‘It came to the moment they had packed the flute along with the other things to sell and I had to really concentrate in order to regain my strength,’ Sula said. ‘They did not expect me to be that strong for a woman but I used the force of the elephant to knock them all down and pretty soon I had them all tied up inside their own wagons.’
‘You didn’t kill them? Shazar asked confused.
She glanced with disgust at him. ‘Of course not!’
‘But they used violence against you!
‘I didn’t know it was ‘the comyenti way’ to kill?’ she asked sarcastically.
He lowered his head and mumbled, ‘For the protection of our kind we have to kill everyone who finds out about us.’ and he glanced sideways towards Felix whose eyes grew a bit bigger at that. Not afraid, just startled.
‘What? My mother never told me this. Is this your Comyenti Oath, the one you vowed to your family?’
Shazar shook his head, ‘If it was; no man would be safe around me.’
A short silence followed and they both could see Felix thinking to himself.
‘What’s a Comyenti Oath?’ he asked his wife quietly.
Now it was Shazar’s turn to be startled. ‘He doesn’t know?’
‘Later, Felix,’ she sighed. ‘Later, let me continue my story.’ And she finished, telling about the flute and how she knew which box they had packed it in. She had quickly found it and carefully wrapped the box in an extra piece of cloth so as to shield her ears against its content, as she didn’t want to get overwhelmed and enchanted again. She remembered an animal that could shut its nostrils and ears to protect itself from insect bites; the pangolin, an anteater. Then as quick as the cheetah she left the city, sprinting at top speed and when she reached safety, about half a mile away from any man in the Shadow Mountains she went into antelope-mode to run deeper and longer into the lonely mountains. It was there she unclothed the box and opened it.
‘Why hadn’t the men been enchanted like I was? I asked myself,’ Sula said. ‘But I knew it was because they hadn’t truly listened to the flute and they couldn’t play a decent tune on it. Of course being a comyenti is half the trouble; we listen, whether we want to or not.’ She smiled a half-smile.
‘Why did they want to sell it?’ asked Shazar.
Sula looked at him in a mysterious way. ‘Because it had belonged to a sea witch and therefore they knew it had to be something special and that they could get a good price for it even if the beautifully carved instrument lacked a good sound. Magic sells. The man who had woken up that night, when I tried to steal it, heard it too; so he knew it had to be magical.’
She told Shazar she had wanted to find out what the secret of the flute was. Sensing it wasn’t evil magic, she tried to make a connection with it. It had a soul just as she expected and it asked her to help it.
‘So I did. I played a song on it; a specific song and found out it was a good flute, and that the others simply hadn’t known how to play it. It was that very song that set it free.’
‘What did you set free?’ Shazar asked, observing her.
‘A little girl.’
Shazar frowned and leaned forward curiously.
‘The sea witch had entrapped the little girl in her own flute after she had refused to play a song for the witch. She had heard the girl playing on the beach, and the witch loved music. But the girl had been too frightened to play for her so the witch cast her spell, saying that “Only The Song Of The Seagull played on the flute will set her free” and from then on she was cursed. The girl had been trapped inside the flute for nearly thirty years; having to play for the witch whenever she commanded. Over the years as the witch grew older, she’d forgotten all about the cursed girl and so she lay in wait all that time for the moment someone would listen to her crying out in distress. When the witch died and all hope seemed lost, thieves came into the witch’s home and found her body. They took all the valuable things they could find from her hut. They were the travelling desert men.’
Sula had promised to protect the girl who had not aged over time. They set out to find the village of her birth on the shores of Cohel in the west. Her parents were old and white-haired by now but they were still alive and filled with joy as they welcomed their girl home. They had grieved so much for her over the years thinking she had been murdered and they wanted to thank Sula for rescuing her. All Sula had asked in return was that they showed respect for all that lived and be especially kind to all the animals that lived by the coast and in the sea. Her parents were fishermen, so she could not ask of them to give up their profession, but she did teach them how to make a different kind of net; so that dolphins and small sharks would no longer get caught in their nets. The parents said Sula was welcome there anytime and the girl gave her the flute that she had been captured in as a thank-you for everything that she had done. At first Sula had refused, since it had such a sad history, but the girl insisted; saying it would be a reminder of her courage should Sula ever doubt herself in times to come and whenever Sula played that flute she would think of Marin, the girl she had rescued.
‘I’m not a great musician but the flute has a special place in my home now and my heart,’ Sula smiled, staring distantly up at the stars.
‘That is some story!’ Shazar’s thoughts went immediately to Twello; the boy he himself had saved, and wondered how he was faring. Sula and he were very much alike in that sense; never thinking twice to save someone, even if they were human. For children they would both go out of their way even though it sometimes meant risking themselves. That was the strength of the comyenti; to show compassion. However he himself had tried to stay out of human affairs as much as possible.
‘It was risky and you got yourself hurt,’ he said softly.
‘But nevertheless I always prevail.’ She made an appealing movement with her eyes, smiling.
Felix grinned proudly at her with love in his eyes.
‘She certainly does, wait until you hear about the time she came to my village and-’
Shazar suddenly squeezed his tea cup too hard and it broke; spilling what was left of the tea over his clothes, as well as pieces of broken clay. Sula and Felix stared at him, incredulously. He apologized, trying to wipe his black tunic dry with a handkerchief.
Sula bit her lip, for she sensed his sudden anger and stood up.
‘I am sorry but I am tired and will turn in for the night now. I will see you in the morning.’ Both Felix and Shazar stood, as was custom. Felix was surprised he even knew how to show some respect for a lady but Sula had already walked to the tent.
Shazar opened his mouth, following Sula with his eyes but Felix shot him a warning look and he wisely refrained. Felix sat down, threw another log on the fire and said, ‘Sit down Shazar. I have something to discuss with you.’
Frowning Shazar followed Felix’s instruction and stared interestedly at Felix, looking him in the eye in a way he had not done before.
‘I know what you want from her and I can’t say I blame you,’ Felix started out plainly. ‘If I were the last comyenti male and she the last comyenti female I would probably be after the same thing. The fact that she is amazing, intelligent and stunningly beautiful; the dream of every man, makes it even easier,’ he pursed his lips together. ‘But you see if I were in your boots; I would back off the moment I saw she was happily married. Even if it would spoil everything you always hoped for. You spoke of personal feelings to Sula; that she had to forget about me and her life with me and leave her home-’
‘Just to try to make her understand the importance of-’ Shazar interrupted.
‘If you would let me finish, please,’ Felix replied sternly, but very calmly, whilst refusing to look at him. Felix tried so hard to stay composed to keep his anger under control.
‘I see you looking at my wife with interest and lust,’ Felix stated. ‘Now, wait a moment-’ Shazar appealed.
Felix narrowed his eyes at Shazar.
‘No, I won’t, for I recognise t
he signs. I do not have to be a comyenti to see that! Now, if she decided to go with you, however painful that would be for me and Fay, I could understand.’ I’ve always known, feared, that day could come. ‘Or have your child, but she’s made it clear to you that she doesn’t want to. She gave you an option, so… do you accept it?’
Shazar did not answer, fuming inside, coiling his fists staring into the flames of the fire. What is he to me? How dare he treat me like this!?
Felix sensed from the expression on his face that Shazar did not agree with him.
‘I warn you, Shazar. If you hit on my wife I-’
‘You will what?’ Shazar’s eyes suddenly glowed like embers as they seemed to burn into Felix’s. ‘You know you are no match for me,’ Shazar said through gritted teeth. ‘Pah, you are not even a match for Sula! I don’t know what she sees in you, but it must be something to hold her attention for so long! I assure you; she will come to me sooner or later.’ He stood. Felix’s eyes were firing back at him in rage, he also stood with coiled fists in front of his chest as if ready to fight.
He will not come between us! Was all Felix could think of. Over my dead body!
Shazar growled, almost like a wolf, from deep within his throat, his eyes glowing yellow! Sula’s eyes could change colour from emerald to dark jade, depending on her mood, interspersed with orange Shazar grinned wickedly at him with those yellow eyes. When he noticed Felix’s shock reaction, he turned and shot off towards the woods.
Felix followed Shazar’s leaving; standing rigid and cursing him under his breath. He then started kicking sand into the fire, demanding him to be gone from their lives, wishing he had never come into theirs in the first place; comyenti or not, this was going too far.
Chapter 24 A History Lesson
‘I just want him gone, Sula, seriously. Before I do something I might regret!’ Felix hissed the following morning while Fay was getting water at a nearby stream. Grey clouds were starting to form and the wind picked up, meaning it would probably rain soon.
Sula looked at him, surprised, because although passionate, he was not normally a violent man. He had stayed outside the tent for most of the night in anger, taking watch and protecting his family from the intruder in their lives, before finally slipping inside in the early moments of the morning. He had waited patiently for them to wake up, to share breakfast with them. He had waited for the right occasion to share his worry with Sula but only once their daughter was out of ear shot.
‘What happened last night?’
‘That arrogant bastard thinks you will go to him freely and that I…I can’t possibly hold your attention throughout your long life. No, he thinks he’s perfect, he’s comyenti after all and he thinks you will choose him over me!’
Sula took his shaking hands in hers, calming him with her eyes.
‘Honey, please don’t worry. He is not a threat to us. I love you and you alone.’ Her words calmed his raging heartbeat and slowed his breathing a little. He inhaled the morning freshness and could smell the coming rain. His senses were so much better since she had taught him to open up more to the world around him and to listen…truly listen.
‘Yes, but for how long?’ he asked with big eyes.
‘What? What we have will never change; true love never does.’ She smiled kindly at him.
He sighed, accepting this, for yes he knew she loved him, but still fear gnawed at his heart. ‘Just be careful, love. I don’t trust him.’
‘Well, he is comyenti, so he has to be trusted,’ He has to promise first via the Comyenti Oath… ‘Yes, his thoughts and emotions are upsetting for us but it is humans who are violent and whom he despises,’ she added.
I am human, Sula!
She sighed at that and nodded back at him, having heard his thoughts.
‘I know but you’re different,’ Sula smiled at their old joke as did he. ‘He won’t come between us for the very fact that you are my partner, even if you are human. Moreover he will have to respect our bond!’
Felix raised his eyes at that, as Shazar hadn’t shown much respect at all so far, but before he could say anything further he saw Fay coming back with the water and he quickly concluded, ‘I will do anything needed to defend my family, Sula, anything.’
‘Just as long as you promise me you won’t kill him, you mustn’t do that,’ she whispered, suddenly afraid.
‘You know I can’t kill and I know the importance of the continuance of your kind, but he has to stay away from us. I will give him some time to think things through, but in the end he will have to respect your decision!’
She nodded, ‘I will make him understand.’
~~~
It rained heavily for the whole day and the little family sought shelter in a nearby cave. They hadn’t seen Shazar all day, but Sula sensed he was around somewhere. Lightning flashed outside the cave followed by rumbles of thunder.
Inside they were playing mind games to keep themselves busy. However Felix looked worried and his mind wasn’t completely there with everyone else. He would stare at length at his wife from time to time and she would beam back at him, telling him over and over in his mind not to worry.
All I want is for you to be happy…he said in his mind to her.
I am happy, my love, and she hugged him closely.
The following day the weather cleared up and they continued their journey home. The evenings were warm again so they set up camp in an open valley away from the trees and midges, only three days travel from Rosinhill.
After dinner when they had put Fay to bed the two parents sat outside the tent in silence, cuddling closely together, Felix’s arm around Sula.
‘You don’t have to protect me all the time, Felix. I can take care of myself.’ But she couldn’t blame him really.
‘I have to take a leak, I’ll be back in a mo,’ he said to her whilst getting up. He disappeared behind a bush, with his face turned towards her, so that he could still keep an eye on her. Sula rolled her eyes and shook her head mocking his concern and went to stoke the fire.
She thought she heard a sound, so she looked up from what she was doing. She couldn’t see anything so she looked in Felix’s direction but he was no longer there; she heard a ruffle from inside the tent.
‘Are you turning in?’ she asked him whispering so as not to wake Fay up, but got no response. She stood, felt a little uneasy and so walked over to the tent. When she opened the door flap she saw her husband lying on his tummy beside Fay, half wrapped in their blanket, his eyes closed. Kneeling beside him, she listened to his steady breathing. Asleep.
Sula rubbed the bridge of her nose while she thought. He did have a little too much of that home-made wine of his! She knew how that made him sleepy but she was a little surprised about him saying nothing to her before he went to sleep. That was odd. Sure enough he was asleep so she decided to join him but before she did she went outside to put out the fire. As she spread out the embers to disperse the flames she heard someone approaching. Looking up she saw Shazar!
She inhaled and caught his scent. He smelled different; better.
‘Shazar.’
‘Ah, Sula,’ he said as he walked to greet her. He looked stunning in the waxing pale moonlight. His hair caught the dim light, so that it shone almost blue. His eyes were dark jade and glittering like stars. His black shirt open at the top; she could see the nape of his neck and his collarbone. She caught another whiff of his musky scent. She felt her heartbeat faster as she smelt his sweet perfume; so appealing, it made her head spin. He came closer and said in a low voice, ‘I knew you would come to me.’
‘I didn’t,’ she shook her head. ‘Looks like you have been waiting for me.’
‘Always Sula, but now you are here. That lost time doesn’t matter anymore for you and I will have an eternity ahead of us.’
‘No, Shazar, th…tha-’ she stumbled over her words.
‘Ssh, don’t speak, we have been talking too much, that is not the comyenti way. We feel and know witho
ut words. A single comyenti thought or series of events shown to another in the mind can prevent misunderstandings and save lengthy tiresome explanations. Moreover, language or vocabulary does not have to apply.’ And he touched her cheek gently. She shivered but she wasn’t cold. He smiled longingly at her, his teeth white in the pale moonlight.
‘You know this to be true,’ he said.
She had indeed experienced this with her mother and with Fay, for they were family and therefore they shared the telepathic bond. She should have had it with Felix through the Heartmerge, but it only worked from one side. That had saddened her. Conversations weren’t always easy with him. She understood him perfectly well and could hear what he thought; sometimes it was things about her and sometimes they were unjust thoughts to which she hotly tried to explain things to him with words. That was still not easy, as she was used to being understood from a young age, without having to use words; without even having to speak and waste her breath. Thoughts always came easier to Sula than language.
Shazar must have known this and was getting to her somehow by stepping on a heartstring. She couldn’t seem to think clearly anymore.
He smelled so good; all she wanted to do was nestle her nose in his neck and inhale him and hold him close, like a flower or a pet. Sula stepped nearer. They stood face to face, but she jammed her eyes shut; fighting him with all her power but she somehow couldn’t. In panic she thought of an animal that could shut out all sense of smell, but before she knew it she breathed him in again...
She felt drunk. His mouth was too close to hers but he didn’t brush her lips. She closed her mouth on his in an impulse and breathed in more of his enchanting scent. Now she could feel his soft lips touching hers gently. They kissed tenderly and he held her close, caressing her neck and her long dark strands.
It seemed to go on for ever, until Shazar broke the spell and led her toward his tent and a blanket on the grass in front of it. She sat down and he took his shirt off before he touched her hair and pressed his lips on her forehead, her cheeks, her eyes and mouth, everywhere. Next he unbuttoned her shirt and as she lay half naked with Shazar kissing and touching her she wanted to whisper a name: Felix. She realised it wasn’t him and she opened her eyes to see a dark haired man making love to her and not her fair blue eyed familiar husband. What was she doing?
The Comyenti Series Book Bundle, Volume 1 and 2 (Epic Romantic Supernatural Fantasy) Page 20