She came to her senses and mounted the second horse. As they rode out of the stable yard she took one look back, but the Commander was no longer there.
9
A New Ally
Four Days Later
Dan’Idou, 13th Unda, 1021
“Can we please stop a moment?” Sterling called after Kellen. He seemed like such a jovial man, but he had set a brutal pace since they left Hemrac.
“We can’t dawdle,” he said as he slowed his pace, allowing Sterling a chance to catch up. Looking around warily, he pulled his reins and stopped. “Only for a moment,” he cautioned.
Sterling sighed in relief, dismounted quickly, and found a dense patch of trees to relieve herself. She knew she should be embarrassed, but there was little time to think of decorum at this point in their journey.
Had it only been four days since they fled Hemrac? It seemed an eternity since Kellen had intruded on her bath and saved her from the clutches of Engram and the Severon.
“Sterling!” His urgency was evident in the tone of his voice as he called to her.
“I’m coming!” she called out to him. Damn task master, she thought, at least give me a moment to stretch my legs.
Mounting the horse Kellen had stolen from the stables at the Crow’s Head, Sterling joined him. He glanced behind them again, but there was no sign of the Severon tracker that had dogged them since they left Hemrac. Following Kellen’s lead, Sterling urged her horse into a quick trot. They wanted to put as much distance between the trackers as possible before night fall.
“We’ll make camp tonight,” Kellen called out over the sound of the horses. “There’s a timbered thicket not too far from here that offers shelter.”
Her muscles ached from the constant tension of not knowing if their stalker would ride over the horizon. They rode in silence, both looking over their shoulders when the feeling of being chased became overwhelming. Dread ebbed each time she glanced back and did not find the Severon.
The long shadows of the trees spread out before them as the sun slowly made its descent. Kellen had turned off the main road on to a small path just barely wide enough for the horses. The ground was uneven making their progress slow, not to mention the low hanging limbs that had her ducking to avoid being hit in the face.
They eventually exited the path to a small glade just the right size for their horses and for them to make camp. It felt like a cocoon of sorts, with the trees and brush surrounding them on all sides.
Sterling started to slide off her horse, but before her feet could touch the ground, Kellen’s hands were on her waist easing her to the ground. “Thanks,” she said, looking closely at the man who had saved her, “I probably would have collapsed.”
Sterling was thankful for the respite. Four days and they were still far from the Kai’Varian border. Much of their time had been spent doubling back to hide their trail in hopes to evade the Severon.
“I’ll catch us some dinner,” Kellen replied as he slung a quiver of arrows over his shoulder. Sterling watched as he disappeared in to the forest. Except for the dried meat they’d pilfered from a farm, their food had run out yesterday and neither of them had eaten a real meal since. She was thankful for Kellen’s help, had he not been there in Hemrac there was no telling what would have happened to her. The Severon were relentless in their pursuit and she still wasn’t certain what it was they wanted from her.
She pushed the thoughts of Engram to the furthest reaches of her mind. If she thought too much of him her mood would plummet in to despair. I’ll just get the fire going and be ready for whatever Kellen brings back. Sterling hummed to herself while she built a small fire. Its warmth ate away at the chill that had settled in her bones.
It wasn’t long before Kellen returned, his face sullen. “You didn’t catch anything?”
“Damn rabbits are too fast.” Kellen leaned the bow and arrow against the tree and slumped to the ground in defeat.
“Seriously?” Sterling laughed, “you didn’t catch anything?
Kellen started rifling through his pack, “I guess we’ll be eating dried meat again.”
“I’ll be damned if I’ll eat that again, I want some fresh food,” Sterling said as she stood and gathered up the bow and arrow Kellen had discarded. Dried meat, ha! Sterling laughed to herself.
Kellen, sounding a bit wounded, said, “I’m telling you those little rodents are too quick.” She heard him trip on a rock and scrape his trousers on a bush as he walked through camp.
Sterling stopped in her tracks and faced Kellen, “Perhaps if you weren’t so noisy you wouldn’t scare them away.” With a smile she turned and pulled an arrow from the quiver. “Hunting rabbits is all about patience and quiet. Why do you think they have those big ears?”
“Good point,” Kellen said quietly as he followed behind her.
“Get down,” Sterling whispered when the rustling in the underbrush signaled her prey was near. She squatted behind a tree and waited patiently, while she nocked the arrow against the bowstring.
“They’re too fast.” A chill raced down her back when Kellen whispered the words near her ear.
“Quiet,” she scolded him.
“Sorry.” She could hear the laughter in his voice.
Sterling listened carefully to the rustling and followed the sound with the tip of the arrow. A fat rabbit hopped out from under the bush, its nose sniffing the air while its ears twitched about listening for danger. Sterling pulled the bowstring taut and aimed down the shaft of the arrow. Just as she was ready to release the arrow Kellen shifted, snapping a twig beneath his boot. The rabbit bolted at the noise. Sterling quickly stood while she continued to aim. She released the arrow just before the rabbit could disappear into the leaf litter and the underbrush of the forest. It let out a little squeak as it fell to its death.
Sterling retrieved the rabbit. She and Kellen retreated to the camp where she dressed the rabbit, skewered the meat with small sticks and propped them beside the fire to roast.
Kellen’s stomach growled at the smell of the meat cooking, “I’m so glad we do not have to eat dried meat tonight.”
Sterling glanced sideways at him, at his strong profile. He had high cheekbones and a noble nose. His hair was blonde with careless waves hanging about his face. When he looked at Sterling it was with clear blue eyes that pierced her with their intensity. Sterling wondered if all the men from his country looked like Kellen.
His Beracian accent was slight, but the throaty undertones were unmistakable. She had found that she loved to hear him speak and decided to try to start a conversation.
She looked over to him again and said, “So, you’re from Berac. Aren’t you awfully far from home?”
He was quiet for a moment, but a slight smile creased his lips to reveal white teeth. “Aye, I grew up in Berac, but left home when I was nineteen.”
Sterling couldn’t imagine walking away from her family. Hemi, Brigit, Mother Anwell. They were the only family she had, and now they were gone. But to leave the ones you love knowing they were worried? She responded, “Doesn’t it bother you that they could be concerned about you? What of your mother or father? Surely they want you to come home.”
Kellen shrugged, “Possibly, but my father was never an easy man and he showed little emotion over such things as family. When I told him I did not want to go into the family business we had a huge fight and I left.” He smiled at Sterling, “That was five years ago and now here I am with you, running from the Severon for some unknown and mysterious reason.”
Sterling reached out and turned the rabbit. They sat in an awkward silence until Kellen asked a question she’d been asking herself, “Why are the Severon after you?”
“I didn’t get a chance to ask them while they were murdering my family,” Sterling responded tersely. “Sorry,” she felt guilty for snapping at him, “it’s because of these,” she said, pointing at her eyes.
“They are unique,” Kellen said, then added, “and beautiful.”
“D- do you think we lost him for good?” she stuttered awkwardly, unaccustomed to being complimented.
“Probably not,” Kellen surmised. “That tracker of theirs is insanely good. We should stay off the road and avoid towns and people as much as possible.”
“We?” She was surprised by his comment. She hadn’t expected him to stay with her all the way to Kai’Vari, “You don’t even know where I’m going.”
Kellen laughed at her surprise, “It is easy to tell you’re not from Duenin. Dueninians are pasty white and with that tan skin and silver eyes of yours I’d say you’re headed south to Kai’Vari or possibly Paard.”
Your father was a Kai’Varian warrior. Hemi’s words kept swirling around in Sterling’s head. She was a Kai’Varian as was her father, Khort Rin’Ovana. She said her full name out loud. The words sounded strange on her lips as she repeated them again. “Sterling Rin’Ovana.” It had a nice ring to it, but it would take time for her to get used to not saying Sterling Rhesida. There was a family waiting for her in a new land, a place where she could start over and heal. And then one day she would get her revenge. She would hunt down Engram and dole out the punishment he deserved.
“Is it done yet?” Kellen’s question brought her back to the task at hand.
Sterling handed the roasted rabbit to Kellen and his delighted sigh made Sterling laugh. She took a bite of the meat and reveled in the deliciousness of not having to eat dried meat and bread again.
“From now on, you’re hunting for our dinner,” Kellen said around a mouthful of rabbit.
“We’d starve if I left it up to you,” Sterling quipped. She took another bite then stated, “We’ll make it to Kai’Vari. I’m sure of it.”
“We have to lose that tracker first,” Kellen said, “the Severon are not ones I want to tangle with.”
They sat in silence for what seemed like hours as the night sky filled with stars, with only the sounds of the night echoing through the trees. She couldn’t contain the long sigh of relief after eating her fill.
Kellen’s expression changed, a furrow etched in to his brow, “The Severon will be watching the main roads, so we should stick to the smaller, secondary roads.” He thought for a moment then added, “Knowing the Severon, they’ll be watching the secondary roads as well. We should try to avoid traveling during the day. There are tiny hamlets that even the Severon would ignore, we’ll head south skirting those small towns.”
“It sounds impossible,” Sterling laughed, but there was no humor. Kellen’s words sunk into her heart darkening the mood.
Kellen stood and looked down at Sterling, “Don’t worry, we’ll make it to Kai’Vari. We’ll find your family.” He picked up his sword then said, “I’m going to check out the area, make sure no one saw us.”
Sterling watched silently as Kellen’s broad back disappeared into the darkness. She was thankful for this forested area and its respite from Duenin’s flat landscape and the relentless early summer heat. Sterling leaned her head back against the bark of the tree and closed her eyes for a moment, just until Kellen returned.
The green, swampy water bubbled in the deep ruts along the trail like a festering wound. The sky’s angry clouds were reflected in the water’s dark depths. Sterling looked up and watched the roiling clouds darken as lightning lit the inside of the cloud, thunder rumbled like a massive heartbeat of some wild beast. The sun struggled to keep the dark clouds at bay, its ray shining through the darkness giving her hope that the storm would pass.
It was the same as it has always been. Ever since these dreams started the landscape of the valley changed, but the walls remained the same. This time the valley was a flat plain with sunken ruts that dug deep in the small road that cut its way through the dream’s lowlands. Sterling knew if she followed the road it would end at the edge of a wall, with no way out.
The few trees that did dot the landscape, swayed in the increasing wind. Their shadows danced upon the ground like a pagan ritual, praying to the gods that held court in this desolate valley. Their shadows slowly faded as the darkness swallowed the last vestiges of the sun’s rays as the sky opened and the rain started. Thunder growled in the depths of the storm just after a streak of lightning raced across the sky and struck a tree. Sparks flew in all directions, lighting the area with a bright flash.
The energy gathered in the clouds again as another streak shot across the sky and landed closer to Sterling. She stumbled backward but kept her footing. The clouds seemed to growl at her as another bolt shot from the sky, one after another in rapid succession they seemingly chased Sterling across the valley. The tall cliff face loomed over her as she pressed her back into the rock. A deep growl gathered in the darkened sky as it prepared to release another bolt upon her. As the sky flashed again, Sterling put her arms across her face as a voice boomed in her head, “Othail gee Elementals!”
Sterling jolted awake as the expected bolt of lightning struck her. She gasped for breath for a moment trying to gather her wits. Where am I? She realized she was in the same secluded spot. The stars dotted the night sky.
Sterling glanced around in the soft moon light and found Kellen leaning against the tree beside her. “Bad dream?” he asked, his eyes still closed.
“Something like that,” Sterling responded behind unexpected tears.
Without saying a word, Kellen’s arm wrapped around Sterling and pulled her to his side. She leaned into his warmth but held all the emotions that wanted to escape in check. It would do her no good if she let the emotions come flooding to the forefront. He held her gently. “Crying is not a sign of weakness,” Kellen said softly.
She wanted to cry for those she had lost and for the feeling of hopelessness that had gripped her since the Severon had taken away her family. She wanted to cry, but instead repeated the words said to her more times that she could remember, “Crying doesn’t solve problems, it only makes your eyes red and your nose runny.”
Kellen took a deep breath and shifted, pulling her closer. He offered no words of comfort, for no words would ease the pain in her heart. He simply held her until the pull of exhaustion was too strong. She gave up her struggles and fully nestled into Kellen’s warmth, closing her eyes to the stars above.
10
Honey
Thirteen days Later
Dan’Idou, 26th Unda, 1021
The fire was warm. Sterling leaned closer to the flames, her hands out trying to absorb the fire’s warmth. Goose pimples raised the hairs on her skin as a damp chill took hold. They had been caught in a sudden and vicious storm and were barely able to make it to a shallow cave before the large hail stones pelted the forest, ripping leaves and limbs from the surrounding trees. Thankfully the storm had passed quickly, but they were both soaked through and through and with the cool spring night air they were both chilled.
“Here,” Kellen said as he draped a blanket over her shoulders, “get out of your wet clothes before you catch a cold.” Kellen turned his back to offer more privacy.
“Thanks,” she said. Her cheeks turned red at the thought of undressing so close to Kellen. He usually left their campsite when she needed some privacy. But she knew the last thing they needed was either one of them sick with a cold.
Somehow, they had kept ahead of the Severon and the persistent tracker that had dogged them since Hemrac. They’d made a few mistakes along the way, like wandering too close to a village and discovering bounty posters hung along the gates to a village. Fortunately, they had managed to leave the area before any of the villagers were up and about their morning routines. Since then they had avoided the main roads and stayed out of any villages. The fewer people they encountered, the better.
Kellen had artfully navigated the landscape, so their trail was difficult to pick up. For three weeks Sterling had followed every order he’d barked at her and they had finally managed to outwit that dog of a tracker. Sterling laughed silently, had it only been three weeks since Kellen saved her at the Inn in Hemrac? It s
eemed as though they had been running for months. But despite all their efforts at hiding their tracks, the anxiety of being caught was wearing heavily on Sterling.
She huddled under the blanket and peeled the wet fabric from her arms. Hungry, she was distracted by the smell of roasting meat and it caused her stomach to growl with displeasure.
“Are you done yet?” Kellen’s voice reached her under the blanket. His voice had a way of pulling her out of her thoughts. “I’ve seen you naked. You don’t have to huddle under that blanket like a shy virgin.”
It embarrassed her that Kellen continued to bring up the fact he’d seen her naked. He thought it funny to see her cheeks redden at their second meeting. She pulled off her boots and struggled to pull the leather pants down her damp legs. She managed to get them half way down, “I’m stuck,” She laughed out loud.
“Need some help?” She could hear the laughter in his voice. “Here, give me your feet.” Before she knew what was happening he’d grabbed hold of her bare feet throwing her onto her back, flipping the blanket up and over her head in the process.
“Wait!” she shouted, as she tried to pull the blanket around her, but he had her legs up in the air and her pants off before she could cover herself, leaving her with only the short braies for modesty.
Their eyes met for a brief second until Sterling realized she was lying before him, her chemise pressed to her damp skin. She scrambled backward, covering herself in the process. Kellen turned away and busied himself with laying her clothes out to dry. He had pulled his shirt off and laid it next to hers. Sterling couldn’t take her eyes off him. His back was broad, though he wasn’t a large man, he was lean and muscular. She watched as the muscles flexed under his tanned skin. He had an air about him that brought light into her world. It seemed he instinctively knew when she was thinking of Brigit and Hemi, it was then he would do something crazy or silly, ultimately lifting her spirits.
The Elemental Union: Book One Devian Page 7