Myths & Magic: A Science Fiction and Fantasy Collection

by Kerry Adrienne

  A splash nearby caught her attention, and she turned in time to see Femror and Malachiax emerge from the dark surface.

  “Mal!” She swam in his direction.

  “Samiah!” He met her halfway and pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on her shoulder. “I couldn’t find you.”

  “I’m here. I’m here.”

  Femror disappeared under the water again. Where is he going? Samiah’s eyes swept the chamber and landed on Gary and Ianox already out of the frigid lake. The only person missing was Lochiana. Had she…? No, Samiah couldn’t entertain the idea. Lochiana had to be okay.

  Once they crawled onto the rocky shore, Samiah’s body began to shake uncontrollably. Malachiax pulled her flush to him, but he was also as cold as ice. Samiah searched the dark surface of the lake, which remained undisturbed for far too long. She began to think the worst had happened. What if Femror couldn’t find Lochiana in time? She closed her eyes and asked the Sacred Powers to spare her friend. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing someone close to her again.

  Her eyes had begun to prickle when Femror finally resurfaced with Lochiana in his arms. She was unconscious. He floated on his back and swam to shore using only one arm while the other held Lochiana’s head above the water. As soon as they were ashore, he began the process of reviving her. Samiah covered her mouth with her hand and sobbed. They could not lose Lochiana.

  Femror pressed his palms over Lochiana’s chest and pumped with precise vigor right before he clamped her nose shut to blow air into her mouth.

  “Come on, Lady. Don’t give up on me now,” Femror said right before he restarted the steps.

  It was only on the third time that Lochiana started to cough up water. Femror turned her onto her side and massaged her back while she emptied her lungs of liquid. The gentleness of his action was a stark contrast to his fearsome warrior persona.

  Once Lochiana stopped heaving, she leaned on her forearm and scanned their group. Then she looked at Femror, who had not taken his gaze from her the entire time. He seemed stricken and worried beyond measure.

  “You saved us. Why?” she asked feebly.

  “I couldn’t let you drown in our lake. We drink from this water,” he replied, but his words didn’t match his expression.

  Lochiana sat up and frowned at him. “Thank you, nonetheless. I suppose now you must take us to your father.”

  Femror got to his feet and offered his hand to Lochiana. She stared at it for a couple of seconds before she accepted the help. Once she stood in front of him, he took a couple of steps away from her, as if being near her caused him actual pain. He turned to us. “Are you all fit to travel? It’s a long way from here to Argor.”

  “Wait? Are you helping us escape?” Samiah asked.

  “It seems so.” Femror walked to the side and retrieved a burlap sack from the ground that Samiah had completely missed.

  “Why?” Lochiana eyed the warrior not with suspicion, but wonder.

  Femror glanced in her direction and clenched his jaw before replying, “Because Arcadia is my home, whether I like it or not. I don’t want it to perish at the hands of the Myserians. They will destroy everything.”

  “Myserians?” Samiah frowned.

  “That’s what we call the wraiths that are now loose once more. They must be stopped.”

  Femror shoved his hand inside his sack and pulled out a flask made of some sort of animal skin. He removed the cap and took a large sip before offering the beverage to the others.

  “Drink up.”

  “What’s that?” Samiah eyed the flask with suspicion.

  “It’s Razor’s Blood.” Lochiana reached for it and drank a large sip with a grimace.

  The flask was passed around. When Samiah was feeling its effect fully, she asked Malachiax. “What are the chances Lord Droom will give us the Spheres of Sharra?”

  “I honestly don’t know, Sami. I’m still having a hard time believing he has all the relics.”

  “Oh, he has them. There’s no doubt about it.” Femror hoisted his bag over his shoulder and stared hard at the group.

  Malachiax frowned at the warrior before replying. “If that’s the case, we’ll just ask him to give us the spheres.”

  Lochiana snorted. “Fat chance of that happening.”

  “Lord Droom trusts Mal. He’ll listen to him,” Samiah replied to support her mate, but she wasn’t one hundred percent sure her sovereign would do it. She trusted the man as far as she could throw him.

  “And if he doesn’t?” Gary asked.

  The corner of Femror’s lips twitched upward. “If he doesn’t, we’ll have to steal them.”

  Chapter 19

  Femror led them out the Draki hidden compound through a series of mazelike tunnels and secret passages. Lochiana realized bitterly that they would have never made it out on their own. She couldn’t wrap her head around Femror’s motives. Sometimes he seemed to be on her side, but other times he was downright antagonizing. She was still mad at him for standing by and doing nothing when his crazy-ass father imprisoned them. There was no doubt in her mind that the Draki king had one screw loose in his head. She wondered if that was the reason Femror had decided to help them.

  They emerged through a trapdoor buried deep in the ground and kept out of sight by the clever placement of leaves and branches over it. It only took a moment for Lochiana to recognize her surroundings—they were in Alios, the famous forest in Lorexian known for its larger-than-life trees. Night greeted them in the silent and gloomy forest; only a few patches of dark green moss were bathed in silvery moonlight.

  They walked in silence for a while, until Samiah blurted out of the blue, “How long have you been following us?”

  Lochiana suppressed a grin. It had taken the Argorian woman long enough before her inquisitive nature made itself known. Lochiana couldn’t wait to see how Femror would react around her. She had learned that the quickest way to get on his nerves was to pester him with endless questions. She didn’t know why, but she took great pleasure in annoying him.

  Femror didn’t answer right away, just kept walking at a brisk pace. Lochiana thought that perhaps he was trying to run away from Samiah. She noticed Samiah was about to prompt him again when he finally spoke. “Since you left Mora.”

  Lochiana frowned, knowing that not to be true. He couldn’t have followed Samiah and Malachiax while he was busy kidnapping her.

  Samiah stopped abruptly in her tracks to glare at Femror’s back. “And it didn’t occur to you to help us when that mob of enraged Morians attacked us?”

  Femror’s spine went rigid before he looked over his shoulder. “I misspoke. I wasn’t following you myself. My warriors were, and I had given them orders to not interfere unless it became a life-or-death situation.”

  Lochiana’s snorted. “Your idea of what constitutes a life-or-death situation differs widely from ours.”

  “I saved you, didn’t I?” Even in the gloominess, she could see the eyebrow raise he gave her. Oh, he was such an infuriating male.

  “If you call throwing me over your shoulder and taking me against my will as saving me, then I guess you did.” She shrugged and was happy to see the glower Femror aimed at her.

  “Could you two bicker any louder? I would love to attract some Myserians. I live for the thrill, you know?” Ianox said, and Lochiana narrowed her eyes at the short, annoying man. His gaze bounced everywhere as if he expected to find danger lurking in every corner.

  “You speak sarcasm. I’m shocked,” Lochiana replied and next to her, Gary chuckled.

  “This is going to be a very long trip,” Femror muttered and resumed walking. “Keep it up, folks. I want to reach Argor by nightfall.”

  “That’s physically impossible,” Gary said. “We are too far to reach Argor by foot in one day. It will take us at least a week.”

  “Good thing we aren’t going on foot, then,” Femror replied, but he didn’t care to add anything to his statement.

  Typical, Loc
hiana thought. “You’re not going to share your plans with us, are you?”

  Femror didn’t reply, and Lochiana made a vulgar gesture to his back.

  “I saw that.”

  Lochiana’s jaw dropped before she glanced at Samiah, who just shook her head and shrugged. He couldn’t possibly had seen it, unless he had secret eyes on the back of his head. Great. One more mystery about the Draki for Lochiana to unveil.

  He led them deeper into Alios Forest where the vegetation was so thick, they had to push branches out of the way and literally carve a path through the green wall. Moisture clung to her skin, turning it sticky and itchy, and her hair was plastered to her head. She actually missed the cool water from the underground lake. She twisted her thick strands into a bun, which helped cool off her neck at least.

  Lochiana heard the sound of water rushing nearby before they reached the stream. Femror must be leading us to the Seven Sisters River. The vegetation gave way to a beautiful meadow with yellow and blue flowers scattered over soft grass. It was almost as though somebody actually tended to the place. A small waterfall cascaded down mossy rocks in a shower of silvery sparkle and fog into the stream. It was quite the sight. Lochiana took a moment to admire the scenery, as opposed to Femror who didn’t seem one bit interested in nature and kept going until he disappeared behind the water curtain.

  “Where did he go?” Samiah asked.

  “Maybe there is a cave behind the waterfall?” Malachiax said, and Samiah shuddered.

  “I’m going after him.” Lochiana stepped in the same direction Femror had disappeared and didn’t wait for them. She wanted to know what the Draki warrior was up to.

  A small chamber was indeed behind the cascading water, a hidden place where small canoes had been stored. Upon hearing her approach, Femror looked up.

  “We’ll travel down the river until we reach the border to Argor. Then we continue on foot to the capital. We’ll have to split into two groups.” Femror pushed two canoes into the shallow water and threw his burlap sack into one.

  “Are you crazy? You want us to venture down one of the most dangerous rapids in all of Arcadia in those tiny things? One hit against a rock, and they will split in half.”

  “It’s the fastest way to get to Argor, and also the safest.” Femror tapped the side of the canoe closest to him. “This is solid wood from one of the ancient Alios trees. It will hold, trust me.”

  Lochiana eyed the canoes again and bit her lower lip. She agreed it would be fastest, but safest? That they would have to see. But what other choice did they have?

  “I’ve gone down the Seven Sisters before. It’s difficult, but not impossible.” Malachiax stared at the canoes. “Mind you, I was on a raft designed to endure the white waters.”

  “Now you get to experience the Seven Sisters the Draki way.” Femror smiled ruefully. “Take one canoe, and I’ll handle the other.” He added a couple of oars to each one of them. When no one made the move toward the small boats, Femror glowered. “What are you waiting for, a formal invitation?”

  “I’m not getting into a boat with you.” Ianox crossed his arms and glared at Femror.

  “Thank the fucking blue skies. I would have thrown you into the river the first time you opened your mouth to whine anyway. It saves me the trouble.” Femror hopped into the canoe with the grace of a catling. The boat didn’t even wobble. Something unfurled in the pit of Lochiana’s stomach. Here she was again appreciating something the warrior did.

  His gaze connected with hers, and he smirked, as if he knew the nature of her thoughts. She flattened her lips and raised her chin. When he offered to help get her on board, she ignored his hand and managed on her own. Thank the Sacred Powers she didn’t make a fool of herself.

  She sat on the bench opposite his and glanced at the rest of their companions. It was clear that Samiah and Malachiax would stick together, and since Ianox had already announced he wouldn’t be traveling with Femror, that left Gary to come with them. He waddled through the shallow water and when Femror offered his hand, he accepted it.

  Lochiana glanced at the other canoe and caught the glower Samiah was aiming at Ianox. She wasn’t happy about the trip’s arrangements. Malachiax leaned forward and kissed Samiah on her cheek, then flicked her nose before taking his place in the middle seat. They are so adorable together, Lochiana thought with a sigh. She wished to find someone one day with whom she could share such a deep bond as theirs. Her eyes involuntarily sought Femror and found him staring at her again. She couldn’t decipher his expression, and she didn’t feel like having a staring contest, so she glanced at the canoe’s floor instead. She would have held his gaze longer if her mind weren’t in such turmoil about the things she was beginning to feel whenever he was near her.

  The canoe began to glide smoothly through the water, but they could not help getting wet once they crossed through the waterfall. The water wasn’t as cold as the underground lake, but it was enough to warrant a shudder from Lochiana’s body. At least she wasn’t sticky anymore.

  “The sun will be up soon,” Femror said, but Lochiana refused to look in his direction. She had the prow position, so she turned on her bench seat instead, giving her back to the warrior.

  Morning was indeed a few minutes away; she was already able to see the deep orange tinge of the sky through breaks in the deep foliage of the trees. The river cut through several countries, and throughout its length, there were parts with incredible rapids—seven to be exact, hence the name Seven Sisters. Only thrill seekers found pleasure riding them. If her memory was correct, they would have to survive three of those rapids before they reached Argor. She didn’t know exactly when they would come up, but she was sure Femror did.

  The current was much stronger already. They cut through the deep waters as an arrow cut through air. The landscape hugging the river became a blur, and soon a cool breeze hit Lochiana’s cheeks. She closed her eyes to enjoy the peaceful moment, knowing things were about to get much more complicated.

  She would have to face Lord Droom again for the first time in twenty years. Of all the odds stacked against them, that future encounter was what terrified her the most.

  Chapter 20

  The sun was already high in the sky when Femror moved his canoe closer to theirs to warn them the first rapid was approaching. Malachiax nodded and held the oars tighter in his hands. His eyes became as alert as his body. Samiah’s heart started to thunder in anticipation. She’d never gone rafting, so she had no idea how she was going to handle it. She’d seen recordings, though, and she knew they were crazy intense.

  She curled her hands over her belly. Hang in there, little ones.

  “Sami, I want you to tie that cord by your feet to the bench and hold on to it.” He pointed at the coiled rope underneath her seat.

  “Should I tie it around my wrists?”

  “No. We don’t want to risk you getting trapped to the canoe in case it capsizes.”

  “Capsize?” Ianox almost shouted from the seat behind Malachiax. “I thought you said you had done this course before.”

  “I did, a couple of times. But the river is unpredictable, and like I said before, I was on a raft, not a small canoe.”

  “Is there anything we can do to help?” Samiah looked out at the water and noticed they had picked up speed already.

  “Just make sure you don’t fall overboard.”

  Samiah nodded and got to work, twisting the cord around the bench several times before creating a loop she could use to hold onto. She glanced at Malachiax once and saw his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. He caught her stare, and the corners of his lips twitched upward.

  “I love you,” she said through the bond. He didn’t reply out loud, winking at her instead. He was in the zone already. With a heavy heart, Samiah twisted in her seat to stare ahead because she didn’t want to give her back to the wild river. She could already hear the loud roar of the white waters. Femror’s canoe was ahead of them. When it disappeared from view, Malach
iax warned, “Here we go.”

  The drop was sudden and Samiah’s stomach bottomed out while her body lurched forward. Her yell was muffled by the sound of the violent waters bashing against the rocks that peaked along the stretch of white foam and small waterfalls. And Malachiax has done this for fun?

  Water splashed into the canoe, drenching Samiah from head to toe. Her hair became pasted to her face and some strands were over her eyes, blocking her view, but she didn’t dare let go of the cord, not when the canoe kept being jerked left and right by the strong current. Samiah couldn’t hear anything but the pound of her pulse in her ears and the rumble of the river. After a violent lurch, she felt the metallic taste of blood in her mouth. She must have bitten her tongue.

  It felt like an eternity before the waters finally calmed, but it took much longer for her heart to do the same. Up ahead, Samiah caught Femror stretching his arms over his head and relaxing his stance. She let out a sigh of relief; they’d all made it.

  Samiah finally deemed it safe to let go of the rope and noticed the deep red marks it had left imprinted on her palms from holding on too tight. She opened and shut her hands to make the blood flow through her fingers again.

  The sound of someone throwing up made her look back. Ianox was bent over the side of the canoe, puking his guts out.

  “So, not so bad, huh?” Malachiax smiled at her.

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “Fuck this shit.”

  Malachiax threw his head back and laughed, a delicious rich sound that Samiah hadn’t heard since this whole nightmare started. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed it.

  “I think for the first time I’ll have to agree with Samiah. That was fucking hell,” Ianox said before he resumed emptying the contents of his stomach.

  “For all the Sacred Powers, what a bunch of weaklings you guys are.” There was humor in Malachiax’s tone, so all Samiah did was stick her tongue out at him.