Finding Refuge: The Marked Ones

by Cathi Shaw

  “Yes,” she agreed, “Sending her ahead with Arion is probably the wisest course of action.”

  “I’ll tell them now,” Meldiron said.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Mina stared at her brother in utter shock. Meldiron had just finished telling them that he wanted her and Arion to start the rest of the journey to the Refuge without him and Thia. The plan was that they would follow when Xyrisse had regained enough strength to travel.

  “Meldiron, that’s ridiculous. Thia is desperate to get to the Eastern Mountains and Teague. There’s no reason for us to go on ahead of you. We can wait here and then all travel together.”

  “I think it is a good idea for us to go ahead,” Arion spoke up, surprising Mina even more.

  She narrowed her eyes at him. That was the last thing she expected Arion to say. He was still distrustful of Xyrisse and he’d been reluctant to let his Prince, Meldiron, out of his sight in the last few days. He seemed to see himself as Meldiron’s personal protector. And she’d noticed that in recent days he seemed to have adopted a similar role with herself. The fact that he was agreeing that they should go ahead was suspicious.

  “What does Thia think about this?” Mina asked knowing her sister would see reason.

  “She’s agreed it would be for the best. Then at least some of our group can arrive in time to assure them that we are all safe and well,” Meldiron said.

  Mina frowned. There was no way Thia would agree to this so readily. There had to be something they weren’t telling her. It had been months since they’d seen the others but Meldiron had never worried about setting their minds at ease before. Why the sudden rush?

  Both Elders were closed lipped when she tried to question them further on the topic. Arion just set about preparing their things for travel. Exacerbated, Mina went in search of Thia to find some answers.

  But when she spoke to her sister, it was clear that she was in agreement that the best course of action was for Mina and Arion to go on ahead of them.

  “Thia, why do you want me to go now? I know you are desperate to get to Teague. It doesn’t make sense that we should go ahead.”

  Thia took a deep breath and then turned to face her. Mina gasped when she saw the look of raw pain on her sister’s face. Thia put her hands on Mina’s upper arms.

  “Please don’t question this, Mina. Just go. I can’t bear all of us being delayed any longer. At least one of us should get to the Refuge quickly.”

  Mina looked at her sister closely. Worry creased Thia’s face making her look older than her sixteen years. “Is Teague worse?” she asked softly.

  Thia’s eyes filled with despair. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I haven’t been able to contact him since we left Sailsburg.”

  Mina saw the misery on her sister’s face and her heart pinched. Poor Thia had been trying to get them to turn Eastward for weeks and now that they were finally doing so, she was stuck; bound by her duty as healer.

  “Being stuck here unable to leave …” Thia trailed off as emotion choked her voice. She cleared her throat. “Mina, I need you to go ahead. I can’t move Xyrisse and risk her life but I need to know someone is getting closer to Teague and helping him.” Tears rolled down Thia’s face. “Please don’t argue with me about this.”

  Mina felt a stab of guilt for pushing her sister in such difficult circumstances. She could tell Thia was just barely holding on.

  “I’m sorry,” Mina said, hugging her sister. “I’ll go. Of course I will.”

  “Thank you.” Thia sniffed and wiped her eyes. “Alright let’s get you ready to go. I’ll braid your hair. Sit down.”

  Mina sat and felt Thia’s hands expertly plaiting her hair. She closed her eyes, relaxing as the familiar sensations washed over her. She could almost imagine they were home in the Inn with Thia doing her hair. So much had happened in the last year. Mina sighed. She loved travelling but there were those times when she missed home. She knew that Thia must miss it more than the rest of them. Her little sister was a true homebody. As Thia tied off the long golden plait, Mina made up her mind. She would do this one thing for Thia without complaint. She would leave her.

  #

  As Mina put the last few things into her saddlebag, Meldiron approached her.

  He smiled. “Be careful, little sister.”

  Mina raised her brows. “I should be telling you that! You’re the one staying here with an injured Hunter. I think you and Thia are probably in more danger than I am.” She shook her head at him. Really, everyone was so concerned for her wellbeing but if they stopped to look at it reasonably, she was sure they would see that their fear was misplaced.

  Still Meldiron looked unconvinced. “Arion will guard you with his life.”

  Mina tied down the flap on her saddlebag and turned to face Meldiron. “He shouldn’t have to, Meldiron.” Her suspicion that something more was behind her brother sending her away returned. “Should he?” She watched the Elder prince closely, wishing she knew his face as well as sister should.

  Meldiron looked at her steadily, his green eyes clear. “If he needs to he will.”

  “Princess Minathrial, are you ready?” Arion’s voice rang out from where he was readying his horse. Mina cringed.

  “I swear if he doesn’t drop the “princess” business, he’ll be the one who needs protecting,” she told her brother irritably as she swung into the saddle.

  Meldiron smiled. “To Arion the proper order of things is very important. You are an Elder princess, Minathrial. He just believes that your title should be used.”

  “Well, I told him to stop it,” she answered grumpily, glaring in Arion’s direction.

  Suddenly she felt Meldiron’s hand on her knee. She looked down at her brother surprised by the concern on his handsome face. “Be careful, little sister,” he repeated earnestly.

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “Why does everyone keep saying that?” she asked.

  Meldiron didn’t answer for a moment. Then he stepped back and smiled at her. “The Elders have always said that I was the last hope of the Elder people, Minathrial. But they’d forgotten about you. Trust Arion. We will meet again in the Eastern Mountains.”

  Mina bit her lip, suddenly unsettled by Meldiron’s words. She turned her horse to where Arion waited and nodded at him. Then with a final wave to Meldiron and Thia, she cantered out of the dunes behind Arion. For once her excitement at starting a new journey was missing.

  #

  The first day on the road, passed quickly. While Arion didn’t talk to her unless he had to, Mina was happy to take in the sights and sounds around her. They only continued along the coast for the first few hours and then the road turned inward and started to wind in a Northeastern direction through a forest of broad-leafed trees.

  They passed no other travelers on the road but there was plenty of wild life in the forest. Exotic birds sang and small strange animals crossed the road at regular intervals, making Mina believe that this was a road less travelled. The woods grew close to the road and it felt as if they were merely riding through the forest itself.

  As the sun disappeared behind the trees, Arion led them to a small sheltered clearing in the forest. He dismounted gracefully and began to untie his saddlebags. When Mina remained mounted he looked up at her.

  “We will make camp here tonight,” he told her.

  She nodded and dismounted from her horse, patting her silky mane and murmuring to the gentle animal. The mare that Meldiron had purchased for her was a rich chestnut color with black stockings and kind eyes. She was a beautiful creature and Mina was sure her brother had paid an enormous sum of money for her. But he was the Crown Prince of the Elders and even in exile he had access to resources that she wasn’t accustomed to.

  “Stella. I think you are a Stella,” she told the gentle animal confidently. The horse blinked her enormous liquid brown eyes back at her. Mina had been trying to come up with an appropriate name for her mount since Meldiron had gifted the horse to her. An
d still she was stumped. Stella was the tenth name she’d tried out.

  “You might find more satisfaction if you used an Elder name.” Arion’s voice behind her made her jump. She hasn’t realized he was standing so close.

  “An Elder name?” Mina asked, trying to cover her sudden fluster.

  “She is an Elder horse.”

  Mina looked at him sharply. “She is? How do you know?”

  Arion shook his head in disappointment. “How could you not?”

  Pain filled Mina’s chest. Why did he keep punishing her for not knowing the Elder ways. Tears pricked at her eyes as he strode across the clearing and began to set up camp. Mina kept herself busy unsaddling her mare, rubbing her down and tethering her near Arion’s mount in knee-deep grass. By the time she was finished the chores she’d calmed down.

  She turned to see Arion watching her closely.

  “What?” she asked.

  “I’m not used to seeing a princess care for her own horse,” he answered in a disapproving tone.

  Mina felt a prick of anger. “I’m not some helpless girl, you know,” she said testily. “Besides who is going to care for my mount here.”

  He glared at her as if the question was ludicrous.

  “You? Come on, Arion, you have enough to do with caring for your own horse and setting up camp.” Mina paused at looked back at her mare. “Besides I like caring for her. It makes us closer, which is important if one plans to travel far with her horse. It’s important to become friends.”

  Arion looked at her as though she’d lost her mind.

  “What?” Mina asked puzzled.

  “A relationship with your mount? The horse is merely the vehicle to get you to where you’re going.”

  Mina stared at him in shock. She was appalled. A horse was so much more than just a means of travel. A horse was a living, breathing creature, a beautiful soul. But she decided not to get into this discussion with Arion. She sensed they would have far different views on the topic.

  “I’ll go gather some food for us,” she said as she walked over to where they’d dumped their saddlebags. She was digging through her bag looking for a bowl she’d packed that would serve well for collecting berries, herbs and tubers when Arion spoke again.

  “You will stay here.”

  Mina stood up and turned around, stunned by the tone of his voice. It was clear that he expected her to obey his orders. But instead of engaging in an argument, Mina decided to take a conciliatory approach.

  “Arion, that’s ridiculous. We need food to eat. What am I supposed to do in camp, just sit here and watch you build a fire?” She smiled at him.

  But he did not smile in return. His lips were set in a tense line and his pale green eyes were even colder than normal.

  “You will do as I tell you.”

  Her attempts at keeping the peace were instantly forgotten. Mina couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Pardon me?” she asked angrily. “Why would I do as you tell me? Am I not your princess? Shouldn’t you be doing what I tell you?”

  Arion didn’t answer.

  But Mina’s anger flared even hotter. “Or is there something you’re not telling me? Are you a prince or a king? Is there some reason you might have that justifies you bossing me around?”

  Unconsciously she’d walked across the clearing until she stood directly in front of him, breathing hard with emotion.

  Arion looked at a point somewhere behind her left shoulder, still refusing to talk.

  “What you have nothing to say? Fine.” Mina turned back and grabbed the wooden bowl she’d dropped on the ground. “I’ll be back when I’ve collected some food for the evening meal.” She’d only gone halfway across the clearing when Arion’s words stopped her cold.

  “Your life is in danger and Prince Meldiron asked that you not be let out of my sight.”

  A shiver ran down Mina’s spine. She turned around and searched Arion’s face but it was clear that he was serious.

  “Who threatens me?” she asked.

  He met her eyes. “Hunters,” he answered tonelessly.

  A stab of terror froze Mina. She forgot to breath, suddenly remembering a dark shadow holding her in its grasp.

  “Princess Minathrial?” Arion crossed the clearing until he was an arm’s length away. “Are you alright, you’ve gone very pale.”

  Mina looked at Arion barely seeing him as the memories came back in abundance. Without another word he took her arm and led her back to the fire pit he’d started to build. He sat her down and then went back to work building the fire. Mina was grateful for the space in which to digest the memories that were flooding back.

  The attack in the forest. For months she’d tried to remember it but she’d had no luck. Now, with Arion telling her that she was once more in danger, the memories came tumbling back and were overwhelming in their brutality.

  She remembered the red eyes of the creature as it held her in its grasp. Her body had gone numb and then he’d violated her in ways unimaginable.

  “It felt as though everything that defined me was being exposed and devoured,” she whispered hoarsely as the memories flooded back. “As if all that would be left at the end was darkness and despair.” She began to shiver with the memory.

  She was vaguely aware of Arion moving to her side but the memories assaulted her and she was in a different clearing in a different forest.

  Suddenly she felt Arion’s arms around her. “Princess Minathrial. You are safe. Let it go,” he was saying softly. “Holding on to these kinds of memories will destroy you.”

  Mina looked up at him suddenly aware that the clearing was dark. How long has she been sitting like this, stuck in her memories? How long had Arion been holding her?

  “You are safe.” She could feel his words vibrating through his chest into her back.

  Mina nodded, suddenly uncomfortable.

  “I’m okay now,” she whispered needing there to be space between the two of them.

  Arion let go of her and stood. Mina felt the coolness of the night close in around her but it wasn’t the same as the icy coldness of her memories. Arion turned back to the fire he had prepared and lit it.

  “What makes you think it’s me the Hunters are looking for?” she asked finally, not sure she really wanted to hear the answer.

  Arion put a small bowl of nuts and dried fruit in her lap before he sat down opposite from her and began to eat.

  “It was Xyrisse, actually. I suppose saving her had some use.”

  Mina was puzzled. Arion seemed to read her emotion.

  “You recall how she reacted whenever you tried to go near her?”

  “Yes, she was very frightened of me. I still don’t understand why,” Mina murmured remembering the violent reactions the Hunter girl had shown whenever Mina came near.

  Arion shook his head. “That’s what we thought - that she was frightened. But she told Thia and Meldiron that it was because you drove her into frenzy. As a Hunter she had an uncontrollable desire to finish what had been started last year. To drain you.”

  Mina looked at Arion in horror. “She said that. Are you certain?”

  He nodded. “She didn’t think you’d be safe around her. She was the one who urged us to start on the road. But she also told us that you were in terrible danger along the coast. If she was so attracted to you even when close to death, then other healthy Hunters would also be drawn to you. You are like a beacon flashing in a dark night to them.”

  Mina swallowed. But then she thought of something. “Why wasn’t I attacked in Sailsburg then? I thought that was a main trading centre for the Hunters.”

  Arion nodded. “It is but with so many people in the city you would be almost impossible to pinpoint. That’s why most of the killings of the Marked Ones we’ve found have been in outlying areas. Almost no dead ones have been found in the cities. The Hunters’ tracking abilities are muted in populated areas.”

  “Will I always be a draw for Hunters?” She asked horrified at
the thought.

  Arion shook his head. “Xyrisse indicated that even now it was fading but that it would take time for the marker from your attack to completely disappear. She didn’t know how long it would take for that to happen but she did say that until that was gone you would be in terrible danger.”

  “So we started to the Eastern Mountains to put distance between us and the Hunters?”

  Arion nodded. “And you understand now why you must not wander off by yourself?” he asked sternly.

  Mina shivered as she remembered the cold embrace of the Hunter who’d almost killed he, then she nodded in agreement. She never wanted to experience such a thing again.

  “We will travel quickly, Princess. The greater distance we put between ourselves and Nasseet the better.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  The first two days of travel were uneventful. Now that Mina knew why they had been so adamant that she leave camp, she focused on putting as much distance between herself and the coast. Arion woke her in the early hours of the morning, before the sun brightened the Eastern sky, and they rode hard into the late evening.

  Mina wondered if Arion ever slept. He was always awake and sitting up, his light eyes scanning the forest as she fell asleep each night and it was he who woke her each morning. She could barely keep her eyes open after they had their meager meal each night. She wondered how the Elder did it.

  They didn’t speak much on the ride - they were pushing their horses hard and the focus was on escape rather than conversation. But despite the stressful situation, Mina felt oddly at peace with Arion. The afternoon in the clearing, when he sat with her through the horrible memories seemed to have cemented their relationship. It was as if they didn’t need to speak to feel comfortable with one another.

  In the late afternoon of their third day, Arion led them to a clearing for camp much earlier than the other days.

  “The horses are fatiguing,” he told her grimly as they dismounted and unsaddled their mounts.

  Mina nodded. Her strong mare had been flagging for most of the afternoon and it tore Mina’s heart to think that she was causing distress to the beautiful animal. She took time to rub down her sides and stroke her flank before settling her at the side of the clearing where there was fresh green grass for her to graze on.