Olivia only managed to nod, afraid the tears threatening to spill would run freely if she spoke. Kaden tipped her head back slightly and placed a chaste, soft kiss on her lips.
“Alright, let’s try it.”
Kaden's acceptance caused quite a commotion among the people of the tribe. Everyone was excited, yet apprehensive.
“We still need to wait for two more shamans to arrive, then we can try it.” Nahane announced.
“Already? Don’t you need to get ready first… or something?” Olivia’s clutched Kaden tightly, eyes wide with surprise and fear.
Ma’ad laughed. “No, there is no ritual to be done. We just hand over the amulet and see what happens.”
“Oh.” Olivia was a little disappointed. For such a big occurrence, it seemed the whole procedure was going to be quite underwhelming.
“We do need to attend to a few things” Ma’ad said. He and the other shamans stood up, other people had already dispersed. “It can happen tonight if you want it to?”
“The sooner, the better. I don’t think anyone would get much sleep anyway, considering all we have found out,” Kaden said as he looked over at Olivia, Charlie and Cassiel. They all nodded in return.
“Very well, we will let you know when we’re ready.”
The shamans left, and soon the chief excused himself as well, leaving them to discuss privately.
“This is a lot to take in, how are you two handling it?” Cassiel asked as they faced each other, creating their own private circle.
Olivia was now sitting cross-legged next to Kaden, leaning into his side with his arm around her shoulder.
“Honestly, I do not know,” she said. “There is a myriad of emotions going through me. I am a bit dizzy with it all. I can only imagine how Kaden is feeling.” She looked up at him.
Kaden shrugged. He was neither in the mood to talk about it nor did he know what to say. He picked up a cup of Artem from the table and handed the strong herbal drink to Olivia. They had been told it also had some medical use, but at this moment, it would serve well just to calm their nerves.
Olivia took a sip without question. The bitter taste of the alcoholic drink reached the back of her throat and her eyes widened. She coughed and spluttered, tears in her eyes. The others laughed, even Kaden allowed himself to chuckle.
“You really can’t handle a drink.” Charlie almost couldn’t stop laughing; she was feeling very emotional herself. She and Cassiel reached for the bottle and downed a shot each.
“Why did you give me that?” Olivia asked, once she was able to speak again, with a rasp in her voice.
“I’m sorry, love. I should have warned you first. You are just so tense and this might help you relax.” Kaden handed Olivia a different cup, this one containing only water. She eyed him warily so he explained, “It will help soothe the burn…”
Olivia took a suspicious sip and when she was satisfied it wasn’t anything alcoholic, she drank it all.
“I do not like alcohol,” she grumbled, and Kaden kissed the frown on her forehead.
“I’m sorry…”
“Just don’t do it again, or at least warn me.”
“I promise.” Kaden turned his attention to Cassiel and Charlie, while Pup laid his head on Kaden’s lap. Kaden absentmindedly started to pet him. “What are your plans when we leave here?”
Charlie frowned. “I was thinking of going with you. I have nowhere to go… but I like the idea of staying here as well.”
“You want to stay?!” Olivia asked, alarmed.
“If it means that much to you, I can go, as long as I get to stick around you. You can help me get back on my feet.” Charlie shrugged.
“You are my sister now, of course I want you to come... but if you would rather stay, I do not want to force you to leave.” Olivia really did want Charlie to come with them, she would miss her friend and the thought saddened her. At the same time, she didn’t want to be selfish. She wanted what was best for Charlie, whatever would make her happy. “You do not have to decide yet.”
Charlie nodded. “I’ll think about it.”
“What about you, Cassiel?”
“I have sworn my loyalty to you, Lady Olivia.”
“If you would rather go home to your family, you can go. I do not want you to feel obligated to me.”
“I am, and it is an honor. Unless you wish me to leave…” There was concern in his voice.
“I don’t want you to leave!” Olivia quickly squeaked. “I just wanted to give you a choice,” she explained.
“Then I choose to stay with you.” Cassiel glanced towards Kaden. “If that is alright with you, too.”
“You’re a good honorable man. I respect that. And the more we are in number, the easier it will be to keep Olivia safe, and Charlie, if she comes.” Kaden offered his hand to Cassiel. It was different than on their first meeting. Now, it was a sign of a brotherhood in the making.
Cassiel clasped Kaden’s forearm. “It is an honor as well.”
They continued to make small talk, discussing what they would do once they left. Not long after, Koda approached them, smiling happily at Kaden. He swung back and forth on his feet, bursting with energy.
“It is time,” Koda announced.
They rose to follow him. Olivia was holding Kaden’s hand as if clinging onto a lifeline. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and smiled, encouraging, as they made their way toward the bonfire.
The shamans stood to one side with two new arrivals, both female, while the rest of the people and the chief stood a bit behind them.
Nahane turned to look at Charlie and Cassiel. “Maybe it would be best if you stood back with the rest?”
Charlie quickly hugged Olivia. She was surprised to see Bast on the side, so she went to stand by her. Cassiel followed.
“Aren’t you supposed to be on patrol?” Charlie whispered as she looked up at Bast.
“My father thought it best I stayed, so I sent a replacement.”
Charlie nodded and turned her attention back to her friends, listening carefully to what shaman Nahane was saying.
“Is this alright?” Nahane asked Kaden.
“Is what alright?” Kaden repeated, confused.
“If it works, but you turn into a dragon, is this a large enough enough space?”
“Oh…” Kaden looked around. The tribespeople were standing behind the shamans, but some tables were still a bit too close. Trees encircled the area, but were far enough out of the way. His gaze traveled up at the night sky and the stars peering behind drifting clouds, it didn’t seem like it would rain. The bonfire next to them didn’t bother him. It wouldn’t make a difference and it was their main source of light, aiding the torches surrounding the area. “Maybe the people should spread out a bit, move those tables, making a circle from about here… to there?” He looked to Olivia for confirmation.
“That should be good,” Olivia said, imagining Kaden occupying the clearing in his dragon form.
Ma’ad turned to tell the people what they must do, while Koda and the other boys started burning some incense.
“What are those for?” Olivia inquired.
Nahane watched the boys move around, driving the incense sticks into the ground around them. “Just something to help him relax. We guess, if he fights it, it would be harder. This is just some harmless incense.”
“So...how do we do this?” Worry settled deep within Kaden, and he reached out to embrace Olivia again.
“We give you the amulet and… Then we see? We’ll step away of course, wouldn’t want to be trampled.” Nahane chuckled, “Yes, red is a good color. You’ll be alright.”
Olivia looked at Kaden, worried. These outbursts from the shaman were not reassuring.
“I’ll be alright, I promise, love.” Kaden tried to comfort her.
After hugging him tightly, Olivia pulled Kaden’s face down, touching his cheeks. “You’d better be alright,” she threatened before she kissed him, not caring about the people around them.
Kaden smiled against her lips and pulled her closer to deepen the kiss. Their mouths and tongues moved in a smooth synchrony. Once they broke the kiss, Kaden smoothed her hair. “I love you. And I don’t need the incense, you do just fine.”
A bright smile graced Olivia’s face. “I love you, too. I will be right over there…” She looked over to where Cassiel and Charlie were standing.
Kaden reluctantly let her go and said to Nahane, “I’m ready.”
“Here is the amulet. You put it on and...” Nahane extended a necklace to Kaden. The chain was made of mithral; a rare silvery, glistening metal, lighter than steel but just as hard. A simple amulet hung from it: a ruby stone encased in dragon’s wings. Kaden examined the ruby more closely, he could see colors inside swirling and twirling as if they had a mind of their own… or was it only the fire reflected within?
As Kaden reached for the amulet, Olivia suddenly yelled, “Stop!”
Kaden’s fingers were mere inches away from touching the amulet when he stopped. Everyone’s attention was now on Olivia.
“What is it, child?” Nahane asked, rushing to her side. Kaden approached her as well.
“I am fine. I was just thinking… I apologize for scaring you all…” she laid a comforting hand on Kaden’s cheek, reassuring him she really was alright, “A thought crossed my mind.”
Olivia looked over Kaden’s shoulder at the shamans. “Will it work as soon as he touches it or when he puts it around his neck?”
Kaden faced the shamans. It was a valid question.
“We didn’t really think of that.” Nahane returned to the other shamans and they exchanged a few whispered words. “We’d better not risk it. We’ll just leave it on the ground and you can pick it up once we step back. The magic of the amulet can be felt through the chain as well.”
“It is a good thing, your curiosity.” Ma’ad added.
Olivia smiled at the shaman.
“You mind never ceases to amaze me,” said Kaden “Promise me you’ll never stop questioning things… well, except me.” He winked.
“I do not believe I would be able to promise otherwise.” She winked back.
After pressing a kiss upon her cheek, Kaden stepped back. “Stay close to Cassiel and Bast over there. They should be able to protect you if anything goes wrong.” Kaden finally voiced his greatest fear, Olivia getting hurt.
“It will all turn out alright in the end. You will see. We just have to stay positive.” Olivia tried to persuade Kaden, thus calming her own anxiety. They both chose to believe her words. It was easier.
Kaden walked back to where Nahane was just placing the amulet on the ground.
“Well, it’s red. So, good luck,” the shaman said as he stepped back with the rest of them.
Kaden couldn’t believe that his future depended on what others would see as a single, expensive piece of jewelry. He scanned the faces around him. Some, like shamans Nahane, Ma’ad and Koda had wide grins on their faces, while others, including chief Marok and his Kamil, seemed more apprehensive.
His eyes reached his friends. Cassiel stood stoic and calm, and Kaden exhaled a sigh of relief. Bast seemed the same, save for a scowl marring the features of her face. Her cat looked at him expectantly, as if she knew something big was about to happen. Charlie nervously wrung her fingers, glance moving between Kaden and Bast.
And last, but never least, Olivia and Pup. The very thought of them made him smile. He remembered what they had already been through and, somehow, he knew it would be alright. Pup was laying on the ground by Olivia’s feet, his eyes trained on Kaden, and he whimpered slightly as he wanted to be by Kaden’s side, understanding he wasn’t allowed.
Olivia, though, looked like his own personal savior, which in reality she was. The fire cast a warm orange light on her face, making it seem as though she was glowing. Her hair was a mess of curls, which didn’t seem to bother her. She was so beautiful, he thought. He should have given her the comb he had brought with him as a reunion present for their reunion. Her bright blue eyes were shaded, almost pitch-black with worry that made his heart clench. He never wanted to see her anything but happy. Her bright smile, which had brought a sense of peace to his soul, was now gone.
As if aware of Kaden’s reluctance Olivia smiled, and then nodded her encouragement at him.
Kaden nodded back, took a deep breath and reached down for the necklace.
As he touched it, magic surged through him; a tingling, warm feeling with the aftertaste of an adrenalin surge. He fought against the first instinct - to drop it - instead he brought it up to eye level so he could examine the amulet. When he held it with both hands, the magic overwhelmed him. He gasped and fell to his knees.
The ancient magic entered his body, flowing… burning through his veins, reaching for his mind, his soul. The silence around him was deafening, only the crackling of the fire could be heard. Chancing a glance toward Olivia, he saw that she had covered her mouth, and in her eyes he saw that she was battling the urge to run to him.
Kaden hung the chain around his neck. He took in a lungful of night air and let the amulet rest above his heart.
It hit him then, the full force of it. Pain pierced his head. He screamed. He gripped the sides of his head, his breaths coming in short, shallow pants. It felt like the walls surrounding his mind were crumbling under the onslaught of a fierce wind, tainted with a haze of red. He tried to keep the wall up, build it up brick by slow brick, afraid of losing himself. But the harder he fought, the worse the pain became.
Kaden’s mind was engulfed in a fog. Struggling, he fought his way through, only to hear Olivia’s screams. She was calling for him and pleading for help. Looking through the curtain of dark hair that was draped over his forehead, he could see Cassiel and Bast holding Olivia back.
Koda stepped out with a carefree smile on his face. He said something to Olivia and then turned toward Kaden.
The wave of the magic crashed against his mind again. Kaden shut his eyes and tightly clutched his head.
Most of the people had taken an instinctive step back when Kaden cried out; the only one who seemed unconcerned was Koda. All eyes were on him now, the air filled with anticipation.
The boy walked to one of the incense sticks, plucked it out and walked toward Kaden. Even Olivia stopped her struggles to watch what the boy was up to.
Koda approached him. “Kaden, look at me.”
Finding the last vestiges of strength somewhere deep inside him, Kaden opened his eyes and looked at Koda, the boy now at eye level.
“Sleep,” Koda said, and blew the smoke of the incense directly into Kaden’s face.
The smoke entered his lungs and stung his eyes. He heard Olivia cry out his name again. Her worried face was the last thing he saw as he lost consciousness and hit the ground.
Chapter 20
Manu was leading the patrol sent to deal with Magnus, as requested by chief Marok. He informed his group of their assignment before they made their way toward Magnus’ camp.
They knew the forest well; every nook, cranny, tree and root. They neared the prince’s camp. Grunting, moaning and rustling drew them away from their path. Hopefully, it wasn’t another one of Magnus’ victims. Any man that would raise his hand to a woman, to anyone weaker than himself, should be stripped down, drenched with honey, and left for the bears. Himself included. He couldn’t believe he had acted that way with the fiery little woman. He still had a ways to go to master his temper. He would apologize again. It would bring him back into Bast’s good graces.
Manu gestured to his group to follow him. Their steps were slow and quiet upon the ground.
He hid behind a tree, and peered around it. Two men clung to each other, kissing and groping. The red-haired one tugged the darker one’s shirt over his head. Manu’s eyes widened, and he looked back at his people. They wore similar expressions of surprise and awkwardness. What were they to do?
He knew who those two were, Bast had told him about Magnus’s men f
rom the stories she had heard from Olivia and Charlie. These two shouldn’t be any trouble if the tales were true, but how to interrupt such a private moment?
He looked back to his people for help. They only shrugged and shook their heads.
Manu took a step forward, not bothering to be quiet, hoping it would get their attention. When he saw the redheaded man trail kisses down the other’s neck, he became very uncomfortable. He felt his cheeks heat up. He was witnessing something he had never even imagined. There were people like that in their tribe, he knew, but he’d never encountered such an intimate scene.
Manu cleared his throat. Their heads snapped up and they seized their bows, arrows nocked in an instant.
Manu’s group of six men and three women stepped out of the shadows around them, their own bows and javelins held ready.
Panic was obvious in the two men’s eyes. Manu couldn’t blame them. He took a step forward, his own weapons not drawn.
“Is one of you Theo or Damien?” Manu said, as he looked between the two men, noticing the red one was sporting a nasty bruise on his cheek.
Not lowering their weapons, Theo and Damien looked at each other in unspoken council. “I am Theo. This is Damien.” Theo inclined his head towards his lover. “Who are you and what do you want?” He narrowed his eyes again, gripping his bow tightly. He and Damien were outnumbered and he hoped that a fight wouldn’t break out.
“I am Manu of the Marok tribe, we were sent here to kindly ask you to leave the forest, especially Prince Magnus.”
Theo and Damien exchanged surprised glances again.
“How did you… wait! Olivia and Charlie?” Theo said.
“Are with us and safe.”
Theo and Damien’s shoulders sagged, and they slightly lowered their weapons. Theo expelled a relieved breath.
“Thank you! We were so worried about them! And Cassiel?” Theo inquired further.
“He is there as well, as is Kaden. They are all safe. You have my word as a tribe protector.”
Theo studied Manu for a moment then turned to Damien, who nodded his approval.
“Very well, we don’t have much choice but to believe your word. Magnus won’t be happy about it, not with what Olivia has done to him.” Both he and Damien lowered their weapons and Damien pulled his shirt back on.
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