“Not so fast, Neomi,” The smugness of Ewei’s expression stoked Edric’s dislike for him. He was overconfident. Pompous. Everything about him screamed at Edric not to trust a word he said. Unfortunately he wasn’t in a position to silence him. “You are not to be in the company of these men any longer. It is by the command of your brother that you have been named to lead the warriors who will take on the track of the Avaern. I will see the children back to your father. They are not your charge anymore.”
“You expect us to follow the beast?” Neomi stared at Ewei, scornful of the suggestion. “I assumed your intent was to merely map its direction of arrival and departure. To attempt a full track would be suicide. Surely my brother knows this. He would never have agreed to send me on such a mission.”
“On the contrary, he felt you the only one capable of performing the task. With Moinie at your side, I’m sure you will be successful,” he stated, a hint of what Edric could only decipher as sarcasm in his tone. For an Ovatai, the sentiment felt somewhat anomalous. Notably out of place, even for one as ill-tempered as Ewei. “The task is simple, Neomi. If you are half the hunter our people think you are, it should pose no challenge for you to trace the scent of the creature on the wind when it departs Isavo.”
Edric’s heart pounded, desperate to think of a better plan than what Ewei suggested. They wanted Neomi to chase the Avaern? He had seen the destruction it was capable of. Neomi was right. To do this was suicide. A mission destined to fail unless the grace of the gods somehow provided them with a miracle. Unsure of what to do or say without directing Ewei’s suspicions again, Edric looked to Callum for support. Disapproval was written all over Callum’s face though he said nothing. Silently contemplating the situation. He needed to say something. There was a better chance Ewei would listen to Callum. “Captain, you must have an opinion on the plan,” Edric urged him to speak. If he didn’t say something soon, it would be too late.
Callum’s calm was somewhat strained as he turned his head to stare at Edric, the slow rhythm of his words revealing the careful choice he made with every breath. “I did not come here to insult the Chief ’s son by questioning his decisions; however, it is necessary to point out the flaws in what has been suggested. It is presumptuous to assume the Avaern has a single resting place. A nest, for lack of a better term. Our research on the creature is not completed enough to take a risk of this extreme. Every warrior sent after it now is one less we will have to call on in the event of an attack by the Ythes. The call is premature.”
“What would you know about war, Vor’shai?” Ewei took a step forward, pausing suddenly, as if thinking better of challenging Callum again.
“I am beginning to think I know more than you. Your Chief is another story,” Callum nodded. “You said the decision was discussed between yourself, Onuric, and Chief Okivra. The order you give, you claim to have come from Onuric. What were Okivra’s feelings on the matter? Did he support the plan?”
“Chief Okivra is the only one who has the authority to override Onuric’s decisions. The fact that I am standing here now should be proof enough that he chose not to utilize his power.”
“Then he endorsed it?”
Ewei pulled his shoulders back, jutting his chin out defiantly. “It seems the tables have turned, Vor’shai. Do you try to accuse me of something?”
“As a matter of fact, I am,” Callum repeated Ewei’s words from before. He had barely finished speaking when Ewei’s lithe body shot into motion, covering the distance between them with incredible speed, his hand extended toward Callum’s throat in a show of unrestrained rage. Edric shouted for his friend, trying to position himself between the two, but it was too late. Ewei’s fingers clenched tightly at Callum’s neck, their bodies stumbling backward under the force, slamming Callum’s back against the wall of the hut. There was nothing Edric could do other than trust Callum’s instinct to defend himself.
Without hesitation Callum returned the grip to Ewei’s throat, a harsh, choking sound emitting from Ewei at the pressure of Callum’s fingertips digging into the flesh. He showed no sign of fear. Edric couldn’t help admiring his friend for that. He wasn’t sure he would have been able to withstand the attack with the same poise and confidence Callum possessed.
Gritting his teeth Callum pushed himself away from the wall. The two men remained locked in each other’s grasp, neither one giving an indication of surrender, their eyes burning with determination and pride. If there was one thing Edric knew about Callum, it was that he would never allow Ewei to sense weakness. Callum would suffocate under Ewei’s hold before he would consider giving in.
Several long moments passed before Edric became aware of Neomi at his side. Her hand was clasped in his, gently holding him back from interfering with the two men. She didn’t need words to coax him into staying beside her. There was nothing he could do to get Ewei away from Callum. For him to intercede would inadvertently show a lack of confidence in Callum’s ability to defend himself, therefore showing the weakness Ewei hoped to find through his assault. Callum wouldn’t want that. It would disgrace him in the eyes of the Ovatai.
Neomi’s serene expression showed her lack of concern for the safety of either man. If only he could feel the same! Edric’s heart raced with every second that passed until he saw the men slowly release their hold on one another, bodies tensed in preparation to defend again if the other struck, a look of solemn respect evident on Ewei’s pale features. “Not bad,” Ewei mumbled, stepping away from Callum.
Quickly Neomi’s hand slid away from Edric. Distracted by the emptiness he felt at his side, Edric exhaled a long breath. If the other Ovatai men were anything like Ewei, he didn’t care if they all perished at the wrath of the Avaern. Maybe the gods had created the beast to obliterate their race for their insolence. The only one he cared about was Neomi. It was all he could do to keep from taking her in his arms and running back to Tanispa to save her from her own people.
The sound of Callum’s voice pulled him from his reverie, reminding him of the issues left unsettled. “I am not influential enough to countermand the orders Ewei claims to have been sent here to give on behalf of Onuric, but I will say this,” he let his gaze fall on Neomi, sincere in their umber glow. “Be cautious, Neomi. If my opinion means anything to you, I advise against accepting the mission. Promise you will take this into consideration before you listen to that man. I suspect your father would agree with me.”
He didn’t give Ewei a chance to argue. Turning on his heel Callum made his way through the door, signifying the end of the meeting. There was nothing left to discuss. Ewei wasn’t going to allow them an opportunity to rationalize a plan in a reasonable fashion. He was set on demonstrating authority rather than focusing on what was important. Edric stared at the door where Callum had gone, unwilling to leave Neomi there with Ewei. The man was unstable. How he attained a rank of power baffled him. Among the Vor’shai he would have been deemed a fool and left behind long ago. But the Ovatai were different. They based status on strength and skill. If he wielded a weapon half as well as he could sling an insult, he was likely the absolute best of his kin.
A gentle pressure at Edric’s back drew his attention to Neomi’s presence, beckoning him to follow Callum with a slight tilt of her head. It pained him to realize he had no choice. What more was there for him to do in the company of these people? He wasn’t the Captain. He had no real command over the troops any more than Callum had control over what the Ovatai did. His continued presence would only serve to irritate Ewei and risk a fight between them without Callum to hold him back. Fists clenched, Edric considered the possibility of challenging Ewei. The sight of the bruise on Neomi’s face was all he needed to make it worth the consequences. But no. Now wasn’t the time.
Heeding the insistent pressure from Neomi’s hand Edric gave a sharp bow to Ewei and Moinie. It was rare to find himself in a situation of political business where he had no words for a formal, courteous farewell. There was nothing to be said. Any
thing spoken to Ewei would instigate a fight while directing attention to the women without addressing Ewei would have the same effect, for one reason or another. Straightening his back Edric moved toward the door, aware of the others watching him as he went. He needed to find Callum. If the Ovatai weren’t going to work with them, they would have to come up with a plan of their own. He could only hope Callum had an idea which might protect Neomi as well.
Neomi’s eyes lingered on the door, wishing Edric would come back. She knew he wouldn’t. It was by her urging he had left. And it was probably for the best. Ewei was being unusually combative. She was used to him posturing when in the company of Onuric but there was no reason for him to put on a display when there was no one there to witness other than her and Moinie. There was certainly no reason for Ewei to care what the Vor’shai thought of him. She couldn’t imagine their opinion was very high.
Her heart beat loudly, echoing through her head until she thought she might go mad. She was to track the Avaern. A mission no one in their right mind would attempt with the limited knowledge they had about the creature. Edric and Callum were justified in their questioning of Onuric’s decision to send her on the task. She couldn’t help feeling the same. Her brother was smarter than this. It wasn’t like him to do something which would place her directly in harm’s way. After so many years of being overprotective and unwilling to let her do anything, why would he suddenly choose now to alter his behavior toward her? And her father… why did he allow it? Had they all lost their minds?
A soft breeze caught her attention as Ewei crossed the room to stand in front of her, his hand extended toward her face. Reflexively she pulled away from him, eyes narrowed, making no attempt to conceal her contempt. “Leave,” she stated, stern and unyielding. He had no right to be there. If she was going to be sent on a fool’s errand in chasing the Avaern, she wanted a few moments of peace to gather her thoughts before accepting the inevitable death which awaited her.
“You don’t have to do this, Neomi,” he replied, unaffected by her dismissal. “I might be willing to go in your stead if you were open to a bit of… negotiation.”
“Orders are not intended to be negotiated. If Onuric has in fact commanded me to lead the warriors after the Avaern then it is what I will do.”
“But you do not want to. I see it in your eyes,” Ewei frowned. “You are bound to find out soon enough, so let me make one thing clear. I have requested your father to consider a marriage between you and me. If you were to agree to this union, your father and brother may be more inclined to accept it.”
“Why?” It was the only question she had since Moinie first mentioned the thought of Ewei as her husband. It didn’t make sense. No man would have reason to seek her so soon after Mevuk’s death when the entire tribe was aware of her failure to produce an heir. Ewei’s climb through the ranks of the Komoa would be for naught if he chose a wife who was incapable of providing a son to carry on his name and legacy among their people. So why would he chance it? What was there for him to gain?
She wanted to punch him in hopes that it would wipe the smirk from his face. He was proud of himself. He had leverage, though she hated to admit it. She had no desire to go on this mission. Even a fool could tell that. What Ewei couldn’t possibly know was her reason why. It had nothing to do with the thought of death. She wasn’t ashamed to die honorably to serve her people if there was a chance that her mission might be successful in leading her father and brother to the location of the Avaern’s slumber. What she hated was the thought of leaving Edric in Ewei’s care. Regardless of the lies they told to cover the truth of the affair, Ewei would continue to believe what he wanted. Loyalty to the Chief would then leave Ewei with the task of ridding their people of the perpetrator who threatened the purity of the Chief ’s line. Ties with the Vor’shai meant nothing to him. It was about duty. And his duty would be to kill Edric if he felt it necessary.
“Why?” Ewei laughed. “Your husband is dead, leaving you a childless widow, and you ask me why? You should be thanking me.”
“I did not ask you for any favors. I owe you no thanks.”
“If anyone else finds out about you and the little Vor’shai Prince, your chances for another union will be nonexistent. I think you owe me some appreciation for not rescinding my offer despite this unfortunate turn of events.”
“If you are attempting to trick a confession out of me, you cannot receive what I do not have to give,” she sighed. “There is nothing between Edric and I. The Vor’shai Captain vouched for my story. You have no basis to continue making these outlandish claims.”
“I am not about to begin believing anything their Captain says,” Ewei sneered. Moving in closer to Neomi he sniffed the air around her. With a look of disgust he extended his arms, shoving her backward with incredible force, jarring her body as it impacted with the cold wall. Clenching her fists she prepared to strike if he attempted to come any closer. To her dismay he chose to keep his distance. “Was it worth it, Neomi? Is the little Prince a good enough lover to be worth giving up the respect of your entire race?”
“I wouldn’t know,” she retorted through gritted teeth. In the back of her mind she knew the answer. What she felt with Edric was worth a thousand strikes from Ewei’s hand. “If I had to surmise his skill, I would expect him to be better than you. He has no need to compensate for lack of expertise by resorting to physical assaults to create an illusion of masculinity.”
From Ewei’s side Moinie stepped in, pushing him away from Neomi with a hard blow, causing him to stumble from the unexpected strike. Shaking his head he tried to regain his composure, glaring at Moinie through narrowed eyes. “How dare you raise a hand to me!” he shouted. “I don’t care who you are married to. You will have respect for my station.”
“You have given me no reason to respect you,” Moinie replied derisively. “Onuric will hear of your behavior toward his sister and your plans for a marriage into the Chief ’s family will be concluded without further discussion. You aren’t fit to command the men you do now. The last thing we need is to have you tainting the It’aryn bloodline.”
“Taint the bloodline?” he laughed. “Neomi has already done that. I was offering my assistance in keeping the traitorous act a secret by taking her as my wife and relieving her of the It’aryn name in case the deed was uncovered. If Okivra knew what his beloved daughter was doing behind his back, he would be begging me to take her off his hands. She is a disgrace to her family.”
Neomi seethed with every word which came from Ewei’s mouth. He intended to blackmail her into agreeing to the union? There was no proof for him to use against her other than the direction from which she came when returning to her quarters that morning. Callum would argue her innocence to Onuric. Her family was more likely to listen to her than Ewei. Did he really think he could get away with this? “I refuse to make any deals with you,” she spat. “Whatever offer you intended to make in place of my brother’s orders, save it. I have no interest in hearing your voice any longer.”
“Suit yourself,” Ewei scowled. “We will begin summoning the creature within the hour. I suggest you have yourself packed and ready to move. The Avaern will not be as patient with you as I have been.”
She couldn’t remember the last time she felt so angry. Something about Ewei brought out the worst in her. He had that effect on everyone. His approach to business was rough around the edges. A testament to his lack of diplomatic training. It was foolish to expect anything more from a mere hunter who only attained a position of rank due to the unfortunate deaths of several men who were far more suited to the role. Had it not been for the Ythes, Ewei never would have seen a promotion of such a degree.
By the time Ewei walked through the door, Neomi felt about to burst. She wanted to scream. Nothing was going the way she expected. From the moment she set foot in Edric’s room, the world around her had fallen into chaos. She couldn’t think straight. Every other word in her head was Edric’s name, distracting her fr
om the task at hand, making it impossible to focus.
Edric. She had to find him. Ewei was not to be trusted. The moment Edric turned his back, Ewei would strike. She couldn’t let that happen. “I must warn Edric,” she breathed, heading toward the door before she even realized she was moving.
“Don’t be stupid,” Moinie grabbed onto her arm. “Ewei will be watching you. If you go to Edric, he will follow. He is looking for the evidence to back up his suspicions so that he can justify killing him. Right now he has nothing. You are the one who will provide the ammunition he needs if you are not careful.”
“Ewei does not need evidence. He is convinced Edric is guilty, therefore he is as good as dead.”
“Edric is the Vor’shai Prince. A charge against him requires more than mere suspicion to act on a punishment. Don’t give Ewei what he wants or you will be the reason Edric falls. It is your fault he is in this predicament in the first place.”
She opened her mouth to argue, realizing that it was pointless to try. Moinie was right. The blame was entirely upon her shoulders. She was the one who made the decision to visit Edric in the middle of the night. Even if they had done nothing, her presence within his quarters would have left him vulnerable to suspicions. “I do not trust Ewei,” she shook her head. “If you and I lead the men after the Avaern, Edric and Callum will be at Ewei’s mercy on the way to Nahedu. Ewei will be relentless in his accusations. No matter how much Edric denies the claims, Ewei is going to hear what he wants to hear. The truth will be uncovered and if left in Ewei’s hands, Edric and the Captain will both be in danger. Callum has made himself an accomplice by agreeing to lie on my behalf.”
“This is getting out of control,” Moinie frowned. “I never should have allowed you time alone with that man…”
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Three: Crown of Ice Page 49