“I have spent too much time here,” Kai said to himself and set off to find a suitable path up the mountainside. The ruins were intriguing but his survival was not dependent on knowledge. He had to find animals to eat or a way off the island, the latter being the preferred option.
He walked for hours following the base of the mountain but there did not seem to be anyway to get up to the gradual slope that Kai could see at the top of the sheer cliff. This turned out to be a feature of the mountain that he could not see from his camp.
“This cannot be natural,” he said to himself eventually. “Isabella could get up there with no problems at all, even without Sisera.”
Lately his thoughts had turned to his friends at the Tower of Kings. He wondered if they had returned from the mine’s yet or if they were still cleaning out the fortress. He wondered if anyone was looking for him. They would have no way of knowing that he had been abandoned on the island in the middle of nowhere.
“They probably think I’m dead,” he said to himself as he walked around the base of the mountain.
The light began to fade as the day came to an end. Kai had walked so far that there was no hope of returning to his camp for the night. He would have to find a suitable place to camp for the night.
“This will do nicely,” he said when he found a section of the cliff where the rock had broken off and fallen in place to create a small cave that was big enough of him to stretch out. There were enough big rocks around that he could block off the entrance to the shelter and sleep without fear of being attacked by animals.
Darkness was just slowly beginning to fade when he ventured off again after a surprisingly restful sleep on the hard ground. The cave kept the heat in so he did not miss having a fire. He was a little stiff at first but he loosened up after a short while.
Kai walked all day following the strange cliff. There was still no sign of any way to access the upper portion. Most of the cliff looked smooth, as if it had been cut with a knife. Even the few places that were jagged, the places he could use as hand holds were far enough apart that it would be impossible for him to climb up.
As night began to fall again, he reached a place that he found to be familiar. He saw the boulder which he had uncovered the day before and recognized the path to the spring. He had walked around the entire island but could not find a path up the mountain. How very strange that was.
Frustrated but relieved to be back in familiar territory, Kai followed the path back to the spring. After filling his canteens and taking a quick dip, Kai followed the well-beaten path back to his camp.
The sun had just disappeared when he reached the beach. The view of the ocean was magnificent at that time of day as the sky was alight with a variety of colors. Kai stared out at the view as he walked along the path to his shelter. He was so taken by the beautiful sight that he nearly did not see the large wolfhound that was sniffing around the inside of his shelter.
The large beast saw him first and let out a terrifying howl that startled Kai and set the hairs on the back of his neck on end. The beast squeezed itself out of the shelter and howled again.
Kai took the bow from his shoulder and nocked an arrow as he backed away slowly. He had no idea was his plan was going to be. He did not have anywhere safe to run. The shelter he used the night before came to mind but it was very far away. He would never outrun a wolfhound to get there.
“Or three,” he said out loud as two more appeared from the forest.
The beasts began to move into a formation. He knew they would try to surround him. He could not let that happen. He broke into a sprint toward the mountain spring. Even though there was very dim light, Kai knew the path so well that he could follow it without much difficulty.
I need to slow them down, Kai thought as he raced down the path. He could hear the wolfhounds crashing down the path behind him. He ran as fast as he possibly could but he knew that it was not even close to fast enough to escape. He needed a plan and he needed it now.
He managed to reach the spring and without any hesitation or reasoning he immediately dove into the pool. He knew the beasts would not follow him in but he could not stay in there forever. It bought him some time but also trapped him in the water.
Kai couldn’t hold his breath any longer so he made his way to the surface. As he broke through, he saw that wolfhounds had surrounded the pool and were waiting for him to emerge. They began to howl and bark when they saw him. He took a deep breath and dove down once again. He swam toward the far edge of the pool where there was a slight overhang. He could be above the surface of the water but the beasts could not reach him. At least it would give him a chance to form a plan.
12
Raven was too excited to sleep as she worked at getting control of her body again. It started slowly with her right arm but was soon followed by her left arm and left foot. Through her strength of will, she had control of her whole upper body when she heard the muffled voices of her captors, fade away into nothing which probably meant they had retired for the evening.
She decided that her best course of action would be to play along with their game until she found an opportunity to rescue Shayla and escape. It would be tricky on the mountain as there was only one way down and it would be easy enough for the two Brothers to attack them from above. Perhaps she could lure them somewhere else, somewhere better suited for her needs. And, she would have to ensure they brought Shayla as well.
It was roughly midnight when Raven, who felt very much like a toddler, pulled herself to her feet and took her first steps. Her legs were flushed with a strange sensation, like they were being pricked a thousand times by little needles. With gritted teeth, Raven allowed the waves of pain to pass while steadying herself against the wall. The first step was the most difficult but with each footfall around the small room her gait became more natural.
After she felt confident that everything was working the way that it should, she practiced stiff movements that would allow her to maintain the ruse of still being under their control. When she was satisfied that she could pass an inspection, she lay on the floor to try to sleep a few hours before the Brothers woke but sleep would not come as she desperately tried to remember anything she could about the area surrounding her uncle’s village.
Maybe I can lure them east into lands that are more familiar, she thought.
There were too many unknown factors to make a feasible plan so Raven had to settle on waiting for the right moment to make an improvised move.
The biggest unknown was the condition of Shayla, the Dragonblood. Raven had not seen her since she had laid the young, unconscious girl in a makeshift cell the day before. She feared for the safety of the girl in the malicious hands of the slim Brother but she knew that Tarak had ordered her left alone.
The answer came that evening when she heard Tarak call out to the slim one, “She’s awake.” Raven could hear the Brothers mumbling to each other but could not make out what they were talking about until Tarak’s voice became a thunderous shout.
“Speak, woman. Use your words,” he yelled in frustration.
Raven wished she could see what was happening in the room that was just yards away but the thick wooden door was sealed shut thanks to her own handiwork. She pressed her ear to the crack of the door and strained to hear.
“She doesn’t seem dangerous,” the slim one said. “If she could throw dragonfire, don’t you think she would have already?”
“I think you may be correct but we will still keep her restrained for the time being, just in case,” Tarak said, his tone lowering. “Did you see that her arm has healed? She was still favoring it but it was surely not broken anymore.”
“That is odd.” A short pause. “The spring water, you think?”
“I can’t think of what else it would be. Unless, this one is somehow healing her through the wall,” Tarak said as his voice got closer to the door.
Raven hurried back to her usual position, sitting on the floor, back propped aga
inst the wall. She hoped they could not hear the slight shuffling noises that she tried very hard not to make. She made it into position just in time for the door to be flung wide open.
Tarak entered the room and walked directly to where she sat. He squatted in front of her and stared at her intently. Raven was very careful to not react to any of his movements or his close proximity although he was close enough for her to smell that he had found a mild soap to wash the dried blood from his skin. She struggled to keep her eyes still and unfocussed even though the man was only wearing a simple loincloth that left him unwittingly exposed in his current position.
“How much longer do you think the control will last?” he asked over his shoulder as he examined her face intently.
Santaal appeared in the doorway. “It is hard to say. The effect will vary from person to person but I’m surprised they have lasted as long as they have already.”
God’s be damned, Raven thought. She would have to make her move soon or they will soon begin to suspect that something is off.
“Hmm,” was the only response, besides a perplexed look, Tarak gave before he stood and left the room, barring it as he closed the thick oak door.
Raven dared not move until the muffled sound of voices trailed off outside. She went to the small glass window that looked out over the yard and carefully peeked out. She could see the two men standing by the well where Tarak had left his freshly laundered leggings and tunic to dry.
She thought they must be discussing her and Shayla because the slim one kept pointing toward the building. He looked to be getting increasingly upset as his movements were becoming more animated and she could make out his raised voice even through the glass panel. Finally, Santaal appeared to give up as he stormed off toward the steps that led up to the temple and disappeared up the steep staircase.
Tarak had remained calm throughout the encounter, dressing himself as they talked which made Raven wonder what position he had taken on their well-being that upset his brother so greatly. She admired his thickly muscled form as he pulled on his leather leggings and boots. Thankfully, he chose to remain shirtless so that Raven could continue to swoon over his powerful arms and deeply chiseled chest while she studied his movements, looking for a discernable weakness.
She chastised herself for finding the man so attractive but she had no control over the way her body flushed whenever he came near her. She convinced herself that it was the poison they used to control her that was planting these traitorous thoughts in her mind but deep down she knew the real truth, which was that she was physically attracted to this man on an animalistic level.
Frustrated, she tore away from the window and distracted herself by searching the room for a possible way out, a task she had already performed more than once since being locked up. Again, the search was fruitless but the process did give her mind something else to focus on.
While the coast was clear, she took the opportunity to press up against the locked door and call for Shayla. She called out the girl’s name then listened intently for a reply but received none. After multiple attempts, she gave up and resigned herself to pacing the room and occasionally peeking out the window.
The slim Brother returned from the temple just before sundown and immediately reignited the argument with Tarak. Raven went to the window again to watch and saw the two men walking toward the house. The big one looked up toward her little window and Raven swore they made eye contact. Her heart jumped into her chest as she quickly returned to her position, hoping that he did not see her looking out through the small window.
“We can’t stay here,” Santaal said as they burst into the house, his voice sounded agitated and loud which carried it clearly through the door. “This is not where we belong.”
“Perhaps it is now,” Tarak said calmly.
“You may think you want a life like this, but I know you, and you would not even last a month up here. Who would you fight? What would you study?”
“You know my magical ability is gone or it would have been me in the temple today. Besides, the Solotinians are world famous for their battle prowess. Just take that one for example. She is well-built and a fierce combatant, I’m sure.”
Raven felt herself blush at the compliment which caused her brain to erupt again with self-loathing.
“Is that your plan, then? Hermit away on a mountain top and fight the locals? This doesn’t seem very well thought out to me.” From his tone of voice, Raven pictured the sour look that must be covering the slim man’s face.
“I merely suggested that perhaps fate brought us here for a reason.”
“Bah, fate. You know well enough that we make our own fate. You sound like a pathetic, green cleric right now, not the infamous High Priest of the Sacred Blood. So you lost your magic, you said yourself that there was a time that you did not possess the art and that you would make do without it.”
“It is much more difficult than I anticipated.” Raven could hear the anxiety in the big man’s voice and could not help but feel bad for him.
“You sound pathetic,” Santaal shouted. “Get your head out of your arse and let’s get to work. You know it is a stupid idea to keep these two alive but yet you continue to insist.”
“I don’t know if I can capture the Dragonblood’s spirit in the stone and I don’t want to upset the Brides if it can be avoided.”
“OK, well, what excuse do you have for that one? She’s already told us everything she knows and our control on her will soon fade. A smart man would kill her now before she becomes a threat.”
“She is no threat to me,” Tarak shouted. There was a loud crash that followed which sounded like something metallic had been thrown into the wall. She could not be certain but Raven imagined that it was Tarak emphasizing his point.
“Fine. You’re call, High Priest.”
“You are goddam right that it is my call. If you weren’t my blood I would cut your throat for such insolence.” Tarak’s voice boomed with a dark growl.
Santaal let out a loud, mocking laugh. “You’ve gone soft. Do you think that you can make her love you? You want to play house with this wench? Is that what this is all about?”
Raven’s heart began to beat hard against her chest. She held her breath and strained to hear the response. Instead, she heard a sound that she was more familiar with than sentiment; the sound of a meaty fist to the midsection followed immediately by a gasp for air.
A short tussle ensued. The sound of wood shattering brought it to an end. Oddly enough, the men began to laugh.
“Someday I’ll beat you,” the slim one said. “Help me up out of this mess. I bet that table stood uninterrupted for hundreds of years until you came along.”
“Things change,” Tarak said.
That’s an odd response, thought Raven.
“In all seriousness though,” Santaal said. “We need to leave here. I’m sure we can sniff out a mage or two in this barbaric place. Perhaps, we can find a solution to your problem.”
“I agree. We will leave at first light.”
“And the woman?”
“I will not be swayed, brother. It is my wish that she lives and the reasons are my own. If you wish to fight me again, I will gladly go a few more rounds.”
Raven heard a low groan then the men began to laugh again. She heard heavy footfalls getting closer to her cell. She scrambled back to her usual position on the floor just in time for the door to swing open.
“Stand up,” Tarak ordered and Raven complied. She was sure to move stiffly and keep her eyes unfocused while she stared straight ahead. A smile crossed Tarak’s face and he leaned in to whisper in her ear. “I saw you in the window.”
Raven could feel her palms go clammy and she began to sweat but remained silent.
“My brother thinks that I should kill you,” Tarak continued, keeping his voice low. “I have found though, through my experience, that not all things can be achieved through fear. Sometimes, just sometimes, kindness is the path best taken
.”
He paused for a moment to let his words sink in and moved to stand in front of the warrior woman, his face just inches from hers.
Raven stared into his dark eyes trying to find some clue to his intentions for her. It took her a moment to realize it but she had to look up it his face, a very rare occurrence. She cursed herself, I can’t be attracted to this man! With the look he was giving her, she swore that he felt it too.
“We are leaving this place in the morning with the Dragonblood girl. Your usefulness has run out so I am going to leave you here. This is my kindness to you.” Tarak moved closer until she could feel his breath on her face but did not break eye contact. “If you wish to return that kindness, I would be most grateful.”
The silence seemed to go on forever causing Raven to get increasingly nervous. She felt like the moisture was drawing from her mouth and releasing from her forehead. Finally, she could no longer stand it and asked, “What would you like?”
Tarak moved back, releasing the pressure of the situation. His eyes toyed with her as a grin crossed his face. “I am in need of a powerful magic user and I would like it if you could point me in the right direction.” Only now did he break eye contact as he began to pace the room. “I understand that you could lie to me, send me off in the wrong direction but I have faith that you won’t. We are in a bad situation here, thrown into conflict by way of the company we keep. At another time or in another life, perhaps we would be friends, lovers even.”
Raven’s eyes grew wide and her stomach began to flutter.
Tarak caught her gaze again. “I know you feel it. I feel it too.” He drew closer to her again. “It is an impossible dream but, perhaps, just by these simple kindnesses we can create a beautiful, special moment together that will live on throughout eternity.”
Dragon Flight: Sisera's Gift 3 (Dragonblood Sagas Book 5) Page 9