Once Ari’s breathing slipped into the pattern of sleep, Ria dressed. Her thoughts had fragmented into discordant voices. Before her head exploded, she had to sort through the conflicting emotions. She rolled her blankets and lifted her haversack, then slipped from the tent.
When she turned to study Ari, tears flooded her eyes. If he returned to Rosti, she would never see him again. If she found a hiding place, would Ari’s heart bond draw him to her?
She stuffed some of the dried food in her pack. Carefully, she crept from the camp. By the time she reached the old trail, the moon was high. For a moment, she debated which direction to take. She chose, and then ran until she found a sheltered place behind a briar bramble.
* * *
The sound of gruff voices woke Ari. He listened for a few minutes. Thieves? He stretched a hand to warn Ria and found an empty space. She was gone. So was her blanket roll. Why? Could she have joined the men who had invaded the camp? He shook his head. She wouldn’t betray him.
He reached for his breeches and his boots. After dressing, he drew his knife from the sheath. With caution, he crawled from the tent and listened to the men.
“Where are they?” A deep voice rose above a whisper. “Three days we watched. We know him and the boy found fyrestones.”
“Maybe in the tent.” The second voice was lighter and shrill with tension.
Two thieves. Had they found Ria? Her capture wouldn’t explain her missing blanket roll. He crept toward the men.
Clouds slid from the moon and provided enough light for him to see two figures searching the panniers. When the pale light vanished, Ari moved. He grabbed one of the men and pressed his knife against his captive’s throat. “Be still or you die.”
The blow from behind surprised him. Not two thieves. Three. A second blow sent him sprawling to the ground. A third brought darkness.
* * *
Ria bolted into a sitting position. Her heart raced. The fyrestones in the pouch felt warm. Ari. Something had happened to him. Was he dead? She closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath. As she released the air, she pressed the pouch and sought him. Not dead. Injured. She had to go to him. She fumbled for her boots. With haste, she rolled her blankets and grabbed the haversack.
Sounds reached her. Someone came from the direction of the camp. Ria froze and prayed she wouldn’t be seen.
‘Where’d his partner go?” A deep voice spoke.
“Bet they fought over the stones. Probably took off with his share.” The voice was lighter than the first.
“If we hurry, we could catch him.” A third man spoke.
Ria pressed her hand against her mouth. She peered after the dark figures and remained motionless until the sounds of those passing vanished. Once the usual night sounds were heard, she made her way back to the camp.
Chapter Eight
When Ria reached the camp, dark clouds shrouded the moon. She drew a white stone from the pouch and used the flame to search for Ari. The panniers had been overturned and the contents scattered. Ari’s haversack had been searched and the fyrestones taken. He lay near the fire circle. Blood flowed from a gash on his head. Ria used the flame from a yellow crystal to seal the wound. She opened her blankets, rolled him onto the cloth and dragged him to the tent.
Inside the tent, she knelt at his side. Her fingers pressed against the pulse at his throat. The erratic rhythm troubled her. “Ari. Ari.” There was no response to her call. She raised his eyelids and using the flame of a white crystal checked. Neither pupil reacted. Years ago, she’d seen the same reaction in the eyes of a man who’d been thrown from his courser. The man had died.
“Ari, please.” Had his eyelids fluttered? She ran her hands over his body. Other than bruises and the head wound, she found no other injuries. They couldn’t remain here. What if the thieves returned? Could she chance moving him?
Tears blurred her vision. She pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes. The realization of the depth of her feelings for him frightened her. Her heart was his. This added to her fears. To admit to a heart bond blunted her desire for vengeance and could weaken her when she encountered Malera. Malera would not forget. The chief priestess had to be challenged before the land and the people were destroyed.
She wiped her eyes. Think. How could she help Ari? What had the scrolls said about using fyrestones to heal? She ran her hands over his tunic. Her eyes widened. The copper chain and the scarlet crystal were gone. Like mist melting beneath the sun, the gap in her memories evaporated and she knew what to do. If the fates were kind, she would succeed.
Ria scraped small holes in the dirt at his head. She spilled the stones she’d taken as her share into her hand. Three white, two yellow and an orange were fitted into the depressions. She placed a scarlet on his forehead and held the other in her cupped hand. She straddled his chest and drew a deep breath. From the fyrestones in the depressions, the flames rose. She called fire from the scarlet in her hand and drew the blazes to form a dome.
With care, she visualized Ari as she’d known him, strong, alert and virile. Inch by inch, she moved down his body, drawing the dome of fire to encase him. As she slid over his groin and felt his organ stir, she nearly lost control of the flames. Once his entire body lay beneath the flame-hued dome, she activated the scarlet on his forehead. Instead of sending fire outward, she forced the tendrils through the stone into his body.
Ari groaned. Ria released the flames. “Ari.”
He opened his eyes. “The fyrestones?”
“All but the ones I took are gone. How do you feel?”
“Tired.”
“Then sleep.” She kissed his forehead and tucked the scarlet crystal she’d placed on his forehead into the pocket of his breeches. He wouldn’t be strong enough to travel for several days. What if the thieves returned? She needed to find a safe campsite.
As dawn lightened the sky, she used the burros to carry Ari on a sling made from the tent into the woods. She returned to camp and loaded the burros. Which way to go? She held the pouch of fyrestones by the strings. As she was about to tuck it onto her pocket, the bag moved in a circle, then pointed in the opposite direction than she’d taken the previous night. She nodded. She would follow the stones.
She returned to Ari’s side. “I need to find a new camp. I’ll return as soon as I can.” She placed the water flask and a bowl of dried fruit and nuts beside him. “Here’s your knife.” She kissed him. “Be safe.”
“I will. The thieves will be on their way to Rosti to see profit from their theft. If they wait too long, they won’t be able to sell the stones until the winter solstice.”
Ria rose. The sooner she found a place, she could return for him. When he was on the mend, she would bond her heart to him and pray the bonding would bring his help when she faced Malera. She led the burros along the overgrown trail and used the pouch of fyrestones as a guide.
The stones led her to where the trail ended at the base of a rock-strewn slope. She led the burros up until they reached a level area. A sheer cliff faced her. What now? She edged along the cliff and found a crack wide enough for the burros to enter in a single file. Once inside, the pass widened. She led the burros to the end where she paused to survey a glen where plants grew wild. Sheer cliffs surrounded the valley. Across the level floor, water flowed from the heights to fill a narrow stream.
With lighter spirits, she led the burros to a flat area where tumbled stones showed there had once been a structure. The trees bore green, yellow and orange citrons. She unloaded the burros, and then led Ber and Bera back to where she’d left Ari. She crouched beside him. “Can you walk?”
He nodded. “I can try. Where are we headed?”
She handed him a citron. “To where these grow. It’s a hidden glen.”
He peeled and ate the fruit. After getting to his feet, he held out his hand to her. Ria led him to Ber.
She returned for the blanket roll and the tent. Once they were loaded on the burros, she took the leads. Until
they reached the slope, Ari plodded beside Ber. He looked at the steep way. “Not sure I can climb the hill.”
“Sit on Ber’s back,” Ria said. “Won’t be comfortable, but there’s not much further to go.” When he was seated, she urged the pair of beasts forward. Once through the pass, she led the burros to the new camp and helped Ari dismount. She eased him to the ground and went to prepare a meal.
* * *
Ari rolled to his side and felt Ria’s warmth. Was this a dream? She had left him and thieves had come. He rubbed his head in search for an injury. Healed. How long ago had he been attacked? Memories flooded back. Ria had returned and brought him here.
She turned toward him. “How do you feel? You slept for most of two days.”
“They took my scarlet.”
“My fault. I should have stayed.”
He shook his head. “They would have harmed you, especially if they learned you were a woman.”
“Still, I feel responsible for running away. I could have used my scarlet to protect us, though I’m not sad to know the crystals are gone.”
“I know you have no desire to return to Rosti. There’s no chance of that for now. We’ll never find a lode as large. We’ll have to wait and hope by the winter solstice, we’ll have enough to sell.”
“We may have other options,” she said.
Ari swallowed. Tremors began in his arms and legs. They reminded him of the ones that had raked Ria’s body after her failure to steal the fyrestone. “Help me.”
“Touch the stone in your pocket.”
His hands shook violently. “Can’t reach it.”
She slid her hand into his breeches pocket and drew out the scarlet crystal. “There should be a link to you. ‘Tis the one I used to heal you.”
Ari clenched the fyrestone. Warmth infused his body and the tremors ceased. “Where did you find this?”
She looked away. You gave me a scarlet and I took the others. Sometimes more stones are needed for an action. I took two of every color and five or six of the whites.”
He gripped her hand. “I should have asked if you wanted others. My greed cost us nearly all we had.” He stroked the crystal. With each touch, he felt stronger. “Where are we?”
“I’m not sure. I followed the old road to the end and the stones led me here.”
“They did?”
She nodded. “I prayed the fates would show me a safe place. I was holding the pouch. It moved and pointed the way. ‘Tis a wonderful place. There’s an orchard with citron and plantain trees. There’s a garden that has gone wild and the tumbled remains of a structure. What more do we need?”
“Grain, cloth, good beasts. If we had sold the fyrestones, we could have bought all we need.” He pushed to his feet and walked to the orchard. When he returned, he sank on the blanket and rested his head against his knees.
“What’s wrong?” Ria asked. “More seizures?”
He shook his head. “Just moved too fast. The crystal seems more potent than the one I wore.”
She returned from the fire with a mug of tea and a bowl of stew. After he finished the meal, Ari dozed.
Soft touches woke him. Ria brushed her lips over his. He groaned. “I’m not sure I have the stamina to mount.”
“Who says you must?” She tugged his tunic over his head. “We have bonded our bodies. You gave me your heart. Now I’ll give mine to you.”
“Are you sure?” Sunlight illuminated her. She pulled off his boots and drew his breeches over his hips. His rod sprang free.
Ria ran her tongue over the tip. Ari growled. She straddled his thighs and leaned forward to catch his mouth in a fierce kiss. Under the pressure of his probing tongue, her mouth opened. Their tongues tangled.
Ria raised her head. “Our hearts beat as one. My desire is for you and only you.” She slid forward so her nether lips brushed his rod. “We bonded our bodies. This time, I bind my heart to you.”
Ari wanted to be inside her, to glide into her moist depths. She raised her hips and wet his rod with her fluids.
“Now.” She grasped his rod and glided him into her sheath. “Twice bonded, for now and forever.”
He stroked her breasts. “Ride me hard and fast.”
As she moved, he matched the rhythm of her body with upward thrusts. Breaths moved in unison. Heart beats meshed. He slid his hand between them and found her pleasure node. She pressed her hands against his shoulders. Her rocking motions grew frenzied.
He fountained. A cry poured from his depths. “Body and heart. Twice bonded.”
* * *
Ria opened her eyes. The sun was past midday. After the double bonding, she’d collapsed and slept. She stretched. Ari sat by the fire. How long had he been awake? She splashed water from a flask on her face and dressed. At the fire, she accepted a mug of tea. “How do you feel?”
“Wonderful.” He kissed her fingers.
Ria sipped the herbal brew. “Let me pick some citrons and fill the water flasks.”
He grinned. “Watch out for the birds. They’re noisy this morning.”
As she recalled the carrion crows and how they’d driven her through the fyrethorn hedge, her stomach knotted. “What kind?”
“The ones that nest in fruit trees. Not carrion crows. I’ve never seen them anywhere except Rosti. ‘Tis said they follow the slavers.”
Ria finished the tea. “Though they attacked me, they did no harm. In truth, they saved my life.”
“How odd, but I’m glad.”
She lifted the water flasks and an empty pack. After filling the flasks, she picked some of each variety of citrons. She lugged her spoils to the fire. Could she persuade Ari to stay here until she mastered the crystal and taught him how to use them?
Ari dished stew into bowls. “We need to move on and find fyrestones to replace the stolen ones.”
Ria frowned. “We have all we need.” She pulled the pouch from her pocket. When the bag began to circle, she gasped. “That’s how I was led here.”
Ari opened his hand. The scarlet she’d given him glowed. “There are stones nearby. After we eat, we’ll search.”
“Why must we find more? They can only be sold at the temple.”
“If we plan to stay here, we’ll need livestock and other things.”
She waved her hand. “Why? There’s an orchard, the garden and even some fowl gone wild. There might be other livestock that escaped. I’ve seen lopear tracks.’
He rose. “How long do you plan to stay?”
“Not forever. Once you learn all I can teach you about using the fyrestones, we can return to Rosti. I can challenge Malera. With you at my side, we can drive her from the temple.”
“Then what will we do?”
She clasped her arms about her knees. “Return the use of the stones to the ways of the past. Place a circle in every hamlet. Search the scrolls and discover how the stones were used for good, not ill.”
He dished more stew into his bowl. “Whether we search for crystals or not, we need to explore the glen.”
Ria nodded. She finished the stew and placed her bowl in a pan of water. After peeling a yellow citron, she tasted a segment. The sweet fruit held a hint of tartness.
Ari rose and reached for her hand. “The orchard was a great find.”
They strolled through what had once been a garden. Ria paused to study the variety of plants. When they strolled through the orchard, Ari pointed to several nut-bearing trees. He unsheathed his knife and cut a hand of plantains to cook with their evening meal.
Beyond the orchard, they walked to the waterfall and studied the stream that meandered across the meadow until it reached a channel piercing the granite cliff. Ari stopped to wash his hands. He pulled reeds from the shore and wove them into a basket. “We’ll have fish for our evening meal.”
Ria moved removed her boots and rolled the legs of her breeches. “The fyrestones are somewhere across the stream.”
“We’ll look there tomorrow.” He pulled her down besi
de him. “The cliffs appear to be solid. Let me run back to camp for soap and towels and we’ll bathe in the falls.”
“I’ll go. You see to the fish.” She ran back to camp and returned with the bathing supplies and the sack of dirty clothes. Before bathing, they washed clothes and spread them on the grass to dry. Hand in hand, they returned to the fire. Ari cleaned the fish. Ria stuffed tubers into the coals.
While the food cooked, she spilled the crystals into her hand. “Would you like to learn how to use the stones?”
“Perhaps after we eat.” But when they finished the meal, Ari pulled her to her feet. “Come to the tent.”
What she saw in his eyes kindled her desire. She had her scarlet and they were double bonded. Could they take the final step and join mind to mind? She stepped into the tent. Before she could ask her question, Ari’s mouth covered hers. The urgency of his lips and tongue swept all but finding fulfillment from her thoughts.
Her breasts ached. Her nether lips throbbed. She rubbed against Ari and felt his organ engorge. “I need you,” she whispered.
He caught the lobe of her ear between his teeth. “As I need you.”
She wiggled her breeches and small clothes over her hips. Ari pushed her to the blankets. He stripped. His erection was full and hard. She reached for him. He pulled off her boots and breeches. She bent her knees and opened her thighs in invitation. He thrust his head between her legs. She drew his organ into her mouth. Her climax erupted and she sucked on his organ. He quickly reversed and thrust into her sheath. She wrapped her legs around his hips. Their breathing and heartbeats joined into a single sound. As he thrust into her, she surrendered to the dance.
Body moved on body. Hearts pounded. Breathing rasped. The heat became incandescent. Their voices rose in unison. Ria exploded in a shower of brilliant colors against a night dark sky.
Temple of Fyre (Island of Fyre) Page 12
