“Elona, please stop!” Marun shouted. “They’ve had enough!”
Drudan was surprised to hear his brother shout at her. When moments passed, and the pain faded from his body, Drudan gasped and rolled to his back. He stared at Marun who had wrapped his arms tightly around Elona. Their goddess stared past his shoulder with tears silently falling, both hands still held out at her sides.
When Marun backed away, eyebrows coming together, Elona looked down at the three others who still lay close to the ground, her voice quaking. “I do not have to explain myself to any of you. I only look for the benefit of us, whether you want to accept that or not. Despite Arisa’s death, we still have a greater piece to achieve. You will follow me. If you decide to leave me, so be it, but I will release you and kill you myself. I would have told you if I could, but he has me watched. My plans do not completely entail him but will benefit all of you. In the meantime, know that you will report to me. If he acts against you in anything other than words, you will tell me, and we will have no further communication with him. Now, get out.” She growled at the end. Her deadly hands formed fists, and Drudan couldn’t help but flinch.
One by one they filed past her all the while they avoided looking at her. When Drudan went to leave, Elona grabbed him by the wrist and slammed the door. She drew closer to him, hands slightly shaking.
No words spoken, she wrapped her arms around him, buried her face into his chest, and sobbed.
All he could do was stand with arms limp at his sides.
NARA
Nara felt the fool, betrayed and alone.
Rushing back towards the great hall, she was unable to stop thinking about what Castien had done when she had asked him to tell her father about their time spent with one another. Even though he had told his father, she hated the way he had avoided agreeing to telling others moments before.
She hated how everyone avoided her questions.
She hated this place.
She stayed near the entrance of the great hall, leaning against the corner to watch others dance and enjoy their time with one another. Her father had already left, she noted by his empty seat, and it did nothing to take away from her mood. Her sister, with hair darker and straighter than Nara’s, smiled and laughed as she danced across the floor. Nara had yet to speak to her. Though having different mothers, she felt the need to know her, to take her mind off Castien and the way he, and her brother, treated her.
Before she was able to step away from the wall, a voice called her name, bringing with it long forgotten feelings and added pressure.
She looked to see Evert leaning against the wall behind her, and she halfheartedly smiled. His eyes visibly drank her from over the goblet he held.
Licking his lips, he smiled. “You are beautiful. Your mark is extraordinary.”
She shook her head, not wanting to see him. “Where is Fallon?”
“I sent him home for the evening,” he replied, raising his goblet to her. “He was tired and told me to tell you he would see you another time.”
She scoffed. “He will not speak to me. He would not even look at me.”
“I’ve been staring at you all evening.” While his tone was matter-of-fact, she blinked at him, cheeks reddening.
“I told you I did not want to see you again.”
“Three years ago.” He nodded. When he moved away from the entrance to the hall, she followed him. Seeing him raised a whole other level of frustration inside of her.
“Where have you been?”
“Everywhere, Nara,” he replied, swaying on his feet before disappearing to the side.
“Evert, you—” She could not finish. He pulled her into a seating area where windows allowed the light of the moon to barely illuminate the space. His warm mouth covered hers as he pushed her against the wall. Alcohol suffused the air as wine from his lips melted against her tongue.
The goblet clattered to the floor, the coolness of the wine splashing against her foot. He held her face, and for a moment she returned his kiss, her body sighing into him. Two years before he came of age, Evert and Nara had quietly met with one another and traveled to the outer city together many times. They had shared kisses, dreams, and a common desire to be bound to one another. He was familiar, and she could not deny that she missed him.
However…
She slapped him, causing his face to redden and his eyes to lose some of their glazed appearance. “How dare you?”
“Me?”
“You left me,” she hissed.
He scoffed, “You told me to.”
“Because you married another.”
“I had no choice, Nara.” He shook his head, rubbing his cheek. “I told you that. The Elders would not give you to me—”
She quipped, “I was promised to Fallon, and I denied him.”
Evert sucked on his lip, eyes hardened. “I know, Nara. I wanted to come for you. I had planned to. I saved money for two years and planned to come get you.” Suddenly, he looked over his shoulder and lowered his tone when he looked back at her. “I met others that you will want to meet with if only I could convince them. Especially now that you have this title. But they do not believe me about you. They kept me away from you the night you arrived.”
“What are you talking about?” she pressed, pushing him away only a little, feeling muscles that were not there when they last touched. She also noticed a scar on his face and wondered what he had been through, what had kept him away from her.
“I can’t say much more than that.” He swallowed hard, his hand passing over her face. When he leaned in again, he kept his lips only an inch from hers. “Nara, I have never stopped loving you. You have the same desires I do. I regret listening to you and walking away. I regret Unae.” He closed his eyes for a moment. His eyebrows came together and caused a deep crease in his forehead before he looked at her again and his face relaxed. “I can still see us traveling together. I want to go to Nudomri with you. I want to leave this place.”
“Then why did you take another?” she asked, her heart rate quickening. She longed to kiss him, as confused as she was by everything. She felt alone and torn, longing to be held by someone. “Why?” she whispered.
He shook his head. “Tradition. I know now that I shouldn’t have. I begged for you and the High Elder told me things would be better that way. You were the only one who understood me and what I wanted. We encouraged one another. We would have been perfect. I should have stolen you away when I left.”
“You said we would go to Nudomri so long ago. You took me to see the ships.”
“Yes.” He kissed her cheek and the sweet scent from his lips lingered. “We will do that.” She started to look away. But his hand swept across her cheek and kept her gaze on him. “Remember when you fell through the dock and cut your inner thigh?”
“There’s a scar there still.” She swallowed and failed to suppress a smile as she leaned into him.
“I saved you from the water then. I want to save you now.” He kissed her cheek again before whispering. “I love you. Believe me.”
She took his right hand and stroked the scar of his binding on his palm. She remembered when he’d bound himself to Unae. When the Elder had cut Evert and Unae’s palms and bound them together with cloth. Her heart ached at the memory, and she closed her eyes for a moment at the thought of them being together.
“Where is she?”
He moved only slightly away, eyes downcast. “Dead.” He grimaced, his breathing appearing to increase for just a moment. “We never touched. She would not allow me knowing I wanted you. When she bed Castien—”
Nara shook her head, leaning against the wall. “Castien?”
“He killed her when she became pregnant. He made me watch.” His face was serious and composed, regardless of how much he’d had to drink. “Fallon told me Castien had his sights on you, and I told Fallon to stay away.” Nara shook her head, ready to leave his arms. “No, Nara, I know that look but listen to me. I told Fallon th
at for his safety and yours.”
“Yet you touch me,” she snipped. At her words, he was on her again. Mouth hot and hungry against hers. His now rough hands pulled at her shoulders, deepening their kiss, drawing her into more than just a physical longing.
“I do,” he breathed, forehead to forehead with her, his hands insistent on her shoulders. “I do because I want to show you. I want to steal you away now, to make up for the wrong I did. I want to take you as my wife and leave Ghela. I told you I saved money. We need to leave. I have enough to get us to Nudomri and into one of the kingdoms there. I want you to meet those people, but the time is not now.”
“No,” she murmured, remembering the words of Mother Dryad.
“Yes,” he said, pulling away just enough to lock eyes with her. “Even if it means returning later for you to take the crown, if that is what you so desire. But I fear for you, and I want you as my own. Damn the mistakes of my past, Nara. We can move into the future together.” He licked his lips and glanced over his shoulder. “Please, just let me show you. We can travel together like we always wanted to.”
It was all so tempting and overwhelming. He knew what she wanted most. Perhaps he even knew she was not content with being little more than a captive in Ghela. And what he told her about Castien sent a deep warning to her. Evert was not known for lying, even for personal gain.
“We can leave tonight,” he said, looking over his shoulder again. “Please.”
“Evert—”
“I meant it,” he whispered, this time peeking around the corner of the alcove. When he looked back at her, he held her face between his hands. “We can leave right now, even in what you have on. Your blood family does not understand you. We can go to Vheria and wed and leave from there.”
“Right now?”
“Yes, right now.” He nodded fervently. “We should leave now, and I mean now.”
She smirked, remembering her one time lover with his impatience and drive. He had been the one who’d first inspired her to leave Vheria, often taking her with him to the port town. And when they had begun to hold one another, he had attempted to touch her further, knowing he would not receive a mark at all. When she calmly explained that she might still receive one, he dropped the subject with much chagrin.
If only she knew then what she experienced with Castien.
Opening her mouth to answer him, she was cut short by screams that echoed through the halls. Eyes widening, she moved away at Evert’s protest.
“What was that?” she breathed. A thunderous crash echoed through the halls now. They had not gone far from the great hall and her curiosity drove her to want to look.
“Nara, don’t go in there!” Evert shouted as he followed her down the hall, attempting to hold her back by her arm. Despite his effort, she was able to look in through the door of the hall. Her eyes first fell on her barely-known sister. The girl lay sprawled on the floor, covered in blood. Surrounding her were several dozen hooded and masked individuals who fought both guards and dragonlings. Their masks looked like feathers painted in varying shades of blues and reds, and a golden beak rested above lips painted in gold.
Nara looked at Evert, shocked, wondering at his actions and if he knew this would happen.
“Don’t,” Evert pleaded, still holding tightly to her arm.
One of the masked beings cut down a guard before glowing, fire blue eyes turned on Nara. The being dashed at her, moving as swiftly as the phoenix its mask portrayed. Pulling a guard’s head down by the antlers of his helm, it used the guard’s body to jump into the air. Dagger held high, the being aimed it for her. She stood grounded to the spot, heart racing and eyes wide.
Mere inches from Nara, a flash of black came between them. The figure fell to the floor with a loud thud, bleeding from the side and neck. Nara stared in amazement at her new guardian. Scoria stood with dark hair swaying and a spattering of blood across her arms and face. An intense reptilian gaze focused on Nara before she looked back into the hall.
Another figure ran at them. Dark robes fluttered about like wings as they deftly avoided one guard after another.
Before she could see Scoria defend her, Evert had Nara around the waist.
“Perfect timing. We need to go,” he hissed. He only needed to drag her a short ways before she ran with him through the halls, holding his hand. Her blood pounded through her veins. Everything blurred around her as she blindly followed him.
A figure suddenly dropped down in front of them, wearing the same mask and robes as the others. Nara stumbled backwards and collided with Evert before he grabbed her shoulder and pushed her behind him.
Two more came from the corridors, swords held loosely at their sides. It was then that Evert backed away, keeping his hand tight on Nara’s shoulder.
“Evert.” The first one spoke. The fire eyes of the mask swayed, revealing behind them a set of mortal eyes. Human or elf she could not tell. But it was some comfort that this was no demon. “Give her to us.” Evert shook his head. “You were told to stay away.”
Evert took another step back. “I told them what I would do.” Evert pushed Nara now so he stood in front of her. “Let me through.”
“After you hand her over.”
“I will fight you before I do that. Now move.”
“Evert—”
“Move!” Evert shouted. Nara swallowed hard, trying to think of what to do. Evert had always been a skilled fighter, but there were three people standing in front of them.
When they move, you move, the same voice from her visions told her.
The two beings to the side charged forward. One swiped at Evert, but he was faster. Dodging to the side, he kicked one in the leg before grabbing his hands and prying the sword free of his grip.
Go!
Nara ran forward, and it felt as though she were not completely in control. The being on the left turned towards her, and, as it swung at her, she dodged the blade. Her breath caught in her throat as she pivoted on the tips of her toes to watch her attacker’s next move. Evert cracked the hilt of the sword into the head of the one he fought and, lunging forward, grabbed the robes of the one that tried to harm Nara.
As Evert pulled the being back, Nara took off again.
Her freedom was short-lived.
The third one reached her before she could rush by. Placing a dagger to her neck, he held her tight against him. Being this close, the heavy scent a summer fire mixed with the sweet scent of gailenias drifted from him to her.
“You should be honored.” He hissed into her ear. “He would betray his god for such a pretty face.” Nara’s cheeks turned red. From anger or otherwise, she did not know. But when he placed a dagger to her throat, the fear that ran like ice through her was clear.
Both assailants disarmed and threw Evert down. He looked up at her with wide eyes. His words were breathless as he shouted. “Let her go! I told our leader that she can be different!” Kicked in the stomach, he rolled to the side and clutched his midsection. Blood pooled on the floor, oozing from a wound on his arm.
Close your eyes. Death will not touch you just yet.
Nara obeyed.
Taking a deep breath in, Nara closed her eyes. Warmth surrounded her for a moment before a light brighter than the torches shone behind her eyelids. A gust of wind exploded around her and the beings cried out. The presence behind her had lifted along with the dagger at her throat.
When she opened her eyes, the beings scrambled to their feet. Their masks knocked off, she stared into the faces of three elves. Bewildered, they stepped away.
Though wide-eyed, Evert wasted no time to stand up and rush forward. “I don’t know what you just did, but we need to go.” He grabbed her by the arm, and they set off running again. Glancing once behind her, Nara no longer saw the elves or their masks.
They stopped in a darkened corridor. The moon shining through the window, Evert began pulling at the bolt that held it.
“Who were those people?” Nara finally asked. Wi
th her heart beating loudly in her ears, she drew closer to him.
“Followers of the phoenix,” Evert grunted, making slow progress on the bolt.
“What?” she breathed, looking towards the way they had come.
“They follow the phoenix.” He shook his head and, with another grunt, tugged the bolt out of its hole before throwing open the window.
“Jump,” he commanded. Nara shook her head. However, despite wanting him to answer her now, fear made her listen. Looking through the window, she saw they were only a few feet above the ground. With her cumbersome gown gathered into her arm, she took his hand and climbed up before jumping out. However, something had caught her dress and ripped the train from her.
Evert grabbed her again and ran towards a line of thick shrubs.
“You know them?” she shouted. “They killed my sister.” She yanked her arm from his hand and stopped just short of the shrubs where dead bushes created an opening. “They were going to kill me?”
Evert danced on his feet, his impatience showing. “Nara come on.”
“Answer me.”
“We…” He sighed. “Yes. And we need to leave now. She is not in complete control. They know I came for you. I need you to leave with me. They’re not going to be happy. We will go to my home, retrieve Fallon and my money and leave.” She shook her head. “Nara, please. There’s no time for this. Neither of us belong here!”
She closed her eyes for a moment, waiting for the guiding voice to come to her. She did not know what to do, and she wanted to collapse.
The voice would not come.
“Please.” He took her by the hand. “I will tell you anything you want to know when we are on a boat to Vheria.” He swallowed, and his hand trembled. Her lips parted, wanting to speak. She had already come this far. But she had gone even further with Castien. Mother Dryad had told her to stay with Castien, but every day, every new revelation pushed her further away from him. At the same time, she wanted to cling to him.
But here was Evert. The one she had loved for so long. The one she knew far too well.
Time ran out for her to decide to further follow him or not. Evert fell backwards with a loud gasp for air. Scoria held her sword out in front of her. She had not harmed him, but he stayed on the ground, staring up at them.
Dryad's Touch (Void Waker Book 1) Page 34