Farlands Prodigal (Ultimate Passage Book 5)

by Elle Thorne

Saraz laughed derisively. “Know what?”

  “That Assiriana was not yours alone.”

  Cinia thought back to the story she’d heard from Thane about the Asazi, Kormic, and Dumarian.

  A thrumming sound filled the room, signifying Saraz’s anger and his attempt to seize control. “What are you saying?”

  The Elders began a low chant.

  Taya leaned close to Cinia. “The Elders are nullifying his power. They have the ability to do so.”

  “You were punished for procreating with Assiriana, but in truth, another of the Brethren had already done so. Assiriana was with him first. And she carried his child.”

  “No.” Saraz shook his head. His shoulders had slumped as though in defeat. “It can’t be true.”

  “It is true. Brohm was with her.”

  “No.”

  Thane stepped out from the group. “It is so. Brohm told me himself.”

  Saraz’s face held an expression Cinia had never seen on him before. One of complete and utter defeat. That didn’t last long. It was quickly replaced with hate. “I wondered.” He swiped a hand over his face, smearing a trail of blood from a cut on his forehead. “I saw Brohm in the area. Not far from her home. I hid, not sure if he was looking for me. I didn’t want to be caught. I had no idea—”

  His thrumming stopped. The Elders’ chanting ceased. The room was silent as Saraz seemed lost in a place far away and long ago. His head dropped.

  For minutes, all were unmoving.

  Suddenly, Saraz’s head snapped upward. “I was punished. I was cast out.” He released a war cry. “I should not have been exiled!” he bellowed.

  Then Saraz began a frenzy of thrusts, his sword flailing madly.

  Zale raised the light sword and met every lunge, every parry, every attack.

  Saraz’s movements were maniacal. His eyes glowed a dangerous silver color.

  “I will kill all of the Brethren. All of the Dumarians. They are condemned to die by my hand. They will feel my wrath. I will start with you.” He pointed the tip of the sword at Zale. “Then you.” He aimed it at Thane. “Then I will send all of you to your graves. After that, I will spend an eternity if I must, tracking all Dumarians and erasing them from the universe.”

  Once more, the whirlwind of Saraz’s assaults on Zale began.

  “I don’t know how he’s so calm and collected,” Cinia whispered to Taya.

  In front of Cinia, Thane turned back. “He’s good at what he does.”

  Puzzled, she asked, “And that is…?”

  Thane had already swiveled to face forward once more.

  Qalen pulled her closer and whispered in her ear. “Remember Thane said he was a death-dealer, when we first met him? I suspect Zale might be the same. In addition, it seems he has a grudge. Saraz killed his brother.”

  She glared at Saraz. She had no siblings, but she loved Taya like a sister. So she could imagine if Saraz had killed Taya, she’d be out for blood as well. How she wanted that bastard dead. She didn’t want to say it out loud. She had no idea if the others would agree with her.

  Whether Saraz had been wronged by Brohm and Assiriana, he’d still been such an evildoer while on Kormia. He’d destroyed so many lives. He’d manipulated so many. He’d caused two races to essentially hate each other to the point of both wanting to eradicate the other from the planet. He’d…

  She sighed. The list seemed endless. And it culminated with the graves outside the cave entrance.

  She noticed the room had gone quiet.

  Zale had fallen.

  She gasped.

  Saraz stood above him. “Time to join your brother in death.”

  Zale moved quickly. One second on his knee, the next he was up, his leg extended, catching Saraz at the ankle, hooking him, pulling him forward.

  Saraz fell toward Zale, a look of surprise on his face.

  Seconds later, it was over.

  Saraz was impaled on Zale’s sword. The surprised expression had turned to one of horror as he realized Zale’s sword was in his side.

  The sound of collective ahhs filled the large room.

  Qalen, Kal, Barz, and Thane all stepped forward.

  The Elders joined them, encircling an injured Saraz.

  The head Elder leaned down and took Saraz’s sword.

  Two other Elders began to bind his arms with bonds that seemed to be made of light.

  “He will not die from this wound,” the head Elder said. “But we will take him with us. He will be our captive.”

  “I will never be.” With that single phrase, Saraz roared, sprang to his feet, and snatched a sword from one of the Elders’ backs.

  He whirled around, and, in one swift move, decapitated the Elder whose sword he’d taken. The Elder fell, blood cascading.

  Taya gasped and began to topple in a faint.

  Barz grabbed one arm, while Cinia grabbed the other, though she could not tear her gaze from the action playing out before her.

  Zale sprang into action, and, before anyone could react, he’d raised his sword and run it through Saraz’s heart. Swiftly extracting the blade, Zale raised it and sliced horizontally, severing Saraz’s head from his body.

  Cinia bit back a scream then joined Taya in darkness.

  Cinia opened her eyes and found herself looking into a very concerned Qalen’s face. “I fainted.”

  “You and Taya, both.”

  She sat up. “Is she all right?” She glanced around the encampment. Still in Midland, thankfully, she didn’t see the entrance to the cave where Saraz had been killed or the graves which held all the women she’d once known.

  “She is. As is the baby.”

  Heaving a sigh of relief, Cinia studied his face. “How are you? I know… well, that was quite a—”

  “I’m fine.”

  “It’s over.” She studied his face, searching for signs he wasn’t as fine as he said.

  “It is that.”

  “I don’t feel anything,” she confessed. “I’d have thought I’d feel relief, or joy, or something.” His expression told her she needed to clarify. “Don’t misunderstand me. I don’t feel sadness. It’s just that I don’t feel anything.”

  He pressed his lips to her temple, then whispered, “Do you feel like you don’t want to bond with me? To tie yourself to me for life?”

  “Oh, no! That has not changed. If anything…” She took his face in her hands, “I want to more than ever. I’m ready for the next phase of my life to begin. A happy one.”

  22

  A month later

  A moon’s cycle after Saraz’s death, Cinia regarded her life. She had become close to those in the settlement. They were family now. The three couples—Cinia and Qalen, Taya and Barz, Ali and Thane—had become tight, spending days talking and nights dining in one another’s home, only venturing to the community areas every so often.

  Thane had become something of a surrogate brother to Qalen, though he was eons older. He’d spent time discussing the Dumarian race, the Brethren, their role in the universe. He’d helped Qalen get beyond losing the one who should have behaved as a father, rather than the destroyer of a world.

  As for Cinia, she’d enjoyed getting to know the only Asazi woman with wings while watching Taya’s abdomen swelling with Barz’s child. Taya, Ali, and Cinia had spent the time making plans for the baby’s birth.

  The celebration with the entire settlement would come later. For now, they would partake in a ceremony Bel had organized completely on her own, with no input from Cinia.

  “Allow me to put together the ceremony in the fashion of my mother’s people, also Kormic,” Bel had said, “but from a village far from here and different customs.” The older woman’s eyes had gleamed with delight and at the same time, misted over with melancholy.

  How could Cinia say no in the face of making this woman happy? The woman who was the leader of the settlement in which Cinia and Qalen would live—if only for the time being.

  Cinia had nodded, and that
had begun a few weeks of secrecy and hiding. And now, they were here. Assembled.

  The only thing she had begged of Bel was that the ones at the bonding were actually a select handful. And Bel had agreed, as long as the celebration after the bonding ceremony would include all of the citizens in the community.

  Qalen’s lips had twitched as he’d attempted to hide a smile at their negotiations. She had nudged him to behave.

  And so it was that they were assembled, Cinia and Qalen, Taya and Barz, Ali and Thane. With Bel and Gor, ready to officiate.

  Cinia wore a blindfold, per Bel’s request. She held on to Qalen’s hand and let him lead her…where? That she had no idea.

  She shuffled next to him, reflecting on the last few weeks and how things had changed for her since Saraz’s demise. It had been as though a dark veil had been lifted. One that been a heavy weight, impacting her every move and every decision. She’d been worried about Qalen at first, but he hadn’t seemed as bothered by Saraz’s death, now that he’d seen the man’s true colors.

  “Will I wear this over my eyes the entire ceremony?” She leaned closer to Qalen and whispered in his ear.

  “You will not.” Bel apparently had been closer than she had known. “You can take it off now.”

  She ripped the cloth from her eyes unceremoniously and with haste, eager to see what sort of surprise Bel had for her.

  She gasped and made a complete circle, turning around slowly, taking in the sight before her.

  The entire area, a small sunken amphitheater—no larger than a room—she’d never noticed in the settlement was lit by candles. So many candles, hanging from arches that surrounded and crisscrossed the open-air amphitheater. Suspended the candles were delicate silver chains, embedded with tiny crystals that glistened in the flickering candlelight. The myriad of miniscule diamondlike stones glittered like stars in the sky.

  To the front of the amphitheater stood her heavily pregnant best friend Taya and her mate Barz. Across the aisle littered with tiny rose-hued desert flower petals stood Cinia’s new friend Ali and her mate Thane. Between them, at the end of the aisle, waited Qalen.

  Cinia drank in his appearance. He’d been outfitted in what must have been a special costume provided by Bel. He was in black pants and no shirt. He even had intricate black beads woven into his hair. He was shirtless, his chest bare of fabric but tattooed with dark ink. Bold dark lines and sinuous black curves had been painted into his flesh, leaving detailed images that drew the eyes. Behind him, he flared his wings out, spanning the length of a full-grown man, they were a marvelous sight, gleaming in the twinkling crystals. Those hooked wings that once scared her now brought comfort. They were the wings of her man. A man like none she’d ever met. Like none else that existed.

  To the left and the right, next to the two couples, were four gostracks, two on each side.

  The gostracks wore headdresses of black-and-gold feathers that cascaded down long necks and flowed over their backs. The lethal talons on their feet had been colored gold, as had their beaks.

  Cinia turned to Bel. “It is magnificent. I am so thankful.”

  Bel hugged her, whispering in her ear, “You have no idea how happy it makes me to be able to bring to life the old traditions of my people.” She held her at arms’ length. “You look beautiful.”

  A slight throat-clearing drew Cinia’s attention away from Bel.

  Qalen was smiling at her, waiting.

  “I think he’s impatient,” Bel said, her voice low.

  Nearby, Ali giggled, clearly having heard Bel.

  Bel shushed her gently, then held out her hands. Ali took one and Taya took the other.

  “Amongst my people, the family—also known as the loved ones—give the woman to the mate she’s chosen.” Bel turned to Cinia. “Would it be safe to say these are your loved ones?”

  Cinia glanced from Ali to Taya, then at Bel. “These are my loved ones.” Tears threatened. She swallowed hard.

  Bel placed each of their hands in Cinia’s. “These two will turn you over to your mate for life.”

  Taya squeezed Cinia’s hand.

  That did it. With that squeeze, the threatening tears now sprung. She squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath.

  Taya lead her forehead against hers. “It’s will be understood if you cry. We’ve come a long way, sister.”

  Cinia’s bottom lip trembled as tears forced their way from between her closed eyelids. “It is like a dream.”

  Against her forehead, Taya nodded. “It is a dream. But it is also our life now. Our lives are dreams come true.”

  Cinia nodded.

  “Your mate awaits,” Ali reminded her.

  Opening her eyes, she turned to her. “Thank you for everything. I’m so thankful for you and Thane.”

  Thane, who’d been such a help to Qalen. Sharing the history of their people, explaining things, he’d really been such a help. They all had.

  She felt eyes on her. She glanced up. Qalen’s eyes were glued on her face. His expression told her he understood the emotions that were going through her. Like her, he’d been without family for a time in his life, since Rodina had passed.

  He gave her a nod. She lowered her head swiftly then raised it. “Let us begin,” she said, turning toward Bel. “I believe Qalen has waited too long.”

  As had she.

  23

  It seemed the entire settlement was gathered to celebrate the nuptials Qalen and Cinia had shared with a select few.

  If anyone’s feelings were hurt for not being involved or invited to the ceremony, none showed it. All offered their heartfelt congratulations and well-wishes.

  Sitting outside, in the largest open-air arena of the settlement, surrounded by roasting meats, vegetables and grains—not to mention citizens—Qalen held fast to Cinia’s hand. He hadn’t released it since the moment Gor had announced them mates for life during the private ceremony under the hanging candles and glittering crystals.

  Cinia had cried, her beautiful skin changing to a rose-colored blush that made his heart beat faster.

  He rubbed the embossed leather jewelry he’d placed on her hand during the ceremony. It was composed of a ring that encircled her thumb which was attached via a tiny crystal encrusted strap to a bracelet on her wrist.

  He wore a matching, thicker, more masculine rendition on his own hand. Each of the pieces had a tiny lock that matched the other’s piece, so when placed together, they made a solid circle. Bel had shed tears when she’d given him the handfasting jewelry.

  He glanced down. The crystals embedded in the strap twinkled. Then he looked up at Cinia. Her eyes reflected the crystals and almost seemed to be sparkling with a light of their own.

  “Happy?”

  She nodded. “Would it disappoint you if I told you that after today, I’d want to live here for longer than a short time?”

  “You would not mind this being your permanent home?”

  She leaned her head against his shoulder. “This place has been more of a home for me than I can remember in the last few years.”

  Qalen rested his lips on her forehead and took in the scent of her. She smelled like desert flowers mixed with sultry herbs. He let that breath out with a low whoosh. “This is the most at home I’ve felt in a while as well.” Since Rodina had died, actually. He didn’t voice the thought out loud. Superstitions held that speaking of death during a ceremony such as this would push bad luck onto the couple being wed. He’d not do that to their relationship. Was he superstitious? He’d not have thought so, at one point in time, but he also wasn’t interest in tempting fate.

  Cinia flashed him a smile. “Bel will be so happy. She’s been hinting at our staying here.”

  “As has Gor. And everyone else, too.”

  “Yes, true. Ali and Taya have been talking of nothing but.” She paused. “Well, when they weren’t talking about the baby.”

  He glanced across the blazing fire in the middle of the area, catching sight of Taya an
d Barz, who were standing and embracing while dancing to the music provided by the wind instruments being played by several of the talented Kormic musicians. The swelling of the baby she carried keeping their upper halves apart, they held one another swaying to the beat.

  Just then, Barz looked their way and waved at them to join them.

  “Barz wants us to dance alongside him and Taya.”

  “Right there, in the middle, where everyone will be watching?”

  With a finger under her chin, he tilted her head until her gaze was locked with his. “Yes, love. In the middle.”

  She dropped her lids, concealing her eyes.

  “No need to be so shy. We are among friends.” He stood and pulled her up, then began to walk toward Taya and Barz.

  From the attendees, clapping began, keeping with the tempo. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Ali and Thane were making their way to the dance floor.

  Shortly, all three couples were next to each other, moving to the music, laughing and talking amongst themselves.

  And so the night went, until the sunlight made promises of a new day and the embers heralded the bonfire’s demise.

  Bel stepped toward Qalen and Cinia. “We have set up a home for you,” she said, taking both their hands in hers. “If you’ll accept this gift from the village. It is furnished and has rudimentary decorations, and, of course, we’d take no offense if you chose to rearrange or discard any of the furnishings. We would also be thrilled to assist in decorating.” Her eyes gleamed, clearly thrilled with the idea of decorating.

  Cinia clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes shining with tears.

  Qalen relieved her of having to speak when she was so close to crying by squeezing Bel’s hand and thanking her. “It is an honor that we are accepted as family by the settlement. We gladly accept the home.”

  Taya let out a little squeal. “It’s right next to ours!”

  Ali smiled. “And only two doors down from ours.”

  Thane shook his head. “You’ve created a monster,” he said to Bel, who gave him a funny look. “Apologies. It is a saying on Earth. A humorous one.”