Rhyn gave a gracious nod. ‘I will return tomorrow at suns’ peak, and we can speak then. For now, some of my warriors will form a perimeter around your camp in case the Brakys return. And, with your permission, I would send a group within your walls to ensure that no more Brakys remain.’
Denton considered Rhyn’s offer before he nodded. ‘Thank you.’
‘Until tomorrow,’ Rhyn replied before he turned and started back towards the group of warriors who waited behind them.
Sloane hesitated before following him though and looked Denton up and down. ‘My father has already caused a lot of death on both sides because of his lies. I sure hope you are more willing to listen.’
Denton let out a long breath. ‘I will not be deceived again,’ he replied. ‘Remember that should your boyfriend’s fighters try to double-cross us.’
Sloane scowled at his presumption about her and Rhyn, but quickly took a step back from Denton so she wouldn’t say something she’d regret.
He went to turn from her, but paused, lifting his hand to reveal the dagger Sloane had given to one of the soldiers earlier that night.
‘Oh, and I’m keeping this,’ he added. ‘See you tomorrow, Miss Avery.’
Sloane watched as he turned and walked back towards his men before disappearing behind the first line of soldiers. Dean followed him but stopped before he was out of sight and glanced back over his shoulder at her. She could see worry clouding his face, and she hoped that the events of the night had shown him how foolish he had been to believe anything her father had told him. She wondered if the other humans who had blindly followed her father were also now questioning their actions and their presence on Aeris.
Sloane caught Dean’s eye, and he gestured to her in farewell, but she turned and walked away, refusing to respond in kind. He had once been her friend, but she couldn’t forgive someone who had betrayed her sister.
Although she would never have wished a Braky attack on anyone, Sloane thought that the battle that night might have been just what they needed to finally convince the humans to abandon Aeris. The possibility of them leaving was something she’d almost given up on, and she found herself contemplating her connection with the humans.
As she approached Rhyn and the other Unfaih, Sloane realised that her place was no longer with the people she had arrived on this planet with. She wasn’t like the humans on Aeris anymore. If the original Braky she had killed was to be believed, she wasn’t like the Unfaih either, but she quickly dismissed the thought from her mind.
Whatever her fate was, Sloane knew that if the humans were to leave, she would have no choice but to stay behind. As she looked back at the burning ruins of the human camp, she felt a small, sad tug at her heart. These people were no longer hers. No matter what her future held, she knew that for sure.
It was growing late by the time Sloane and Rhyn departed the human camp. They had both lingered to ensure that no Brakys remained in the settlement and then waited until the Unfaih warriors were in position to help guard the camp before they left for the rift.
None of the warriors left behind seemed thrilled by the idea of guarding the humans against the creatures, but they didn’t complain. They all knew how important it was to stop the Brakys from attacking the humans again. And it seemed like a real possibility after the battle they’d just endured.
Sloane was beginning to tire as she followed Rhyn towards the trees that surrounded the camp. They had barely entered the woods when they found Elyx and a large group of warriors waiting for them.
‘We came too late,’ Elyx said, as the two of them approached. ‘The fight was already over by the time we arrived, so we stayed hidden to make sure the humans didn’t try anything.’
‘Thank you,’ Rhyn said, his voice weary after the long night.
‘I saw you posting guards,’ Elyx said, nodding back towards the camp. ‘Do you need more warriors to help?’
Rhyn shook his head. ‘No, I don’t want to spread ourselves too thin. We can reassess when we return tomorrow to speak with the humans.’
‘You’re coming back here?’ Elyx struggled to keep the shock from his voice.
‘Yes,’ Rhyn replied, his tone was confident and left no room for question. ‘They may be able to help us, as we have helped them.’
Elyx watched Rhyn carefully, as if he were searching for an opening to object to his prince’s decision. Apparently, he decided against it though, as he eventually nodded and turned to his fighters to begin issuing orders for their return.
Sloane was exhausted by the time they reached the castellum. The fires in the courtyard had been extinguished, and there wasn’t a soul in sight as she trudged through the open gates and made her way towards the castle. The only evidence of the Starfall celebration was the long trestle tables and the stage upon which the band had been playing.
It saddened Sloane to know that the Brakys had ruined the night. The Unfaih had found little opportunity to enjoy themselves since the arrival of the humans in their lands.
Sloane parted ways with Rhyn and his warriors once they entered the castellum. Rhyn had to speak to his father and explain what had happened. She didn’t envy the responsibility and could already imagine the kind of angry response Vas would have at the news they had arranged a meeting with the humans. That was certainly something she was happy to miss.
She watched as Rhyn strode away from her with his powerful, confident steps. There was so much to admire about Rhyn physically, but what truly made him stand out was the goodness in his heart.
He genuinely cared for the Unfaih around him, and that night he had shown how he even cared about those who would call themselves his enemy. He was a true leader. As Sloane watched him disappear, a tiny part of her couldn’t help but feel that she would never be worthy of someone so good.
She was twisted and damaged by the things she had experienced in her short life. Even now, there was a danger she was turning into the very thing Rhyn had spent his life fighting. She wasn’t worthy of him, but her heart couldn’t stand the idea of pushing him away.
As much as Sloane wanted to sleep, and she could already envision falling into her large and comfy bed, she also wanted to check on Allirie. So, instead of returning to her room, she allowed herself into the bedroom several doors down from hers.
Allirie was deep in sleep when she arrived. Her face still looked so pale, and her lips were a dull shade of blue. Her injuries were grave, and Sloane wondered how long it would take the woman to recover—if she recovered at all. Allirie had always seemed so strong and resilient, but even she wasn’t indestructible.
Sloane sat with Allirie for almost an hour. She longed for her to wake up so she could reveal more about her experience with the Brakys and how they managed to get past her fighters. Allirie had told Sloane of how lethal the women in her village were and, if they were half as talented with a weapon as Allirie, it was surprising they had been overcome.
Just like Allirie, Sloane had now fought and killed one of the original Brakys. The beast had been far more powerful than anything she’d encountered before. Even the strength that now coursed through her was no match for it, and she felt lucky to have survived the encounter.
She wondered how many more of the originals there were in Ellysia and whether any more of the lesser Brakys had turned to dust because their creator had died. But most of all, Sloane wondered if it had spoken the truth when it had told her she was neither human nor Unfaih.
There were no answers in Allirie’s room though and no way for Sloane to find them. She pushed her worries to the side knowing that, if nothing else, time would bring her the truth she sought.
Chapter Eleven
The following morning dawned bright in Ellysia. Sloane awoke as the two suns rose in the sky, and she felt surprisingly refreshed despite the small amount of sleep she had gained. With the day only just starting, she knew there were still hours until they would have to return to Aeris to meet the humans. She darted out of bed and put he
r fighting leathers on before she strapped her sword to her waist and ventured out to the training yard.
She was shocked to find that Jack was already there and training with the rest of the warriors. He was engaged in hand-to-hand combat with one of them as she approached.
Jack had a good enough fighting technique, but his movements were too sluggish, and he was giving his opponent far too many opportunities to land blows against his body. The Unfaih fighter was just too fast for her friend, and Sloane found herself shaking her head as the warrior sent Jack falling onto his back.
‘It’s going to take more than one session if you want to beat any of these guys,’ Sloane said, smiling as she walked over and offered to help him up. Jack took her outstretched hand and allowed her to pull him to his feet.
‘Yeah, I think they only agreed to train with me because they were after a laugh,’ Jack admitted, drawing several smirks from the warriors who were standing close by.
‘Why the sudden interest in training with the Unfaih?’ Sloane asked, walking beside Jack as he went to get a drink of water.
Jack collected some water in his hands from a nearby fountain and guzzled it from his palms, before swiping a hand across his mouth and looking back at Sloane. ‘Kai told me what happened last night. How the Brakys attacked the human camp.’
‘Oh,’ Sloane replied softly.
‘Why didn’t you tell me what was going on? I could have helped.’
Sloane shook her head sadly. ‘We left as quickly as we could and ran the whole way there. I didn’t have time to try and find you. Even if you had known, I don’t think you would have made it in time. Elyx’s men arrived after the fighting was over and they’d only left briefly after us.’
‘Right,’ Jack replied, his shoulders slouching.
‘Just because you’re not as fast as them, doesn’t mean you can’t help,’ Sloane said.
‘I know,’ Jack replied. ‘I just want to be ready. I think we all know that our problems didn’t end with the battle on Aeris, and I need to be as strong as I can be if I want to help protect people from harm.’
Sloane nodded along with him, understanding how he felt. ‘We’re definitely going to have to improve your skills with a sword then,’ Sloane said, as she drew her own from the sheath at her side. ‘If there is a chance you’ll end up fighting the Brakys, you’re going to need to use a weapon that works against them.’
Jack smiled and retrieved a sword from the armoury before the two of them started training together. Sloane had already been far superior to Jack at fighting when they’d sparred before, but now that she’d drunk the Liftsal she dominated him with her speed and skill. She could see every move that he made like it was in slow motion, and she was able to predict every strike he attempted and counter it with ease. She defeated him with a couple of flicks of her wrist every time.
They spent most of the morning working on Jack's technique and combinations, and Sloane could see he was becoming increasingly frustrated as they trained. His reflexes only grew slower as he tired. Sloane focused on that though, pushing him harder and harder. She needed him to become angry with himself if he was going to have the determination he needed to improve.
She knew how much she hated losing herself and how much it had killed her to be beaten continuously by Rhyn when they had first started training together. It was part of what had pushed her to try harder every day. She would have become a master swordsman if only to swipe the smug look off his face.
When Jack was breathing so intensely that Sloane wondered if he might pass out, she finally lowered her sword and stepped away from him. Jack dropped his hands to his knees and tried to catch his breath for several minutes.
‘I thought you were fast before…’ he finally said between breaths as he looked up at her. ‘But you’re a demon with a sword now.’
She frowned slightly at his use of the word demon, not particularly liking the suggestion that her abilities could have come from something evil. She quickly forced the scowl from her face though, knowing he was only trying to pay her a compliment.
‘If you face a Braky they will be just as fast as me, if not faster,’ Sloane said. ‘That sword may be the only thing between you and joining their ranks and spending an eternity as a disgusting beast.’
Jack swallowed and looked down at the blade. ‘It would be a lot easier if I could just use a gun,’ he joked nervously. His eyes suddenly widened though.
‘Do you know what kind of metal they use for these weapons?’ he asked.
Sloane frowned as she followed his gaze down to the blade. ‘I’m not sure,’ she replied. ‘Why? What are you thinking?’
He looked up with a grin. ‘I’m thinking that if we could fashion bullets from this metal, then the Brakys will get a nasty surprise the next time they attack the camp.’
Sloane’s eyes brightened with realisation. ‘Jack, that’s a brilliant idea.’
‘You think it would be possible?’
Sloane shrugged. ‘I have no idea, but we should find Rhyn. He is meeting with the humans today. If he could offer this solution to them, it might solidify any truce they come to.’
‘You really think there will be a truce?’ Jack asked.
‘For all our sakes, I hope so,’ she replied
They rushed back into the castellum and searched the corridors until they found Rhyn exiting the throne room. It didn’t take him long to dismiss Jack’s plan though. He wasn’t nearly as impressed by the idea as Sloane thought he would be. His expression only grew darker as Jack explained.
‘It’s out of the question,’ Rhyn said.
‘Why?’ Sloane asked, folding her arms across her chest. She felt confident that Jack’s idea to arm the humans was a good one. It would allow them to defend themselves, lessening the need for the Unfaih to protect them.
‘I just met with my father, and I barely convinced him that this meeting with the humans is a good idea. We only just fought them in battle. Do you really think I’m going to arm them with more weapons?’ he responded, looking at the two of them.
Jack shrugged, but Sloane wasn’t dissuaded as easily. ‘Why not?’ she said. ‘You need to build some trust with them if you don’t want another battle on your hands, and this could be the way to do it.’
‘I said no,’ Rhyn responded, turning and stalking off down the corridor without another word.
Sloane frowned after him as Jack let out a long sigh. ‘Well, I guess that’s not going to happen.’
Sloane shook her head though. ‘Wait here. Maybe I can convince him.’
She took off after Rhyn, sprinting to catch up with him as he took long strides down the corridor. Sloane grabbed his arm and pulled him to a stop. As he turned to face her, she expected to find his eyes still filled with anger, but his expression had become tired and pensive instead.
‘You barely heard us out back there,’ she said, as she dropped her hand from his arm. ‘Why are you so against this idea?’
Rhyn glanced back down the corridor in Jack’s direction. He was cautiously edging closer, but he was still too far away to hear a word. Rhyn let out a long breath before he focused his attention back on Sloane.
‘Because Brakys aren’t the only ones our weapons can injure,’ he replied. ‘The metal they are made from is called interitus. It is mined from deep within the mountain behind the castellum—the same mountain that contains the Liftsal. For some reason, it seems to counteract the strength and power the Liftsal gives the Brakys. But it also has the same effect on my people, and maybe you as well now.’
Sloane’s eyes widened a fraction before she glanced down at the sword that hung from the scabbard around her waist. ‘But I’ve seen Unfaih die from explosions and gunfire in battle. This metal isn’t the only thing that kills your people.’
Rhyn gave a slight shake of his head. ‘No, but the interitus metal is far more deadly. An Unfaih warrior could survive many human bullets before they succumbed to them. But one well-placed bullet made from our
metal would mean certain death.’
‘Oh,’ Sloane replied, starting to realise why Rhyn was so reluctant.
‘So you can see why I don’t want to arm our enemy with such weapons.’
‘Yeah, I guess,’ Sloane agreed. ‘I’m just worried that if the Brakys attack the human settlement again, they will bring larger numbers. We might not be able to stop them next time. Surely it would make sense to give the humans the means with which to stop the Brakys themselves, even if it does increase the danger for us.’
Rhyn was silent as he stared at her and considered her argument. ‘I will think about it,’ he replied. ‘But my father and I have discussed our options, and I can guarantee there will be no offer of weapons when we meet with the new human leader today. Before we make any serious agreements with them, we need to be sure we can trust them. And that is certainly not the case right now.’
‘Yeah, I understand,’ Sloane said. She didn’t push him further on the matter. He had agreed to consider it, and if she could just get the humans on Aeris to cooperate with the Unfaih, they may actually have a chance at protecting them.
‘I have asked Elyx to gather a party of warriors in the courtyard,’ Rhyn continued. ‘I’ll see you out there. We will be setting off soon.’
Sloane stood and watched as he stalked away and disappeared around a corner. She heard footsteps behind her as Jack approached carefully.
‘Any luck?’ he asked.
‘He said he’d think about it.’
‘Right,’ Jack replied. ‘I won’t hold my breath then.’
When Sloane and Jack arrived in the courtyard, there was already a crowd of Unfaih warriors waiting for them. Sloane scanned the ranks of warriors and found Rhyn talking with Elyx. She was about to join them, but her focus was distracted as her sister emerged from the castellum and started to make her way towards them.
‘What are you doing out here?’ Sloane asked, frowning as her sister approached her. She didn’t miss the fact that Rowe had a bow across her body and arrows on her back.
The Rift War (The Liftsal Guardians Book 4) Page 12