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Alyra’s horse followed the league of soldiers through the dense woods. Despite the cooling temperatures, sweat poured down her back and pooled under the quiver, drenching her shirt. She was dressed as the other warriors in leather breeches, a gray tunic, and the cloak with the white tree emblem on her back. They’d given her a sword she knew she would never use.
The dagger Jerin had once given her for her eighteenth birthday still hung from her utility belt, along with his sling and a bag full of white stones. She needed little else, though the bow and arrows that Lotari had made her were a treasured possession and something she could use in battle if needed.
Tarek rode a few yards ahead of her. When they came to a river, he stopped and waited for her to catch up. His smile as he extended his gloved hand toward her warmed her heart. Why was he always so good to her, no matter what awful things she’d done to him? They crossed, riding side-by-side, hands clasped in case one of them was knocked from their mount, the other would be able to pull them back.
He was always thoughtful of her safety like that.
Shaydon was right. Two were better than one.
She could no longer imagine her life without Tarek in it. Nor did she want to. This was why she’d made up her mind that once they reached Racah, she would find a chance to sneak away, take the secret passage up the mountain and get to Darnel first.
Most likely, Tarek would be kept busy on the front lines, using his Empowering Illumination to break down the gates.
Darnel’s attention would most likely be on protecting his fortress. He’d be too busy to see her coming. All she needed was one illuminated arrow and a clear shot.
Of course, Tarek would be furious once he found out she’d left him, but she was counting on his forgiving heart. Maybe she would leave him a little note so he’d understand why she needed to do this. She had to get to Darnel and stop him before he had a chance to hurt any of her friends. Tarek needed to get Issah’s army into the city. They didn’t require her skills for blasting down the gate.
She wasn’t the one the prophecy spoke of, anyway.
Regardless, Alyra would help in this small manner. If one of them was to die, it needed to be her, not Tarek. And not any of her other friends who’d worked so hard to follow through with King Shaydon’s request. Unlike her, who’d argued with her guardian, disobeyed more times than she could count, and was always causing more trouble than she was worth.
So long as Darnel was alive, nobody would ever have the life they dreamed of. Including herself. Better to face that barrier and bring it down, or die trying.
“You look exhausted, love.” Tarek squeezed her hand tighter as they maneuvered up the bank of the river. The horses gave themselves a shake to rid their coats of excess water. Her poor beast’s head hung low as he plodded along. She would have infused him with a bit of energy, but Tare was right, she was exhausted and feared it would do her in.
Besides, everyone else was tired, too. It didn’t seem fair to take care of only hers.
“I’m fine. I’m sure they’ll stop soon. The sun is sinking.” She peered through the dense canopy overhead. “I think.”
He didn’t release her hand as they continued to make their way along the narrow trail through the woods. Traveling was much slower, but the Elderads agreed if they traveled under the cover of the trees, Darnel would be less likely to spot their movements. They had a good two weeks left until they reached Yarholm. The people of Many Rivers had begun to march northward. At some point, they would meet with their group and merge their forces.
“Has Jerin reached Wilderland yet?” Tarek asked, drawing her out of her pit of worrisome thoughts.
She nodded. “Yes. Lot is helping him find a place where the warriors can camp. He said they are beside a pool in a pleasant little glade. I bet it’s the place where the clan goes to bathe. I don’t know why they can’t just stay near the Meeting Hall, like the Greenmen. But I guess even they camp outside the courtyard and most sleep up in the trees where they build small shelters to sleep in.”
He shook his head. “I feel like I missed so much while I was in Denovo with Miss K.”
“Well, we can’t be everywhere. I was kind of glad to leave the ancient forest. It was a lot like this. Hard to see the sky most of the time. Nothing but green and more green.” She looked around at the silent woods. All the wildlife had probably scattered from their invasion. “I do miss the pixies and faeries, though. They were so cute!” Now that she thought about it, she missed all the creatures and wished she had been sent to Wilderland instead of Jerin. “The fauns are so funny. They remind me of...Stitch.” Her breath nearly left her.
Tarek’s hand squeezed hers tighter. “Still no word since Ethan found Miss K?”
She shook her head. Nothing in a week. Ethan had been so good about keeping them up to date, writing at least every other day, but a whole week had passed without one word from either of them.
“I’m sure they’re fine, love. Don’t worry. We’ll be there soon.”
That fact didn’t help at all. A ringing started in her ears making her head swim. Why couldn’t they stop for a short break? When would they be out of these blasted woods?
The movement of her horse halted. She felt hands pulling her down off the saddle and then wrapping her tightly against a firm chest. The thick leather breast guard Tarek wore dug into her cheek. But the soft touch of his bare hand on her sweaty cheek soothed the trembling emotions she’d allowed to overtake her. She needed to stop this. Steel herself for what lay ahead.
“Hush, my love. You’re tired and need a bit of rest.”
“We can’t stop now, Tarek. We have to keep going.” She would not hold anyone up, nor be left behind.
“Very well.” He helped her back onto the horse, but it was his horse.
“Wait...”
“Hush. I’ve got this.” He tied the lead of her mount to his, then climbed on behind her. “Put your legs to the side and rest your head against me. I’ll keep you from falling off while we ride and it’ll give your horse a chance to walk unburdened for a while.”
“But what about you?”
“I’ll sleep tonight when we stop. Maybe you can call Riyah and he can provide something that will help you sleep without all the nightmares plaguing your dreams.”
She rested her head in the crook of his neck. He always smelled of pine and the woods, though he too was sweating under his thick uniform and cloak. “If you’re asleep, how do you know I was dreaming?”
He pressed a kiss on her forehead. “Who said I was asleep?”
* * * *
Tarek wondered if they’d ever stop for the night. The day had dragged on like an endless slow river. From time to time, he spotted DezPierre following along. He walked with some of his friends but remained within sight of them. Tarek was grateful for the Okbold’s dedication to Alyra. So long as Dez was around, he’d be sure to keep an eye on her and know if she tried to slip away.
The leaders only allowed one stop during the day to allow the horses a short rest before they were back to picking their way through the rough terrain.
Tarek understood their need for secrecy, but what about that White Road the Elderads were able to make? He knew a few of the Lightmen were traveling with them. He could see their glowing forms. He wondered if he tried to call out to Riyah if he’d concede to answer him.
Doubtful. Riyah was the House of Lamb’s guardian, not his.
Still, Alyra’s cries during the night were beginning to trouble him. Yes, she was prone to bad dreams from time to time, but he’d thought they were a thing of the past since she’d returned to her home. She’d not had any that he recalled during their trip to Drakensburg to find the dragons. But every night since they’d left Denovo, the night terrors had grown increasingly more troublesome. Last night, she’d wept in her sleep while he held her in his arms, wishing he could chase away the monsters plaguing her sleep.
Once she’d muttered something about a plan. But despite her ramblings, she’d not made clear what that plan might be.
He pulled back on the reins, slowing his horse so he could adjust his napping girl into a better position that didn’t cause his arm to fall asleep. When he held her, she always seemed to quiet some. He’d vowed to never let her go again.
A nagging fear ate at him that she hadn’t made that same vow. He feared that she planned to leave him and attempt to find Darnel on her own. Well, he’d not let that happen.
Yet, how would he stop her? If she got the notion to ditch them....
A rider came nearer, avoiding a cluster of oaks growing together. The man’s white hair flowed down his back over his silvery coat. A band of silver circled his regal head. Riyah! He’d only clearly seen the Elderad once before, but Tarek would never forget him.
“Riyah?”
“Good evening, Son. I see our girl is already fatigued.” He was riding the very same stallion Tarek had escaped to Denovo on. What a magnificent beast he’d been. Brave and fast as a storm crossing the plains.
“She’s been having trouble sleeping, sir. I was wondering... you know... if you could help her? It seems her nightmares are returning.”
His head jerked in a quick nod. “She is allowing fear to rule her reason. Again.” He said the last word with mild aggravation.
Well, Alyra could do that to a person.
Riyah turned toward Tarek with a lopsided grin. “Indeed, she can.”
He hated when a Being read his mind. At least Riyah didn’t cause pain and torment like Darnel did when he probed Tarek’s mind. Just the thought of that torture sent a shudder through his body.
“Tarek, your medallion will protect you in more ways than you realize.”
“Will it save any of us from being killed?” Tarek had to ask. He’d wondered but had seen the People of the Tree fall in battle from time to time.
“No. In the end, everyone comes to the curtains of Everlasting. Though not all are granted entrance.”
Alyra made a small noise and then nestled her head deeper into the crook of his neck. She always felt so right there. As if they fit perfectly together.
“Sir, are only those who have a medallion allowed entrance into the lands beyond this?”
Riyah moved his mount closer to Tarek’s. Reaching over, he rested his hand on the horse’s head. A slight glow appeared under his palm. The horse snorted, tossing his head, and seemed to pick up his pace.
“Thank you.” Tarek knew exactly what the guardian had done and appreciated the help.
“No, a medallion is not a key into Everlasting. Your heart is. The medallion is a gift from your king. A bit of protection and provision as you walk out your journey here in Alburnium.”
This must be what Alyra often complained about, how her guardian often seemed to speak in riddles. “My heart, sir? I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Where your heart lays, is where your treasure is. Where is your treasure stored, Son? Here? Or in someone dear to you? Or do you find your treasure in serving your king?”
“I’m going to Racah, aren’t I? That should prove my devotion, don’t you think?”
Riyah offered a slight shrug in answer. “Perhaps. But are you going because you feel that is what is expected, what you need to do to prove yourself? Or are you going because, in your heart, you want to? Because you know there are people held in bondage, as you were once held in bondage. And they deserve to be free, too.”
Tarek opened his mouth to answer but hadn’t really thought of why he was going on this trip. Was it because he felt he had no choice? He didn’t really, did he?
“Of course, you always have a choice, Tarek. And you always will. You have the choice to turn your horse around and leave this very instant. It will not change how Shaydon thinks of you. To him, you are a beloved Son. You will always be a beloved son so long as you view him as a beloved father.”
“But he’s a king. A ruler. How can I see him as a father? My father is dead.” Tarek was starting to get irritated with this discussion. Why had he even asked such dumb questions in the first place?
“Shaydon may be a king, but he loves his people as if they were his own children. You’ve stood in his presence, did you not feel that love?”
He had, and it had nearly undone him. Tarek certainly didn’t believe he deserved it.
“It is not about what we deserve, Tarek. It is about our willingness to love him back. To allow him to be entwined with our lives. You’ve heard the saying that two are better than one because they can help each other along. But it’s the cord of three, intertwined, that is the strongest. A strong cord will keep one from falling into the abyss. A strong cord will provide security and something to hold onto when the tempest comes.”
That Tarek could understand. He knew the value of having a strong rope in his possession.
Something Shaydon had said to him that day he’d entered the throne room and fallen on his face before Issah. The King had wrapped him in a wall of glittering light, his voice all around him, and inside of him.
“I have loved you with an everlasting love, Tarek of the House of Lion. A love beyond anything you have ever felt before, or received from another. A love that will never be determined by what you do, or not do, but a love that is based solely on who you are.”
Tarek swallowed down the lump forming from the memory. He glanced down at Alyra and found her eyes open. A single tear trickled down her cheek and dampened his shirt. He kissed the top of her head. Whatever it took, he needed to show her that the worst thing she could do was to leave him and run off on her own. He wouldn’t allow it. They were in this together. They were both serving King Shaydon and were under his care. Tarek would do whatever it took to make her see they were in this together until the end. Whatever that end might be.
