Elemental Betrayal

by Toni Cox

  She sighed. It was no use; she felt more confused the longer she thought about it. She glanced up to find that the horses had been led away and most of their possessions had been brought into the lodge. Rothea stood quietly off to the side, waiting for Maia to finish with Fire. Riker, who had not let her out of his sight since the incident at the Featherstone Inn, was also still in the barn. She felt guilty for having been caught daydreaming, so she hurried to take the saddle off Fire and checked his hay net.

  “I am ready.” She finally said quietly to Rothea, who nodded.

  Riker offered Maia his arm and, followed by Rothea at a respectful distance, they made their way towards the inn.

  “I promise I will be safe,” she pleaded with him.

  Riker looked at her sternly, then looked towards Rothea, who was standing holding their horses.

  The inn had been crowded and noisy. Everyone had wanted to meet her and speak with her and by the time she had finally managed to eat her dinner, she was exhausted. Rothea had accompanied her to her room, but once inside, Maia could find no rest. She had paced in front of the window, looking at the dark mountains beyond. Eventually she had made a decision and she had gone to Rothea’s room to wake her. Maia had been surprised to find that Rothea was easy to talk to and more understanding of her needs than she had hoped. The woman had startling eyes; a mixture of green and grey, with an almost orange ring around the pupils. Even in the dull light of the night lantern, her hair shone bright red. Maia thought she was very pretty.

  Silently they had crept downstairs, out the door and to the stables. Riker had caught them just as they were leading the horses out.

  “I am coming with you,” he said firmly, then turned to Rothea. “Stay here while I get my horse ready.”

  Moments later, they were all in the saddle and trotting through the forest towards the mountains. It was cold tonight and even their thick coats could not prevent the icy wind from finding its way to their bodies. Maia shivered, but she knew she would be warm soon. Riker and Rothea, however, would have to spend the night huddled around a fire in the middle of the frosty forest. She had, of course, explained to Rothea what she intended to do and all she wanted was for Rothea to give Riker the message. However, Rothea had insisted she come along, and then Riker had caught them and now it was both of them that would not get to sleep in a warm bed tonight. They had both insisted that they would not return to the lodge, but stay within easy distance of her throughout the night.

  She was now feeling guilty and was going to suggest that they turn around, when she suddenly felt his touch on her mind. At the same time, the horses became aware of his smell and they whinnied in fear. Quickly Maia reached out to their minds and calmed them. She jumped off Fire, threw the reins to Riker and darted off into the darkness. She felt Riker’s eyes on her until she eventually rounded a corner.

  She did not have far to go. After about two hundred paces, the forest opened into a large, rocky clearing. Midnight’s massive black body was perched on top of the tallest outcropping, waiting for her to emerge from the trees. Barely breathing harder, she ran through the clearing, jumping from rock to rock until she reached him. His unique smell, a mix of reptile and mammal, smoke, and fire, enveloped her as she ran to him, pressed herself against his large chest and he protectively lifted his right wing to shield her from the cold wind.

  They stood like that for what seemed like eternity, both content with the nearness of the other. Eventually, Midnight released her from his embrace and they walked together to more even footing where Midnight settled on the ground so Maia could lie down on his leg. Nestled close to his shoulder, with his wing raised above her, she was as warm as she could be, even though the grass around them was grey with frost.

  Finally feeling safe and, for the first time in many Moons, happy, she fell into an easy sleep with her Soul Dragon watching over her.

  It was just past noon the next day when they reached the outskirts of Thala Yll. Unlike Braérn, which was a compact city with narrow, cobblestone streets, trading squares and timber-frame houses built two or three storeys high, Thala Yll was a sprawling development, with wide streets, single-storey houses with large gardens and animals wherever one looked. The wealth of the city was based on their livestock, and the city was surrounded in every direction by grazing land, interspersed by little woodlands and freestanding trees. They had reached the grazing lands early that morning and had ridden through herds of grazing cattle, sheep, and pigs to get to the town. The people of Thala Yll bred a variety of different cattle, from Low-Land Longhorns and Albersand Greys to the smaller midland breeds. Maia even noticed at least three different breeds of sheep and goats, plus some breeds of pigs she had never seen before. Some even looked like the fearsome Razorback boars, but on closer inspection it was clear that these animals were smaller and lacking the distinctive razor-like spikes along their spine.

  Maia loved how content these animals were, which spoke well of how they were treated. She had been to Thala Yll before, when she was younger, but then her senses had not been as finely developed and she had not noticed it as much back then.

  They rode for another two hours before they reached the city centre of Thala Yll and there a congregation of people already awaited their arrival. Children danced in front of their horses, chanting songs of welcome. People waved flags out of windows and women dressed all in white, strew petals before them.

  They were led to a grand plaza where a band of musicians played Life Conquers All as they dismounted their horses and Horse Masters came to lead them away. Fire threw his head in the air and danced in a circle around the stressed Horse Master who was trying to settle him. Maia laid a hand on her horse’s neck and spoke a few words. The stallion snorted and shook his head, but then allowed the man to lead him away.

  “He will be all right,” Riker spoke softly into her right ear before he took her arm and led her up the steps of Thala Yll’s Grand Hall.

  She could not help but to smile at her companion; he was brave, being this forward with her. She was also amazed that he knew her so well, but at the same time afraid of his feelings for her and how she was reacting to them. She wondered how she had never noticed it before. Was it only a recent development, or had Riker always felt like this about her? Could it be that because she had isolated herself from the feelings of others right through the winter that she was more sensitive to them now? Or was it maybe the fact that she had experienced love and now knew how to recognise it?

  The thought stabbed through her heart; was it really love she had felt with Blaid? Was it love she was sensing in Riker now, or simple infatuation? The questions were making her head reel.

  Determined not to think about this any further, she looked up just as the massive doors of the Grand Hall opened and Lord Hazelwatch stepped through them. The black-haired lord of the city bowed before his princess, kissed her hand, and formally welcomed her to Thala Yll. He was followed by an entourage of flower-bearing children, who then swarmed around her, effectively separating her from Riker. He gave her a crooked grin and shrugged his shoulders as Maia was ushered into the hall amidst the horde of children. Maia loved children; they were beautiful, wide-eyed, and innocent and their Eläm was still so pure. Their exuberance was infectious and by the time she had taken her seat, she was laughing with them. She did not even mind that they had set up a throne for her to sit on, or that they had decorated the entire hall with candles and flowers in her honour. For the next half hour, while Servers brought cool fruit juices and iced water as refreshments, the children sang and danced for her.

  “How was your trip, My Lady?” Skylor Hazelwatch asked, now seated on one of the chairs arranged to her right.

  “It was pleasant, thank you, although the nights still get rather cold,” Maia answered him and he nodded his agreement.

  “You shall not suffer from the cold tonight, Lady Maia. Your accommodations are within Thala House, our very finest guest house, I can assure you.”

  “Y
ou honour me, Lord Hazelwatch.” She smiled at him.

  “This here,” he indicated the hall, her travelling companions, the children and some of the Nobles that had joined them, “is just to welcome you. You are probably tired from your journey and we do not want to take up too much of your time this evening, so we will accompany you and your delegations to Thala House as soon as you are ready. We will have an official welcome feast planned for two days hence, to give you some time to settle in. Commander Hollowdale suggested that you might want to see the dragons. If it is all right with you, you can see the roosts tomorrow.”

  “I would like that very much,” she replied.

  She did, indeed, want to see the dragons. But not just because they were dragons, but because she had fought side by side with Evandeor Hollowdale, Commander of the first Regiment of Thala Yll, during the war of Greystone. They had lost good men and dragons that day and she had never really had the chance to thank him, nor the warriors under his command. She also wanted to see the families of those who had lost their lives during the battle in the forest in person, as she felt that they had died protecting her.

  “We will then commemorate our fallen from the war on the fourth day, for which we have planned to travel to the edge of the forest, where they were laid to rest in the Burial Grounds. It will be there that you will be able to address the people of the city. It has been hard for those who have lost their loved ones. We thank you that you honour us with your presence; it will bring closure for many.”

  They were sitting in a quiet corner of the dining hall of Thala House. The guesthouse was closed to all other business for the duration of their stay, so there were no other guests. Most of Maia’s retinue had either retired to their rooms or were visiting friends and family within the city. The Servers had been given the evening off and Commander Ridgewell and his men and women had been stationed around the guesthouse; out of sight, but within calling distance.

  She stared at the little flame of the candle on the table. It danced; yellow and orange; in the soft wind of her breath. The Servers of Thala House had already cleared the table of their supper, but left them with two glasses and a decanter of wine. She had only one glass, during dinner, but she could feel the alcohol working its way to her head. She was sleepy and uncommonly relaxed.

  Riker lifted the decanter and looked at her enquiringly.

  “I really should not,” she said, but then did not protest when Riker poured her half a glass.

  “There is only a little left,” he said. “Enough for half a glass each. Then, if you still want to, we can take a walk to the stables and you can check on Fire.”

  “Yes,” she said, taking a sip of her wine, “I’d like that.”

  Riker smiled at her and she noticed again how handsome he was. His brown eyes were liquid in the sparse light of the candle and the way he looked at her awoke something within her that had been dormant for the last six Moons. Her heart beat faster. For a moment, she saw Blaid sitting opposite her.

  Embarrassed by her own feelings she quickly looked away and finished the rest of her wine. She heard Riker chuckle quietly.

  “Let us go, My Princess, the stables are a distance away and the moons have already risen,” Riker said, finishing his own wine.

  He stood and came around the table to move the chair for her. She was a little unsteady on her feet for a moment and he reached for her, taking her arm to steady her. Again, the contact was brief, but Maia was acutely aware of it.

  Riker briefly spoke with Commander Ridgewell to let him know where they were going. Rothea Goodheart was assigned to shadow them at a distance; a safety precaution Riker had put into place after they had left Featherstone Inn.

  They walked down the wide streets of Thala Yll side by side. Crystal lanterns lit their way, as well as the lights from the houses they passed. Thala Yll’s houses were built in a style similar to the houses in Braérn; exposed timber frame with whitewashed brick. However, unlike Braérn, Thala Yll’s streets were lined with tall trees and every house seemed to have its own garden, most with fruit trees, berry bushes and other greenery. This time of the year, however, the trees were only now beginning to sprout their new leaves. Tiny glass baubles with glittering crystals of different colours were hung from some of the trees they passed. Maia also noticed Lumina in almost every window and the flowers glowed a bright blue this time of evening.

  They reached the stables and Riker spoke to the Horse Master on duty. He quickly opened the barn doors to admit them and then shut them behind them so they could have their privacy. Maia’s pulse quickened when she realised that Rothea had been left outside and she was now completely alone with Riker. Under any other circumstances, this would have been deemed inappropriate.

  Fire whinnied, then snorted, as he got her scent and she hurried to him, glad for the distraction. She threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his red mane. He snorted again, aware of her fluttering heart, but stood still until Maia was ready to let him go. Then she entered the stable, checked his water and hay net, before finding her bag with the brushes. She spent some time brushing him, picking out his hooves, wiping his face, but it was not enough to distract her from the figure of Riker casually leaning against the doorpost of the stable, watching her. Eventually she decided that the best course of action would be to retreat to the safety of her own room.

  “Thank you, Riker, I am done now. I am sorry you had to accompany me. I am sure you are as tired as I am and looking forward to your bed.”

  “Not at all, My Lady, it is always a pleasure to be in your company. Come,” he said, offering her his arm. “Let me escort you to your quarters.”

  Hesitantly she hooked herself into his arm and he led the way out of the stable. She tried to make sense of her feelings. Riker was polite, tactful, and always acted with decorum when it came to dealing with her, although he could be a little forward on occasion. He did not confirm his feelings for her, nor did he make any obvious suggestions or advances. Yet he had awoken something within her and she did not know how to deal with it. She looked up at him and she could see a smile play around his lips. It made her wonder if it would be such a bad thing. Maybe it would be better to forget about Blaid, which was clearly what he had done, and get on with her own life. Riker would be a good match for her and if he could make her feel this way, then maybe she did have feelings for him too. No other man, besides Blaid, had ever made her feel anything. However, the thought of forgetting about Blaid hurt in ways she could not describe. The thought of never seeing him again was enough to bring tears to her eyes. Could she ever be happy without him?

  The Horse Master opened the door for them and Rothea was beside them immediately.

  “Lady Maia, let us make haste, it seems there are wolves around this evening.”

  Riker took the lead, but never let go of Maia’s hand. Rothea brought up the rear and they quickly walked back to the guesthouse. They reached it without incident; it seemed the wolves were only on the outskirts of the city. Maia had tried to sense their Eläm, but had not been able to find them.

  By the door to her room, Riker bowed to her and kissed her hand.

  “Good night, My Lady. Rothea will be in the room opposite; she will be at your service should you need anything.”

  He then turned and walked down the passage to his own room. Feeling sad and lonely, she retired to her own bed, but she was plagued by dreams of wolves in the city and she did not sleep well.

  He stalked through the thick underbrush close to the stream he had been following. The scent was strong here, but already two days old. He briefly paused to drink from the stream, then turned into the direction his prey had gone and picked up the pace. He was worried; they were getting closer and closer to the city and he feared for the safety of the people. The urge to kill was strong within him and he was looking forward to sinking his fangs into their rancid flesh.

  Blaid shook his head. He had been in wolf form too long; it was starting to affect his thinking.
Tracking was easier with the black wolf’s sharp senses and he could not afford to lose the trail. He had been tracking these three for over a Moon. They were cunning and fast and they knew he was following them. Since he had first spotted them, they had killed only animals; always drinking their blood first, then cutting up the meat and eating it either raw, or dried the following day when they could not hunt. Their habits disgusted him, although he would himself eat meat raw if in wolf form.