The laughter stops when Tavris pats Delvin on the shoulder and steps into the rain. “I guess I’ll see you guys around. You better make a plan to get across the border without permission because I hear they really tightened security recently. If you don’t mind, I’ll get my stuff and head out tonight. Good luck, Delvin.”
“You’re not coming with us?” Delvin asks even though the answer is obvious. “I mean, why aren’t you coming? Are you that angry with me? I’m really sorry about disbanding the Frozen Blades, but I nearly got us killed.”
“And you might do it again, Mercenary Prince,” Tavris replies, wiping water from his furrowed brow. Part of him wants to punch his old friend again, but he knows Delvin is only doing what he thinks is right. “I just need to be on my own for a while. It’s been years since I only had myself to worry about. Don’t get me wrong, boss. I appreciate everything you, Tzefira, and most of my previous employers have done for me. But being under Weber has made me realize that people only look at me as a brute. I always thought I could be a leader like you and that idea got destroyed pretty thoroughly. Anyway, I’m going to leave before I get soft and you find a way to trick me into joining you.”
“You’re not a brute,” Delvin insists, catching the blonde warrior by the wrist. “I will always trust you with my life, Tavris. You’re one of my oldest friends and that’s not something a lot of mercenaries have.”
“Well you’re not a mercenary any more, which makes that line rather hard to swallow.”
Tavris roughly frees his arm and quietly trudges through the rainstorm, the water soothing his aching muscles. All his fellow warriors can do is watch him leave and wonder if they should go after him. When he kicks Weber instead of walking over or around the man, the other Frozen Blades decide it is safer to stay out of the big man’s way.
4
“Why you no fix apple crop?”
“Because I need room for pine trees.”
“More animals eat apples.”
“They not complain until you rile them.”
The two drites whirl around the courtyard of Hamilton Military Academy, their argument continuing in guttural Draconic. Fizzle is faster than the chubbier dragon whose red scales and yellow wings absorb the sunlight instead of reflecting the warm beams. As the debate becomes heated, the pair fire bursts of rainbow mist in every direction. Several of the badly aimed shots hit the students and faculty, the victims seeing hallucinations that make them either smile or run for cover. When Fizzle catches his cousin’s tail and spins him toward the main building, the drites are stopped by the crackling of a passing lightning bolt. The bickering creatures look down at Selenia Hamilton, who has her enchanted sword pointed directly at them.
“Take your argument out of my home,” the headmistress demands. “Now!”
Fizzle and Plimp dart into Visindor Forest, their shouts echoing throughout the trees for several minutes. When their voices finally disappear, Selenia turns to her exhausted guests and prepares to answer their previous questions. She catches a curse in her throat when she notices that a certain forest tracker is no longer standing with his friends. Sari stretches her arms to casually point at the open entrance, but the headmistress shakes her head and decides to forget her troublesome nephew. There is always an open cell in the detention shed or a clean bed in the infirmary for the young warrior.
“Delvin left with Tzefira about six days ago,” Selenia explains while running a whetstone along her longsword. Every pass creates a shower of sparks that hiss against the grass and her simple clothes. “I’m sorry about him failing to contact you, Lady Nyx. He was only here for a day before your mother arrived and he was busy preparing for the journey. Though I think it’s obvious that he doesn’t want to worry you. Right now I have a class to watch over, so we can discuss this over dinner.”
“We’re leaving right away,” Nyx declares before her voice is stolen. She glares at Sari who points at Dariana, the silver-haired woman yawning wide enough to pop her jaw.
“Thank you for the offer of dinner,” Timoran says with a bow that reveals the twigs that are stuck in his hair. The barbarian groans as he stands straight, his back aching from the slow movement. “We have been traveling with very little rest for days. Some of us were even used as mounts to allow the others to sleep. We would have been in more trouble if Luke did not have his Feast Ring.”
Nyx coughs and gasps, which proves that her voice has been returned. “We made it here quicker than we planned, so let’s take advantage of that. If we leave in an hour then we might be able to catch up to Delvin.”
“Is that before or after we collapse in the wilderness?” Sari asks, poking her friend in the shoulder. The channeler topples over like a felled tree, her attempt to cushion the impact with an air spell failing miserably. “I will lay on top of you and go to bed with my immovability on if you don’t let us stay. My feet hurt and my legs are numb. Dariana zones out every few minutes and Luke’s stomach has been roaring all day. For the love the gods, have you taken a good smell of any of us? We’re rancid.”
“Anything that you miss, little sister?”
“We’re staying here until the morning.”
“I want to make it to Gaia before we rest.”
Another burst of lightning erupts from Selenia’s sword, which causes Dariana to snap out of her trance and lash out with her telepathy. The wave makes everyone in the academy lightheaded and they hear a soft voice mumble about wanting to go back to sleep. Many students end up falling asleep in the middle of their classes and a chorus of rumbling snores can be heard from the nearby stables. Dariana quickly revives her victims and rubs her temples before wandering toward the entrance. She slumps against the thick wall and slides to the ground, her head flopping onto her knees with a dull thud.
“We can carry her,” Nyx half-heartedly argues. She sighs and yawns, revealing her own exhaustion. “How about we take quick baths, nap for a few hours, and eat on the road? We can leave tonight.”
“Do you know what Delvin’s nickname was when he attended my academy?” Selenia asks with a smirk. The toned woman sheathes her blade and signals a nearby instructor to watch her swordsmanship class for a few minutes. “How about what happened when I tried to teach him how to cook? Has he told you the details of our first encounter? What about his introduction to Kevin and Duggan?”
The channeler blushes and shifts from foot to foot. “No. I never really sat down to talk to him about those kinds of things. We’ve been busy and the opportunity never came up.”
“Your ears twitch when you lie,” Sari points out, tickling one of the pointy body parts. She rubs the half-elf’s shoulder and cringes at the touch of sweaty fabric. “The truth, Ms. Hamilton, is that Nyxie hasn’t told him her true feelings. She dodges, attacks, and does all manner of stunts to avoid getting personal with Delvin. Now she’s feeling guilty. I guess she finally realizes that she wants him around.”
“I don’t understand what you’re getting at, Selenia,” Nyx admits, her mind too hazy for her to focus. She is unsure if the mental fog has been created by days of exertion or because her magic has been inaccessible for the last twelve hours. “Delvin should tell those stories when he’s ready. People don’t get personal stories from a significant other’s loved ones without permission.”
Sari gives her friend a tight hug, the half-elf’s natural warmth making her drowsy. “That is so adorable, Nyxie.”
“That is why all of you will be joining me for dinner. I want you to know more about the man you call a friend,” Selenia says, raising her voice so that Dariana can hear her. The telepath waves before rolling onto her side and sticking her fingers in her ears. “Delvin mentioned your friend has mental powers. Maybe she’ll feel better after some time in the forest. I’m sure the mental chatter from my students is giving her trouble.”
As if she heard the suggestion, Dariana rolls onto all fours and crawls out of the academy. It is a humiliating exit that the guards and students try to ignore, non
e of them aware that the woman does not care about her appearance. Without a word, Timoran hurries to pick her up and carry his friend to the calm trees. He roars when Fizzle and Plimp buzz his hair, causing the drites to disappear back into Visindor. They continue their friendly argument in the branches, but remain invisible and keep their voices down.
“Why would you share those stories with me?” Nyx asks, stopping Selenia from walking away. “I’m sorry, but I’m curious.”
The headmistress fights the urge to walk away and force the young woman to wait until dinner. “I am sharing my stories with all of you, but you are the most important member of my audience. Delvin made it clear that he is facing his past to make himself stronger for you. Not the prophecy, the Baron, his temple, or anything else. It is entirely about him clearing out his skeletons to build a future with you.”
“I told him not to worry about those things.”
“Men do foolish things when they’re in love.”
“Delvin really proves that fact.”
“Women aren’t much better at times.”
The younger half-elf opens her mouth to argue, but knows the blue-haired gypsy at her side will leap into the argument. “Some women simply aren’t sure what to do. It doesn’t help if they’ve been raised to fight and never lived a life outside of magic. Then again, she might not even comprehend the emotions in her heart and . . . I really can’t keep going. I’ve been an idiot and I want to make things right with Delvin, which is why I want to keep moving.”
“Good luck doing that now that most of your friends have wandered off,” Selenia says before she whistles at a pair of roughhousing students. They stop and stand at attention, returning to their work only when the headmistress nods. “Now are you going to keep wasting my time or do you plan on annoying your father? The old bastard is doing paperwork in his office, which means you have to knock loudly to wake him. I have classes to run, so I’m going to ignore you until dinner. Please stay out of trouble and try not to start a battle like you champions always do when you visit.”
Sari tucks her arm around Nyx’s waist and leads her toward the gothic administrative building. With a smile to the retired mercenary, she spins to prevent the channeler from slipping away and asking more questions. Everyone stops to watch the odd display and laughs at the cursing half-elf, who smacks and pulls on the immovable limb. With a whimper, the channeler tries in vain to cast a spell that will free her from the gypsy. Frustrated by her lack of magic, Nyx surprises Sari with a kiss that was meant for her mouth, but engulfs the other woman’s dirt-marked nose. The pair separate and laugh as they enter the building, their voices cutting off as they yawn in unison.
*****
“This is such a weird sensation,” Luke says as Dariana and Timoran join him. He kneels to run his hand along a large mound of thick grass, a solitary black orchid growing out of the center. “Stiletto is buried here and I visit him every time I’m in the area. Yet, he’s also in my mind and not understanding how this is possible. Neither of us are really sure how this whole thing works. I’ve already transformed twice, which is why you see the digging marks over there.”
“I would offer to put him at ease, but I’m exhausted,” Dariana states, scratching the forest tracker behind the ear. She smiles when he moves to wag a tail that is not there. “Sari told me you did something funny when your ear was scratched. Though she warned me not to rub the points too. Are you feeling okay, Luke?”
“Just tired and a little sad since I’m here.”
Timoran pulls a flask from the inner pocket of his black fur vest and toasts the grave with the Ifrit mead. “I believe she is wondering why you have been unnaturally quiet since we left Nevra Coil. The rest of us have been working to contain Nyx while you have remained a distant scout or in one of your other forms. There is something heavy on your mind, which has us concerned. It is not like you to keep things held back for so long.”
Luke faces the academy to take in the sight of its wooden walls and the students practicing in the killing field. This is where his adventure began over a year ago and the area seems to change every time he returns. The buildings look the same as before, but there are more guards along the wall. A pine tree now stands in the western corner, the narrow giant swaying as if it can move without the wind. More recently, he has heard that Betty, the elderly cook who treated him so well, has retired and lives in a distant village with her children and grandchildren. The forest tracker wonders what went through Delvin’s mind when he came back and saw the small changes. It is a curiosity that brings back his previous worry, which he decides is safe to voice now that Nyx and Sari are nowhere in earshot.
“What if Delvin does die?” Luke asks, meeting Timoran’s stare. He is unaware that a flicker of anger is in his chocolate brown eyes, a glint that the barbarian swiftly recognizes. “I don’t want to believe that it can happen, but we all know it’s a possibility. Even if Stephen doesn’t attack him, he could be killed by his former tribe. He told us that they’re superstitious and probably won’t respond well to him coming back from the dead. So I’m worried that he made a selfish mistake and put all of us in danger.”
“I can see why you didn’t want Nyx to hear this,” Dariana replies as she takes a seat next to Stiletto’s grave. The woman pets the grass as if it is the dog itself and sighs when she picks up on the happy thoughts that rise from Luke’s subconscious. “I’ve been thinking about why he chose to leave now and it really is strange. Delvin is right that his past would be used against him, but the plains have typically remained outside of the prophecy. Then again, they would have been involved if he had never been separated from his tribe. Yet he could have waited and taken us with him instead of going alone. There’s something we aren’t seeing here.”
“Because you did not really listen,” Timoran claims while he reaches under his vest to touch the relic that hangs from his neck. He has lost count of how many times he has grabbed the Compass Key in the hopes that it will activate, but none of the rounded gems react. “Delvin feels useless in the face of someone like Stephen. He is unable to defend the woman he loves and is steadily becoming one who cannot carry his weight in battle. When I was a toy, I heard many people call him fodder or ignore his existence completely. That revelation seems to have stirred something inside our friend. Perhaps he feels that settling his past and reconnecting with his history will reveal more about his role as a champion. If we were to go along then we might overshadow him and stop his progress or even make him look like a failure in the eyes of his parents.”
“That makes a lot of sense,” Luke says, his mouth slightly open in surprise. He growls when one of his hands turns into a paw and he shoves Stiletto’s spirit back into his mind. “I might have to take him for a run and let the griffin fly. Those two can be real pains when they think we have time to relax. Where’s Nyx right now?”
“Why didn’t you ask about Sari?” Dariana asks before Timoran can answer the question.
Luke rubs his palms against the rubies in his saber hilts, the telltale action revealing his anxiety. “Nyx is the one who is upset, so I’m more concerned about her. Sari and I are still figuring things out. Besides, I’m guessing she’s busy trying to keep our big sister distracted and calm.”
With his friends unwilling to pursue the conversation, Luke hunkers down and fur sprouts from his back. His twisting limbs narrow and his hands become paws while a wagging tail sprouts from his rear. Happy barks rush from his throat as the half-elf’s face grows a muzzle and his ears move to the top of his head. When fully transformed, Stiletto immediately tries to dig up his grave and get at his body. Timoran picks the large dog up by the scruff of the neck and gently moves him away, the barbarian’s stern glare enough to make the excited beast behave. Unable to get at the source of the confusing scent, Stiletto darts into Visindor Forest to chase rabbits and enjoy the wilderness.
“You realize they’ll get into a fight during this journey, right?” Dariana states while getting to he
r feet. She yawns and bends down to remove her black slippers, which are starting to wear down at the toes. “I picked up on their desire to talk, but it’s for two different reasons. Sari wants to tell Luke about her decision to fold while continuing to make Kira think they’re in competition. She thinks that would strengthen the bond that she helped to damage. It will also help alleviate her guilt.”
“The idea has merit,” Timoran interrupts as they take their time walking back to the academy. Rubbing the scars on his shoulder, the barbarian nods as he figures out what the forest tracker is thinking. “Luke wants to discuss the boundaries of their relationship since he believes they are still romantically involved. Those two always make the situation worse even when they are attempting to fix the damage. The entire thing makes me thankful that I am married, which is a secret I am indebted to you for keeping and not prying.”
“I’m honored that you see me worthy of such a secret.”
Timoran stops and turns around to examine the serene forest, which is a relaxing sight after his time in Nevra Coil. “You have been a champion for longer than the rest of us. I know you cleansed your mind of memories that could help us with the temples, but it is evident that you remember other events. I am sure you are aware of various patterns in our destiny that our shorter lifespan makes us blind to. So I hope you will answer my question truthfully. Do you think we are wrong in not worrying about Delvin and taking time to rest?”
“Oh, Nyx is the one in the right here,” the telepath answers without delay. She stops walking to make sure they do not get too close to the practicing students. “The gods always planned to use Delvin’s past against him. To do so, they needed to convince him to return to his tribe. I can’t say if we were supposed to go or not, but I’m sure Gabriel wanted this to happen. It’s why the Compass Key is remaining silent, our enemies have not attacked, and the energy of Windemere appears to be holding its breath. Smell the air, Sir Wrath, and you will see that something is off.”
The Mercenary Prince (Legends of Windemere Book 9) Page 9