The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Three: Crown of Ice

by Melissa Collins

  “I would have found a way to him with or without your help, Moinie. The time I spent with him in the chasm was merely the breaking point. The feelings between us have been building long before that.”

  “That is impossible. The two of you barely spoke – unless you have been less than truthful in regards to what happened the night of the Boeikath attack.” Moinie lowered her voice, peering at Neomi, quizzical, while at the same time her expression revealed hesitation at hearing Neomi’s response. “Is there something you have not told me?”

  What difference did it make now? The damage was done. No amount of lecturing could take it back. “I cannot pinpoint exactly when it started,” she shrugged. “I felt a strange attraction toward him while we were in Tanispa, though I passed it off as nothing more than fascination. His appearance is a stark contrast to the men I have grown accustomed to. It is only natural for a woman to appreciate the difference. You mentioned it yourself on our way back to Ethrysta.”

  “I spoke in jest…”

  “No you did not,” Neomi interjected quickly. “You cannot tell me there was not a part of you that was curious.”

  “Intrigued, perhaps, but not enough to fall into his bed.”

  “I had no interest in his bed at that time either. It was not until…” her voice trailed off, suddenly hesitant to finish her statement. What if Ewei was listening? She was incriminating herself at every turn. With a sharp flick of her wrist she beckoned Moinie to come closer, lowering her tone to lessen the chances of being overheard. “The night of the Boeikath attack was when I first started to find myself drawn to him. Out of curiosity, I arranged another private meeting with him after everyone had retired the following night…”

  “This has been going on since the moment we left Nahedu?”

  “Not – not quite the same,” she stammered. “It does not matter, Moinie. I cannot undo what has been done.”

  “No, you cannot,” Moinie nodded in agreement. “What you can do is make sure it never happens again. This cannot be allowed to continue. Have the two of you discussed the fact that your – whatever this is – will never be accepted by your people or his?”

  Hanging her head Neomi heaved a disheartened sigh. They had talked about it. The problem was that neither one of them wanted to accept it. And why should they? The Avaern was going to kill them all in the end. What difference did it make if they found happiness with each other, albeit brief, before the gods collected their souls from this world? “Acceptance is inconsequential. Why bother breaking the man’s heart when we could all be dead by the week’s end?”

  “Because death is not a guarantee. What if the gods see fit to spare us?” Moinie asked. “How would you propose to deal with the matter then? Based on what Onuric has told me of their people, they are a passionate race. The longer you lead Edric along, the harder it will be to get rid of him.”

  Damn. Why did Moinie always have to be right? It was easy for her to take an outside perspective of the situation. She wasn’t the one whose heart was being tugged in every direction. The feeling wasn’t one Neomi enjoyed. It had been so simple before she understood what those emotions were. She wasn’t convinced she would ever be the same again. “What do you propose I do?” she whispered, a sharp pain in her chest rendering her breathless for a moment in fear of what her friend might say. The answer was obvious. Moinie would recommend an official end be made to the affair. There was no other option.

  Consolation was not something their people were accustomed to. Despite the heartache she felt, Neomi couldn’t help the mild amusement which struck her to see Moinie fumbling over her words, almost timid in the way her hand reached out to rest on Neomi’s shoulder, unsure of what to do. “You must tell him it is over. Do not permit any more private meetings.”

  “There will not be time for private meetings. Could this not wait until we return from the track, if such a time comes? I would rather his heart be broken due to my death than from the words I say to him before I die.”

  “As long as he believes there is a chance for the two of you, he will be at risk under Ewei’s command,” Moinie glanced toward the door, clearly uncomfortable at the thought of anyone hearing what she was about to say. “While ending the relationship does not guarantee Edric’s safety, it may lessen the chances of him evincing signs of deeper emotions which would heighten Ewei’s suspicions. Anger toward you would make him less inclined to defend you should Ewei choose to insult you in your absence and it would prevent seemingly unwarranted enthusiasm while in your presence.”

  “We were just in each other’s presence and I thought we did well at concealing our feelings…”

  “Well?” Moinie blinked in disbelief. “Neomi, any fool could have seen through you both. I expected Edric to falter more than you, and while you started off convincingly enough, toward the end you could not keep your hands off him.”

  Thinking over her actions Neomi grimaced. How had she missed that? It felt natural to be there with him. To comfort him when his friend was assaulted by Ewei. She never considered how her behavior might look to bystanders. If Ewei noticed… He had. There was no doubt in her mind. He was observant and the heatedness of his accusations after Edric’s departure was all she needed to know it was fact. “Fine,” she frowned, realizing it was futile to continue arguing with Moinie. Ending the relationship with Edric was crucial for both of them. And once they were separated, the pain would be easier to withstand. “How do you recommend I do this? The news should come from me, but you have said it yourself that I cannot go to him.”

  “We have less than an hour before Ewei gives the orders to begin summoning the Avaern. If I can distract him in his quarters long enough, you might have a short window in which you can seek Edric and tell him of your decision. In the process, I may be able to convince Ewei to let us return to Nahedu and discuss the plan with Onuric before we take action. The Vor’shai Captain is correct in his reasons for disapproving. I must say I agree with him wholeheartedly, which is something I never thought I would say in regards to those men.”

  “And what if Edric is not easily turned away?”

  “Lie to him, if you must. Tell him you feel nothing for him. That it was mere curiosity about his kind. If he persists, inform him of Ewei’s proposal of marriage. Edric cannot argue if you are to be married to another.”

  Lies. More falsities to add upon the deception she was already drowning in. Why did everything have to be accomplished through deceit? Before the Vor’shai came to Ethrysta she’d been an honest woman. Now she felt like a blackguard. There had to be a way to tell Edric it was over without resorting to lies. She couldn’t bear the thought of hurting him any more than she already had to. “How long do you think Ewei can be distracted?”

  “I cannot promise more than five minutes. His mind is too set on the Avaern to be diverted beyond that.”

  “Do your best to grant me ten,” Neomi sighed, resolving herself to fate. There was nothing more to be done. She had to do this, whether she wanted to or not. Grabbing her coat from a chair beside the door she wrapped it around her shoulders, closing her eyes in a final, desperate attempt to gather her courage. You can do this; she encouraged herself. It was easier said than done. Pulling the fur of her coat tighter around her body she walked through the door into the biting chill of the morning air, refusing to look back where Moinie stood, watching her, sympathetic of what she had to do. The last thing she wanted right now was sympathy. All she wanted was for this to be over so she could return to the normal life she’d lived before Edric became a part of it.

  Callum’s hasty pace made it difficult for Edric to keep up, moving at a near run across the debris-scattered paths of the village. “Callum!” he called out, raising his hand to wave at his friend as if it might somehow help convince him to slow the long, determined strides which carried him deeper into the rubble toward the huts where the others remained. He couldn’t blame Callum for his frustration. Ewei was irrational and the mission presented to Neomi wa
s even more so. What did they hope to accomplish in sending her on a fool’s errand? She was a distinguished warrior. To risk her pointless death chasing after a beast they knew nothing about was absurd.

  They were almost to the door of Sahra’s hut when Callum finally gave in to Edric’s insistent calls, pausing stiffly, making no move to turn and face him. Instead he remained perfectly still, waiting silently for Edric to speak.

  “What do you intend to do?” He couldn’t think of any other question. They were still free to depart for Tanispa if Callum gave the order. No one would argue the decision after hearing of Ewei’s attitude. The intolerable insolence he exhibited throughout the entirety of the meeting. A small part of Edric hoped Callum would choose to leave. It would create an opportunity for Neomi to come with them. There was no reason for her to give up her life for a race of people who cared nothing for her. If she died while chasing the Avaern, no one would blink an eye. She would be forgotten as just another casualty in this war.

  “The man is lying,” Callum stated calmly, his eyes shifting toward the door of the hut. “I have not been able to deduce a reason for his deception, but I know he is being dishonest about the orders given by Onuric. If he is allowed to carry this plan out, we may all be dead within the hour.”

  It was the last thing he expected his friend to say. Lying? Why would Ewei falsify the commands? Subterfuge was not common practice among the Ovatai. “You don’t think Onuric wanted the Avaern summoned?”

  “I can’t be sure. What I do know is that Neomi is not the one who is supposed to follow the beast. When I questioned him about Okivra’s approval, Ewei’s eyes gave me the answer his lips failed to. He is up to something. I just cannot begin to think of what. There is nothing to be gained in Neomi leaving.” He drew in a breath, considering his words, as if speaking to himself, hearing the explanation for the first time. “Unless…” Callum turned around, peering at Edric through the glare of the sun against the snow. “Maybe I am looking too deeply into this. Perhaps Ewei is nothing more than a coward. It is possible the orders were for him to lead the men and he fears the outcome of the mission. A fool could see the flaws in the plan. I can believe he is just enough of a recreant to pass the duties on to Neomi simply to save his own life.”

  “If that is the case then we need to stop this,” Edric breathed in exasperation. It was exactly what he wanted. A reason to argue with Neomi to stay with him. They needed to get back to Nahedu and clarify the orders with Onuric and the Chief before Ewei had a chance to call the Avaern and kill everyone in the village. “I would try to plead with Neomi to refuse the orders but I cannot be seen near her. Do you think you could convince her? I could seek Moinie to ensure her cooperation…”

  Jaw set, Callum shook his head, raising his hand to silence him. “While I am inclined to agree that you should not be seen near Neomi, I must point out the fact that you are likely to have more sway over her decision than me, whereas I have a better chance at persuading Moinie to go along with our change in plan.”

  “How would I have more sway? She will think my reasons to be nothing more than a desire to assure she is safe.”

  “If she cares for you the way you believe she does, you will have a more emotional hold over her. She isn’t familiar with the feelings. You can use her uncertainty to your advantage and convince her to trust us.”

  “What about Ewei? He will insist upon summoning the beast no matter what we say or do.”

  “Let him,” Callum wrinkled his nose in disdain. “If you can get Neomi on our side in sufficient time, we can have our things packed and slip out of the village while Ewei is organizing his men. By the time his plan is underway, we can be safely out of range from Isavo.”

  It was just crazy enough that it might work. Edric’s heart raced at the thought of speaking with Neomi again. He wasn’t sure he would be able to overcome her loyalty to her people if she truly believed the orders were from her brother. To turn her back on the command would tarnish her reputation. Especially if it was discovered that Ewei was telling the truth.

  Glancing over his shoulder Edric searched the village, taking count of the warriors and their location. A meeting with Neomi in broad daylight was risky. Everyone was awake, vigilant, watchful for an attack by the Ythes. They were sure to notice every activity that took place within the borders. Neomi’s status among them would only make her stand out more. “I will see what I can do,” he nodded, unconvinced of his chance at success. He had to try. If there was any chance at protecting Neomi, he would take it. She was worth the gamble.

  “Be discreet,” Callum stared at him. “Our time is limited. Find her, convince her, and meet me back at your quarters. I don’t expect it will take much for me to garner Moinie’s cooperation. Once she is with us, I will pack our things and have them ready upon your return. We’ll have to move quickly. If Ewei begins to suspect something is awry, he will find a way to foil our plan.”

  “What about the others?”

  “I will warn them. Go, Edric. You are wasting time.”

  On edge, Edric felt himself start to tremble from nervous excitement at what Callum intended to do. He watched his friend disappear through the door of Sahra’s hut, leaving Edric alone with his unease. In the silence he began to realize the difficulty of the task laid before him. How was he supposed to get Neomi alone? She was still inside her quarters with Moinie and Ewei. Anything he could do which might draw her out would catch the attention of the others as well. He would have to wait. The three would inevitably part ways and he would have to act quickly to make his move.

  Swift on his feet he turned toward Neomi’s hut. Every inch of his body was on alert for signs that he was being followed, conscious of the attention he drew from the Ovatai warriors simply for being a foreigner among them. Discretion would be harder than he was comfortable with. Through his peripheral vision he was aware of the sideways glances cast in his direction by the men.

  Slowing his pace Edric attempted to look nonchalant, strolling through the main paths until he found a break in the rubble, allowing him a chance to slip out of notice. It was nothing more than a small alley, but it was enough to grant reprieve from the watchful eyes while still providing a clear view of Neomi’s door. He could wait there until she exited. What he intended to do after that point, he couldn’t he sure. Too many variables presented opportunity for disaster to leave him helpless in preventing Ewei’s plan from going forward. Moinie might not want to leave her side. If the two of them remained together, he doubted his ability to convince them both. Neomi’s stubbornness would act against him. No. He needed to get her alone, whatever it might take. It was the only way.

  His feet had barely broken ground in the fresh snow of the narrow alley when he felt a slender arm wrap around his waist, pulling him off balance and into a small opening between two of the damaged structures, another hand reaching up to cover his mouth to prevent him from crying out. Edric’s heart raced at having been caught off guard while at the same time he felt no malice from his assailant, relaxing into their grip as he felt himself being dragged along, deeper into the cover of the buildings.

  With impressive strength and control his attacker pressed him against the wall of an icy hut, the cold surface quickly transferring through the fabric of his cloak to chill the skin of his midsection where his stomach and face connected with the structure. Carefully the hand over his mouth slid away, a warm breath at his ear revealing the soft, familiar voice of Neomi at his back. “Do not be alarmed,” she stated quietly. “I must speak with you but we need to be wary of the others. They cannot see us together.”

  “You have an interesting way of getting a man’s attention,” Edric breathed, grimacing from the cold. “I must say, I’ve never been approached by a woman in that manner before. You’re surprisingly strong.”

  “You wish me to be more gentle?”

  “Well…” he chuckled softly to himself at the question. There was something about a strong woman he liked. The only thing h
e wished for was that she would remove his face from the frozen surface of the wall before it went completely numb. “Gentility isn’t a requirement, however, being able to feel my body is. Does this conversation necessitate me being your captive or can I be allowed my freedom?

  She loosened her hold, the sensation of her fingertips causing Edric to shiver as she let them slide away from his neck, her other hand positioned over his hips to turn his body to face her. Their close proximity left him breathless, nearly forgetting the reason he’d been so desperate to find her. When talking with Callum, all he could think about was getting her out of Isavo and away from Ewei. Now he wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and kiss her. But he couldn’t. He needed to stay focused.

  They stood in silence for a long moment, neither one moving, the quick bursts of their breath creating soft puffs of mist in the air. He could sense her uncertainty. On occasion he watched her mouth open to speak, the words lost as she struggled to maintain composure. “Edric, I –”

  “I need to tell you something, Neomi.” Edric blinked, embarrassed. He hadn’t meant to cut her off. When her lips parted, he expected her to fall silent again, the sound of her voice immediately quieting his attempt at breaching the topic he needed to discuss. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “You go first. I did not intend to interrupt.”

  “You are so damn polite.” Her eyes burned into his, the pressure of her body against his increasing, the already hastened rhythm of Edric’s heart accelerated at the mere thought of her being so close. The hand at Edric’s waist slowly slid up toward his chest, resting over his breast to feel the rapidness of each beat. Like two magnets drawn together Neomi leaned forward, pressing her lips against Edric’s, their arms wrapped around one another in a passionate embrace, ignoring the world around them in that brief moment. Edric could feel himself being swept away, desperately trying to hold onto some semblance of conscious thought. He wanted to stay like this forever but he knew they didn’t have time. Their lives were in danger. If he could convince her to come away with him and Callum back to Nahedu they might have a chance at surviving a few more days in this miserable place.