Energy zinged through her body, and with a single blink of her eyes Hope came fully awake. It was over. She’d fulfilled her destiny. There would be no more fighting the fears and worries that had consumed her every waking moment. She had everything she’d ever wanted—a family, friends, a wonderful man…. And she was pregnant.
She eased from Blayne’s embrace and as she sat up, it all came rushing back. Dayamar was dead. Hundreds of people had died. She—everyone in Dayamaria—had paid a terrible price. Bitter tears stung her eyes. She bit her lips to keep from sobbing.
“Good morning.”
She jumped. “Chryss! You startled me!” Blotting away her tears she turned toward Blayne.
“Don’t worry about him waking, girl. I’ve made sure everyone will sleep for a while yet. Been waiting for you.”
“Why?”
“I’d like you to help me transport you all back to the Usehani settlement. Thought I’d use you for a bit of a power-boost—if you’re up to it.”
“Of course. I’m heartily sick of walking.” Now would be the perfect time to find out a few things about this mysterious man. It would be a welcome distraction from the pain of losing her mentor, the man she’d thought of as a second father. “Chryss?”
“How about we wait until we get this sleepy lot back to civilization, eh? Then you can question me all you want.”
Hope gingerly picked her way over to him, praying she didn’t trip over anyone or anything. “What do you want me to do?”
“Use your instincts, girl. That’s what you do best.”
She sent out a mind-tendril to link with him. And in her mind’s eye, she observed Chryss surrounding the campsite with an interwoven net-like structure of raw energy that enclosed them all.
He pulled it tight. Now!
Hope opened her mind, allowing her power to interweave with the energy-net Chryss had created. She visualized the Usehani settlement. The structure pulsated. In the next instant they were elsewhere.
“Did it work, Chryss?”
No reply.
“Chryss?” Hope extended her seer-senses and, one-by one, identified her companions by their aureyas.
Chryss was nowhere to be found.
“You sneak!” she yelled. “Come back here and answer my questions!”
“Wha—?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Who’s shouting?”
“Sorry, everyone,” she said. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“What were you yelling about, dearling?” Blayne asked. “And where are we?”
“Chryss and I transported us all back to the Usehani settlement. At least, that’s what he claimed we were doing. Did it work?”
“Yep,” Daryon said. “We’re on the outskirts of the settlement. And if I’m not mistaken, here comes our welcoming party.”
“Where’s Chryss?” Maya asked. “I was going to make him something special for breakfast—we talked about it last night.”
“He didn’t come with us,” Hope told her.
“How rude.”
“Don’t be too hard on him,” Blayne said. “I’m sure he has his reasons.”
“Might be nice to know what those are for a change,” Hope said. And in her mind she heard a hearty belly-laugh and the gruff whispered words, Patience, girl! We’ll meet again—when you next have need of me.
While they waited for the Usehani visitors, everyone busied themselves dressing and packing up the camp. The trainee healer, Kaylia, was the first to arrive. And from what Hope could make out, she’d thrown herself at Dayron and was busy kissing him to within an inch of his life.
“Really, some decorum please.” That was Nerraya—slightly out of breath from running after Kaylia.
Hope hid a smile, silently applauding Kaylia’s lack of decorum. She wished she could see the expression on Daryon’s face right now.
“Welcome back Sehan Hope,” Nerraya said. “Is it true? Did you—?”
“Yes. We defeated it. The threat is over.”
“Thank you. Thank you all. We are forever in your debt.”
Hope couldn’t think of what to say. Her grief was too raw. She bowed her head.
“Would you like to return to the settlement now?” Nerraya asked. “We’ve been anticipating your arrival.”
“How did you know we would be here?” Maya asked.
“It was strange,” the Usehani co-leader said. “I was woken at first light this morning by a huge man with an impressive beard. He said his name was Chryss and that you had sent him to me, Sehan Hope. He told me we were all safe now, and explained where I would find you all. Then he sort of shimmered and disappeared.”
“There were no more deaths while we were away, were there?” Naytan’s anxious voice told Hope he was in full healer-mode.
“No, Naytan,” Nerraya said.
“Everyone well?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Thank the gods.”
Whatever Nerraya had been about to say was cut off by Kaylia’s horrified gasp. “Who—?”
“Dayamar,” Hope told her. “The monster…. It killed him.”
“Oh, Hope. I’m dreadfully sorry.” Nerraya embraced her, awkwardly patting her back. “He was a fine, dedicated man. I…. I will miss him.”
“Me, too.” Hope kept a tight rein on her misery. If she started crying now she wouldn’t stop. And she suspected Nerraya, who’d once loved Dayamar, too, would join her. “Thank you, Nerraya. I need to ask a favor of you. Would it be all right if we buried Dayamar here? I-I don’t think I could bear it if we had to wait until we got home.”
“Of course, Sehan Hope. But surely the Dayamari will want him to be buried with his own people?”
“The Usehani are his people, too, Nerraya. You were never truly U-Sehani, Seer-less. Dayamar watched over you, too. And now you will watch over him for us.”
“You’re right.” Nerraya squeezed her hand. “Gods know, you’re right.”
Gathering her will, Hope cocooned her blood-father’s body in pure power and lifted it from the ground. It hovered there, waiting for the small procession to set off. She lifted her face to the sky and closed her eyes.
In her mind’s eye she could See the enormous white owl, its wings beating strongly as it flew higher. On its back rode a familiar figure. He waved to her, his cat-like golden eyes crinkling as he smiled. Be at peace, Daughter. I love you. I will always watch over you.
“I know,” she whispered.
~*~
Dayamar’s body had been interred the previous morning, and the Dayamari contingent were ready to depart minus one more companion. Taran had opted to stay. According to him the Usehani Settlement required an experienced tracker.
Daryon confided that Nerraya had beamed from ear to ear when she heard Taran’s offer. And had been extremely pleasant to everyone ever since. “It’s unnatural,” he complained.
“Maybe she’s taken with him,” Hope delicately suggested. “He’s a high ranking man with a lot going for him beneath that gruff exterior. And she is a single woman, after all.”
“Oh, yes. Sometimes I forget—about Nerraya being female, that is.”
“Daryon!” Hope had to laugh at his dry humor.
As they said their final goodbyes, a white owl skimmed overhead, flying so low everyone ducked. It hooted once before shimmering into human form.
Daryon swore. “Sweet Wisa!”
“Precisely, young man,” the goddess said. “I’ve come to congratulate my daughter.”
“Mother!” Hope held out her arms and was enveloped in a hug.
“You’ve done well, Daughter. Are you looking after her, Blayne?” Wisa harrumphed with mock-disapproval. “She looks a bit peaky to me.”
“They both need a holiday,” Maya piped up.
“Good idea. Blayne? Come here and hold Hope’s hand.”
Blayne’s hand engulfed hers and Hope sensed an outpouring of power from the goddess. It enveloped her and then….
“Shikari’s hairy paws!” Blayne’s voice echoed strangely. “She’s transported us to my cave.”
Hope stayed put while Blayne investigated. “It’s fully provisioned, at least,” he said. “Looks like there’s enough food and water here for two weeks. I know Wisa means well but this wasn’t exactly what I’d imagined when I planned to whisk you off somewhere.”
“We’re together—and alone. It doesn’t get any better than this.” She meant every word. Thank you, Wisa!
I have one more gift for you, child. It’s only temporary unfortunately. As much as I wish it could be otherwise, all will be as it was when you leave this place. Call me when you’re ready to return to the settlement. In the meantime, enjoy yourselves….
Hope blinked and found herself watching Blayne rifling through the neatly stacked stores.
Then it hit her. She could see him—really see him, not just in her mind’s-eye. She drank him in. Shoulder-length dark brown hair sprang back from his wide forehead. His brows were black slashes over slightly slanted chocolate-brown eyes. He had high cheekbones, a strong, straight nose and a full-lipped mouth. Darkly tanned olive skin and about a week’s worth of bearded stubble completed the picture. His hair was disheveled and the whole effect was rather devastating. Her Promised was six-foot something of well-muscled, damn good-looking male.
She could only stare at him and grin idiotically.
He glanced up, frowned. “Hope, is something wrong?”
“No. Not at all. Everything is perfect.”
~*~