Rena scowled. “I agree that Weylin should be her guide, but we cannot let her leave this ship without preparing her for the battle ahead.”
Elias’s eyes met Rena’s. “The human has fought the Dokkalfar for years.”
“But not at this level,” Elaine stated. “We’ve spent months preparing Nora, we only have weeks with this one.”
“Prince,” Rena stepped forward. “She has a warrior’s heart.”
“And a human’s frail body.”
“I can heal her,” Rena countered.
Gavin looked out at the endless white caps along the sea. His fists clenched and unclenched as he mulled over what he wanted to say.
“You’ve never experienced it.” His voice held a tinge of desperation. “Watching your source, who could easily be killed with one well-placed blow, face the guard. If we had tried something like this a few days after I met Nora, it would have brought me to my knees.”
“Source?” Shocked, I looked at Gavin and then Elias. “Cali’s Weylin’s source?”
Everyone ignored the question.
Tark stepped closer. “Weylin doesn’t have to know that Cali’s training.”
Gavin’s eyes narrowed. “That would undermine his trust.”
“Or it might save both Weylin and Cali,” Tark replied. “Look, you know I rarely speak on such matters, but we’re repeating history here. We kept Nora in the dark and look where that got us. She found herself alone, facing the Dokkalfar, undefended—and worse, ignorant. She could have easily died.”
Gavin kept his eyes on the horizon. “I well remember.”
“Nora was the Last Light of the Ancients though.” Elias’ brassy tone was back, along with a thread of annoyance. “Even before she strengthened she could manipulate the energy around her. We cannot ignore the fact that Cali doesn’t have that attribute. She is merely human.”
“You’re right.” I folded my arms across my chest. “And yet that mere human has managed to survive years on her own, fighting the Dokkalfar without any training. She’s created a crude weapon that can decapitate them in one fell swoop. She’s killed more of those demons than most of our seasoned warriors.” A cold wind whipped around me, snapping my hair across my face. I brushed it back. “But hey, I’m sure training with us will be too much for her, right?”
Elias’ eyes glinted with respect. “Point well made, Princess. However, it’s not her I’m concerned about, but Weylin. When an Alfar male finds his true source, his need to protect her comes before anything else. Especially before he’s placed his soul stone on her wrist and claimed her as his own. Weylin is your Guardian. We cannot afford for him to weaken.”
“Then there’s only one solution.” Elaine chimed in. “Nora, Rena and I will train Cali while you keep Weylin occupied.”
Elias opened his mouth to speak, but the slamming door behind caused all heads to turn.
Cali stormed out of the weapon’s room, fire glinting in her eyes. She marched across the deck, opened the door that led to the cabins and slammed it closed before Weylin had made two steps outside.
“She seems upset.” Rena glanced at Weylin.
Weylin watched the door for a minute. “She resents me. But I won’t risk her getting hurt. I can’t.” His shoulders slumped, and Elias clapped him on the back.
“I’ll go talk to her.” I squeezed Gavin’s hand before starting across the deck.
“Wait up,” Rena shouted. “We’ll go with you.”
Elaine glanced at Elias before following in Rena’s wake.
I’d just reached the hall when the door across the landing opened. Cali’s curls fell around her face, but her arms were full of blankets and a few clothes. She blew the hair from her eyes and stopped when she saw us. “I can’t stay in the same room with someone who thinks I’m weak.”
I kept my distance. “I don’t blame you.”
Surprised, Cali froze.
“If that were the case, that is,” I amended. “Which it’s not.” I took a step forward. “No one thinks you’re weak.”
Elaine glanced at the bundle in her hands. “Where are you planning on staying?”
Cali’s breath hitched, but she got it under control. “I cleared out a spot in the pantry. I’d planned on going through the kitchen, so no one would see me.”
“You can’t stay there.” Rena held up her hand as Cali glared at her. “It’s not feasible. The pantry is above deck and along the outer wall. When the kitchen stoves aren’t firing, you’ll freeze.”
“I’ve been through worse.”
Elaine smiled. “I’m sure you have. But let’s not test your survival skills this day. Come.” She took the bundle from Cali’s hands and walked back into the room, placing it on the bed. “We have things to discuss.”
Fury blazed in Cali’s eyes, but she didn’t protest. Elaine led us back up the steps, across the deck, past the weapons room, and through another metal door. The room was considerably smaller than any of the others and held no windows. The only light came from a lone bulb swinging from a wire overhead.
“What are we doing here?” Cali asked, closing the door behind her.
Elaine sat in the middle of the floor and waited until we joined her. “We’ve made a decision.”
Surprised, Cali froze. “Okay.”
Elaine’s jade eyes studied her for a moment. “We know little of your past, and yet your energy demands our trust. We’ve watched you weaken the Dokkalfar when you fight. The Urisk are adamant you are to be protected, that we assure you survive. It’s for these reasons we have decided you should train.”
Cali’s bright smile lit up the room. “Niiiiiice.”
“But there’s a catch,” Rena said.
Her smile fell. “What is it?”
“Weylin cannot know,” Elaine said. “At least, not yet.”
Cali glanced at each of us. “Why?”
“That’s not important. Just know that we intend to protect and not deceive.” Rena glanced at Elaine.
Cali shrugged. “Not sure what you’re even talking about, but I can keep a secret with the best of them.”
“Yes, well,” Rena cleared her throat. “It may be harder than it seems.”
Elaine glanced at Rena as if she agreed.
“So, let’s get started.” Cali rubbed her hands together. “Who’s teaching me how to use one of those bows?”
Rena grinned. “We’ll learn that another day. Right now, it’s important you understand your enemy.”
I leaned against the wall as Rena and Elaine discussed ways to kill a Dokkalfar.
“So, they burn in sunlight?” Cali shook her head. “Earlier today you said they thought they could become a god if they smothered some flame of something, right?”
“That is correct.” Elaine smiled.
“How could anyone who can’t even get a suntan think they could rule the world?”
I scooted forward, joining the group. “Jayril was obsessed with the idea, actually. After he died, his predecessor focused on increasing their numbers and surviving. But a few years ago, everything changed.”
“Yeah?” Cali uncrossed her legs. “What happened?”
Rena explained Mia’s descent into darkness.
Cali rubbed her forehead. “So, this Mia now knows the Alfar secrets, including those energy-filled rocks—Sfera, right?”
“Correct,” Elaine said. “And when she joined with Jakkar, the only descendant of Jayril, he shared the knowledge of his forefathers with her before he died.”
“Which means she knows the secrets of both the Alfar and Dokkalfar. Does she believe that crazy notion? You know, the one about becoming a god?”
“We have reason to believe she may,” Rena hedged.
Cali whistled through her teeth. “That is one dangerous chick.” She looked at me. “Can she do that? Snuff out the original energy, I mean?”
“It’s possible,” I muttered.
“And what happens if she succeeds?”
Elaine’s jad
e eyes hardened. “Then both worlds die.”
“That’s one of the reasons it’s important you train,” I said. “We’ve only got a few weeks before we land. The Urisk have been preparing for centuries. They know of a place that will help get rid of the dark portal, which will hopefully weaken the Dokkalfar, so we can take care of Mia.”
Cali rubbed her hands together. “Well, what are we sitting here for?”
Rena grinned. “It’s getting late.”
“Training begins first thing in the morning.” Elaine patted Cali’s leg. “Now let’s get going. We wouldn’t want anyone to come looking for us.”
“Weylin’s not an idiot, you know.” Cali stood and put her scarf around her neck. “We can’t do this right under his nose. He’s going to know something’s up.”
Elaine smiled. “Elias is explaining to him now that your human body needs to stay fit. He will know of your conditioning, but we will not speak of your weapons and hand-to-hand training.”
Cali grinned as we stepped into the cold. “Sounds like a plan to me.”
The dining hall was empty except for a long table closest to the kitchen. Elias sat at one end; Gavin took his place at the other.
A large soup tureen, platters full of bread, and bowls of nuts and dried fruits sat in the middle of the table.
Cold whooshed in the room as Rune and Molly walked through the door. Rune shook his head, his feathers rustling this way and that. “It’d be gettin’ colder by the minute.”
“Aye, that it would.” Molly smiled and smoothed his feathers back down before they took their seat at the table.
“Where are the other Urisk?” I asked.
“Storm’s movin’ in. They’d be gettin’ things ready.”
Bowls and plates were passed as several conversations took place at once.
Cali sat back in her chair, her eyes warm, content.
“What are you thinking?” I asked.
“That it’s nice to be a part of normal conversation. It’s been so long.”
Elaine’s jade eyes thoughtfully assessed her. “I sense you come from a large family—one that was loyal and fiercely protected their own.”
Cali’s eyes rounded. “How did you know? My father had twelve brothers and sisters. The entire family lived on a small vineyard.”
Rune’s eyes glittered with curiosity. “What’ll be yer name, Cali girl? Surely, we’d be earnin’ your trust by now?”
Cali looked down, slowly dipping her spoon back into her soup. “It’s Allessandro,” she muttered. “My name’s Melinda Allessandro.”
The room buzzed with excitement, and Cali looked up. “What’s the big deal?”
Rune’s eyes glowed to a dusty blue. “That’ll be a fine name, Cali girl.”
Confused, she openly stared at Rune. “Why?”
Elaine was the one to answer. “Your first name, Melinda, is originally derived from the Linden tree, whose deep roots are known in both lands for their healing abilities. In Kailmeyra, the Linden tree gives off energy that helps heal a broken spirit. Therefore, the intent of your mother, whether she understood or not, was that her daughter has spiritual roots deep enough to heal a hurting soul.”
Gavin’s large palm enveloped my hand. “As you can see, names mean more to the Alfar than to man.”
Cali glanced around the room. “All right. My first name gives me deep spiritually healing roots. What about my last name?” Her smile seemed fragile. “Dear old dad leave me a last name that means demon spawn or something?”
“Quite the opposite,” Elias said. “Allessandro is one of the oldest traditional names on Earth. The literal translation means ‘Defender of Man.’”
“So, if you put the names together they mean a spiritual healer who is the defender of man.” Rena grinned. “You must be a descendant of the Animus Warriors of old.”
“Aye,” Molly agreed. “That’d be our thought too. Although we’d be thinkin’ them extinct after the Gallic wars.”
Wide-eyed, Cali looked around the room. “You think that’s why I kick butt when it comes to the Dokkalfar? You think I’m some great defender of mankind?” Her eyes twinkled with a kind of desperation between hoping it was true and hoping it wasn’t.
“It’d be confirmin’ what we’d been sayin’ all along, now wouldn’ it?” Rune smiled. “Our Cali-girl, well, she’d be rare.”
I reached across the table, and she shook my hand. “Melinda Allessandro, known to us as Cali, it’s nice to finally know your name.”
“And it’s nice to meet you, Nora ... what’s your last name?”
Rune grinned. “She’d be Princess Nora of Frey, Last Light of the Ancients and the Urisk’s Light of Hope.”
Cali’s smile brightened her face. “Now that sounds important.”
“Aye,” Rune grunted. “That it is.”
I swallowed past the lump forming in my throat. “Call me Nora Frey.”
A bench scraped across the wooden floor as Tark pushed away from the table. “While this has been most enjoyable, please excuse me.” He stood. “I’m needed on deck.”
Molly came to her feet as well. “Aye, I’ve a feelin’ we won’t be dinin’ together for a few days. We’ll be comin’ up on the squall line by morn.”
“Shoot,” Cali grumbled.
Weylin glanced at her. “What’s the problem?”
“Nora and I planned to go for a run tomorrow.” She yawned.
“Sounds like you might need the rest anyway.” Elaine’s jade eyes warmed.
Cali and I put our vests back on while Rena and Elaine set out to help the Urisk. The boat rocked and swayed as the waves swelled then ebbed.
By the time we left, the wind was so strong Gavin struggled to open the door.
“Good thing we aren’t running tomorrow,” I shouted over the rush of wind and water. “As big as these waves are, we’d both probably be tossed overboard.”
Cali put her head down, leaning against the gale, and we made our way across the ship and headed down the stairs.
Chapter 23
Cali’s Gift
The storm came with a vengeance, forcing us to stay below deck for most of the week.
Cali had shivered so badly, I finally gave her my other set of Ester’s camisole and leggings. Even though they were too roomy for me, they fit her like a glove.
Rena and I tortured Cali with art lessons. She grumbled and complained until Rena gave up and started teaching her how to carve knife handles and sharpen small blades. The rest of the week Cali and Rena made weapons while I sculpted river rocks. Still, by the time the sun broke through the clouds, I was going absolutely stir crazy.
True to her word, Elaine had found a way for us to train without Weylin knowing. The next few weeks were spent running laps around the deck in the morning, but every other afternoon Gavin ordered the men to take part in preparing with the Urisk. While Weylin, Gavin, Elias, and Tark were schooled on what the Urisk knew, Rena, Elaine, Cali, and I trained in the little room a few doors down. Rena had taken a few whips and halberds from the storage room, but the bows stayed where they were.
“We cannot shoot them on the ship,” Rena repeated the same thing she’d said for the past few days. Cali lunged for Rena’s head, but she dodged her easily.
Cali rolled and found her footing. “Just teach me how to hold the bow, then.” She charged again; Rena easily deflected.
“You’re getting better.” Elaine circled the pair. She looked at Rena. “Let her catch you this time.”
“I hate it when you say it like that.” Cali dove for Rena, this time wrapping her arm around her neck. “Makes me feel like you’re toying with me.” She grunted.
Rena whipped her around, landing her squarely on her back. She grinned as she straddled her, efficiently trapping her arms. “That’s because we are.”
Cali jolted, knocking Rena back and then landing on her chest. “Oh yeah?” She grinned and lightly chucked her on the chin.
Rena laughed and had Cali on h
er back again before I even blinked. “Yeah.”
Cali growled in frustration. “Look, we’ve all established that I’m weaker and slower than everyone else. Why are we even bothering?”
“Because you naturally weaken the Dokkalfar, which puts you on even footing. You must know how to take them down without your scythe.” Rena let her up off the mat, and Cali lunged for her again, pinning Rena on the ground.
“Good,” Elaine said, still circling. “Now, where are the Dokkalfar’s weakest points?”
“Here, here, here, and here,” Cali said, pointing to various parts of Rena’s body.
“And what should you do if you’re truly trapped?”
Cali helped Rena up. “I should think of a time when I felt most loved, sink into the feeling, and release my energy, whatever that means.”
“Let’s hope you never have to try it, but at least you’ll know what to do.” Rena’s jasper eyes glittered as the light bulb swung from its cord overhead.
“We’d better get back,” I said, dusting my hands on my pants. “Molly’s called a meeting in the dining hall.”
Elaine reached for her coat. “Tomorrow, we train with weapons.”
Cali hooted and jumped up, and Rena and Elaine grinned as they finished putting on their hats and coats. We started toward the door.
“Hey, Nora.” Cali zipped up her life vest. “Wait up.”
I waved Rena and Elaine on as Cali tucked her wild hair into a thick wool cap.
“I’ve been working on something, and I want you to have it.” She pulled out a small knife with a woven case sheathing the edge. Cali slipped the sharp blade from its casing. “Kyla taught me how to weave pieces of willow’s bark to make the cover, but she had to help seal it. She said it will protect the blade even through black flames, although that doesn’t sound like fun.”
I swallowed, watching Cali put the blade back in its casing.
“Rena forged the steel with energy, but I created the handle.”
Crude shapes that looked like tall skyscrapers ran throughout the cherry wood.
“I know it’s not as good as you can do ... but ... well, I wanted you to have it. It’s the skyline of what used to be San Francisco.”
The Heart of the Ancients Page 24