Bryntar’s fear knifes through me.
I lean over and whisper, “What did he say?”
Her worried eyes meet mine. “He vows to kill Daniel with his bare hands. An Ice Lord always keeps his vow.”
Trembling, I look down at Jyrr. Black, defiant eyes rake across me, his intent clear. I will belong to him. I shudder and wonder how my body could ever have reacted to him.
Chapter Thirty-Four: The Charming
My khorbock lowers his head as we pass under a low-hanging arch of rock and enter a small meadow nestled between two glaciers. A small pond shimmers red in the sunset. The smell of sweet fruit makes my mouth water in anticipation.
Daniel dismounts. “You may rest, Ice Lord.”
Jyrr sits on a large rock. His wrists bleed from the rope wrapped under the golden cuffs, but he does not speak.
Bryntar and I slide off the khorbock. He immediately munches grass.
Daniel puts his hands on his hips and looks at us. “Make a fire by the water. Bring me food.”
I hesitate, unused to this Daniel.
Bryntar hurries to gather fruit. “Do as he says.”
I pick up twigs, leaves and dry branches, placing them in a pile near the pond. Daniel lifts heavy rocks to form a circle.
“You are stronger than you look,” Jyrr says with a smirk.
Daniel laughs. “I admire strength of character.”
Jyrr’s face darkens with the insult.
Bryntar puts the fruit by the rocks and kneels beside me. She hides my hands from the Ice Lord and pretends to strike two rocks together to start the fire while I ignite it. Soon the flames crackle with warmth.
Daniel pulls me to his side and whispers in my ear. “I don’t trust him. Please pretend we’re together until we can get rid of him.”
I wish we were together. “May I feed him?”
“Only after you eat. He needs to know his place as a prisoner.”
“How do you know these things?”
“Movies.”
There is enough on my mind without worrying about what ‘movies’ are.
“Whatever you do, be careful,” he adds.
“Yes, Daniel.” I bite into honeyed fruit, thankful to fill my hollow stomach. When I finish, the pure water in the pond quenches my thirst.
Choosing a piece of fruit, I walk toward Jyrr, feeling Daniel’s eyes on me. “Do you wish to eat?”
Jyrr smiles and my heart lurches. High cheekbones and icy purple skin make him strikingly handsome. His cropped black hair is the opposite of Daniel’s blond waves. The bearran fang hangs from his ear with the crystal stone in the shape of three stars.
“Thank you,” he says. His soft mouth touches my hand and shivers streak through me. Juice dribbles down his chin. “Forgive my clumsiness.”
I rip a leaf from a plant and wipe his smooth face.
“Another fruit, please?”
I feed him another and another, unable to stop my body from thrilling to the lure of his voice. What is the matter with me? How can I react this way when I know he will kill Daniel if given the chance?
Ripping a large leaf, I dip it in the water and put it to Jyrr’s lips.
“Please, on my wrists.”
I walk behind him and pour water over the caked blood. When finished, I make the mistake of looking up. His eyes lock onto mine. “I did not expect the Enchantress to be so young or so beautiful. What is your power?”
My heart thuds to my feet and I back away from him.
He chuckles. “Your eyes are stunning.”
I cannot stop shaking.
“You tremble,” he says with a smile. “Do not fear me. The younger Ice Lords and I do not believe in the old ways of destroying your kind. Become my mate and I shall rule this island without challenge.”
Bryntar steps behind me. “She is not for you, Ice Lord.”
He turns disdainful eyes on her. “Have we met?”
“Never.”
“Still you look familiar. I know I have seen your face.”
“You are not worthy of her.”
His eyes flare. “You do not know me, woman.”
“Who is your father?”
“I am ready to inherit the throne.”
“Unless you are challenged,” Bryntar says.
Uncertainty shudders through him, but he says, “No one would dare challenge me.”
“Are you ready to face Aru?” she asks. “For that is what it will take to save this island.”
He smirks. “I do not believe in Kepyr superstition.”
“You would be wise to heed the old prophecies.” Bryntar steps behind me and rips off the hat. Hair falls down my back and over my shoulders, shimmering with light.
Jyrr cannot hide the surprise in his eyes. “Truly beautiful.”
“Be warned Ice Lord,” she says. “She can kill you with one finger.”
He laughs. “You have the claws of a beast, woman. How is that?”
Bryntar flushes with anger. “Rest Elandra. I guard first.”
“Elandra . . . as lovely as the girl,” Jyrr says.
Heat rushes to my face.
Daniel pushes through us. “You do not have permission to talk, prisoner.”
“My name is Jyrr,” he says. “There is no fear in talking to me. Since I will rule this island, I am interested in learning about all of you.”
Daniel sneers. “Enough talk.”
I turn to stoke the fire, but Daniel yanks on my arm and pulls me into the darkness of the trees. “What are you doing?”
“Keeping the fire going.”
“You’re flirting.”
“I do not know what you are talking about.”
“You like him.”
“I do not know him.”
“I’ve known lots of guys like him. They think they own the world and can have any girl they want. He wants you.”
I tingle with his warm breath on my neck.
He takes my hands and I can hardly breathe. “If the Kepyr trackers are as good as your uncle was, I’m sure the whole island is after us. Our ace in the hole is Bryntar. They won’t be looking for her.”
I tighten and fight my threatening tears. Oh Uncle. I wish you were here. You would know what to do. “He wants me to be his mate so we can rule the island.”
Daniel cannot hide his jealousy. “Don’t be a fool. Once he gets what he wants, he’ll kill you. Believe me, you can’t trust him.”
“You do not have to worry, Daniel. There will not be any man in my life.”
He flinches and turns so I cannot see his face. “We have to decide what to do. We could use Mr. Ice Lord as a hostage, but there is more danger for us that way. Or ditch him and find a place to hide until Aru rears his ugly head.”
Aru. In our struggle to survive, I have forgotten my destiny. “What is the difference? We are doomed.”
Daniel takes my shoulders. “Not as long as we are breathing. I have faith in you. Get some sleep. I’ll relieve Bryntar in a few hours.” He strides back to the fire.
Bryntar glares at Jyrr as he pretends to sleep.
I lie down as far away from Jyrr as possible and watch the fire breathe. Flames twist in the darkness, like my emotions. Daniel worries about me. Bryntar distrusts and dislikes Jyrr with unreasonable passion. Jyrr strains against his ropes, furious to be helpless.
The fire is hypnotic and I close my eyes. No pillars of ice or molten lava mar my dreams as I float away . . . until darkness sucks the light from my hair. I scream, gasp for
breath and wake up from the nightmare.
Something feels wrong. Frantic, my eyes search the area. The khorbock rests in the shadow of a tree. Daniel hunches by the fire. Where are Bryntar and Jyrr?
Chapter Thirty-Five: The Condemning
Knots of panic twist in my stomach. I lurch toward Daniel. “Where are they?”
He raises his head, the despair in his eyes clear. “Bryntar’s gone. She took Jyrr with her.”
“It is the middle of t
he night. Why would she leave?”
“So his people can find him and we can be safe.”
I feel enclosed in a horrible nightmare. “How could you let her go?”
He stands up and gently takes my shoulders in his hands. “We agreed it was the safest way to protect you.”
I yank away from him. Sick chills crawl through me. “You planned this together?”
He paces, running his fingers through his hair. “She knew the Ice Lords would send out a search party. We couldn’t let them find you.”
“It never crossed your minds to include me in your decision?”
“C’mon. We knew what you’d say. Besides, he has some kind of power over you.”
My knees shake so hard I fight to keep standing. I ignore his jealousy. “I would never agree to put the only mother I have ever had in such danger. Especially not with Jyrr.”
“She’s lived nine-hundred years and knows every inch of this island.”
“As a powerful monster. What do you think they’ll do if she is captured in her condition?”
“I’m sure she can take care of herself.”
“She does not even have a weapon.”
He plops down in front of the fire. “She knew the risks. How upset you would be. She wanted you to forgive her. To understand this was the only way to ensure you could survive and save the island.”
“It has always been about saving this island!”
He leaps up. “Are you blind? This is about saving the one person she loves more than life itself.”
“Do not say that.”
“Face it. It’s true.”
I would rather die than be the cause of her death. Unwanted tears blur my eyes and I blink them away.
“I’m really sorry.” He puts his arms around me.
I push him away. “Do not touch me. If she dies, I will never forgive you for letting her leave without me.”
“It was her idea. I couldn’t have stopped her even if I wanted to.”
I ignore his frustration and stalk toward my khorbock.
He catches my arm and holds it tight. “You’re not going anywhere. You don’t even know where she went and it’s impossible to track her in the dark.”
“You are hurting my arm.”
He drops it. “Sorry.”
I glare at Daniel. “Stay here and be safe.”
“You think it’s safe now that Jyrr knows about this place? He’d kill me without hesitation.”
“You need to go your own way.”
“I don’t have a way. I want you to save this island so I can go home.”
I ignore all the emotions slamming through me, his and mine. “Goodbye, Daniel.”
He grabs me from behind and traps me in his arms. “Listen to me.”
I struggle against his hard chest. “Let me go.”
“Not until you agree to behave and hear what I have to say.”
It is impossible to escape without hurting him. “Talk.”
He does not release me, but loosens his grip. “We’re going to meet Bryntar. She will join us as soon as she can.”
All the fight drains out of me though their betrayal still hurts. “You could have told me sooner.”
He throws up his hands. “Like I had a chance with you flying off the handle.”
I do not try to understand his words. A sudden urge to see Bryntar and know she is all right overtakes me. “We need to leave now, while it is dark.”
“I agree. It’s safer.” He gazes into the clear sky. “I can use the stars and my compass. I’ll need daylight to find her landmarks.”
“Where are we going?”
He puts the fire out. “South, to avoid the Ice Lords.”
“Into Kepyr territory? It will be just as perilous.”
“Yeah, but this place isn’t safe now.”
He helps me onto the khorbock. My legs protest, but the saddle is designed to make the ride more comfortable.
“You take the reins so I can get our direction.” He mounts and I wish he did not have to wrap his arms around my waist.
The creature starts up the steep path and I am thankful he knows the way. Except for the rhythmic click of hooves, the night is silent. Cold once again becomes our constant companion, for my nerves are raw and no heat radiates from me.
“Did you really mean what you said?” Daniel asks. “About never forgiving me?”
“I did.”
“I can’t be held responsible for Bryntar’s decisions. I am only responsible for my own.”
“That may work in your world, but not here and not for me. I am responsible for everyone.”
“It doesn’t work in my world either. Everyone wants to blame someone else for their problems.”
We reach the ice plain and Daniel gazes at the sky. “Stop. I have to find Polaris.”
“The North Star?” I ask.
“How do you know about stars?”
“I read about them in books. Living underground all my life, I have no practical knowledge.”
“I lived outside and learned how to hunt, fish and play sports. I’d die underground. Look, see the seven stars that form the Big Dipper?”
I follow his pointing finger. “A handle hooked onto an open square?”
“That’s it. Follow the last star on the square and go about five lengths of the handle. That bright star is Polaris and north. Turn the khorbock in the opposite direction for south.”
I do as he says, patting the creature. “What is it like in your world?”
“Too crazy to explain. You’d have to see it.”
“Then tell me about your family.”
He is silent for so long that I do not think he is going to speak. “I took them for granted, always expecting them to be there for me.”
His grief is equal to mine when I think of Taroc and Bryntar.
“My dad was the greatest guy.” His voice chokes up. “I still can’t believe he’s gone.”
“I am sorry.”
“He was an engineer who specialized in building bridges. He designed our ship. Everyone pitched in to build it since we were all going on the trip. We had a blast.”
The sky lightens with the fading night, but the darkness does not leave Daniel.
“You told me your mom and sister stayed behind,” I say.
“Yeah. Annie got sick. Mom decided to take her home. I felt bad they couldn’t go, but excited to have just us guys, too.” He swallows hard. “I’m glad they couldn’t come.”
I feel his tears, silently sliding down his face. “What was your brother like?”
“He’d just finished his second year at Harvard Law. He would have been a great lawyer, even if he bossed me around because I was younger.” His voice cracks.
“You make me wish I had someone to grow up with.”
“I don’t envy your childhood,” he says.
“It was different.”
“You were loved. Maybe that’s all that matters.”
I feel the ache in his heart.
We ride in silence until dawn glitters over a great forest covered in frozen snow. Soft patches of tundra push up through the thinning ice.
My khorbock snorts and perks up his ears.
I stop as hooves thunder in my chest.
“What is it?” Daniel asks.
“Khorbocks. A lot of them.”
We search the vast ice plain and see nothing.
“Can you feel if they have riders?”
“They are too far away,” I say.
“We can’t take any chances. Let’s move.”
I think of running and the khorbock bolts across the ice so fast that I slip and bang into a horn. “Help.”
“Steady there.” Daniel pulls me upright.
I lean over and grab a hunk of khorbock mane. Muscles move underneath us in long strides, hooves kicking up ice and ground. Wind whips my hair and I breathe in gulps of light. I laugh, not caring that we are running for our lives. Racing on the khorbock is the most thrilling thin
g I have ever done.
“I’m afraid we have company.”
I look around, relieved the khorbocks are still far enough away that we can hide.
“Ride for those trees,” Daniel whispers in my ear. “We’re going to have to get off.”
“We cannot run away on foot.”
“We’ll hide. You have to send the khorbock away.”
We race to the trees and jump off. Daniel removes the saddle and bridle and throws them on his shoulders.
I close my eyes and send my feelings to the creature: appreciation for his loyalty, thanks for his help, the need to run far and lead those that chase us away. The one feeling that surprises me the most is the love I feel for him. And the love he returns when he leans over and nuzzles my neck. I pat him. “Goodbye, my great khorbock.” He stares into my face with those huge eyes, spins away and is gone.
“Climb!” Daniel pushes me to the low limbs of a tree.
The branches are thick. “This is impossible.”
“That’s the idea. If our pursuers come this way, they won’t think of looking here. Even if they look up, they won’t see us. Move it. I need to cover our boot prints.”
I step on the lowest branch close to the tree trunk.
Daniel shakes a branch. Snow falls off to cover our tracks and he climbs up behind me.
“This isn’t going to be easy. Protect your face as much as possible. No matter what, don’t make a sound.”
The only sounds I hear are hooves smashing through the ice and coming closer.
I wiggle up, weaving over and under and through branches thick with sharp needles. It must be much harder for Daniel to squeeze through because of his size. Especially when he carries the saddle and bridle.
Glad for the protection of my fur clothes, I somehow manage to keep moving higher, grabbing a branch, stepping to the next higher one, squishing between the jabbing needles. My muscles ache with the strain but it is the tight spaces that threaten to suffocate me. Branches turn to smaller limbs and fear of breaking one makes me stop. I look up and down, unable to see anything but green tree. Even though Daniel gasps for breath, he is not visible.
Khorbocks snort below us, hooves stomping and thumping in impatience.
I hold my breath and cringe when Jyrr’s voice booms through the morning air.
Enchantress Sacrifice Page 17