Why the hell does everyone I know get in my heart, she thought, irrationally angry at herself. It would help so much if I didn’t care!
‘You be damn careful, you hear me?’ she demanded in a broken voice.
Oomoth laughed softly and twisted to glance back, eyes warm.
‘I could say the same to you.’
Kassie worked a stern, grouchy expression, fighting back tears as she glared at him.
‘Will if you will.’
A smile tugged at the centaur’s mouth and he turned back.
‘Deal.’
After a bit I apologized to Belsesus and we continued drilling, though for whose benefit I wasn’t sure. I knew all the answers inside and out, now it would be seeing how I measured up in reality. When a lull in the questions came, I asked one of my own.
‘Belsesus?’
‘Hmm?’
‘Are you scared?’
I said it quietly, not wanting the others to hear and his ears flicked back at my soft tone. After a thoughtful pause he said, ‘No. That’s not to suggest I have no sense of fear, but our task is so important that I don’t have the luxury to feel scared.’
‘Oh.’
‘Are you scared, Princess?’
I considered his answer while trying to reassert myself. I didn’t want to be scared. I was an Elemental, the only fire Elemental; so what if I grew up a normal girl on Earth. The four of us were meant to save the planet, we were mighty warriors—apparently—and we knew death was an outcome, though who knew how it might come about…
‘Yes,’ I finally admitted with a sense of failure.
‘Good.’
The curt, positive answer shocked me.
‘What?’
Belsesus twisted to look at me. His jade green eyes with thin pupils creased at the sides and an amused smile quirked his lips.
‘It’ll get you through this. Everyone is scared in their first battles. Even me.’
He turned back and started navigating a natural staircase, climbing up, and I rode in silence, leaning with the angle while considering it all then threw the thoughts aside.
Can’t change it, worrying won’t fix it, all I can do is do it, I thought pragmatically and sat straighter, fingers twitching with the urge to fidget. Belsesus’ long hair caught my eye and I drummed my fingers on my knees while considering it, then shrugged and reached forward.
‘Hey!’
‘I’m just neatening it,’ I assured him, a giggle in my voice.
‘It’s fine as is!’
‘Nonsense, it’ll get in your way.’ I held the locks firmly, tongue between my front teeth and wove quickly before he pulled away. ’Won’t take me a second.’
‘Bloody women,’ the centaur grumbled in a disgruntled tone.
‘All done!’
‘Thank you, Catherine.’
I bit back a giggle at the drawn out sarcastic tone.
The moment of humor slid away when I considered my own hair. Nearly every morning Leseach re-plaited my hair. It hadn’t been necessary, I could do it myself, but I got the idea she enjoyed it. Perhaps it was something they did at home, I thought, feeling another pang of disbelief at her absence.
‘Belsesus, what do you think happened to Leseach?’
While I waited for his answer I shook my hair loose and began sectioning, then weaving it, trying to keep it a close, tight French braid like Leseach made.
The centaur shrugged.
‘I don’t know, Cat. It doesn’t do to think about it. If we had time we’d look for her, but with the surface so close…We have to keep to schedule, the ships will leave in three weeks if anyone makes it out of this alive. It gives us only days to deal with the task.’
Finishing the plait and wrapping the tie tight around the end, I sat back while considering what he’d said.
‘Do you think she’s alive?’
‘No,’ Belsesus said it firmly with a tone of regret. ‘No, if she were alive she’d have got back. Northerners never give up. Not till they’re dead.’
We both fell silent and he continued along but my mind kept going back to Leseach. Trying to visualize her even at a disadvantage didn’t seem possible, let alone dead. Other than Rashid, no one got to her; she didn’t fear and fought like nothing I’d seen before. I frowned when I thought of Rashid and his stoic, flat reaction this morning.
‘Loushka?’
‘Hey, Cat.’
‘Is Rashid near you?’
‘He’s closer to you.’
‘Yes, but I’d have to twist to look at him and that’s a tad obvious. How’s he doing?’
Loushka flashed an image of the Lieutenant. It showed Rashid’s face as a mass of hard lines, the picture of repressed fury and grief—mouth a flat line, eyes narrowed and his body tense, ready for action.
‘About as well as one would expect,’ the griffon observed in a dry voice. I huffed a sigh out when sorrow hit and tried to shrug it off.
‘Hmmm. Show me Al? Please.’
‘What did you want to see?’
‘Show me when he met Rayna.’
‘You WANT to see that?’
I grinned at her shock.
‘I do, I want to see him courting. It’ll be funny.’
‘Humph. Good thing he’s dead, because he would be so mad at me!’
I made an appropriate noise of humor at her attempt, feeling her pang of grief. After a moment’s pause an image shimmered clear in my mind and I smiled, instantly recognizing the market place with the masses of people and stalls. Watching from Loushka’s perspective fascinated me, observing as the crowds moved out of the way with smiles and greetings. Alek walked in front and the sudden joy at seeing him made my chest tight and brought tears to my eyes. I knew I grinned like an idiot while I watched, but didn’t care. He looked so real in Loushka’s memories and after the chaotic mess of dreams last night, I needed to see him. He walked through the market, greeting people, his strong walk, broad shoulders and great ass making me bite my lip while I ogled. Then I cocked my head when his walk suddenly changed into a pronounced swagger—since when did he walk like that, I wondered. Loushka chuckled at my reaction. Rayna came into view, looking just like I remembered; an attractive tall brunette whose body language and clothes—belts rather—just screamed sex.
‘Catty much,’ Loushka smirked at the thoughts I inadvertently shared.
‘Oh come on, those so aren’t clothes!’
The griffon snorted.
‘Your Highness,’ Rayna simpered in Loushka’s memory. ‘Back so soon?’ She tilted her head while tipping her pelvis back and chest up, a hand on jutted hip. Alek stopped in front of her and appeared to unintentionally mimic her pose, chest up and a hand on his hip. I smothered a giggle, pressing both hands to my mouth when he tossed his head—like his hair was that long!
‘How old is he here?’
‘Twenty one.’
‘Rayna,’ he said casually. ‘What a pleasure.’
The voice sounded different to what I remembered, shallower and the put-on tone of bravado made me shake with repressed giggles.
‘You okay,’ Belsesus asked.
‘Fine, fine,’ I choked out, trying to sound normal while I continued watching.
Rayna stepped closer and Loushka moved away from the couple, settling beneath a tree, and watched them. Alek appeared to relax without her near and reached out to stroke Rayna’s cheek.
I felt my nose wrinkle and lips purse while my rational voice tried to reassert that watching this didn’t bother me. My eye twitched and jaw stiffened when he pulled her in for a kiss.
‘All good, Cat?’ Loushka thought in amusement.
‘Fine.’
The memory continued a moment longer, enough to watch them walk off, his arm around her lower back, a hand holding her hip. I stayed silent, lips twisted and arms crossed, and worked at my thoughts.
‘Cat?’ Loushka probed.
‘Glad I broke her nose,’ I grumbled, giving in to it.
The sound of Loushka’s husky, huffing laughter echoed up the cave.
‘You are funny,’ she teased when I flushed, feeling ridiculous.
‘Shudup.’
‘Hey, you asked to see it. Let me show you a favorite memory of mine,’ she thought.
The market appeared again and a flash of red allowed me to spot myself. I stood with Sian and Kassie near a stall. My eyebrows shot up when I regarded my outfit.
Hmmm…
While I’d known the fitted skirt had long splits, I hadn’t realized just how well it showed my legs and ass off. I glimpsed a shapely leg clad in the thigh high boots I practically lived in. The grey jersey I wore enhanced my breasts and waist and I flushed, feeling exposed all of a sudden. Funny how I could show less skin yet still look like I only had one thing on my mind.
Then Loushka’s vision shifted and Alek and Sabyn came into view. Mid conversation Alek’s gaze diverted while Sabyn spoke. My cousin said something and followed Alek’s gaze before rolling his eyes. Loushka’s point of view moved a hint and I saw Alek looking at me as I laughed at Kassie, who gestured while laughingly saying something. The expression on his face wiped away anything I felt in that moment, replacing it with love, sorrow and a deep ache for him.
His eyes creased at the sides and the hint of a dimple showed in his cheek when he took obvious delight in my joy and the intent of that gaze—if I’d seen it that day I would have swooned. I felt Loushka’s joy that day, her joy at seeing him truly happy.
‘There was only ever you, Cat. All the others just filled time until you arrived.’
I closed my eyes when a few tears snuck out and tipped my head high, throat swelling with emotion, the image of his smiling face locked in my mind.
‘Thanks, Loushka.’
*~*~*
Chapter Twenty Six
Loi knew it before the shout, but still it thrilled her when a goblin ahead of Chaieth turned back and called in a loud, careful shout.
‘Light! I see daylight!’
Watching that shaft of sunlight come into view invigorated and terrified her. She stared at the cave exit then flicked a concerned thought to the plants, querying if the griffons and Sito would fit.
They will, earth one.
It opens up.
You’ll see.
Don’t go out yet!
Creatures abound.
Beware.
‘Hold up!’ Loi cried when the goblin rushed toward the exit. Everyone froze and turned to look at her, the girls all looking excited but terrified too.
‘They say that there are things out there.’
Larvaste twisted to look at her.
‘Can they hear us?’
Can the creatures hear us? she asked the plants.
No.
The entrance is down a ravine.
They cannot see you.
But if you leave they will.
Especially the ones that hide.
Who hides? Loi thought, confused.
Creatures.
With an inner sigh at the cryptic messages the plants seemed to love to deliver, she explained as best she could to the centaurs. The four visibly chewed over that, jaws wobbling one way then the other, with heavy frowns as they shifted their feet and swished their tails, considering the information.
‘Wacybs,’ Oomoth suggested.
‘Potentially,’ agreed Belsesus.
‘What’s that?’ asked Sian and she leaned forward in Chaieth’s saddle.
‘An animal that can blend with its surroundings. Around this high.’ Larvaste motioned mid thigh on his foreleg. ‘Quick and nasty.’
After some more frowning Belsesus suddenly brightened and turned to call down the corridor to the approaching army.
‘Halenine fae, we require your assistance.’
Loi watched and exchanged a grin with Sian who sat near, when the high whistles and whoops of excitement echoed up to them, followed by the buzz of wings and all the fae, around two hundred, clustered about. Some clung to rocks, others perched on the centaurs or even she, Loi observed when a couple landed on her knees. The leader, a fae with unique red markings on its wings, hovered before Belsesus.
‘Lieutenant,’ it said in that smooth yet threatening voice that all the fae spoke with, ‘how can we be of service?’
‘The plants have warned Laura of creatures above, we think perhaps wacybs.’
‘Excellent,’ hummed the fae in evident pleasure, the other fae making noises of anticipation. ‘We will return once the way is clear.’
They gathered at the exit before setting off, their small red and black bodies winking in the sunlight, making all those in the cave blink.
‘That sunlight’s bright,’ commented Chaieth and all those around him nodded in agreement. More soldiers and allies arrived and everyone shuffled around to make room in the small space.
‘Ready yourselves,’ Belsesus instructed all within hearing distance. ‘Armor and weapons. Anything that can be left behind, leave.’
A touch to her back made Loi twist then lean when Sabyn pulled her down from Larvaste. The centaurs gathered around the Medanga centaurs that carried the weapon caches.
‘C’mon,’ Sabyn said and he led her to Tomiar.
‘I just need one of the girls to fix my hair.’ Loi turned, looking, but the three were busy.
‘Here, I’ll do it.’ Sabyn stood close to her back so no one could see when he opened the seam at the back of the mail, and tucked her long, fabric bound braid into the chainmail suit then sealed it up again and adjusted the hood over her head. The cool metal soothed her temples. Loi reached to fix the nose piece in place, watching while Sabyn, standing with his mail suit loose to the waist, changed to a lighter top then slipped the mail back on. Loi reached out to untangle his hood and he resealed the seam.
The cave echoed with noise while everyone sorted themselves out, strapping on weapons, discarding bags and calling out to one another, confirming or questioning. Sabyn unfastened the saddle bags from Tomiar and passed down her sword and the leather circlet that kept her in the saddle during flight.
‘Are you nervous?’ Loi thought to Tomiar when she fastened the circlet about her waist, buckling it tight and checking the clips, before sliding her sword into the sheath designed within it.
‘No. I’m anxious for you and the girls, but looking forward to the challenge of battle.’
‘Loi, here.’
Sabyn tossed her the harness with the two short swords, his face intent yet calm as he strapped long dagger sheaths to his biceps and calves. Taking a moment to untangle the leather straps, Loi pulled her arms back and shook the harness on, rolling her shoulders sharply a few times until it settled in place, crisscrossing her back. The sword handles stuck out on either side, just above her hips, high enough to be comfortable during flight. Grasping the handles she pulled the swords free, feeling a sense of pleasure at the ease of the weapons. The blades gleamed in the light when she spun them, wrists loose and easy, before sliding them home again.
Sabyn buckled the scabbard around his waist while watching her. The ease and obvious pleasure with which she handled the weapons aroused him and he grinned, winking at her when she felt his gaze and looked over. After checking his sword slid easily from its sheath, he reached for the short axes he favored. Perfectly weighted for throwing and light to carry, the four axes fitted into a harness similar to what Loi wore. After so many years of use the leather had worn to his shape, fitting like a second skin over the mail. Loi turned her attention to Tomiar, going over the griffon’s armor and tightening the straps of the plates. Sabyn fastened shields to his forearms. Each shield followed the curve of his arm and slanted at the elbow for ease of movement while curving out and up to protect the outer curve of his hands. The shields extended just past his skin, enough to protect and block but not inhibit any movement and the straps over the underside of his arm offered another spot to fit weapons. The blistenid throwing blades, sharp enough to pierce rapthna leather, slotted into p
lace easily, offering a quick versatile weapon.
‘How’s it going?’ he thought to Tomiar.
The dark griffon turned, regarding him with warm eyes.
‘All good, friend. Looking forward to battle.’
A grin slipped out when the familiar sensation of anticipation swirled.
‘Fly strong. Don’t forget to utilize Sito.’
‘Will we go straight to the air?’
‘I don’t know—we’ll see soon enough. How are you feeling about the outcome?’
Tomiar’s gaze darkened and Sabyn waited while she attempted to look ahead in time. After a moment the griffon shook her head.
‘I can’t see. Too many possibilities.’
Sabyn shrugged and reached out to pat her armor clad shoulder.
‘Not too worry. Live in the present, it’s all we can do.’
‘Let me, Cat.’ Ignatius drew my hood up, over my head and settled it in place. He tucked the stray hairs in with a thick solid finger then clipped the nose piece in place, causing me to wrinkle my nose and pull away, sneezing.
‘Uck! That’s cold.’
The soldiers closest to me chuckled while they strapped on a variety of weapons. I’d never seen everyone so armed until now. Only the Halenine fae stayed the same, with their lethal bite and two inch long stinger. I repressed a shudder at the thought of being attacked by them. Belsesus held a centaur axe, one of the double headed curved blades, and also had swords sheathed on either side as well as a crossbow strapped to his back. The tip of the bolts sat above his shoulder for an easy reach. The Rodhite centaurs—the bowmen—carried either composite bows or crossbows on their backs and sleeves with throwing blades, reminding me of mine. I turned to Ignatius.
‘My sleeve!’
‘Here.’
He flashed a smile while turning back from Loushka’s saddle bags, my sleeve in his hands and proceeded to strap it to my arm. Without Leseach here, he’d stepped into her role and I swallowed at the thought of her, closing my eyes for an instant.
Please let it have been quick, whatever it was.
Ignatius finished strapping it in place then reached for the spare blades and strapped them to my upper arm above the sleeve. I reached for the leather circlet when he finished and set it around my waist, but before I got a chance to buckle it Ignatius did it for me.
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