by Rosalie Redd
I got the job! A well of excitement expanded her chest and she let out a relieved breath. She could finally escape Portland and leave behind the sad memories of her mother…and the bad ones of Ram. A new lease on life was what she needed. With a renewed sense of purpose, she opened the door. Time to give notice.
CHAPTER 20
“This is so not going to work.” Mauree pulled off one high-heeled shoe and lost her balance. Her bare foot landed on wet moss growing along the base of a tree. The soft, spongy lichen cooled her skin and her shoulders relaxed. Not even the wrong pair of shoes would bring her down today. She clutched the pump to her chest and faced the late afternoon sun. The brightness was more than her sensitive eyes could handle and she squinted, but the warmth on her skin was heavenly.
With a firm grip, she snapped the heel from the shoe and threw it behind a rhododendron bush. The other shoe suffered a similar fate. A couple of sparrows hopped from branch to branch in a nearby pine tree, their song filling the air. To be outside during the day—such a treat! Mauree’s spirit lifted at her newfound freedom. Who knew switching sides would have such a benefit?
Mauree placed the heelless shoes back on her feet. “Jakar, why you couldn’t have picked me up some hikers instead of these pumps—” her stomach clenched at what she’d done to the lovely pair of shoes, “is beyond me.”
Ahead of her on the trail, he turned to face her. His gaze wandered from her breasts to her thighs. “They seemed to go along with the skirt. Practicality wasn’t on my mind.”
Her fingers twitched with a flash of irritation. She placed her hands of her hips. “Window shopping, Jakar, that’s as far as you go. How much farther?”
He smirked. “We just passed the spot where we battled with Tanen. When those humans arrived, sunrise was nigh. He couldn’t have gone far.”
“Funny…the hunter has become the hunted. Never would’ve thought I’d be the one to track him.” She waved Jakar forward. “Continue, continue.”
Today’s earlier rainstorm had washed away Tanen’s scent, at least to her nose. Jakar, on the other hand, had a much finer sense of smell. He flared his nostrils and his chest visibly expanded. His speed increased, forcing Mauree to run.
Her gait was awkward, a result of her broken shoes. Combined with the late afternoon sun warming her back, perspiration gathered under her armpits and along her hairline. “Ugh. I’ll need a shower when we’re through.”
Scattered on the ground nearby were pieces of a small wooden fence in disrepair. Visible through the trees—a yellow house with a small outbuilding. Other homes appeared in the distance, but all seemed quiet. Mauree crept up behind Jakar. His unique astringent aroma permeated her senses and she gagged. “Even after a shower, you still smell bad.”
He peered over his shoulder. “You’ll get used to it.”
She returned her attention to the structure. “Is this the place?”
He chuckled, the sound low and menacing. “What do you think? Can’t you smell Tanen?”
“Not after the pounding rain and certainly not over your aroma.”
He curled his lip, displaying his serrated teeth. “He was here.”
“Was?”
“His trail leads that way.” Jakar pointed deep into the woods. “But he stayed here a while.”
She tapped her finger against her chin. “Perhaps he holed up in the small structure to avoid the sun.”
“That’s my assumption. Shall we investigate?”
Jakar looked to her to take the lead. She straightened her shoulders. I’m a queen after all.
“Before we barge in, are there any humans around?” Her pulse increased. What would it be like to meet one? Her life had been in the Keep and the safety of the forest.
His gaze roamed the surrounding area. “The house seems quiet.”
A small bird buzzed around her head and she squealed. The creature returned, fluttering in mid-air. As she reached to touch the small animal, it flew away. She pursed her lips.
Jakar laughed. “Even the hummingbirds avoid you.”
Heat raced into Mauree’s cheeks. “Let’s check the small building.”
Jakar studied her for a moment. “With Ram, I could never speak my mind. You never knew when he’d get a taste for torment. At least with you…” He shrugged.
“Be careful, Jakar. Just because you haven’t seen my bad side, doesn’t mean I don’t have one. Do you think Zedron selected me for my beauty?”
He visibly swallowed.
“Let’s go before I lose my patience…what little I have.”
She stepped over the fallen fence and headed into the backyard. Her shoes squeaked on the uncut lawn, the grass cool against her ankles. When she reached the small building, she grabbed the door handle and pulled. Light filtered through a broken pane in the grime-encrusted windows. Shadows hugged the corners, casting strange shapes on the objects hidden within.
Jakar pushed in behind her, and she stumbled forward. He gripped her hips, holding her against him back to front. Despite his shorter stature and build, he was stronger than she’d expected. His closeness and his smell made her cringe. She stomped on his foot. The cutoff edge of her heel bit into the leather of his running shoes.
A muffled groan escaped his lips. He released her. “What was that for?”
She glared at him. “Don’t touch me again.”
“You shouldn’t rush blindly into places you don’t know.” His breath heaved in and out of his mouth.
She narrowed her gaze. “Search the place.”
A low hiss eased between his lips, but he did her bidding.
He threw empty pots into the air, overturned bags of potting soil, and tossed garden tools off the workbench. In his frenzy, a bottle fell over and a liquid spilled onto the floor. The scent of pine and licorice filled the air.
Mauree pressed her lips together. “Have you found anything?”
Jakar knelt in the far corner. With a quick swipe, he ran his fingers through a dark spot on the wooden floor. He rubbed the tips together and brought them to his nose.
Mauree’s pulse increased. “What is it?”
“Dried blood. Tanen’s.”
Mauree peered through the hole in the broken window. The yellow paint on the house shimmered, the setting sun’s rays encasing the place in hues of gold. Something in her stomach fluttered. “Perhaps we should search the house.”
Jakar stood, and the scales at the back of his neck flared. “Indeed.”
CHAPTER 21
Tanen adjusted his legs, stretching them out, easing the tension from his muscles. Pressed against the rough earthen edges of his shelter, his back ached. The last rays of the setting sun crested over the tree-tops. Darkness would arrive soon. Thank the gods.
Time seemed to pass at a snail’s pace. He’d tried to sleep, but his thoughts kept returning to the beautiful human female—Sheri. He growled, letting the sound build until it reverberated off the trees. The forest creatures quieted, as if aware of the great beast in their presence.
He glanced into the sky. The setting sun coated the clouds in beautiful shades of pink and orange. The shelter had protected him from the sun’s rays, but not the rain. Oh, no. Rain had pelted him several times during the day. The dampness soaked through his socks and into his skin. A shiver ran over his arms, and he yanked his coat tighter around his shoulders. Despite its torn and ragged appearance, he couldn’t abandon the old garment or the precious pin on his collar.
Dusk turned to night, and he emerged from his makeshift cave. He stretched his arms over his head and loosened his muscles. Onward. He needed to forget about the beautiful little human and concentrate on his task—find Mauree.
This time, he wouldn’t fail. He couldn’t face Noeh, see the look of disappointment in the king’s eyes. At this point, he’d rather die than return without Mauree. His marking for tenacity tingled against his skin, giving him a boost of energy, a sign of hope.
A bitter wind kicked up, blowing strands of his ha
ir against his cheek. He inhaled, but the cleansing rain had washed away her scent. If he couldn’t track her and find the elusive safe house, he needed to determine her next move. Motivated by revenge, she’d want to attack Noeh.
Ostrum… She wasn’t stupid, was she? No, but reckless, crazy. She’d already proven the lengths she’d go to seek revenge when she’d attacked the queen and her unborn child.
The spring equinox and the sacred ceremony were tomorrow night. Many of the Keep’s residents would attend the celebration, including Noeh. This would be her opportunity to attack him. Determination formed in Tanen’s gut, flaring his heartburn. I must go to Roan’s Rock. This time, he wouldn’t hesitate to use force to capture Mauree.
He raced through the trees, his boots slipping and sliding against the wet ferns and grasses. After cresting a small hill, he gazed over the horizon. In the distance, the outline of Roan’s Rock loomed in the moonlight. His chest clenched. He hadn’t attended an Ostrum ceremony in several years, electing to stay inside the Keep. Mother Alora, I’ve neglected my tribute to you for too long. He pulled on his inner strength and continued on his way.
Several minutes later, he arrived in the small clearing. Tall blades of grass blew in the wind, none broken or trampled. No one had been here for several days, including Mauree. He looked at the sky and let loose a slow breath.
A small stream ran through the meadow, leftover from the recent storm. He sloshed through the wet grass and approached the stone. Mesmerized by the sight, he placed his hand against the sacred boulder. Notched into the rock were several crevices, used during the ceremony to hold offerings to Alora. The crowd would circle the stone, holding hands, chanting their praises to the goddess. The boulder tapered to a dull point at the top. During the spring ceremony, the tip aligned with the stars and Lemuria, their home.
Runoff from the rain had followed a path around the edge of the stone, clearing bits of plant material, cleansing the surface. Carved in the edges at the rock’s base were strange, handmade, etched lines. Tanen’s heart skipped a beat. That looks like cuneiform.
He bent down, his left knee squishing into the soft mud. In awe, he ran his fingers over the images. The rough edges tingled his skin. Carved into the surface was the symbol for Lemuria or “Mu” and life everlasting.
He touched the matching silver emblem on his coat, the one that signified him as council leader—his most treasured possession.
His heart pounded. He searched his mind, trying to recall anything in the ancient scriptures about an inscription on Roan’s Rock. Nothing…not that he’d ever seen. His chest expanded, and he pulled at the bits of weeds and grass still stuck to the stone. Was there more?
Another symbol appeared. Something fluttered in his chest…hope? With a speed he’d long forgotten he possessed, he wiped at the dirt, digging his fingernails into the soft loam, unearthing more and more markings with each handful. He didn’t stop until he’d circumnavigated the entire stone. He stood, his heart pumping with excitement.
He took a step back and circled the perimeter, reading the ancient text that had remained buried under the soil for countless ages. Some of the characters he recognized, others were unfamiliar, undecipherable. He pieced together the message as best he could.
* * *
Lemuria. My homeland.
Energy…
Strongest…equi…
Beware blue…warp…power.
Those…spill blood…falter.
…pure of heart…stop…wrath.
* * *
Tanen’s heartburn flared. What did the words mean? A headache built behind his eyes. Walking the perimeter again, he reread the glyphs, trying to decipher the unfamiliar ones. How was this possible? He knew all the symbols in the old language. Over the years, he’d read many of the ancient texts and all of the journals from the great warrior, Roan.
He cracked his knuckles, but that didn’t ease his frustration. He reached into his coat pocket, searching for the blue sunstone. Hopefully, the bauble would calm him enough so he could concentrate, figure out the meaning behind the ancient text.
His fingers grazed over his knife and Gaetan’s satchel. No stone. He tensed.
With shaking fingers, he checked his pants pocket. Where was the sunstone?
Panic welled inside, and he couldn’t breathe. He traced his hands over his jacket, searching for the familiar bulge. Nothing…the blue sunstone of legend was gone.
His throat constricted and he choked on his own saliva. Several coughs wracked his body before he regained his composure. His pulse pounded behind his eyes. A vision formed in his mind. While in Sheri’s bed, in his sick, fevered mind he’d clutched the stone to his chest, hoping against hope it would heal him. The legends said the stone would heal someone who’d sacrificed himself for another. He’d learned firsthand he hadn’t deserved its power. The stone had tumbled from his fingers.
Mauree will come for the stone.
He held his breath. The old legend mentioned the stone could be used by the enemy to cause great harm. In her effort to obtain the blue sunstone, Mauree would follow the path he’d taken after their fight—straight to Sheri’s house. Blood pounded at his temple. Sheri wasn’t safe. I must go to her.
CHAPTER 22
L emuria’s dual moons lit up the sky, filtering through Alora’s window. She placed her arms along the sill and gazed across the Rolmdew trees, listening to the quiet creak of the limbs in the breeze. Goosebumps rose along her skin. How she longed to feel the warmth from the sun, but that wouldn’t happen until the war over Earth was won. Damn Zedron.
She stepped away from the window and glanced at the war map on the wall. Situated above the dining room table, it was a constant reminder of what was at stake—Earth’s precious water, something Lemuria desperately needed. Lights blinking on the holograph displayed characters in the game with their current location—green for Alora’s, red for Zedron’s. The area surrounding the Keep was a sea of crimson. Many represented the Ursus and not so long ago, she would’ve been thrilled to see them there, but not now. She fisted her hand. “I hate you, Zedron!”
With more force than she’d intended, she swiped her fingers over the map. The tiny dots scattered, and in its place, a categorized character list lit up the screen. She scanned her options—active, expired, new. A lump formed in her throat and she couldn’t swallow. Her list of actives continued to decline, moving to expired with each death.
Under the “new” category, a single entry blinked. She caught her breath. She hadn’t had new characters on the board for centuries, not until Melissa became a Dren and Anlon was born.
With shaking fingers, she hovered her finger over the shimmering screen, pulling up the character’s name—Sheri.
Sheri? Who was that? Alora’s pulse rose. She tapped on the name to get a visual.
A young human female appeared on the screen. She was in her early thirties with shoulder-length blonde hair and hazel eyes. A wave of dizziness peppered Alora’s vision with white spots. Sheri was Ram’s ex-wife. Who changed her and why?
Tapping on the holograph once again, Alora traced her finger over Sheri’s history. A single name rose on the screen—Tanen.
Alora blinked. Of all her character species, Stiyaha avoided humans the most, electing to remain hidden in the forests. To think Tanen had interacted with humans was a big surprise, to say the least. The last time she’d seen him, he’d tracked Mauree to a small waterfall near the edge of the forest. Where was he now?
She swiped at the hologram, scattering the legend into tiny particles of light and returned to the map. With careful scrutiny, she zoomed in on the area near the waterfall, searching the green lights for Tanen’s unique signature. There…in the woods by Roan’s Rock. He was alone.
Alora stepped back and studied the board. “Okay, Tanen, why isn’t Sheri with you?”
She tapped her finger against her chin, her mind whirling with possibilities…and implications. A ball of fear clutched at her chest.
>
Alora ran her fingers over the map, faster and faster, searching for her new character’s light. At last, she spotted the faint green radiance, shades lighter than her other characters. Sheri’s new icon was several miles away at a human institution. She was a Dren, but remained in her human world.
That was against the rules.
The coil inside Alora tightened. Of all the people to break the rules, Tanen, the Stiyaha council leader and keeper of the ancient texts, would’ve been her last guess. She swiped her finger over the hologram, returning the map to its original state. With a quick turn, she paced the small space between the table and her front door. What to do…what to do…
The Calorin vines crept through the window, their soft, lulling murmur beckoning to her. She wanted to let the vines wrap around her arms, enjoying the sweet fragrance from the yellow blooms, but she was too uptight. By all rights she should remove Tanen from the game and return him to the character board for breaking the rules, but she understood all too well what it was like to be punished for transgressions.
She slapped her palm against the table’s hard surface. Pain radiated up her arm and pinpricks of tears coated her eyes.
“Tanen, come through for me. Bring Sheri into the game.” She longed to tell him those words, but he had to make his own choice. Non-interference was the number one rule, and she wouldn’t break it again. What she could give him, though, was a small bit of time. “Hurry, Tanen.”
If he didn’t bring Sheri into his world, and soon, Alora would be forced to pull him from the game. To let Tanen go unpunished, Alora would break another rule. She couldn’t go there, not again, for if she did, she’d lose the war.
A tear slid over her lash and splashed against her cheek. She didn’t bother to wipe it away. It was a reminder. This was more than a game.
This was war.
CHAPTER 23