“Let me go!” she squealed.
“Zora, listen!” Milo pleaded. “I need you to look at me! Stop acting moronic and do as I say!”
With his other hand he forced the young woman’s chin up so that she was staring directly into his calm blue eyes. Trapped in his grasp with no way to escape, Zora was forced to watch as the wrinkles around Milo’s eyes suddenly smoothed away revealing youthful skin. The age spots along his temples disappeared as if they had never existed, and his white hair was suddenly flooded with the color of maple syrup. She watched as his posture became a bit straighter, and she felt the muscles of his arms firm and tighten while he held her. Zora stopped fighting him as shock took over.
“Who are you?” she asked in a faint whisper, weary of asking the same question over and over and getting no answer. She felt like collapsing to the ground, but the man embraced her securely, and this time he answered her question without hesitation.
“My name is Liam Pershing Rose,” he answered calmly. “I am a Warden of the Cerendova Imperial Sentry, tenth regiment, one hundred and fifth cadre.” He paused. “But you know me better as Milo, the scholar from Rienne.”
“I don’t know what that is. I still don’t understand,” Zora repeated. She was feeling overwhelmed, and her knees were starting to feel weak underneath her. Liam’s tense facial features relaxed for a moment.
“I wasn’t expecting you too,” he replied softly. Despite the fact that he looked like a younger version of Zora’s old friend and had the same blue-green eyes rimmed by long eyelashes, this definitely was not Milo.
“What do you want with me? How do I know I can trust you?” Zora asked suspiciously.
She wanted to trust him, despite his altered appearance. Something similar had happened to her three years ago, when the man of her nightmares transformed sexes right before her eyes, and she refused to be deceived again. Zora remembered the touch of death that burned along her skin when the phantom had handled her, but just seconds earlier she’d been in Liam’s embrace and nothing detrimental had happened.
“Zora, it’s me. I’m the same person,” Liam addressed her deliberate silence.
Technically, the man standing before her was still her friend and her teacher, even if he had been keeping things from her.
“I feel horrible about having to be dishonest with you for so long,” Liam continued, “but you must understand it was out of necessity, not out of a desire to hurt you. If you give me a chance I’ll explain everything you need to know.”
The wound where she had knifed Liam was bleeding gruesomely, and Zora didn’t have the heart to force him to stay behind while he was injured, so she sighed wearily and gave in. She was scared, exhausted, and physically unable to exert any more energy on fighting with the Warden.
“Well c’mon then,” she said. “It’s almost nightfall and soon we will have a whole faction of mercenaries on our tail. You can come back to my tent and get cleaned up. And expect to tell me everything. No more lies.” Liam gave her an encouraging smile, one that she had seen a thousand times before, but somehow it looked different on his younger face
When Liam turned around and began walking, Zora picked her dirk up off of ground and wiped the blade clean on the grass before placing it in her pocket. Just to be safe. She trotted to catch up with him.
“When we get close to camp, try and stay hidden,” Zora warned. “If Dakota finds out that you tried to harm me, you’re a dead man. He’s one of Spencer’s Misou mercenaries, and my personal bodyguard.” Liam gave her an austere sidelong glance.
“I really wouldn’t stand a chance then, would I? But I’m good at staying hidden. In fact, I’ve been traveling with this caravan since we left Samaria.” Zora stopped dead in her tracks.
“What!” she exclaimed. “But I looked for you everywhere! You promised you would accompany me, and when you didn’t show, I was devastated! For the past weeks I’ve been stuck completely alone except for a somber mercenary as company. As for Spencer… his presence is about as pleasant as a swarm of bees. This entire experience has been absolutely miserable from the beginning. I really could have used a friend.”
It wasn’t Zora’s intention to make Liam feel guilty about his decisions, but when she explained all of this, a look of shame came over his boyish features. He opened his mouth to say something but was stopped by a muffled voice in the distance calling out Zora’s name.
“Dakota,” Zora hissed under her breath. She turned to caution Liam, but he had already vanished from sight. Within seconds, the mercenary was on her, a lantern in one hand and a sword in the other. His eyes looked frantic.
“Lady Winnser,” he breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ve been looking for you for almost an hour. What did I tell you about returning before nightfall? You could’ve been attacked or worse. Prince DeVore would never have forgiven me if you got harmed on my watch!”
“I’m really sorry, Dakota,” Zora gushed. “I lost my way in the dark, that’s all. But I’m fine, honestly.”
Dakota sheathed his sword and held up the lantern so he could examine her in the light to make sure she wasn’t injured. Zora had placed her burned and blistered hand into her pocket and hoped that Liam’s blood on her sleeves looked like mud in the darkness.
“It’s my fault for letting you roam around the swampland unattended,” Dakota said gruffly. “But you must promise not to wander like so!” Zora nodded quickly.
“Thank you,” she said, “But it’s late now, and I’d like to retire. Would you escort me back to my tent, please.”
“Aye,” he agreed slowly, seeming suddenly distracted. She walked past him, but Dakota didn’t follow. He stood unmoving for a moment, staring keenly into the wilderness behind her, surveying the shadows moving within the swampland. His pulse had begun running so rapidly that Zora could see it throbbing in his neck. He closed his eyes and sniffed the air a couple of times before snarling to himself. He turned towards her with an angry glare that caused Zora to cringe.
“You’re sure you’re alright? You didn’t have contact with anyone else?” Zora twirled her long blonde hair around her finger and shook her head. Dakota looked at her sharply. “Let’s get out of here then. A foul stench lingers in the air.”
Zora gave him a weak smile and began to follow the mercenary back to camp. She peered around for Liam so she could instruct him to follow behind her, but he still remained invisible. Zora didn’t know why, but she squinted hard and examined her surrounding once more. She saw the low shrubbery with white blooms, the large oak trees with gnarled branches, and the litter of leaves covering the soggy pathway. Amidst the shadow, however, Zora could make out a faint glow of energy throbbing steadily from a single source. It was outlined like a person and subtle enough so that one could easily overlook it.
I wonder why I never noticed that before, Zora thought both amazed and amused. As she advanced forward, the luminescence moved when she moved, close behind yet still hidden.
***
When Zora returned to her tent, Dakota parked himself outside for the night like he did every evening. Zora kept glancing back to make sure Liam hadn’t run off. She could still see his faint glowing outline as he stood patiently in the shadow, waiting for her to invite him in at the right time.
“I’m going to prepare some tea before bed, Dakota. Would you care for some?” Zora asked her bodyguard as he settled himself onto the ground.
“Aye,” Dakota said shortly. Zora could tell he was still irritated about something, but she quickly got to work on drafting a tea that would put Dakota in a heavy, sedated sleep till morning. She pulled some valerian root from her stash, ground up some poppy straw till it was nothing more than a fine powder, and mixed the two together in hot water. Then she added some lemon and honey to mask the pungency of the other ingredients. Within half an hour, Dakota was snoring softly, his chin tucked into his chest.
Inside the small pavilion, Zora had a portable bedroll, two small lanterns, a set of cooking utensils
she used to brew, a chest of herbs, teas, and spices, and a sack of clothing. She looked around nervously hoping her temporary residence didn’t look too shabby. She’d never had to entertain anyone there before. While Zora quickly rummaged around for the marigold flowers she’d picked up while traveling, Liam appeared in the doorway to her tent looking sheepish.
“You can come in,” she said. “I’ll need you to discard your cloak and take off your gear, please.” She didn’t look at him as she said this.
“I want to look at where the tree hit you, also. Just to make sure there are no fractured bones.”
Liam didn’t respond, but removed his heavy cloak and let it drop to the floor. Next he stripped his sword from his baldric, then his boots, bladed gloves, and gauntlets before placing them carefully to the side. Finally removed the jerkin made of reptile scales, leaving him clothed in breeches and a light linen shirt.
“The shirt,” Zora commanded as she finished grabbing the rest of the supplies needed to bandage him. Liam faltered for a moment, then lifted the shirt over his head and threw it into the pile with his other garments.
Zora sat back on her ankles, and when she glanced at the Warden, her breath got caught in her throat. His body was lean and well conditioned from years of training in the Sentry. Dirt and grime covered his tight core, and his muscular arms played nervously with his belt loops. Zora felt heat rush to her cheeks, and she forced herself to look away, grateful for the dim light from the lanterns that concealed her flushing.
“Come sit down,” she squeaked. “I have water and food if you’re hungry.”
“That would be great. Is over here ok?” he asked, pointing right next to her. Zora gulped then nodded.
He took a seat cross-legged next to her and the small space of the tent forced his shoulders to rub against hers. She turned towards him and gently grabbed his injured arm to examine the wound. Zora concentrated on cleaning it with boiled water and a cloth, removing all the filth and mud. Afterwards, she applied healing oils, gently massaging them into the wound until they were completely absorbed before placing the marigold petals on his arm and bandaging it.
As she turned his forearm over to finish the wrap, she stopped and looked at the tattoo that was inked into his skin. Mesmerized, Zora began running her fingertips over the design of swirling stems that ran from his wrist to his elbow. She stopped when she felt Liam staring intently at her, like he was studying her every movement.
“How come I never noticed this before?” she asked. “It’s beautiful.” Liam closed his fist, tightening his forearm muscle, which caused the tattoo to begin swimming on his skin
“You weren’t looking hard enough,” he replied simply.
“Does it mean anything special? The rose?” she asked, ignoring the tingling on her flesh that suddenly came over her.
“No, I’m not that creative. It’s a play off of my family crest design from the House of Rose.”
“Right…I forgot your real name for a moment.” She stopped massaging his arm and cleared her throat.
“Lift your arm up, please,” she instructed. Liam did as asked, and Zora began pressing on his side where the tree root had struck him, searching for any fractures. Zora felt his muscles tighten underneath her hand when she hit a spot that was tender.
“I think you’ll be fine,” she said when she was finished. “Probably going to be a bit sore and bruised tomorrow.” Liam shrugged indifferently.
“It’s nothing I haven’t been through before. But thank you for your help. Now, let’s see about your hand.” He reached for her, but Zora waved him off to avoid touching him any more than she already had.
“I already cleaned it and applied some aloe salve,” she said as she began cleaning up her supplies. “It’ll be fine.”
She fidgeted for a minute, putting everything back in its rightful place and trying to tidy up the small space. The whole time she could feel Liam’s eyes following her. Agitated, she twirled her long blonde hair into a knot before securing it at the nape of her neck to let off some of her body heat. She turned to look at him.
“Are you just going to watch me all night?” she demanded. “Or are you going to explain why you had a blade to my throat only half an hour ago? Or how about why you can transform your appearance in the blink of an eye. Or where and what Cerendova is and what in the bloody hell a Warden does!”
Liam paled a little bit as she harried him, completely caught off guard. He had his legs stretched out in front of him and was leaned back on his elbows in a relaxed manner.
“I can’t explain that to you with out explaining everything,” Liam stated, sitting back up. “You have to understand I kept my own truths from you for your protection.”
“Are you planning on hurting me?”
“Well…no. That’s not what I meant. You don’t understand…”
“Then explain it to me! I don’t get why everyone in my life feels the need to keep me in the dark all the time!”
“Zora, it’s not like that.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I’m reluctant because what I tell you will change the way you see the world and everything in it. Are you prepared for every single thing you’ve thought was true about the world to be challenged? Are you prepared to loose all the preconceived notions you’ve had since childhood? Because that’s a big price to pay.”
Zora gave Liam a dark, level setting stare.
“From my perspective, Master Rose, I’ve already been denied my right as a royal heir, practically exiled from my home country, and married off to a sleazy drunkard. What else do I have to loose except my self respect?”
Zora didn’t know how long the silence between them lasted, and she could see the wheels turning in Liam’s head. But finally he broke down and said, “Fair enough. You may as well make yourself comfortable, then. I’m going to have to start from the beginning. Literally.”
Zora sat back down, increasing the space between them and then looked at him, waiting. Liam began.
“I’m going to expand on the theology of Creationism that you and I talked about in some of our lessons, but this time I’ll leave in all the details that Commoners choose to omit.” Zora didn’t object, so Liam had no choice but to commence onward.
“From the first moment the Creator breathed life into our world, the only beings that existed were created in His image, meaning that they were good and perfect. This included the first man, Adam, and the first woman, Eve. After the Original Sin was committed by our progenitors and they were cast out of Paradise, the human population multiplied and spread out into all the lands that were made for us by Him. Over the millenniums each race was forced to adapt to their respective environments. Whether they dwelled in the land of mountains, prairie, or desert, they built successful civilizations.”
“However, it was observed that those who remained living near the core of creation, the original garden, adapted differently than others. They were better connected to the living world around them. They could do things with organic matter that others could not, and they could make the earth yield to their commands; they were more intimately bound to it.”
“It seemed as though the source of the earth’s essence, the thing that governs all the forces of our world, was more potent near the birthplace of creation, and my people learned how to use it. Eventually, we evolved into a species that was able to harness this power just as naturally as we use air to breath.”
“We named it Ithillium, the ancient tongue for bond of life, as its purpose appeared to be to connect all living things in a self-sustaining, unbreakable tie. It is a power as old as the world itself and is something that can be neither created nor destroyed. It simply exists. Because Ithillium came into existence in the unspoiled environment of Paradise, it can only encompass what is good and can only be used for good.”
“The ancient inhabitants of the north, today we call them Commoners, knew of our wondrous capabilities. At first, they did not fear or envy us because they
believed that the gift the Creator had given us was a blessing to all mankind. We lived at peace with the Commoners for many thousands of years. Several millenniums into our evolution, a man was born into our lands who was considered to be the most powerful sorcerer in the history of our race. He could do things with Ithillium that no one had ever seen before. Unfortunately, he was also the first one to flow Ithillium with malicious intent. He used the purity of the Bond to enhance his conceit, malice, and spite, and became nothing more than a warmonger that started the first mass bloodshed to ever plague mankind in this world.”
“He attacked the Commoners first, subduing them into his cunning lies because they were ignorant to our ways. He promised them that if they followed him, they’d learn how to do the things only those who flow Ithillium are capable of doing. Once he had them under his influence, he resorted to violence to overtake their lands and conquer the north. When that was done, he set his ambitions on his own kind and attacked us viciously with the intent to become the one, supreme ruler of these lands with no living being powerful enough to challenge him. After decades of battle, he was defeated by our armies, which were led by other powerful sorcerers of that age. He was captured and sentenced to death, but not after the damage to our world had been done.”
“Regrettably, the world as we knew it was forever changed. The Commoners, who’d suffered a great loss as a race in the war, blamed the sorcerers for the evil acts done to them, and the confidence they’d had in our abilities was compromised. Having never understood how Ithillium existed and how it could be used, Commoners were quick to label us as heinous murderers. Slythos.”
“In order to mollify their growing hatred towards us and prevent a future war of retribution, the great sorcerers agreed to fashion a border between the northern and southern Realms. It was then sealed with an ancient spell that no man could undo. This way both races could be kept safe and at peace with one another. Sorcerers cannot enter the Commoner world, and Commoners cannot enter ours. That act is known at the Great Severance.” Liam paused and reached over to sip some of the water Zora had offered him earlier.
Azurite (Daughter of the Mountain Book 1) Page 21