Daughter of Lightning
Page 4
Brenly accepted his hand. “The pleasure would be mine.”
She watched the two of them walking away for as long as she could without making it obvious she was avoiding Akod’s gaze. When she did look at him, he was clearing his throat and looking at nothing in particular, as if inwardly reciting what to say. Perhaps that was exactly what he was doing, because his speech came out polished and formal. “Would you care to join them?”
No, not really, not with you. She had nothing against Akod. He was a nice guy. But obviously he, like his brother, had intentions beyond a dance. “Of course.” Taking the hand he gave her, she followed him to the dance floor. His palm was moist. Well, at least that made her feel a little better—she wasn’t the only one who was nervous and uncomfortable.
As the music started and they glided around the clearing, she did her best to make eye contact. It would be rude not to. He appeared to be having similar difficulties but also seemed to be making the same effort. “If it isn’t too presumptuous of me to say, you look lovely this evening, Miss Andul.”
Presumptuous. And Miss Andul. Really? They were in school together four years ago. Only a couple months ago they’d run into each other at the mercantile, and he’d teasingly called her Tal, a nickname only Naylen used. Now it was Miss Andul? Why did it have to change, just because she was within a year of being eligible for marriage? Why did they have to go from easy friendship to awkward formality just because it would make her parents think more highly of him and might make them say “yes” if he asked for her hand in the future—for more than just a dance. “Thank you. But please, just call me Talea.”
He looked away. That simple action told her all she needed to know—he didn’t like the formality either. Maybe he really did have interest in her as a future wife, or maybe his parents had put him up to it. In any case, “Miss Andul” tasted as sour on his tongue as it sounded to her ears. “Alright, so long as, well, if that’s alright with you.”
She smiled a bit. “Don’t worry. I won’t think any um, less of you...I’m guessing we both know it’ll be quite the opposite.”
Akod straightened, smiling back. “Well, I’d be lying if I said it came as any surprise, Tal.”
She let go of his hand long enough to put a finger to her lips with a smirk. “Careful. If anyone hears you call me that, the gossip will go on for weeks.”
“Alright, Talea it is then.” He winked.
After that, the dance was much more enjoyable. Akod, having five years more experience under his belt than Rando, was better at the craft, making it easier for her to follow his lead rather than fumble her way through it. At the end she promised to dance with him again later in the evening, saying that for now, she was thirsty. He offered to fetch a drink for her. Since it was another demonstration of the formalities associated with courtship, Talea made an excuse and escaped before he could protest. Even if she’d convinced him to relax some, she didn’t want to encourage him into thinking she shared his intentions.
Talea forced her legs to carry her past the table of food to another table that held wooden cups and pitchers. Pouring some lemonade, she retreated to the fringes of the scene, where she could observe while remaining mostly unobserved herself. Against her will, her focus followed Akod more than the rest. The maybes returned. Maybe he would make a good husband. At least she knew that he wouldn’t insist on the suffocating etiquette that was custom. That might mean that they could be more open, more sincere in any sort of a relationship.
Maybe. Might.
Relaxing her muscles, Talea took a sip of the lemonade. Why bother thinking about it now. Nothing had to be decided immediately, not for a year or two at least.
Flexing her fingers to keep from putting them in fists, she turned away from the scene of the dance and paced. Grass rustled from the woods to her left. Obscure in the dimming light, a figure moved through the trees toward the schoolyard. As the person left the cover of the forest, she could make out the broad shoulders, short hair, and strong jawline of a male. He stopped far enough away from the gathering that no one would be likely to notice him, and seemed to be thinking, or deciding. Then he kept moving forward. He was several yards ahead of her and passed by without looking her direction, head down. The glow of the candles allowed her to see more of his face. Young, with tan skin and dark eyes. Irlaish, no doubt. She’d inherited the dark hair from her mother’s half-Irlaish origins. This man, however, looked to be fully Irlaish. Or…was he a boy, not a man? A teenager, she decided. His facial features were those of an older teenager, yet he was short, probably about her height.
All of the details made it abundantly clear that he was not from Vissler Village.
Another stranger, within days of the last one? Or, was it the same guy, just dressed in an average laborer’s clothes instead of armor and a hood and mask? No, that man had been much taller, easily over six feet.
She was considering going up to him and just asking. But he had already merged into the crowd, lost to sight. Curious, Talea set down her drink and went in after him. His height did not make locating and following him easy, since he was only visible for brief moments between shoulders or in gaps in the group. He had just stopped, allowing her time to catch up, when Rando appeared. “Care for another dance?”
“Um...” she peered at where the stranger had just been. He was gone. Oh well, maybe she could find him later. “Sure.”
After dancing with Rando, she fulfilled her obligation and stood up with Akod again. Having not seen Brenly since she’d left with Jarle, Talea went searching for her friend once the dance was over. Hearing Calam’s voice, she headed that direction.
Too late she saw someone moving toward her. The person’s shoulder collided with her chest. Just as she lost her balance and stumbled backwards, a calloused hand grabbed her elbow to steady her. Upright now, she was face-to-face with the stranger.
“My apologies,” his voice was low and uneven. Probably still deepening, she thought, so he was probably close to her age. “I didn’t see you there.” He let go of her elbow. As he withdrew his hand, it brushed hers. Warmth tingled on her skin and a tiny flash of light caught her attention. Lightning.
He was staring at her hand. “How did you do that?” he whispered.
Talea had to make an effort to use her unhinged jaw. “Um, uh, what? I didn’t do anything. But I thought I saw a—”
“Shh!” he waved his hand in an abrupt, silencing gesture, scanning the oblivious villagers around them with what she could only describe as wariness.
Her jaw was unhinged again. “Did you just shh me? I don’t even know yo—”
He leaned in, startling her into silence. His dark eyes, the candlelight flickering in them, were locked on hers. “Follow me. Don’t say anything or draw attention.”
Without giving her a chance to respond, he was striding away, navigating his way through the villagers toward the surrounding woods. Did she dare follow? No doubt it wasn’t considered all that wise to follow a strange young man who’d acted suspiciously. But another stranger, another confusing encounter, two days after the last? Something had happened when their hands brushed…none of it made sense…but something had to be going on. For a long, wavering second, she watched him walking away. She had to try and figure it out, if she could. Besides…she could defend herself, if need be.
Talea jogged to catch up. He didn’t stop until they were in the shadowy trees, unlikely to be spotted. She came to a halt in front of him and crossed her arms. “Alright, I followed you. Now I want to know who you are, why you’re here, and what on Kameon is going on.”
He crossed his own arms. It was more effective on him. “My name is Wylan Cravei. I’m from Twaskked originally, but I’ve been traveling for years now. I’m here because...” without finishing the sentence, he reached out as if to grab her hand. “May I?”
Talea tentatively pulled it out of his reach, stepping backward. “Um…no? Why?”
“To show you why I’m here,” his voice was m
onotone, hand still extended, expression a little impatient. When she still hesitated, he looked around, then spoke in a whisper. “The lightning. That’s why.”
Her muscles tightened. How could he…how could he know? “How—”
Wylan reached out and grabbed her hand. Warmth spread from her fingers where they interlocked with his. She gawked at his touch, as blue sparks sizzled off her skin. Then as his grip became firm, a glow emanated from both of their hands. Aqua at first, slowly brightening to radiant white.
He released her hand. The light faded, evidenced only by the tingling heat and the dim blue glow in her veins, much like what was left behind after the lightning pillar on her birthday. She thought there was a satisfied smile on his previously impassive face, but it was gone just as quickly as the light. Her mouth was as dry as if she’d stuffed it with sand. “You’re the other.”
Wylan nodded. “Yes. One of them.”
“O-one?”
“There’s another lightning pillar. I suppose it’s too far away for you to see from here.”
Talea rubbed her temples as she took to pacing again. “This is…this is crazy.”
No response.
“So, there’s three of us?”
He shrugged and nodded at the same time.
“And…the lightning pillar, is it on your birthday? Did it start seven years ago?”
Another nod. “Eighth birthday.” That made him fifteen, like her, then.
“So,” she repeated, “What now?”
His gaze darted back to the dance. “Now, I get out of here. I’d rather no one else know I’m here, especially not your lord. And you need to go back before someone comes looking.” He was already retreating a few steps.
“Well, wait a second! I mean, shouldn’t we do something or...figure this out? At least talk more? This is a—”
“I wasn’t saying I’m going to just up and leave now that I found you.” She couldn’t tell if he said it impatiently or with poorly executed humor. “Where do you live. I’ll come find you later. Or…” apparently realizing what he’d just asked, he added, “we can meet somewhere, if you prefer. I’d rather it wasn’t too public, lest someone else sees me.”
She could only imagine the sort of lecture she would receive from both parents and her brother if she were to tell this complete stranger where she lived. Where were they supposed to meet that wasn’t public, but somehow more appropriate, though? Oh well. I’m an idiot. Might as well. She pointed west. “Follow the main path west about a third of a mile. The last turn-off to the right leads to our haliop. It’s in a meadow, next to a big nesoak. You’d best come some time when my parents and brother are working.”
“Thanks.” Wylan left silently, soon engulfed by the darkening woods.
Talea shook her head as if to clear it. She’d found the other. Or rather, he’d found her. Just like that. Only days ago, such a scenario had, in her mind, meant she’d be able to figure out why she had the ability, be able to understand this insane phenomenon that had been befuddling her for seven years. Now, the scenario had come, and left her more confused than before.
No matter how she mulled it as she entered the throng and did her best to act as if nothing had happened, no answers, no explanations, no conclusions came. Just one thought that circled back to the forefront of her mind every time: she wasn’t the only one.
3
Assassins
T he strings of the apron refused to tie. Talea gritted her teeth and stretched her arms to better reach behind her back, working her fingers to tie the knot. When would Wylan come? What would the visit entail? Surely there was plenty to talk about. Yet, she hadn’t been able to come up with more than a couple questions to ask him.
What about the other stranger, the tall man with the armor and weaponry? Questions about him were less prevalent in her mind, since his appearance had been days ago, while Wylan’s had been only the night before last. Were the two connected? She’d hardly been able to sleep when they got home from the dance. And consequently she’d almost dozed off during Teacher Orvlin’s ranting the next morning at the assembly. And having not yet had the chance to speak to Brenly at length, she’d had to keep it to herself and act normal as best she could.
But, finally, she was back at the haliop after school, alone.
Back to the other man, Mr. Hood-and-Mask. She’d been doing her best to convince herself he was one of Lord Vissler’s men, or some other justifying explanation. However, something about that explanation just didn’t fit. Plus, he knew her full name, something none of Lord Vissler’s men would know. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she had met him before.
As she wracked her brain, trying to place the masked man, a fuzzy memory from five or six years ago drifted its way to the front of her mind. As a child, she wasn’t one to be accustomed to treats like candy. More often than not, they hadn’t had enough to eat to satiate their basic needs, so it was understandable that her parents rarely splurged on sugary treats. However, one day while she was in the village, a man she had never seen before offered her candy. Being young and hungry, Talea accepted. She never saw the man again, but as the memory flickered in her mind, warped by time, something in her gut told her the masked man was the same man who offered her candy all of those years ago.
Talea failed to get the apron strings tied again and growled inarticulately. Blasted thing! With a huff she forced herself to stop contemplating and focus entirely on tying the strings. Done, she redid her braid that was coming loose and left her bedroom, ready to do the chores.
She had just finished doing the day’s laundry when she caught a glimpse of the windows and frowned. Smudges and dirt marred the view. Reluctantly, she trudged into the shed that housed their yuley, found a mostly clean bucket, filled it with water from the well, added some soap, grabbed a rag, and went to the outside of the haliop. There were only four windows total, and while cleaning them could be a bother, she quickly reminded herself she’d best be thankful that their haliop even had windows, since many didn’t.
Kneeling at the first window, she plunged the rag into the water and wrung it out. Scrubbing it against the glass produced a low squeaking sound in rhythm with her movements, as if it were her joints creaking in protest. On and on she scrubbed, until she gave up on achieving a better result and crawled with her bucket to the next window. Same process. Squeak, squeak, squea—
“Hey.”
The unexpected, unfamiliar voice sent her scrambling backwards, only to run into the bucket. It tipped over, splashing soapy water on her skirt. She ended up with her back against the side of the haliop, sitting on the ground, limbs inelegantly arranged in what had been a clumsy attempt to stand.
A few feet away was Wylan, considering her with a skeptical furrow in his brow.
Well, clearly if ever someone tried to sneak up and murder her while she was cleaning windows, they wouldn’t have a hard time of it. That was pitiful. “Did you have to sneak up on me?”
The furrow deepened. “Sneak? I walked up and said, ‘Hey.’”
Silence. He stood there, staring at her. She sat there, staring at him.
Talea made a move to right herself at the same time that he came closer and extended his hand to help her up. She took it, watching the flurry of sparks followed by the glow as he pulled her to her feet. He released her hand before the glow had fully brightened, however. Clearing her throat, she brushed off her skirt and looked at her feet. Well, isn’t this awkward.
He must have had the same thought, as he stuffed his hands in his pockets with thumbs dangling out. “I don’t know your name.”
“It’s Talea, Talea Andul.” She wiggled her toes in her boots. Some of the water had splashed in and squelched around her socks.
“Well,” he was fidgeting, and not exactly smiling, but his tone lifted. “This is weird, isn’t it?”
She coughed on a laugh. “Yeah, sort of. But, good. I mean…”
“Yeah.” This time he did smile, just a little.
Wylan looked in every direction except at her. “No one will overhear us?”
“Not unless someone else is stalking me.”
He frowned. Or, frowned more than was his natural expression, anyway. “I’m not stalking you. You told me where you lived and agreed to me visiting.”
“I was joking,” she mumbled. But even as she said it, the man in the schoolyard calling her Talereinna replayed in her mind. “Except, it is possible I have a stalker. A few days ago there was this guy that wanted to talk to me after school. I’ve never seen him before. And he dresses weird, with weapons and stuff. Do you know him?”
His expression had hardened. “Describe him.”
“Uh, well…I don’t know what he looks like. He was wearing a hood and mask. And an iron pauldron and gauntlets, with—”
“He tried to talk to you?” the intensity of his dark eyes caught her off guard, as he suddenly locked gazes with her. “A few days ago?”
Talea would have taken a step back, had the haliop not been in the way. “Yes. He just said things that didn’t make sense. But then he called me by my full name, which almost no one knows.”
Wylan turned away to glower at the nesoak tree a stone’s throw away and spoke under his breath. “They followed me.”
“Followed you? So you know who he is?”
“No, but I know he’s a murderer. Probably an assassin.”
“Assassin?” she nearly coughed on the word.
“Yes.” Wylan made eye contact again. “Do not let him talk to you. Stay away from him. He’s been trying to kill me for years, and I’m sure he has the same intent for you.”
“Oh, okay, great.” She crossed her arms. “You’re telling me an assassin is lurking around the village, probably going to kill me at any moment?” This wasn’t exactly how she’d envisioned the conversation going. Sure, she had a freakish ability that could no doubt be used for self-defense, but…she was also just a girl, who spent a large portion of the day alone at a haliop outside the village.