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“Are you sure you don’t wish to ride to town with me, Sweetpea?” Marya added the last few jars of healing cream to her basket.
“Not this time.” Alyra couldn’t meet the older woman’s probing gaze. “I have some...things to do around here.”
Hopefully, Marya wouldn’t ask for specifics. Luckily, she seemed to understand Alyra’s need for some quiet time.
“Your fella will be wondering about you. Anything you want me to tell him?” Marya slipped a knitted shawl around her narrow shoulders.
Alyra lifted the heavy basket, intent on carrying the burden for her dear friend. “Just tell him... I don’t know. Tell him I’ll see him tomorrow when the orchard harvest starts.” All the wheat had been gathered, now the folks would gather together to clear the fruit trees.
“Very well.” She took the basket from Alyra with a pat on her cheek. “You enjoy your quiet time. We all need a bit of peace once in a while to collect our thoughts and set them back in order.” As she headed out the door, she added, “A walk through the woods generally soothes my troubles, dear. Take a basket with you and see if you can collect some mushrooms for our stew.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Alyra closed the door behind her with a loud sigh. As the sound of the rattling buggy disappeared down the lane, she sat at the wide oak table, staring out the back window. Why hadn’t Lotari returned yet? Why hadn’t Ethan, at least, written with an update on their progress in Racah? A week had passed since Stitch’s last letter. And a week had passed since Lotari and Esdra left during the night for Wilderland. How many days had passed since she last spoke to Tarek?
She simply couldn’t face him. Not right now. He’d see right through her and know something was wrong.
The walls of the cottage started to close in on her. She needed fresh air. Taking Marya’s advice, she grabbed a basket off the shelf in the kitchen and headed out the back door. The sound of rushing water caught her attention, and she headed for the stream. If she followed its course, she’d not get lost in the woods. With Lotari gone, she didn’t trust the centaur clan to maintain their distance.
But instead of collecting mushrooms, she plopped down on a flat rock, removed her boots, and let her bare feet dangle in the current. Taking the leather journal from her backpack, she wrote Lotari’s name across the top of the page.
I thought you were only going to be gone a couple of days. Will you return soon? Have you heard anything at all? From anyone?
Even Jerin had been quiet, which wasn’t unusual for her burly friend. When he was busy, writing letters and keeping up on the group’s gossip were low on his priorities.
Her graphite stick began moving across the page as if her heart burst and leaked into the writing instrument itself.
I’m ready to go, but I’m afraid to go. Is it selfish of me to want to stay here? To desire a real-life in one place which I can truly call home? I love this town. I’ve loved working with the townsfolk during the harvest beside Tarek. I can almost close my eyes and see us in a little cottage together, maybe someday raising a family of our own. But every time I allow those dreams to roam, Darnel appears with his cold blue eyes and rips them to shreds. I know I must return to face him sometime soon.
The stick paused over the period of her last sentence. Heat burned up from her chest, scalding her throat to the point tears threatened to pour from her eyes. No! No more tears. Enough weeping.
I fear when I go, it’ll be the last thing I do. Is it wrong to be afraid? Am I showing a lack of trust in Issah by being afraid? And maybe Tarek is the one the prophecy speaks of, but Darnel will expect me to come. I know it. And I’d rather face his wrath than allow him to hurt Tarek.
She wiped her cheeks and cleared her throat, coming to her senses. She couldn’t send this to Lot. He had enough problems to deal with. Drawing a big X over the letter, she started a new one on the next page. She’d nearly finished the more casual letter when a twig snapped behind her.
“There you are.” Tarek’s voice startled her so much, that she almost tumbled off her rocky seat. Slamming the book closed, she clutched it protectively to her chest.
“What are you doing here, Tare? Marya couldn’t have reached town already.” How long had she been out here wrestling with herself?
“No. I met her on the road. I was already on my way here. I can’t stand it when you start avoiding me. It never means anything good is happening with you. So spill. What’s going on, love?” He plopped down beside her, his deep green eyes narrowing. He’d not leave until she offered a satisfactory answer.
She slid off the rock and moved a couple of steps away, still holding the book to her body. “Nothing. I just... I’m... I still get overwhelmed when I’m around a lot of people. That’s all. I wanted a little break. I...”
He was off the rock and standing in front of her, his hands gripping her upper arms and keeping her from moving farther away. He said nothing for a long while, his forest green eyes searching her face as if trying to interpret her evasiveness. She hated how she wore her emotions on her sleeve, making her feelings so easy for others to read.
He finally asked, “Have you heard from Ethan? Something is wrong, I can sense it, Alyra. Or perhaps some bad news from one of your other friends? Why would you hide that from...me?” His head gave a slight shake. “No, it’s not that. Is it?”
Alyra closed her eyes, fighting hard to hold back the torrent of emotions threatening to let loose like a summer storm.
“Excuse me,” spoke a quiet voice from the trees. “Aren’t you the light-man I saw with my brother?”
Tarek’s hands dropped from Alyra’s arms as both looked in the direction the voice came from. Alyra couldn’t make out who was speaking, but it sounded like a young female. She stepped closer to Tarek, fearing the clan might try something underhanded while Lotari was away.
“Who is your brother, little one?” Tarek asked, his gaze also searching the trees along the other side of the narrow stream.
“Lottie. Or, I suppose you call him Lotari, his proper name. He said he’d be back. Promised. I was wondering if... since I know you’re his friends. Even if you are, um, humans. And all.”
Why did she say the word humans as if she spoke about a subspecies lacking in intelligence?
Tarek turned toward the voice and took a step forward, his boots in the shallows of the watercourse. “Yes, we are friends of Lotari.” He glanced back at Alyra and whispered, “Have you heard from him?”
Her eyes remained downcast as she shook her head. “I was about to write and ask when he was returning.”
“I can hear you, even if you whisper.” The voice said with an annoyed sigh.
“Come on out, we won’t harm you. So long as nobody threatens us.” He made a motioning gesture with his hand. “We were about to contact him. If you’d like to wait, we’ll see if he responds.”
A head with dark brown braids, nearly the color of an elm, peered around the trunk of the tree the young centaur hid behind. A ring of long feathers hung around her neck, covering her flat front torso. She couldn’t be more than a girl, equivalent to a ten-year-old human child, though in centaur years that might mean she was forty or fifty years old. “Is he here?”
“No,” Tarek answered.
She moved a little more from the tree. “What magic do you use, then, to speak to someone who isn’t here?”
“Not magic, love. Come on out. Tell us your name. I’m Tarek, and my friend here is Alyra. She has a book that we use for communication with our friends.”
The girl moved a step closer, her hooves stopping at the shoreline. “Can you find out about Stitch, too? He left before Lotari. Didn’t even say goodbye or anything. He was supposed to be back ages ago. Lottie said he wasn’t coming back, though. Now he’s gone too. I know he was furious with Pappa, but he means well. Wyndham tries to keep us safe, that’s all. I know he’ll go along with what Lotari wants if the beasty men come to our woods. But they haven’t. Not for some time.”
A surge of anger boiled up in Alyra. Lotari’s clan always had been difficult. She moved around Tarek. “You’re protected, that’s why. The town of Many Rivers keeps Darnel’s soldiers away from you. Not everyone is so lucky.”
The girl centaur cringed when Alyra mentioned Darnel’s name.
“We keep ‘em out, too.” The girl’s hand moved to her dagger as she shot them an insulted glare. “We take care of our own.” She stomped her front hoof. “So, can you talk to my brother using that magic book?”
Alyra tried not to roll her eyes. “It’s not— never mind. Yes, I can.” She returned to her rock and opened the journal. Tarek stood beside her, his hand resting on the hilt of the dagger strapped to his belt. She was sure he watched the woods for more centaurs until his sharp gasp startled her.
“What?” Alyra glanced around.
Tarek snatched the book from her. “What’s all this?” He held the book out of reach as he read over her crossed-out letter. Alyra jabbed his ribs with the graphite stick. He flinched, lowering the journal so she could snatch it back. Quickly signing her name, she sent the letter to Lotari.
“Oh no!” The wrong letter glowed. “Now look what you made me do.” She shook the book at him, showing that she’d signed her name to the wrong note. “I was just rambling. I didn’t mean to tell him all that!”
Tarek glowered at her, pointing his finger an inch from her nose, “You should have told me. That’s why you’ve been avoiding me, isn’t it? You’re thinking about sneaking off, aren’t you?”
“No. I’d—” Well the thought had crossed her mind a couple of times, but she knew Crystal had been told to stay put. The dragon would never agree to fly her to Racah now that she’d been given direct orders.
“Well?” Tarek demanded, his face reddening. He towered over her, fists clenched at his side. When she didn’t answer right away, his shoulders slumped and his brows crinkled in concern. “You promised me, love. We’re in this together. You promised.”
“I—” How could she make him understand she was only ranting? She’d not meant to write all that. “I’m not—”
“Did you write my brother or not?” The centaur stood in the middle of the stream, her arms crossed over her chest.
“Yes,” Tarek turned away from Alyra, pain etching his features. “What’s your name, love?”
Alyra closed her eyes for a moment, hating how she’d hurt him again. What was wrong with her? Why did she keep pulling away?
“Tilly. That’s what everyone calls me. My real name is difficult for humans. So call me Tilly.”
Tarek extended his hand. “A pleasure to meet you, Tilly. I like that name.”
She looked at his hand in confusion, then took a cautious step backward. “Don’t touch me, human.”
He let his hand drop. “My apologies. We shake hands when we greet someone.”
Her head moved from side to side, knocking her long braids together. Alyra had to bite back a smile, knowing the young centaur would have nothing to do with touching a human’s hand. Maybe eventually. She had, after several weeks, won Esdra over to the point she’d allow Alyra to hug her from time to time.
Alyra looked down at her note again and started to finish the second ‘real’ letter she’d intended to send him.
Sorry about the previous note sent. Please forget what I wrote. I’d only wanted to know when you were returning. Your sister is here, she wonders—
“What is this?” A harshly familiar voice boomed across the bubbling water. The bushes parted as the dark brown Wyndham appeared, flanked by some of his comrades. Their eyes blazed in anger and hatred. Spears and roughly hewn daggers were clutched in their strong hands.
Tilly gave a startled cry and darted behind Tarek.
Oh, now she was willing to touch him.
But Tarek shielded her by holding up his hands, showing the dagger he held in one of them. “Easy fellas. We mean no harm here. Tilly was only asking about Lotari. That’s all.”
Alyra quickly finished off the second note with, Wyndham is here. Any suggestions on what we should or shouldn’t say to him? Then she signed her name.
“Lotari isn’t here,” Wyndham shouted, his furious stare pinned on the girl. “I told you, he goes as he pleases. He cares not for his true clan.”
“That’s not true,” Alyra shot back. She’d never like Lotari’s narrow-minded leader. She found him cruel and unreasonable. “He cares very much for you. Don’t listen to him, Tills.”
The girl blinked in shock at Alyra. A slow smile tugged at her pale pink lips.
Wyndham surged from the trees and started across the stream when Tarek blocked his path, his hands blazing with fire.
“That’s far enough. We mean no harm, as I said unless you threaten us. If you have something to say, say it from where you are.”
The leader’s face paled. He stared in fear at Tarek’s illuminated hands. His tone softened considerably as motioned to the girl. “Come Tillipiaious. You shouldn’t have come here.”
Tilly stared defiantly at her father. “I want to know about Lotari. He does care about us, as the human says. I want to help him. It’s not right that you’re stopping the others from joining Issah’s fight, Wyndham. Those who want to go should be able to go of their own free will!”
Tarek shot Alyra a grin. She had to admit, Tilly was a spitfire. She liked the young centaur already, even if she thought the girl was too young to fight, she liked her spirit. Alyra gave the girl an approving nod which widened Tilly’s grin even more.
“This is no game, child,” Wyndham growled.
“I know. I meant what I said. I want to help my brother. I want to see the other centaurs in Wilderland. And the faeries. They won’t stay here because of you! Don’t you know the Fae help the trees to thrive? Why did you order the little colony to leave? And the dwarves that came with Lotari? They have to live in the smelly village instead of near us. Lottie said the dwarves and Fae and fauns were all living together in Wilderland. And there are merfolks in their lake. I gotta see that, too.”
“And so you shall,” Lotari said as he approached the group. “What’s happening here?”
Wyndham’s scowl deepened. “How? Where did you come from?”
Lotari pointed behind him where Riyah stood, his silvery hair billowing in the breeze. “We came through the portal. Alyra, my friend, mentioned that you’d stopped by. What are you doing near the Healer’s house, Wyndham?” His brow rose. “Tilly, I’m not sure if I should call you brave or foolish, you little Imp.”
Alyra wanted to run to Riyah and throw her arms around her Instructor but feared making any sudden moves.
Inside her mind, he spoke, Wise choice, Daughter. Remain right where you are. The centaurs are on edge and will react out of instinct. Let us not provoke them.
Tilly stood her ground, still behind Tarek. “You said you’d be right back, Lottie. I wanted to know what was taking so long.”
Lotari nodded. “I apologize for the delay. We were ambushed by head hunters. Talos was injured but is recovering. Esdra and I have been organizing those who wish to stand with Issah against Racah. They’re ready to fight. I will be returning to lead them.” He turned to Wyndham. “I still think you are wrong for standing down. You will regret turning your face the other way one of these days.”
Tilly rushed to her brother’s side, grasping his arm. “Lottie, I want to go. I mean it.”
“No!” Wyndham shouted reaching for her.
Tarek stepped to Alyra’s side, his hands still glowing, though he’d pulled in most of his energy. His arm went around her shoulders as he moved her closer to the edge of the stream. “Get your boots back on, love. I think it’s time we left them to work out their issues.”
“I don’t want to leave Lotari.” Alyra refused to move, ignoring the cold mud oozing between her bare toes. “I’m tired of this, them against us mentality. It needs to stop. We are all in this together.”
She realized all the centaurs were staring at her, overhearing her exchange with Tarek.
“Well, I mean it,” she answered their unspoken questions. “Wyndham, no creature will ever be safe so long as Darnel rules in Racah. He steals what creatures his soldiers can capture. He drives them to madness, then disposes of them like empty crates that are tossed into the fire. You’ve been protected because of Many Rivers. Now that Wilderland is fighting back, the head-hunters will search other places for stock. They will eventually come here and steal your young and take your females for breeding.”
The leader began to shake his head when Lotari added, “Stitch came from Racah. He was considered stock to the soldiers. He escaped with me and was rescued from his servitude. Not many have that story to tell.” Lotari waved his hands. “But we’ve discussed this time and again, Wyndham. Now I hear you are denying clan members’ free choice? What lows will you stoop to next? Did you not promise Issah himself that you would be more open and welcoming? And here, again, you stand in the way of the Prince’s plans.”
“I do not—” the dark centaur blurted, his words faltering.
“But you do.”
Alyra felt Riyah’s hand on her shoulder. Tarek glanced up at the Elderad in question. “Let us return to the Healer’s cottage. This does not concern us.”
“But,” Alyra started to pull away, then stopped herself. “I wanted to speak to Lot, too.”
Despite her whispers, her friend heard her anyway. “I’ll stop in before I return to Wilderland. Do as your mentor says, stubborn girl.” His gaze fell to his little sister. “You too. Obey your parents. If they both agree to you returning with me, then I’ll take you for a short visit. But only a visit.”
Tarek pulled Alyra with him as he turned to follow Riyah. He held her tight against his side. Though he spoke no words, she knew he was still hurt from what he’d read in her letter. He probably thought she would leave him again. That wasn’t what she wanted. Nor did she want to see him get hurt.
Do you think Tarek wishes to see you hurt as well, child? Riyah asked.
She shook her head. Of course not.
What do the King’s Letters say about this matter? Her instructor questioned.
She slowed her steps, turning her attention to the Elderad. “What do you mean, Ri? What does Shaydon have to say about our situation?”
Tarek stopped, brows furrowed. “You two have been doing that mind talk again, haven’t you?”
Riyah chuckled. “Alyra fears if you return to Racah, Darnel will attempt to kill you both. Her fears are justified. Her reasoning is not. She only thinks of what she will feel losing you. She hasn’t considered how you will feel, how you’ve felt in the past, to lose her.”
His arm tightened around her as he pressed a kiss against her temple. “But that’s why we need to stick together, love. To protect each other. We’re strong when we join our luminance. We’ve seen that in battle, right?”
Alyra nodded, ducking her face. “I know that in my head, but my heart... it breaks every time I think about....”
Riyah’s hands rested on each of their shoulders. “This is why the King’s Book of Letters says two are better than one. Because if one falls, he has someone to lift him back up. And if those two are entwined with Shaydon, how much stronger they will be. Like a rope of three strands, they’ll be most difficult to break.” He leaned in closer, glancing first at Tarek, then Alyra. “Darsiderous will attempt to divide, as he’s always done. That is his tactic. Do not let that happen children. Your strength is in your unity.”
He moved a step backward. “Now, let us return to the cottage. I’m eager for some warm tea. Then we will discuss your transport to Denovo. Issah has requested that you join him there.”
