Feel the Burn

by MacDonald, Nicole

  I can’t believe she took them both. Yakov wasn’t even coming!

  We need to do this for them. Blow that bitch to oblivion.

  Kassie’s angry thought made both girls nod in agreement. It didn’t make Loi feel better, but it did give her something to focus on.

  Thanks guys, I appreciate it.

  When their energy vanished from her mind, Loi realized the anxious, angry tension Sabyn projected had lessened and she pulled back, reaching to cup his face and kiss his lips softly.

  ‘Better?’

  The blue of his eyes looked colder than a glacier, but it wasn’t directed at her. Sabyn turned his head, pressing his lips to her palm, then sighed.

  ‘No. Nothing will make this better. But we have a job to do, and I will see it done.’

  A deep voice made them both turn.

  ‘If it is a sword you seek, we will challenge you.’

  Three Hotorethites stood behind them. The warrior elves with ebony skin far darker than Rumal’s, and slanted violet eyes, made Loi nervous. The most intimidating of the allies, Loi wasn’t comfortable with them yet and stared from behind Sabyn’s back. The three warriors held the remarkable swords of the elite Nyjen class—double edged blades with a gentle S curve and a prominent hook on one side. The pommels of the carved handles were set with a massive canine tooth from a kyast; a vicious carnivore. Loi pressed herself tighter to Sabyn and he glanced down, giving her a hint of a smile and a wink.

  ‘Not to worry, goddess. It’s all practice.’

  He stepped away, drawing sword and gave the three warriors a courtly bow. The elves spread around Sabyn, eyes alight with the challenge and the widely spaced tribal scars down their arms glowed deep purple. Feeling her heart hammer, Loi squeezed her hands into tight fists and stepped forward—before she could give it any more thought—placing her back against Sabyn’s.

  ‘Then let’s practice.’

  *~*~*

  Chapter Three

  ‘He was so young!’

  Loushka chuckled and it rumbled through me.

  ‘Well, the youngest of the group. He did everything the older boys did, determined not to weaken the team. They didn’t know he cried himself to sleep the first few nights, he was so sore from the training.’

  ‘Brave boy,’ I thought while watching Loushka’s memories and shifted closer, burrowing into her thick mane that shielded me from the biting wind.

  The lanky, scrawny youth in the griffon’s memories was instantly recognizable; his mop of black hair constantly falling into the overlarge navy eyes which were dwarfed by thick black brows. Such a gawky looking thing, I thought and couldn’t help giggling, tears flowing.

  The contradicting emotions, joy of seeing him so real and alive, and so young! Then grief at knowing what became of this determined teen I watched via Loushka’s memories, felt exhausting, but I loved to watch him.

  ‘Oh god, Loushka. I don’t know how I’m going to live without him.’

  Loushka stayed silent, then sighed.

  ‘I wouldn’t worry, Cat. We probably won’t survive the fight.’

  The casual manner in which she said it gave me a curious sense of hope and I tensed, heart pounding at the thought of ending this awful pain.

  ‘The others will though?’

  ‘You and I will make sure of it.’

  The sense of relief caused a guilt of its own, but I brushed it aside.

  ‘Show me more?’

  ‘I’ll show you everything, Cat.’

  The young Alek appeared in my mind again and I watched avidly while he approached Loushka, eyes cautious. Behind him a man watched Alek sidle close and reach out to Loushka’s face. With the memory from Loushka’s point of view it meant he seemed to reach to my face, eyes curious, kind and excited. A sob caught in my throat and I sat straighter, reaching for his face even though I knew it wasn’t there.

  ‘Aren’t you beautiful?’

  The high, childish voice dropped on certain syllables, hinting at the voice I knew. The man in the background stepped closer, smiling. I spied the discreet gold crown and my eyes widened when I realized I watched my father. A handsome man, his face showed pride and affection while he watched Alek, making my heart feel both light and heavy.

  ‘She is very beautiful, Al,’ King Nikias smiled at Loushka and then his son. ‘But you need to speak with your mind, not your voice.’

  Alek’s thin shoulders hunched, all the emotions of a teenager receiving a reprimand flashing across his face and I squeezed a hand tight, the irrational desire to comfort him rising at that painfully awkward expression.

  Alek frowned, staring at Loushka and I heard Loushka’s younger voice think kindly to him.

  ‘It isn’t that difficult, just relax young Prince, you’re doing fine.’

  ‘I hate being watched. I don’t want to mess up.’

  ‘Don’t think of it.’

  ‘Okay. Please don’t call me prince, I don’t need it and no one will know, not even Yakov.’

  ‘As you wish, Alek. Would you like to go for a flight?’

  The ground drew close when Loushka lay down, watching Alek who turned to the King.

  ‘Father, may I?’

  ‘You may, son. You don’t need my permission, I trust you.’

  The gangly boy flushed with pride and his unshielded thoughts projected straight to Loushka.

  ‘I’m not a child anymore! I don’t need permission! See if Sab can tease me now!’

  The sense of glee was gorgeous and I choked up then, laughing and sobbing with both hands to my face, tears dripping down my fingers.

  ‘Thank you, Loushka.’

  From a seat on the lower deck, Kassie watched Cat and Loushka up on the front top deck. A large shadow fell over her and she glanced to the side craning her neck to smile up at Kerak. The griffon stared longingly at Loushka then swiveled his head to look at Kassie, his amber eyes regarding her warmly behind the massive beak.

  ‘Good morning, Kerak,’ she thought.

  ‘Morning, Kass.’

  ‘Has Loushka spoken to you yet?’ Kassie thought.

  ‘She said good morning.’

  ‘That’s a good start.’

  Kerak made a throaty trill, his tail swishing over the wooden deck.

  ‘It is. Wanna play lifting?’

  Kassie chuckled when the griffon assumed a pose like a playful cat, dancing back a couple of steps, spine arched and wings hunched while his tail lashed the air, forelegs extended and ready.

  ‘Okay, let’s practice at the other end of the ship.’

  A crowd of soldiers came to watch; the smaller forest goblins of Ihali leaping onto the backs of watching centaurs to get a better view. A bunch of Halenine fae joined them, clinging to the centaurs’ tails or perching on the heads of apprehensive soldiers and Kassie resisted a giggle. The tiny fae proved that size didn’t matter when it came to battle ability. One single bite from a Halenine fae would kill most, or in the case of a griffon, make them very ill. So the small red and black fae received the utmost respect from all those aboard.

  Kerak quivered with excitement and crouched low, waiting, while Kassie focused on swirling an air bubble all the way around him.

  ‘Make sure to lift me higher than the masts!’

  Kassie didn’t reply, deep in concentration while she coaxed more air particles into the bubble. It provided just the distraction she needed from the current gloomy mood and she stretched her energy out further and further, until the air currents responded to her call.

  The air around Loushka and I went still, the wind dropping away and we both twisted looking for Kassie. At the other end of the huge deck I spotted Kerak, floating up into the air with Kassie’s energy swirled around him like a bug caught in a soap bubble. Higher and higher he rose until he cleared the masts. I heard the snap when Kassie released the air bubble. The griffon gave an undignified squawk and snapped his wings out, the tan feathers catching the light, glinting citrine when he pumped his wings and sho
t high in the air with a scream of delight. I watched him swoop about the ships, zooming between them and screeching at those aboard. The soldiers and sailors hollered back and I heard Sito’s disgruntled roar of frustration when Kerak teasingly darted over him. The griffon landed in the water between our ship and Sito’s, creating a wave of water, then set about grooming and bathing. I stood, stretching my arms high to help relieve the stiffness in my back from sitting so long and stepped over to the rail, leaning on it and watched Kerak. Sito grumbled from the deck of the other ship and I half smiled, about to turn to Alek, then froze. A dead feeling spread in my chest while I stared around seeing the deck full of soldiers, but no Alek. From the main deck, Rumal looked at me, sorrow visible in his stance and tears rose in my throat.

  ‘Loushka, I think I’m done for the day. I’m going below.’ I hugged her massive neck, feeling the smooth hardness of her beak touch my back then sneezed when her mane tickled my nose.

  Ignatius appeared at the base of the stairs while I climbed down to the main deck.

  ‘Princess?’

  The effort of explaining my actions felt too hard and weariness hit. I shrugged by way of apology, though there wasn’t a need.

  ‘I’m going below.’

  He nodded, offering an arm and escorted me below to the little room where I’d woken. The avid attention, though I understood the intent, bothered me and I spoke little, waiting for the moment the door clicked shut then breathed a sigh of relief. Bending, I yanked my boots off, tossing them in a corner and sat at the table, feeling disjointed by the loud voices and footsteps outside and from the decks above.

  So much for peace and quiet, I thought, slumping in the seat. With nothing to distract me I noticed the swaying of the ship and watched a piece of fruit on the tray Ignatius left roll slowly one way, and then the other. Vague ideas occurred to me, like eating, or sleeping, but I felt bone weary, limbs too heavy to move. Just breathing felt hard. My mind seemed locked in a gray, dull limbo and the practical voice shouted from some distance, urging me to get angry, to do something—anything! I looked around the room, eyes dragging over the little details; a sock beside one of the trunks, a knot in a floorboard, a dark blue spot staining the food tray. That dark blue registered in my mind and the dull gray fog exploded with color when the pain hit. I tipped off the chair to the floor, a strange harsh rasping noise escaping my throat, eyes filling with hot tears while I struggled for breath on my hands and knees. Brilliant streaks of red and vivid yellow flashed through the gray before darkening to deep thunderous shades, wreaking havoc on my soul. It forced the shift to Elemental and I flopped to my side in a fetal position, my mind locked on those images of Alek and those awful last moments as the flames consumed me, flooding my veins with an insane heat.

  To watch, helplessly, when the one you love with your entire being is slaughtered before your eyes…

  The inferno within while I saw that moment—his hand lying limp half curled, lips whispering that apology while that sadistic bitch walked toward him—and a scream of fury tried to force its way past my swollen throat but only a high pitched noise managed to escape. Despair washed away the fury and the room, sweltering with heat a moment ago, cooled and I sobbed as I lay there on the heated floorboards, his name my personal mantra of sorrow while time heartlessly marched on.

  Reality and the cool air brought a clarity to mind that I hadn’t felt since before that awful morning. Sitting up, I rested my chin on my knees while considering this sudden sharpness.

  Right now, I felt almost normal; sharp, aware and capable. With tentative thoughts I considered Alek and then Yakov, testing, waiting for the inevitable. It took a slow measured count to twenty before the tears slipped out. The fury and despair didn’t come, just a heavy sense of sorrow. Somewhere deep in my mind I felt satisfied.

  I can do this, I thought, working at determination. I will do this, for Alek.

  Feeling exhausted, I staggered to my feet with a grunt, arms out when another wave of dizziness hit. I went to one of the trunks and hauled the heavy lid up, staring in. Maeri had folded each item neatly and sorted them, mine on the left and Al’s on the right. Selecting the worn soft blue shirt he often slept in, I closed the lid with a thud and turned, leaning against the trunk. The shirt had seen years of use, its neckline stretched out of shape and his scent wafted from the soft fabric. With both hands I pressed it to my face, breathing deeply and the aroma scorched my mind. I kept my eyes closed while imagining he stood behind me, arms wrapped blissfully tight around my body. Sorrow came in so many forms and now the regretful, achingly sad version caught me as I sat back at the table, the shirt held close.

  That smirk when he teased me, those navy eyes twinkling with mischief. The outraged yell he gave in the mornings when Audi pounced on him. That look of desire infused with love that made my breath catch every time. The way he gave his support, absolutely. Sitting, telling stories of earlier times and listening to him laugh. I loved his laugh. Audi flirting with him when he told her off in a tone that belied his words, her tail swishing and the little grumbles she made while scooting close, ducking her head.

  Oh my little girl, I miss you.

  At least Ada and Nnelg would look out for her. The other girls would too when they got back.

  And Yakov…

  I swallowed hard and the occasional tear tumbled down my cheeks, hitting the shirt with a soft plop. Who would tell me off for being too casual? A rough laugh escaped my lips when I remembered the frequent scoldings, his charming way with the members of Council who looked down at me, and the impromptu hugs when I had bad moments. The absolute lack of judgment no matter what I blurted out in my ignorance of this world and how things were done. Yakov and Alek telling me stories of my mother and father, laughing together so hard that they couldn’t finish the tales.

  I can’t believe she took them both, along with the rest of my meager family. My chest ached and head drooped. I imagined seeing them all together, somewhere safe in the afterlife.

  I wonder if I’ll find you all there.

  I guess I don’t have to fear him being struck down beside me now. A mirthless bark of a laugh slipped out when I realized what this meant. Thanks Jenviet, for leaving me no other option.

  Now I have nothing to lose.

  I just need to wait for the right opening, I thought, the determination and sudden desire for vengeance making my hands curl into claws when I envisioned that evil woman’s face. Wait for the right moment, making sure the others don’t get caught up in it and rid this world of that creature.

  Leaving it until just after twilight, Ignatius rapped his knuckles against the door and at the Princess’ assent, entered. He found her seated at the table, head twisted to look over a shoulder at who entered.

  ‘Ignatius.’

  The slight warmth of tone caused an unexpected flush of pleasure and he smiled at her.

  ‘I thought to see if you were hungry?’

  Her loose hair covered her back but he saw she held something close on her lap. Curious, he moved closer and spied the shirt. Knowing it was too large for her he guessed it to be Alek’s. Surprisingly it didn’t cause that hot flash of jealousy like it had at the castle, but then why be jealous of a dead man? Though Ignatius had disliked Alek, he wouldn’t have wished such an end on him. He knew all too well the delight that witch would have taken in torturing to death the Crown Prince and head of the Griffon Guard. In truth he felt sympathy and admiration, knowing Alek wouldn’t have gone down without a fight.

  ‘I’m not really hungry,’ Catherine confessed and she flicked a glance at him, her eyes bloodshot and puffy.

  ‘You need to keep your strength up, Highness.’

  He stepped closer, a hand to the back of her chair and she twisted back, staring at the shirt in her lap, pale fingers pleating the fabric. Ignatius waited, considering what food might tempt her. He needed her to eat something; the poison Elena gave him would be obvious in a glass of water. The dying light of the sun glint
ed off the mass of red hair before him, its varying shades catching his eye and his chest throbbed at the reminder of the fresh burns that hair, in her elemental form, had given him. Ignatius hunched his shoulders a little, lifting the fabric of his shirt off the seared skin. His mind drifted to Alek again and that witch. While he couldn’t stand the creature, he felt a certain measure of gratitude toward the events that had occured. The problem of what to do with Alek now wasn’t an issue and even when they got back from this mission, Yakov wouldn’t be a problem either. Two major components of his plan solved before they’d even set forth. A smirk touched his lips and his hand tightened on the back of Catherine’s seat. He started in surprise when she spoke.

  ‘There was a drink I had at Lothost. It was thick and creamy. Do you know what it might have been?’

  The smirk left his lips, replaced by a smile of relief. That would certainly hide the poison.

  ‘I’d guess it was nellor, Highness. They often give it to invalids or those who can’t eat. It would be good for you, I’ll fetch some now.’

  In the kitchen the cook, flushed from the heat of the massive ovens, frowned at Ignatius.

  ‘She should be eating something!’

  ‘Can’t you add an egg to it?’

  The low smooth tones of Leseach’s voice set Ignatius’ teeth on edge and he refused to turn and acknowledge her, but nodded to the cook.

  ‘Yes! That’ll make it better.’

  The cook grumbled, not fully satisfied but set to making the drink while he and the Northerner watched. Knowing she stood just behind him caused a knot of muscles between his shoulder blades to tighten and he twisted to glare at the blond alien, hating the way she could nearly look him in the eyes with her extreme height.

  ‘I don’t believe I require your assistance.’

  Her queerly striped eyes regarded him flatly.

  ‘Rashid suggested we discuss the sleeping arrangements with guarding the Princess. I understand you have specific orders from the Archduchess to watch over her?’