by Kya Lind
Traven looked at Reya, and though her thoughts were hopeless, truth remained. Traven grabbed his boots and coat and stomped out of the cabin and away from her. The sound of her coughing and crying followed him across the snow.
He had stomped along the cliff’s ridge for a good three hours, through the snow and the underlying ice, around the boulders and trees. He sunk to his knees in defeat. His lungs burned from the frigid air. He couldn’t get away from her. She was still there on the edge of his mind, curled in a tight ball in the cabin bed. How could she ask this of him? How could she expect this of them? They belonged together. It was the first right thing that had ever happened to him. . . to both of them. They were soulmates; and she wanted him to just turn her over to some stranger? She was raving mad. He would rather cut off his right arm. She was his life.
He felt her quiet sob, and he anger melted. There had to be away around this whole mess. He just needed to find it. His brain scrambled for a solution. This couldn’t be the only answer. They would put their heads together, they would figure this out. And then the answer popped into his head. All they had to do was find her brother. If he was crowned King, then Reya would not have to marry anyone. Well, her not marrying anyone was better than her marrying someone besides him. He stood up in determination. No one was going to take Reya away from him. He couldn’t desert her now. She needed him, more than anyone else in her life. Traven trudged back along the ridge. It was now late afternoon and night would be here soon.
When he arrived at the cabin, she was dozing fitfully. He didn’t wake her; she knew he was there. He washed the clothes out in the tub of cold bath water. Hanging them on every surface in the small room, and then he emptied the wash tub and returned it to its place in the shed. He reflected that they owed this cabin owner a great deal, besides their lives.
Traven returned to the warm cabin, stoked the fire, removed his boots and coat, and climbed into the bed beside his beloved. He grimaced at the thoughts chasing around in his brain. He pulled her close and registered that her fever had returned. Her breaths were raspy wisps against his skin. She needed medicine. He felt so helpless in the face of their overwhelming odds. He was her champion now and forever, but he didn’t know what to do next. He didn’t know how to save her – either one of them. He sighed into her hair
and followed her into sleep
Chapter 26
Traven felt someone open a door. He snapped awake without moving. He recognized Reya’s Dream bedroom. They were lying entangled together in the satin sheets. Traven listened, he was sure someone had opened a door. Reya continued to sleep undisturbed. Traven gently slid off the edge of the bed, and came up with his kingdom sword in hand. A shadow moved across the room by the balcony doors. Traven sprang forward, startling the intruder. The man yelped in surprise and backed away. The door opened behind him, and the man moved toward it. Traven moved with lightening speed and blocked the man’s exit. The two men stood facing each other. From the light that flooded in through the open door, Traven could tell the man was completely surprised by his presence. The man looked back at the bed where Reya lay. Traven considered their positions. He blocked the man’s exit, which put the man nearer to Reya. They sized each other up. Traven noted that he was an older man, probably in his late sixties with silver hair and bright blue eyes. “What are you doing here?” demanded Traven waving his sword menacingly toward their uninvited visitor.
The man held out his hands in a gesture of nonviolence. “I need only to have a word with Princess Reya.” He explained in a calm voice.
Reya sat up in the bed, “Traven?” she called softly before the room echoed with the coughing that racked her body.
“She is sick?” questioned the visitor.
Traven moved slowly until he was between the man and the bed. “You need to leave, now,” barked Traven.
The man shrugged, “I need to talk to the princess.”
Reya looked around, “Who are you?” she asked weakly.
Traven shook his head, “If you need to talk to her that badly I suggest you make an appointment and show up in person next time.” Traven advanced on the man.
The man stepped back into the open doorway. “I will do that,” he agreed. The door closed quickly and was gone.
Traven stood in the middle of the room his sword at the ready. His hands shook. He had just confronted a Dreamweaver in Reya’s sleep.
Reya was racked with coughing again. Traven soothed her back to sleep. Her fever was so high, her skin burned to the touch. He sat down on the end of the bed and waited, and watched, and worried.
The next morning at first light, Traven packed up camp. He knew they could not stay here any longer. A dreamweaver knew where Reya was, and he knew from what Reya had told him that the man had to be close by. Traven made extra food, packed everything he could find useful on Barn, and woke Reya up. She looked up at him with hazy, fever bright eyes. Her breaths grated against her lungs. He quickly braided her hair, and dressed her in as many layers as he could. The dangers of taking her out into the cold in her condition warring with the need to get her as far away as possible from that Dreamweaver and whoever was with him.
Traven had found a passageway down off the cliff yesterday in his trek through the wilderness. It would be tricky, but he believed he could get Barn down and then carry Reya down safety. Traven grimaced that would probably be the safest part of their journey.
With Barn being led by the reins, Traven carried Reya in his arms slowly along the cliff ridge toward the concealed break about a half mile farther. Reya looked around in interest as he carefully planted his boot heels in the snow and ice before taking each step.
Reya twisted her head to see the river far below them. She pointed at the giant chunks of ice colliding with each other in the river current. The river was still dangerous and impassable. Traven took a step and smiled. Her coat now smelled like rose scented horse blanket. So much for washing it yesterday. He was so glad that everything had dried quickly overnight. He took another solid step.
“Where are we going?” Reya asked a little confused by this turn of events.
“Do you remember the man who visited us last night?”
Reya frowned in concentration, “I thought he was a dream.”
Traven kept steadily walking, “He is a Dreamweaver. I don’t think he was expecting to find me to be in your bed.”
Reya stiffened. “And we are leaving . . . .”
“Because he is coming back,” finished Traven.
They made their way slowly along the ridge. They had made it about half the length they needed to go when Reya pointed out movement on the other side of the river.
They could barely make out the shape of two men walking toward the river. Traven froze, he knew one of those men as the same as their night visitor. He stomped forward a bit quicker, but the progress was still slow going.
Reya comforted him with the knowledge that they were on the other side of the river. Traven was not so sure this would stop them.
Reya pointed to the sky again. Traven looked and saw a large snowy white dragon circling in the ash colored sky above the two men’s heads. “I know dragons are real, but that is an illusion right?” she asked as coughs racked her frame again.
Traven grunted.
“But it is so far away, how can anyone cast an illusion so far?”
“He dreamwove this far.”
“But look, Traven, the dragon has a shadow, you don’t think an Allure could make that big an image.?” Reya wondered as they watched the dragon draw closer to the two men. The dragon seemed to be carrying a round basket in each hind claw. Traven and Reya stopped and watched as the dragon glided down and scooped the two men up in the baskets. They stood there breathless on the top of the cliff as the dragon quickly glided over the river and headed in their direction.
“Allures cannot do that!” gasped Reya.
Barn reacted to the approach of the dragon, by rearing and jerking on his reins in fright.
To keep them from falling, Traven released the hold he had on the reins and Barn bolted off in the direction they had come.
Traven tensed. They couldn’t run or hide. Reya could mirage, but the man already knew they were there, just as Traven knew who the man was when they saw him across the river. Traven placed Reya carefully on the ground away from the edge, and moved to stand in front of her. Reya scrambled to her feet and stood behind him as he unsheathed his sword.
The big dragon’s wings stirred up the powdery snow and for a minute snow swirled like a blizzard around them. Then the air cleared and before them stood the two men. One the same older man with the silver hair as the night before and the other, a much younger man probably, guessed Traven, about his age.
The two groups stood facing each other in silence as the dragon with its baskets lifted off and glided toward the river.
After a slight pause, the older man bowed and addressed Reya. “Princess, I am Master Tarack, the Head Master of White Dragon Tower, and this is my grandson, Samuel.” The younger man followed his grandfather’s example and also bowed .
Traven eyed them uneasily. Reya looked at Traven’s back for guidance and introduced Traven, as it was the polite thing to do. “This is my champion, Captain Traven Esquire.”
Tarack nodded his head. Reya was racked by coughing again. Her knees quaked and she struggled to find the energy to remain standing.
“I have come in person as requested,” the older man continued, his eyes meeting Traven’s in a quick look, “ to invite you to White Dragon Tower. I believe we are your desired destination. I can offer you a quicker way to the tower. Young Samuel will see that your horse is properly cared for and delivered as soon as the river permits.”
Traven stiffened at the man’s declaration. The man was offering to take them to the tower in those swinging baskets by dragon flight. He started to shake his head, but changed his mind. Riding in a dragon basket couldn’t be more dangerous by traipsing through the mountains in the winter without a guide. Reya leaned against his back, coughs racking her shaking body. She needed medicine, and to be out of the cold air. He examined his feeling about the two men. It may be a trap, but who was to say that their arrival at the tower would not be a trap also. Traven reluctantly agreed. Reya relayed their acceptance of the man’s offer. Traven sheathed his sword, instructed the young man on the passage off the cliff, where the cabin lay, and Barn’s bad habits. Captain Traven, with an arm around Princess Reya to support her, looked at the Master expectantly.
The man inclined his head and instructed. “Riding in the dragon baskets is remarkably simple. When the basket is lowered sit back in it.” The dragon appeared in the sky and gently lowered the baskets. Through the swirling snow, Traven pulled Reya into his arms and pulled them back into the seat, secured their position in the swaying basket. Master Tarack sat in the other one. The dragon after a brief moment lifted off. Reya squeaked and clutched at Traven’s coat in panic as the movement set the basket to rocking wildly. He held her close, and grasped the basket with the other hand as the dragon swooped down across the river and the plain in only a handful of minutes and flapped into the mountains. Reya’s breaths wheezed.
He hoped he had made the right decision. He had put their lives in the hands of this strange man and his pet for better or worse. The Tower came into view as the snow white dragon glided between the mountain peaks. Traven smiled ruefully to himself. He had delivered the boy to the tower as promised. Now he could focus on the next step, to find her brother and a way for the two of them to be together forever. Reya, princess or not, was his to love and protect and no one was going to stand in their way.
The End
White Dragon Tower: Book two -The Queen’s Tribute Excerpt
Traven paced back and forth. He had been basically under house arrest since he had triumphantly returned the Princess to her rightful place.
A week ago, he had been paraded as a hero, and savior of the whole country and their most beloved princess Reya. He had been congratulated and slapped on the back and toasted for his great service to the crown and promised riches and glory. And now one week later he was stuck in these rooms, unable to leave, or see to Reya.
Nothing. He was expected to do nothing. He was just supposed to wait and twiddle his thumbs while his fate was determined by others. While that royal counsel decided who his soulmate should marry. Traven gnashed his teeth in frustration. He couldn’t even talk to her. They had her so drowned in silver, that he could only feel her presence now.
His arms ached to hold her. He had never felt so alone, and there was not a thing he could do about it.
This was her decision. Her choice, not his. He felt like a caged animal.
The wedding was planned for this morning. The wedding date had been arranged since their return, but the groom had been up for debate until last night, when the Counsel had finally reached a decision.
Traven frowned and paced. She was his. Didn’t she understand that? How did she think to ignore their closeness and take another to her bed. Traven growled, that was why she was wearing so much silver, to block him out, to weaken their connection. Well, it won’t work. He won’t let it.
He thought about taking out the four guards and escaping. More likely, he grimaced ruefully at himself, he would knock them out and then immediately try to find Reya, and have to knock out all of her guards, just so he could talk to her. Try to change her mind about this sacrifice. He was sure if he had a little more time, he could locate her brother.
But she felt they were out of time, and this was the only answer. To marry another.
He frowned, and the most frustrating part, Traven realized, was that Reya seemed relieved, almost happy this morning. He could feel that she was calmly accepting whoever the counsel had chosen. Traven growled. He didn’t care who it was. If that approved groom so much as laid a finger on Reya he was going to kill the fool. Reya was his.
The door opened and Traven spun to face his visitor. Sir Talone moved into the room. “Princess Reya, requests that you wear these garments to attend the royal wedding this morning, Captain Traven,” The older man stated in a formal tone. Reya’s tutor placed an arm full of clothes across the bed trunk.
Traven’s mind reeled. Reya wanted him to witness her wedding to another. That just added insult to injury. Rage filled him. He refused. He just wouldn’t go and that was final.
Thank you for Reading!
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed reading Gifted Magic as much as I enjoyed writing it. Traven and Reya are some of my favorite characters. In the next book you will get to see how they work out the obstacles that stand in the way of their happy-ever-after, and meet another couple that I know you will like just as well.
Being able to write and put stories out for others to read, has been one of my lifelong dreams come true; But I need your help. Every indie writer knows that if their books do not receive enough reviews the book – whether they are good or bad – will drop off the list pages of Amazon and into the black abyss of oblivion. Please don’t let that happen to Traven and Reya’s story.
I would love for you to review Gifted Magic – “did you love it? Hate it?”
Reviews are difficult to come by these days especially for a new author.
You, the reader, have the power to make or break this book. If you have the time, here’s the link to my author’s page along with all my books on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=kya+lind
If you would like to write me, I would love to hear from you, [email protected], or visit my website at http://www.kyalind.com/
Thank you so much for your time (reading Gifted Magic) and your input. I can never thank you enough.
Other Books by Kya Lind
White Dragon Tower
In the land of Chambere, mindmagic and dragons do exist. Unlike most fairy tales that start in the beginning, this one starts in the middle. Because, sometimes, to really tell a sto
ry, one must begin somewhere else. And so ... Once upon a time there was….
White Dragon Tower – Book 2- Queen’s Tribute
…a Master Assassin and a young gypsy girl…
Safety encased in White Dragon Tower, Traven and Reya face their biggest challenge. They must convince the Magic Masters to aid them in revealing the Allure that impersonates Reya’s father without revealing their forbidden relationship. They struggle to face the coming heartbreak when Reya will be expected to marry another.
Master Jarock, a hired assassin, travels into the Shadow Mountains He is plagued by a young gypsy girl, Indigo, who believes she must follow him, and will not be persuaded to leave him alone. The closer they get to White Dragon Tower, the closer they become. But all of that changes when Indigo discovers that Jarock has been hired to kill Traven and Reya.
White Dragon Tower - Book 3- Dragon’s Song
…. a tall, green-eyed Earl and a beautiful dancer…..
Master Jarock struggles as he settles into the daily live as the Master of White Dragon Tower. The thing that makes it all worth it is Indigo. But when Dragon Slayers invade the Shadow Mountains and Lilly disappears, Jarock and his grandfather sat out on a dangerous mission to find her.
Levi, the seventh Earl of Barrows, is sent on a mission by his mother to find the assassin who killed his father and two older brothers. In his travels, he encounters a beautiful gypsy girl. When she saves his life, he realizes that she is under a persuasion and vows to find a Magic Master to release her. Between escaping from murdering thugs, the chaos created by Cara’s “dog”, and Cara’s distrust of all persons male, Levi struggles to protect her and to get her safely to White Dragon Tower. But as they enter the Shadow Mountains, Levi and Cara fall into the hands of the Dragon Slayer. Master Hawkins compels them to serve him, and kill the white dragon. Soon all of their fates are in the hands of the dragons.
