Skye stared up at the two moons. Chion had never returned to the training school, which meant Eiren and he were leaving early tomorrow morning. He sighed. Not wanting to deal with the children and young pakas, he sat in the middle of the training field closest to the forest. Balancing his forearms on his bent knees, he felt his shoulders slump forward. The tread of soft footfalls came closer, and Skye knew without using his magic who it was.
Eiren didn’t interrupt the serene night, and they both listened to the insects call to each other. When his bondmate leaned against him, sharing her warmth, Skye relaxed with another sigh. He wrapped his right arm around her back, hugging her while running his fingers back and forth along her ribcage.
Thank you for your patience, Skye whispered.
A warm breath of air blasted him across his face, and he huffed in surprise. Eiren’s eyes glowed with acceptance and fond regard. You must know I am just as worried as you about Lara. If it wasn’t for your promise to Chion to wait three full days, I would have urged us to leave two days ago. But Tryvor was right. You needed to gain some control of your magic.
“It isn’t enough,” he warned aloud in a low murmur, hesitant to disturb the peaceful surroundings. “I still do not understand everything my magic can do.”
I know, My Lord, I know. You forget how in tune we are. Our bond leaves us with few secrets. I feel your worry and concern, even after you attained some semblance of control and knowledge of your power. It will have to be enough. Lara and Chion both need us.
He leaned his head against Eiren’s neck, the hairs tickling his face. “Yes, they do. I haven’t asked you how you feel about returning to your place of birth. I know you don’t miss Luthis. It was your choice to leave, but I know how you were treated. I don’t want to subject you to the same treatment. It will be even worse with me beside you.
She hummed before sighing. There was a long pause before she asked, Do you remember the third ritual we had to complete before entering the House of the Dead?
Skye straightened in surprise. Cautious, he answered, “Yes.”
I won’t share what my experience was, but I am now at peace with how my Pack and others treated me. It made me who I am. They made me strong, strong enough to be your bondmate. For that, I will thank both the God and Goddess. We each had to experience great loss. My experience with Kurites during our journey has made me aware that Luthis’s treatment of me is not the norm. I have been blessed by those who have accepted me with all my faults.
When he went to respond, she turned her head, meeting his gaze with her own. Her formidable will hardened her eyes to burnished gold. I’ll never call Luthis home again. I find that acceptable. Do I accept their behavior against me? No. Never. Our bond has given me the confidence I craved all those months ago. If they attempt to disparage you in any way, they will learn otherwise. As an Ai, it is my right to protect you, as it is yours to protect me.
“Yes,” he agreed, gritting his teeth. Skye would never admit his reluctance to return to the city that held him captive, but he was a different person than he had been. He was now one of the Tal’Ai. If Eiren could return to Luthis, so could he. He’d never let her face the Council without him.
Now, you’ve yet to explain why we will travel through the Gais Desert instead of the tunnels. I am curious. You’ve a reason, I know.
Skye snorted. “I’m surprised it took you an entire day to ask. I’ve been expecting it.”
Eiren shrugged as only a feline could, almost dislodging his arm from her back. I would follow you wherever you go. I knew you had a reason, but it wasn’t important enough to know until now. Every minute you spent harnessing your magic with Audren and Tryvor was far more important than assuaging my curiosity. She bumped him with her head. She teased him, I knew I’d have you at my mercy while we traveled to Luthis. If you don’t share your reasoning soon, I have within my arsenal the singular ability to sing it out of you.
A bark of laughter burst out of him, startling the wildlife to silence. “You wouldn’t dare?”
Are you asking me or telling me? And of course I would. She sniffed haughtily, though her mirth flowed through their bond.
He grinned at her before becoming serious again. “Lara is not here to guide me through the tunnels.” He ran his fingers through his loose hair in frustration. “I have more control over my magic, but I still worry about focusing it for any stretch of time.”
Eiren nodded her head. I understand. We don’t have the time for you to heal if you injure yourself by overusing your power.
“Correct. The second reason for traveling over Kureto is that we can walk in a straight line. We won’t be forced to take detours. The Gais Desert is uncomfortable. But for all its unnaturalness, we can travel unhindered. My only concern is that Tryvor and Audren refuse to provide me with a map of the land. We’ll have to find one of the entrances by guesswork alone.”
Do not worry. Although I have never seen the entrances for Luthis above ground, I’m certain I can find one or more of the entrances once we’re in the general area.
Skye inhaled and exhaled, relieved by Eiren’s certainty. “Their reason for not providing a map is sound, and I don’t blame them. If the Malirrans have no real idea where Kurite cities lie, then it provides us with an advantage. Although I doubt anything happens to us, I’d hate for a map to fall into enemy hands. The innocent must be protected at all cost.”
Eiren flashed her teeth with a quiet snarl before she calmed. For the Malirrans to attack children and kits shows their lack of mercy for those weaker than them. They have no honor. I will do anything that makes it more difficult for the Malirrans to attack Kureto. If that means we struggle to find the entrance to Luthis, extending our travel an extra day or so, then that is what we’ll do.
“Traveling across the desert will reduce the amount of time it takes for us to reach Luthis. Unfortunately, our packs will be heavier since we must carry all our food and water. We’ll also have to keep watch for both Pyrannis and Malirrans.”
With only two of us, the likelihood of crossing their path is low. Eiren stood up and took a step back.
Skye stood up with a groan. “Yes, but we must never drop our guard. It is the quickest way for us to be killed.” He rubbed one of her ears with affection. “We will deal with it if and when it happens. Come on, we both need a good night’s sleep.”
¤ ¤ ¤
Early the next morning, Skye felt the Gais Desert’s presence as soon as their feet hit sand. The sun dimmed, and the wind stopped. Beside him, Eiren shivered.
It is worse than I imagined, Eiren whispered. I’ve read the scrolls and heard the tales, but nothing prepared me for this.
Skye hefted the pack on his back to a more comfortable position. “I know. I thought the same thing when I first stepped foot in the desert.”
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It feels as if something haunts the land.
Eiren’s comment made him stumble. She was right. He had thought before that an entity lived here. He tilted his head, studying the paka as she walked onward and looked around her with each step. Catching up with her, he checked the sun’s position and readjusted their course. How had he not recognized it while in the catacombs?
“It feels the same as when we were in the House of the Dead, but I don’t understand how that is possible.”
It does feel the same. It presents a quandary, does it not?
“What do you mean?” Skye asked, climbing the short sand dune alongside Eiren.
In the House of the Dead, you had access to your magic. The Gais Desert is void of magic. No one has access to their power here. So, it feels the same, yet isn’t.
At the top of the dune, Skye stopped to stare at Eiren in shock. “Why did I not remember that? How could I have forgotten?”
I imagine you would have remembered sooner than later, she said with the feline equivalent of a smirk. The first time you reached for your magic would remind you of the void. My Lord, you were busy training, planning, and gathering our supplies. You had little time to think of anything else.
He scowled with worry. Skye had counted on his magic to protect Eiren if they met anyone in the desert. God’s teeth. Now, he wished he’d taken the tunnels. At least the lack of sunlight below accorded them an edge against their foes. They moved forward, though he silently debated returning to the school and taking the longer route.
He stopped again. “If we don’t have access to the Tal’Ai magic in the desert, then how can I speak to you?”
Our bond is far more elemental. The bond was woven into the core of who we are. We are no longer separate entities. It is why we’re assaulted by loneliness when separated for too long.
“But isn’t my magic an essential part of me as well?”
Yes, and no. Choosing to not use your magic will not wound or kill you. Therefore, the Tal’Ai magic you’ve gained from our bond is merely a manifestation of who you are. Separating us without our consent, however, can result in grave consequences. Eiren huffed out a sigh. My Lord, I have faith in you. Your reasons for choosing this route are sound. But now you understand why I worry for Chion. Having lost his Ai, he will need us to ground him.
Skye’s eyebrows raised with sudden understanding. “You’re saying that he will be rash, make rash decisions.”
Yes, I would be the same. Eiren’s terror at the mere thought of losing him shot through their bond, and Skye’s heart stuttered at its intensity. I am grateful that you struck an oath with Chion. He is honorable. Despite his driving need to rescue Lara, Chion will wait for us at the place you agreed upon.
Skye sighed. Eiren still thought they were rescuing Lara for Chion. He should tell her the truth, but fear held him back. He still wasn’t certain of his own feelings toward the woman, yet the mere mention of Lara’s name caused a deep ache within him. They weren’t only rescuing Lara for Chion, or even for the Lan’Ai bond. He needed to rescue her for purely selfish reasons. What if they were too late? And what if Lara didn’t feel the same draw he did? He was realistic enough to know anxiety would not fix any of their problems, so he focused on what he could do instead.
Eiren’s next words brought him out of his reverie. You asked me how I felt about returning to Luthis, but I never asked you the same. If Lara is indeed in Gharra, how do you feel about returning to the kingdom that cast you out?
He struggled with how to best explain what he felt. The thought of seeing the familiar streets and buildings in Gharra was something he both dreaded and anticipated. Skye had no idea how he’d react once he set eyes upon Gharra. The silence stretched out before he spoke. “Pyran is no longer home, but it is where I was born and learned the skills of a warrior.” Sweat trickled down his face, and he used a sleeve to wipe it away.
I understand. I have similar thoughts about Luthis, Eiren murmured.
He shook his head. “Although I saw my parents at least once or twice a year, I was closer to my battlemates. They are the ones who I wish to see, if only briefly to make certain they are alive and well.”
Eiren looked over her shoulder before turning to face forward again. Curious at what had caught her attention, he stopped and studied the landscape behind them. He did a slow sweep over every hill in their vicinity, gripping his sword hilt.
It is nothing, My Lord.
Are you sure?
Yes, she said with a huff. The desert makes me uneasy. There is no wind in the tunnels, so I thought I could ignore the lack of wind here in the desert. Unfortunately, this place smells… wrong.
Skye took a tentative sniff, trying to scent what she had. He scanned their immediate surroundings one more time before nodding to himself. As expected, nothing existed around them but sand. They would both be sick of the sand and rubbed raw in a few uncomfortable places by the time they reached Luthis.
Eiren did a full-body shake, and her pack slipped a little off-kilter. “Wait, Eiren. If I don’t fix the pack, the material will rub against your coat, and sores will appear.” She waited patiently for him to tighten the cords around her chest and stomach.
When Skye rose to his full height, she asked, What will you do if you see one of your battlemates?
Skye noted her hesitation, though he didn’t know why. Dane, Timosy, and Thanel were his first battlemates, but he had new ones now. In some ways, it felt as if he’d last seen them a lifetime ago.
They crossed a wide, flat area. Keeping his balance on the sand forced his leg muscles to work overtime, and he already felt the strain. He eyed Eiren, pleased with the steady gait she maintained. The paka now packed more muscle on her small frame than when he’d first seen her.
He murmured, “If the pads of your feet become sore, tell me. The sand is a danger if we ignore it.”
Of course, she said, bowing her head. Every other step she took, she glanced up at him.
Skye released a heartfelt groan. “I know that look all too well. You’re going to pester me until I answer you.” Seeing her ears and tail twitch, he grinned. With no one around, he could show his emotions. Eiren would have it no other way.
Reflecting on her last question, his grin vanished. “If I somehow run across my battlemates, I’ll probably be forced to fight them.” Her gasp drew his gaze down to her. “No matter that I was once their battlemate, their honor as a Pyranni warrior gives them no other recourse but to kill me. Not only am I an outcast, I am in league with the enemy.”
Would they not give you the benefit of the doubt? The hope threading through their bond dwindled when he jerked his head from side to side.
“Do you remember when we first met? How I acted?” She nodded once. “What you don’t realize is that, even then, I was drawn to you. The way in which the warriors acted in the cell in Areth is what I can expect from those in Gharra. They will not hesitate to attack anyone who they believe has bargained his or her soul in return for magic. To them, I’m a traitor to everything they believe about the God and Goddess.”
But they were crazed from lack of sunlight, she argued.
“The Pyranni warriors were not themselves, but their beliefs were still the same. They absolutely despise Kurites. They fear magic of any kind. They believe the Pakas are the result of a dark magic that has taken possession of Kurite souls. King Ragnar is fervent in his belief that Kureto must be cleansed of all magic. Only then can the teachings of the God and Goddess be taught to the children. So, my supposed betrayal of what the God and Goddess demands led to the loss of my honor and my family’s honor. What’s more, my battlemates would have been held suspect by others because of their longstanding friendship with me.”
Eiren leaned against him even as they trekked onward. He repeated, his voice laden with sadness, “As you can see, my battlemates, whether they agree or not, won’t have a choice but to kill me.”
I cannot tell you how sorry I am, My Lord. You had told me before how Pyrannis feel about Kurites, but I never thought about how this impacted you. I was always grateful you chose me, so I kept quiet before. Now, I wish I hadn’t asked. Eiren was silent for a moment. I hope you never see your old battlemates. I’ve no wish for you to kill your friends.
He pulled on the straps of his pack, pushing it farther up his back. “Your faith in my skill is appreciated, but I honestly do not know if I’d win. They are each formidable warriors in their own right.”
At his admission, Eiren lunged forward, twisting around to face him. Her head dropped and she bared her fangs. A long growl rumbled through their bond, curling within him, making him stand straighter. You will win, have no doubt. I don’t have to know the others to know your skill is unmatched. Even if one of your battlemates equaled you, you would win, for Lara, Chion, and I need you. Kureto needs you. My Lord, the God and Goddess have blessed you as one of the Tal’Ai, and if we are right—as one of the rare Lan’Ai. Do not doubt your strength. I do not. You’ll emerge victorious simply because you must.
By the end, Eiren was panting. The strength of her belief in him filled him with determination. As usual, Eiren was right. As much as it would destroy him to kill one or all of his friends, he would if there was no other option. They would either help him or not. Besides, this entire debate balanced on the assumption that he’d even see his old battlemates, which was doubtful. To survive, Skye had to trust himself and his bond with Eiren. Eiren had never led him astray, and he trusted her like no other.
Finally, he broke their standstill and said, “Let’s rest. We need to eat to keep up our strength. We’ve a long way to go yet.” Unstrapping the pack from her back, Skye leaned forward, hugged her, and breathed in her ear, “Thank you.”