by Tamie Dearen
With a groan, Alora pushed to her feet, moving to stare out the window. “I should be out there learning to shoot instead of inside, baking cookies.”
“What are you talking about? Since when are you interested in shooting a bow and arrow?”
“Since my fun ‘Spring Break Adventure,’ that’s when.” Alora had adopted Beth’s sarcastic term for the harrowing experience with her father. Injecting a little humor seemed to make it easier to talk about. “You don’t know... I can’t explain how awful it felt to be absolutely helpless. I never ever want to be that way again. I want to learn self-defense. I want to learn how to fight with a knife. How to help in close combat. Archery. I want to learn everything I can.”
“Hmmm...” Beth lifted one eyebrow with the same expression she wore when Alora teasingly suggested studying was more fun than riding a horse. “And what does Kaevin think about that idea?”
“What difference does it make if Kaevin approves? He’s not my father—he doesn’t control my life.”
“Not in favor, huh?” Beth chuckled.
Alora couldn’t help laughing. “No, he doesn’t approve, but I’m learning anyway. I don’t need his permission.”
“What’re you doing? Watching YouTube videos?”
“No, I’m... promise you won’t tell?”
Beth leaned in close, her shoulders scrunched with excitement. “On my honor as your best friend. You know I love secrets.”
“Jireo’s teaching me on the sly.”
“You’re kidding me. How did you convince him to do that? And how on earth are you keeping that from Kaevin?”
“It wasn’t hard to convince Jireo that anything I learned about weapons and fighting would make me more of an asset... or maybe less of a detriment. I cheated a little, since I kind of baited his defender bond with Kaevin.”
“You mean, since he’s compelled to defend Kaevin, he’s sort of forced to agree with anything that would make him safer?”
“It seems to work that way.” Alora glanced outside to be sure all the guys were in sight. Markaeus was taking aim at the target with Jireo standing behind him, guiding his hands to draw back the bow. I guess he’s finally forgiven Jireo for choking his grandfather into passing out. She flashed a rueful grin Beth’s direction. “I just pointed out how dangerous it was for Kaevin that I didn’t know how to fight. That seemed to convince Jireo to train me, even if he had to go behind his best friend’s back to do it.”
“But how did you get away with it? Kaevin’s with you practically all the time, right?”
“Yes! Good gracious, he’s like a shadow. I’m surprised he’s out there right now. Ordinarily he wouldn’t think it was safe for me to sit on the couch by myself. The only time he leaves me alone is at night. So Jireo and I have been sneaking off to the stables to practice after he goes to bed.”
“And is fighting the only thing you and Jireo are practicing at night?” Beth gave an exaggerated wink. “After all, he’s pretty hot.”
“Ewww! He’s like my brother!”
Beth laughed. “I’m just kidding. I know you wouldn’t cheat on Kaevin, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be mad as a hornet when he finds out what you’re doing behind his back.”
“I’m hoping he’ll be happy when he sees how much I’ve learned. Jireo taught me how to hold a knife, and we’ve been practicing some self-defense. We also practiced a move where someone is attacking him and I transport him at the last second. That one already came in handy.”
“Wow... you must have spent a lot of time together. I really do think Kaevin’s going to be ticked off though,” Beth warned.
“Sounds to me like you might be jealous of Jireo,” said Alora, only half-teasing.
“About that... I like Jireo a lot—as a friend—but lately I’ve kind of started to like Daegreth.” Two rosy patches bloomed on Beth’s cheeks.
“Daegreth?” Alora looked back through the window. Daegreth stood slightly apart from the other guys, as if he was afraid to intrude. Though he hadn’t been responsible for his actions while under Vindrake’s bloodbond control in Tenavae, he still acted awkward and guilty.
Like all men in Kaevin’s country, Daegreth wore his brown hair long, down to his shoulders. But those shoulders looked like a bodybuilder’s, making Kaevin’s and Jireo’s impressive muscles look minuscule in comparison. In truth, all the guys had impressive muscles, even Wesley, who’d taken up weight-lifting as a hobby with Daegreth.
Alora had seen Daegreth’s gift of strength at work when the bloodbond had taken over and commanded Daegreth’s body to attack, flinging full grown men about as if they weighed nothing. Full of remorse in the aftermath, his brown eyes—indicating his rare Sun Clan heritage—were tortured with self-condemnation and remorse. And yet, without Vindrake’s control, he was one of the most sweet and gentle guys Alora had ever met.
“Why didn’t you tell me about Daegreth before now?” Alora asked, ashamed she’d spent so little time with her best friend lately. I should have known she liked Daegreth. I bet they look cute together, with Daegreth being so big and tall, and Beth being so petite. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever even seen them standing next to each other.
“Actually, I don’t want anyone to know... especially Wesley.”
“So no one knows?” No wonder. I bet her mom wouldn’t be in favor. He’s not only dangerous, but also about four years older.
Beth’s shoulders rose and fell as if she couldn’t explain, but Alora could feel her impatience. “It just feels awkward, with the whole weird genetic relation thing. I mean, Wesley’s family is still trying to adjust, and Daegreth is always worried his bloodbond will somehow come back. Even though we all told him it’s impossible for Vindrake to come back here, now that Markaeus sealed the only portal between the two realms.”
“Uhmm... about that portal thing...” Schooling her nerves, Alora turned to face Beth. “Doc didn’t tell you guys what happened yesterday morning, did he?”
“No. What happened?”
“Somehow or another, a brand new portal appeared. This one goes from Markaeus’ bedroom to his grandfather’s hut in Portshire.”
“Portshire?” The blood seemed to drain from Beth’s face. “Isn’t that where Vindrake lives?”
“Yes, but don’t worry. Markaeus sealed it before I transported all of us back here.”
“I don’t understand. How could there be a new portal? Has Vindrake figured out a way to make portals?”
“No one has any idea how a brand new portal just showed up overnight, so we’re supposed to have a big meeting with the whole council to figure out what to do about it.”
“Daegreth’ll be so upset. He’ll probably want to chain himself back up again.”
“That’s kind of what everyone thought he should do.” Alora couldn’t look her friend in the eye. “It might be for the best, until we get this figured out.”
“No!”
Beth’s loud stomp made Alora jump.
“Daegreth’s suffered enough for something that isn’t his fault. I’m not letting anyone tell him about this new portal. Just figure it out and fix it before Vindrake finds a way to come back over here and screw with Daegreth’s head again.”
“Look, Beth... I agree with you, but it isn’t up to me. I’m sure the adults are going to tell Daegreth. If Vindrake has figured out how to make a new portal and he shows up here, we all know what’ll happen. It’s not Daegreth’s fault he has Vindrake’s bloodbond, but he can’t control himself if Vindrake is in the realm. Think how upset Daegreth would be if the bloodbond came back and he hurt someone.” Or killed someone.
“It’s not fair,” Beth muttered, clenching her fists at her side.
“I know it’s not.” Alora tried to think of something encouraging to say, but nothing came to mind. She took a step toward Beth, reaching out an arm toward her shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
Her usually affectionate friend stiffened. “Don’t you get it? Daegreth would sacrifice him
self for you. For me. For any of us. He’s better than all the rest of us put together, and yet he’s the one who always gets the raw end of the deal.”
“Well at least he has you. That has to make him feel better.”
Staring out the window as a single tear tracked down her cheek, Beth replied in a wooden tone, “He doesn’t have me. He refuses. He says I can’t like him because he’s not good enough for me—not safe.”
Alora rubbed her eyes, stalling as she struggled for words. “Beth... I want to be there for you... like you always are for me. Just tell me what you want me to say.”
“I want you to tell me you’ll fix this. I don’t care how you do it—just fix it so it’ll never happen again.” Her sad brown eyes closed, damp lashes lying on her cheeks.
“Okay, I promise.”
Beth looked up and gave her a wobbly smile. “I know you can’t really keep that promise, but I love you for saying it.”
“No, it’s true. Graely’s determined to find a way to make sure there’re no portals between these two realms, even if we have to kill my father to do it. We have to. Not just for Daegreth’s sake, but for all of us.”
Only when Beth threw her arms around Alora did she feel the depths of her emotion. Wow, she’s really worried about him. Relieved, Alora returned the heartfelt hug.
“Okay, but be careful,” said Beth. “I don’t want to lose my best friend, either.”
A shiver rippled down Alora’s spine as the foreboding words conjured a few vivid memories, but she quickly pushed her fear back. “You know, I have another idea. The council is already talking about sending us on a quest of sorts this summer—to Serenshire. They’re hoping we can find a way to take the soulmate bond off, although Kaevin and I aren’t in agreement. But I was thinking... if there’s a way to get rid of the soulmate bond, maybe there’s a way to get rid of Vindrake’s bloodbond, too.”
“Do you really think so?”
Alora hesitated, not wanting to get Beth’s hopes up. “It can’t hurt to look.”
The timer dinged in the kitchen, and Alora followed Beth in, stooping to peer into the oven. “They look just right to me—a little bit gooey,” said Alora.
“We’ll do this batch gooey for you and the next one a little bit crisper for me.”
“Since when do you like crispy cookies? You’ve always liked ‘em soft.”
Beth shrugged and mumbled something about changing her mind as she handed Alora a hot pad, along with a healthy dose of embarrassment.
“Good grief, Charlie Brown! It’s not you who likes ‘em crispy, is it? It’s Daegreth.”
“I refuse to dignify that question with an answer.”
Chuckling, Alora opened the oven door and reached to grab the cookies from the center rack. But the cookie sheet slid backwards, and she had to reach farther in to grab the corner.
Then it happened.
Her bare skin touched the upper oven rack. White hot pain shot through her arm.
Alora screamed.
She was back in her father’s lair, wrists and ankles chained to a platform. Weakened, but not enough to escape through death, Kaevin lay chained beside her, sharing every moment of torture, feeling her pain in every nerve fiber. A smoking iron floated in the air above her face before plunging to sear her arm. Pain. Agony. Both arms felt as if they’d been filleted. Again. And again. An evil taste flowed in the back of her throat, stimulating her gag reflex and tossing her stomach about like a hurricane. Her ears rang with the assault of an eerie disembodied wail.
I can’t take any more. Please, God. Please.
The pain was gone.
Nothingness.
~4~
A loud gurgle erupted from Arista’s stomach, reminding her that breakfast was long overdue.
“No time for that,” she scolded, fighting against her tangled mass of blond hair while setting a quiver of arrows over her shoulder. Quickly twisting the unruly tresses into a messy braid, she vowed to rise early the next day, with enough time to wash and comb her hair, forcing it into submission. But for now, she barely had time to make her escape before her parents returned for midday meal.
Her father had promised her one more opportunity to prove her hunting and trapping skills sufficient to provide meat for the family in her brother’s absence. If they discovered she’d overslept, yet again, she knew what her punishment would be. Helping with the household chores. All of which she despised with every bone in her body.
She always preferred to be outdoors, whether she faced the biting cold of winter or the sweltering heat of summer. It was a waste of time for her to learn inside tasks, anyway. She was gifted in weapons, and her gift would be wasted in any future path save that of a warrior.
Lifting a corner of greased parchment to peer out the window, Arista groaned as she confirmed the sun’s position, high in the sky. It’s really not my fault I’m late. I hardly slept at all last night.
In fact, she’d hardly slept in several moons. She tried to tell herself her restlessness was due to the fact she missed her brother. Jireo had remained in Montana since Alora and Kaevin’s narrow escape from Vindrake’s clutches. The council had determined the soulmate couple must be kept out of Vindrake’s reach until Alora was completely healed. And since Jireo and Kaevin had discovered that a defender-bond oath, spoken as children, had indeed been effectual, her brother also gained permission to remain in the other realm.
Bright! Why didn’t I think of something like that? I’m stuck here with Mother and Father, while the others have all the fun.
But Jireo’s absence wasn’t the reason for her insomnia. She knew the true cause. Her gaze flitted to the sleeping platform, suddenly afraid her treasure might be discovered—that the hiding place wasn’t secure. As she’d done every morning since bringing the scroll to her home, Arista checked her bedding, assuring all the corners were tucked in, neat and tidy, so no one would be tempted to probe beneath the straw mattress and find the loose board over the secret cavity housing the pilfered scroll. The extra security measures were unwarranted in light of her ability to hide any item with her gresses gift. None could discover the scroll unless he or she likewise possessed the gift, a rarity in Tenavae. Yet she still obsessed, worrying over the scroll.
How many times had she taken the parchment out and gazed on the beautiful, ornate lettering? Traced the swoops and curves of ink across the page with her fingertips, as if she could read the strange words by feel, revealing its mysteries? Without gifting in language, she could never read the scroll. But she’d postponed showing her treasure to the leaders of Stone Clan who, knowing it came from Vindrake’s personal chest, would believe it to be evil and destroy it without hesitation.
Satisfied with the scroll’s safety, Arista turned to go. But something by the window drew her attention.
That looks like... “A portal?”
Arista closed her eyes tight and opened them again. But the portal was still there, right where it hadn’t been only a few breaths earlier.
“Where did you come from?” she mumbled.
Taking a few hesitant steps, she reached out to touch the door, which appeared to hover a few hands above the floor. The wood felt solid to her fingers, as she knew it would. Her hand closed around the simple wooden handle, and the door swung soundlessly open, revealing a wide hallway.
“I wonder where it goes?”
A shiver of remembered terror rippled down her back. The last time she’d gone through a portal into the heart of Vindrake’s lair—intending to seal the portal and transport to safety—the results had been disastrous, despite the careful planning of the entire council. She wasn’t about to investigate this portal on her own.
She let out a sigh, unstrapping her quiver and stacking it in the corner with her bow. So much for a quick hunting trip. But surely finding the portal will distract Father, and he’ll forget I was supposed to provide meat for dinner tonight.
Picturing the astonishment on the faces of the Stone Clan leaders when she
revealed the existence of the new portal, her annoyance disappeared. In fact, she fairly danced out of her home, impatient to speak with Graely, who would probably wish her to make a formal announcement to the entire council. He’d done the same with Kaevin when he first discovered Alora’s existence.
Isn’t this portal just as important? Finally, I’ll receive the recognition I deserve. Morvaen will allow me to begin my formal training as a warrior now, rather than forcing me to wait until I have the required seventeen years.
The soft leather of her shoes crunched on the gravel as she hurried down the path toward the center of town where Darielle’s home was located. Arista’s family resided inside the walls of Laegenshire, trading space for greater security. Larger farms dotted the nearby countryside, providing the majority of grain for the citizens, while townsfolk only had room to grow a few vegetables. She didn’t mind the diminutive size of their garden, since she hated weeding almost as much as she hated cooking and cleaning.
“Where are you off to in such a hurry?” called a deep voice, edged with a tinkle of merriment, as if he were about to tell the funniest of witticisms. She knew the owner of the voice well, without setting eyes on him. After all, their first meeting had been in total darkness, hiding in Vindrake’s lair. “Looks like you forgot to comb your hair.”
As the brawny man fell in stride beside her, Arista schooled her features to appear more stern than she felt, always striving to keep the upper hand. “I’ve more important things to do than mess with my hair, Alleraen. I’m going to see someone on the clan council.”
“The council? Before noon-day meal?” His bushy brows arched high over his clear blue eyes.
Only a few moons ago, that azure color would have struck fear in her heart, a sure sign of a Water Clansman, controlled by Vindrake’s bloodbond. But the owner of these blue eyes was no more evil than she was. As Vindrake’s brother, Alleraen shared his blood, but not his bloodbond, a refusal that had earned Alleraen years of captivity in a cavern dungeon.
Suppressing a smile at his obvious curiosity, Arista shrugged, not volunteering any more information.
