Amber Eyes

by S. D. Grimm

  Ethan took off running toward the lake, Logan and Ryan at his heels.

  Logan’s voice broke the heavy silence. “I can’t talk to Westwind or Aurora.”

  Scout whined. Ethan swallowed, hoping they weren’t already dead.

  The clearing looked tranquil, like a painting. No birds chirped. No sound but running water touched Ethan’s ears. Westwind and Aurora lay on their sides on the shore. Water lapped against their paws. Ethan scanned the area. There was no sign of Jayden or Chloe.

  Something red floated down the center of the lake, a wake behind it. Chloe’s hair. Was she underwater? Ethan tossed his weapons to the ground except for his belt knife. He raced toward the lake and splashed in after her.

  Finding it deep enough to swim, Ethan put his knife between his teeth and plunged underwater. Kelp everywhere reached out toward him, inhibiting his vision and grasping his legs.

  Jayden and Chloe walked along the bottom of the lake as if it were dry ground. What were they following? He thrust his body forward. Chloe was almost in reach. He reached for her arm. She turned toward him, her green eyes glazed over with a reddish hue. She resisted his pull and pushed his arm away with her free hand.

  Ryan grabbed her, and Ethan and Logan swam ahead for Jayden.

  Green tentacles of kelp reached out for him. They pawed at his clothes and arms and tried to wrap around his legs. He cut them with his knife and they withered back from him. Then he saw it.

  Its head could have belonged to a horse if the rippling green colors of the water were a color of horses. And the red eyes. Its compact body was also equine, but its rear legs were a sinewy braid of kelp. The kelp wrapped around Jayden. She was being strangled and she looked so serene.

  Ethan surfaced to take a deep breath, then he plunged toward Jayden. Logan swam toward the creature, knife ready.

  Ethan grabbed Jayden’s wrist. The horse screeched. The water seemed to boil, then the horse pulled back and Jayden slipped from Ethan’s grip. The creature separated Ethan from Logan, and its deafening hiss exploded, pushing Ethan back through the water. Red clouded everything. He lost track of the surface.

  Where was Jayden? He closed his eyes and listened to his talent. It urged him forward. He followed. Opened his eyes. There she was. Ethan swam forward and grabbed her hand.

  His lungs ached. Everything seemed darker. The blow of a hoof hit his cheek. Then his arm. Another blow hit his shoulder. The horse was pushing him toward its entrapping tentacles. He dove deeper to avoid the horse’s kick. There she was, tangled in kelp. He sliced through the seaweed. Blood muddied the water.

  Ethan reached blindly to where he saw Jayden’s form sink. Her skin slipped through his fingers. He dove. Caught her. Hefted her closer and wrapped his arm around her waist.

  Jayden spewed water on the ground. Air filled her lungs. She couldn’t get enough of it. Ethan knelt next to her. She was lying on the ground, on her side. The last thing she remembered was the horse. She coughed out more water onto the ground. Everything hurt.

  “You’re okay.” Ethan cradled her head. “You’re okay.”

  “What . . . happened?” Her voice was so rough. She sat up and Logan was there with the wolves and Scout. Blood cascaded down his shirt. She reached out to touch the gash in his shoulder.

  “I’m all right.”

  Ryan sat beside a shivering Chloe. “What was that thing?”

  “It was a kelpie,” Logan said.

  Jayden shuddered. “A kelpie?”

  Logan glanced over the water. “They sing to their prey to lure them close so they can drown them.”

  Chloe shivered. “The s-song was haunting.”

  “Song?” Jayden shook her head. “It spoke to me.”

  Logan’s eyes widened for a heartbeat. “You could talk to it?”

  “Is that bad?”

  He glanced at Ethan. “You said it wasn’t trying to kill Jayden.”

  “It wasn’t. It wanted her,” Ethan said.

  “The dark creatures belong to the Mistress. She’s trying to lure the Deliverers to her.”

  Chloe’s teeth chattered. “Will it c-come b-back?”

  Logan scanned the water. “Not that one.”

  Chapter 30

  Unlikely Hero

  It was his doing. Ryan glanced up from his boots at Jayden and Chloe, who both walked ahead of him. They’d already walked far away from that pool in the woods, but their long hair remained wet, though hours had passed since their swim with the kelpie. That creature had to be the same beast the white lion had warned him about.

  The blood he’d washed off his hands in the water had called to it. His stone had awoken it. The lion had probably wanted him to throw it so the Mistress’s creature would wake and lure in Jayden.

  His being here, with them, was endangering everyone.

  He looked back at Ethan scanning the forest as they walked, and his stomach clutched. Ethan’s eye was no longer swollen shut, but the skin beneath both eyes was still dark. His nose was still puffy and his jaw bruised. Ryan fisted his hands and his knuckles throbbed. He’d done that. Punched his own brother.

  Hurt them all.

  Those he loved were no longer safe with him.

  “They never were.”

  A slow burn spread in his gut at the sound of that voice. He almost expected it now.

  “Day by day my reach gets farther, thanks in part to you.”

  “It’s not willing participation.” He hoped his thought conveyed the growl he wanted to put in his voice.

  “Mostly true.”

  Mostly? No. He squeezed his eyes shut. She was just trying to get to him. He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a piece of the root. Popped in in his mouth and immediately, as the cinnamon taste dissolved on his tongue, he felt better. And worse. The more he relied on the herb, the less that voice was under his control.

  Jayden hung back and stepped in line with him. “You okay, Ryan?” Her eyes searched his face.

  He shrugged. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  The pity eyes would be the death of him. Then she bowed her head, and her hair hid her face. Why did he push her away like that? If that wasn’t bad enough, Chloe shot him a glare. For what? For not talking to Jayden? Fighting with a voice inside his head was hardly a topic he wanted to bring up. And talking about his worries revolved around that.

  There was no one safe to talk to.

  “There’s me.”

  “You’re not safe.”

  A purr vibrated in his skull. He needed to stop talking to her. It. Whatever. The library of Salea was close to Primo. Maybe this One Eye character would let him go over there. He had to figure out how to stop this voice before he hurt anyone else.

  By evening, Logan stopped and passed out rations. Westwind and Aurora broke off from them, staying in the woods, but Scout stuck near Ethan as they approached the city limits.

  Primo was alive. The door to a tavern opened and a couple spilled out, laughing, staggering. Ryan shook his head with a smile. Some people didn’t know when to stop with the ale. Drowning in some seemed a good idea right now. It might silence the voice. Then again, it might make her more chatty.

  Logan led them deeper into town. They strayed into the back alleys. The moon was behind the clouds, and the streets were dark but surprisingly crowded. Ryan kept his hands curled around the straps of his pack.

  They finally reached a small hill on the outskirts of town with a house sitting on top. A deep bark sounded and a huge, black animal raced down the hill. It had to be as tall as a wolf. Taller. White teeth stood out in stark contrast to the dark fur.

  Another creature of the Mistress come to hunt Jayden? Ryan’s heart beat fast. He pulled out his knife and braced himself, standing in front of everyone.

  “Ryan?”

  Ethan’s voice sounded distant.

  Logan wrenched Ryan’s knife free of his hand.

  The animal lunged toward him. Heavy paws slammed into his chest and wet slobber soaked his face.
<
br />   Jayden and Chloe stood above him, giggling.

  Ryan pushed the dog’s chest. “Get off me.”

  A huge man, with a patch over his left eye and a puckered scar that peeked out from the bottom of the patch, stood over him. Yeah, he was intimidating all right. The man looked like he could grab a branch right off a tree, or wrestle a mountain lion with his bare hands. “Tried to kill my dog, did you?”

  The man held out his hand to help Ryan up. He took it and stood, dusting off his clothes.

  Jayden raced forward, arms open. “Uncle Percy!” He nearly swallowed her in a hug.

  Logan nodded. “One Eye.”

  So this was One Eye. Well, the nickname made sense, at least.

  “You all must be hungry.” The man watched them with his one good eye. “Estelle will have a goose on the fire faster than your stomach can growl.” One Eye’s rough voice fit nicely with his smile.

  Logan clasped One Eye’s shoulder. “We shouldn’t make Estelle feed all of us. I have coin.”

  “Nonsense. You know how Estelle is. Grumpy as ever.” One Eye laughed. “She cooks better when she’s got something to complain about. Come. We’ll eat, and you can tell me what brings you all together. And here.” One Eye’s gaze rested on Ryan and then his sister behind him. “Neither of you look like you’re ready to take down the world in search of a single wrongdoer.”

  Maybe. Maybe not.

  Logan laughed. “All right, let’s pay a visit to Estelle.”

  The dog bayed.

  “Shut up, Stag. Good ol’ boy.” One Eye patted the huge animal’s head. Loose skin hung from its jowls. It sniffed Ryan and left a huge, wet mark on his pants.

  Ryan sighed. This day could not get worse.

  “Old Stag remembers your Scout.” One Eye slapped Ethan on the back.

  Then he walked past the watch dog, and everyone followed him up the hill and into the hut. It was quaint. Stuffy, but homey. The main room opened to a kitchen area, and there was a small loft near the rear. The fireplace took up one half of the southern wall. Wide chairs, made from wood left almost as natural as if they were just found on the forest floor, littered the other two walls. One half of the kitchen area was filled by a sturdy oak table with matching chairs. Blankets—piled in a lopsided ball—sat near the fireplace, and Stag took a seat on them.

  The rear door opened, announcing the arrival of a woman who only came up to One Eye’s chest. Her graying hair was curly, not brushed since the morning—or perhaps the morning before.

  “Percy, you brought me visitors?” Her voice came out sharp and abrasive. Grumpy seemed the appropriate word to describe her. “Logan, Ethan, and what’s this? Jayden? How did you come to be with the likes of these? And who are you? More subjects, I imagine.”

  Heavens. Was this woman always so loud? Ryan flinched when she came over to him and spoke just as thunderously in his face. “Well?”

  “I’m a—”

  “Speak up, dear. I can’t hear a mumbler.”

  “She can’t hear anything, really.” One Eye stood behind her and laughed. “She can see like a hawk, but she can’t hear a blasted thing.” He put a hand on her shoulder, and Estelle turned to see her husband’s smile.

  “Talking about me, huh?” She elbowed his gut. “Sit down, all of you.”

  One Eye led them to his sturdy table, and Estelle busied herself around the kitchen, humming. Blaringly.

  “So, tell me the story.” The chair groaned as One Eye slid into it.

  Logan was discreet with his information. He said that he’d rescued all of them from being captured by the queen, and that Ryan and Chloe were also Feravolk but not yet trained to fight. Then he set a bag of coin on the table.

  One Eye crossed his arms. “You think you can pay me to train them?”

  Logan pushed the coin closer to the burly man. “I’ll pay you if you agree to train them.”

  One Eye drummed his thick fingers on the table. He looked at Ryan and Chloe. Sizing them up, no doubt.

  His single-eyed gaze locked on Ryan. “Can you wield a sword?”

  “I’ve practiced with one a number of times, but I’m not very good at it. Yet.”

  “You ready to learn to fight?”

  Ryan straightened his back. “Yes. I want to be able to defend my family and friends, sir.”

  “A hero, huh?” One Eye scoffed. “We’ll see about that.” He turned his head so that his blue eye could rest on Chloe, who had been unbelievably quiet so far. “And what about you, Missy? Aren’t you afraid?”

  “I’m not afraid of anything.”

  “Nothing?” One Eye removed his gaze from Chloe and cut off a thumbnail with his knife. “Brave girl, huh, Missy?”

  “My name is Chloe. And yes, I’m a brave girl. I’ve seen enough to make me fearless.”

  One Eye lifted his eye to look at her, still cutting his nails without watching what he was doing. “Enough to make you fearless?” His tone was no longer light. “Among other things.” That would be enough to burn Chloe’s straw and likely light a flame she’d fuel for days.

  One Eye pointed his knife at Ryan. “I’ll train this one for the coin.”

  Chloe slammed her fists on the table and stood, barb in mouth and ready to shoot it at this three-hundred-pounds-of-muscle swordsman.

  One Eye put his knife back in its sheath and blew his fingernail shards to the floor. “The sprite I’ll train for free.”

  Chloe simply stood there like a fool, a gaping fool. She sat slowly.

  “Thank you, old friend.” Logan pushed the bag of coin to One Eye. The other man just nodded. Then he looked at Ryan and smiled.

  Ryan’s stomach clenched.

  Chapter 31

  Frog and Fox

  With a growling stomach, Ryan watched as Estelle cut the goose open. Juice spilled out across the wooden plate, and she hurried to pass out the slices. Ryan soaked the juice up with his bread. It tasted amazing. Conversation flowed easily. He glanced at Jayden and saw her staring at Ethan.

  “She should be yours.”

  That was it.

  Ryan curled his fingers around his bread and squeezed. Jayden wasn’t his. Her heart didn’t belong to him, and if the voice wanted him to fight with Ethan, he’d do the opposite.

  Jayden glanced at him, lines forming on her forehead. He set down his battered bread. Maybe he hadn’t quite lost her yet. She seemed to care about him.

  “She does. Your brother is in the way.”

  Ryan closed his eyes. “It’s her choice.”

  “Keep telling yourself that.”

  “I’m telling you.”

  Silence now? Oh, really? Now that he was actually talking? Nice.

  Jayden touched his hand. “Are you all right?” she whispered.

  One Eye pushed his chair back from the table, and the screech broke their eye contact. “Ethan, why don’t you take Hero here and fetch some wood from the woodpile out back. It wouldn’t be a proper night of dancing without a fire, now would it?”

  Hero? Ryan winced. Hopefully that nickname wouldn’t stick.

  They stepped outside, Scout following. The wind hit them. It was changing, cooling. Ryan followed Ethan toward the back of the barn. “So tell me, what should I expect? From this One Eye, I mean.”

  Ethan chuckled. “If anyone I know can make it through training with One Eye, it’s you.”

  “I’m being serious.”

  “Me, too. It won’t be easy, but he has a way of understanding people. Helping them beyond the art of the fight. He’ll help you find your strengths, but also your weaknesses. Then he’ll help you overcome them.”

  They reached the woodpile. It was almost as tall as Ryan’s chest. Ethan scratched the back of his head and laughed. “I believe I put most of this wood here.”

  Ryan chuckled, too.

  Scout sat beside Ethan and seemed to smile as he looked up at him. Ryan patted the dog. “Do you remember the last time we met at a woodpile?”

  Ethan froze for a
heartbeat. “Of course. I recall you dragging me home to your family’s shed, promising you’d never tell your mom about my hiding there.”

  “It’s a good thing I broke that promise, isn’t it, Scout?” The dog licked Ryan’s chin. “See, he agrees.”

  Ethan smiled. “So do I.”

  Ryan scratched behind Scout’s ear. “This dog wouldn’t leave your side during the storm, even when it poured on both of you and I tried to coax him into the shed with a piece of meat.”

  Ethan bent to pet him. “He’s a good dog. Never let me go through anything alone.” He looked up at Ryan. “And you’re a good brother, making your mother drag me out of the rain. Thank you.”

  “Thank Scout. He’s the one who helped me find you in the first place.”

  Ethan stood. “He always seems to know what I need before I do.”

  Ryan outright laughed. “That’s because you’re the last to know what you need.”

  That caused Ethan to roll his eyes. He turned to the woodpile.

  “When I’m finished with my training, you’ll have room for another Protector?”

  Ethan put his hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “Of course.”

  Ryan stared at his brother’s black eye. His face seemed to be healing faster. “Good.”

  Ethan plucked some of the wood from the pile. “Jayden would rather have you around anyway.”

  Ryan froze for a heartbeat. “You sure about that?”

  “Well, she does worry about you getting hurt, but I told her to let you decide.”

  “You told her that?”

  Ethan’s eyebrows pinched together. “I thought it appropriate.”

  “Of course. I just mean . . .” Ryan sighed. “You’ll take care of her for me?”

  “You have my word.”

  “And if she falls for you—”

  “She won’t.” Ethan interrupted with a smile. “She loves you.”

  “If—”

  “She won’t.”

  “I’m just saying, you’ll be spending a lot of time with her.”

  Ethan faced Ryan and narrowed his eyes. “I would never do that to you.”

  “I know.” Ryan had to chuckle, which lightened Ethan’s face slightly. “But I see it, Ethan. She has feelings for you.”