by T. A. White
His companion was similarly attired. Unlike the wingless one, he had some type of bone protrusion sticking out from his forearms. A natural weapon. Like the first, he had dark skin, although he lacked the sheen that made Eva think of a jar with fireflies locked inside.
The Tenrin were nocturnal, which made her wonder what two of them were doing here, in the first hours of day.
A challenging snort came from the mythological behind her, his head raised as he stomped a foreleg.
"I wondered why the Battle Queen sent out a summons last night," the wingless one said, his gaze heavy and his words holding a touch of sharpness. "It seems I need wonder no more."
He sprang from the boulder, easily landing as if the fifteen-foot drop was no more than a foot. He straightened and Eva fought the urge to back up. He was tall, even taller than the Trateri.
This close she could see the muscles corded in his body. He could easily break her in half and she doubted there'd be much she could do besides scream.
The beads on the many necklaces he wore clattered as he walked toward her, a quiet rattle announcing his presence, similar to a rattler lizard the Trateri told her about that resided in their homeland.
He felt dangerous. Unknowable. Alien.
The moment was broken as Ollie and Jason rode up.
Ollie's expression shuttered at the sight of the mythological, his mouth set as he scowled. He swung his leg over the back of his horse, dismounting while still in mid-gallop. It was a dangerous maneuver. If he faltered or lost his balance, he could easily end up under the horse's hooves, or tripping and falling flat on his face.
He made it look easy, running with the momentum and reaching Eva's side in the next second.
"Look, the mice rush to each other's side. How very fortuitous for the hawk," the mythological drawled. His teasing wasn’t gentle or kind, instead meant to flay the skin from bone. To ridicule and mock.
Eva's chin went up. The worst thing she could do would be to let him think she was afraid. Bullies preferred prey that feared them. The stubbornness that had enabled her to survive on her own, away from her village, steeled her spine and muffled the fear that crouched deep in her soul.
"Even mice can be dangerous in great enough numbers," she challenged.
The new mythological peered at her, his gaze considering, as if she'd done something wholly unexpected. "How very true, little mouse."
Eva fought not to back down, her earlier bravado wavering. These were allies of the Trateri. Threatening him was perhaps unwise and foolhardy.
"Where did you get so rare a pet as a Kyren?" he asked with a twist of his lips. It might have been intended as a friendly expression, but instead it managed to seem vaguely threatening.
"He's not a pet," Eva said, a part of her rejecting his words before she could think better of it.
"Oh?" the new mythological drawled. "And yet I see the marks of a collar around his neck."
"That wasn't us," Eva insisted stubbornly.
A nose appeared over her shoulder as the Kyren peered at the newcomer with a chastising look.
The wingless mythological's expression lightened the barest bit, enough for Eva to think the smile was real this time. "Very well, I'll stop torturing the little mouse."
The Kyren whinnied before pulling back and wheeling in time to prevent Caia from stealing his blanket.
"It appears the other mouse has brought a feast for our four-legged friend," the Tenrin observed.
Eva twisted as Jason stopped his horse next to them with a subtle shift in his seat. To the horse who read his rider’s intentions by the seat bones, it would seem as Jason had sat down a little harder. It was a show of expertise from a man Eva would have liked nothing more than to dismiss as incompetent.
Jason remained on his horse as suspicion and wariness of the new arrivals crossed his face. To Eva, he said, "Hardwick told me to bring meat to the winged horse this morning."
The wingless Tenrin waited, his hands behind his back. "Interesting. Which of you will brave my friend's teeth, I wonder?"
He was doing this on purpose, Eva realized. Making them uncomfortable and then taunting them when he was successful.
Deciding he'd had enough of her attention, Eva stepped close to Jason's horse, a red roan who regarded all of them alertly.
She held her hands up. "I'll take it."
"You sure?" Jason asked. "Those teeth look very sharp. I can do it if you're afraid."
Eva reached up and jerked free the package he held. "I'm not afraid. The Warlord gave me this task. I will do it."
Jason shrugged to show her decision didn't really affect him in one way or another. A lie, if the jealousy gleaming in his eyes was anything to judge by.
"I see you're not a real fast learner," Ollie observed as Eva moved away.
A demanding screech came from her charge as he cantered toward her. He nodded his head several times, repeating the sound.
"What is that noise?" Jason grimaced
"He's hungry," Eva said as she carefully unwrapped the package. "You would be too, if you'd had the night he’d had."
The smell of cooked meat wafted up to her, making her mouth water. The mythological wasn't the only one feeling his stomach. Eva was too. It had been a long night, and she'd had only a cold dinner that consisted of dried fruit and nuts.
She pulled a piece free as the mythological crowded her. Ollie sucked in a harsh breath as the mythological's head dipped and he took the meat from her with surprisingly gentle teeth.
Eva pulled another piece free, feeding it to him and then another after that.
With him occupied with food, Eva was able to examine him. He looked different standing in the full light of morning. His coat gleamed as if the deepest part of night had been distilled into it. There was no hint of brown or mahogany in the undertones as was so often the case with animals who appeared to be all black.
Eva was interested to note his wounds had scabbed over. They appeared several days healed rather than a few hours.
The mythological tired of being fed one piece of meat at a time, shifting so he could gobble from the package in a quick movement that initially sent Eva's heart into her throat.
"Wait, let me set it down," she told him, barely keeping the package from toppling.
She didn't know what he'd do if he was deprived of food. Maybe go after her throat instead?
He attacked the meal with a single-minded intensity that hinted at his extreme hunger.
Curious as to what he was eating, Caia came closer, a whuffling sound escaping her as she tried to lip at the paper Eva held.
Eva shoved her nose away. "No, this isn't for you. Go away, you daft horse."
Caia was undeterred, pushing closer as she tried to get at the meat Eva was feeding the mythological. Sensing his meal was about to be stolen, the mythological shifted closer, bumping Eva with his massive chest and nearly sending her to the ground.
Caia did the same on the other side, nearly stepping on Eva's foot in the process as the mythological tried to protect his meal.
Sensing they were seconds from challenging each other, Eva shoved and pushed them away. "I'll cut off both your manes and tails if you don't quit that right now."
Both equines looked at Eva with similarly offended expressions, as if they didn't understand what had so upset her. She glared back, her chest heaving.
Only a few small pieces of meat remained on the paper.
The Tenrin threw his head back as a laugh roared from his chest. "This was worth being summoned for."
Without taking his gaze off her, the winged horse stretched his neck, his lips moving slowly as he took one of the pieces and swallowed it. Then his tongue flashed out to lick the remains off the package Eva held.
Seeing his preoccupation, Caia jostled him.
"You two are horrible, horrible creatures. No manners, either of you," Eva scolded, feeling slightly embarrassed the Tenrin had witnessed that exchange.
It was one thing to
scold and bully when it was just her and the mythological horse, but to have one of his brethren see and be amused by it? She was glad he hadn't taken offense.
Two Anateri appeared on either side of the mythological. A man and a woman. They were fierce-looking warriors, who’d appeared as quietly as ghosts.
Her hands clutched the paper as the wingless mythological gave them a long look, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. "I see my escorts have finally decided to announce themselves."
The Tenrin glanced in the direction of the main camp as the thunder of hoofbeats reached them. "There’s your fearless leader now."
Caden rode toward them. Despite the reserved expression on his face, Eva could read the anger burning white-hot behind his eyes.
"Fear not, little mouse. His ire is reserved for me and me alone," the strange mythological said, coming to stand beside her.
He reached out and ran his hand down the winged horse's neck, waiting as Caden dismounted from his horse in the same way Ollie had. The commander strode toward them, his expression a mask of calm.
"Lord Ajari, we expected you at the Keep," Caden said.
"I'm sure you did, which is why I stopped here first. I wanted to get to the truth behind my summoning without having to decipher all your hidden motives. I'm glad I did. It has been a most illuminating morning."
Caden's eyes narrowed as he studied the mythological.
"Sebastian here, has told me a little of the events that have transpired. I suspect your Warlord and Battle Queen will be interested in his news."
Caden stepped aside and gestured toward the Keep. "My people and I will accompany you, then."
"What's the matter, human? Do you not trust me?"
"Not even as far as I can throw you."
"Then you are very wise." Ajari paused and considered Eva. "Your presence will be required as well."
Eva looked between the two men, trying to keep the look of horror off her face. "I don't think—"
"She has no need to be there," Caden said at the same time.
"She has every reason," Ajari countered. "There are things happening you have no hope of understanding. Her importance to the topic at hand cannot be dismissed."
Eva fought to remain still as all eyes turned toward her. Uncertainty filled her. She wanted a simple life filled with certainty—safety and boredom, because they went hand in hand.
This had all the hallmarks of excitement and danger. Two things she’d gone out of her way to avoid.
"I should really stay here to look after Sebastian," she started.
"I can do it," Jason volunteered, raising his hand.
Both Caden and Eva sent him equally disbelieving looks.
Jason was impervious, either not noticing or not caring. "What? I'm her apprentice. I'm perfectly qualified."
"Doubtful," Ajari said.
"You're not my apprentice. You're shadowing me while Hardwick and Ollie assess your skills," Eva corrected.
"The mythological isn’t a horse," Ollie pointed out. "No one is qualified because none of us have cared for his kind before."
"All the more reason to let me do it. She shouldn't get all the recognition just because she found him first," Jason argued.
Ollie gave Eva a commiserating look. "Go, I'll keep an eye on the newbie."
Eva still didn't like this, but it seemed there was little choice for now. She fixed Jason with a hard look. Even though she found him annoying, he had brought the mythological breakfast. As begrudgingly as possible, she said, "Thank you for bringing his food."
"I didn't do it for you," Jason said.
And just like that, her gratitude whisked away.
She bared her teeth in a smile that held a startling resemblance to the winged horse's when he was about to bite. "In that case, make yourself useful while I'm away and fetch more."
Jason heaved a heavy sigh but didn't argue. He might not have liked the order, but he wasn't going to pass up spending time with the Kyren.
Noticing Sebastian watching Jason with far too much interest for her comfort, she patted the winged horse on the neck.
"You're not to eat him." When he gave her a disappointed look, she added, "I mean it. I'll be very upset if I come back and there is a single tooth mark on either of them."
The mythological lifted one lip, as if to ask who did she think she was, ordering him about.
She gave him a hard stare, treating him like any other recalcitrant mount.
"If there are any problems, I'll be the one to handle them. Not you."
The mythological looked away and blew out a harsh breath.
She'd won for now. She'd take it.
"Don't let them see you falter," Ollie said in a voice only meant for Eva's ears. "You're a herd mistress with the full backing of Hardwick. Equal to any warrior. Act like it. They respect strength as long as you're not being insulting. Remember your manners." Ollie thought a minute and shrugged. "Or as many manners as you usually have."
Eva slid him an irritated glance as she moved toward Caden and Ajari. Good to know what he thought of her.
"I'm ready," she said.
"About time," Caden muttered before striding toward his horse. His Anateri remained behind to guard the winged horse.
The Tenrin that had accompanied Ajari dropped to the ground next to him, picking him up and flying away, leaving Eva staring open-mouthed behind them.
"Are we going, or are you going to sit there with your mouth open for a little longer?" Caden asked brusquely.
Eva's mouth snapped shut and her chin jerked down. Her cheeks burning, she hurried over to Caia who stood still as Eva prepared to mount. Sharp teeth closed around the back of her shirt and jerked her away from the mare.
Eva squawked, struggling in the mythological's grip as he dragged her further from the mare.
There was a loud rip as the back of Eva's shirt tore, then she was loose.
She spun on the mythological. "What is the matter with you?"
A heavy sigh and the sharp beat of hooves was Eva's only warning before strong arms closed around her middle and pulled Eva up against Caden's hard chest as effortlessly as if she weighed no more than a feather.
She stiffened, leaning forward as far as she could without unseating herself.
"Relax," Caden said. "We need to get to the Keep and this was the most expedient way."
"I could have ridden Caia," Eva snapped back, finally finding her spine. Something that seemed to be in pitifully short supply around him.
"And I didn't want to wait while you played games," he countered.
Eva's lips pressed tight together as she bit back the sharp words boiling and bubbling in her throat. It would be so easy to snap, but that would be unwise and likely only lead to hardship later.
She tried hard not to notice how muscular the commander's chest and thighs were against her, instead choosing to focus on how annoying and autocratic the man was. Unnecessarily so.
Left with no real choice, Eva relaxed back into Caden's arms. She did what she always did when faced with a situation she couldn't overcome. She adapted and survived.
*
The woman in his arms finally stopped talking, relaxing into him as her body moved with his. She fit surprisingly well. More so than a woman of his own people who would have been too tall and would have blocked his view. Eva was more petite. Not delicate—her work with the herd was too strenuous for that—but it felt like she belonged in his arms.
It was an unsettling feeling. He didn't have time for the dance two people engaged in when they found each other attractive.
Yet despite everything, he couldn’t help remembering her wide, innocent eyes or the stubborn prickliness she displayed every time she spotted him—almost like she couldn’t help herself.
If he was smart, he’d keep his distance lest he be dragged into the same trap Fallon had found himself ensnared in.
The woman shifted and glanced over his shoulder. "He's following us."
Caden didn
't respond, even as he looked behind him to find Sebastian racing after them, his mane and tail flying as he galloped, his wings kept furled tight to his body.
Those wings should have made him ungainly and slow. Somehow, he managed a grace and speed that matched Caden's own horse.
"He shouldn't run after last night," the woman observed in a calm voice.
Caden fought to quell his impatience. They didn't have time for this. "Then he should stay with the other two."
Eva shrugged, her slight shoulders moving up and down against him. "We're discussing his fate. If it was you, wouldn't you want to be present for that?"
She craned her head back, her clear eyes meeting his. Caden couldn't see any of the bitterness or resentment that seemed to be present in every other throwaway’s gaze. Even Shea had come to them with that look in her eyes, as if daring them to test her.
Not Eva. If she felt any anger toward them, it was well hidden, not even a slight suggestion of the emotion leaking out.
It made him wonder what she kept locked inside that head of hers, taunting him with a riddle he still hadn’t managed to solve.
He slowed Nell to a trot, allowing the mythological to catch up.
Eva's lips tilted up in a relieved smile, transforming her entire face. She was always pretty, but in that unguarded moment she was breathtaking.
They thundered over the bridge and through the portcullis into the Keep.
Caden dismounted first and was in the process of reaching up to help Eva, only to find her already sliding off on her own. His arms remained raised for several seconds before he dropped them.
She moved past him with barely a glance, already dismissing him from her attention in favor of the Kyren. The beast fluttered his wings as he turned in place, chirping in a way no horse ever would.
"Easy there. No one here is going to hurt you," Eva crooned.
Not entirely true. If Fallon or Shea gave the order, every man and woman on the walls would put an arrow through the Kyren, no questions asked.
