“I’m just glad you were both unharmed.”
She grinned and poked him in the ribs with her elbow. “Shouldn’t a normal husband say his wife shouldn’t participate in battle?”
He chuckled “You aren’t the kind of wife that would listen.” Then she elbowed him again and laughed together. “Besides, even if I did ask, you would have entered the fray regardless, just as Allahandra did. You are a warrior through and through and that is who you are. You aren’t one to sit on the sidelines and complain. You jump in and take the situation into your hands. By the way, what happened after we came back to the tent?”
“You mean after I cleaned you up?” She grinned wolfishly for she enjoyed doing it. She liked cleaning his rigid and sculpted muscles. Lily turned her entrancing eyes forward as they continued walking, much to Alex’s disappointment. “Let’s see… well after we got you and Shade ready for bed I washed all of our weapons, but had some young maidens take our clothes to be washed and repaired. I must say your sword is as easy to clean as an item. Just a simple wash and wipe clean is all it needs. Crafted swords need oil, sharpening, and constant scrubbing just to be maintained, not to mention what a full scale battle will do to a swords edge.
“About an hour before nightfall I was sent word that the Royal Guard tended to those that were wounded with haste and began marching towards the southeast. Neither Zara or her Makkian were seen among the entire contingent sent here and have been assumed to have already left the area and are on their way, like you told them too.
“Allahandra also stopped by to see how you were doing for a moment and said at first light to meet at the command tent. I asked for some information, but she said it could wait until morning.”
They walked and conversed for over an hour during the calm night walk. It was what they needed after what occurred hours before. It was quiet and cool enough to have the time alone together and share in the experience of walking under the stars and low hanging moon. They moved through the camp, taking a slow loop around those they were here to help and protect.
On their way back to their tent, movement ahead caught Alex’s attention and he reacted by pulling Lily with him behind a row of tents. She reacted by grabbing for her swords, but he crossed his index finger over his lips and pointed to the second largest tent and she looked over and grinned at what they stumbled upon.
Rakkian had stuck his head out from behind the cloth of Allahandra’s tent in a very suspicious way. Beta could be seen laying asleep in the shadows between two tents with Breaker. The general looked left and right to find that there weren’t any prying eyes watching and slowly removed himself from the tent. Alex didn’t need much light to see to begin with, but there was ample fires burning for Lily to see the general adjusting his spiked gauntlets and legging like he had put them on quickly. Then he turned around when Allahandra whispered something and stuck her head out of her tent. They both looked around quickly before the general smiled, leaned down to her level and gave her a quick kiss before diving between tents as her personal guard came around the opposite way.
Lily turned around and buried her head in Alex’s neck and started shaking, trying not to burst out laughing. He struggled just as much, but a sudden chuckle escaped his lips and he covered it with his right hand. Soon enough Lily pulled back with tears in her eyes from suppressing the laughter she so wanted to announce. “If only Maria or Marge came upon seeing that late night rendezvous, Allahandra would never hear the end of it.” She chuckled. “I can’t believe they have gone that far. Perhaps Allahandra can finally fulfill those ambitions now that an entire castle can’t look upon her.”
“That or her guards knew and wanted to give her some privacy, by leaving only those two and a Beran lioness as her protectors. They still need to be seen courting, but it is good to see them finding happiness in such a situation… look here come the rest of her personal protectors.” Sure enough four more warriors, a Grizon and a Shadow Fang came closer to set up a perimeter again after the general left the queen’s chambers.
“I wish I could tell the other ladies, but it isn’t my place and they probably already know.” She sighed, but the smile for her friend remained.
“Probably.” Alex seconded.
By the time they reached the tent Alex and Lily weren’t surprised to see that the three fiends remained asleep like they were left. There was still two or three hours of night left so they sat in front of the small fire, Lily leaning her back against Alex’s chest. Before long the hypnotic effects of the flickering fire lulled Lily into a peaceful sleep.
As the sun rose a person came to their tent and summoned them to the command tent. Alex had slept since leaving yesterday to the time they went for a walk in the night and remained awake ever since. Lily and Crest awoke without effort and Ava only struggled mildly to wake, but Shade needed coaxing with a fresh roll of baked bread. The High Alpha was still in discomfort, but all of his wounds were healed from the treatment he received. They all enjoyed a quick meal that was brought and first to finish her meal was Ava. She was the only one who hadn’t bathed and flew off to do just that.
Before long she joined them again just as they headed to the large tent. Marlin, Clift, Niranene and Krum were already waiting outside for them.
Lily walked up and said “Niranene, you look great. I would have thought that after the battle you would be run ragged.”
She shook her head and her healthy and shiny brown hair tumbled with the movement. “Not at all, in fact we had a few hundred injuries and only few mortally wounded who are now on their way to recovery. Actually we healed more wounds from those that were captured. We were prepared for the worst, but after yesterday’s skirmish we were shocked by how few needed to be treated.”
“Ah, you’ve made it.” Allahandra said as she stuck only her head out, but Alex and Lily looked at each other and started chuckling. They laughed because she did the same thing to get a kiss from Rakkian before he vanished in the night. “Whatever is humorous can wait. I want to tell you some important facts I’ve received. Come in.”
Curious, the guards and protective fiends remained in place as The Pack entered together. As Alex and Lily took their positions, Ava fluttered to the low table. The filled room of man and fiend became comfortable as Allahandra spoke with dignity and confidence. “Yesterday’s battle was a complete success and the reports I’ve gotten are beyond my wildest imagination. The tactics we used ended with casualties on our side numbering five hundred men and a Fury hit by a bolt. We also had nearly a thousand wounded, but the Royal Guard lost over fifty two thousand before calling their retreat. The joint effort of man and fiend is beyond any tactical one-sided victory ever recorded. We have also captured nearly a thousand after the Fury’s made their initial shriek to incapacitate the front lines.
“Word of our victory is being spread through the lands and it is said that the fiends in battle were worth more than ten level five warriors. Even I can say with certainty that without the fiends we most likely would have lost many and be crippled beyond repair. The next wave would have ended us.
“There is one thing bothering me though…” Allahandra spoke with Alex.
“What would that be?”
She lifted her dress high enough to show her linen wrapped ankle. “After I adjourned for the night Breaker bit my ankle. My guards were about to kill him until he bit his own talon.”
“Really?” Commander Yort asked. “My Grizon did the same to my forearm.” He displayed his left arm to show four deep scratches.
“You too?” She said in astonishment. “All around I’ve heard fiends harming their partners without provocation or explanation.”
“Ginger bit my hand as well.” Takka announced.
“Krum did as well. So did the other Orggian.” Niranene added and showed the gathered a faint cut on the back of her neck that was hidden by her hair.
This made Alex chuckle. The noise made all eyes turn to him. “Have you all forgotten my earlier explanation?..
. Seems so. Allow me to reiterate why they inflicted a minor wound upon their partner and themselves. I told you they didn’t trust the world of men until the first battle. Well yesterday was that battle and as the representation of their trust in their partner a visual marking is inflicted. Your cut, bite or scratch is the proof that your partner trusts you wholeheartedly and will fight to the death at your side. Each wound is minor and will heal in a few days.”
A tapping sound to his left came from Lily writing to Crest. The female Shadow Fang smiled as Lily extended her arm and Crest gently used her sharp fang to barely break the skin of her partners elbow. Lily didn’t wince as she was marked and then Crest gently bit her own elbow in nearly the same place to signify the pact. Others watched the transaction, but Lily shrugged and asked for the meeting to continue.
The queen cleared her throat. “Very well. Per your request, Alex, Breaker sent seven non-vital Fury with Janken’s mirrors to find and inform Gerieg of Zara’s presence.
“Now we must decide what to do should Zara and Kyri return, how to proceed with our plans of freeing the cities one at a time and many other critical assignments that must be spoken of.”
Everyone nodded in agreement and began the arduous task of dealing with the many focuses needed to win a war.
Several hours later Angie said with a rosy smile “Someone comes.”
Not ten seconds later a husky voice spoke from outside the tent and the silhouette of the guards posted outside barred his path. “Pardon the interruption, but is Lord Alex inside?”
He raised his voice to indicate he was present. “I am. What is it you need?”
“I have come at the request of my commanding officer. A man, woman and two children were spotted traveling by the patrol and were escorted here. They were asked what they were doing and said they were looking for both safety, you and Shade. They have been tested and their words ring true.”
He looked over and Allahandra said “We will break for now, but be on the field at midday.”
“Thank you.” Alex said and stood, as did everyone else.
Outside the tent waited a young warrior of about Alex’s age. He led the way and Alex told Clift and the fiends someone called for them. Shade came to a logical conclusion. “Maybe it’s Kallel, Mary, Shay and Sean.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Alex replied excitedly.
In a few minutes they were led to the edge of camp where many of the scouts liked to congregate and pass on needed information.
Then Alex and Shade saw a familiar shape and they stopped, bringing the others to a halt as well. In a strange voice Alex asked “Kori?”
She turned to being called by name and her jaw dropped as she looked upon him and all who stood by him. “It cannot be, Alex?” She marveled at the man standing before her. From the weak looking child who rarely came out for being ridiculed, to this powerful person with the presence to match was too much to believe. Then she looked up and saw familiar golden eyes “And Shade?” She said with equal surprise. “My goodness, you both don’t look anything like the boys I saw last time…”
Alex translated and to prove it was him Shade scratched ‘Grrr’ into the ground to make Kori laugh. She knew why he wrote that. She was immediately licked and she pushed him away to scold him again.
“Girls?” Alex asked as Kori’s two daughters had also grown, as did their items. “Do you remember me?” They shook their head while clutching to their mothers elegant dress. “It is alright, but I must say you are both growing into beautiful young ladies, just like your mother.”
Kori dropped lower and said “You both know him. It’s your uncle Alex. Remember your dolls? Gambit was his uncle.” Then it was like a trigger for that association made them remember him.
“JAKZ!” A deep voice yelled and Travis rushed forward and wrapped his arms around Gambit’s old friend. What is he doing here?
“It is good to see you as well, Father.”
“Wait… father?” Alex asked. “Jakz, who are you really? You aren’t actually a hawker are you?”
When Travis finally let go, tears streaked his features. Jakz then turned and faced Alex directly, but showed a different side of himself that he hid from everyone. “Nay, Prince Alex. I’m not simply a man from the market who sold Gambit’s produce. If it is this much of a shock, I did my task well.”
“Who told you my title?”
Jakz grinned and bowed respectfully. “My Prince, do you honestly believe King Gerieg would send you and your mother off somewhere, alone, without a protector? And if you can believe that, then I must also tell you my item isn’t truly designed for utility purposes.” Jakz then brought out the two thumb rings connected by a thin wire. He then hooked a thumb in each ring and the wire stretched to whatever length Jakz wanted and then the wire burst into flames that didn’t harm him. “I am a level five warrior who’s task was to guard you. I’m sad to say that I failed when Gambit was killed and you went to Kori before me.”
There was just so much and Alex bluntly asked “What are you all doing here.”
Kori answered, and Alex knew Jakz told her of his true identity for she simply looked at him and was simply impressed. “After you left, the Guard, led by Rakkel, searched for you and found you left when someone told a person with your description fled by boat. Luckily you were already five days gone.
“I did as you asked and waited six months to claim your uncle’s land, only to find out that a new law states that as he was a traitor, the land reverted to the control of the islands council and any assets sent off as a tax. I’m sorry but the land was confiscated and given to another.
“Then a week later Jakz came to me saying that me and my girls had to leave because he overheard a rumor in the market telling of my relationship and loyalty to Freelan. Someone spied on me. I didn’t know who he really was either.”
“It was best for everyone that they not know.” Jakz said simply.
“We left and turns out Jakz saved us. He asked what I did with you and told me about himself. His loyalty to you is astounding, I’ll admit.” And she did with a bashful smile to the man. “He learned about me telling you to meet Takka and we went there first, but we traveled slower for the girls. By the time we found our way to Nicronane’s Trade City, Takka had left so we came this way and Jakz was our savior on several occasions…”
She kept telling the story up and to the point of where they met again.
Then Kori rushed forward and hugged Alex. She cried that she was happy that he was alright.
They all found a place out of the way to gather in a large group to speak. Alex introduced everyone and Kori hooted when she learned Lily was his wife. Then they all listened as Alex explained the many trials he has taken and survived. Both Kori and Jakz were skeptical of the events until Lily and Marlin chimed in, to add proof to the story. Before long the girls approached Shade, Crest and Ava to play together. It was a reunion Alex had hoped beyond hope to see again. The only ones not to treat him like scum from his home had found their way to him.
At midday a series of horns were blown. Jakz became edgy, fearing an attack with his family so close, until Travis explained what everyone was doing.
Those that could move, made their way towards the plains where the battle took place yesterday. Bodies had been piled into six masses and doused in flammable oil. Alex stood with his pack, the leaders of Freelan and his dear friends. Behind them stood everyone from the warriors to those captured in battle to bear witness to the passing of so many lives.
Then the piles were lit and the bodies burned as all went silent.
Alex looked upon the blazes and knew that this was one fight out of many, but it was the beginning of the end of self sacrifice. All he loved and valued in the world were by his side and in silence he hoped this would all end quickly and with as many lives spared as possible.
Join Alex, Shade, Ava and friends in their most noble of causes, freedom, but will they survive the price it will exact?
Follow
to the conclusion of the Item trilogy in:
Ra’van
Be sure to read other books by this author:
Balancer’s Cycle
Balancer’s Soul
Changer’s Blood
Keeper’s Knowledge
Harmonizer’s Evolution
The Item Trilogy
Untamed Gift
Furion’s Trials
Ra’van
Death Incarnate Saga (Coming Fall of 2013)
The Grin of Prophecy
Familiar’s Ancient Throne
Laugh of Destruction
Ascension of the Warlock
Empress’s Endgame
Spirit Guide Saga (Coming Fall of 2014)
Star Pirate Legends (Coming Fall of 2015)
Furion's Trials (Book Two of the Items Trilogy) Page 57
