Propping himself up on his elbows Edric gazed at Neomi, for the first time appreciating the gentleness of her features when not contorted into her usual look of contempt. “I barely feel anything when I’m not on my feet,” he said softly. “It is probably nothing more than a few bruises. I’ve suffered worse.”
“You should consider the possibility of minor fractures,” she let her hand brush over the bare surface of Edric’s left shin, “you would not necessarily feel them while seated though the limp I observed you to have while walking was indicative of something more than superficial contusions. I am going to apply pressure to several locations along your legs. Tell me if the pain increases.”
Fractures? A laugh started to form at the thought. He had only just gotten there. To suffer an injury so soon was almost as embarrassing as being knocked on his backside in front of the entire Tanispan military. It was impossible for the bola to have caused anything so severe.
A wave of pain caused his head to spin, losing his balance where he was propped on the bed, dropping down onto the soft blankets. He coughed in surprise, groaning uncomfortably. This couldn’t be happening. He refused to accept the possibility of the wound being anything more than a simple bump. “It’s fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “Shouldn’t we be discussing the current threats?”
“Have patience, Prince… Edric? That is what you prefer?”
“You said it yourself; we hold no titles here in Ethrysta.”
“Not with me or my family. The other men will continue to call you by the appropriate rank which you hold. It seems only fair, if you and your soldiers respect the title of my father during your stay.” A white light enveloped Neomi’s hand while she spoke, a tingling sensation spreading from her palm into Edric’s leg. It was warm. Reminiscent of the magic used by the Vor’shai although with far greater strength and control. She gave no sign of concentration to utilize it. As if it was second nature. In an instant, a thrum of energy burst through his body, coursing from his feet to his head. Overwhelmed by the sensation he inhaled sharply, staring at Neomi, wide-eyed, mouth agape.
“Is your father here at the camp?” Callum asked, eyeing Edric in mild fascination. The white light from Neomi’s hand now wrapped around Edric like a blanket, pulsing brighter over his legs where the injuries had been sustained. Neomi shifted her eyes to glance at Callum, shaking her head slowly.
“He returned to Nahedu this morning. One of our war leaders was planning to take a party west into the territory of the Ythes tribe. I requested my father call the search off until your arrival.”
“If your father is not here then I am left with no choice than to question you about a man we came across along the way. Perhaps you could explain why an Ovatai warrior attacked us. I was under the impression our presence in Ethrysta was supported by your people.”
“That is complicated.” Neomi’s hand clasped tighter around Edric’s leg, the warmth of her energy penetrating deeper into the bone. He was impressed by the skill she displayed. In Tanispa an attempt at stabilizing a wound required significant effort and concentration. She applied little to no focus on her work, the energy flowing easily from her body into his. “What happened to the man who attacked you?” she asked. “Did you kill him?”
Sitting up on the makeshift bed Edric let his gaze trail over the skin where Neomi’s hand was settled. A large bump could be seen, though the pain had eased. The dull ache he’d suffered no longer afflicted him, leaving no lingering evidence of the injury other than the swelling which remained. “We thought it unwise to strike down an Ovatai warrior,” Edric stated plainly. “He attempted to assassinate our Captain.”
“Oh?” Neomi’s brow rose inquisitively.
“Yes,” Edric continued. “He informed us that a friend of the Chief was no friend of his.”
“And you have this man in your custody?”
“He is under watch with our troops.”
All at once the warmth from Neomi’s hand dissipated. A chill returned to Edric’s skin, reminding him of the frigid temperature which had been forgotten while comforted by the heat of Neomi’s touch. Rising to her feet she crossed the room to the door, shouting loudly through the curtain. “Moinie!”
Gadiel stepped out of the way to allow another woman entrance from outside. Edric grimaced to recognize her as the same woman who had been stationed near the door upon their arrival. The angry friend of Neomi’s from Tanispa.
Upon entering, the concern on her face was visible. She let her gaze move from one of the men to the next, looking them over in disapproval before examining Neomi, as if expecting to find her in some way injured or violated. “What is the matter?” Her gaze came to rest on Edric, narrowing her eyes to see him lying there on the bed. “Has that man tried to touch you again?”
“He has done nothing of the sort,” Neomi waved her hand dismissively. “Captain, this woman here is Moinie It’aryn. My brother’s wife. She works closely with me in regards to matters of battle, so I suggest the two of you get used to being around one another. Keep a reasonable distance, though. Her husband is a jealous man and he is displeased at the thought of your men being near our women.”
Callum started to move toward Moinie, realizing his mistake and retreating to Edric’s side once again. A wise decision. Edric could only imagine what a woman like Moinie would do if Callum tried to shake her hand. “Your brother has no need to worry. I am a happily married man and soon to be a father. That aside, it is a pleasure to meet you, Moinie.”
“I have not decided if it is a pleasure or not,” Moinie inspected Callum from head-to-toe, her nose haughtily lifted to look down on him through her lashes. “Neomi, who is this man?”
“Callum Levadis, the Crown Prince of the Vor’shai,” Neomi’s gaze settled on Callum, taking note of the solemn expression on his face. “He prefers to be called Captain,” she corrected. “The Vor’shai soldiers have a man in their custody. They were attacked by an Ovatai on their way here. I have reason to believe he is of the Ythes. Could you accompany one of our guests to their camp and retrieve their assailant? I would like to have a word with him.”
The word meant nothing to Edric. Ythes? Neomi spoke it with such derision. Worse than that which she expressed toward him upon his arrival. Whatever the Ythes was, she held a strong aversion for it. And Moinie appeared to share a similar opinion, her nose wrinkled scornfully at the mere mention. “Ythes?” she spat. “I thought they learned their lesson.”
“We will discuss it further once the man is brought forward,” Neomi replied calmly. “Have him taken to the warriors stationed near the back. They will see him secured appropriately until I am able to speak with him.”
“Lieutenant,” Callum motioned Sahra toward Moinie. “Take her to him. See if there is anything you can do to help.”
Obediently Sahra nodded, giving a polite bow to Moinie. Edric was fascinated by the hesitance they displayed. The Ovatai were just people. Why did their presence leave everyone else at such an utter loss as to how they should behave? These women showed no hint of discomfort yet they humbled a room full of men.
At the departure of the two women Neomi turned to Edric, looking him over where he lay on the bed. Reminded of his earlier discomfort he straightened his back, sitting forward to reach for his boots. They would never accomplish anything if he didn’t get on his feet. How was Neomi supposed to take him seriously if he laid about like an invalid over such a minor injury?
She was to his side before he could roll down the hems of his trousers, her hand resting atop his, preventing him from moving any further. “Stop,” she ordered quietly. “Cover yourself with the blankets. You are not well.”
Not well? “I assure you, I am fine…” his voice trailed off at the sight of Neomi’s heated stare. Clearing his throat he glanced at Callum, unsure of what to do. This hardly seemed proper protocol when meeting with an allied military force. Callum’s head bowed forward slightly, brow raised, seeming to question him silently about his disin
clination. It was rude of him to argue her hospitality. Though why she suddenly bestowed it upon him remained a mystery.
She didn’t give him a chance to argue once his protests ceased. Quickly she pulled the blankets over his feet, moving his wet boots to the base of the bed. She said nothing to the others. With a flick of her wrist she motioned them toward a bench which appeared to have been chiseled out of the snow along the wall, taking a position at the center of the room to keep close watch on the three men, proud and defiant. Something about her reminded Edric of himself. As if the confidence she possessed was nothing more than a façade for the sake of conducting the business required of her. The roiling blue of her eyes dimmed occasionally. A subtle change. One he wasn’t sure the others noticed. Left alone in the company of three strange men, Edric couldn’t imagine what must be going through her mind. The Ovatai were a proud race. She would never want to let them see her unease. But it was there. Cleverly disguised under her clenched jaw and hardened glare.
Callum sat stiffly on the bench indicated by their hostess, never taking his eyes off her. “Forgive me if it is presumptuous to assume, but am I correct in believing you know something of our assailant?”
“Something,” she scoffed. “I am going to explain our current predicament. Pay attention. I will not repeat myself.”
A shiver ran along Edric’s spine, his fingers grasping at the blankets to pull them tighter around his body, grateful for the warmth they provided. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt so cold. The more he considered it, he didn’t think he’d ever been so miserable. Tanispan winters were nothing compared to this. I will never complain about the cold again. How could these people live here? Without the joy of feeling the heat from the sun’s rays on a clear summer day, it seemed almost cruel. No wonder they are bitter and disagreeable.
Hands on her hips Neomi drew her shoulders back, shaking her head to toss the long strands of her snowy hair. Edric found his attention drawn to her. The regal snow goddess, posed before them in preparation to speak. “Our people have been at war for several months,” she started. Her confidence faltered briefly. Swallowing hard she pressed onward, recovering her composure gracefully. “Perhaps it will be easier to explain if I begin with more detail of my people. I should not assume you are knowledgeable of our customs when you have likely already discovered our lack of understanding of your own.”
“Our homelands may touch, but the distance between your people and ours is great. It is no surprise that we lack a common understanding,” Callum nodded. “We take no offense. I only hope you and your father will be somewhat forgiving of our mistakes at first while we learn.”
“I will try,” she cast a glance at Edric out of the corner of her eye. “We are very strict about our customs. My father has never invited anyone into our lands before. The experience of strangers among us is foreign and I make no promises that everyone will welcome you. Even those who are loyal to the Chief have their suspicions and fears regarding your soldiers. I recommend you make it clear to your men to exercise caution and care when in our villages and camps.”
“You believe my men to be in danger from your warriors?”
“Only if they act out of line. Minor mistakes may be tolerated, but outright insults will end poorly. Keep them on a tight leash.” Pursing her lips Neomi stared directly into Callum’s eyes. “As I mentioned before, there is a concern among the Ovatai of your men taking advantage of our women. I have been instructed by my brother to make it clear that any such behavior will not be tolerated. Do you understand?”
“Perfectly,” Callum smiled. “You have no need to worry about my soldiers. Not that your women would fall for the antics common men might try.”
She held his gaze, steady and unyielding, as if challenging him. An expression of mild respect crossed her features at his ability to withstand the scrutiny of her harsh stare. “Very well,” she said, the crease in her brow softening. “As I said, it will be best if I explain a few details of our society. You are aware of my father’s position as the Chief so I will not waste precious time stating facts you already know. We will begin with the tribes.”
A look of understanding flashed in Callum’s eyes at mention of the word. “Tribes?” he mused. “So there are different factions within your people?”
“Correct. And as you seem an intelligent man, you may have guessed the Ythes to be one of these.”
“I suspected it to be the case.”
“Very good,” she replied. “My family is of the Komoa. Our tribe is the oldest. It is why we hold the honor of Chiefdom over the others. Our heritage is undisputed. We are the largest and strongest of our people, though the other tribes may tell you otherwise. I suggest you pay them no mind.”
From Callum’s side Gadiel chuckled. Apologetic for the interruption he waved at Neomi, awkward in his motions. “Sorry,” he mumbled. “I think the argument of strength and power amongst a race is to be expected. Isn’t that right, Captain?”
“We will consider it noted, Neomi,” Callum agreed. “Please. Go on.”
“The Komoa tribe is the heart of the Ovatai,” Neomi continued. “We have villages in central and northern Ethrysta. Nahedu is the largest of our settlements and has housed the Chief for generations. To the east are the Velinost. We do not have much need to communicate with them, but you will find many of their warriors in Nahedu now. The same can be said of our southern tribal kinsman, the Hauthus. There has never been hostility between our people; at least not for centuries. You might imagine our surprise when we found ourselves under attack by our fellow people. A large army of Ythes soldiers descended on a Komoa hunting party while we were visiting the western border. Some of our best warriors were lost in that battle…”
Her gaze lowered to the floor, distracted by something. In the silence Edric saw her hand rise to clutch something under the fur of her coat at her chest. The light in the room was dim from the few small oil lamps positioned around the hut, giving just enough illumination to cast a soft glint from a chain around Neomi’s neck. Although he didn’t think it possible, he suddenly found himself feeling more uncomfortable in her presence. Callum had mentioned the chain before. A band signifying a union between her and another. Seeing the expression on her face he couldn’t deny the significance of the trinket to this woman. Based on the melancholy evident in her eyes, the battle she spoke of now had cost her more than she was letting on.
Curiosity compelled him to ask about the band while compassion forced him to hold his tongue. If her husband had been among the fallen warriors, this was hardly the time to approach the topic. He let his eyes shift to Callum, unsure of what to do. It felt rude to interrupt Neomi’s thoughts. At the same time they needed to keep focused on the present threat.
“I beg your pardon, miss” Callum said softly. Polite. Blinking her eyes Neomi broke from her reverie, staring at him as if having forgotten he was there.
“Yes,” she stated flatly, lowering her hand back to her side. “The Ythes were led by a prominent warrior by the name of Emakai. For months after the initial strike they continued to stalk the Komoa hunters, killing them mercilessly when they would stray from the safety of the villages. On occasion they would exercise extreme boldness and push into our smaller settlements and murder everyone who crossed their path. It wasn’t until recently that we became aware of the reason behind the uprising. Emakai desired to see the It’aryn family removed from power and establish himself as reigning Chief of the Ovatai.”
Pieces of the puzzle were slowly starting to come together. It explained the hostility of the man they came upon during their journey. What continued to nag at the back of Edric’s mind was the reason for calling upon the Vor’shai. Could they not stand up to a single tribe of men? The Komoa had two other tribes at their disposal. Numbers were in their favor for defeating the Ythes. “So the man in our custody,” he thought aloud. “He is a follower of Emakai?”
“If he is Ythes then he was at one time a soldier of Emakai’s.
The Ythes are currently without a leader. Emakai met his final judgment at the end of my father’s blade not long before I journeyed to your lands. Those Ythes who remain alive act of their own volition. We deal with them accordingly when they surface.”
Callum’s head cocked to one side, clearly curious by what Neomi was saying. “I was under the impression that the Ythes were the threat you requested our assistance with. If Emakai has been brought to justice, what still threatens the Komoa to the extent that they would require help from our soldiers?”
Turning away from them Neomi moved across the room to a snow-carved table. Atop the white surface was a book which had gone unnoticed until now, the cover worn and tattered from age, the fragile state causing her to handle it with the utmost care. Her slender fingers wrapped over the binding, placing her other hand underneath, flat and steady on her palm as she returned to her place at the center of the hut. Posture erect, she knelt down in the snow, the icy glow of her eyes flashing brightly. “Come closer,” she stated calmly, carefully opening the cover of the book. “When I told your Queen that we had little information to share regarding the enemy we face, I was not merely being vague. We have yet to uncover anything solid other than this journal which indicates a possible explanation.”
Intrigued by the book Edric forgot about the cold, sliding off the bed to kneel at Neomi’s side. The pressure of his weight on his shins reminded him instantly of the injury he endured, causing him to shift his body to one side, extending his legs to relieve the strain, propping himself on the palm of his hand to look over Neomi’s shoulder. He was closer to her than was appropriate but there was nothing else he could do than hope Neomi would understand his reasons were for comfort and not something improper. Her head snapped to the side, staring at him briefly before seeming to take note of the awkward position of his legs. Rolling her shoulder forward to create more distance between them she said nothing, watching Callum and Gadiel in wait of them to join her on the ground.
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Three: Crown of Ice Page 23