by M. L. Greye
She frowned. “I think it’s time for me to go back to sleep.”
“Olinia-”
“It’s late.” She rolled onto her side, turning her back to him.
As he left her, Olinia shook her head. She was far past simple attachment. Could Will really not see that? She sighed and closed her eyes, hoping for sleep.
* * * * * *
Tiara opened her eyes to an unfamiliar room. Sunlight peeked through the cracks in the curtains, spilling onto the wood floor. Above her head was a white plastered ceiling that looked as if it had been refinished recently. Tiara frowned, She didn’t remember ever entering this room. But then, she couldn’t really remember the last time she was fully awake either. Letting out a soft groan, Tiara rolled onto her back, her outstretched arm landing on someone’s chest. She bolted up.
Archrin was lying beside her, still asleep. Tiara let out a short laugh, relieved. His mismatched eyes opened. “Good morning,” she said.
“Morning.” He sat up, leaning back on his hands.
“What time did we get here last night?”
“After dark.” He used one hand to rub his eyes. “I couldn’t go on any further”
Tiara laughed lightly. “Me neither.” She yawned, staring up at him.
He didn’t reply. Instead, he bent over and kissed her gently. When he pulled back, she said. “Thank you, but what was that for?”
“You have such inviting eyes,” he admitted. “They’re beautiful.”
Tiara felt herself grinning, but didn’t care it probably made her look foolish. She liked receiving his affection. She had the impression that it didn’t come easily. He truly cared for her. “I wish I could understand your eyes.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your violet eye,” Tiara explained, “I swear it means something.”
Archrin shrugged and straightened away from Tiara, causing her to miss his touch. “I was born with it.”
“Making me believe even more that it’s significant.”
“I think we should buy some traveling clothes while we’re here.”
“You’re changing the subject. I’m right, aren’t I?”
Archrin let his breath out slowly and stood, putting himself even further away from her. “It doesn’t mean anything, Tiara.”
“I don’t believe you.” She pushed herself to the edge of the bed and knelt in front of him. She reached out, cradling his neck with her hand. Slowly, she strained her own neck and let her mouth meet his. She felt his arms envelope her, pulling her against him. After a few moments, she breathed against his lips, “It has to mean something. How else would you intoxicate me?”
He chuckled. “Perhaps I’ve charmed you.”
“Unlikely,” Tiara grunted. “You’re a Kendren.”
“Even Kendrens have charm, Tiara.”
“No they don’t. Remember Foehn?”
“You seemed quite taken with him.”
“Weren’t you the one who said it was far too easy to see the distaste in my eyes?”
Archrin laughed and released her, letting her slip back onto the bed. “I’ll be back in a little bit.”
She blinked. “Where are you going?”
“To get you some new clothes and breakfast,” Archrin replied, heading for the door. “We’ll head out again once you’re fed and dressed.”
“So soon?”
He frowned. “We’re not safe quite yet. We’ve got to keep moving.”
Tiara watched as he shut the door behind himself. She stayed on the bed for a moment, wondering why he wouldn’t tell her about his eye. She had no doubt it meant something. She couldn’t really remember. It was as if it was sitting at the edge of her conscious mind. Tiara shook her head. She was bound to remember it sooner or later.
With a yawn, she slid off the bed, her shoes tapping over the wood. She must have been too tired the night before to take them off. Tiara yawned again and moved to the room’s one window, sliding back the curtains.
The view from the window was of the town’s main street. Across from the inn was a small tavern and what looked to be a general goods store. Tiara wondered if that was where Archrin was going to buy her a dress. Glancing down at the road, she eyed the different travelers.
She recognized one of them. Foehn. Tiara jerked the curtains closed, her heart suddenly pounding. Foehn had found them! How? Tiara slowly backed away from the window. If Foehn followed them all the way into another world, he must be livid. Tiara pulled a face. She could bet he was anxiously anticipating her capture. And he wasn’t in uniform, so he could behave as he pleased; there was no image of Kendren honor he had to hold to – the little honor Kendrens claimed to have.
She turned to the room’s door. Where was Archrin? Had he seen Foehn? She frowned. What would she do if Foehn found him before her? She doubted she’d leave him behind, as Archrin probably would’ve hoped. Tiara ran her tongue along the back of her teeth. She wasn’t sure if she should stay in the room and wait for Archrin to get back, or try to go find him. No, she knew she should wait. If she left, she was more likely to get caught than to find Archrin. Besides, Archrin was able to take care of himself.
* * * * * *
Three floors below Tiara, Archrin was peering around a corner at a familiar face. Foehn was arguing with the chubby innkeeper in Arthelian. Apparently, the man was being just as unwilling as he had been the night before in giving up one of his rooms. Foehn was fuming. He was unable to sway the innkeeper. Without his uniform, Foehn was powerless.
Archrin was at the bottom of the staircase he’d cursed the night before, unable to go any further without being seen. Even if Foehn wasn’t able to secure rooms for him and the men he’d taken with him from Drivian, he would still stay for breakfast. It looked like Archrin wouldn’t be getting Tiara any food here after all.
He slowly turned back the way he’d come, while keeping one ear fastened on Foehn’s conversation. As he made his way up the stairs, taking them two at a time, he began devising escape routes. His horse was at the inn’s stables. If Foehn ventured in there, he could easily find Archrin’s horse and recognize it. The black mare wasn’t a hard one to miss. In Kepleth, the world he was currently standing on, black horses were rare. The only horses he’d laid eyes on were all brown with white spots. Not a lot of variety.
Archrin reached his rented room and slipped the key into the lock. He was startled to find the room empty. “Tiara?”
Her head poked over the top of the bed. “Are you alright?”
The tension in his shoulders relaxed slightly at the sight of her. “You saw him.” It wasn’t really a question. Why else would she hide behind the bed?
“What are we going to do?”
“Leave.” He hefted his satchel off the floor by the bed. “We need to put as much distance between us and them as we can.”
“But couldn’t we just wait for them leave?” Tiara asked, standing.
He shook his head. “Foehn’s been tracking us with his Sinith. He won’t leave if we don’t.”
“He has one, too?”
“He’s an officer.” Archrin nodded, slipping his satchel over his head to rest on his shoulder. “Come on. We need to make it to the stables before he does.”
“He’ll recognize your horse.” Tiara rounded the bed. “What if he’s already seen it?”
Archrin let out his breath in a rush. “Then we’ll figure something out.” He grabbed her hand and headed for the door. “Right now, we just need to get through the lobby.”
Tiara let him lead her down the hallway to the stairs, hoping that Foehn wouldn’t run into them. She could just imagine herself surrounded by Foehn and his men. It wasn’t a pretty sight.
As they neared the bottom of the staircase Archrin slowed his step slightly, pulling Tiara closer to him at the same time. He bent his head to her ear. “He’s not in the lobby anymore. We should be fine on our way to the stables.”
She blinked. They couldn’t even see the lobby yet. “How d
o you know that?”
“I don’t smell or hear him.”
“Smell him?” Tiara stared at him. “Has he suddenly acquired an odor strong enough that you can smell him from the room over?”
Archrin paused, frowning. “Everyone has their own scent, Tiara.”
“But from a distance?”
“Yes.”
They were in the lobby now. Tiara couldn’t stop herself from gawking. Could Archrin really smell people from a distance? Tiara glanced around the room to make sure no one was in earshot. “How far can you smell me?”
He winced. “How else do you think I found you that day in Ildatch?”
“You were following my scent?” Tiara fought to keep her voice low. How was that possible? No human could trace a normal smelling person through a forest by scent alone. Maybe an animal, but not a…
Tiara stopped dead in her tracks, causing Archrin to do the same. He turned in surprise, but Tiara couldn’t take another step. An animal! She let out a short laugh. It all made sense now. His violet eye. Tiara remembered now what it meant to her. Her mother had taught it to her turns ago. How could she have forgotten it? Or not seen the signs for that matter? She’s always thought Archrin was different. He was so cool and rational in his decisions, as if moving by instinct rather than emotion. His movements were unusually quick. Tiara remembered the night he jumped around the table so fast that it had startled her. Oh, Archrin was indeed different. He treated everyone in the same distant manner, communicating but never really conversing, except for her.
“We can’t stop here, Tiara.”
She felt herself grinning, unable to hide her pleasure in her discovery. “What do I smell like?”
He blinked. “What?”
“What do I smell like?” Tiara repeated, her smile growing wider.
He stared at her for a moment. Then, “You’re intoxicating. A perfect blend that becomes more and more addicting the longer I’m with you. I would know you anywhere.”
Tiara beamed. It was a typical reaction of his kind. She laughed softly and took a step closer to him, placing her face near his. “I know what you are,” she breathed.
He grunted and began pulling her again towards the door to the stable. “It would have come out eventually.”
“What, are you unable to hide it?”
“No.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I’ve never been discovered.”
“Then, how would it have come out?”
“You know my kind, Tiara. The longer I’m with you…” His voice trailed off and he let out a short laugh. “Trust me, it would have come out.”
Tiara felt her face grow hot. She did know his kind, not very well, but enough to understand what he was hinting. And it flattered her. She smiled slightly. “So, you’ve chosen me.”
They were to the stables now. Tiara wrinkled her nose at the characteristic smell of manure as Archrin stopped in front of an empty stall. He turned to her, his endless eyes once again staring through her. She felt her heart quicken beneath his gaze, and took a few deep breaths in attempt to calm it. Why was he so captivating? He smiled out the side of his mouth and Tiara felt her face turn red again. He must have felt her pulse increase through her hand he held.
“Why’d you stop?” She asked after a moment.
“I like this side of you.”
“Well, enjoy it while it lasts, because it doesn’t happen very often.”
“Just when you’re around me.”
“Oh, please,” Tiara grunted and began walking again. “Where’s your horse?”
“Tiara,” Archrin pulled her back around to face him, releasing his eyes on her again. “I did choose you. That means I’ll follow you to the death.” He smiled crookedly, “So please, for my sake, don’t go and get yourself killed. My kind aren’t ones to move on.”
Tiara once again couldn’t stop herself from smiling. She took a step closer to him and went on her toes, letting her lips brush against his. “Can an animal really fall in love?”
He chuckled and opened his mouth to reply, but stopped, snapping his head up as he yanked her away to the back of the stables. “What’s wrong?” She asked, struggling to keep up with his step.
“Foehn’s coming to put away his horses,” Archrin said without turning.
“Did you smell him?”
“No, I heard him.”
“Oh.” Tiara didn’t know what else to say. She trusted Archrin. If he thought he heard Foehn, then she believed him. And even if he didn’t, they still had to leave the inn. She’d seen Foehn herself.
Once they were within the horse’s stall, Archrin hurried to get it saddled. Tiara would have offered to help, but Archrin was moving at a speed above a normal human. She prudently stood aside and watched. It didn’t take long for him to finish. When he was done, he nodded for her to mount first. She obeyed, and he swung up behind her.
“Keep your head down,” he whispered into her ear. “I’m going to try to sneak us out the back door. Foehn’s near the front.”
As Archrin urged the horse forward, Tiara kept her chin tucked near her chest. Out of her peripheral vision she noticed the different stalls and horses. She tried to glimpse the door Archrin was heading for, but was unsuccessful in any attempt, and she didn’t dare raise her head. Foehn would sooner recognize her than Archrin.
“Almost there,” Archrin breathed into her hair. “Just a few more-”
“Hey, you can’t go through there!”
The voice caused Tiara’s head to snap up. The man’s use of Arthelian had startled her. She turned to find a stable hand walking towards them. Her body relaxed slightly as she realized he wasn’t one of Foehn’s men.
“Is it not a door to the street?” Archrin asked in Arthelian.
“It leads to an alley,” the stable hand replied. “Guests are to exit from the front.”
“Well, now we’re closer to this door,” Archrin pointed out. “We’ll just use it this once.”
“You can use the front like everyone else.” The man reached for the horse’s reins.
“What have we here?”
Tiara’s stomach tightened at the sound of Foehn’s smooth voice. He smiled up at her smugly. “Ah, Tiara, I see you have left the lieutenant for the captain.”
The stable hand blinked. “You know them?”
Before Foehn had the chance to answer, Archrin kicked his heels into his horse’s flanks, sending it forward and Tiara backward into Archrin’s chest. She cried out in surprise as the horse dove through the open back door into the alley. Archrin’s grip around her middle tightened as he steered the horse between the buildings towards the main road.
“Hold on!” He shouted.
To what? Tiara muttered to herself. Archrin held the reins with one hand, which would have been her first choice. That left only the saddle and Archrin’s arm around her waist. She decided to grab onto both, distributing her strength between her arms.
Wind whipped at her hair as Archrin maneuvered their way through the villagers and coaches that lined the street. Tiara noticed Archrin was heading back the way they had come the night before.
“Where are you going?” Tiara yelled.
“Back to that forest we passed. I can hide us in there.”
Tiara watched as the buildings gave way to trees and brush. She continued to grip onto Archrin’s arm, feeling the horse’s speed slowly increase once it was free within the woods.
Behind her, Archrin chuckled. “You afraid of the speed?” He asked in a Saerdian. He never used Arthelian with her now.
She let out a short laugh. “No, I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle it and fall off. I’m holding onto you for your protection.”
“How generous,”
“Anything to help.”
He laughed softly. “I think you-”
His voice ended in a moan, and suddenly he was slumped over Tiara. She cried out in surprise. “Archrin?” She clawed at his arm to keep him upright, but was unable to hold his weight for lon
g. He slid onto the gravel in a heap.
“Archrin!” Tiara yanked the horse around to where he had landed and jumped to the ground before she pulled the horse to a complete stop.
Tiara stared down at him in horror. He’d landed face down, which now allowed her to see what had caused his fall. An arrow stuck out of his right shoulder. Someone had shot him from behind. From the dark green feathers attached to the end of the arrow, Tiara knew it had been a Kendren. She whirled to face the road she’d just traveled. About five riders were galloping towards her. A cold sweat formed on the back of her neck as one of the riders notched another arrow. She assumed that this time he would be aiming for her. Panic began to tug at the back of her mind. She needed a way out, or at least a way to stop the riders, who were undoubtedly Foehn and his men. Too bad she couldn’t send them off to the past while she escaped with Archrin.
Letting out a groan, Tiara dropped to her knees beside Archrin. She was happy to learn he was only unconscious. With one hand, she wrapped her fingers around the arrow and pulled gently. If it was barbed and not removed carefully, it could tear his muscle tissue, leading to a worse injury. The arrow budged slightly upward and Archrin’s body stiffened. Tiara pulled a face. She guessed by his movement that it was barbed.
The Kendrens were to her now, reining their horses around her and Archrin. “Get up, Tiara,” a familiar voice ordered in Arthelian.
Tiara stood slowly and turned to the handsome lieutenant. “We meet again, Foehn,” she muttered, deliberately using Saerdian.
Foehn’s mouth hardened. “You will speak Arthelian when conversing with a Kendren officer.”
“I’ll speak whatever language I want to,” Tiara returned, still in Saerdian. “You have no hold over me.”
“Do I not?” Foehn’s eyes flashed before turning to his four companions. “This once belonged to me. Now I am selling her to the highest bidder.”
Tiara’s mouth dropped open. “You can’t sell me! I’m not your slave!”
“Silence, woman,” Foehn barked over his shoulder. To his men, he asked, “What shall we start the bidding at?”