Samara stood and opened her mouth. The beautiful song that drifted from her lips enticed him to approach, pulled him toward her.
Kellan smiled and took a seat at the table allowing the laughter and the toasts to resume.
* * * * *
Kane felt like he was running out of options. He had spent most of the day simply attempting to leave the mayor’s estate to check on the progress of the evacuation, but at every door, an Ellvinian turned him away, suggesting to him that he would rather stay inside and return to his room. He wanted the Ellvinians to think their mind control worked on him, so he abided by their words, but now it was getting late in the day and he had found out nothing useful thus far.
Not to mention that Jain, locked out of the estate when he slipped out to hunt, was becoming more and more anxious to reunite with him, and Kane did not know how much longer he could hold the Draca Cat off.
Kane hugged the wall as he walked down one of the lesser-used corridors toward the kitchens. Except for the occasional servant scurrying about her workday, he had not seen another Massan all day.
That was why he was headed for the kitchens. If anyone knew what was happening within the walls of this estate, it would be the kitchen staff. He had already met the cook, Cora, yesterday before the gala and found her to be a spirited woman who bore her cooking utensil as though it were a bludgeon. And, for the servants not doing their jobs fast enough, it probably was.
Up ahead, he saw that the kitchen doors were open. With one last glance behind him, he darted to the entrance.
He froze.
Inside were half a dozen Ellvinians, some sitting and eating at a makeshift table made from a butcher’s block and others stirring the contents of Cora’s pots.
Cora was nowhere in sight.
One Elf rose to his feet at Kane’s sudden appearance. Not hurried. Not startled from being caught doing something wrong. More like the man of the manor being interrupted from his meal by one of his inferiors.
“Is there something I can do for you, Prince?”
“Where is Cora?” Kane asked softly. Softly, but tinged with enough threat that all heads turned his way.
“Who?”
“The cook. Where is the cook?”
“Oh, aye, Cora. Lovely lady. She took the day off.” The black eyes dared him to challenge the statement.
Kane was not going to bite, but turned his full golden gaze directly at the dark Elf and was pleased to see him recoil slightly. It was a familiar reaction. “I see. In that case, I think I’ll just wander out to the gardens for some fresh air.” He took a small step toward the back door of the kitchens, but knew with certainty that he would not be allowed out.
He was right.
Several Ellvinians stood from the butcher’s block to bar his way.
He thought of drawing his blade or shifting through them, but decided against it. There were too many, and he was not yet ready to show them what he was capable of. He needed to find Izzy first and ensure that the Massans evacuating had every advantage for success before the fighting started.
He smiled. “On second thought, maybe I’ll take that walk another time.” He turned and exited the kitchens.
“You do that, Prince!” he heard one of the Ellvinians shout, followed by mocking laughter.
Jaw clenched tightly, Kane strode back down the hallway, but stopped in shock when he saw a woman round the corner up ahead. He immediately recognized the long red hair.
Alia!
What is she doing in the estate? Demon’s breath, I thought she went back home to Aquataine. She must have found a way in before the Ellvinians locked down all of the doors.
He sprinted down the corridor to catch up to her. Whatever it took, he had to convince her to leave this place right now. His concern filling his thoughts, he did not stop to look before turning the corner and slammed into someone coming from the other direction.
The girl fell backward with a grunt, but, it was not Alia. It was Jala.
“Kane, what are you doing?” she asked angrily from her back on the floor.
He reached down to help her to her feet. “I was chasing after Alia and—”
“Alia is here?”
“Yes,” he replied, searching up the corridor, but Alia was no longer in sight.
“What did you find out?” Jala asked, standing and brushing down the folds of her dress.
“Not as much as I would have liked,” he replied. “I have not encountered more than two Massans, let alone shifters, in the entire place. And, I can tell you that the Ellvinians are guarding all of the doors.”
Jala nodded. “I know, I tried to get out once, but the next thing I knew I was walking back to my room before I stopped myself and resumed my search for Izzy, who by the way, is also nowhere to be found.” She grabbed Kane’s hand. “I’m so worried for her.”
Kane was worried for her, too. And, now, it looked like he had Alia to worry about as well.
CHAPTER 16
PREDATOR AND PREY
Gunther threw another piece of wood on the fire and poked at it with a long stick sending tiny sparks floating upward. He wanted the flames nice and hot just in case Harod had been more successful than he in bringing back meat for their dinner. If not, it would be cold beans again, and Gunther would be just as satisfied either way.
He took a slug from the skin of mead and sat back in contentment. Dear Highworld, but he enjoyed these annual hunting trips with Harod to the Du’Che Forest. As far as he was concerned, any chance to leave behind his wife and children and farrier business for some peace and quiet was one worth taking. Soon, he would be back home to the noise and never-ending stress of his life, but tonight, right now, he could appreciate doing nothing but drinking and prodding at a fire every once in awhile.
He set the stick aside and crossed his hands over his belly with a sigh. Maybe he could convince Harod to stretch out their trip for one more night.
A loud thrashing shattered the serenity of the still night as something tore through the forest toward him. Harod? He scrambled to his feet and grabbed the bow leaning against the tree behind his head. It was only when he was at full draw that he realized he had never nocked an arrow.
He let out a breath of relief at the sight of Harod. “What is wrong with you, man? I think you took five years off my life.”
“Gunther! Come quick.” Harod was panting from the exertion of the run.
“What is it?”
He shook his head. “You have to see it to believe it.”
Gunther grinned and raced after his friend wondering what could have him so excited. A mantath? Now, that would be a trophy worth bringing home!
Up ahead, Harod waved him over to a hummock that looked down upon the long grasses of the Iserlohn plains. Together, they crawled to the top and peered over.
“Look, Gunther!” Harod hissed.
Gunther’s eyes widened in surprise. Two enormous white felines stalked out of the Du’Che. “It’s them cats the royals keep as pets!” he realized in excitement.
Harod brought his bow up. “I know and I’m gonna get me one, Gunther. Just don’t move.” Harold’s arms shook as he brought the bowstring to his cheek.
The two large cats stopped suddenly and sniffed at the air.
“Hurry, Harod!” Gunther whispered.
The twang of the released arrow and hiss as it shot forward toward the unsuspecting cats seemed deafening in the twilight. The missile found its mark and pierced the flesh just beneath the shoulder blade of one of the animals. For a moment, the cat just looked down in surprise at the burgeoning red stain on its chest, but then it collapsed to the ground.
“You did it!” Gunther enthused softly, patting Harod on the back.
Gunther’s elation soon turned to unease when the other, larger cat did not run away, but lifted his snowy white head directly toward their hummock. There was unquestionable intelligence in those pale orange eyes and something else. Unmitigated fury.
With an ear-
splitting growl, the cat sprang into an attacking sprint, his large paws eating up the distance between them in large gulps.
Harod screamed and ran.
Gunther ducked under the hummock and flinched when the body of the cat soared over his head and landed on the fleeing Harod. Large talons raked his friend’s back ripping open his shirt and leaving deep gashes in the skin.
Gunther’s whole body shook as he listened to Harod’s terror-filled screams and watched the cat tear and shake him as though he were a toy. Blood soaked the ground until it looked like a black puddle in the waning light.
The attack was too fast, too ferocious. There was nothing Gunther could do to help Harod escape the enraged animal. And, now, up close, Gunther could see what looked like scales all along the white body. This was not a creature to trifle with.
Slowly, he began to inch his way up the hummock. If he could just slip away from the occupied cat, he may be able to save himself. After seconds that seemed like hours, sweat coating his face and body, he made it over the small hill and rolled.
When he came to a stop, he quickly sprang to his feet and prepared to run, but then sat back down hard in shock. There was nowhere to go. The open space before him was filled with white cats. Hundreds if not thousands of them.
And, every single glowing orange eye was on him.
* * * * *
Nazar licked his paws until satisfied that every last drop of blood had been cleaned away. He had not been the one to make the kills but had walked over the kill site to inspect the corpses of the men.
He rose to his feet and shook out his coat. The weakling humans caught them by surprise and killed one of his females, but it would not happen again. The next time men came seeking Draca blood, they would find his pride ready and waiting.
Rehka sat watching him.
How much farther to this Bardot, Nazar?
A few days of travel to the north. We must find Maks and Jain before we can continue to Nysa.
Will they willingly join with us, Nazar?
They will have no choice.
What of Baya and Princess Kenley?
I will have them freed as soon as we declare ourselves to the sons of Kenley.
Baya will be furious.
He shrugged. I do what must be done, Rehka. Come, let us rest before resuming our journey with the new sun.
Do you think we will encounter more battle here, Nazar?
I do. Unlike the Elves, man has just proven himself our enemy.
CHAPTER 17
UP IN SMOKE
Pure exhaustion sent Kane to his chambers the previous evening after a laborious game of cat and mouse with the Ellvinians, and he was not any closer to answers this morning than he had been last night. He stood up from the floor and stretched out the ache in his back. Jala was so distraught last night that he let her have his bed to sleep in. Since the Ellvinians’ mind control worked on her, she did not wish to be alone.
With the exception of Chandal and Samara’s personal guest chambers, which were heavily guarded, Kane and Jala searched the entire estate and had not found a single person that was not of Elven descent. Even Kellan and Kirby had now managed to disappear. It was all so bloody frustrating.
“Are you awake,” Jala asked, sitting up and running a hand through her long chestnut hair.
“Yes.”
“I am tired of this game, Kane. If we do not find Izzy today, these Ellvinians will find out what happens when you stir a centuries-old blood oath.” To back up her threat, a ball of fire flared into existence, and she rotated it back and forth between her hands.
He smiled. “You remind me of your father right now.”
She returned the smile. “That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
He walked to the wash basin and filled it with water. Jala was right, but where to look that they had not already tried? Izzy, the protectors, servants, guests, the watershifters, Cora the cook, Kellan, Kirby and Alia, all gone. The thought of Alia’s kiss brought a flare of heat to his cheeks but he pushed it away. Now, was certainly not the time to think about such whimsy. But, he did still wonder where she could be. After catching a glimpse of her yesterday, he had been unable to find her again.
How could two hundred people simply vanish over night? He was overlooking something important, but could not figure out what.
“I was thinking,” Jala said, letting the fire ball disappear. She got out of bed and began tugging on her short leather boots. “Before we storm the guest chambers of our visitors, we should look for any rooms below ground. There must be a wine or root cellar we haven’t checked yet.”
“It’s worth a try.”
She walked into the sitting room and he followed. “I want to be sure that we have tried everything before using force.” She paused. “It is what our parents would do.”
“Agreed.” Kane reached for the door handle, but before he could open it, Jala grabbed his forearm. “Kane, don’t let any of them look at me or talk to me. Please.”
Kane looked into her terrified eyes and placed his hand firmly over hers. “I won’t.”
She allowed him to open the door then and as soon as they stepped out, the Ellvinians in the hallway stopped to look at them.
“Good day, Prince!”
“Lady Jala, how was your sleep?”
All the banter sounded cordial and non-threatening, but Kane knew better. He nodded to each Elf that spoke to him, but kept walking toward the stairs. When they were halfway down, he spotted Kellan in the antechamber standing in a group.
Thank the Highworld.
“Kellan!”
His brother turned, lifted his head and waved him over. To Kane’s dismay, he was standing with Samara and Chandal, but with some relief also noticed Kirby Nash and Lars Kingsley there as well.
“Kane! Jala! We were just going out for a morning ride. One of the mayor’s aides found a large patch of wormwood and Lady Samara wishes to see it for herself. Why don’t you join us?”
“You’re leaving the estate?” Kane questioned suspiciously.
“Of course. It’s a beautiful day for a ride.”
“Where have you been? We need to talk,” he whispered urgently to his brother, but before Kellan could answer, Samara appeared at his side.
“We really must be going,” she drawled. “Why don’t you join us, Prince Kane?”
Jala nudged Kane and he knew what she was thinking. Kellan was being manipulated by the Ellvinians. He wanted nothing more than to shake his brother out of this farcical alliance and get him as far away from these creatures as possible, but knew he could not do that quite yet. Kane ignored the black-eyed glare from Samara. “No. I don’t think so.”
Kellan shrugged. “As you wish. I will see you when I return then.”
With that, the small party departed for the horse stables outside.
A bump from behind caused Kane to turn. It was Maks.
Jain is worried for you.
Kane took a deep breath. I know. Tell him I am fine for the moment. Will you stay with Kellan?
Always.
Thank you, Maks. Kane turned to go.
Prince?
Kane looked back at the cat. Yes?
There is a door on a side corridor next to the kitchens. I detected a mixture of familiar scents at that door, but I could not get in.
Thank you, Maks! It is the best lead we have had in days, and now is the perfect time to go take a look.
Be careful. There is several of the enemy in that corridor.
When Maks departed, Kane quickly explained to Jala what the Draca Cat told him. He put an arm around her shoulder and steered her toward a hallway off the antechamber. “Now, we are going to walk nice and slow until we get to the third corridor on the right. After that, we are going to run.”
Her head turned sharply to look at him.
“We have to lose the two Elves following us. No! Don’t turn around. Just keep walking and remember the third corridor on the right.”
She nodded and when they arrived at their destination, she did exactly that. Kane took the long way to the kitchens, sprinting through hallways he had come to know quite intimately during the night. Whenever they happened on one of the Elves, they slowed to a casual walk, but with the exception of the two that they lost from the antechamber, the other Ellvinians paid them little mind. He guessed they had no reason to be concerned what happened within the estate since all of the exits were so well guarded.
Still, they kept up the deception until they arrived at the hallway near the kitchens that Maks told him about. Kane held up a hand to Jala and peeked into the short corridor. Three Ellvinians stood in front of the only door in the hall.
Kane pulled Jala to the side.
“What now?” she asked.
“It’s time for a little fun.”
* * * * *
Fun? Did Prince Kane Atlan with the golden eyes just utter the word fun? Jala shook her head. She must have heard wrong. Kane Atlan did not joke. Even when they were having fun as a group, you would never know that he was. In fact, spending these past few days with him was the most she had ever heard the boy speak.
Yet, it was hard to miss the impish glint in his eye. He was up to something.
“I will create a diversion. As soon as the last Elf leaves the hallway, get to that door and see what is inside.”
Jala nodded and crouched in readiness to run.
Kane took a deep breath and stepped out into the opening of the short hallway. “Hey, Elves, are any of you up for a game of tag? I heard that Elves can run pretty fast!” As soon as the words left his mouth, he sprinted away.
Jala pressed her body flat against the wall as one of the Ellvinians laughed and chased after him. What now, she wondered and then smiled when a shifted illusion of Kane appeared around the corner, whistling. At least she thought he was whistling. No sound ever issued from Kane’s images.
Island Shifters: Book 03 - An Oath of the Children Page 12