by M. A. Roth
“We will stop here for a rest,” Tristan announces to us all. We’re still in the mountains. They seem unending. But I don’t want to waste any time.
“No, we need to find my sister.” Tristan climbs off his horse and the rest follow suit. Morrick seems no longer to be in charge. I wonder what happened last night. They’ve reversed roles. Kiar comes over to help me down, but I sit stubbornly on the horse.
“Bellona said two days.” I can hear the panic in my own voice.
“Today is the first day,” Tristan says. Then his eyes study my face. “And you can’t defend yourself in this state. You need rest.”
Kiar reaches out his hand to me once again, only this time I take it. I know Tristan is right, not that I would ever tell him. Kiar pulls out a bedroll and lays it down behind a large boulder that is only a few feet away from the mountain’s edge. I sit down on the bedroll with my knees tucked up to my chin. Kiar sits on his haunches so we’re at eye level “How are you holding up?” His kindness and brown eyes remind me so much of Josh, who was my best friend at home. I feel I can talk to him.
“Not good, Kiar. These things keep happening that I can’t explain, and no matter how much I push them to the back of my mind, they always manage to push themselves forward.” I know I’m not making much sense, but Kiar sits there patiently. “I see colors around people. I think I made that water pour into the caves the time Neve set it on fire. I burned a woman with my hand, and I pushed Bellona away from me using my mind.” That’s it. I blurt everything out.
Kiar sits for a second, staring at me. Then he smiles. “Maybe you have lots of affinities.” His eyebrows furrow. “But we usually have one or two.” We sit there. I don’t know what else to say. Kiar pats my leg. “Get some rest. We will figure it out.”
“Thank you, Kiar,” I say while squeezing his hand.
“That’s what friends are for.” My face falls. Josh always said that to me. “What’s wrong?” Alarm sounds in Kiar’s voice.
I shake my head and smile. “Nothing, Kiar. I’ll get some rest.” I lie down. The wind can’t get to me in my cosy little space. I don’t get to think too long. My mind slips away into a deep sleep.
***
When I wake I’m in a pool of sweat. The fabric of my top clings to my damp skin. I sit up and glance around our small camp. It’s still bright. Neve rotates a rabbit over a bright red flame. The juices spitting as they hit the fire below.
“How did you catch a rabbit up here?” I ask Neve.
He jumps slightly, startled at my voice. Glancing at me over his shoulder he grins. “The forest is only an hour’s ride away so Tristan caught us dinner.”
The stretch feels nice as I raise my hands in the air before relaxing and sitting down beside Neve. At the mention of Tristan’s name I find myself searching for him but he’s nowhere in sight. Neve turns the rabbit at regular intervals. Kiar is slumped against a large rock, his eyelids closed, yet something in his posture tells me he isn’t really asleep.
“Why stop here when we’re only an hour away?” I ask Neve.
Morrick sits across from me rubbing his face. “You were exhausted.” I don’t respond to Morrick, I just can’t right now.
Tristan returns, looking grumpy. He never looks any other way. He ignores me. That suits me just fine. At this stage I just want to get my sister and go home.
The cold air bites into me, the shredded cloak that I pull tighter around me doesn’t offer much warmth. There wasn’t much left of it after my run-in with Carew and the exiles.
Morrick stirs across from me and examines my clothes through narrowed eyes. “What happened?” he asks.
For some reason, I don’t want to tell anyone about Carew. “I fell into a bush.” I don’t try to sound convincing.
Morrick’s eyes narrow even more at my blatant lie, but I don’t care. As if I would trust him ever again. I return my focus to Neve. “Is the food ready yet?”
“Nearly. Would you like a leg?”
My stomach turns. I know he’s trying to be nice, but if I see the little white paws, it will be enough to finish me altogether.
My face must portray my horror, as Neve hurries on. “Or maybe not.”
I give him a weak smile “Just the meat, no bone. Thanks.”
Neve smiles back, making him look younger.
“How old are you?”
“Nineteen, but everyone thinks I look older.” I would’ve thought he was my age, and I was right.
Kiar’s eyes open and a look of amusement passes over his face. I knew he wasn’t asleep. “It’s all the lines on your face, Neve.”
Neve’s hand immediately goes to his face to check for lines. When he feels none, he relaxes. “No, Kiar, it is because I act older,” he says proudly with a boyish grin on his face.
Kiar laughs heartily and I can’t help but laugh with them. Neve’s face breaks into a huge smile as he shakes his head, turning the rabbit. I sense someone else watches me. Tristan’s serious expression shouldn’t look so good on him but it does. My mind jumps to how nice it was to have his lips on mine. The feel of his hands running through my hair. I hold his stare, my cheeks heat up and he looks away.
Morrick leaves during our exchange. His retreating back has me clenching my fists. I can’t believe he hasn’t even tried to apologise to me. What did my mother see in him? To distract myself from thoughts of hurting Morrick, I tune into the banter between Neve and Kiar. They would raise anybody’s spirits. They always seem to see the glass as half full no matter what they’re faced with.
The meat is juicy and I don’t allow myself to think about what animal it is. It’s a chicken I tell myself. Neve is licking the juice off his fingers when Morrick asks for a word. They don’t go far away from us but it’s far enough so we can’t hear what’s being said. When Neve returns, he doesn’t say anything and I don’t ask.
We move out. Within the hour, we reach Eden Forest. Standing on the edge of the forest, I can see it stretching for miles before us. Lush green trees all joining together to create a green canopy. My optimism drops to the floor. This will be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Neve jumps off the horse and sinks to his haunches with his hands pushed deep into the soil.
“He has an earth affinity, but it is a level one,” Morrick says to my confused look. I refocus on Neve. If he had three affinities that was very rare. I hold my breath until he rises, rubbing the dirt off his hands.
His face tells all before he speaks. “Nothing, sorry.” He looks so guilty. I try to give him a reassuring smile, but I can’t hide my disappointment.
“We move south through the forest,” Tristan says, giving us all a pointed stare. “And move as quietly as possible.” Once his little speech is over, we all follow behind. My heavy boots seem to crush everything under my feet. I’m the only one making noise. The canopy above us lets in a drizzle of light and if I wasn’t here to find my sister, I’d be in awe of its beauty. Chirps and the noise of creatures sound all around us. I want to keep looking but watching where I am stepping is more important. After a few hours my thighs burn from walking and sweat soaks my tunic. My footsteps sound louder as my feet are heavy to lift.
“We will take a break,” Morrick says.
Tristan’s face tightens in annoyance but he doesn’t speak out against Morrick. He’s being a very good foot soldier.
I throw down my knapsack that holds water and some bread and rest against a tree. Removing my beaker of water from my knapsack, I gulp it down.
“Thirsty?” Kiar asks with an amused smile on his face. I notice Kiar, Neve and Tristan look like they haven’t just trekked through the forest for the last few hours. Their tunics are dry, no sweat. At least Morrick looks a little breathless, and I mean a little.
“Do you guys run miles every day or something?”
Neve sits down beside me. “Yes.”
Kiar laughs. “Don’t worry. Give me a few months with you and I will whip you into shape.”
&nbs
p; “I hope you don’t mean literally?” I give him my best mock horror look, causing him to laugh.
The laughing settles down. “What age is your sister?” This is the first time anyone asks me about her, but I know Kiar is being as gentle as possible with his words. This sobers up all my humour, bringing me back to what I am here for.
“She is sixteen next month, but going on thirty.”
Neve looks confused, again.
“I mean, she acts older than she is,” I explain.
“Oh, she is like me, then.” Kiar and I exchange amused looks but don’t laugh. Neve just looks too sincere.
“Does Jessica have any extra abilities?” Morrick asks, nearly making me jump. He and Tristan are always sneaking up on me; this is something I’ll have to work on. Well, I knew they were going to check the area, but they never made an entrance when they returned.
“No.” I give him a hard look. Why show any interest in her now when before she wasn’t his concern? Neve and Kiar don’t speak. They seem to suddenly be intrigued with the forest floor.
I look up from Morrick and meet Tristan’s cold gaze as he leans against a tree, watching us. He holds my stare as he comes over, throwing a leather pouch on the ground while sitting down with us. He throws each one of us an apple. “Found an apple tree not far from here,” he tells me.
I rub the apple on my tunic before I take a large bite. It’s tasty and extra sweet.
Nobody speaks. The only noise is me munching on my apple. I look at Neve and Kiar, who haven’t taken as much as a bite.
“What’s wrong?” I spit the bit that’s left in my mouth onto the ground. Then the world shifts. What the hell? Tristan is at my side, holding my head, resting it on the ground. Everything is starting to lose its color.
“What did you do?” Morrick asks with alarm in his voice.
But Tristan just whispers in my ear. “Sorry, but it is for your own good.”
“Tristan, you answer me!” Morrick’s voice rises, but he is swaying from side to side.
I look back at Tristan, who is still on his knees. “You bastard.” My words are slurred as if I have drunk a brewery dry so I’m not sure if he can make them out, and then everything is gone.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
SARAJANE
I awake with a pounding headache, my hands are tied behind my back, and I am leaning against a tree. I open my eyes. Streaks of sunlight break through the trees, blinding me for a second. I lower my gaze. A pair of boots comes into view, then legs. Neve is seated not far from me.
“I am sorry, Sarajane. Don’t be mad.” He does look sorry.
“Just untie me, Neve, and I’ll forget all this,” I say in the best friendly voice I can muster up right now. I will kill Tristan.
Neve looks away, conflicted. “I can’t. I have orders.”
I don’t have to ask from whom. It’s still bright, so maybe I wasn’t out long. I can still catch up, but I need my hands untied.
I sit quietly for about twenty agonising minutes and then when I think enough time passes; I take my chance.
“I need to use the bathroom.” I squeeze my legs together to add to my words.
He stands, shaking his head. “Oh no, he said you would try that.”
I growl in frustration, then regret it. “Neve, I’m fine about this. I understand everybody is worried about my safety.” He isn’t quite sure whether to believe me. “But I really need to go.” I cross my legs again and bite my lip, pretending I just can’t wait much longer.
He takes a few sharp breaths through his nose. “Fine. You have one minute.” He helps me up and unties my hands, but never takes his eyes off me. I put my hand on my hip and tilt my head in what I hope looks like a girly expression. “Neve, I can’t go with you looking at me.”
He blushes slightly. “Oh yeah,” he says and turns his back to give me privacy. I kneel down and remove the dagger from my boot. I’m not going to hurt Neve, but I need him to believe I will.
“Hurry up,” he says, his voice sounding anxious at having me untied.
I take two steps towards his back and hold the dagger to his throat. “Don’t try anything or I will kill you.”
He goes to move. “Sarajane,” he pleads.
I push the blade harder against his throat. A trickle of blood runs down his neck. He inhales a sharp breath, his face turning red with anger.
“Now put your hands in the soil and see if you can find them.”
“Sarajane, think about what you are doing.”
I push a little more. It’s only a knick, but I still feel horrible. “Now, Neve.” He gets down on his knees. I move with him to keep the dagger against his throat so he won’t try anything.
He pushes his hands into the soil and concentrates. “Nothing,” he says.
Panic rises. This is my only plan. I grab his arm with my free hand, shaking him slightly “Try again.” Then I’m zoomed forward at an incredible speed through the forest. We stop at a hut. My heart is racing. Five guards surround my sister. I watch this from above.
“Jessica,” I scream in terror, but nobody seems to hear me. She’s covered in bruises, a swollen eye, a split lip; her arm is twisted at a horrible angle. I’m pulled from the hut. Ten men surround the area. Oh God, it’s a trap. As I’m pulled again against my will, I move back at an incredible speed, seeing all the treetops, and then I slow down. Tristan, Morrick and Kiar walk slowly with their swords drawn. Tristan’s eyes scan the area. He looks dangerously beautiful. And then I’m back in my body beside Neve, finding it hard to breathe. He looks at me in shock. I twist away from him and bring up the contents of my stomach. “We have to warn them?”
Neve still sits still. I shake him by the shoulders “We need to move now, Neve.”
He comes out of his daze. “No, I have strict orders.” He grabs my arms.
“Neve, please. They will die and you saw my sister.”
The look he gives me is filled with pity.
“We need to warn them. Just warn them, I promise.” I meet his eyes. “Please.”
He lets my arms go and runs his hand across his bald head. “Okay, but you do everything I say.”
I nod. “Yes.”
He gives me a stern look. “I mean it, Sarajane.”
“Yes, okay, Neve.”
He hands my dagger back to me. A blush of embarrassment progresses along my cheeks. “Sorry.”
He just checks his armour, obviously not forgiving me yet.
“They are about two hours ahead of us,” Neve says.
I remove my boots and cloak.
“What are you doing?” he asks.
I leave them under a bush. “We need to move fast and with as little noise as possible.”
He shakes his head, knowing he’s disobeying orders “Fine, let’s move.”
I follow him, branches poke into my feet, but I just picture my sister and push on. My noise level is a lot lower. We move at a fast pace and after two hours, I stop. “We should’ve met them. They were moving a lot slower.”
Neve nods his head in agreement. “I will try to see them.”
He kneels down and digs his hands into the soil. I stand guard, keeping an eye around us.
“It is not working,” he says after a few moments. He tries again. “Nothing. Maybe it was you?”
I give a little laugh. “I don’t think so.” Then I sober. “Just try again.”
He reaches out a hand for me to take. “It won’t hurt. Just to try, Sarajane.”
I roll my eyes. This is a waste of time, but I take his hand and kneel down feeling uncomfortable that nobody is watching our backs. The minute we lower our joined hands into the soil, I’m pulled from my body again. I can see Neve and me. It looks like we’re praying. Then I do a full rotation from this height. Tristan is watching us from a tree; his face displays his anger, but there’s also a glimmer of admiration. Morrick is watching from a bush on our left; he looks intrigued by what we’re doing and a little annoyed at seeing us. And Kiar is to
our right, smiling. Then I pull back into my body. I don’t feel sick this time, as we didn’t move through the forest at full speed.
Neve whispers beside me. “It is you, not me.” I’m not convinced I had anything to do with this. We stand. Morrick is the first to show himself, then Kiar. He’s fighting to hide his smile.
“You couldn’t even guard a girl with her hands tied,” he says to Neve in a low voice.
Neve’s face turns bright red. “She had a dagger to my throat.”
I have the good sense to look away, mortified. Tristan jumps down from the tree and saunters over to us at his own leisure.
His movements of confidence annoy me. “You will never learn.” That’s all he says to me. “Move.”
Neve clears his throat. “Tristan, we came here to warn you.” Now he has everyone’s attention. “There are fifteen guards in total. It is an ambush.”
Tristan looks at him suspiciously. “And how would you know that?”
I’m afraid, in case he tells him it was me, so I rush in.
“Does it matter? I saw it too, when he used his affinity. So we just need to think of how to take out fifteen guards.”
Tristan gives a sarcastic laugh. “And what will you do? Kill them all with your dagger?” He glances down at my feet. I have only socks on and they’re darker in some areas from bleeding, but I don’t care. I just need to get to my sister.
Tristan moves away and speaks to Morrick, who hasn’t even acknowledged me. Kiar is smiling at me with pride that I managed to escape Neve. I smile back, causing Neve to nearly cut me in two with a look.
“All right, we’re splitting up.” Tristan gives me a look that says, Say anything and you will be sorry. So I gloat silently.
“Kiar, you’re with Morrick and you two are with me.”
Great. Kiar leans in. “Wish I could go with you to see what you will do to Neve this time.” He walks to Morrick, all signs of his smile gone. We follow Tristan at a painfully slow rate. I want to tell him to hurry but now he might end up gagging me and tying me to a tree. He motions for us to get down. I can see Morrick and Kiar on the left have stopped moving too. We hunker down.