The brass doorknob turned, and the heavy wooden door inched open.
His pulsed quickened, and he locked eyes on his sheathed shard blade leaning against the far wall. He pushed himself up ready to leap out of bed as the door inched wider creaking on its hinges.
Rika slipped through the opening and eased the door shut behind her. She wore a white paper-thin cotton nightshirt that extended to her mid-thigh. She smiled at Ronan as she twisted the lock on the heavy door. “I couldn’t sleep.”
Ronan’s heart beat so hard it threatened to jump from his chest. The golden light glowing from the oil lamp shone through her nightshirt’s wafer thin material silhouetting the full swell of her heavy breasts. He peeled his eyes from her chest and allowed them to drift downward. He stared with unchained desire at her long, lean, and very exposed legs honed through constant exercise. In their years together, he’d never seen her wearing so little. She’d always taken great care to cover herself never revealing too much. “That makes two of us.” His voice sounded hollow and foreign in his ear as he willed her across the room.
Rika’s eyes wandered to Ronan’s exposed chest and flickered away. “Do you mind if I come in?” Her voice hitched and trembled with nervous tension.
As much as he wanted Rika, he would never presume or demand her affection. “Of course not. Let me put some clothes on.” Ronan reached for his underclothes piled on the floor near his bed.
She lurched forward as if to stop him. “You don’t need to do that.” Her words came out quick and urgent. “Unless you want to.”
He stopped and shook his head using slow deliberate motions as his eyes never left hers. Ronan swallowed moistening his dry throat enough to speak. “Not especially.” Without thought, he offered his hand. “Come here Rika.”
Rika let go a ragged breath and padded across the warm rugs toward Ronan. As she moved, the swell of her upturned breasts bounced and swayed beneath the nightshirt, and her nipples hardened straining against the thin fabric.
Ronan’s skin tingled with anticipation. He dared not breathe for fear he’d wake up, and she’d disappear. Her clear excitement only increased his own desire. He’d waited so long to touch her in ways he never dreamed possible.
She stopped in front of the bed, and her sparkling gray eyes held Ronan’s for five long heartbeats.
“Rika, are you sure? I want you to be sure,” he said.
Without taking her eyes from his, she reached down and grabbed the bottom of her nightshirt pulling it over her head in one swift motion.
Ronan’s face flashed with red heat as she stood naked before him. He tried in vain to calm the hammering of his heart, and his head swam as he stared at the stark perfection of her naked body. Rika’s friendship, their history together, and his deep love for her only heightened the moment’s intensity. He moved over, making room for her and pulled back the warm blankets.
She slipped in next to him and their naked bodies intertwined. Rika wrapped her arms around Ronan’s chest, and her lips found his. Their kiss started slow and tentative like their friendship then grew into something deep and intense.
Ronan didn’t know at what exact moment Rika had fallen in love with him, but he’d loved her from the first second he laid eyes on her five years ago.
Together, they passed through a one-way door that led to an unknown destination. A place they’d discover together as only young lovers could.
He tasted a hint of cinnamon from her full wet lips, and as the tip of her tongue found his, the taste intensified. The warmth of her naked body pressed into his flesh activating a million nerve endings and awakening a torrent of feral desire. He breathed her in, and the hypnotic scent of lavender drifted from her hair and left him reeling. He opened his mouth to hers and devoured her lips with raw unbridled hunger. His hand moved to cup her large round breast, and her nipple hardened beneath his fingertips.
Rika gasped moaning low and hungry as she ran her fingers through Ronan’s dark wavy hair pulling him into her.
His hand moved downward traveling past her chest exploring her forbidden, exotic locations he’d never dreamed of touching.
Rika shuddered beneath his touch as her hands explored his body in return. She wrapped her smooth leg over him and moved her body atop his. Her breasts dragged across his chest as she pushed herself up straddling him. She found him and gasped as goosebumps raised across her flesh.
They moved together starting with a slow easy rhythm that built to a fevered climax.
Afterward, Rika kissed him and nestled her head into his shoulder running her fingertips back and forth over his bare muscled chest.
Ronan weaved his hand through Rika’s dark hair and relaxed feeling the rhythm of her heart beat against his chest slow and steady.
As Rika drifted off to sleep, Ronan’s eyes grew heavy, and he pulled her in tight wrapping his arm around her naked back before sleep overtook him.
***
Danielle opened the meeting room door, and the delicious aroma of bacon, eggs, and fresh biscuits set her stomach growling.
Ronan spread an inch thick layer of apple butter atop a steaming biscuit before shoving it into his mouth. Rika and Sir Alcott sat across from him wearing awed expressions.
“Ronan, that’s your fifth one!” Rika said.
“I’m hungry,” he said as he shoved half a biscuit in his mouth.
“Ronan’s always been a big eater Rika,” Sir Alcott said. “As a boy, I tested him for tapeworm, but the results were inconclusive.”
Ronan gobbled the other half of the hot biscuit and licked apple butter from his fingers.
Sir Alcott gave Ronan an appraising stare. “But, I’m beginning to wonder if I overlooked it.”
Ronan shrugged. “A man’s got to eat,” he said with his mouth full of crumbling biscuit.
“Save some for me.” Danielle elbowed her brother and took the seat next to him. She grabbed a plate and loaded it high with several heaping spoonfuls of scrambled eggs.
Danielle’s stomach groaned with hunger pangs. “I’m so hungry.” She licked her lips and grabbed four slices of bacon and two biscuits. As she broke open the biscuit, she noticed all activity had stopped as they watched her assemble her breakfast. “What?” Danielle stared at Rika and Sir Alcott.
“We can finally rule out tapeworm,” Sir Alcott said. “It’s a family condition.”
Rika burst into laughter, and Ronan smiled.
Danielle’s face reddened, and she shrugged. “Ronan, pass the apple butter please.”
Ronan passed the dish to Danielle. “Danielle, Sir Alcott was about to go over what he discovered.”
Sir Alcott rested the book atop the table and picked up a carafe filled with heavy cream. “I’ve been up all night reading, and the discoveries are incredible.” He poured cream into a steaming cup of coffee and stirred.
“Don’t keep us in suspense,” Danielle said tearing off a chunk of crispy bacon.
Sir Alcott sighed and scratched his beard. “Where do I begin?” He sipped his coffee. “I’ll say first that I’ve just scratched the surface. I skimmed the book and only read deeper the sections I thought might help us.”
Danielle scooped up a heaping bite of eggs. “Good plan.”
“The first revelation has to do with your Lora’s Heart. It exists,” Sir Alcott said.
“There’s long been theories -“ Danielle said.
Sir Alcott waved her off. “I’m sorry to interrupt Danielle. Let me explain. I’m not touting a theory. The book explains that Ayralen shard magic can’t exist without Lora’s Heart. It’s impossible.”
“If Pride finds Lora’s Heart, he destroys Ayralen magic,” Ronan said.
“It goes far beyond the loss of Ayralen magic Ronan. The consequences are more dire that any of us realized,” Sir Alcott said. “The book mentioned a bond between Lora’s Heart and Elan’s Heart. Their magic connects in a way I can’t understand. This connection may reveal itself later in the book, but it’s very clear on
one point. If any harm comes to Lora’s Heart, Elan’s Heart withers and dies too.”
“And with Elan’s Heart goes Meranthian shard magic,” Ronan said finishing his words.
“Yes, but Heilyn’s words warned of something else. Magic contained inside both Elan’s and Lora’s Hearts are working to protect Meranthians and Ayralens alike against some greater force, but that text is beyond my skill level to interpret. Rest assured, I’ll discover its secrets. I can safely say, it’s critical that both hearts receive protection.”
“So, we need to find Lora’s Heart first,” Danielle said.
“I’m sorry to give you more bad news, but…” Sir Alcott sighed.
“What is it Sir Alcott?” Rika said.
“Magic in Meranthia is dying.” Sir Alcott said. “The book has confirmed Devery’s suspicion, and it explains why Ronan’s brand of shard magic is so powerful.”
“How so?” Ronan said.
“The practice of Meranthian isolation is thinning our blood. Lora’s Heart and Elan’s Heart require its practitioners to have bloodlines from a mixed Ayralen and Meranthian lineage,” Sir Alcott said. “Heilyn noted the first signs of Meranthian isolationism when he wrote the book and warned of its danger.”
“We haven’t noticed any weakening of magic in Ayralen. It’s as strong today as it was a thousand years ago,” Danielle said.
“The Assembly has long allowed Meranthians inside Ayralen borders,” Rika said. “The Meranthian monarchy has forbidden the return of those emigrants.”
“Ayralen magic has thrived as a result,” Sir Alcott said. “Regardless, the strength of Ayralen magic won’t matter unless Meranthia ends its practice of isolationism. Elan’s Heart provides power to the shards, and through the shard knight’s life force, Elan’s Heart thrives. If the shard knight’s bloodlines weaken any further, Elan’s Heart can no longer sustain magic. If it’s allowed to continue for another generation, Elan’s Heart will wither and die.”
Goosebumps raised on Danielle’s arm. “If Elan’s Heart dies, then so does Lora’s Heart. Without the warden’s protection, the Heartwood will die.”
“Along with the thousands of protected animal species,” Rika said.
“Ayralen and Meranthia cannot stand apart,” Sir Alcott said.
“All of Ayralen is at Merric Pride’s mercy,” Danielle said.
Ronan shook his head. “And so we circle back to Merric Pride.”
“What can we do to stop him?” Rika said.
“As I mentioned earlier, we need Lora’s Heart, but we also need the rings,” Sir Alcott paused and took a long sip from the coffee suppressing a yawn.
“I was afraid you’d mention the rings,” Danielle said.
“Lora and Elan created the rings as a safeguard. If either orb was shattered, the rings’ owner could use them to rebuild and restore magic. Elan and Lora passed these rings down to their children.”
“How do the rings restore magic?” Ronan said.
“Heilyn didn’t say exactly,” Sir Alcott said. “He said the rings act as a catalyst, and the holders must be ‘pure of blood and body’. He goes on to say that magic can’t be restored unless the hearts ‘beat as one’.”
“I’m not sure how to interpret that,” Danielle said.
“Pure of blood must refer to a mixed lineage of Ayralen and Meranthian bloodlines,” Ronan said.
“You may be right Ronan,” Sir Alcott said. “Heilyn foresaw Meranthians cutting themselves off from their Ayralen counterparts.”
“But what does ‘pure of body’ mean?” Rika said.
Thick silence spread across the table as Rika’s question went unanswered.
“It seems certain from the book’s text that whoever restores magic takes control of its power, but Heilyn didn’t make it clear how that happens.”
“That makes sense,” Ronan said. “But Lora’s Heart could be anywhere. If nobody’s found it in two thousand years, how are we supposed to find it now?”
“Oh yes, the book does give the location for Lora’s Heart,” Sir Alcott said. He let out an enormous yawn and took another swallow of coffee.
Danielle coughed and sputtered as she choked on a half-eaten bite of scrambled egg. She grabbed a napkin and covered her mouth until she brought herself under control. “You know where Lora’s Heart is? And you didn’t tell us that first?”
Sir Alcott rubbed his chin. “I’m sorry Danielle, I found the other information far more interesting. Besides, it doesn’t specify an exact location, but it does say Lora’s Heart can be found beneath the city of Freehold.”
“An ancient aqueduct runs beneath the Shadow City,” Ronan said.
“That would be an excellent starting point. The book says the entrance is hidden, but it can be unlocked by ‘those who are one with nature and its creatures’,” Sir Alcott said.
“A warden,” Danielle said.
“And a guardian,” Rika said.
“We need to find Lora’s Heart before Merric Pride or life as we know it ends,” Ronan said.
Rika chuckled and shook her head.
Danielle’s brows furrowed. “What’s so funny Rika?”
Rika leaned back. “I was just thinking, we need to go on a quest to recover Lora’s Heart, break into the royal palace and steal Elan’s Heart, retrieve Danielle’s ring from Pride, and unlock the lost secret to restoring an ancient magic system.”
Danielle smiled. “And topple an insane tyrant. You can’t forget that part.”
“I’ve got a plan for the rings. The rest will be as easy as buttering a biscuit.” Ronan grabbed the last biscuit from the basket and tore away half in a single bite.
Sir Alcott raised a bushy eyebrow, and shot Ronan a dubious look.
“Sir Alcott, if you and Devery can figure out how to get us into the heart room, the three of us will find Lora’s Heart.”
“I think we can manage that request,” he said. “But how will we contact you.”
“After you’ve made your arrangements, head to the Queen’s Heart,” Ronan said. “Master McClaren is a friend. He knows who I am and can hide us in Freehold for a short time.”
“Be careful Ronan. I don’t know what power protects Lora’s Heart, but don’t rush in,” Sir Alcott said.
“I’ve done enough rushing in for a lifetime Sir Alcott. We’ll be careful.”
A Strange Meeting
Ronan pointed toward a thick grove of trees shadowed beneath a rocky cliff. “It’s ahead. Just beyond that patch of trees.”
He gave Reggie a nudge, and the stallion broke into an easy trot.
Danielle channeled flows of nature magic and used her mind to close the distance with the cluster of birch, alder, oak, and maple trees. Her conscious mind traveled along the link, and she peered over the swaying treetops as if physically standing among them.
The rocky cliff beyond the tree cluster hid a small opening in the rock face a dozen feet from ground level. Nothing moved near the smooth man-made entrance.
Satisfied, Danielle prepared to severe the mental link when an enormous black and silver hawk screeched as it swooped over the tree line carrying a dirty disheveled man atop its back.
Danielle broke the link. “Hold on Ronan. Rika’s back, and she’s brought somebody with her.”
“Whoa boy.” Ronan pulled back Reggie’s reigns. His eyes drifted skyward as he watched Rika hug the treetops and fly straight for them.
Rika beat back her massive silver-tipped wings, extended her talons, and touched down on the grass beside Danielle and Ronan. On her back sat the bedraggled form of Brendyn Hartel.
“Brendyn!” Danielle leaped from Betty’s saddle and grabbed hold of the warden slumped forward clutching Rika’s neck. “Ronan help me.”
Ronan and Danielle pried Brendyn loose from Rika’s back and lowered him to the ground. He wore the stained, torn, and dirty gray uniform assigned the Ayralen colonists and carried his belt pouch and heartwood staff strapped to his back. Brendyn dropped to a knee and pulled
in deep rasping breaths. “Who is this idiotic guardian, and where did she learn to fly?”
Danielle sighed. “Brendyn, are you okay? Where’s Arber?”
“No, of course I’m not okay. Do I look okay Danielle?” He stood and brushed bits of dried dirt and grass from his soiled trousers.
Rika shifted into her natural form. “I found him about a mile north of here. He signaled me using his staff as a beacon.”
“I thought Keely might see me, not this, this…,” he waved a hand toward Rika, “girl!” Brendyn said.
“Where’s Arber?” Danielle said.
“Arber’s at the southern camp. I managed to escape, he wasn’t as lucky.”
“What about my father, Ambassador Finn? Did you see him?” Rika said
“Ah…you’re Finn’s spawn. I thought you were dead.” He unstrapped his staff and adjusted his grip on the handle. “He was alive the last time I saw him. Arber’s with him.”
“How did you escape?” Ronan said.
Brendyn made no effort to disguise his contempt as he sized up Ronan like a drunken vagrant passed out in an alley. “Well, it looks like you’ve found him Danielle. Congratulations. Mission accomplished. Along the way, you managed to get every single team member either killed or captured. Bravo.”
Heat spread through Danielle’s cheeks, and she lowered her gaze. His words stung, but she couldn’t change the past and wouldn’t offer any apology for her actions. Every member of her team knew the risk involved when they volunteered.
Rika turned a harsh glare on Brendyn. “Don’t speak to Danielle like that!”
“Oh I’m sorry, did you spend the last month in a prison locked up with no food and left for dead?”
“No,” she said.
Brendyn smirked. “Then shut - “
“I spent two months in a prison locked up with no food and left for dead. So did Danielle. You’re not the only one to suffer you…you miserable little man.” Rika stared daggers through the bedraggled warden.
Shard Knight (Echoes Across Time Book 1) Page 30