Ky folded her arms in further protest, but only Cobaaron reacted to her silent complaint. He took her hand, and held it by her waist as if telling her Ambrosia would survive, and not worry.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Hours passed, and Huntra sauntered through the thick forest, but there was still no sign of Prism. Ky wondered if something happened to her. Because no one was talking, and the tension between Ambrosia and Tyrus was suffocating, time passed slowly. Was Ky’s boredom making the wait for Prism longer, or was her druse truly taking an excessively long time? Either way, she hoped nothing happened to her, and kept a watchful eye as she scanned the forest.
The mushrooms among the trees were thick, and innumerable pixies infested the bark, from the knobby roots to the highest branches. The tall oaks looked enchanted as they seem to twinkle while covered in fluttering wings of pink, blue and purple. Pixies sluggishly flew from branch to branch, resting while they hung onto any vacant bark, leaf, or stem they could find. The glimmering from countless wings lit the forest, and because of the bioluminescence, creatures stayed clear of the area. Ky wondered if animals knew they were magical, or poisonous. The sight wasn’t beautiful; there were too many pests on the trees and gave Ky the creepy crawlies.
Cobaaron stood from his seat, shook off the pixies that floated to him, and then dismounted. “This is a good place to walk. Huntra is tired, and we can let him eat some of the pixies. I dare say there are plenty for him.” Everyone slid off Huntra’s back, and without delay he prowled the tree trunks for pixies. They were so slow, they couldn’t escape, and he crunched loudly.
“All those poor little creatures, they’re like people,” Ambrosia protested, not approving of them being stalked and hunted. “They have no way of defending themselves. It’s barbaric.”
“They have ways of defending themselves,” Cobaaron corrected. “Their vast numbers protect the species. They breed quickly. Besides, most creatures run from light. It’s bright in this part of the woods, which makes them safe. I won’t deny Huntra a meal. He can eat all the bugs he wants.”
“They may be bugs, but they don’t look it.” Ambrosia winced as Huntra climbed a tree and grew to stuff more pixies in his mouth.
A white stream of light flashed into Ky’s peripheral vision. She turned, seeing her druse pull a pixie by the hand. Her shoulders relaxed with relief because nothing had happened to Prism. Her druse brought a small, blue-winged pixie to Ambrosia. This pixie was different from the rest. The pixie wore clothes, but only around the waist. Instead of purple hair, the pixie had blue hair like its wings. Unmistakably, the pixie was male. “It’s a boy pixie,” Ambrosia inhaled, sounding amazed. “I thought all pixies, fairies, druses, and druix were female.”
“How would they breed if they were all female?” Tyrus asked, as he teased. He raised an eyebrow, bewildered and amused that Ambrosia would assume there were no male pixies.
Ambrosia ignored him, and spoke over Tyrus. “Curious your druse found one. I wonder if she wants to make a druix.”
“What are druix?” Ky asked Ambrosia.
“They are a pixie or a fairy bred with a druse, and they are beautiful. If she does breed with him, Ky, can I have some of the babies to put in the forest in my room?” Ky shrugged. She didn’t want a swarm of druix, and Cobaaron certainly wouldn’t allow any more pets. It would be annoying, especially if they lived a hundred years like druses. “I could have an entire swarm. Druix don’t breed as heavily as lazy pixies, because they are faster and don’t get bored. I’d like that. Their larva is so cute.” Ambrosia cupped her hands and watched the male pixie drop. It clung onto the sleeve of her dress, and flapped its small blue and silver wings. “Just think a crystallized blue and silver druix. My forest will look enchanted after they populate the trees.”
Ky listened halfheartedly. She was still stuck on how larva would be considered cute. To let Ambrosia know she didn’t want any, she said, “Have them all. You had me sold at the word larva.”
“No, they’re simply adorable, and like to be held. They’re like tiny…babies.” Ambrosia gulped, and her excitement dwindled.
Prism zipped around the male pixie, and finally rested on Ambrosia’s arm. The druse stared at the male pixie skeptically, but curiously. Ky could have sworn that the two were communicating, because they took turns lazily flickering their twinkling wings.
“It’s getting late. We will reach the outer caves of Elise within a few hours. We will get you two safely in a sealed chamber, and then hunt. I am hungry enough to eat pixies,” Cobaaron said.
“That’s disgusting!”
“No, they’re actually quite good if you pull the wings off, and boil them until their little bones are soft,” Tyrus said, and once again, Ambrosia pretended she didn’t hear him.
“That is another food choice I don’t want to try,” Ky snickered, in amused repulsion.
They walked another hour before they left the glowing mushroom city of the pixies. Huntra rested on Cobaaron’s shoulders with a plump belly, and they pressed on quickly. Once in awhile they would stop and Cobaaron would listen or scent the air. A few times, he even put his ear to the ground like a skilled tracker, and listened to distant thuds in the earth.
Cobaaron’s vigilance made their journey longer; he kept steering them around large areas, avoiding the wanderers. He finally stopped and announced that they were close to Elise, and added, “The walls of Elise are surrounded by wanderers. We can’t get close without inviting a fight. We only have one choice; we will have to sleep in Huntra’s room, and ask him to forge on tonight or until we find somewhere else to sleep,” Cobaaron whispered, and then stopped talking and peered over his shoulder. “It doesn’t help that the rock giant follows us. We have to keep going and put more space between us and the young giant.”
“But when will we eat?” Ambrosia asked. “I’m hungry.”
“Ky has jerky and water in her room,” Cobaaron said.
They crammed into Huntra’s sleeping cart, which grew larger to accommodate the added bodies. The space was still cramped but adequate for sleeping. Apparently, the magic of snow tigers never intended for travelers to relax enough to take advantage of spacious accommodations. No one complained; it was better than stumbling from exhaustion. They slowly shared the endless jerky making sure it grew back and passed around the never-ending water, and then they squeezed in with Ambrosia and Ky in the middle.
Cobaaron shifted Ky closer, enfolding her completely. “Come here,” he whispered intimately.
“That is such a good sign,” Ky heard Ambrosia say, and when she cranked her neck to look, Ambrosia was pointing to the Prism’s silver home. The male pixie followed her druse inside. There was a white glow in the box, which got brighter when he fell or was yanked in.
Ky lay her head down, and met Cobaaron’s eye as he waited for her to settle beside him. Either Ambrosia was eager for any kind of baby, or she was eager to infest her room with druix. Ambrosia was a true animal lover. Yet Ambrosia had a feisty side, jinxing anyone who crossed her with harmless but comical magic.
Ambrosia chided Tyrus for accidentally touching her. It was unavoidable in such tight quarters. She must have thought she were being extremely quiet, but Ky could hear everything, even Tyrus’s soft, cool reply: “I’m sure I already have a hex on me, considering there are certain names of objects that for some reason are lost to me, and it’s been this way since we left home. What will you do to me now to get even?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“What jinx?”
“I’ll think of something,” she gloated in a whisper. “It will be a really good one this time, Ty.”
“The sooner you feel vindicated the better. I can take anything you dish out.”
“I’m not ever forgiving you,” she whispered a little louder in anger. “Don’t talk to me! I mean it. I’m officially giving you the silent treatment.”
“Alright, then. Goodnight.”
“Humph. I
’m serious. Sh!”
“Okay. Sleep well.” Tyrus sounded smugly pleased.
“You’re so arrogant. You don’t even care that I’m not talking to you. Well, goodnight. Don’t have terrible nightmares of being eaten by pixies.”
“I suppose I will,” Tyrus said amused.
Ky looked at Cobaaron and shook her head wondering why Tyrus didn’t tell her what he had done. Cobaaron understood her body language, because he shrugged as if letting her know it was none of their business and he’d ignore their bickering.
Cobaaron slackened his grip, and they tried to sleep. Ky couldn’t calm her mind, and she wondered why they had to track down Zevera. She never wanted to see her again, and they were one day closer to the castle. What she really wanted was to go to the city and make a home there. She never wanted to see another witch again.
When Cobaaron opened his eyes and saw she was wide-awake and her mind a million miles away, he asked in a tired mumble, “You can’t sleep?”
“I’m wondering why we’re following Zevera,” Ky whispered. “Why aren’t we going to the City of Lights? I’m done traveling. I want to go home. Please lay aside your vendetta, and take me home.”
“I can’t. Wyt told me that we must go,” he spoke so softly it was barely audible.
“He also told you to take me to the traders’ territory, and never breathed a word I’d be attacked in the bathhouse.”
“I know what he has and hasn’t done. I don’t follow Wyt’s guidance because I must. This is my decision. I have every intention of finding both Zevera and her son. If I kill both of them, we’d only have one last king to fight. It would be foolish not to attack while they have little time to prepare.
“I promise I’ll take you safely to the City of Lights as soon as I can. Once I have restored light, and I’m king of this world, I’ll never ask you to travel again.” He kissed her tenderly. “I want to get to the city, too, and remind you of your promise for children. Noelya is the second person to speak of our daughter. I believe it completely now, and I’m eager enough for our child that I want to hurry to the city. It won’t be many days now and we’ll be in the castle. We’ll go straight to the city afterward, and wait for the kings.” He kissed her again. “Sleep, Ky, we’ll have a lot of walking to do tomorrow.”
“I’ll try.” She wasn’t thrilled with his decision, but she didn’t argue. He had a valid point, and she knew he would do everything he could to protect her. She had to be brave.
Ky couldn’t sleep, even hours after the others were snoring she couldn’t manage to keep her eyes closed. The room felt too small and cramped, like the small cave they slept in. Since being stuck in a tree, Ky suspected she was fiercely claustrophobic. She couldn’t get comfortable, and it didn’t help that Cobaaron rolled onto his back to sleep. Ky always slept better with him holding her.
About four hours later, Ky was still lying awake, staring at the ceiling. When she started feeling restless, and she was wishing she could get out, a score etched into the ceiling in the shape of a large leaf. Ky sat up, and pressed the hatch quietly.
“What are you doing?” Cobaaron asked, feeling her move.
“Nothing,” she assured needlessly; he was already snoring softly. The door opened on oiled hinges. She carefully laid it on the top of the box, and then popped her head out to look around. Huntra was stealthily strolling between large oak trees. She wondered if his magic sleeping cart formed a door because Huntra was lonely and he wanted company.
The notion wasn’t farfetched. There were several times addition saddles and chairs bubbled into existence for additional people, when Ky wasn’t aware more passengers were coming. If Huntra truly did change his own box, it meant he also had the ability to know what people wanted. Animals seemed to possess special abilities where she came from. Some dogs could sniff out cancer, cats seemed to know when people would soon die, zoo animals’ sensed earthquakes, and some sensed paranormal things humans could not. Ky was convinced Huntra wanted company, and she climbed out of the box, and sat in the front seat. She closed the leaf door, and got comfortable. “Did you want me out here?” she asked in a whisper and petted his fur with her feet.
Now alone with Huntra, with more space, and ample fresh air, Ky was feeling relaxed and at peace. Drowsiness settled in, and she felt worn-out. She thought of going back to bed, but decided she would first lavish Huntra with attention for all his hard work. Surely, he would have plenty of rest the following day, which was why Cobaaron told her to sleep. They didn’t want to use Huntra as a beast of burden. Unfortunately, even after an afternoon of chasing pixies and a nap on Cobaaron’s shoulders, he was overworked, and he deserved love and affection.
Ky lay on the box and dangled her arm to pet him. Her eyes kept closing, though she tried to fight it. She nodded off while petting Huntra. She was vaguely aware of her head dropping, when she could no longer fight her fatigue.
Ky wasn’t sure how long she slept, but she woke to the smell of smoke. At first her vision was blurry, but she could see small fuzzy fires in the distance. Huntra was quietly creeping along in the middle of the night, passing them. Oddly, the fires between the trees were unattended. Whoever lit the campfires was nowhere to be seen. It was unnerving enough to warn her to get back into Huntra’s room.
Ky sat up, and reached for the leaf door, but before her hand touched the cool metal, she saw the men. Hiding in the treetops, crouching on the thick branches, men stalked her from above. When she noticed them, they dropped in front of Huntra. They were covered with animal skins and resembling werewolves.
Huntra froze, and grew a few feet. More men dropped until they were surrounded.
“Well, well, well,” one of the men crooned. “What do we have here? A woman and her pussy.”
Ky groped for the leaf door, but another man tackled her and wrested her to the ground. Huntra hissed and grew to bat at the man with powerful paws, but he missed. The man rolled away and forced Ky to shield him. Another man captured Ky, and jerked her away from Huntra.
“Tell your feline to leave,” her new assailant demanded, putting a dagger to Ky’s throat.
Sure Cobaaron would wake hearing her, she screamed, “Leave me, Huntra!”
Huntra blinked, and slowly retreated.
“That’s right, kitty. Run a couple miles down the forest. We have no use for you.” The man that held the dagger to Ky’s throat gloated. She could feel the sharp blade press against the strained muscle of her arched neck.
“Go, Huntra!” Ky yelped. Her eyes darted up to the sleeping cart, and she wondered what was taking Cobaaron so long. She watched as Huntra hesitantly positioned his back to her. Ky held her breath, and waited expectedly, convinced Cobaaron was waking Tyrus and they’d rescue her.
Huntra crept through the forest, and left. “No,” Ky whispered, and for the first time was truly afraid. Then she realized what was amiss. Ambrosia had indeed charmed the room so they wouldn’t hear her sob, and made it impossible for Cobaaron to hear her. “No!”
“She’s beautiful. We should have fun before we take her to the colony,” a man layered with fur said. He had a wolf head worn like a crown with the teeth darkening his eyes, and the hide draped over his back as a warm cloak. He looked at the other men. No one disagreed. “We’ll have her by rank.”
“This would make you conveniently first,” the man holding her by her hair growled with irritation. “I made the cat leave. I captured her. I go first. Then go by rank.”
“I knocked her off the mangy thing,” another man interjected. He wore antlers and a necklace of teeth. “I should go second or third if Urp feels he outranks my status. But I will not be last!”
“You go third. I go first. It’s settled. When we’ve had her, we’ll take her to the king. And speak of this to no one,” the man threatened.
Ky was thrown to the ground. “No, please! I’ll scream and…”
“I like screamers,” the man boasted, and began pulling up his fur skirt, stalking her.
Ky kicked him hard, nailing him in the groin. He doubled over, groaning. At once, men pinned her arms and legs. Ky screamed in pain and panic. She tried to glow, but her light was hidden under the cloak. Instantly terrified, she fought, straining to get away. “Hold her still. Restrain her. I’ll go first now that Gobbs needs to recover. Open her legs. I like feisty women.”
The man pulled out a dagger while threatening she should hold still. He reached down, wanting her. He yanked her hair, capturing a handful. She held her hair and his fist as he forced her off the ground. “I’ll have you against a tree, and repay you for injuring my friend. You’ll learn submission and real pain by the time I’m finished with you,” he snarled close to her ear, and shoved her toward the tree trunk.
Ky realized she could use the firm grip he had on her hair to steady herself, and flip around. Ky wasn’t certain she was that limber, but she was determined to try. They were three feet from the tree, and she chose that moment to kick up off the ground. She took three steps up the trunk, and easily flipped backward.
With no trouble, as if she had done it before, she landed on his shoulders. She released his hands that still gripped her hair, forcing her to hunch. Ky seized his head with both hands, and jerked it to the side. They crumpled, but he was dead.
Ky was shocked that she managed to escape, but more so, that she killed a man. She froze with momentary surprise and horror. She looked at her hands, and wished she could wash them clean. Instead, she balled them into fists.
When the man with the antlers pulled a bone dagger, Ky tightened her clinched hands, ready to fight for her life.
The sound of crunching rock could be heard between the trees. “Do you hear that?” one of the men asked. A second later, Ky saw the small rock giant run at the man who spoke. With a hard stone fist, the young rock giant punched him. He flew back and fell; the giant leaped, soared, and landed on the man’s head, squishing it flat. Blood splattered. The giant clobbered another man.
The Coming Dawn Trilogy Page 54