Splintered Fate

by ylugin

  Lana stared straight ahead, staring at the little moon emerging into her view. The place she had met the Rami lying on the ground beside her. What were the chances, of her meeting him there then and again on the day she needed to be rescued?

  “Did you ever think we would see each other again?” She asked softly.

  A smile tugged at Kaiden’s lips. Lana seemed to finally be talking to him. He glanced up at the small moon in thought of how to answer her, thinking back to when he was but a child.

  The instructors at Ucu encourage Rami and Madonians to work together, though that never happened, for even as children there was a line drawn in the sand between the Rami and Madonians and neither wanted to cross it. Lana was the odd one out between the Madonians. Being a child of a council member she had a small circle of friends and non of them traveled to the school at that time, leaving her alone for the other children were too intimidated to partner with her. Neither she nor Kaiden had partners for their first group assignment.

  Kaiden knew who she was and decided to try and partner with her. Not to make friends but to learn. He and his brother, at their young age, were being groomed to join and climb the ranks in King Zakran’s army. Despite being a crazy and ruthless king, as a child Kaiden was eager to please him. Kaiden thought that if he could get some knowledge from Lana, a daughter of the Madonian council, that he could climb ranks faster than his brother.

  Lana was reluctant to work with the Rami at first but he challenged her, said she was unable to keep up with him due to weakness. This made her determined and so she accepted the Rami as a partner, for one assignment.

  It didn’t take long after that before they became friends and partners for each assignment given to them from that day forward. As their friendship grew Kaiden forgot about why he initially became her partner. They were best friends for their entire time at the school, spending every day together. That was until they returned to their lands and went their separate ways.

  Kaiden turned to Lana as he answered her question. “Never. That should be painfully obvious by our butchered goodbye.”

  Lana let out a small laugh, sending his pulse racing at the sound. “Aw, it wasn’t that bad.”

  “Speak for yourself. I had to learn the hard way that Madonian royals cannot kiss.”

  “HEY!” Lana hit his shoulder playfully. “I am not a royal.”

  Kaiden was surprised that that was what had put her off and not his remark about the kiss. “That’s what some Rami refer to the Madonian council as.” He said with a shrug. “Please forgive me Ms. Casteel I meant no disrespect. I assure you it will not happen again.” He teased.

  “And the way I remember it… I came to hug you goodbye and you were the one who acted, butchering the what otherwise would have been a nice goodbye.” Lana retorted.

  He couldn’t help but smile.

  “Oh please. You wanted to kiss me from the moment you met me. I saw it in your eyes from the moment I said Hi, my name is Kaiden. And you were all flustered, baffled by my rugged charms.”

  “I was a child! What kid even has rugged charms? And no, I certainly did not. I was thinking who is this scrawny little boy and why is he drooling? Rugged, hah.”

  “I never drool. And I was just trying to make your dreams come true in our last moment together.”

  “I am not sure what kind of dreams you thought I had…”

  “The kind all girls have when it comes to me.” Kaiden interrupted.

  “You think so very highly of yourself.”

  “All I know is you should consider yourself lucky for ever meeting a Rami with my strapping good looks. Let alone to be graced by his presence. And lucky enough to be on the receiving end of his kiss and attention?”

  Lana smiled in response, still eyeing the sky. “Talking in third person now are we?”

  “If the moment calls for it.”

  “I forgot how talkative and cocky you were.”

  Kaiden mockingly gasped. “To be cocky would be to think unrealistically highly of myself. I think of myself no higher than I truly am. As for talking, well its easier to speak to you when you don’t look like you completely hate me.”

  “I don’t hate you.” It was nearly a whisper.

  “I know, I saved you, pretty much twice now. So princess, I think you are in my debts.”

  “Is that so? And how would you like to be repaid for your services?”

  “I have not yet decided. But I will let you know when I decide on a good form of payment.”

  Lana had forgotten how as children Kaiden was able to so easily comfort her. In this moment she found herself thankful for having him near. He had this ability to somehow pull her from the darkness that seemed to completely envelope her.

  “Isn’t it strange? We have been apart living completely different lives and yet this feels almost normal. As if we were at Ucu just a few days ago.”

  Kaiden turned his gaze away from the sky and over to Lana. Feeling his eyes on her, she allowed her gaze to wonder over to his. He tried to suppress a smile, but the sheen in those blue eyes of his gave him away.

  “I hate to break it to you but… You appear much older than I remember you a few days ago, it’s kind of creepy.”

  “I see no one ever taught you the proper way to speak to women.”

  “Women never seemed to mind my speech before,” Kaiden shot back, immediately regretting his words.

  Lana suddenly wondered of Kaiden’s love life and blushed in the darkness as she looked away from him. She did not want to think of any of it. Silence fell between them.

  “Its good to be near you again.” Kaiden’s voice was a low murmur. He was watching the small moon when he said it, Lana had wondered if she had imagined it.

  The two of them lay silently near each other, gazing up at the stars until they fell sleep.

  Chapter

  Nine

  Lana sat with her eyes focused on a flickering flame, watching the fire dance over a stick as it scorched the wood into ash. Her cheeks were rosy from the heat the fire gave off, she welcomed the warmth. Even though her legs were sore from the long day of riding the heat of the fire soothed the pain, relaxing the muscles, so that she hardly felt the aching any more.

  Ardin lay motionlessly beside her. He too silently watched the flames in the fire. Even though the two of them were near each other they were not one as Madonian and Aorra often were. Ever since the other night when Lana’s Aorra dumped his secret onto her they had been somewhat apart.

  Lana couldn’t help but feel hurt. She understood her Aorra’s reasoning for keeping the information of the Dukran’s potential involvement in Valdor’s death from her. However, she could not help but feel somehow lied to by him. He was supposed to be the one she could always trust with anything. They were not supposed to have secrets. She imagined that he must have felt similarly when she ran off risking their lives at the Rami camp in Abder.

  Without a word Lana raised her hand and placed it gently on her Aorra’s head, scratching his ear for a moment before retrieving her hand back to her lap. Gray blue eyes met hers, there was so much behind them. Even though they didn’t speak, not even in her mind, their eyes spoke for them. She felt him gently reach for her from within and she reached out to him, closing the distance that had been between them. Ardin then scooted closer, so that his body rested against her leg. It felt good having him close.

  With a small smile Lana turned back towards the fire. It had been three days since her father died in her arms. She shut her eyes for a moment, trying to push away the memories. They haunted her at times like this, times when she was not focused on something else.

  Feeling an abrupt shift she forced her eyelids open to see Donn standing, all eyes were on him. For a moment Lana was surprised that the old man was able to jump to his feet so suddenly. He stood motionless, his eyes hazed over and glistening.

  “We need to leave, at once.” Donn urgently spoke.

  Lana didn’t know why but a shiver ran down
her spine as they all rose to their feet.

  “What’s going on?” Lana asked softly, as she secured her sword to her waist.

  Donn helped Alex onto his horse, “There are Rami men who are about to discover our camp.”

  Kaiden stopped what he was doing, turning to Donn who climbed onto the dapple grey horse behind his grandson. Kaiden's eyes were wide, filled with questions about the approaching Rami men.

  Seeing both Lana’s and Kaiden’s expressions Donn explained without need of inquiry, “They have been tracking us, looking for you and Lana.” Donn gestured at Kaiden.

  Nadina put her Aorra in a satchel attached to her horse and climbed on to its back while Kaiden used dirt to put out there freshly lit fire. Lana could tell that within him questions burned to be asked, yet he remained silent. She figured he would wait till they were on the move to ask them, not wasting time and risking their lives.

  Everyone was up and riding within minutes.

  Brows pulled together in worry, Lana looked over to the children and the old man. Donn told her the general direction the Rami were coming from and so she headed in the opposite, trying to stay on course as much as possible.

  Ardin, for the first time since the night before, entered her thoughts. His warm presence was soothing. Lana welcomed his company. Her Aorra felt like an anchor, the one true and solid thing in her life, something to hold on to so that her mind and thoughts not run away. Her green eyes followed Ardin as he ran up ahead, but his presence within her mind never left.

  The sun had already set behind the horizon but the big moon provided a dull blue light for them to travel by. Thick patches of trees and brush made it impossible for the horses to gallop, limiting their speed. It was but a short time of riding before Kaiden found his way closer to Donn.

  “How did they know where we were and why are they after us?” He asked.

  Lana was riding ahead of them, but she slowed, closing some of the distance so that she too could hear some answers from Donn. A part of her feared that Kaiden might try to communicate with their followers, especially if it were his brother.

  Donn peered at Kaiden for a moment as if deciding what he wanted to say. Alex sat in front of his grandfather, holding on to the mane of the horse as hard as he could. The boy’s eyes looked as if he had seen a ghost, his skin pail. Lana’s heart hurt for the children. Donn’s voice pulled her attention away from Alex.

  “They found us because they have a good tracker, a man named Garin.” Donn said, keeping his eyes looking ahead.

  Lana felt a kick to her stomach at the thoughts of Garin, approaching them. Her fear for Alex and Nadina grew immensely. Garin must not catch them. She glanced back in time to see Kaiden slowing, allowing Nadina and Donn to move further ahead of him.

  Ardin, slow yourself so Donn and the kids can follow. I will be close behind. Lana spoke to her Aorra as she slowed to catch up to Kaiden.

  Be careful.

  It was surprising that Ardin did not challenge her request. She looked to Kaiden as her horse slowed, he had his head turned towards the dark woods behind him. Lana knew he would want to stop for his brother. He loved Garin even though his brother was cruel to him as a child. That love blinded him. She had seen the hatred in Garin’s eyes for her kind, how cold he was, how dangerous. It was unbelievable that both Kaiden and Garin had come from the same place, linked by blood. The two could not be more different.

  She not only feared for the children and Donn getting caught by Garin, but for Kaiden too. There was something so deeply troubling about Garin’s eyes when he had her in his grasp. Lana doubted that he would be quick to forgive Kaiden for what he had done. She feared what he may be capable of, that he might have no difficulty in taking his only brother’s life for it. Kaiden had to leave with her, she couldn’t risk him getting himself killed over trying to reason with a mad man.

  “Keep moving. Ardin will lead you safely. I will be right behind you.” Lana spoke to Donn as he passed her.

  “Be careful child, a few seconds too long and you may cause your wolf his life.” He spoke as he passed. Lana felt the cold chill run through her. Why would he say that?

  “I should speak to him, explain…” Kaiden started as soon as he saw Lana slowing to him. His mind was racing with the possibilities of speaking to his brother. He wanted to try to have Garin see things his way.

  Lana cut Kaiden off, not wanting to waste precious time.

  “We need to keep moving. Your brother is out of his mind with rage to the point of tracking us down. Garin may love you but right now he doesn’t come in peace. He wants me dead, Kaiden. Skilled fighters outnumber us. Who knows what Garin will do to you or us if we are all caught? We need to run, now.” Lana could see in his eyes that she had done little to change his mind so she added “But if you don’t go then I am not leaving you. If you are wrong you will cost me my life and Ardin's for sure, there is no saying what will happen to Donn, Nadina, Alex, nor my people.”

  Kaiden looked at Lana with an odd expression.

  “You wouldn’t…”

  “I WILL AND I AM!” Lana almost screamed. “I am wasting precious time. If you are so sure he will be kind then let’s do this, show me how forgiving and open to the Madonian people Garin is. But I don’t think that deep down you actually expect you can reason with him. I saw the hatred in his eyes, Kaiden. Feelings like that take longer then a few nights to go away.”

  Garin was Kaiden’s brother, and eventually maybe he would be capable of listening to reason and understand why Kaiden had done what he did. But this was not the time to find out. Kaiden looked hard at Lana. He searched for a clue to know if she were bluffing or not, if she truly wouldn’t leave. Lana met his eyes and wondered if he was willing to risk her life over this.

  Almost reluctantly, Kaiden gave her a heavy nod in agreement, something that Lana could see was difficult for him. “Lets go.” He spoke as he turned his horse towards where the others had gone.

  “I have an idea,” Lana said, taking the lead, staying close enough to be able to keep an eye on Kaiden. She wasn’t planning on letting him slip away into the darkness unnoticed. She could feel her palms sweating with nerves. If anything were to happen to any of their little party, she could not bear it. They were all here, in part, because of her, and all were under threat because of her.

  Lana led Kaiden through the forest, close to the river. “Ardin took them through the river.” She spoke over the sound of rushing water. They began traveling the edge of the river till Lana’s white mare must have hit her toe on a submerged rock. The horse’s knee was still bent and the leg collapsed. Lana grabbed the horse’s mane as the mare’s neck and head dropped. Luckily the horse extended its other leg and caught its self before completely going down.

  Continuing forward, the horse cried out after a few steps. Its foot had been injured, making it painful to maneuver the terrain with a rider on its back. Dismounting the horse, Lana got a better view of its leg. There was a nasty gash where the mare must have hit itself against something sharp. The horse was too injured to ride and there wasn’t enough time to wrap its leg and attempt to tie it to Kaiden’s horse to take with them.

  With an aggravated sigh, Lana grabbed her bag from the mare.

  “Be safe,” she whispered into the beautiful white horse’s ear before hitting its hind, sending the horse away from the water to the opposite direction.

  Lana turned to Kaiden who extended his hand to help her on to his mount. His already racing pulse quickened even more at her touch.

  She wrapped her hands around him tightly and he went off to the right, following her directions. They were thankful for the blue moon on this night, providing enough light to travel by. They rode for a while, following the water until they caught up to the others.

  “That was good thinking to make us go through water.” Donn commented, as Kaiden and Lana approached. Lana’s brows came together in wonder of how Donn knew before realization washed over her. His little lizard must ha
ve kept him updated. Lana supposed that if Donn stopped to wait for them, they must have gained some distance from Garin.

  “How fast is that lizard? You would almost think there’s more than one.” Lana observed.

  “There is more than one.” He replied.

  “How many of those little guys do you have out there?” Lana asked the old man.

  Donn smiled a mischievous smile at her question, replying, “Just enough”.

  She wanted to know more about Donn, not many people have more than one creature under their control. In fact, now she knows of only two with such skills, Donn and Arkhip Dukran.

  “Donn… the mare…” Lana began, she felt bad about getting rid of such a beautiful horse who was not even hers.

  He waved his hand at her “You did what you had to. I had given the mare to you to keep.”

  Lana replied with a nod.

  “I think we need to keep traveling throughout the night. Try and put some distance between my brother and us. They will not stop.” Kaiden’s words were urgent. Lana peered at him from underneath her lashes. It amazed her how his heart seemed so set on seeing Garin and now it was set on getting them as far away from him as possible.

  “I agree with the boy,” Donn simply said.

  “I think I should ride with Nadina” Lana spoke. Kaiden’s heart sank, he liked being close to her. For her to be safe, within his reach.

  “The children should try and rest some while we travel through the night.” Lana added and even though Kaiden thought she was right, he couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

  Donn turned to his granddaughter. “Mind sharing your horse, little one?” He asked gingerly.

  Nadina simply shook her head without a sound. The girl’s eyes were drooping with exhaustion and Alex wore a similar expression. It was as if life had been drained from both children. Fear sucked what strength they had like a leach, leaving them a tired and trembling shell of the children they were. Lana hoped that they would be able to rest as they road on and that tomorrow they would feel better, somehow putting this behind them.