The woman gave her a slight bow as she answered, “Of course, my lady. I have also been instructed to bring you to the dining hall once we are finished. If you are prepared, I can lead you there now.”
Avila grinned at the woman, thankful that she wasn’t insisting, then looked around and grabbed the small pack that contained specimen bags and her sketch pad. “All right, lead the way, please.”
The woman gave her another bow before she started down the hall. Angelo fell into step behind them. Both Nathan and his father were already in the dining room when she walked in.
They both stood with smiles as soon as they saw her. Nathan eyed the bag before he raised a brow and commented, “I should have known you would have been ready.”
Avila chuckled as she set the bag next to the chair Nathan had pulled out for her. She waited until the other two were seated again before she answered, “Well, I did wake up before the alarm, but I couldn’t go back to sleep. Instead, I found a fascinating book in the room and kept myself occupied.”
Nathan shared a confused look with his father. When the man’s only response was to shrug, they both turned back to her, and Nathan asked what they were both wondering, “I vaguely remember that bookshelves were in each of the guest suites, but I don’t recall there being anything particularly fascinating in them. What were you reading?”
Avila nearly rolled her eyes at him, but stopped when she saw the duke was watching as well. No matter how laid back they were, it would do to remember the man was second only to the king. She still gave Nathan a long-suffering look when she answered, “I suppose my idea of fascinating and yours are simply two different things. I was reading about these amazing plants that are supposed to be common in this region. They look like stones. What were they . . .”
Nathan chuckled. “Leave it to you to get excited about plants. It’s no wonder you get along so well with—”
Avila looked up with confusion when he suddenly cut off. Her confusion only grew when she noticed the duke’s eyes narrow slightly, though he didn’t say anything. Instead, Nathan started speaking again almost immediately. “They are called nakala stones. I am sure we will come across many while you are here if you would like to examine one. Though I would recommend that you don’t try to drink the water. It doesn’t harm the animals of the plains, but for us, there are some . . . interesting side effects. The seeds are coated in more than the hardened shell for protection.”
That sent Avila’s mind off on another tangent. He hadn’t made the side effects sound fatal, but it would surely be detrimental if it was enough to issue a warning. Not that she had any plans to find out for herself, but the idea that differing physiology between species would create such drastically different effects from the same stimulus was an exciting topic. Did it have more to do with how the animals had adapted, or was it another defense mechanism of the plant?
She was pulled out of her whirling thoughts when she heard Nathan laugh. He was grinning when she looked up. “I can already see the gears turning in your head. Instead of trying to figure it out now, why don’t you wait until you can see one for yourself? The faster we finish here, the quicker we can be on our way.”
Avila immediately picked up her fork, which brought a laugh from the duke as well. After that, the conversation was minimal. Soon, the table was cleared and the duke stood to bid them a good day.
Avila noted that Nathan was frowning slightly as he watched his father leave, but when he turned back to her, he did so with a smirk. “Since you brought your bag, I suppose that means we can go straight from here?”
Avila answered his smirk with one of her own as she grabbed the bag and put the strap over her shoulder. “Lead the way.” Nathan chuckled at her enthusiasm but didn’t comment further.
Despite the delay while security checked the transport, it was not long before they were on their way. The talk in the hovercar was minimal while Avila scanned the land they were traveling through.
She had already been told that, given the circumstances, they would not be able to go more than a couple of hours out until the weekend. Not that she was bothered by that; they had barely been out a half hour, and she had already seen several things she wanted to ask questions about or look up later.
She was shocked when Nathan called them to a halt before they were even out an hour. When she shot him a questioning glance, his only response was to grin and wink at her. He then opened the door and gestured for her to follow.
Avila was sure he had a reason, but she still gave him a skeptical look. Mostly to get back at him for the wink. He then led her to a group of stones a short distance away. Several small, lizard-like animals scurried away into holes she hadn’t noticed until they got closer. She almost followed them, but Nathan gently grabbed her arm to pull her closer to the stones. His voice was barely above a whisper as he pointed to the odd grouping. “You were asking questions about these earlier, so I thought you might want to see them in person.”
She was confused, but only for a moment. It didn’t take her long to realize the rocks weren’t actually rocks. Her eyes lit up as she rushed forward to examine them. Even standing next to them, she could not tell that they were not stone. The brown surface matched the earth around them, and they were covered with a fine layer of grit. When she turned to Nathan, her voice was just as low. “Would it be all right if I touched them?”
She could tell he was trying not to laugh at her. When she frowned at him, he finally relented. “They aren’t hothouse babies. Life out here is rough. You would be far from the only thing to have touched them. Just don’t touch the water.”
She gave him a nod before she reached a tentative hand out. She only let her fingertips touch it at first, but when there was no reaction, she allowed them to slide until her palm rested on the warm surface.
If she had not known better, Avila would have still thought them stone. The surface was rough and absorbed the sun’s light the same way boulders would. She frowned as she began to wonder how they processed nutrients. Perhaps that would be something she could study later.
For now, she lifted her hand and gently rapped her knuckles against the side. Even though she half expected it, the hollow sound still took her by surprise. As soon as the sound faded, she pulled out her sketch pad from the bag she had thankfully grabbed when exiting the hovercar. She skirted the bundle of strange plants slowly to ensure that if any wildlife was about, they would have ample opportunity to leave.
It didn’t take her long to find what she was looking for. At the base of the next nakala stone over was a small indent partially covered by a wild weed. She gently pushed the smaller plant’s leaves to the side to better see the small pool of water.
The water was murky, though she doubted the animals in the area cared. What she found impressive was how it almost looked like the pool had been created by an underground reservoir that had made its way to the surface to partially erode the “stone.”
It did not take her long to sketch the setup. It was only as she was standing that she wondered what part the other plant played in things. It was apparent the small, leafy weed was taking advantage of the water source, but it didn’t seem to be ill-affected. Perhaps it, too, had a part to play in the symbiosis of the region. She doubted this was a random occurrence with the way everything in the dry plains had to fight to survive.
When Avila stood once she was satisfied with her sketch, she nearly fell over. Nathan had been right behind her and was watching with interest. He was, thankfully, able to steady her. Though he did smirk at the scowl she shot him. Instead of commenting on the near miss, he pointed to the sketch pad. “I have heard you mention that you like to sketch the things you observe, but I didn’t realize you had talent. You could sell those with a little work.”
She scoffed as she headed back to the vehicle. “I doubt that, but even if it were true, I won’t be parting with any of them. Unless there is so
mething I need to study that must be done in a lab, I would rather use my drawings.”
By that point, they had reached the hovercar. Instead of arguing, Nathan reached into a little compartment and handed her a capped bottle. She took it but gave him a curious look. He didn’t allow her the chance to ask. “I am positive you are not used to the heat or sun. Even though you haven’t complained yet, I don’t want to take the chance of you getting dehydrated.”
Avila looked chagrined, as she had been wiping the sweat from her brow as he spoke. Still, she gave him a smile and took a long drink of water before she answered, “I was too excited to notice; I’m glad you thought of it. By the time we head back, I have a feeling I will be even more appreciative.”
He laughed at her quip, but it wasn’t long afterward that their conversation once again drifted into a lull. When they finally arrived at the stopping point for the day, Avila was thrilled to find that they were not far from a “village” of rodent-looking creatures. Nathan explained that the group of creatures was called a village because they had a pack-type mentality with a structured hierarchy despite being in the rodent family.
She desperately wanted to get a closer look, but she knew it would spook them. She was even less inclined to do so when he explained that the tiny creatures would become quite aggressive if they felt their homes were under attack. He had even seen them drive off one of the big cats. A feat she had a hard time imagining, but he assured her it was true. With that being the case, she satisfied herself with watching them through a spyglass.
By the time they were ready to head back, Avila had a small stack of sketches. It had only been one day, and already she had more information than she knew what to do with.
They managed to make it back in time for a late lunch, though it was rushed. Nathan did still have duties to attend to while he was there. As soon as the meal was over, he turned to Avila with an apologetic smile. “I hate to eat and run, but the reports won’t file themselves.”
Avila waved off his concern with a grin. She pointed to her bag as she answered. “Don’t worry, I already have more than enough to research. With everything we saw today, I am beginning to think it would take a lifetime to understand the variety of life in this region. I am surprised you have managed to learn so much.”
He gave her a mock-glare as he said, “If I didn’t know any better, I would say you doubt my intelligence.”
She chuckled at his quip as she shook her head. “Not at all. However, I do know that you have always had other duties as well. Even the second-born son of a duke would not be exempt. It’s impressive that you were able to learn so much about this land and still keep up.”
Nathan glanced away at her earnest compliment. A moment later, he turned back to her with a grin. “You shouldn’t throw those types of statements around so casually. Other men might get the wrong idea.”
Avila was thoroughly confused by his statement but didn’t get to ask, as he immediately added, “Unfortunately, I do have to get going. Evette can lead you back to the rooms, and if you need anything, please reach out to her. Otherwise, she will be back to get you for the evening meal.”
Avila made a shooing motion as she answered. “Don’t worry about me. Between the tasks Professor Gilbert sent with me and all the things I would like to look up now, I doubt I will have a spare minute. Just make sure you don’t work yourself to death, either. I know this can’t be easy for you, so thank you.”
Nathan’s smirk was back in place as he waved off her concern. “Until later.” Once he was gone, Avila followed Evette toward her room.
―
That night, dinner was much the same as it had been the night before. The only significant difference was the fact that the duke insisted that she call him by name.
She was fighting a blush when she tried for a rebuttal one last time. “Your Grace, I understand that this household is less strict about certain things, but surely it would not be proper for me to call you by name.”
The man chuckled as he shook his head. Despite the turn the conversation had taken, he was only amused. “I am no king.”
“Perhaps not, but you are second only to the man that is.”
For a moment, the duke’s eyes seemed to harden, but the expression was gone so fast, Avila wasn’t sure what she had seen. His smile was back in place as he answered, “Perhaps, but in this household, we do not live by formalities. We are still close enough to the wilds that we cherish the bonds we make, even if they are to be fleeting. Now, please agree. I will not insist that you call me Zach. Zachariah is enough.”
Avila knew her face had to be as red as the tart fruits served with dessert, and there was no hiding it. When she caught the sound of Nathan trying to smother his laughter, she finally relented with a sigh. “I will agree . . . Zachariah.”
The duke smiled at her as he spoke. “See, not so difficult, was it?”
She decided that it would be better to not answer that, as she still felt uncomfortable, so she changed the subject to the fascinating things they had found that day.
―
The rest of the week went in much the same pattern. Despite only having half a day to explore, Avila still found so many things she had never seen before. It was the experience of a lifetime, and she knew she was barely scratching the surface.
The following weekend was the first time they were allowed to travel farther. The section of the mountain range that blocked off the southern ocean was still too far to reach in a day, and given the safety concerns, it was a trip that would have to be postponed until better arrangements could be made. That didn’t keep them from getting close enough to see them in the distance.
Even though the range was barely more than a hazy span across the distant horizon, Avila could tell that the land, flora, and fauna were affected by the natural barrier. The closer they got to the mountains, the fewer nakala stones she saw. They also got caught in a brief thunderstorm right before they decided it was time to head back.
Avila was thrilled at the way the dry plains seemed to become a vibrant showcase of colors for the tiniest bit after the storm. Nathan explained that the rain was unusual but not unheard of outside of the rainy season due to the way the mountains would occasionally trap low pressure fronts. Unfortunately, they had to leave the riot of color behind as they headed back for the day. Not that she didn’t find the rest of the plains beautiful as well, but it was a muted and dignified type of beauty. There was a grace in the savagery of the near-barren land that was sometimes hard to look away from.
It was late when they returned that night, and the duke had already retired. As much as Avila enjoyed his company, she wasn’t too upset that the meal with Nathan was a hurried affair. She was already looking forward to bed, especially since she knew the next day would likely be just as long, and she still had homework she had barely touched. That thought haunted her as she went to sleep. She knew she would need to take more time for her studies over the remaining two weeks, or her work would never get done.
34. Haunted by the Past
The next week and a half flew by. Some days Avila felt as if there simply weren’t enough hours in the day. At least she finished all her assignments and would be able to enjoy the last few days exploring Peloun without distractions. She was also thankful that she had thought to bring extra sketch pads, as she had filled the first one before the end of the fifth day.
As for the adventures, she had already resigned herself to the fact that she would likely never get to see everything she wanted to. There was just too much to see and not nearly enough time, but at least she had good company.
She had noticed a subtle shift in Nathan the longer they stayed. Despite his laid-back attitude, the longer they spent in the plains, the more she could see how this wild land had shaped him. He had been forthright from the moment she met him, but here, that became daring. As vibrant as his personality was, eac
h day, it became brighter. She wasn’t sure which of them enjoyed the outings more.
She doubted he had noticed the shift, since it wasn’t anything drastic, but she still kept it to herself. They were only a few days from heading back, and already she felt a pang at the idea of leaving. She could only imagine that it was worse for Nathan. At least he seemed adaptable.
Those thoughts led to more about Arinel and the ones that lived there. Specifically, a tall, blonde, green-eyed one that she had been trying to keep off her mind the whole trip. Even though she was busy, she thought of him often enough. It was hard for her not to wonder what Galdren would think of the things she had seen. Whenever the thoughts did come up, she reminded herself that he had said he had already been, so it wouldn’t be new to him. It was a small consolation as she buried her thoughts of him again and again.
Nathan had said they would be headed to a new area that day, and it didn’t take long to see that he hadn’t been exaggerating. As they neared the planned stopping point, they started into something that could almost be considered a forest. It definitely could be when compared to the flatlands that made up the majority of Peloun. The flatlands weren’t completely barren, as the grasses grew in abundance, but rarely had she seen anything else other than the nakala stones and the small plants that usually surrounded them. Avila was in awe.
The trees weren’t dense, but they were far from anything she was familiar with. Though barely taller than the hovercar, they were broad. They also didn’t grow close to each other, but part of that was likely due to the way the roots spread more than a dozen yards around each tree. The leaves were also interesting. They almost seemed sunburnt, but Nathan assured her they were always like that.
Despite her interest in the strange trees, when Nathan pointed out why they had visited this area, her attention was completely diverted. There were large nests placed in the nooks and crannies in most of the trees’ broad branches. However, they were not occupied by anything avian. Instead, there were families of primates jumping through the limbs and sometimes from tree to tree, which didn’t look like an easy feat. Due to how far apart the trees were, the branches of the closest ones were still several feet apart.
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