The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Three: Crown of Ice Read online

  Callum’s brow rose, inquisitive, waiting patiently for Edric to continue. Of course he wouldn’t be turned away by the thought of a complicated explanation. It was rare for anything to be simple in his line of work. Following Edric’s eyes to where Gadiel stood, Callum gave an apologetic smile, waving Gadiel toward the door. “Sorry, Commander,” he nodded. “Tell the slave drivers we will be out in a moment. We shouldn’t be long.”

  Edric lowered his eyes to the floor, listening to Gadiel’s footsteps disappear through the flap. Alone with Callum he felt his nerves ease slightly. Callum was like a brother to him. He wouldn’t do anything which might place Edric’s life in danger. Taking a step forward he closed the gap between them, speaking softly to avoid being overheard by anyone outside. “Neomi came to see me last night while I was on watch. She was surprisingly open to the idea of helping when I explained the suspected cause of my illness. I cannot say what took place other than that it worked, but at the expense of her health. We couldn’t chance Moinie discovering what she did. For the sake of keeping the secret, I offered to take Neomi’s watch so she could rest and allow her body to regenerate its essence in time for our departure this morning. To avoid questions from Moinie, I told her you were the one who instructed me to take the shift due to Neomi having taken mine earlier in the night out of concern that I wouldn’t be capable of performing the task.”

  “So you’re now attempting to cover up your lies?”

  “With good reason,” Edric frowned. “We did nothing wrong. Deception was only resorted to out of concern for relations between us and the Ovatai. If Moinie discovered that Neomi was with me last night, it would raise suspicions and accusations that we don’t need right now. Please tell me you understand how imperative this is.”

  “Of course I understand the importance of our relationship with the Ovatai. What I want to understand is exactly what is going on. Is it only the shift in health that you’re trying to hide or is there something more? Is it that you cannot say what took place between you, or is it that you simply won’t?”

  “What are you saying, Callum?”

  “I’m saying that I don’t blame Moinie for being concerned,” Callum stated calmly. “I have my own doubts about letting you around Neomi. You are interested in her, and don’t bother trying to deny it. I see it in your eyes when you look at her. There was a faint tremor in your voice when you told me you couldn’t say what took place between you. What are you hiding that I would be unwittingly helping you to conceal by supporting your lies?”

  They stared at one another. Unfaltering. Edric felt his heart slow inside his chest, beating with a hard, precise rhythm, pounding almost painfully. Callum was too sharp. He should have known he wouldn’t be able to hide it. “I wish I understood it enough to explain…”

  “Try starting with an overview of what happened and maybe I can help you put things in perspective.”

  Defeated, Edric released his breath, unaware of when he’d started holding it. Shoulders slouched he gazed at Callum, shaking his head in somber resignation. “I think she kissed me.”

  “You think?” Callum blinked. “How can you not be sure about something like that?”

  “I told you it’s complicated.” Closing his eyes Edric scolded himself silently for the uncertainty he felt. It wasn’t the first time he’d kissed a woman. Why did it leave his head reeling this way? “The transfer was different from the usual medical procedures I’m used to. It wasn’t just a manipulation of my energy. This… somehow combined her essence with mine. Like two bodies sharing the same life force. The bond must have been equally strong for both of us because it seemed to affect her in a similar fashion. She was weak. I tried to hold her so she wouldn’t fall but the close proximity between us… I’m not entirely sure how it happened. All I know is that I was staring into her eyes and then her lips touched mine. There was no pressure. Just a brief brush of her mouth. I have been trying to figure out if it was a kiss or if she merely swayed due to her lapse in health and the act was nothing more than an accident.”

  Tilting his head backward Callum stared up at the ceiling, taking in what was being presented. “Let’s look at this from a different angle,” he suggested. “What happened after this supposed kiss? Did she say anything?”

  “She pulled away quickly, as would be expected. She stared at me for a moment and then insisted she leave.”

  “No reprimand? She didn’t scold you for your behavior?”

  “I didn’t do anything. I told you…”

  “That doesn’t matter. You know how she is. Did she show anger toward you? Some kind of insult?”

  “No,” Edric replied, surprised by the realization. Regardless of her weakened state, her words could have still maintained their usual bite. Instead she had been quiet. Oddly agreeable to his offers of assistance. There had to be some explanation for it. He wasn’t willing to accept what it appeared to be on the surface. She despised him. It was safer to continue believing that.

  “Nothing at all?” Callum urged him to remember. “This is important, Edric. More than you may know.”

  Edric shook his head, unsure of what more he could say. “She was ill, Callum. Although I was confused by her willingness to let me help walk with her somewhere to rest, she gave no other indication of her feelings, and trying to speculate what was going through her head is ludicrous.”

  “I hate to say this, but I cannot believe it was a mere accident,” Callum sighed. “Her actions are questionable, even if we remove the transfer of energy from the equation. I’m curious why she came to you in the first place. You said she was open to the idea of helping with your ailment. Neomi has never shown signs of openness to anything involving our people. So why you? What is it about you which sparks compassion in the heart of a women otherwise incapable of demonstrating benevolence?”

  “Guilt?” Edric pondered. “Maybe she somehow feels responsible for my illness since it was acquired while protecting her from the Boeikath. We can’t sit here and claim she is incapable of altruism. The Ovatai are very different from us but it doesn’t mean a single act of kindness indicates an emotional attachment.”

  “No, it doesn’t mean that. I’m not claiming it to be fact. All I am saying is that I believe she has taken an interest in you. A fascination, similar to that which you have for her. She is different from any woman you have ever known and therefore you find her interesting. You likely have the same effect on her. Ovatai men aren’t raised to treat their women the way we are. I imagine you confuse and entertain her. Keeping that in mind, I think it might be a wise idea if you maintain your distance. There are enough threats surrounding us here. We don’t need to add Okivra’s ire to that list.”

  “But she’s the one who came to me last night. I have no control over what she does.”

  “Then we need to arrange for you to be less available for her to creep up on,” Callum shrugged. “I require absolute focus from my men, Edric. We didn’t come here to entertain the Ovatai women. If she is going to be a distraction, then I will do what it takes to remove the issue, for your sake. Diversions during war can be the difference between success and failure. Life and death. It is the reason why relationships within the military are frowned upon, and if they exist, the couple is separated into different units to avoid complications.”

  Edric stared down at the floor, shaking his head in frustration. He didn’t want to avoid Neomi. It was foolish for them to be playing such games when the act of keeping them apart was more of a distraction than just letting them interact the way they otherwise would. “I fail to see how you can say relationships are a distraction when you were successful on the mission to Luquarr with your wife at your side.”

  “Have you forgotten the number of times she and I nearly perished on that mission?” Callum asked, his tone harder than before, agitated by the memory. “Her presence prevented me from giving my attention to the men the way I should have. At times I wonder if my men might have survived had I been more focused. Kae
min might still be alive and my sister would be the carefree woman she once was. I don’t blame Aiva for the events which transpired, but I suspect they would have been far different if she had stayed behind the way she was supposed to. My thoughts were constantly shifted to her. Concerned for her safety. Worried about the way other men might treat her. When alone with her I found battle tactics impossible to think of…”

  “I would rather not discuss what you thought about my sister when you were alone.”

  “You’re the one who brought it up. I am merely explaining why I ask that you separate yourself from Neomi,” he frowned. “Don’t think that I am being unreasonable. If our circumstances were different, I might be less inclined to argue against harmless flirting with a woman, even one of Ovatai descent, but this is not a training exercise. I have every intention of bringing you back home alive. In order to do that, I need your full cooperation and focus. That means putting aside whatever attraction you think you feel for that woman so we can gather information about the Avaern and help stage an attack without adding further animosity between our people. They are already torn by civil war between themselves and the Ythes. Let’s not put ourselves in their line of fire as well.”

  His request was reasonable. Had it come from anyone else Edric might have thought it out of line but Callum made several good points which he couldn’t argue. Continuing to pursue Neomi would be detrimental to their cause. Their relationship with the Ovatai. If she was anyone else it would be different. But she was the daughter of the Chief. To touch her would be a direct insult against the Ovatai people and risked sparking a war between them and the Vor’shai. The friendship they shared was tenuous at best. The Ovatai already didn’t trust them. One wrong move and Edric could be the very reason their entire unit fell. He didn’t want that kind of burden hanging over his head.

  He heaved a sigh, realizing what he had to do. From that moment on he needed to avoid Neomi’s company. Keep himself near Callum or Gadiel to prevent her from finding him alone. Separation was safest for everyone. “I’m sorry, Callum,” he replied. “You are right. I don’t know what’s been wrong with me these past few days. I’m not usually so easily distracted.”

  “Women can be distracting,” Callum smiled, patting Edric on the shoulder, sympathetic. “Your heart is in the right place. The problem is that you are too nice. I loathe to use the word naïve. A woman like Neomi would chew you up and spit you out after taking advantage of your kindness and vulnerability. It might be wise for you to be wary of her for the remainder of our time in Ethrysta. Her games will be more dangerous than the deception of the women at court. Even worse, it is possible she won’t realize she is playing them.”

  “You think she will try to get close to me again?”

  “I hope not. With Moinie urging her to stay away and me pulling you back, we may be able to stop this mistake before it culminates into the catastrophe it has the capability of becoming.”

  “Speaking of catastrophes,” Edric let his gaze drift toward the flap of the tent, suddenly aware of the length of time they had spent away from the others. By now the sun would be starting to rise. Neomi would be calling the troops together in preparation of their departure. If they didn’t return to the group soon, there was bound to be friction. “Gadiel will only be able to hold the wolves at bay for so long. We should gather our things and help disassemble the camp before the women get angry.”

  Chuckling to himself, Callum nodded in agreement, his fingers moving to the clasp of his cloak to make sure it was fastened securely in place. “I hope to never see one of those women when they are genuinely angry,” he grinned. “As far as your issue with Moinie, you have my word that I will vouch for your story. But only this once.” Callum’s smile slowly faded away, holding Edric’s gaze steady. “If you two disregard the warnings and continue down the path you have started, I cannot guarantee my continued cooperation. There are only so many lies that can be told before they start to unravel. When that happens, it will be up to you and Neomi to take responsibility for your actions.”

  “You don’t have to worry about that,” Edric assured him. “I’m not a fan of playing with fire and Neomi is a flame of the worst kind. We just need to get through this mission and find our way back to Nahedu. Maybe then we’ll have the knowledge necessary to design an offensive attack against the Avaern and set things into motion. The sooner we are back in Tanispa, the better.”

  “That’s the spirit,” Callum nodded, turning toward the door with a smile. “Now, get your things packed. Once the tent is cleared, I’ll have Gadiel help us take it down so we can be on our way. I think we have left the ladies waiting long enough. Let’s not push our luck with their tempers.”

  A significant weight felt lifted from Edric’s shoulders after speaking with Callum. The advice was nothing he didn’t already know. It was a matter of hearing it spoken by someone he trusted. Someone who understood.

  Edric stayed by Callum’s side throughout the day, finding it easier to stay focused by making conversation with him. Idle chatter about the landscape and anything else they could think to discuss which would pass the time. The walk was tedious. It had been weeks since they left home. During that time it seemed as if their time had been spent doing absolutely nothing but walking through the barren expanse of frozen land. He found himself itching for a change. Something exciting. Although he held onto his original fear of the battle, he also longed for it. The more time that passed only added to the anticipation and anxiety.

  Their current group wasn’t prepared for a full-scale attack, however. They didn’t have the manpower to support a battle against the Avaern. Even a small unit of Ythes would pose a valid threat. For now it was safer for them to remain unseen. With every step they took, they moved closer to Isavo. Deeper into Ythes territory. The Ovatai warriors in their company were on high alert. They were more accustomed to the hunting habits of their own people. If an ambush was prepared, they would be more likely to spot the signs of it before a Vor’shai.

  By mid-afternoon their pace began to slow. Edric wasn’t sure what the reason was. From the moment they left, the concern had been time. Speed. Efficiency. Asking anything of Neomi was out of the question. If there was something they needed to know, she would tell them. He could only speculate the reason for the change. Perhaps they were getting close. A slower approach would make it easier to detect threats in the area. Provide more time to find traps which might be laid out for them. Noticing the care the Ovatai took, Callum ended the conversation, falling into silence at Edric’s side.

  No longer occupied by Callum’s company, Edric’s eyes began to wander, scanning the land around them out of curiosity. It was so different from Tanispa. He hated to think how often he took their home for granted when they could be forced to live in a place like this.

  A bump in the snow near his feet drew Edric’s attention. Shielding his eyes from the glare of the sun he squatted down, catching a glint of light off what looked to be a sturdy blade buried under a layer of fresh snow. Carefully he brushed the snow away, glancing toward the others as they continued onward, oblivious to his pause other than Callum’s questioning gaze. Edric let his eyes shift back to the sword, leading Callum to see what he’d found. It was possible that it was nothing of importance but in Tanispa if a weapon was stumbled upon in such a manner, it typically indicated trouble.

  Callum was at his side quickly, kneeling in the snow to investigate the weapon. Cautious of what might lie around the blade he lightly let his gloved hand slide over the surface of the snow, uncovering the hilt to reveal a pale, frozen hand still gripped around the weapon. “Forgive my unfamiliarity with your customs, Neomi, but is it standard procedure for your people to leave the dead to the elements?” Callum called out. At the sound of his voice the rest of the group came to a halt, turning to see where Edric and Callum lingered.

  Neomi gave no answer at first, her long legs carrying her across the distance to where the men knelt, staring down at the sword in s
olemn contemplation. Stiffened at the sight, she lowered to the ground beside Callum. With slow and precise movements she began to wipe the snow from the body, revealing the frosted features of an Ovatai man, his hair frozen around his face. A pair of lifeless eyes stared back at them, spatters of blood the only color which marred his pure white skin. “Maon,” she whispered, her face creased in consternation.

  “You know this man?” Callum asked quizzically. “Is there a reason his body is lying here, uncared for?”

  “He was among the men my brother led when we brought our charge to Isavo,” she replied calmly. With great care she uncovered more of the corpse, a grimace passing over her gentle features to see the man’s body slashed brutally across the midsection, gruesome and savage. The injuries didn’t appear to be something a mere warrior would be capable of inflicting. Whatever killed him had been far more menacing than a man.

  Callum eyed her curiously, avoiding the ghastly image of the man in front of them. “Are we close to the village? Should we be on our guard for an attack?”

  “Isavo is still several miles from here,” Neomi frowned. “Maon must have fallen while attempting to escape the Avaern. These wounds are not caused by a Ythes warrior. The incision,” she gestured toward the marks across the man’s abdomen, unfazed by the repulsive, blood-covered corpse, “you see how they come at an angle. Larger than any weapon utilized during the battle. I suspect he was a victim of the beast.”

  “And your people did not collect the dead after the initial appearance of the Avaern?”

  “There was no time. We were forced to flee the village and take cover. The warriors who traveled to Isavo during my visit to Tanispa would have collected our fallen men had they been able to get this close. The Avaern prevented them from completing the journey. The gods must watch over us. We are blessed to not have come to the creature’s notice yet.”