It sounded as if he was discussing what to have for dinner, not threatening me. “I honestly don’t know where we are.”
“We?”
My breath caught as I realized my error. “You and me,” I quickly answered, trying to play it off. “Is this the castle?”
He leaned back on his chair, observing me. Since I couldn’t see his face, I had no idea if he bought my excuse.
“When you wake up, where will you be?” he calmly asked. “In the forest?”
“Yes.” I was afraid if I didn’t tell him something, he’d make good on his threat. Since he already suspected as much, this truth could do no harm. Besides, I’d never be able to watch a child be tortured.
“How did you get out of the capital?” he asked, leaning forward. “I sealed the gates.”
I needed to tread carefully. “It was late at night, and soldats were after me. I ran until the wall was in sight.”
“Go on,” he encouraged.
“I’m not sure what happened,” I lied. “One minute I was inside the capital, the next, I was standing on the other side of the wall.” At first, I considering telling him that a citizen had helped me escape, but there was no reason to doom an innocent person. And under no circumstances could he know that blocks in the wall came loose. There needed to be a way to get back inside.
“And then you ran into the forest?”
“Yes.”
He crossed his legs. “There’s something you’re not telling me. I can feel it.” His voice was soft and seductive, making my head swim.
Wanting to change the subject, I stood and examined the room. Twelve paintings hung on the walls, each depicting a weapon of some sort. One in particular felt as if it had a life all its own. Moving toward the long, wooden pole, the elegant but deadly looking weapon mesmerized me. It appeared to be about five or six feet tall with intricate carvings along the entire length of it.
“I always wondered why I never found all twelve Krigers. It never occurred to me that one of them could be female. It’s clear you’re a Kriger. Not only can I feel your power, but you’re drawn to your weapon. That’s a bo staff.”
Forcing myself to look away from the painting, I felt the compulsion to touch it instantly vanish. Turning my attention to Morlet, my head suddenly felt like someone was squeezing it, and my eyes grew heavy. “I’m in a cave,” I murmured against my will.
Morlet tilted his head back, revealing his callous smile. “I’d like to be friends,” he purred. “What’s your name?”
“Kaia,” I responded, unable to stop my mouth from speaking. Forcing myself to look away from the king, my head immediately cleared. He chuckled. I moved to the bed and sat down, not sure where to look in order to keep my wits about me.
“You’re stronger than the others,” he mused. “I wonder why.”
Clasping my hands together, I bit my tongue to try to wake myself up in order to break my connection with the king.
“Since you’re being honest with me,” Morlet said, interrupting my thoughts, “I’m going to tell you something personal about me.”
Curiosity overruled practicality, and I unclasped my hands, waiting for him to continue. The only information I knew about the king was whispered stories told by my father or the few people I’d come across who were willing to speak. Those stories were violent nightmares of terror, destruction, and death.
“My name is Espen,” he revealed.
The words dangled in the air, teasing me. “I thought it was Morlet.”
“That is the name most people know me as,” he said, uncrossing his legs under his black cloak. “Morlet Forseve—the dark force. My birth name is Espen, although no one has called me that in years.”
“Then why did you tell me?” Did it make a difference what his name was?
“Because someone should know.” Scooting to the edge of his chair, he said, “You’re going to change everything. You will either be the death of me, or set me free.” He reached toward me. “Why do I feel us losing our connection?”
“I don’t know.” The air around us shimmered.
“There has to be a reason I can only communicate with you at certain times. It’s like there’s something preventing me from linking to you.” There was desperation in his voice that I didn’t understand. “Find out what’s blocking my ability to sense you,” he pleaded as my body faded away.
I woke up. Anders hovered above me, one hand on my arm. “What’s the matter?” he asked. “Another bad dream?”
“I don’t know.”
He released me and laid down, the medallion slipping out from under his shirt, dangling around his neck.
“The medallion blocks magic from being used on you?” I asked, pointing to it.
“It blocks whoever is wearing it from magic. Why?”
“We’re far enough outside the capital that Morlet can’t sense me, right?”
He nodded and yawned.
“Sorry I woke you up,” I whispered.
“You didn’t,” he mumbled. “I went outside for a moment.”
Both times Morlet managed to link with me, Anders had left me alone while I slept. “Can the medallion serve as a block for me even though I’m not wearing it?” Was being near it enough?
“If we were touching, it would. What are you getting at?”
Staring up at the ceiling, I was certain the first night Morlet contacted me, I hadn’t been touching Anders. In fact, we’d been on opposite sides of the fire. Tonight, given our close proximity in the cave, we could have been inadvertently touching while we slept.
“When you were gone, I had another dream about Morlet.” Anders stiffened but didn’t say anything. “Only, I’m not sure it was a dream. I think he is somehow communicating with me.”
“That’s impossible,” he said with an air of certainty. Perhaps in his quest to aid the Krigers, Anders had access to information about the king that the average person did not.
“Do you know anything about Morlet?”
“A little.”
“What about his birth name?”
“What about it?” he asked, his voice unnaturally calm, making my skin prickle.
“Is it Espen?”
Anders rolled over and grabbed my upper arms. “What did you say?” he demanded, squeezing me so tightly it hurt.
“Let go!” I yelled, struggling to pull free.
His eyes widened, and he jerked back, releasing me. Instead of apologizing, he asked, “How do you know his birth name is Espen?”
Rubbing my arms, I sat up and replied, “He told me, right before he said something was blocking our connection. Then I woke up, and you were here with the medallion.”
“He’s never communicated with any of the other Krigers.” Running his hands through his hair, he looked uncertain. “This changes things,” he mumbled as he sat up. “What else did he say to you?”
“He wanted to know where I was. He … he did something to me. He forced me to tell him I was in a cave in the forest, but I didn’t reveal anything about you.”
Anders slammed his hand on the ground and yelled, “Why don’t you just wave a flag, announcing our location?”
“Seems like you’re already doing that with your outburst. Keep your voice down.” Anders huffed. “Besides,” I continued, “Morlet used his powers on me. I couldn’t stop myself from answering him.”
“I guess it’s a good thing I got here in time to save you. Again.”
Rage filled me, and I clambered to my knees, ready to wrap my hands around his neck when I remembered the prick on my back. “You used your sleeping potion on me.” He could have killed me.
“Hardly any,” Anders said, lying down again, not perceiving me as a threat. “Just a little so you’d stop talking long enough for me to fall asleep.”
“You’re despicable.”
“And you’re a chatty, naive girl.”
Some of my anger evaporated with the truth of h
is words. As much as my father had taught me about fighting and the politics of Nelebek, I was relatively sheltered. Needing to salvage what little dignity I had left, I said, “If you ever use your poison on me again, I’ll kill you.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
“Don’t tempt me.”
***
Anders handed me some berries.
“No thank you,” I said, ducking under a low branch. “I’m not hungry.”
“You should be starving since you didn’t eat anything for breakfast either.”
I shrugged, surprised he’d even noticed. After eating the stew in my dream, I was full. But I didn’t care to share that information with him.
“There’s a pond up ahead where we can wash.” He smiled. I’d never seen him smile. “Come on.” He started to jog.
I glanced around wondering where the moody, insufferable Anders had gone.
“Hurry up!” he yelled.
I ran after him as he sprinted between the dense trees. He stopped before a good-sized pond that had steam billowing off it.
“What’s that smell?” I asked, scrunching my nose.
“The water is heated from the earth.” Anders peeled off his sweater and started untying his pants.
“Um,” I mumbled, “would you like me to keep watch while you clean up?”
“No,” he answered. “I want you where I can see you. Just face the other way.”
With my back to him, I heard him undress and enter the water.
“Now it’s your turn,” he said.
“Aren’t you still in there?”
“Yes, but you can’t see anything. Get in. I won’t look.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Anders neck-deep in greenish water, steam rising around his head. Everything below the surface was murky. Not that I was trying to see him, but I needed to be certain he wouldn’t be able to see me. After telling him to face the other way, I removed all my clothing and quickly slid into the water, making sure it went up to my chin. The warm water felt better than I imagined it would.
“See,” Anders said, facing me again. “Sometimes you just have to trust me.”
I’d had a hot bath only a couple of times. Usually I was forced to clean myself in a tub of frigid water that had already been used by several other people. Even though this pool had an odd smell to it, I didn’t care. I wanted to relax and fall asleep right there in the middle of it.
Just thinking about going to sleep made me tense. When I closed my eyes tonight, would Morlet visit me again? Why was he communicating with me? Was it simply so he could capture me or was there more to it?
Water hit me in the face. Startled, I glanced at Anders. “What was that for?”
“You looked scared,” he said, a wicked grin spreading across his face.
“So?” I challenged. Right when he shook his head, I swiped my arm over the surface of the water, splashing him. A gush of water came whooshing back at me, and I ducked under to avoid it. I suddenly felt light-headed and resurfaced. Maybe the heat was getting to me.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
My palms tingled. “No,” I said, holding up my hands. “They hurt.” Glancing around the lake and shoreline, I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.
Anders swam closer to me. “I need you to focus,” he said, instantly serious. “Shut your eyes.” Without hesitating, I did as he instructed. “Put your hands in the air and feel your surroundings.”
A pull came from behind me. Facing that direction, I opened my eyes and searched the area.
“Trust your instinct,” he said, his deep voice close to my ear. “Keep your hands out in front of you. Direct your power to the source of the pull.”
I took the odd sensation inside of me and pushed it out. Nothing happened.
“Are your hands still painful?” Anders whispered, close behind me.
“No,” I said, realizing the feeling had gone away. “What happened?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “But when you force your power out, it serves as a warning to those wishing to harm you. A predator could have been stalking us.”
Facing Anders, the top of his chest and shoulders were exposed as he stood a mere foot away from me. Biting my bottom lip, I unexpectedly became nervous from being so close to him.
“We should leave,” he said, his voice gruff, “in case whatever’s out there returns.” Moving to the edge of the pool, he hesitated. “Would you mind turning around while I climb out and put my clothes on?”
Horrified he’d caught me staring at him, I immediately spun away, my face flushed. I ducked under the water, for once wishing it were cold instead of hot.
Chapter Five
As I left the water, freezing air engulfed my body; I swiftly pulled on my dry clothes. Shivering, I ran my fingers through my dripping wet hair.
“It’s not far from here,” Anders said, sheathing the small dagger he’d been playing with. “Vidar can light a fire for you to warm up.”
After five minutes of walking, we reached a stream and followed it northward. The trees thinned, and the ground became rockier. Gradually, the clouds parted until the sun shone bright overhead. I stopped, dropping my head back and allowing the rays to warm me. “What?” I asked, noticing Anders staring at me.
“You don’t smile very often.”
Neither did he. Instead of arguing, I said, “I haven’t seen the sun all season. It feels wonderful.”
“Let’s keep moving.” Anders effortlessly jumped to the other side of the stream.
The water steadily swelled until the stream turned into a rushing river. We climbed over rocks, sticking close to the bank. Eventually, it opened onto a small lake. Sunlight glistened off the water, fed by an enormous waterfall easily as tall as a four-story apartment building and ten feet or so in diameter.
“There are even more waterfalls farther up the mountain,” Anders said. “We found that this location suits our needs. Not only do we have fresh water, a bathing pool, and a great fishing area, but it’s close to several villages and only a two-day journey to the capital.”
There weren’t any structures visible. “You live here?”
Anders shrugged. “In this general area. Our place is over there.” He nodded toward the trees. “Come on.”
A voice hollered, echoing with the wind. It sounded as if someone had yelled in excitement. Movement caught my attention, and I observed the top of the waterfall where a man stood, arms spread wide, his head thrown back.
“There’s someone up there.” I pointed, unable to take my eyes away from the man. He bent his knees and then jumped, his body arching through the air as he went headfirst alongside the waterfall. I grabbed Anders’s arm, squeezing hard, my heart about to leap into my throat.
Anders chuckled. “He’s fine. He does this all the time.”
I watched the man’s body cut through the water, disappearing below. He surfaced and swam toward us, climbing out of the water wearing only a pair of pants cut short above his knees. Before today, I’d never seen a man shirtless. Within the past hour, I’d seen Anders and now this man’s torso.
“Glad you’re back,” the man said to Anders before turning his attention to me, his blond hair shining in the sun. Half a smile spread across his handsome face.
“I brought someone with me,” Anders said.
“I see that.” He stuck out his hand.
I awkwardly grabbed it, and we shook in greeting. “Kaia.”
“Vidar,” he responded with a cocky grin. His blue eyes—like two pools of water—were mesmerizing. He reached out and gently tugged a strand of my wet hair. “Looks like you’ve been swimming, too.”
“Down below in the hot spring,” Anders said.
“Where are you from, Kaia?”
Before I could respond, Anders replied, “She’s from the capital.”
Vidar rubbed his chin, his eyes darting between Anders and me. “I’ve n
ever known you to be interested in someone long enough to bring her home with you.”
My body prickled with heat from his mistaken read of the situation.
“We’re not together,” Anders hastily replied. “And I’m not interested in her that way.”
Vidar raised his eyebrows, awaiting an explanation.
“She’s a Kriger. I brought her here for you.”
“A Kriger?” Vidar laughed. “I’m not sure what’s more amusing—you claiming to have found a female Kriger, or that you’re not interested in her.” He draped his arm around Anders’s shoulders. “Kaia, please give us a moment alone.”
They went just out of earshot. Vidar bent over and grabbed his shirt, putting it on while Anders spoke to him. After a few minutes, they both turned to stare at me.
“What?” I demanded, walking over to them. “This better not have anything to do with me being a girl. I’ve left my sick father behind, been traveling for two days, and am cold. I’d like to go inside and rest for at least one night without worrying if a brunbjorn is going to eat me.” There still weren’t any structures visible. “Please tell me there is actually a roof with walls and that you don’t live in a cave?”
Vidar burst out laughing while Anders shook his head, fighting a smile.
“My friend briefly filled me in on the events of the past two days,” Vidar said. “He told me he promised to check on your father.” He paused, awaiting confirmation.
“Yes,” I replied, surprised Anders intended to keep his promise.
“I’ll be back as soon as possible,” Anders said.
“Don’t you want to rest?” I asked. “Or eat something before you go?” It wasn’t as if we were friends, but I’d been with him for two days, and he’d saved my life. The prospect of being alone with Vidar made me edgy.
“I’ll bring proof, like I promised.” Anders patted me on my shoulder, the gesture awkward.
“Please tell my father that I love him.”
“Of course.” He went to take off the medallion, but Vidar stopped him. “Keep it on,” he said. “We can’t afford to have anything happen to you.”
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