by M. L. Greye
The rest of his words wouldn’t register as the hairs on the back of her neck bristled. Was this really happening? Foehn was seriously selling her body to one of his lust-driven men. Her heart began to beat against her chest. She had no desire to satisfy any of them.
“…going once, going twice, sold!” Foehn turned back to her, gloating. “You are now the property of-“
Foehn fell to the ground, an arrow in his chest. Tiara blinked in surprise as Foehn’s men drew their swords, their eyes searching through the trees that surrounded them on either side. Foehn stared up at Tiara in shock and pain, but no air moved through his lungs. The arrow had pierced his heart.
Arrows suddenly flew from the trees, burying themselves into the startled bodies of the Kendrens. The Kendren with a bow notched an arrow of his own but was shot down before he was able to release it. Tiara stood in the middle of them, gawking. It was over within moments. Six men littered the road, five dead. Their horses stood in disarray around them. Why hadn’t the archers in the trees aimed for her?
A soft groan reminded her of Archrin. She dropped down beside him, feeling his neck for a heartbeat. The irregular thud against her fingertips surprised her. She hadn’t expected it to be so fast. Was there something wrong with his heart? A hand suddenly touched her shoulder. She whirled to find a young archer, perhaps a turn or two younger than herself, peering down at her.
“What’s your name?” He asked in Saerdian.
“My name?” Tiara’s eyes darted past him. Other archers, all wearing different shades of browns and grays with their bows slung across their backs, were dragging the dead Kendrens into the forest. Several archers were gathering the scattered horses. She glanced back up at the young archer. “It’s Tiara. I’m Tiara Anteal.”
He gave her a strange look. “You seem familiar.”
“Legann, get her off the road.” The young archer turned as a man, appearing to be in his late thirties, moved towards them.
“And her friend?” Legann asked, gesturing towards Archrin.
The man rubbed his bearded jaw with one hand. “We’ll put him on a horse.” He turned to Tiara, extending his hand for her. “Welcome to Tamorre Forest, miss.”
Tiara slid her hand into his, noticing the roughness of his skin. “Thank you…” She let her voice trail off, hoping he would tell her his name.
“Davic Jeor,” he replied, glancing down at Archrin again. “We have a physician in our village. We can take your friend to him.”
She smiled and nodded. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” Davic motioned for two nearby archers. “Put him on a horse.”
Tiara frowned, wondering about the fate of her now deceased enemy’s body. “Where are you taking the Kendrens?”
“Is that what they were?” Davic let out a short laugh. “We thought they were bandits.”
Tiara blinked. “But you don’t seem upset to have killed them.”
“They were trying to sell you, Tiara.” Legann put a hand on her arm.
“Oh, I don’t care that you’ve killed them. I hate Kendrens.” Tiara pointed to Archrin. “My friend and I were running from them. I’m just surprised that you don’t care. Isn’t this a Kendren world?”
Davic’s mouth hardened. “Not all Kepleths give allegiance to the Kendrens.”
Tiara smiled. “Well, this is one Drivian who doesn’t either.” She watched as the two archers led Archrin on horseback into the trees, before returning her gaze to Davic and Legann. “Thank you for saving us.”
11
---------------
“We’ll fight for you,” Flortt said through a mouthful of meat. He took a deep swig of his ale to wash down what he had been chewing. “Relivaynt shouldn’t be that difficult to take down.”
Sazx only nodded. It had taken him far too long to find the Kendren brothers. The time he wasted in carrying out a simple assignment had put him in a foul mood. The brothers offered him food, but he had no appetite, no matter the food’s quality. Apparently, the Dreed Inn, in which they sat, was famous for its fresh meat, hearty ales, and beautiful slave women who acted as servers. Sazx grunted as one of the slave girls passed by him. He had no taste for Saerdian women.
Across from him, Pavn, the youngest of the brothers, reached out and grabbed the slave, pulling her onto his lap. He took the tray of meat she had been carrying and dropped it onto the table. “What’s the rush? Usually we’re given more of a warning.”
Pavn had been twenty-four when he and his brothers swore allegiance to Dagon. Over the past three generations, he had successfully maintained his youthful luster, appearing younger than even Sazx. “Lord Oldron’s Ball was planned sooner than expected,” Sazx answered keeping his face blank.
“Oh, don’t worry,” Flortt laughed loudly, “if Dagon wants troops, he’ll get troops.” He laughed again and began gnawing on a leg of lamb. He paused and looked back at Sazx. “Are you sure you don’t want anything to eat?”
Sazx shook his head. “I’m not hungry.”
He watched as Pavn began to explore the slave’s neck with his mouth. Her eyes were wide, frightened. She looked young, perhaps only fifteen. As Pavn’s mouth continued downward, Sazx turned to the eldest of the brothers.
Ryth, sitting to the right of Sazx, was the one who commanded the troops and led them to battle. He was the schemer, the brains behind the entire Kendren Empire. Bulging muscles in his arms and neck threatened to rip the seams of his tunic. He sat forward, leaning his elbows on the smooth table, a flagon of ale between his large, rough hands. He was staring at some distant point across from him. A true leader, Sazx mused. Even though he disliked associating with the brothers, Sazx held a deep respect for the warrior Ryth. The king had the keen intelligence of a Nagreth Captain, with the body of a Saerd at thirty. In his younger days, Sazx had envied the Kendren brothers their everlasting life. Sazx grunted. Those feelings had evaporated with his promotion to Nagreth leadership. Death was a welcome thought in comparison to generations as Dagon’s Captain.
A Kendren soldier suddenly appeared at Ryth’s side. “Milord, the men are moving into position. They await your orders.”
“Good.” Ryth turned to him. “Be sure no one is seen.”
“Yes, milord.” The soldier raised his right arm across his chest in the Kendren salute and left.
Sazx furrowed his brow. “What do you intend to do against one of your own worlds?”
“My men have discovered the whereabouts of a rebellious group in one of the forests,” he replied, setting down his flagon. “I find it fitting to destroy their village, except for two.”
“Why only two?”
“I plan on parading them through the streets of this world as an example of the consequences of rebellion.”
“I hope you succeed in your attempts,” Sazx said after a moment. He then stood, catching the attention of Pavn and Flortt. “Excuse me. I am wanted in the Vrenyx. Farewell.”
* * * * * *
A constant throbbing pain was what Archrin woke to. A cool, damp cloth lay across his eyes. Somewhere there was rain, and someone was rustling around nearby. Archrin gritted his teeth as he realized the pain came from his right side. His left hand found its way to the cloth over his eyes and pulled it off.
The room was dim. Archrin guessed it was near dark. He slowly pushed himself up onto his left elbow, allowing him to see more clearly around the room. The walls were logs stacked one on top of the other, beginning at the rough wood floor and ending just below the thatched roof. In front of a small fireplace crouched a dark-haired woman, stirring the coals. Archrin recognized her immediately.
“Tiara?” He managed to croak out.
She whirled. “You’re awake.” She moved beside him and lowered herself onto the makeshift bed. “Lie back down. You need to rest.”
He cleared his throat. “Where are we?”
“In the cottage of Davic Jeor, our rescuer.”
Archrin nodded as he obeyed, too tired to hold himself up
any longer. He watched her for a moment as the candlelight flickered across her high cheekbones and deep eyes. “What happened, Tiara?”
She told him, finishing with, “Davic has offered us his home for now.”
“How long until my shoulder heals?”
“A few days.”
The wound must not have been very deep. He shut his eyes and took a deep breath. He was exhausted, in pain, and slightly dizzy from raising himself up.
“I’m sorry, Archrin,” Tiara whispered.
He opened his eyes again, surprised. “You didn’t do this to me, Tiara.”
“That still doesn’t make me feel any better.”
“I’ll be fine in a few days.”
She rolled her eyes. “Still not helping.”
He smiled and pulled her down so that her face was close to his. “I’m not going to leave you, Tiara. Stop worrying that I will.”
“I’m not worrying about that.”
“No?” He raised an eyebrow.
“No.”
He chuckled. Then, cradling her neck with his hand, he brushed his lips over hers. “I can see right through you, Drivian. You want me.”
“Oh, please.” Tiara grunted and pushed herself up. “Don’t flatter yourself. Go back to sleep. You need to rest.”
* * * * * *
Will was on his back, staring up past the branches of the trees shading him from the late summer sun. He was in the inner courtyard of Lord Oldron’s castle, resting. Without the shimmer stone, travel was much slower. They had been forced to use an Enblith, or what Olinia had called the Eveon counterpart to a Sinith. The difference between them, or even the shimmer stone, was that only the gifted could wield them, meaning out of Olinia, Aeorin, and Will, only Olinia had been able to use it. Having Olinia as the only one able to use an Enblith was not what slowed them down; it was the fact that the Enblith, like the Sinith, would open a portal to whichever location within the desired world it felt like. When Will entered Relivaynt with Olinia and Aeorin, they first had to gather their bearings before setting off in what they hoped was the right direction to Oldron’s castle. Unfortunately, Aeorin was not so good with geography.
But there really was no reason for Will to complain. At least they had a way to travel through worlds. The Enbliths in all actuality were good tools, easy to use and store. They were round stones, small enough to sit in a child’s palm, the color of amber fire, flecked with burning embers. Much like Siniths, Enbliths were thrown out in front of their possessors and given the name of the desired world in order to open a portal.
Will let out a low groan and shut his eyes. The ride to Aeorin’s home would have been a lot easier if she hadn’t been the only one talking the entire time. It amazed him that the woman lacked the need to draw breath. He’d never met anyone like her in his life.
“Are you asleep?”
He opened his eyes to Olinia. She was crouching over him, backlit by the bits of sun that managed to sneak between the tree’s branches. He blinked. She’d spoken in Eveon, something she’d only done once before. “I was enjoying the silence,” he answered in Eveon.
Olinia grunted and lowered herself onto the grass beside him. “I swear she’s not human. How is it possible to go on like that without air?”
“As if you heard any of it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was watching you,” he replied. “You weren’t awake once for more than five minutes.”
She smiled sheepishly. “Well, I figured since she was directing all of her conversation toward you, I wasn’t needed.”
“Great reasoning. Now excuse me as I take my nap.”
“Don’t you want to know why I came out here to find you?”
“I’m sure you’ll tell me eventually,” he murmured.
“You know, your Eveon is so much better than when we were in Andin. Have you been practicing?”
Will groaned. She was changing the subject. He turned his head to her. “Alright, I’m sorry to assume. Why did you come out here looking for me?”
She grinned. “That’s better.”
“Must you be coaxed?” He rolled his eyes.
“I needed your attention.”
“Are all women starved for a pair of listening ears?”
Olinia blinked. “Why are you comparing me to Aeorin?”
“Because you both have kept me from sleep today,” he grumbled.
“As if you ever sleep.”
“How can I when I’m constantly surrounded by women?”
“Fine,” she muttered, beginning to push herself up, “I’ll leave you alone to get your precious sleep.”
Will reached out, pulling her down onto his chest. “There you go again – needing more coaxing.”
“I do not!” Olinia tried to shove herself away from him.
He chuckled into her hair. “What did you want to tell me?”
“Well, if you let me up enough, I can show you.”
He released her and she sat up, revealing her throat. Will blinked as she slipped off the shimmer stone from around her neck. “Where did you find it?”
She smiled. “Oldron found it on your battlefield.”
“That means Zedge-”
“No, Zedge never had it in the Vrenyx.” Olinia finished for him, shaking her head. She pulled a face. “I guess it’s good news, right?”
Will furrowed his eyebrows. “Are you afraid he might be dead?”
She shook her head again without turning to him. She was eyeing the bark on the tree across from them. “No, I know he’s not. My birthmark is still silver.”
“Your birthmark?”
“As long as my birthmark stays silver, I know my twin is still alive,” she replied. “If Zedge was dead, my Balnorrean Knot would lose its luster.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What would happen to it?”
“It would turn brown, like normal birthmarks,” she answered, her voice flat. “I’ve always dreaded the day it would, even when I was a slave.”
“Why then?” He blinked. “You didn’t even know Zedge.”
She smiled sadly. “As a slave, it was nice to know I had some living relative out there. It kept the small hope alive that I could one day find my family, even if it would just consist of my twin and me. Silly, I know.”
“No,” Will shook his head, “why would it be silly to want to be loved?”
“That’s odd, coming from you.”
“What do you mean?” He asked, genuinely surprised.
“For being so anti-attachment, you seem to long for it.”
“I’m not anti-attachment.”
“You sure say otherwise.”
Will let his breath out slowly and leaned back on his hands, tipping his head skyward. “I can’t stay here forever, princess.”
“So you don’t allow yourself to love and be loved?” Olinia shot back, scooting herself closer to him. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“If I let myself love, leaving here will only cause me more pain.”
“Great philosophy. You hide behind the fear of pain.” She grunted.
Will sighed. “It’s not that easy to just open up again, princess.”
She frowned and stood. Will glanced up in surprise as she brushed off pieces of grass. “Maybe you should try, Will. You might find you like it.” With that, she turned back the way she had come, leaving Will to stare after her.
* * * * * *
Archrin bolted up, his shoulder screaming out in protest. “Ah!” He gritted his teeth and leaned back on his left hand, the one opposite his throbbing shoulder.
Something had woken him. It was pitch black in the room, except for the few embers remaining in the fireplace. The rain outside was still beating against the roof and the room’s window. He could hear someone breathing at the foot of his bed, but couldn’t make out any silhouettes in the dark. Archrin frowned as he shut his left eye, using only his right one – his violet eye. His vision immediately filled with the outlines of the room as the
animal in him took over his sight, giving him night-vision. Archrin grimaced, focusing all his energy on maintaining his human form while using his animal eye. The desire to phase was always strongest when using his night sight. It was one reason why Archrin rarely used it while human.
As Archrin let his eye roam over the images of the room, he found Tiara at the foot of his bed, fast asleep. She must have drifted out of consciousness late that night. Archrin noticed she didn’t have a blanket over her. She had to be freezing. He frowned again and reached for one of the blankets over him to cover her. Just as his fingers touched it, though, a dark figure passed in front of the window, causing Archrin’s hand to freeze.
The hairs on the back of his neck bristled as he caught the faint scent of a man mixed with mud. A low growl began at the back of his throat. The man hadn’t been watching them – it was too dark inside the room for human eyes. What was the man doing then? True, it could have been one of the villagers, but Archrin had the odd impression that the man wasn’t a local. Archrin strained his ears, hoping to hear something from the man over the pounding rain.
“Archrin?” Tiara’s voice asked softly. “Are you growling?”
He blinked, clamping his mouth shut. “I was.”
“Why?” Tiara pushed herself up on one elbow, staring blindly at him through the darkness. “What’s wrong?”
“He’s gone now.”
“He?” Her eyes widened as she sat up.
“Aye.”
Tiara began rubbing her arms with her hands. “Well, is he coming back?”
“I don’t know.” He reached out again, this time grabbing her elbow. He began pulling her towards the top of the bed, near him. “Here,” he lifted the blankets for her to slide beneath. She did her best to follow his movement in the dark. As she slid against him, Archrin lowered himself back onto the bed. “You looked cold.”
“You can see?”
He let out a short laugh. “Just through one eye.”
“Your violet one?”
“Aye.”
