The Heart of the Ancients

by Elizabeth Isaacs

  I frowned. “But that’s not fair. We shouldn’t force her to do something against her will.”

  “Then get her to agree. Either way, whether she’s bound and gagged or walking on her own, she’s getting on that boat.” Gavin stood and put on his coat. “Weylin and Cali are outside the lighthouse, by the shore. I need to talk to Molly and Rune.” He kissed my forehead and started toward the stairs. “Go. Convince our little hot-headed Italian from California that it’s in her best interest to want to go with us. Either that or Weylin will do things his way.”

  “WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOU don’t eat meat?” Cali stood with a long, jerky stick in one hand, a bottle of water in the other. “You can’t be that big without protein. Sheesh, where do you people come from?”

  Weylin looked utterly appalled as Cali pulled a hunk of jerky between her teeth.

  I walked toward them before he could reply. “Cali? Can I talk to you for a minute?”

  “Sure.” She bit the jerky again, smiling as Weylin shuddered.

  I linked my arm with hers, and we started toward the shore. I thought for a moment, trying to find the right thing to say.

  “Listen, Nora—or would you rather I call you Princess?”

  I smiled. “Nora’s fine.”

  “Okay, Nora it is. You look worried. Let me fill you in on something. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time. Don’t worry about me. I’m already packed. As soon as you and the Hulk over here take off, I’m headed south.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “The Carolinas. Or maybe Tennessee. Someone passed through a few days ago, and they’re headed that way. Maybe if I hurry, I can catch them.”

  “I grew up there,” I softly said.

  “Really? You don’t have a southern drawl, and you don’t look human. I mean, your eyes are different.”

  “That happened when I entered my husband’s world. When we returned, we’d planned on going back to Waynesville, in the Appalachian Mountains. That is until we heard the Dokkalfar had taken over.”

  “Is that what those things are called? Where did they come from, anyway?”

  “Long story. But right now, you need to know that going south isn’t a great option. The woods are crawling with them, and from what we’ve heard the mountains are flooded with survivors hoping to find food and clean water.”

  Cali’s brown eyes fell. She took a deep breath and then squared her shoulders. “Well, I guess it’s west then. I’ll stay in the open.”

  “But that won’t give you any place to hide when they come after you.”

  Cali grew frustrated. “What do you suggest I do? We’re about as far east as I can go, and with winter so close, going north would be suicide.”

  I stopped and faced her. “Then come with us.”

  “Listen, I appreciate—”

  I held up my hands. “Hear me out. The Urisk have been here for thousands of years. They have special fighting abilities and can protect you. Weylin is my personal guard, and you know how strong he is. The others are fierce fighters as well. The best warriors we have. You’ll be safe.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “And what do you get out of this? Why protect me? I’m just some chick whose home you invaded. I’m nothing special, believe me. So why go to the trouble?”

  “Companionship.”

  She scoffed. “That’s the best you’ve got? Companionship? Come on, Princess. You don’t need me. You’ve already got friends.” Her last words were nothing short of mocking.

  Weylin growled behind us. I glanced back, pointedly staring at him before turning to Cali.

  “You’re right. I consider the Urisk and Alfar family. But I haven’t spoken to another human in years. And so, I offer you food, shelter and safe passage in exchange for information and human friendship. What do you say?” I tacked on a smile as we walked along the rocky shore.

  “That’s sweet and all, but I’m not buying it.” She glared at Weylin. “If all you wanted was friendship, you wouldn’t have had the Hulk back there guarding me. I haven’t so much as blinked without him knowing.” Cali’s shrewd eyes met mine. “No, I’m guessing this is about your hubby, who’s in charge of this whole thing. He’s not for letting me go, is he? That’s what this is about. I know too much.”

  I kept my expression neutral, my eyes on her. “I’m not going to lie. He is concerned. But my offer is made in good faith. I really would like to hear about what’s happened here. And I’d love to know about Italy. I’ve never been.”

  “And if I say no?”

  Weylin took a step closer and popped his head between ours. “Say it and find out.”

  Cali bristled, but I took her arm.

  “Ignore him,” I whispered, hurrying a few paces ahead. “He loves to antagonize. It’s his gift.”

  Cali glared back. “He’s been pulling that crap all morning. Like he wants me to try and run so he can catch me.”

  Puzzled, I looked at Weylin, whose eyes were firmly set on Cali’s curly black hair.

  “You never answered my question,” she said.

  “What question?”

  “What if I say no?”

  I gritted my teeth and kept my eyes forward.

  “So, I’m right.” Cali looked out to sea. A metal-hulled ship, similar to a commercial fishing trawler, sat across from the lighthouse. The sleek deck seemed state of the art, but tall, wooden poles, several stories high, jutted up from the bow, stern, and middle, reminding me of an old pirate ship. Black feathers and gray fur hustled about as the Urisk got ready to set sail.

  I held my hand up to block the sun. “I wonder what those are for.”

  “Wind sails.” Cali squinted, staring at the horizon. “Or maybe they’ve managed to find solar sails, but those are rare.”

  I dropped my hand to my side, pulling my light jacket a little tighter across my midriff.

  “Gotta give them one thing,” Cali’s eyes never left the ship. “The fur-and-feathers you hang with have a knack for problem-solving.”

  “That they do.” I smiled. We turned from the shore and headed back toward the lighthouse. “You’ll be safe with us, you know. And you won’t be lonely.” I linked my arm with hers again.

  Cali glanced back. “Yeah. Not so sure about being safe with your lot either.”

  I started to assure her that Weylin was harmless, but one glance at the hard glint in his eyes had me changing my mind.

  “Glad you’re back, my lady.” Rena waved as we made our way to the lighthouse door. “Gavin, Rune, and Elias are working with the Urisk. The Prince wants to get moving, and he said he’ll meet you on board.” She turned to Cali, her jasper brown eyes warmed. “I’ve taken the liberty of placing your things in your cabin. Is there anything else you need?”

  Cali smirked, glancing over her shoulder. “Did you bring a muzzle?”

  Rena grinned. “I have a feeling that won’t be necessary.”

  She left the lighthouse door askew as we headed down toward the ship. I started to close it, but then I remembered that it didn’t matter anyway. The place would be crawling with Dokkalfar by nightfall.

  “Uh ... anyone mind telling me how we’re getting out there?” Cali asked as we started around the lighthouse.

  “We’re taking the canoes.” I pointed toward several woven boats standing on the edge of the rocky shore.

  Balking, Cali stumbled. “I am not getting on those things. They’ll sink before we get five feet out, and the water is freezing this time of year.”

  “Oooooh, is the little human scared to get wet?” Weylin mocked as he came between us.

  “Bite my ass,” Cali growled.

  Angry brown eyes glared at bemused turquoise. The energy between them was a weird mix of loathing, desire, and blatant respect. Cali stormed away with Rena close behind.

  “It’s a saying,” I muttered to Weylin. “I don’t think she appreciated you teasing her.”

  “Obviously.”

  Weylin and I made our way down the shore. Re
na and Cali had stopped in front of the canoes. The more Rena explained how the boats worked, the more anxious Cali became.

  “My Light.” A smaller Urisk bowed, the silver feathers framing her face gleamed in the sunlight. “It seems I’ll be yer guide again. ‘Tis an honor, it is. And I’ll be takin’ ya to yer new quarters too.”

  “Cali.” I smiled. “I’d like for you to meet a friend of mine.”

  Kyla blushed furiously and shook her head. “Tis not necessary. I’d be meetin’ the human warrior yesterday.”

  Kyla’s eyes scanned the landscape. “Beggin’ yer pardon, Light. I’d rather be gettin’ on our way.”

  Rena jogged ahead to help Kyla put the rest of the packs in the back of the boat. Cali’s complexion had become pasty white.

  “We’ve already ridden in the Urisk canoes. I promise they’re safe.” I linked my arm through Cali’s, and we made our way down to the water.

  This time four canoes had been fastened together. The outer two were longer by half, and the side-by-side structure reminded me of something similar to a small catamaran.

  “Nora rides with me.” Weylin hopped in the middle boat. Cali stumbled backward, jerking her arm out of reach.

  “Rena,” I whispered. “A little help here ...”

  Rena turned in time to see Cali back away and run full tilt down the shore.

  “I don’t have time for this,” Weylin grumbled. “Rena, get in the boat with the Princess. I’ll take care of our little problem.” He jumped out and took off after her.

  Even at Cali’s fastest, Weylin had overtaken her within a hundred yards. Hoisting her over his shoulder, he carried her, kicking and screaming, back to the boat. Her fury seemed to amuse him; his turquoise eyes gleamed in the early afternoon sun.

  “Pipe down, Kitten. You’ll be fine.”

  She full-on panicked as he stepped into the boat next to us. He flipped her into his lap. One large hand easily held both of hers. The other arm came around her back as he wedged her ankles between his knees, essentially putting her in an unbreakable hold.

  “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.” Weylin sounded oddly gentle.

  Brown eyes, round with fear, desperately searched the deep blue water. “I can’t swim,” she finally admitted.

  His expression grew tender. “Well I can, so there’s no need to worry.”

  She begrudgingly relaxed, but Weylin didn’t loosen his hold. Eight Urisk took their position in the outer boats, four in each outrigger. The two in the front and the back held paddles, but the two in the center kept their eyes on the landscape.

  Weylin tucked Cali’s head beneath his chin and looked at me. “You all right there, Princess?”

  Rena rolled her eyes. “In case you’ve forgotten, I guarded Nora for years. We’re fine.”

  Weylin started to say something, but the curvy wisp of a woman sitting on his lap tensed as the boats pushed offshore. He muttered something in her ear, and she settled again.

  The paddles sloshed in a steady rhythm, cutting a neat path beneath the calm water. The hull of the ship grew larger as we neared, and I became aware of the sheer size of the thing.

  Kyla pulled up alongside a wooden rope ladder.

  “Up you go.” She pulled the ladder forward, allowing me to grab hold. Elias and Elaine waited at the top, and I scaled the rope easily and hopped on deck. Rena joined us as two of the Urisk, one from each side, followed. Weylin stood, Cali still in his arms. His head bent low, he looked as if he were saying something. He finally let her wrists go, and she wrapped them around his neck.

  One hand looped under her knees, the other used to climb, Weylin scaled the ladder with her hanging onto him for dear life.

  As soon as he got on deck, he gently set her down. She took a step back, her arms falling to her side.

  I waited for one of them to start bantering, but oddly enough they both were silent.

  Elias cleared his throat.

  “Where’s Gavin?” I asked.

  Elias’ black hair whipped away from his face. “He’s waiting for you below deck. Rena, Tark is with Rune by the forward mast. Elaine’s already stirring up a good headwind.”

  Kyla hopped on board as Elias turned away.

  “My Light, I’ll be showing ya to your quarters now.”

  Cali, Weylin and I followed, trying to stay out of the other Urisk’s way as they untied a huge sail anchored to the central boom.

  “What does that mean?” Cali asked as we headed to the stairs under the center wooden mast.

  “What does what mean?” Weylin seemed to have found his voice again.

  “Oh, you know. That whole ‘she’s stirring up the wind’ thing. That Elaine chick got a handle on the weather? Because if she does, I’d like to request some warmer days.”

  Kyla opened the door leading below deck.

  “Let’s just say she’s really good at predicting the weather,” I mumbled as we made our way downstairs.

  “This’ll be the way t’ yer cabin, my Light.” Kyla pointed to the left. “Yours’ll be the room at the end.”

  “And, Guardian, yours and the humans’ll be the same on this side.” She looked at Weylin and Cali pointing to the right.

  “I should be closer to the Princess.” Weylin stated, not liking the fact that we were on opposite sides of the landing.

  “Yeah. Anything that gets him farther away from me is a good idea.” Cali smirked.

  Kyla’s eyes narrowed. “Beggin’ yer pardon. We’d not be gettin’ a choice in the matter. There’d be four cabins, two on each side.”

  “Where are the Urisk staying?” I asked, looking around.

  “We’d be settin’ up camp, below here, where they used t’ be storin’ supplies.”

  “Please tell me you’ve done something to make the cargo hold livable.” I would hate it if the Urisks had nothing to sleep on but cold, hard metal.

  “You’re not t’ be worryin’, Light. We’d be findin’ that the livin’ quarters suit us fine.” She smiled a secret smile.

  “Wait.” Cali’s eyes narrowed. “Did you say four cabins?”

  “Aye.” Kyla pointed to the cabin doors as she spoke. “There’ll be one for the Light and her mate, one for the Sky Keeper and her mate, one for the Water Keeper and his mate, and one for you and the Light’s Guardian.”

  “What?” Cali’s eyes rounded as she glanced at Weylin and then back at Kyla. “You can’t make me sleep in the same room with him.”

  “There’d be no other place.” Kyla’s feathers bristled.

  Cali hesitated before taking a step forward. “Look, surely we can come to a compromise.”

  “And how’ll we be doin’ that?” Kyla tilted her head, curious.

  Cali sweetly smiled. “Well, I could find a corner in the cargo hold with the Urisk. I don’t have much, and I don’t take up a lot of room.”

  Kyla blushed and looked down. “Beggin pardon, human. That’ll not be possible.”

  Cali’s smile fell to a frown. “Why not.”

  “Well, ya see, our kind’ll be needin’ space t’ be strengthenin’ in the way of the Urisk. It’ll be a sacred time. We’ll not be allowin’ others to venture down there while we’d be sharin’—”

  “I understand.” I interrupted Kyla, not wanting to make her explain further. Urisk strengthened by expressing physical love as the Alfar did. “The cargo hold is off limits to everyone but the Urisk.”

  Relief washed over Kyla’s expression as she dipped her head in a small bow. “That’ll be the way of things, Light. Now, if you’ll be excusin’ me. I’d be gettin’ back t’ Finn before he starts pullin’ his feathers out.” She bounded up the stairs and closed the door.

  “Well, that wasn’t awkward at all,” Weylin said dryly.

  “What does she mean, ‘strengthen?’” Cali asked, purposefully keeping her back toward Weylin.

  I remembered how weird the concept of drawing physical strength from emotions was when Gavin explained it to me. I had n
o idea how long we were going to be on this ship. Better to get the discussion over with now.

  I took a seat on the second step and invited her to sit next to me. “Weylin, could you give us a minute?”

  He grinned. “Sure thing, Princess. I’ll start unpacking.” He winked, and Cali glared back.

  I waited until the door shut at the end of the hall.

  “Well?” Cali flopped down on the step.

  “Man and Alfar were created by the same Maker, but he gave us different qualities.”

  Surprised, Cali looked up. “So didn’t see that coming, but I’ll bite. What’s so different?”

  I picked off a fleck of dirt from my pants. “Well, you know how strong Weylin is?”

  Cali looked down the hall. “Yeah.”

  “He gets that from emotions and intent.”

  Cali’s left eyebrow rose, her smirk spoke volumes. “Really. That’s a little bizarre.”

  I smiled. “I thought so too, at first. Look, both Urisk and Alfar are extremely strong. They draw that strength from things like love, joy, peace, kindness and so forth. The Dokkalfar, the enemy, is equally as strong, only they get their strength from hatred, despair, and suffering.”

  “Interesting ... but that doesn’t really explain the whole have-to-sleep-in-the-same-room-as-obnoxious-boy thing, does it?”

  I sighed. “Emotions give off energy. Combine it with physical expression, and it’s powerful.”

  Confusion crossed her face. “Not sure what you mean.”

  “You grow stronger by becoming one with your mate.”

  Cali blushed. “So, you mean they are ...” She slammed her eyes shut. “Really don’t want to bunk with the Urisk right now.”

  I chuckled. “The Alfar and Urisk view making love differently than most humans. It’s an integral part of their existence. It’s a communion between souls.”

  I frowned as my thoughts turned to Weylin. Unmated Alfar drew energy from other life sources. His source rested in Kailmeyra’s forests, although that was personal, and so I never asked him what it was. What would he use now?

  “You know,” Cali’s wistful tone drew me back to the conversation. “Aside from the disturbing mental image of the cargo hold, I like your take on love better than mine.”