactly what he was looking for.
Down the corridors she could hear the final crack of the door being forced open. Voices reached Kaori’s ears, muffled from the distance she already placed between herself and the foyer, yet loud enough to indicate several people were now inside the home. Men. Each tone was too low for a woman. Afraid that her footsteps might be overheard, she came to pause, pressing her back against the wall, head tilted back, desperately trying to regain control of her breathing so as to not give away her location. Over her sharp intakes of air she could make out an occasional word from the intruders, hoping to determine who they were and what they wanted. Something about a girl. Her? There was only one girl they would be looking for. You have to get out of here. Regardless of the dangers she would face on the roads, her continued presence in Therek’s home left them both at risk. If she was discovered, Deliao would know Therek lied. His cooperation in aiding her made him an accomplice to treason. Only if Deliao finds out… She couldn’t assume it was Deliao who gave the orders to these men. If Sulel wanted her badly enough, he would have put a price on her head. Every bounty hunter in Carpaen would be after her for the gold – and whatever else they could get out of it.
With a final glance back toward the front of the house she pushed herself away from the wall, eyes straight ahead as she moved deeper into the massive structure. There was a door near the back which led to the stables. Her memory was vague but she remembered being led through it during her previous visit to Siundel. The woods. She could try to escape through the trees and worry about the soldiers on the road later. One or two men she might be able to fend off. The current odds were stacked too highly against her.
As the door came into view she didn’t dare hope that she was safe. Footsteps could be heard throughout the halls, ringing in Kaori’s head, not wanting to chance a glance over her shoulder in fear of what she might see. Keep moving. Looking back would only slow her down.
Hands out in front of her, she grasped the knob firmly, a pathetic whimper escaping her to feel it resist. The lock. She didn’t have time for this! Her arms and legs trembled uncontrollably, her fingers frantically sliding along the surface to release the latch. It gave way under the renewed urging of her hands, a burst of cool air hitting her in the face as she stumbled through the door out into the rear grounds of the Losuva estate.
Her stomach churned fearfully to see the woods, a long stretch of open yard standing between her and the safety of the trees. She couldn’t turn back now. Staying in the house was no longer an option.
Grabbing the folds of her skirt in her hands Kaori took off across the grass, cringing at the sound of the door slamming shut behind her. Damn! In her haste she failed to take into account the power she utilized to get outside, paying no mind to the weight of the wood as she released her hold. If the men hadn’t been aware of her presence before, they were now, and every last one of them would be on her soon. She just needed to reach the woods. From there she could find somewhere to hide. Lay low for a while until the men had passed.
Thoughts swam through her mind with no cohesion. She was too frightened to think. From behind she could hear the door opening, voices shouting at her. Stern. Authoritative. Amidst her frenetic thoughts she almost laughed, wondering if those men truly believed her foolish enough to stop at their command.
Just a little further and she would be in the woods. Four steps. Three. Two. A strained groan was the only sound she could muster in
celebration of making it this far. But the men were still coming. Her legs were already shaking, threatening to give out if she didn’t rest soon. A burning in her lungs had begun, her breaths short and ragged, unable to take in enough air with each panicked gasp. Sticks and leaves cracked under her feet, making it impossible to hide her location. Branches scratched at her bare arms, the pain not registering in her frantic mind. Her body was numb. Deprived of air. Survival instinct the only thing which provided the strength for her to continue.
Mid-stride she felt her shin connect with something on the ground, her body stopped short, pitching forward over a large root to land face-first in the moist soil. Upon impact, what little air she held in her lungs was pushed out, leaving her momentarily paralyzed. Gasping for breath. Her fingers dug into the dirt to try and pick herself up off the ground. The men were coming closer. Move! Like a puppet commanded by its marionette she gathered her remaining strength to stand and resume her frantic pace through the woods.
The men were gaining on her. She let her eyes glance from one tree to the next, contemplating whether or not she could get herself up into the branches before her assailants became aware of her hiding place. To her dismay, the answer was no. They were too close and she lacked the upper body strength to climb with the speed required to pull off the feat. She had to keep moving. Her life depended on it.
“Kaori Levadis!” a voice boomed from somewhere in the trees, ringing in Kaori’s head. She didn’t recognize the man. His tone lacked the arrogance she was accustomed to hearing from Deliao yet she sensed no gentility which would indicate he was a friend. It was to be expected. Even if Deliao was behind this, he wouldn’t want to break a sweat. He had other men who would do the dirty work for him so that he could be composed while reveling in his victory. But she wasn’t prepared to give him his victory that easy. She wasn’t going down without a fight. Deliao had to know that by now.
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Four: In the Beginning Page 54
