“You do realize most normal people undress before they swim?”
“And you should know that I’m far from normal.” Ryris swam closer to the beach. The cool water washed over his injury, calming the angry flesh. “Why don’t you join me? I don’t think there’s any water snakes…”
Kaia eyed him speculatively for a moment, before slipping off her boots and socks. She dipped a toe into the water and smiled in satisfaction. “Not too cold…”
“It’s perfect.” Ryris floated away on his back. “I could stay here forever.”
“No you couldn’t. You’d complain about the heat after a few days and beg to leave.” She unbuttoned her shirt and dropped it to the ground.
Ryris averted his eyes and immediately turned around. His stomach tightened into a nervous knot, and he was instantly whooshed back in time mere minutes, to when they had almost kissed. Once again, Ryris found himself experiencing feelings he didn’t want to deal with at present. He tried to calm the nervousness in his voice. “You’re undressing?”
“Grow up, Ryris. It’s just a bra and underwear. I’m sure you’ve seen them before.” She walked into the water and immediately submerged herself. When she surfaced, she smoothed her hair down over the back of her head and exhaled deeply.
Ryris had never felt more uncomfortable in his life. Well, maybe the time in the cave where she had touched his bare chest, but at least then she had been clothed. Here she was, next to naked, in the water beside him. His hormones took over and he tried not to spiral out of control. This was definitely not the place he wanted to be caught lusting after her.
Kaia smacked her hand on the water, peppering his face with droplets. A mischievous smirk crossed her lips. “Get your mind out of the gutter, Ryris.”
He stared blankly at her for a moment, unsure if dying of embarrassment right then and there would save him. He moved away from her slowly, trying to come up with a clever, in-no-way-incriminating response. Of course, his mind was drawing a complete blank. He was dumbfounded as to how his mouth could go so dry when he was chest-deep in an oasis.
Kaia wiped the water out of her eyes. “If I’m making you uncomfortable, I can get dressed.”
“You don’t have to…if you don’t want to.” Ryris instantly cringed at his reply. “Real smooth, Bren,” he thought.
“You’re cute when you’re nervous.”
What was she doing? Was she…flirting with him? He had never been so confused in his life, and finally decided that it was the heat of the desert and lack of food that was making them both uncharacteristically forward.
“I’m not nervous…”
“Sure…” Kaia laughed, her voice echoing off the canyon wall. She swam away, kicking water at him as she departed.
Ryris watched as she dipped below and resurfaced several times, ending up on the opposite side of the pool. She turned and focused her attention on the surrounding canyon, staring out at the environment for what seemed like an eternity. While her back was turned, he quickly scrubbed under his arms to try and dissipate some of the travel aroma he knew he carried. He finished just in time, for she turned and dove under again, like a mermaid. Within seconds she was back at his side.
“It’s getting dark. Time to get out, or we’ll catch our death.”
She was at the water’s edge and up onto the beach in a flash, picking up her dry clothes and heading toward the wagon. Ryris remained in the water a moment longer; until he was confident he could get out without embarrassment. He soon followed, and joined her at the cart. In the low light of the campfire, Ryris thought he caught a glimpse of several scars on her torso. He squinted, trying to get a view.
Kaia, dry undergarments in hand, shot him a stern look. “Turn around!”
“Oh, so now you’re shy?” Ryris was utterly confused. One moment she was seemingly flirting with him, the next moment she was back to her commanding self. He resigned himself to the fact that there was a good possibility he would never understand women.
She threw an apple from the supplies at him, the first thing she could grab quickly. “Just do it.”
“I could make the same demand of you, you know.” Ryris internally hoped she’d take him up on his offer. In his current state, he really didn’t want to be caught—quite literally—with his pants down in front of her. He grabbed his own dry clothing from their luggage.
“That’s fair.” She went to the other side of the wagon. “Let me know when you’re decent, and I’ll do the same.”
They both turned, and Ryris began the arduous task of peeling wet, clammy clothes from his shivering body. He cursed himself for impulsively plunging into the water fully-dressed. A quick swipe of a scratchy, poor excuse for a towel and he was sufficiently dry to dress again. He fought the urge to sneak a peek at Kaia. Only to make sure she was keeping up her end of the bargain, he reminded himself.
“Are you ready yet?”
Ryris grumbled as he pulled dry undergarments up around his hips. “You had less to do, gimme a minute!” He quickly stepped into his pants and fastened them. As he slid his arms into his shirt, he rolled up the sleeve on his injured arm and gave her the all-clear. His amulet sparkled on his exposed chest.
They both faced each other across the cart, an awkward silence falling over the oasis. Of course, she looked beautiful, even with her hair starting to frizz as it dried. She pulled it back and tied it with a string before grabbing the sack filled with their foodstuffs. He followed close behind her, toting his alchemist’s satchel. His arm was beginning to ache, and blood had started to ooze again. The grumbling in his stomach was becoming uncomfortable.
Ryris laid out a blanket beside the tent and began to work on his arm. The firelight didn’t give him much illumination, but it was better than nothing. Kaia had been right, the wound wasn’t that deep. He had been lucky, for he knew had she been fighting at full potential; she could have killed him where he stood. He held a piece of cloth over his laceration, soaking up the waning blood flow.
Kaia dipped a pot into the water and set it directly on the logs. As she waited for it to boil, she parceled out a small serving of dried legumes for them both, along with some jerky and dried berries. After her prep was completed, she joined Ryris at his side, taking over his wound care. “Let me help.”
He obliged with a sincere smile. It felt nice to have someone take care of him.
“Do you have any antiseptic left?” She lifted the gauze from the cut and leaned in to inspect it.
“No, but I made this ointment before I left on my trip to Hewe.” He handed her a small glass jar.
She twisted off the lid and sniffed the contents. “It’ll have to do. Lay your arm on my lap.”
Ryris obeyed, hissing as she applied the salve with her fingers. It stung as the mixture seeped into the wound.
“Almost done…”
Kaia replaced the cap and wiped the excess balm on a thin strip of bandage from the kit. She expertly wrapped it around Ryris’ injury and pinned it in place. “Give it a few days to form a scab, then you can let it breathe.”
“Thanks, Kaia.” Ryris rubbed his hand over the bandage. He didn’t have the heart to tell her that he had a potion in his satchel that would close small wounds. She had been so gentle and caring in her treatment that he decided to let this cut heal on its own.
“Don’t mention it.” She smiled sincerely and got up, heading back to the fire. After she dumped the beans into the water, she put her hands on her hips and looked up to the starry sky. “It sure is beautiful here.”
Ryris kept his attention trained on her, watching as she took in the night’s majesty. In that moment, standing underneath the vastness of the night sky, she looked very unlike the warrior that she was. In that moment—she was just a woman. A beautiful woman. Ryris’ voice was hushed as he replied.
“It sure is…”
High above, nestled in hidden alcoves of the oasis canyon, dozens of eyes looked down on them.
CHAPTER TWENTY
/> Bees in spring, a harvest bring. Bees in fall, a pox upon all.
--Ka’liik children’s proverb.
“Wake up!”
Ryris jolted up so abruptly he nearly collapsed the tent with his flailing. His stomach immediately lurched, a hated side-effect of a hasty awakening. It took him a moment to get his bearings before he realized Kaia was hunched in front of him, thrusting his shortsword and scabbard into his hands. Her bow was already slung over her back. “Whatever you do, don’t draw that thing unless I say. Let me do the talking.”
The alchemist swatted the weapon away, still trying to wake up properly. “What’s going on?”
“We’re being watched.” Her voice was hushed, even though they were in the confines of their tent.
Ryris’ mind immediately began to race. The thought of unknowns peering down at them, knowing their every move made his spine tingle. His mouth suddenly became very dry as his brain fully woke up. “Who do you think is out there?”
“Most likely the nomads Phia mentioned.”
“Have you seen them?” Ryris awkwardly buckled his weapon belt around his waist, no easy task when confined to a cramped tent.
She turned, still on her haunches, and peered out the tent flap. “I’m assuming those big canyons are the same ones she said they won’t go near. If my hunch is correct, that’s exactly where Jaric is. If we want to get there safely, we’ll have to let our peaceful intentions be known.”
Ryris tapped the sword at his side. “This isn’t exactly my idea of ‘peaceful’.”
“Being cautious is one thing, being stupid is another.” She ducked out of the tent.
Ryris reluctantly trailed her, the bright morning sun immediately blinding him. He squinted and shielded his eyes from the assault. It took a moment for his vision to clear. Once able to see properly, he sidled up to Kaia and they moved.
The pair stuck close to the outcropping’s walls and out of the open, quickly moving to the other side of the oasis. It was then that they finally spotted them—the battle-ready nomads perched high above on the rock face. Ryris surmised they only saw them because they had allowed themselves to be seen. Their clothing blended in with the sandstone they sat upon, their faces covered by material to keep the sand out of their mouths and eyes. Their weapons—clubs, maces, and pole arms—were the only items to stand out, made from a dull silver metal. Kaia immediately put her hands up as a show of good faith, and urged Ryris to do the same.
“Follow my lead—and stay quiet.” Kaia slowly approached the edge of the pool and began to speak, her voice strong and clear. “My name is Kaia. We mean no disrespect to your lands and implore you to let us pass. I assure you we have no nefarious intentions.”
Ryris could feel dozens of pairs of eyes on them, far more than could belong to the smattering of figures he saw above. He knew there had to be more hiding just out of sight. A long, tense moment passed, with no response from the nomads. Kaia stood firm, not moving from her sentinel position. Never once did she make a move for her weapon.
“If you wish us to leave, we will do so. But please allow us to break camp and give our horse refreshment before we go.” Kaia kept her hands raised high. “We have many items to trade, and my friend is an alchemist. He would be happy to mix solutions for you.”
Ryris fought the urge to yell out at her. Here she was, supposedly this smart warrior, and she was spilling all their private information. What would she do next, tell them exactly how much gamm they carried? He stood there silently and stewed. A male voice, low and booming, finally echoed out from the other side of the pool, effectively snapping him from his angry thoughts.
“An alchemist, you say?”
Kaia motioned with a flick of her head for Ryris to step forward. She muttered under her breath, “Introduce yourself. You said you were talented, here’s your chance to prove it.”
Ryris wasn’t sure his voice would work at all. “Y-yes, I’m an alchemist. My name is Ryris.”
“Can you cure blindness?” The phantom voice filtered down around them.
Ryris swallowed hard, reluctant to answer. No one could cure blindness, at least not with a simple potion. He suddenly feared for his life, and thought about his poor father getting the news of his grisly demise in the desert.
Kaia nudged him with her elbow, questioning him with a hushed voice. “Well, can you? If not, you had better come up with something good in response.”
“I’m s-sorry, but I can’t. There’s no potion to my knowledge that can do such a thing. But…” He flinched and took a step back as a figure jumped down from its perch, gracefully landing on two feet even from such a long fall. Ryris knew he had only moments to salvage the situation, his last words rushed and urgent. “…I have a potion in the cart that can allow you to see in the dark!”
The figure ran full-force at the pond and leapt, his boots skipping effortlessly across the surface. Within seconds he was directly before them, his razor-sharp shortsword hanging at his side. His loose tan robes billowed in the breeze, exposing form-fitting leather armor underneath. A partial mask obscured most of his face, exposing only his mouth—full of gleaming white teeth. He smiled devilishly, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned his weight onto one leg.
Ryris’ fumbled words tumbled from his lips before he had a chance to stop them. “H-how did you…”
“Walk across the water?” The man smirked, lifting one of his boots to expose the bottom. The sole of his shoe was covered with tiny, glittering, golden spikes. “To help us across quicksand. The water-walking was an unexpected benefit. Now, night vision, eh? That would come in handy around these parts.” He extended his hand. “You can put your hands down.”
The pair lowered their arms and Kaia accepted his gesture, shaking his hand. “Thank you for not attacking. We’re honored to receive your trust.”
The man laughed, the sound echoing off the walls of the outcropping. “Don’t thank me, thank that crystal bow on your back. Stories of those weapons have been passed down for generations. I am very intrigued as to where you found it.”
“It’s mine. Always has been.” Kaia smiled, a small hint of pride gracing her lips.
“Well then, you should consider yourself lucky. I’ve never seen one in person, only in pictures.”
All his life, Ryris thought he was the only one who had heard the legend. No one ever talked about it otherwise, so he figured no one even remembered. And now, this strange desert man admitted it was part of their legend as well. He couldn’t help but feel happy the story of the Crystal Guard had managed to live on, even if it was through the stories of desert nomads with almost no contact with the world outside their lands.
The man smiled again, his teeth shining in the sun. He unclipped one side of the cloth mask from his face and slid it under his head wrappings. His skin was deeply tanned, his eyes dark and seductive. A shock of black hair peeked out from underneath his hood. Tall and handsome, Ryris suddenly felt uncharacteristically inferior. “The name’s Nar. I’m the leader of my people, the Ka’liik.” He spread his arms wide in greeting. “Welcome to our oasis.”
Behind him, more people jumped down from their perches and approached. Others came out from small corridors and alcoves within the canyon walls, children hot on the heels of their parents. Some did as Nar had done, and gracefully skipped across the water, while the others went around the pool. A few milled around their camp, snooping inside their tent and sifting through their wagon. Ryris immediately tensed, protective of their belongings—and the several-hundred gamm they had hidden within.
Soon, the two companions were surrounded by nomads. Several youngsters immediately went to Ryris and Kaia’s side, examining their clothes, touching the scabbard at the alchemist’s belt.
“You’ll have to excuse our little ones.” Nar suddenly snapped in their native language, sending the children scattering. “It’s not every day they get to meet strangers that aren’t bound and gagged.”
Ryris’ eyes bulged
in surprise at Nar’s comment, suddenly unsure if he was joking. His palms began to sweat.
Nar, sensing his anxiety, put his mind at ease with a hearty laugh. “Don’t worry, if we had perceived you as a threat, you would have never made it into the oasis. Follow me and we’ll see about getting you two something better to eat than just beans and jerky.”
“We’re honored that you’d accept us into your lands, and would share your precious resources.” Kaia followed Nar, beckoning Ryris to join. The children scuttled in the sands behind them, jabbering in their nomad language. They rounded the pool once more, both companions relieved to be back in the shade.
“We might be nomads, but we’re not savages. We help those in need.” Nar looked back over his shoulder. “And from the looks of your dusty clothes and gaunt faces, you most certainly fit that bill.”
A group of natives had set up a temporary camp alongside the canyon wall while their leader greeted their guests, and a fire was just beginning to blaze. A few Ka’liik had laid out several large blankets on the sand, and even erected four medium-sized tents. They worked hard in the sweltering heat, never once shedding their layers of clothing. A stooped old woman took Ryris’ hand and led him to an awaiting blanket. He and Kaia both sat and were immediately greeted with full waterskins and a bowl of fruit.
“Please, eat. Fresh food is a luxury I feel you probably haven’t had in quite a while.” Nar removed his billowy outer-robe and sat across from the pair, crossing his long legs under his body. He grabbed a knobby orange fruit from the bowl and bit into it, juice immediately running down his chin. “Messy, but worth every drippy bite. It’s a cactus fruit, harvested from the far wastes.”
The Alchemist: Dawn of Destiny Page 26