The Sunset Lands Beyond (The Complete Series, Books 1-3): An epic portal fantasy boxed set

by Sarah Ashwood

  Figuring that was all I’d get out of the man, I gave up the debate. We’d never see eye to eye on this. No point starting a fight with the only person in Treygon who’d taken the time to actually talk to me. Besides, we had better things to do than discuss his High-Chief.

  Lining up my weapons with my target, I pulled back on the string and let the arrow soar.

  Telepaths

  Practice went well that day. I don’t know if Cole was less hardened than his counterparts because he was younger—relatively speaking—or if he’d somehow lucked out with a better personality. Whatever the case, I actually enjoyed training that day, managing to push aside thoughts of the High-Chief and focus instead on both my shooting and coaxing Cole into talking.

  Eventually, I got him to open up a bit about what life at Treygon, life as a Simathe, was like. In return, I tried to explain to him about life on Earth. This went fairly well as long as I spoke in general terms about my house, my home state, and my family, but when I happened to mention my favorite movie things quickly went south.

  “Movie? What is that?” he inquired.

  When I tried to explain, he only stared disbelievingly, saying at last, “My lady is not serious, surely.”

  When I went further, describing electricity and how it powered my world, he staunchly maintained I must be speaking of magic. I guess science and magic didn’t coexist in his world. Well, not like they did on Earth, either. Eventually I gave up, knowing he’d have to see it to believe it, just as I’d had to see Aerisia to believe it. Which, despite having been here several weeks, I still wasn’t entirely sure I comprehended.

  What happened next didn’t do anything to help my trust issues.

  After we finished for the day, I handed off my weapons to Cole as we prepared to return to the main hall. Things had gone so well today that I felt a new friendship was forming; possibly even an alliance, should the need for a Simathe ally ever arise. As we walked along in companionable silence, I felt a soft tickling in the back of my mind that made me glance about nervously. That particular feeling was the one I got when the High-Chief was about to appear, and it didn’t take me long to spot him.

  He was over by the stables saddling one of those massive Simathe horses, his back to us. Trying to ignore the man, I refused to glance in his direction as we passed by. Cole, however, disrupted my plan by stating out of the blue, “My lady, the High-Chief requests your attendance.”

  I shot him a funny look. “What’s that supposed to mean? He hasn’t even seen us.”

  “He is ever mindful of your whereabouts, my lady.”

  “Yes, I realize that Cole,” I responded impatiently.

  Would people ever stop reminding me not only of Ilgard and my Joining but also of its effects? I had enough problems trying to forget both without everyone else always bringing up the subject.

  “He hasn’t motioned us over, though. As a matter of fact, he seems to be ignoring us…as usual,” I muttered in an aside. “How do you know he wants us?”

  “He told me, my lady.”

  “He told you? How? He hasn’t said a word to either of us. Did he signal you and I missed it? How could he have tol—”

  I broke off. The light had suddenly dawned, confirming my craziest suspicions. Hands on hips, I looked incredulously from one man to the other. It all made sense now. The long, silent looks; Cole knowing Ilgard wanted us when he hadn’t said anything of the sort out loud; that disconcerting habit they had of seeming to read each other’s minds…

  I’ve been right all along.

  “You’re telepaths, aren’t you?” I said slowly, rounding on the man beside me. “You really are. You’re telepaths.”

  “Telepaths, my lady?”

  “Don’t Telepaths, my lady? me!” I snapped. “I suspected it a while back but dismissed it at the time as being too far out. Now I see I should’ve listened to my instincts. You really are telepaths!”

  “I know not the meaning of this word,” he replied, and took off toward his High-Chief.

  I ran a few paces to catch up, slamming around in front of him, forcing him to stop. “Telepaths: they’re people that communicate with their minds. You do that, don’t you? Don’t you? All of you Simathe can communicate with your minds.”

  He’d opened his mouth to reply when a deep voice from behind cut in.

  “A problem, Cole?”

  He snapped to attention. “Nay, my lord.”

  “Yes, there is,” I contradicted, swinging around to look his High-Chief in the eye. “You all are telepaths, and you didn’t tell me!”

  Soulless, black eyes held mine unflinchingly for a long moment. When he finally spoke, his words weren’t even directed at me. Without breaking eye contact, he ordered, “Resume your duties, Cole. I will take charge of the lady.”

  “Aye, my lord.”

  I heard the sounds of his departure but didn’t shift my attention from Ilgard. He, in turn, waited until Cole was gone before repeating quietly, “Telepaths, my lady?”

  I frowned, maddened by his consistently unflappable demeanor. “Don’t pretend you didn’t hear me. A telepath: it’s someone who’s able to communicate with their mind. You all do that,” I added accusingly. “Why didn’t you tell me? Or were you just planning to keep it a big secret forever?”

  “My lady is clever,” he remarked simply.

  I arched a brow. “Really? That’s all you have to say? It wasn’t that hard to figure out, y’know. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  He shrugged. “Treygon keeps its secrets. Our fellow Aerisians need no further cause to fear and shun us.”

  The veracity of his statement gave me pause, taking the edge off my anger. He was right. If other Aerisians, already thinking of the Simathe as they did, knew of their powers of telepathy, they would undoubtedly think the worse of them—just as I’d done.

  Just like you do, an inner voice accused.

  Shut up.

  Sighing, I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to process all of this.

  Three thousand years…centuries more…telepaths…what next? I hope the Simathe aren’t hiding any other major secrets. Not sure I can handle finding them out.

  “So, this mind communication thing…” I said, looking up. “Does that mean all of you are, like, fully Joined or something?”

  “We are joined, my lady, though not as you and I.”

  “What do you mean? What’s the difference?”

  “All Simathe share a unique origin and certain unique qualities,” he explained. “Not only is there an awareness of one other, but we have also the ability to communicate mentally. Both offer a distinct advantage in battle.”

  “That makes sense. And this awareness…is it similar to how you know where I am all the time?”

  My eyes narrowed unconsciously. I still didn’t like his knack of keeping track of me.

  “Nay, my lady.”

  That was it. He didn’t bother with additional explanations, but began retracing his steps, heading back toward the horse he’d been saddling earlier. I had to rush to catch up and, when I did, stumbled a step or two because of trying to read his face when I should’ve been watching my feet.

  “So, what is it then?”

  He seemed disinclined to further conversation, but I had to know.

  “Ilgard? What is it then?”

  He stopped, and now it was my turn to be rounded on. “The bond between Simathe is not at all comparable to that between my lady and myself.”

  “But you said…an awareness,” I pressed.

  “Aye, and by that I meant we know instinctively who is near us, just as we communicate mentally to those within proximity. We needn’t look to see who is close, as your kind does. This Joining, our Joining, is not like that. Nothing is the same.”

  “I didn’t ask to be Joined to you,” I reminded him softly, sensing rather than seeing his frustration.

  “Nor I to you. Yet here we are.”

  “Isn’t there—isn’t there any way to break
the bond?” I asked, shoulders slumping as all traces of anger ebbed.

  “None, my lady. Save death.”

  “You mean, we’re always going to be like this? Until I die?”

  “I fear so.”

  I sighed unhappily. “Even if, after all this is over, I eventually meet and fall in love with some guy and want to marry him…not even then?”

  Some of the craggy, stone-set hardness slipped from his face at that sad question. His voice was as gentle as I’d ever heard it when he replied, “Nay, Lady Hannah. Not even then.”

  “But then, he probably wouldn’t want to marry me. He’d think it would be like sharing me with another man.”

  The warrior-lord said nothing.

  “It’s true, isn’t it? He probably wouldn’t.”

  “I know not, my lady.” Pausing, he added as if to comfort me, “But I have seen men do many a strange thing for love.”

  “Really?” Curious, I searched his face. “Ilgard? Would you? Would you ever consider it?”

  I knew I was treading dangerous waters here, getting into a personal discussion with the Simathe High-Chief, but I wanted to hear his answer.

  He stared down at me. “I know not, my lady,” he replied at length, voice low. “I am not as other men. I will not marry.”

  “But if you did,” I pointed out, undeterred. “If you could.”

  He shook his head. “I cannot, and that is the end of the matter.”

  “Um, no it’s not, because you didn’t answer my question,” I protested. “Why do you always have to be so…so…high-handed?”

  “Perhaps because you are so stubborn.”

  I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest. “Yeah, right. You can’t blame your personality flaws on me. I bet you were this way a long time before I showed up.” Thinking of his alleged three thousand years of life, I added, “A loooong time.” Before he could say anything, I threw in, “Is it true you’re three thousand years old?”

  His facial expression didn’t waver, but I could hear the annoyance in his voice.

  “Where did you hear this?”

  “From Cole.”

  “Then Cole must learn to hold his tongue.”

  “I like Cole,” I said. “He’s more open than the rest of you. He tells me stuff.”

  “That is not a virtue,” pointed out the High-Chief as he started back toward his mount.

  “It is in my book.”

  I don’t know if he caught that or not. He’d reached his horse by now. Grasping its bridle, he led it out into the stable yard, saying to me, “I must be away. During my absence, you will heed the commands of my Chief Captain and my lords. Furthermore, you will cause no trouble of any kind.”

  “Me? Cause trouble?”

  “You,” he answered firmly, turning away to mount his horse. But when he swung the animal’s head around to leave, I was amazed to see him drop one eyelid in a friendly wink.

  I laughed out loud.

  Crazy. Who knew Ilgard could be half-human?

  I stood there smiling after him, watching until his mounted figure disappeared into the distance.

  Trickery

  I wasn’t really intending to disobey the Simathe High-Chief. My decision wasn’t a conscious act of rebellion, committed with malice aforethought. I simply figured his absence offered the best shot at pulling off the plan. The idea came to me later that night as I snuffed out the candle and climbed into bed. Initially, I tried to shake it off, telling myself it would never work. It refused to leave, and the more I thought about it, the more I couldn’t help wanting to at least try. By the time I finally slipped off to sleep, I was smiling.

  Oh yeah. We are so going to do this.

  Fortunately, I woke up early the next morning, which didn’t hurt my plans. Since my jeans, T-shirt, and all my leggings were in the laundry, so to speak, I had to find something else to wear. I threw on some of the sturdy, everyday clothing Lady Elisia had provided, choosing a sleeveless dress of dark blue, called a surcoat, pulled over a simple blouse with long, light sleeves. Leather ties on the sides of the dress crisscrossed from armpit to hip, and the blouse’s neckline was laced with a white ribbon. Slipping on a pair of stockings and boots, I tied my hair at the nape of my neck, washed my face, cleaned my teeth, and was ready to go.

  Exiting my room, I turned to the left. As expected, waiting just out of sight down the corridor was a guard. Halting a few steps away, I flashed him my brightest smile.

  “Good morning.”

  “And to you,” he returned solemnly. “My lady arises early.”

  “Yes, I wanted to go for a ride this morning while it’s cool. Before the sun comes up and it gets real warm, you know?” I smiled hopefully.

  “A ride?”

  Doubtless, even though I couldn’t read it in his face, he was surprised. I’d never so much as mentioned going riding during my stay at Treygon.

  “Yes, a ride. Some of the horses we brought from Laytrii are still here, aren’t they?”

  “I believe so.”

  It was hard to tell, but I thought he was eyeing me a bit suspiciously.

  Is he onto me?

  I blinked innocently. “Well?”

  “I will speak with the Chief Captain.”

  “Oh, wait!” Grabbing his arm, I forestalled him with, “Um, I was sorta hoping Cole could go with me.”

  “Cole, my lady?”

  “Yes, Cole. He trained with me yesterday, and I figured he wouldn’t be as busy as, well, the Chief Captain or Lord Contrey. I know they have a lot going on. Don’t you think I could just ask Cole to come, and not bother Lord Norband? Surely that would be okay.”

  He looked doubtful. I tried to appear guileless.

  “I suppose if Cole were to accompany you, and you did not ride far…”

  “Oh no, of course not,” I hastened to assure him. “Only a short ride to look around. I’ve hardly seen anything around here except the training grounds.”

  “Well…”

  “Oh, thank you!” I broke in with a huge smile. “Thanks so much. I really appreciate it.”

  He nodded warily, as if he knew there was something off about all this, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. I maintained my composure, even though I wanted to fist pump in victory. After being virtually held prisoner here at Treygon, forced into a Joining I despised and training I didn’t want, it felt great to finally put one over on the Simathe. Perhaps I would’ve gotten a little more satisfaction if it were Ilgard or his Chief Captain; however, I doubted my ploy would’ve worked as well on either of them.

  At that, a tiny bit of triumph fled. No, the Chief Captain was way too sharp, and Lord Ilgard would’ve seen right through me. He always saw right through me. Still, I refused to let that thought steal my joy as I faced the guard.

  “Will you come with me to get Cole, then? Show me the way?”

  “My lady!” He was clearly affronted. “Cole is yet in the men’s quarters. You cannot go there.”

  “Oh, of course not!” I exclaimed, pressing a hand to my heart, hamming it up. “I’m sorry. I had no idea. Do you think…could you possibly…”

  “Very well,” he agreed. “I shall fetch him. Wait here, please.”

  “Of course, thanks so much!” I positively gushed.

  Watching him stride off down the hall, I grinned wickedly at how well my strategy had worked, uncrossing the fingers hidden behind my back.

  I totally deserve an Oscar for that performance.

  The woods surrounding Treygon were thick and cool. I wasn’t far beyond fortress walls when I struck a faint forest path, probably an old game trail. I kept to it, winding my way up the steep mountain slope, around large boulders, and over fallen logs. I hadn’t felt this free in a very long time. At last I was away from Ilgard, his vigilant warriors, and Treygon’s confining walls. I knew I’d been beyond lucky slipping through the fortress unseen, then finding that unguarded door leading to the outside. I just prayed it’d be a while before Cole an
d that other guard returned to discover they’d been tricked.

  As soon as the one man had left to fetch Cole, I’d hurried to the other guard stationed at the opposite end of the corridor. I had explained to him that Cole was coming to escort me down to breakfast and then training, but in the meantime, I needed to fetch something out of my room. Would he please let Cole know that’s where I would be when he arrived?

  Naturally, the man agreed. I was counting on this ploy to buy me a couple of extra minutes, confident that all the Simathe—except their High-Chief, perhaps—would think twice about forcing their way into my room when I didn’t answer immediately.

  Apparently, my plan was working. I hadn’t heard any commotion from below or seen any signs of pursuit. Scurrying up the trail as quickly as possible, I congratulated myself on a job well done and settled in to enjoy myself. It felt so liberating to be truly alone, to be free, to breathe fresh air knowing there were no eyes on me. It fed my sense of adventure to explore, to see this land I was told I was destined to save, but which I’d seen little of so far.

  In forests like these, there was constantly something to see. I’d been hiking a couple of hours, wandering aimlessly from trail to trail, checking out whatever snagged my attention, when the echo of running water caught my ear. Turning my head toward the sound, I listened hard, trying to discern its point of origin. Seemed to be from somewhere on my left. I pushed aside a tree branch and left the path to investigate.

  By following the noise, it didn’t take long to discover its source. The search wasn’t without peril, though, when the ground beneath my feet suddenly sheered away. I jumped backward, my heart pounding from the shock of near calamity. Once I caught my breath, I crept toward the edge of the bluff to peer over.

  In the clearing below, a beautiful waterfall tumbled ten to twenty feet over slick rocks to drop into a pool at the bottom of a vine-covered cliff. The pool narrowed into a lazy stream that meandered its way under tall trees with overhanging branches until it disappeared into the depths of the forest.