by Raine Thomas
Before she could blink, Ty was standing in front of her, braced for battle. She managed to peek around his arm as the bushes parted and a figure flew out of them, colliding with Ty and bouncing straight to the ground, sprawled with arms and legs akimbo.
“Blast it,” the figure groaned from its prone position.
Kyr realized that the figure was a boy, probably about nine or ten. He was dressed in the humble clothes of the Wrym: patched brown pants that were an inch or two too short, a long-sleeved beige shirt with threadbare elbows, and leather shoes that had recently been re-soled. As he slowly eased up and braced himself on his hands, she caught a glimpse of wild, curly dark hair and chocolate brown eyes that grew wide as he tilted his head back and looked up at Ty.
“Who the hell are you?” the boy asked.
Kyr read from his thoughts that he wasn’t supposed to use such language, but he thought it made him sound more manly. Hiding a smile, she stepped beside Ty so it looked less like he was guarding her and more like they were a couple out walking in the woods.
“I’m Kaya and this is Tavin,” she said. “Who are you?”
The boy pushed himself spryly to his feet with an energy she could only envy. “The name’s Ivyn. This here’s my family’s land, don’t ya know?”
“Is that so?” she replied in the same tone and rhythm he’d used. “Well, that’s all fine and good, then. We’ve been wanderin’ this forest for what feels like hours, haven’t we, Tavin?”
Ty glanced down at her with a bland expression, but said, “Sure.”
“Bein’ a male of the species,” she continued, elbowing Ty lightly in the side, “he’s too stubborn to admit when he’s lost.”
“I’m not lost,” Ty grumbled, only half-pretending to sound disgruntled.
“Lost, are ya?” Ivyn crossed his arms over his slim chest and looked them up and down. His thoughts told Kyr he wasn’t so sure about their story, but he didn’t feel he’d be putting his family in any danger by introducing them to his parents. “Come on, then. Ma and Da will be wantin’ to meet ya.”
When Ivyn turned and jogged back through the bushes, Ty gave Kyr another dubious look. She almost laughed.
Just roll with it, she thought, taking his hand and starting forward with him.
He shook his head at her, but didn’t argue. The boy stayed far enough ahead that he couldn’t be caught, but not so far that he couldn’t be seen. Kyr sensed Ty’s reluctant approval over the wise caution Ivyn showed. They both kept their thoughts open to know what to expect from Ivyn’s parents. That was how Kyr knew that she was about to meet one of Ivyn’s siblings.
The girl crashed through the brush much like her brother had done. She would have plowed right into Kyr if Ty hadn’t anticipated the collision and swept Kyr out of the way. Instead, the girl skidded to a halt and whirled to face them, her hands planted on her hips.
“Well, who’re you and what did ya do with my idiot brother?” she demanded.
Kyr figured the girl was a couple of years younger than Ivyn. She wore her bright red hair in two braids that fell over her shoulders. Her faded green dress was as well-worn as Ivyn’s clothes, and was currently covered in debris that likely came from the forest floor. Her dark blue eyes sparked with temper as she looked between Ty and Kyr without an ounce of fear.
“What’re ya doin’, Fyrn?” Ivyn snapped, running over to her and grabbing her arm to haul her behind him. “Ya don’t go addressin’ strangers like that, don’t ya know?”
“Well you did, ya right git!” she barked, bringing her leg back to give him a kick.
Clearly expecting it, Ivyn easily dodged the blow. “I’m bringin’ ‘em to Ma and Da,” he explained in a calmer voice, pulling her further away from Ty and Kyr. “I’ll race ya to see who gets to ‘em first.”
The words were barely out of his mouth before Fyrn turned and bolted. Ivyn grinned, displaying mischievous dimples, and turned to give Kyr a wink that reminded her of Gren.
“Works every time,” he said.
She couldn’t help but smile back at him as he took off after his sister. He was obviously protective of his sibling, something that warmed her heart. Ty took her hand and once again started in the direction the children had gone.
It wasn’t long before they found Ivyn and Fyrn’s home in the center of a large clearing. Smoke rose from the cozy cottage’s chimney. The structure looked homey and well-kept. The thatched roof was in good shape and the stone walls had been white-washed until they gleamed. Pretty plants and flowers grew along the front walk, welcoming visitors with punches of vibrant color and fragrant scent.
To the left of the cottage was a modest-sized wooden stable. Ivyn and Fyrn had run over to it and now stood talking to a tall, dark-haired male who looked up and spotted Ty and Kyr. The male’s thoughts were curious more than suspicious. Kyr easily read that he had a good heart. Since his thoughts weren’t blocked from them, they knew he wasn’t under Vycor’s influence. He touched Ivyn’s shoulder and ran a hand over Fyrn’s head in an easy and familiar way before he started out of the stable to greet her and Ty.
“Hello,” he called with a lift of his hand as he approached. “Ivyn here tells me you’re lost. You must be if ya stumbled upon our land.” He stopped a few feet from them and held a hand out to Ty. “The name’s XanderWyrm.”
“Tavin,” Ty replied, accepting the firm handshake. “This here’s my amanti, Kaya.”
Kyr almost blinked at how easily Ty’s speech pattern changed, but she stopped herself in time and instead gave Xander a shy smile from just behind Ty’s elbow.
“Nice to meet ya,” Xander said with a smile that brought cheerful creases to the corners of his eyes. “Can I help point ya in the right direction?”
Kyr sensed the moment Ty decided that he didn’t want to deceive the family any more than they had to. He exchanged a quick look with her and received her nod. They couldn’t reveal their identities, but they could be more honest with Xander than they had been with the children.
“Well now,” Ty said, giving Xander a meaningful look, “‘Tis the truth we could use your help, sir.”
Xander’s brow furrowed as he caught the subtle hint indicating that Ty and Kyr were more than just lost. “Is that right?”
“What’s goin’ on, Da?” Ivyn called from the stable. Kyr knew he and Fyrn had been told to stay there until their father assessed the situation, and the boy wasn’t too thrilled about it.
“We don’t mean your family any harm,” Kyr told Xander, using her abilities to reassure him. “But we’ve traveled far and long, and we have news to share that isn’t necessarily fit for young ears, if ya understand my meanin’.”
“Sup’s on!” called a female’s voice from inside the cottage.
Xander continued to study Ty and Kyr as he calmly called out, “Ivyn, Fyrn, get washed up and inside for supper.” He waited until they had grumbled and complied, then he nodded. “Well, Kaya and Tavin, ya’ve intrigued me right enough, and my wife would have my hide if I didn’t extend ya some hospitality. If ya think ya can stomach gumfort stew, you’re welcome to join us. Then ya can tell us this news ya bring.”
Kyr’s stomach rumbled at the thought of a hot meal, even if it was a simple vegetable stew. “Thanks, Xander,” she said. “We’d appreciate that more than we can say.”
Chapter 8
Xander led them to the cottage’s front door, which opened before he reached it. A woman who Kyr inferred was his amanti filled the doorway, wiping her hands on a cloth and looking curiously at her and Ty. Her curly red hair was pinned on top of her head in a loose knot, revealing a slender neck. Her blue eyes mirrored those of her daughter, reflecting strength and confidence. Judging by the swell of her belly beneath her apron, she and Xander would be adding to their family soon.
“My darlin’ Lore,” Xander said, stepping up to her and taking her hands before pressing his lips to hers in an adoring kiss. “Meet Kaya and Tavin. They’ve a story to share with the two of us o
nce the children are abed, so I’ve invited them to dinner.”
“Of course ya have, and sure they’re welcome,” Lore said in a lyrical voice. “‘Tis a pleasure to meet ya both.”
The pure love and ease she sensed between the couple warmed Kyr’s heart. “Thanks,” she said. “A pleasure to meet you, too.”
“Come on inside,” Xander invited. “We’ll set a couple of extra places for ya.”
Kyr instinctively waited for Ty to enter the cottage right behind the couple so he could check for danger, though she didn’t sense any intent to harm from anyone in the household. She made sure to enter close behind him to avoid drawing any curiosity, since it was considered more polite for males to allow females to enter a room first. By the time Xander and Lore turned to look at them, she was standing by Ty’s side.
“Why don’t I help set the table?” Kyr suggested, knowing that it was customary for Wrym females to offer their assistance whenever possible.
“That’d be lovely,” Lore said. “Xander, why don’t ya go prod the two troublemakers along? They’re sure to be into somethin’ they shouldn’t by now.”
Rolling up his sleeves in a dramatic fashion, Xander gave a nod and small salute and turned to head towards the back of the cottage where two loud voices argued over who was hogging the cake of soap. Kyr couldn’t see down the hallway leading to what she assumed was bedrooms and a bathing chamber. The main room they had entered consisted of the cooking area and family living space. A long table separated the two areas. She got an impression of a cozy, comfortable home before turning her attention back to their hostess.
“Those two will be the death of me,” Lore sighed, turning and walking over to a tall wooden cabinet next to the cooking fire. She pulled out two bowls and handed them to Kyr. “Thanks, Kaya. There should be room for you and Tavin on the far end of the table there. Might be a little cramped, seein’ as your man is twice the size of some.”
Smiling at Lore’s wink, Kyr turned to make room at the table. She noticed Ty had finished his surreptitious inspection of the home and was now looking towards the hallway. They could both hear Xander taking control of the soap war. Loud giggling filled the room.
“We’ve some spoons in that bin, if ya’ve a mind, Kaya,” Lore said as she lifted the heavy lid off the pot over the fire using both of her hands and a thick towel.
“Of course.”
Kyr reached into the bin for a couple of spoons. When she turned to place them on the table, she noticed Ty’s gaze drift down. A little girl with soft orange curls toddled out of the hallway. She was so small that Kyr had no idea how old she was. Neither she nor Ty had ever been this close to such a young child, though. She sensed his curiosity as the girl stopped and blinked up at him with guileless blue eyes highlighted by long, curling lashes.
“The stew’s ready,” Lore announced. Kyr realized she had dipped a spoon into the broth and sipped it. “Would ya bring over one bowl at a time for servin’, Kaya?”
“Sure,” Kyr said, picking up the bowl closest to her. Her gaze remained on Ty, though. She barely heard when Lore began filling the bowl and explaining who sat where at the table.
“I’m here,” the little girl declared, spreading her arms wide to punctuate her announcement.
Ty’s eyebrows lifted. “So you are,” he replied soberly.
“Careful with this one, Kaya,” Lore said, once again catching Kyr’s attention. “‘Tis mine, and truth be told, I’ve been eatin’ enough for three this pregnancy.”
Kyr shared another smile with the pretty woman, who rubbed a hand over her round belly before turning back to the stew pot. An unexpected twinge of envy struck her as she set the stew in the proper place on the table and gathered up the next bowl. This family had relatively little, and yet they had everything Kyr had ever wished for. How nice it must be to have so few worries and so much love.
And that’s what we’re fighting to preserve, Ty gently reminded her.
I know, Kyr thought, shrugging off the unwelcome feelings. Her lips curved as she noticed the little girl’s arms lift towards Ty.
“Up!” she declared. When Ty just looked at her in confusion, she added, “Uppy! Up!”
Kyr sensed Ty’s reluctance as he obediently bent down to pick the toddler up. He held her awkwardly at arm’s length, seemingly unsure what to do with her. The child wasn’t bothered by his obvious inexperience, though. She wriggled in his grasp and used her arms and legs to climb along his body until she was plastered against his side with her small arms around his neck. Out of instinct, Ty brought one arm up to support her bottom and used the other hand to brace her back.
“Oh,” Lore said, spotting her daughter for the first time. “That’d be little Rose. Thanks for catchin’ her, Tavin. Yen-Ki knows she’d usually be over here under our skirts, tryin’ to get hot stew dropped on her head.”
“No problem,” Ty replied.
Kyr stifled a laugh as she handed another bowl to Lore. Ty’s mild sense of panic wasn’t lost on her. He felt as though he might break the little girl, even if her grip was as tight as the seal of a space cruiser’s windshield. As Kyr placed the full bowl back on the table, she noticed Rose pulling at Ty’s sleeve.
“Pretty,” Rose cooed when she revealed the scrolling pattern on Ty’s forearm.
Distress shot through Kyr. Those markings would identify Ty to anyone who saw them. They were the brand of the Dem-Shyr, imposed on Ty when the Guardians gave him his abilities.
Reacting much more calmly than Kyr, Ty carefully adjusted his sleeve to once again cover the markings. Please don’t tell anyone, he thought to the child.
Through Ty’s thoughts, Kyr heard Rose’s simple reply of, ‘kay. Kyr’s shoulders relaxed and she focused on putting the last of the stew on the table. Xander, Ivyn, and Fyrn piled out of the back of the cottage a minute later, and they were soon all gathered around the table enjoying their meal.
Ivyn and Fyrn were full of questions for Kyr and Ty. Their parents tried to stifle them, but Kyr and Ty knew they were curious, too.
“We’ve been travelin’ for some time,” Kyr explained between bites of the delicious stew. Lore had added some freshly baked bread to the meal, and Kyr was struggling not to reach for a third piece to fill the seemingly bottomless void in her belly. “Surely you’ve heard the news from the palace by now.”
“Oh, I have!” Ivyn affirmed around a mouthful of stew.
“No talkin’ with a full mouth,” Lore censured, but her attention was more on Kyr. “We know of the Ascendant’s passin’, of course.”
Ivyn swallowed his stew. “She didn’t just pass, Ma. She was killed by the Dem-Shyr.”
“Dem-Shyr! Dem-Shyr!” Rose called out, bouncing in her seat beside Ty and waving her soup spoon. Much to Ty’s bewilderment, she hadn’t wanted to leave his side, so her tall chair had been placed beside his to keep the peace. Kyr exchanged an uneasy glance with him over the commotion.
“The reports have been a might sketchy on that point,” Xander said, his gaze moving thoughtfully from Rose to Ty and then back to Kyr. “Don’t suppose ya know more than the reports have let on?”
“Well, now,” Lore interrupted, “I’m quite sure Kaya and Tavin haven’t been roamin’ the countryside without good reason, but this isn’t appropriate talk for the dinner table.”
Xander reached over and covered her hand on the table. “You’re right as ever, my love.” Looking back at Kyr, he asked, “Have ya had many adventures on your travels? I’m sure that would keep Ivyn here satisfied for a bit.”
Smiling, Kyr thought of some of the things she’d experienced in the last few lunar cycles alone. “Oh, I can think of a few.”
* * *
Between the hearty meal and the warmth generated by the glowing embers of the cooking fire, Kyr was lulled into a sleepy stupor as she and Ty waited on a couch after helping to clean up. Xander and Lore wanted to get the children ready for bed, so Kyr curled against Ty’s side and fought to keep her eyelids
open. Ty idly ran his fingers through her hair, contributing to her lethargy.
She didn’t feel herself drop into sleep, but a noise had her jerking back awake. She nearly clipped Ty’s chin as she looked around, disoriented. Xander and Lore had entered the room and were taking their seats on the second couch across from Kyr and Ty. Kyr gave her eyes a quick rub and sat up to look more alert.
“Sorry,” Xander apologized, reaching beside him and taking Lore’s hand in his. “It’s never a quick process to settle ‘em all down.”
“I can imagine,” Kyr said with a smile, clearing her throat when it sounded a little creaky. “Thanks for goin’ through all this trouble.”
“‘Tis no trouble, and ya sound like ya’ve got news to share.”
“We do.” Kyr glanced at Ty, unsure where to begin.
“We’ve wondered about the reports from the palace,” Lore prompted in a quiet voice. Her gaze moved to the hallway, an indication that she didn’t want to be overheard.
“They’re false,” Ty said before Kyr could speak.
“I knew it!” Xander cried, hunching his shoulders when Lore shushed him. “Sorry, love. But haven’t I said since we heard the news that there was no way ‘twas true? The Dem-Shyr was a good man with an unblemished reputation.”
Lore looked troubled. She obviously understood the significance of this news more quickly than her husband did. “I…well, I admit to wonderin’. The tales ‘round here lent themselves to a secret romance ‘tween the Ascendant and the Dem-Shyr. The way they said the Advisor caught him…well. It all sounded unlike all the reports we’d heard about Dem-Shyr TaeDane.”
“Ya like romanticizin’ things, love,” Xander said with a squeeze of her hand. “But whether or not there was love ‘tween the Dem-Shyr and the Ascendant, I can’t believe he’d do such a dreadful thing.”
“You’re right,” Kyr confirmed, taking a deep breath to keep from blurting out just how right they were. “The Dem-Shyr was influenced to do what he did. And he wasn’t the only one. Many people have been influenced to commit crimes, and were then sent to the Dark Lands as Outcasts.”