Jarrett felt his fists clench around the reins. “The future is not finalized yet.”
“No, it’s not, but even still, I warn you – Tyla’s in need of someone now, she’s lost everything that she ever held dear, but once the loss begins to dull, she’ll remember the bond she accepted at Tarnow’s bidding, and she’ll forget whatever need she may have felt in the past. I like you, lad, and I’d hate to see you get crushed in the middle.”
Jarrett found it difficult to control his voice. “I think I can watch myself.” He paused and took a deep breath. “Whatever goes on between Tyla and me is our business alone.”
Muzik leaned over in the saddle. “I’m afraid that’s where you’re wrong,” he said. “I told you once before that Tyla has been my charge for the last ten years and that she alone is the one thing I hold dear.” He leaned back in his saddle. “I do like you, but if Tyla should get hurt, I will look at you no differently than I look at Rarick, himself.”
Jarrett met the blunt gaze of the enormous man. He was angry, but there didn’t seem to be anything else to say. He was furious with Muzik for insinuating what he was, and he was furious with Kendrick for being a part in this entire mess. He was furious with Tyla for accepting the bond and furious with Tarnow for forcing it on her, but most of all, he was furious with himself for not putting enough distance between him and Tyla when he knew it was hopeless, and especially furious that his feelings for her had been so evident to all involved.
He slowed his horse and fell to the rear of the procession, preferring to brood alone in his misery. He didn’t know what to do. He’d been so absorbed with escaping Adishian that it hadn’t occurred to him that anyone else might notice the feelings that he and Tyla shared. But of course they had, Rarick had sensed it and had used it to make Tyla kill. So in the end, he was responsible for all that had happened – she’d killed because of her feelings for him and he could have prevented it if he’d only kept his distance from her as he’d promised himself he would.
* * *
Earon spurned his horse forward to where Tyla and Kendrick rode. He pulled up alongside the Queen and leaned forward in his saddle. “I don’t mean to interrupt,” he said and arched his brows.
Tyla looked at him. “But you have, so please continue,” she said with a smile.
Earon smiled in return. “I was just thinking that I haven’t once seen your hair out of that braid since I first saw you in the Andradas’ cottage.”
Kendrick gave the runner an annoyed look.
Tyla turned away and her eyes scanned the desert before them. “And you won’t for a very long time...”
“Ah, but it must be a breath-taking sight, being the color of ebony as it is. And your eyes, why...they are the color of the most luminescent emeralds found on all of Samar, and your skin...” He took a deep breath and Tyla looked at him, amusement dancing in her eyes. “Why, your skin is like the color of honey.” He leaned back and winked at Kendrick, who was staring at him in disgust.
Tyla laughed. “You are most flattering,” she said. “My skin is a sickly yellow color? Very attractive.”
He pulled his horse closer to her. “You laugh at my poetry? Perhaps you won’t laugh at this.” He grabbed her hand and lifted it to his lips, then leaned far over in the saddle and fixed his eyes on her. “I can show you a great deal more,” he said and released her hand.
Kendrick spurred his horse forward, forcing Tyla and Earon to haul back on their reins. “Enough! You forget yourself!”
Earon shared an amused look with Tyla. “Forgive me, my Queen. The Nazarien’s right. I overstep my boundary.”
“You are forgiven,” she said with a smile.
He saluted Kendrick, then pulled his horse to the side, cantering back in the opposite direction.
Tyla urged her own mount around the Nazarien. “He was just being playful.”
Kendrick fell into place beside her. “That was insolence, nothing more.”
“Perhaps you might get a sense of humor,” she said, but at his wounded look, she wished she hadn’t been so harsh.
“Nazarien aren’t trained to have a sense of humor.”
Tyla shot a bewildered look at him. “No one’s trained to have a sense of humor, Kendrick.” Then she paused. Somehow she knew he wouldn’t understand what she meant. She studied him and felt a gut deep disappointment. “Do you miss Chernow?”
He lifted his head and their eyes met. “No, my future lies with you.”
She turned away and watched Kian as he loped into view. He’d been traveling far ahead of them all day, running from one scant clump of brush to another, digging and sniffing under it, until it came time to run on again. Tyla watched him, but found that she was thinking instead of Kendrick’s words and the fact that they disturbed her so much. She almost wished he longed to go back to Chernow. It would make everything less complicated, and as she thought of how complicated everything was becoming, she thought of Jarrett.
“Do you know Tomlin Trauner well, Kendrick?” she said suddenly.
“Yes, he trained me.”
“You think a lot of him, don’t you?”
“He’s the best Nazar the Nazarien have ever had.”
“But it’s more than the fact that he’s a good Nazar. You think much of the man, himself, don’t you?”
“Yes, he was always kind to me. There aren’t many Nazarien who can say they’ve been trained by the Nazar.”
Tyla fell silent.
“Why are you asking about Tomlin Trauner?”
She shrugged. “No reason.”
“There is a reason. You’re asking about Tomlin Trauner because of Jarrett.”
She met his gaze. “Yes. Explain something to me – the Nazarien are still a celibate order, except for instances of procreation, correct?”
Kendrick nodded.
“And in instances of procreation, they tend to stick with their own people to keep the bloodline Stravad, right?”
Again Kendrick nodded.
“Then why would Tomlin Trauner go to a Human woman when he felt the need for an heir, and especially a woman that was already married.”
“I can’t explain it, but there have been incidences where a Nazarien deliberately procreated with a Human. Your own father had two children by Human women.”
Tyla nodded, but it still didn’t seem to fit. “Why would they deliberately go to Human women though?”
“Perhaps to hide the bloodline, make it a little less distinguishable, especially in a time of strife. This reason may be very important to a Nazar who has a stronger need for a living male heir.”
“But why a married woman?”
“I can’t explain that, only Tomlin Trauner can and he never saw fit to tell me much about his personal life.”
“What I really can’t understand is why he would have left Jarrett there if he were really that concerned about protecting his heir?”
“Nazarien fathers usually have little to do with their children.”
“But aren’t all Nazarien heirs given knowledge of their fathers?”
“Not necessarily. Tomlin Trauner’s a complex man and his reasons are his own.”
“Do you think Jarrett is Tomlin Trauner’s son?”
“I know that he’s at least half Stravad, so he’s someone’s son, and the fact that Chernow’s so close to Terra Antiguo makes it all the more probable. I don’t think his foster father would have lied to him, especially in his hate.”
Tyla folded her hands around the saddle horn. “Even still, I find it all very curious.” She looked hard at Kendrick. “But then I won’t pretend I understand your order. That would be presumptuous of me.”
“They say your father never understood it either.”
I suppose he didn’t, she thought and then fell silent.
CHAPTER 15
A few days after their escape from Adishian, they rose a little later than usual, feeling the need for a longer rest, especially as no signs of the Sarkisian garrison had yet
appeared. Earon decided that they required some fresh meat, so he volunteered to go hunting. Muzik and Kendrick agreed to go with him, leaving Tyla and Jarrett at the camp to break it down. The continual blast of winter storms had abated and the day was briskly cold, but clear.
Jarrett stood beside the horses, attempting to work a bit into his horse’s mouth. The horse tossed its head, throwing off the bit. Jarrett dropped his arms and sighed wearily. The Guardsmen horses were excellent stock, but spirited, strong-minded beasts. It was still difficult for the Terrian to raise his arms above his head and the horse’s playfulness was beginning to grate at him.
He took a deep breath and fixed his determined gaze on the horse’s brown eyes. “All right, now, let’s not give each other any more trouble,” he said as he lifted the bit again. The horse allowed the man to place the bit in his mouth, but as he rose up to strap the bridle on, the horse tossed his head, stepping away.
Jarrett threw the harness and bit into the snow and swore loudly.
Tyla was quickly at his side, taking the animal’s head in her hands, stroking his broad white forehead and speaking into his ear. She bent down and lifted the bit, slipping it into the horse’s mouth and pulling the bridle over his head. Jarrett watched her in amazed silence.
“I’ve given my horse a name. It helps to control him,” she said with a smile. She turned to the saddle, lifting it to the animal’s back. “If you think of them as only work animals, pack animals, then they’re going to do everything in their power to annoy you. Just like Kian, they’re intelligent; therefore, if you want them to do your bidding, you must become their friend.” She slipped her gloved hand into his. “Come here,” she said, drawing him to the horse. She lifted his hand and placed it against the horse’s forehead, but the Terrian wasn’t interested in the horse, rather he was staring at the woman. She gave him a cross look. “Pet him and talk to him.”
Jarrett allowed her to stroke his hand across the horse’s forehead, but he still wasn’t looking at the horse. “I’d rather pet you,” he said, catching her around the waist. She laughed, but pushed him away.
“Stop it! If you don’t want to have any more trouble with him, you’ve got to be his friend. Talk to him, Jarrett. Guardsmen horses like to be talked to.”
“I feel foolish talking to a horse, Tyla.”
Tyla grabbed his hand again and made him stroke the horse’s muzzle. “Talk to him,” she repeated.
Jarrett looked at the horse and grimaced. “He’s not a dog, Tyla. Why in the world am I petting him?”
Tyla continued stroking the horse’s forehead, straightening his mane. “Because he can feel it and that’s all that matters. It makes him feel secure. How would you like it if some brute came up to you, forced your mouth open, and shoved a piece of metal inside, then tried to strap a halter over your head, all without saying a single word, giving you no sort of warmth at all?”
Jarrett’s eyes danced in amusement. To hell with the rest of the world, he thought, I love this woman.
Tyla looked hard at him. “Are you listening to a word I’m saying?”
He forced his expression to look serious and nodded. “Oh, yes, every word. Talk to him.” He bent down and looked into the animal’s face. The horse tossed his head and backed away. “Talk to him and pet him. Talk to him and pet him.” He turned quickly and grabbed Tyla. She laughed and tried to pull away, but he closed his arms about her waist, reaching up to stroke her hair. “Talk to him and pet him.” Still struggling, they slipped in the snow and fell. Tyla pulled away and rolled over, resting her hands on Jarrett’s chest. The Terrian lay back in the snow, laughing.
“You’re impossible, you know,” said Tyla.
“And you’re beautiful,” he said, reaching up to brush away loose strands of her hair. His hand slipped down to her cheek and he traced the line of her jaw. “So very beautiful.”
She closed her eyes and allowed the pleasure of his touch to wash over her. He smiled. “I guess wild animals do like to be petted.”
She opened her eyes. Their slight slant gave her a seductive, alluring look and Jarrett caught his breath. He reached up to kiss her, pulling her closer to him, but then Kian bounded between them, a bundle of fur, snow, and wet tongue. They pushed him off and Tyla sat up.
Kian dropped down and put his head and paws across Jarrett’s legs. “What are you doing, dog?” he said gruffly, but Kian lifted his head and licked the man in the face.
Jarrett grimaced, grabbing the scruff of the dog’s neck, burying his fingers in it, and shaking him. Kian rumbled a deep growl that sounded both vicious and playful. Tyla watched them, a smile lighting her face. The dog rolled over on his back and grabbed Jarrett’s arm in his jaws, but he didn’t close down with his teeth. The Terrian wrestled with him for a few moments, then the dog jumped to his feet, shaking water and snow off his coat.
Jarrett looked over at Tyla and her face grew serious. “We should break camp, they'll be back soon,” she said and rose to her feet.
Jarrett rose after her, frowning. “What’s wrong?” He grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him.
She looked up at him and her expression grew impassive. Gone was the playful, laughing woman of a few moments before, replaced by a woman of power. “We promised we’d break camp.”
“What?”
“Come on, they’ll expect us to be done when they return.”
“And we will be,” he answered, feeling a surge of annoyance. “Tell me what just happened.”
She looked away from him, over the expanse of unbroken land. Closer to the Groziks, Nevaisser became barren and flat. “I’m promised to Kendrick,” she said in a voice so quiet Jarrett hardly heard her.
“You’re what?”
She met his eye. “Promised. To Kendrick. I don’t want either of us to forget it.”
Jarrett was bewildered. “You intend to carry through with that promise?” He knew Muzik expected her to, but he kept thinking...hoping that she would change her mind.
“Yes.” That, nothing more. No hesitation, no shift in expression. He could see the absolute determination in her face.
He didn’t know what to say. He stared at her, unable to formulate an argument against her reply. She looked down again.
“I just want us both to remember it,” she repeated, then she went back to breaking camp.
* * *
The three men returned around midday. Everything was packed away, but Jarrett had started a fire for warmth. He and Tyla shared it without speaking. When Kendrick rode up, Jarrett made eye contact with him.
He rose to his feet and crossed to where Kendrick had tied up his horse. “Well?” he said, trying to hide the annoyance in his voice.
“Nothing,” answered Kendrick. “No game, no sign of game. No soldiers.”
Jarrett glanced over his shoulder at the fire where Muzik and Earon were warming themselves. “That’s good, isn’t it?”
“Is it? Why no soldiers?”
Jarrett shook his head. “The weather?”
“Guardsmen? Really?”
“No, not really. Even in a blizzard they’d trail us.”
“Unless they know what I’m beginning to realize.”
Jarrett chewed on his lower lip. He’d realized it as well. It made sleeping at night difficult. “We don’t have enough supplies to get us over the mountains.”
Kendrick’s gaze was riveted on Tyla. “I’ve been through lean times, mind you, but those mountains in winter...”
Jarrett followed Kendrick’s line of sight.
Earon saw them. “Why don’t you share your intense conversation?”
Jarrett drew a deep breath. No use hiding the obvious. He strode through the drifts back to the fire and hunkered down. Kendrick took a seat beside him.
Jarrett fixed his gaze on Tyla. “If we can’t get meat by hunting, we’ve got to get it some other way.”
Muzik grunted, but didn’t offer any suggestions.
“We don’t have enough s
upplies to get us over the Groziks, not in winter and not with this much snow. We need a pack mule just to carry feed for the horses.”
“And between us and the mountains is…” asked Tyla.
“Kazden,” answered Earon. His face lost color. “I’m not taking my Guardsmen horses into Kazden.”
“You’d rather watch them starve in the mountains,” snapped Muzik.
“Don’t you have any of that dye?”
Earon met Jarrett’s gaze. “Yeah, but you think they ain’t gonna recognize her in Kazden?” He pointed at Tyla.
She glared at him in return. “I don’t think we have much choice, do we? It’s Kazden or death.”
“Kazden is death,” snarled Earon. “Think about it, Your Highness. We haven’t had one soldier trailing after us. You think that’s because they don’t know you escaped. Try again. They know and they know we don’t have enough supplies. They’ll be waiting for us in the city.”
“It’s a big city. We won’t go in together. We’ll split up.”
Earon gave a sarcastic bark of laughter. “And which of us won’t draw any attention? The two Nazarien, the exiled Queen, or the giant? How about the guy with the stolen white horses?”
“Kazden isn’t fond of Sarkisian. The soldiers have to march in large contingents to keep from being attacked. There are also parts of the city where they don’t dare to venture. For many years now, they haven’t even manned the gates. We shouldn’t have any trouble getting inside, even if we all go together,” offered Muzik. “If I had to choose any city to sneak into, Kazden would be the one. They’ve always been loyal to your father.”
Tyla gave him a tense smile. “Earon’s right. It’s a dangerous decision we’re making. If we get trapped in Kazden, Rarick will have all of you executed.”
“We won’t get caught,” said Jarrett.
Earon made a strangling sound. “You’re daft! There’s a bounty on Nazarien in Adishian or haven’t you heard?”
Jarrett involuntarily rubbed the scar on his arm. “I know better than you, but there isn’t any other choice. We don’t have enough supplies to see us over the Groziks.”
The World of Samar Box Set 3 Page 25