Broken Aro (The Broken Ones)

by Wylie, Jen

  Everything became a game and she found herself relaxing and enjoying herself more and more. She almost wished their stay in the forest wasn't coming to an end so quickly.

  "Aro, come look," Kei called.

  She quietly ran to his side and dropped to a knee next to him.

  He put a hand down to the ground, fingers spread. Her eyes grew wide at the size of the print next to it. "Wither me! What made that?"

  Kei grinned over at her. "Were."

  Her eyes opened wider.

  "Look," he said. "See how large and deep? There are normal wolves here, but their prints are smaller. The heavier the animal, the deeper the print. Large cats usually don't have claw marks."

  She nodded along, paying close attention.

  He pointed to the degrading edges of the tracks. "Made sometime yesterday."

  Relief washed over her at that. She'd met a Were once, and didn't really want to do it again anytime soon.

  They set out again moving more slowly as they came to an area that suddenly blossomed with larger and larger age-worn rock outcrops.

  Kei stopped and rested his hand against moss covered stone. She looked up around them, some of the stones rose twice as large as her, and not far away she saw once that jutted up high into the trees.

  "What's good, and what's bad?" Kei watched her closely, waiting for an answer.

  She looked at the rocks around them. This was easy. "Good, we could hide in them. If we were attacked we'd have something at our backs. Bad, we could be ambushed." She bit her lip, thinking. "We could use them as shelter, too. There might be caves, or we could make something." She paused, trying to think what else Kei might expect her to say.

  "And food," Kei said finally. "Small animals, snakes. Different plants grow here." He frowned. "We'll have to ask Prince."

  He didn't sound like he relished the idea and she chuckled.

  He made a face and mock growled at her. "Let's explore. Stay close."

  She nodded and followed carefully after him. Eventually they came across another of the many small streams flowing through the forest and they paused to drink. "Should we camp here tonight?"

  Kei stood and looked around. It was getting late in the day so she wasn't surprised when he nodded. He turned, sniffing the air. "They aren't far." He looked back at her. "I can get to them quicker on my own. You wait here."

  "Sure," she said a little dubiously. She didn't like the idea of being alone.

  He rested a hand on her shoulder. "I won't be long at all."

  He paused again so she forced a smile and pushed his hand away. "I'll be fine. Hurry, before it gets dark."

  He frowned and let out a little growl of frustration before dashing off.

  She watched him run, moving swiftly and silently around rocks and trees. She envied how graceful he was, and fast. But then again, he wasn't human either. Strangely, she often forgot that fact.

  She knelt and washed up in the stream, rolling up her sleeves and running wet hands over and over through her hair. She would love to have been able to bathe, but the chill weather wasn't agreeable to that.

  She waited by the stream for a while before eventually turning and looking up at the largest rock. It wasn't far so she made her way carefully over to its base. She stared up at the top. It couldn't be that hard to climb it. It would be interesting to discover what she could see from such a height. Maybe she could check to see if anyone was following them.

  She started climbing, easily finding foot and hand holds. The rock wasn't at all crumbly, so she didn't need to worry about losing her hold. She found climbing to be not at all as hard as she thought it would be. The exertion felt good. She had almost reached the top when she heard Kei down below.

  "Aro! I said stop!"

  She turned a little and grimaced down him. Silly Fey. Did he think she would fall? She waved at him and continued up.

  She wiped sweat off her forehead after she hefted herself up onto the top. It was worn smooth and almost flat with bumps of greenish-brown moss scattered across it. She wiped her hands on her pants as she turned around admiring the view. She could see over the tops of most of the trees. To the south she could see the hatched colors of the fields and pastures Prince had mentioned. Kei had been right about how close they had come to leaving the forest.

  Turning her attention back to the forest she let out a sigh. Unfortunately she couldn't see very well through all the branches. If anyone else was out there, they remained hidden.

  She took a deep breath of the fresh air before preparing to head back down.

  "Good afternoon."

  She choked on a gasp as she froze, fear skittering up her spine at the sound of the unexpected voice behind her. Her hand moved slowly to a knife on her belt.

  "No need for weapons. I intend you no harm," the voice said quietly. It was definitely a man. Not young, but not old either.

  "Rot it." She squeezed her eyes closed tightly. Fear enveloped her. She could hardly breathe. Had the slavers found her again? Keeping her hand on her knife despite his words, she turned slowly to face him. How had he gotten up on the rock? There had definitely been no one else on the top when she'd climbed up.

  She let out a little sigh of relief to find him near the other side of the rock sitting on piece that jutted up like stool near the edge. She regarded him carefully and bit her lip at what she saw. His black hair had been cut short and showed slightly pointed ears. The points strangely curved backward though, rather than pointing up like Kei's did. She stared at the bizarre beauty of his eyes. They had no whites and thin vertical slits. She didn't even know how to try to describe their iridescent color. They shone in a wash of blues and greens dipped with hints of gold and red. He definitely wasn't human.

  Gah. She had no luck at all. Well, at least he wasn't a slaver. "What are you?"

  He grinned and spread his hands. "What do you think I am?"

  Did he think this was some sort of game? "Elf or Were?"

  He chuckled. "No. Guess again."

  She frowned. "Well you're not a Fey. Your ears and eyes are different."

  He shook his head with another laugh. "That is true."

  His game began to irritate her. "Then what are you?"

  He winked. "Something else."

  She took a step backward as she remembered Prince speaking of horrible things coming down out of the mountains. Could this creature be one of them? "What do you want?"

  "Just waiting for someone," he said with another unnerving smile.

  She squeaked as a rock clattered behind her and turned to see Kei pulling himself up. Before she could speak he darted to her side, grabbing her hand and pulling her close to him. "Aro?"

  His closeness helped push the fear away. "What is he?"

  Kei shook his head slightly. "I don't know."

  The man looked hurt. "Come now, Kei. You don't remember me?"

  Kei sucked in a sharp breath. "You were on the beach. When I finally made it to shore." His brows drew together. "But…"

  Aro looked up at him in surprise. He hadn't told her that! She tightened her hand in his. Things were suddenly getting too strange.

  "No, Kei. Think back further. It's been a while," the man continued. He imitated rocking a baby. "I suppose it's possible you don't remember." When Kei didn't answer he continued, "How are your parents?"

  "Dead," Kei replied flatly.

  "Ahh, I knew them. A long time ago," the man said sadly. "Are you carrying on their quest?"

  Kei blinked rapidly in surprise, glanced at her, and then looked back at the strange man. "No."

  The stranger frowned. "Do you know why your parents went west?"

  Kei nodded sharply, relaxing his arms around her a little. "They had been searching for an artifact that would heal the Fey." He frowned slightly. "There was a prophecy saying the artifact would come from the west."

  The man nodded. "Yes." He looked back at her and she felt like someone suddenly started pushing down on the inside of her head. "You've n
ever heard of the prophecy."

  "How did..." She bit her tongue.

  He winked. "I read minds. You should learn to guard yours. Elves and Were both mind-speak as well." His glance shifted to Kei. "Though the Fey do not." The pushing sensation came again. "You've experienced this with the Were already. You have not, however, seen the artifact his parents searched for."

  He looked back to Kei and she cried out as the Fey winced and raised a hand to his head. "Get out!"

  "What are you doing?" The anger rose within her again, rising above the fear this stranger caused. She took a step toward him but Kei squeezed her hand and pulled her back to his side.

  The man looked back at her after a moment. "It would be best if you stayed out of this, little one."

  Opening her mouth, she snapped it closed again at the dark look he gave her. No, she didn't want to anger this man, or whatever he was.

  He laughed suddenly, the loudness of it startling her it was so unexpected. Kei put his arm around her, pulling her closer.

  "I waited long for your parents return, Kei. Though they did not, your presence is most interesting. Do you know why? Did they tell you?"

  Kei shook his head. "No, I was...stop it!"

  She looked up at him; his eyes were squeezed tightly closed, pain and anger harsh on his features.

  "You were young, when they died," the man finished for him. He frowned. "And you do not know what happened to the book. That is...a great loss."

  "What is he talking about?"

  Kei grimaced and finally opened his eyes. They were orange, but very close to red.

  "Kei is very important, according to the Fey seer. He will have strong connections to the queen. Unfortunately, I do not have the book. So I don't know if there were further words on his future."

  Startled at the man's words she looked up at Kei. His eyes hadn't changed. At least they weren't redder.

  The man turned his attention back to her. She decided she preferred being ignored.

  "I sensed magic over the sea. Fey magic. That recently is something very rare. Most of the Fey are too wild to use it. Yet there is was, and it led me to Kei." He smiled faintly. "You are human and yet I sense, very faintly mind you, Fey. That is unexpected."

  She gasped suddenly as the heaviness returned to her head, and with it pain. Images, no memories, began flipping past her eyes. "Stop it." She whimpered, sliding to her knees. He didn't stop. Scenes of the slave ship, the wreck, the beach, the slavers, continued to flash by before suddenly the scene of her taking Kei's fury hovered and then everything disappeared as he withdrew from her mind.

  She choked on sobs and leaned against Kei as he knelt beside her, his arms tight around her.

  "I see," the man said.

  She flinched suddenly as a body loomed over her. Glancing up, she was beyond surprised to find Prince now standing between her and the stranger.

  Prince drew his sword. "Who are you?"

  "I am Damon." Peeking around Prince she could see the man smiling slightly. "Thank you for asking."

  "Leave Aro alone," Prince said stonily. "Have you grown so weak you must torture children?"

  Damon scowled. "You do not want to play such games with me." He glanced over at her. "She is not so much a child any longer."

  Prince stiffened, his fingers tightening around the hilt of the sword.

  Damon grinned. "I will take my leave now." He nodded slowly. "Be well, Prince." He turned to her and gave a short bow. "Grow strong, little one, and learn to guard your mind." He smiled at Kei. "It was good to see you again, Kei. I will be watching." With a wink of an iridescent eye he turned and stepped off the rock edge leaving them all staring after him open mouthed.

  She shivered against Kei as Prince turned, sheathed his sword, and crouched down in front of her. "Did he hurt you?"

  She shook her head a little. "He..." She took a shuddering breath. "He went in my head. He made me remember things."

  Prince grimaced slightly and gently brushed hair from her face before looking at Kei. "You knew him?"

  Kei shook his head. "He knew me. My parents. From before we crossed the sea. I don't remember him. I must have been too small."

  Prince nodded, accepting Kei's words.

  "What was he?" She still couldn't quite figure out, or believe, what had happened.

  Kei shook his head, but Prince answered, "A Dragos."

  She looked up quickly as Kei sucked in a sharp breath. "What are they? I've never heard of them."

  Prince stood. She took his hand when he offered and let him pull her and Kei up. "The oldest and rarest of creatures. Dragons that can take human form. They are more powerful than anything else that walks these lands."

  She bit her lip. "Are they evil?"

  Prince sighed. "They are neither good or evil. They do what they want." His dark brows drew together. "I dislike that he has taken an interest in you."

  She snorted. "Me, too." She glanced over at Kei. "I think I'm not the one he's interested in though."

  He regarded her and Kei quietly for a moment. "Tell me everything he said."

  She opened her mouth to protest and then changed her mind. With a small sigh she repeated everything they had all said as much as she could remember.

  "What do you think?"

  Prince shook his head. "I'm not sure what to make of it all. He really didn't say much. Though he mentions Kei having a connection to the Fey queen." He paused a moment and shook his head again. "Fey are immortal. The prophecy could be speaking about any time in the future. What is more worrisome is having the attention of a Dragos. That is..." He grimaced, clearly worried.

  "Really, really bad," she offered.

  He smiled slightly. "Yes."

  "How about we head down to the others." He paused. "Do you want them to know about this?"

  She shrugged. "Sure. I don't want to keep secrets anymore." She paused. "What's a seer?"

  Prince looked surprised, not at the question, but that she'd asked it. "Someone who can see the future," he said finally.

  She thought that over. "He said Fey seer. Are there more?"

  This time his eyebrows went up. "Yes."

  He didn't elaborate and she frowned. "I'm not stupid."

  "I know."

  "I had tutors," she added defensively.

  A smile quirked at his lips. For some reason she found it distracting. "We should get back to the others."

  They didn't seem to know what to make of the whole encounter. She didn't know if they thought there was some truth to what the crazy Dragos had said. She just was pretty certain he'd gotten so old he'd gone and lost his mind.

  Kei did not leave her side the entire night, that for some reason made her feel deliriously happy and relieved. When Bo looked disapprovingly at him as everyone settled down to sleep the Fey merely growled and pulled her down next to him. He took her hands in his as they lay curled up facing each other.

  She smiled suddenly as he looked over her shoulder and growled quietly. A moment later Prince's hand slid over her waist. "Good night, boys," she whispered as she closed her eyes.

  Chapter 19

  After the Long Cold Winter

  "I hate winter," she muttered.

  Prince glanced up at her. "It's almost spring."

  She supposed he should know. He came from these lands, but scowled at him regardless.

  After they had finally left the forest they'd traveled the nearly deserted road to the first of the human cities. They hadn't stayed long. It had been too small and too close to the border of Franua for their taste. The second city wasn't much better, however the third suited well enough, it even had a seaport.

  It ended up they could have travelled further, the snows started weeks later than expected. The added time gave them a chance to find work and earn the money needed for a place to live. It had not been an easy time, yet they had done it together and eventually everything had worked out.

  Their new home consisted of a small room on the second floor of
an ancient, decrepit building close to the docks. They couldn't afford much better, but at least it had a large stove for heat and cooking. There wasn't anything else she could say nice about it. It was drafty, there were bugs and rats, it smelled funny, and the neighbors left much to be desired. Cramming six people into one room should have been nearly impossible.

  The only thing that made it bearable turned out to be the men's work schedules. Bo and Prince both worked nights at taverns. Avery and Cain worked days at the docks. Kei they couldn't risk letting work at all. A knit wool hat hid his pointed ears, but close inspection would show his eyes were not normal either. He risked hunting and gathering wood in the far forests. She got to cook and clean.

  She was rather irritated they didn't want her to work. She certainly could have found something as a servant or barmaid. At the same time she understood. They had become her family, and in doing so had also become overprotective. Part of the problem was her uneasiness in crowds and around other men. Over the months things had gotten a lot better. Her anger and fear had mostly faded away and her nightmares weren't nearly as frequent. Still, she was uncomfortable going out into the city alone and avoided doing so.

  The men continued to teach her to improve her fighting skills when they had the time. It became the only thing that kept her from screaming and going insane. They did not have much else to occupy their free time. Sometimes John would bring home a small, tattered book and read to them. Most often they just talked and told stories of their past and people they had known.

  Though she had never before been one to gossip, she found boredom got the better of her and she actually paid attention to the local goings on the men would report when they returned from their jobs.

  Some of the news and stories were interesting. Tales of Were, Fey, and Elves were more common here. Interestingly, they still took on the form of stories for the most part. There were very few actual events ever spoken of. From the little she learned about them that made sense, they all lived in the forests and didn't interact with humans very often. Apparently humans were lesser creatures, at least to the Elves and Were. The Fey were just all insane. She worried about Kei sometimes, wondering how he felt about all these stories. He never said anything though, and missed many of them while on his trips to the forests.