Both teams seemed to instinctively acknowledge that this last match meant more than mere bragging rights to the other side. Because of this, all of the players were performing like their lives depended on the outcome. During the contest, the team members from both sides were constantly being exchanged for fresh players who had been waiting in the wings for a chance to participate. To those who knew how to play volleyball, they could tell this was going to be an epic match and none wanted to be excluded. Both the men and the women felt equally about this matter. To those on the court who actually got a chance to be involved, it was enough to be able to say they had been a part of this particular game. Even then everyone could tell the real stars of this show were Caia, Hawk, Thea, and Adriel. No one bothered to question why those four had chosen to raise the bar so high on the playing field. But even the professional athletes recognized that this was volleyball being played at its finest.
By the time one of the last balls was being served, several thousand people were surrounding the area, and all of them were vying for a good vantage point to watch the game from. There were exhausted players sitting and lying on the sand at the edge of the court as they watched with little strength left to stand. No one wanted to miss the moment of victory, and it didn’t matter which side won. The only people still in the game who had played without breaks were Caia, Thea, Hawk, and Adriel. The others who were still able to play were at the point of exhaustion. It had reached the point where no one new was willing to join into the game because the level of play was too high for them.
The ball that would eventually end the game was finally served, returned, set, spiked, rescued, returned, set, spiked, recovered, spiked. So it continued until one after the other of the remaining participants were carried off of the court, even while the game continued on. Eventually, only Caia, Hawk, Adriel, and Thea remained in the game. Still, the game continued until Thea, exhausted beyond her ability to continue on, stumbled and fell to a knee at a critical moment. Caia continued on alone for a few moments longer, but she couldn’t cover the entire area on her own. In the end, the last point went to Hawk and Adriel.
As the volleyball made contact with the ground, Hawk, Caia, and Adriel all dropped to the ground, too exhausted to move. Until the moment the ball ceased to be in play, they hadn’t realized how really tired they were. Now they did, and none were interested in moving as much as a muscle any further.
With the scoring of the last point a silence fell over the crowd, as if they had only begun to realize the game had come to an end. The only audible sounds came from the seagulls and the continuous pounding of the surf on the shoreline by a restless sea. A few moments later, a resounding cheer erupted from the crowd as people surged onto the court to congratulate the players.
In their exultation, the crowd lifted Caia and Thea onto their shoulders the same way they had with Hawk and Adriel. No one cared who had scored the final point. What mattered was that this had been the best game of volleyball anyone had ever seen. This was cause for celebration.
With the very last of their energy, Caia, Thea, Hawk, and Adriel smiled and waved at the people around them. Inwardly the four Elves groaned at the effort it took them to move so much as a muscle. All they wanted was to lie on the sand and rest until they recuperated enough to be able to crawl into a corner to sleep or die. None of them had ever been so tired before in their lives. Even with the people in the crowd carrying them, they felt like ragdolls. This wasn’t something they were about to show to anyone. The years of training they had undergone was stronger than the exhaustion. Elves did not show weakness as long as they drew breath in case there were enemies close, and there was always the possibility that one might be here.
Caia and Thea were even more aware of this possibility than Hawk or Adriel. Over the last few months, Caia and Thea had noticed changes in the area. There was a sense of malice in the air that was unmistakable. Their ancient foes were gathering, which meant the Elves had been located. It was something Caia and Thea knew would happen sooner or later. This was how they had lost their parents. Still, they had a sacred task to perform and couldn’t leave as long as the portal still existed and was in working order.
All of this, however, had nothing to do with what was happening at the moment. Caia and Thea knew what was coming up. The game was over, the celebration was about to begin, and it would start with the losers being dumped into the ocean. It was something neither Thea nor Caia would mind. The power of the sea would help to rejuvenate them, not that it would seem like it in the beginning. These things took time.
When Caia and Thea were first tossed in the ocean, it might seem like they were too tired to fight the power of the current, but this would swiftly pass. The energy from the restless water would refresh them, and they would emerge stronger than they had been earlier. Within a half an hour, Caia and Thea would be grabbing their boards and heading back out to sea. To those around them it would look as if they were going back out to indulge in more surfing, and all was well.
Hawk and Adriel knew what Caia and Thea were planning, and they thought about how to handle the situation even as they were being carried towards the shoreline. It seemed not only the girls were going to be dunked into the water. Hawk and Adriel didn’t mind, because when Caia and Thea returned to the sea they would be able to follow. After all, Caia and Thea weren’t the only Elves with Water Elven bloodlines. This meant that Hawk and Adriel were just as capable of breathing underwater as their Life Mates. When they were able to get Caia and Thea alone, they could exchange information in private, something Hawk and Adriel figured should be done sooner rather than later.
CHAPTER IV
Caia and Thea didn’t just grab their boards and head out to sea the moment they thought they had enough strength to make the trip. Instead, the two female Elves kept to the crowds where they knew their Life Mates would be forced to allow them some time and space. They needed these moments to get used to the idea that they no longer had only themselves to depend on. It didn’t take much for Caia and Thea to figure out that the new elves wouldn’t want the people around them to know what they were anymore than they did.
So, as the four Elves mingled with the crowd, they kept each other in view for various reasons. The primary one, however, was that they didn’t trust one another not to either bolt or press their claims. Hawk and Adriel wouldn’t have been at all surprised to find that Caia and Thea were about to make a run for it with the idea that they could safely hide in the ocean. As far as that went, Hawk and Adriel wouldn’t have care if they did, for it was a poor Life Mate who couldn’t find his mate anywhere she tried to hide. The only exception to this rule was if the female in question was a Tratchar. If a Tratchar used a tree to hide in, only another Tratchar could find her. When this happened, the life force of the tree muffled the effect of the one using it. This wasn’t a concern here, for neither Caia nor Thea were Tratchars.
As Thea sidled up to Caia so she could talk to her friend without gathering attention, she asked. “Do you think they have lost track of either of us for a moment since we met?”
Caia slowly shook her head as she answered. “It is like they have pinned us with tracking devices. I am not sure how we are going to get away from them.”
Thea looked thoughtful for a while before asking. “Perhaps it is a good thing they arrived when they did, what do you think? We both know we are being hunted. Maybe they were sent to protect us.”
Caia frowned and sighed. It was a possibility, and it was true that they were in danger. The word about what had happened at the Book Aerie had traveled through the Elven network quickly. It was not good news for those who had been left in charge of the safety of the few remaining portals. This event had been quickly followed by an order from the Emperor Lothriel for all Elves to leave this land and return to the Elven Empire. Some of the Elves weren’t sure whether this was real, or an enemy trick to try to drive them out into the open. It wouldn’t have been the first time their ancient foes had fool
ed their people with such a trick. Caia and Thea were well aware that not all the Elves who had left to obey their Emperor’s order had reached their destination. The enemy had managed to find and kill some. Because of this, it made the order seem suspicious.
When Caia didn’t reply, Thea pressed for an answer. “Well, do we put our trust in our Life Mates or not?”
Thea’s question told Caia everything she needed to know about how Thea felt about this matter. Hawk and Adriel were their Life Mates. There was no doubting where their loyalties stood on this matter. Male Elves would go to any length, suffer any torture, for their women. A male Elf did whatever was necessary to keep his Life Mate protected, even to the point of death. It was instinct that guided their actions, as well as how they were raised. If anyone could be trusted to keep Caia and Thea’s secrets safe, it would be Hawk and Adriel.
With a nod, Caia decided the best thing was to give in to the inevitable. It made more sense than to try to fight a losing battle and maybe end up playing into the hands of the hunters who were chasing them. “Alright, we will talk with Hawk and Adriel, but not where anyone might hear what we are saying to each other.”
Thea smiled with satisfaction at Caia’s words, then led Caia to where Hawk and Adriel were waiting for them. The moment they came face-to-face, Caia began. “I am not sure what to think about this, but as you are our Life Mates, I know you can be trusted with all of our secrets, as well as our safety. I know about things that you won’t have heard about because they just happened a few days ago. You are going to need to know what happened there as well. At least I assume you won’t have learned about these things, because they took place a long way from here and only happened a short time ago. I don’t know if you are in contact with those who were there.”
Hawk nodded in agreement with Caia’s assessment. “We need to find a private place where we can hold this conversation. We have reason to believe we might all be in danger. If any of us were followed to this place, there will be no place safe on the beach.”
Thea sighed. “Then you know a part of our problem.”
Caia gestured to Thea and her surfboards with a slight motion of her head, and then led the way. “Come with us. We know places where the enemy cannot follow. We will be both safe and unheard where we will take you.”
Hawk replied. “Underwater caves?”
Caia answered. “We can help you breath to get you there in safety.”
It was Adriel who answered. “You needn’t worry about us. We are like you and can travel to wherever you need to go.”
Caia nodded her understanding. She knew what she was being told, Hawk and Adriel were also of Water Elf descent. It would give them a definite advantage. There were caves nearby that could be used to conduct this conversation in safety. The caverns were filled with air that were kept refreshed via a hidden opening to the world overhead. The caves were also dry and comfortable, for those who didn’t expect much by way of things. They could take some food with them, and share a meal while they relaxed and talked.
Hawk knew what Caia was thinking, and he smiled as he conjured surfboards for both Adriel and himself. He then held out his hand to take Caia’s. “We don’t need to take food with us. The sea will provide all we need.”
“There is no way to cook food in the caves.” Caia objected. Caia wasn’t sure how she knew that Hawk could hear her thoughts, but she did, just as she could hear some of his. Caia also knew this would get easier after they had bonded, which was apt to happen sooner than later. At the same time, Caia wasn’t so sure that she liked having Hawk in her mind, even if it didn’t feel unnatural or intrusive. There were some thoughts a girl wanted to keep to herself.
Hawk drew Caia to his side and then looked into her eyes as he assured her. “We will provide all that is needed. It is what a Life Mate does for his mate. We consider it an honor to be allowed to do so, even as we know our Life Mate can do these things even better than we can.”
Caia, glancing at Thea to see how her friend was faring with her Life Mate, noticed how awkward she seemed. Caia would have gone to see what was bothering Thea, but Hawk held her back as he assured her. “Adriel would rather die a thousand deaths than see Thea hurt or fearful. You can depend upon him to treat your friend with dignity and understanding. It won’t take them long to become the closest of friends, and perhaps even lovers.”
Caia, shooting Hawk a look of annoyance, knowing he spoke not only of Thea and Adriel, replied. “I would be saddened to see Thea sad or to think Adriel the type to try to take advantage of her good nature.”
Hawk placed his hands on Caia’s shoulders as he turned her to face him, then he answered. “A Male Life Mate would never do something like that to the one who was made for him. It is not our way.”
Instead of taking Hawk’s word on the matter, Caia again looked towards her friend, only to find Thea blushing prettily as she tucked her body under the protective curve of Adriel’s arm before smiling up into his eyes. With this for assurance that Thea had accepted her place at Adriel’s side, Caia nodded in agreement with what Hawk had told her. Caia then turned and headed for the surfboards that had been stuck upright in the sand. “It is time we left. I will take you at your word that you have things under control when it comes to our meals. I want you to know, however, that when we reach our destination, I am going to have a lot of questions.”
Hawk nodded in acceptance of Caia’s warning and answered. “You will find we will have a lot of answers. Some you might not be pleased to hear, but everything we tell you will be the truth.”
This was something Caia could accept with no problem. She would rather know the truth, no matter how awful, than be told lies that could mean their lives in the long run.
CHAPTER V
When they had been paddling their boards for over an hour and still hadn’t reached their destination, it made Hawk wonder how much further they had to go before getting there. With the same question foremost in his mind, Adriel brought his board alongside of Caia’s and asked. “How much longer?”
Caia brought her board to a stop at the bottom of a particularly deep swell, and announced. “We have reached the end of our journey over the water.”
With a grumble, Hawk complained. “This was no fifteen mile paddle, how far from shore are we?”
Caia gave the distance some thought, then made an educated guess. “I would say approximately four times that amount. There were good reasons for misleading you while we were onshore. I will explain everything when we get to where we are going.”
As Thea and Adriel caught up to Hawk and Caia, Caia asked. “Is everyone in good enough shape to continue onwards?”
Adriel looked at Thea, and at a nod from her, he answered. “Lead on, fair maiden.”
At Adriel’s agreement, they followed Caia’s lead into the watery depths. Within fifteen minutes they reached the entrance to the cave Caia had told them about. They spent another five minutes swimming through the tunnel that led deep into the cavern. Upon arrival, Hawk and Adriel did a quick examination of the area, conjured a table, chairs, couches, and then left. The task of finishing setting up the final details to the living space was left to Caia and Thea. A half hour later, Hawk and Adriel returned laden with seafood, and a few edible plants. It didn’t take them long to get things ready, and for Hawk and Adriel to serve the food. As they began to eat, the conversation began in earnest.
“So,” Hawk decided to be the first to share what he figured would be a major concern. “I am going to assume you will want to know where we come from, why we were sent, and who ordered us to come.”
Caia nodded. “The question has crossed our minds. I used to think we had met every Elf on this side of the boundary, and I don’t remember us ever seeing you two. I would have remembered if we had.”
Hawk took the lead in the conversation. “As we are Life Mates, there is no doubt that we all would have remembered such a meeting clearly, so you know we have not met in the past. Adriel and I were rai
sed in the Elven Empire. No one there was aware that there were Elves living outside of the Empire. If we had, something would have been done about it eons ago. Even Emperor Lothriel was surprised to learn about this. We might never have learned about any of you if the Fates hadn’t sent Joran and Tarik visions of their Life Mates. Joran and Tarik immediately knew where to look for them, and it was not in the Elven Empire. To get to their Life Mates, Joran and Tarik had to break every rule our people have followed since the raising of the second barrier. They thought it was a small price to pay to be with the women who had been created for them.”
Thea, in a distracted manner, asked. “Were those women Sage and Sahara, by any chance?”
Adriel answered. “That is right. Do you know them?”
Thea shook her head and admitted. “Only of them. Our parents were only concerned about us meeting potential Life Mates. It was their hope that we would be granted the one thing none of our ancestors ever had, the love of a true mate. It is a very rare and precious things on this side of the boundary.”
Hawk replied. “There was a time when the same was true for those living in the Elven Empire. The stories about those times are ancient and are told in legends, along with the tales of the great heroes of old, but they are true.”
Thea sighed. “I get the feeling we are going to have a lot to learn about if and when we cross over to the other side.”
Water Bonded Page 2
