“I wouldn’t say they were smashed to pieces,” Callum frowned. “If you insist on hiding the truth from me, I suppose I can’t argue. You have every right to keep it to yourself.” He let his palm rest over Aiva’s bare stomach. She flinched reflexively at the touch, staring at him in confusion. He looked unfazed, fingers trailing upward to the base of her sternum. “I apologize in advance because this may hurt,” he added, distracted as he applied a slight pressure with his fingertips along her ribcage. “You might not want to tell me openly what hurts, but I’m not going to let it slide. There is always a means of finding out.”
At the first feeling of the pressure, she nearly choked on her breath from the pain. Everything felt misaligned. Out of place. To touch one of her ribs sent an odd tingle throughout her entire midsection, adding to the difficulty she already experienced with every attempt at drawing in air. “I don’t think anything is broken,” she coughed. Callum rested his hand on her chest, forcing her to lie flat on her back.
“I’m thinking you might be right. That doesn’t mean nothing is injured,” he mused. His hands continued to slide along her sides, sending a shiver through her as he moved down over her legs, inspecting for any sign of trauma. His lips pursed upon reaching her right ankle. “For instance,” he wrapped his fingers around the swollen joint with a frown. “I suspect your ankle should not be this size.”
“And you really shouldn’t be putting your hands on me like this,” Aiva cleared her throat uncomfortably. “My ankle is fine. I twisted it while running, but can still apply weight. There is no break.”
Callum removed his hands from her foot, staring down at them in confusion. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think about what I was doing. I shouldn’t have…”
“You didn’t think about what you were doing? After all the comments you have made about my lack of clothing and you want me to believe you didn’t think about the fact that you were running your hands all over my bare skin?” Aiva laughed nervously. It was easier to jab at him than it was to admit that she hadn’t minded. She felt it more appropriate to be offended by his forwardness.
“Do you suggest that I was attempting to take advantage of you?” Callum looked offended. Almost angry. “Can I not win with you, Aiva? Can I not just be your friend? Why does everything have to be so complicated?”
Aiva winced at the sound of his voice. She didn’t want to hurt him. Her claims had been nothing more than a way to get him to leave her injuries alone. Any irritation she felt in that moment was toward herself. For some reason it always directed toward Callum, even when she didn’t mean to. “No, that’s not what I’m suggesting,” she sighed. “But you can’t deny the fact that it is complicated. We are complicated. I never know what to say or do around you. There are so many questions, so many emotions, so many… things. Our history with one another is confusing. You must feel the same. Am I mistaken?”
He leaned back on the balls of his feet, hands clasped in his lap. Averting his eyes he shook his head, lost in his own thoughts. “It never used to be complicated,” he exhaled a heavy breath in defeat. “How did we let things get this way? I have done everything I can think of to avoid making you feel uncomfortable, knowing the way I feel about you, yet for some reason none of it seems to work. All I want is for us to be friends. The way we were before I left. How is it that I did so much irreparable damage to our friendship? Before then there was never any question when I touched you. Never a question when I convinced you to wrestle, or stood a little close. Now if my eyes linger on your face for even a moment, it raises suspicions.”
“Let’s make a deal, then,” Aiva nodded. She agreed with everything Callum said. The time they spent apart had somehow been the cause of their discomfort. But she couldn’t pin it all on Callum. She was equally to blame. “When we leave Tunir, let us leave all this uncertainty behind. Let’s forget everything that happened during the time we were apart. All the terrible things we said to one another since you returned… We got off on the wrong foot. I think we can try this again.”
“I would love to do that more than anything, Aiva. The problem is that there are some things I have no desire to leave behind,” a soft smile curled at the edges of his mouth at some unspoken memory. “Not every moment of our time together since my return has been so awful.”
“Then hold onto those images and let go of the bad. I want to start anew. And who knows…” she nibbled her lower lip nervously. Did she dare say the words that dangled precariously from the tip of her tongue? Not that she had any choice in whether they were spoken. She was used to her mouth going against the better judgment of her mind. Her face flushed to hear the statement completed before she had time to decide whether or not it was in their best interest to do so. “Maybe we will find that we are more compatible for one another than we have come to believe.”
Heart racing, she watched Callum’s face for his reaction to the words. The umber color of his eyes brightened, lifted from the floor to gaze at her silently. He said nothing. As if he was afraid further conversation might change her mind. Perhaps he would be more amenable to a retraction of their agreement than she feared he would be.
“I should sleep,” she whispered quietly, diverting her attention to avoid looking at Callum’s face. It was too hard to decipher what was going through his mind. If she focused on it too much, she was sure to go mad. “Will you wake me when it’s time for dinner? My hope is that time will pass more quickly while I slumber.”
“Yes, I will wake you,” he replied, his voice soft. She could hear him move from his position on the floor, but she didn’t want to let her eyes wander. It was best she let him take some time to consider what was said without her doing anything that might sabotage the progress she attempted to make. “Close your eyes, Aiva,” Callum said. He sounded calm. Soothing. His hand rested over her forehead, a thrum of energy passing from his palm into her body, the sensation easing her muscles; relaxing her until she felt her mind on the brink of unconsciousness, hypnotized by the gentleness of his tone. “I’ll stay right here while you sleep. You don’t have to worry. I have no intention of ever leaving you again.”
Aiva’s eyes fluttered open, taking a moment to adjust. It was so hard to keep track of where she was anymore these days. She’d forgotten what it was like to wake up in the same bed every morning, knowing exactly where she was and what she was doing. She was aware of Callum seated on the floor at her side, head rested on the edge of the bed, fast asleep. She couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him. He had stayed by her. Her heart swelled happily, feeling as if it might burst from her chest. They couldn’t get to Luquarr soon enough. She wanted to tell him everything. To see the smile on his face! He deserved to be happy after all the torment she put him through on their journey.
Rolling onto her side she leaned forward, placing a soft kiss on his forehead. He stirred, lifting his head to meet her eyes, dazed from the lingering grogginess of sleep. “Aiva…” he whispered in confusion, blinking to clear his vision. “Oh – you’re awake.”
Her body felt surprisingly well. The discomfort had fallen to nothing more than a dull ache. Sitting up on the bed, she placed her hand on Callum’s arm with a smile. At the motion, she felt an odd pull of the skin around the lacerations on her arms, drawing her attention to the sutures which now held the wound in place. She was grateful that Callum had waited until she was asleep, though she was baffled as to how she had managed to remain unconscious during the procedure. I must have been more exhausted than I thought… “You applied sutures.”
“I had no choice,” Callum replied, his hands moving to wipe the remnants of sleep from his eyes. “The lacerations were deep. To leave them untended would have risked infection.”
“Yes, of course,” Aiva murmured. She couldn’t argue his logic. Although she hadn’t visibly seen the extent of the wounds herself, the pain she endured from them was enough to tell her that the injury was worse than she liked to admit. “I cannot wait to be away from this wretched place,”
she groaned. “We need to remember not to honeymoon here again in the future.”
Callum glanced at her, coughing awkwardly to clear his throat. “I suppose if either of us find ourselves in a position for a honeymoon again, we can make a pact to remind the other not to consider this location.”
His words came like a punch to Aiva’s stomach, jarring her awake to remind her of the fears she’d hoped so desperately to be rid of after her conversation with Callum prior to drifting off. Had he misunderstood the implications of her statement? “Actually, I referred to – ”
A loud knock at the door interrupted, their heads turning to stare at it, as if it might come to life. They allowed themselves to relax at the realization that it remained inanimate, a voice calling out in a commanding tone. “The feast will soon begin. His Majesty King Ihklos requests you make your way to the dining hall.”
Seeming relieved by the distraction Callum smiled, holding out his hand to assist Aiva from the bed. “We are getting closer to Luquarr by the minute,” he stated lightly. “With any luck this feast will last most of the night and distract us until morning when we can board the boat to the islands.”
Her shoulders bowed forward. Another chance to tell Callum her feelings had been stripped from her at the last second. To bring it up again would only add to the discomfort which already lingered between them. It was best to wait until they reached the islands as planned. There would be less chance of interruption while there. She would make sure of that. “Yes, let’s get this over with,” she sighed, clasping his hand in hers as they moved toward the door. “Perhaps we should place bets on how long it takes us to get lost while looking for the dining hall. That may pass a bit more time.”
Once in the palace corridors, it was easier to locate the celebration than she expected. Men and women milled about, coming to and from a large arched doorway not far from the throne room. General Uttae was already inside, standing at Ihklos’s back to watch the faces of everyone who entered the room. His eyes lit up to see Callum and Aiva, waving them to the table where the King was seated at the center.
Aiva couldn’t remember the last time she felt so out of place. Everyone stared at them as they moved through the crowd. Curious at their strange appearance. Many of the warriors recognized her as the rumored witch, though any other stories they’d heard about her, she couldn’t be certain. Women leaned in to one another, whispering into each other’s ears, watching her every movement across the room. Instinctively, Aiva grabbed for Callum’s hand, desperate for a reminder that he was still at her side. He made no move to pull away, returning the gentle pressure of her fingers.
“There is our little huntress,” Uttae smirked, stepping to King Ihklos’s side to pull a high-backed chair away from the table, motioning for Aiva to sit. “You have earned your place next to the King. The first outsider to share victory in the Great Hunt. If your husband fights at all like you, I am saddened to have been unable to bring him along.”
“My husband is twice the fighter I am.” Aiva’s eyes brightened at the chance to add her praises upon Callum. He deserved more recognition than he received. She knew it was partially her fault. Since his return from Siscal, she had done everything in her power to lessen the greatness everyone attempted to bestow upon him. It would take some time to make up for what she’d taken from him. “His skill has caught the attention of the military heads in Tanispa. When his father retires, they say Callum may take over as General. Such would be quite an honor.”
“An honor indeed,” Uttae nodded respectfully to Callum, gesturing him to the chair at Aiva’s other side. “You will have to promise a trip to Tunir after your family has been returned safely from the pirates and your injuries have had time to heal. We should all enjoy a hunt for mere sport. Something a little more relaxed.”
Callum maintained his hold on Aiva’s hand, helping her onto the chair offered by Uttae. The smile on his face was genuine. Less forced than most of the expressions she had seen cross his handsome features since their arrival to Tunir. “I will leave that up to the Princess,” he chuckled. “Truth be told, I’m a little curious what the hunt was like. She has barely spoken a word of the excursion since her return.”
She tugged on his hand gently to urge him into his seat. “The most impressive details are those of the General’s skill at tracking. His senses are keener than any man I have ever known.”
“I beg to differ,” Uttae mused, taking his stance behind Ihklos once again. “Kroth and I agree the most impressive sight of the hunt was your battle against the tiger. You should be proud of your wife, Prince. If she experienced any fear in facing the creature, she did not show it. An honorable performance. I could never expect anything less from a child of the Vor’shai King.”
Aiva blushed at the string of compliments, unsure of how to respond. She wasn’t familiar with such praise. Especially not when it came to courage or skill with a sword. Fighting had always been Edric’s strong point. While she had been trained, it was never expected for her to ever have need of the skills. It was more of a hobby. An excuse to spend more time with Callum… she choked back a giggle at the thought. Had it really been so? She couldn’t deny it. Her training with Cadell had always been the highlight of her days when she was younger, yet when she thought about it now, she couldn’t be sure if it was the technique she looked forward to, or if it was the opportunity to see Callum’s face.
“Her parents are both great warriors, I agree,” Callum nodded, finally giving in to Aiva’s insistent pull on his hand. With the grace of a nobleman he lowered himself into the chair, sliding it closer to Aiva, never once separating their clasped fingers. “We have high hopes for her when she ascends to the throne. She will be a force to be reckoned with.”
“Your father is not exactly anyone to be scoffed at either. A fine soldier. Tell me, Prince. Does your mother fight as well?” Uttae’s brow rose, peering at Callum, quizzical. Callum chuckled to himself, shaking his head, clearly amused by the question.
“No, I cannot say she does,” he replied lightly. “Don’t get me wrong, she knows her way around a sword well enough, but she is not a fan of violence. It must plague her poor heart that her husband and her son have both chosen a career within the military.”
“I am impressed she let either of you join. The women of your people tend to have great sway over their men.”
“My mother knew what she was getting herself into from the beginning. As it was, my father was already serving in the Tanispan military when he met her.” Callum smiled to speak of his mother. In the depths of his eyes Aiva could almost see the wistfulness at the memory of his family. A longing to be back with his mother. And poor Calie. By now Kaemin’s body would have reached Sivaeria. With her best friend and both her father and brother gone away to Luquarr, she would have only her mother to console her, and given the seeming frailty of Valeska, Aiva doubted her ability to grant much support.
King Ihklos rose from his chair, the motion sending the room into a wave of hushed whispers, rippling away into silence, anxiously awaiting what he would say. To Aiva’s dismay he addressed the guests in his native language, the words lost to her and Callum. Uttae positioned himself behind their chairs, shoulders drawn back, a proud gleam in his eyes. “I wish I knew what he was saying,” Aiva leaned closer to Callum, whispering quietly in his ear. “I always worry they are saying something insulting and we would have no way to know.”
With a grin Callum nodded in agreement. He looked content in that instant. Seated at Aiva’s side, chin held high. He looked more like a Prince than a soldier, even without the fancy silks of the court attire. There was a regalness to his appearance that she had never noticed before. He reminded her of Edric. Confident. Powerful. A perfect image of a future king.
“He is telling the guests of your brave deeds during the hunt,” Uttae stated. Aiva blushed to think that he had overheard her comment. She hoped he understood it was in jest. “He was quite impressed by the details told to him by Kroth and
I. The way you called upon the spirits to bind the creature. Never before has the energy been seen to work with that amount of skill and control. He is disappointed to see you both leave so soon. Now he tells his subjects that the blue-eyed witch will never be forgotten in Tunir, and will always have a place of honor among our people.”
Her heart swelled at the kind words of the King. After all the mistakes she had made in the past weeks, it felt good to think that she had finally done something right. Her family would be proud of her… if she was able to find them. She couldn’t shake the discomfort eating away at her inside. It was difficult to remain positive with so many details left uncertain. It had been over two weeks since she and Callum disappeared into the sea. There was nothing to assure her that Edric and the others had made it to Luquarr safely, or were at least still on their way. And Ireni was likely angered by the failed ambush at the Palinoen shores. What if she had taken her frustration out on Shaelyn? The woman had no scruples. Aiva shuddered to think of all the horrible things which could befall her sister while left in Ireni’s hands.
A gentle pressure at her hand caused her to glance up, finding Callum there, watching her, his usual concern visible in his eyes. Had her discomfort been so noticeable? “Something troubles you,” he said softly. It wasn’t a question. He didn’t need to ask in order to read the worry so evident in her expression.
“I was just thinking about Shaelyn,” she sighed, trying to keep her posture straight, not wanting anyone to notice her malaise. None of the cheerful applause from the guests felt important when she knew that her sister was still out there somewhere, waiting, desperately in need of someone to help her. And here Aiva and Callum were, dining at a grand feast on the other side of the sea from where they needed to be. “We have not seen her since she was presented by Ireni on the bridge in Carpaen. There was no sign of her presence during the ambush on the beach. What if they have done something to her? Or worse, what if Ireni decided to take her frustrations out on Shae for her failure to capture me in Palinon? Those men would not hesitate to ruin a girl like my sister. It sickens me to consider how long she has been with them already. Poor Herryk must be beside himself.”
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Two: Beyond the Veil Page 59