43. Kaiya
We”d ridden through the woods a good hour before finally reaching a tall gray stone wall covered in vines and blocking our path.
I”d wanted to talk with Jaiel, but the shifters were always there, listening. Besides, what was there to say?
Thanks for the fuck. Let”s do it again sometime. Or maybe — Sorry I turned our little bond into something … more.
Honestly, I wasn”t even sure how the change would affect us.
The silver wolf shifted back into his naked human form and gestured to a break in the wall before stepping through.
He led the way through the opening in the stone wall, and my jaw dropped as Jax and I followed.
We stood atop a steep slope overlooking a massive pyramid shaped structure that stood over thirty stories tall at the center of the town. The sharp structure was made of white stone that glowed brightly in the sun against the black and green forest behind it. Thick vines and intricate carvings flecked its surface, and it was surrounded by a bustling town and many acres of farmlands. Beyond all that was a continuation of the stone wall and thick forest we”d just emerged from.
It looked just like a village from those ancient texts! Had it really survived since before The Fall … just hidden away in this crazy forest?
”You — live here?” I stammered.
”In there,” the old man said, pointing at the massive structure. An elderly woman walked up from a small stone guard post to the right, smiling as she passed Alpha Blackwood a bundle. He shook it out, slipped it over his head, and Faera followed suit.
Tunics, just like the other mages were wearing, shapeless enough to fit most bodies, and convenient enough that it would be easy to find or replace after shifting.
Smart!
Gesturing for us to follow, Alpha Blackwood led the way down the slope and into the outskirts of town. I stared as we moved, soaking it all in.
We wove our way between dozens of smaller stone-hewn buildings, following along quiet streets full of stalls, wagons, and vendors preparing their wares for sale.
A bald man wearing an apron grinned and pointed to a pile of orange gourdes as he yelled out prices and gestured for us to come closer.
I smiled and shook my head as we passed.
A few streets later, the crowds grew as townspeople started moving about their days.
To our right, a small group of kids played with a leather ball while their mothers lectured them and filled small packs with books and papers. And to our left, an older couple sat in chairs in front of what I could only guess was some kind of potions shop, rocking and laughing at the kids” antics.
They all wore simple clothing, eschewing the confining slippers and boots common within the Empire for more breathable fabrics and sandals.
Hundreds — maybe even thousands — of people went about their daily lives here.
Was this what life was like in the Mage Era?
I wanted to pause and stare, but the streets were growing more crowded, and I didn”t want to add to the congestion.
”We”ll leave the fleirals here,” Alpha Blackwood said, gesturing to a small stable.
Nodding, I dismounted, rubbing Jax”s haunches as I tried to put my thoughts in order.
Jaiel hopped down beside me, and his familiar presence sent heat down my spine, making that damn charisma bubble again as it drowned out all other thoughts.
As though in response, the bond to Tye pulled insistently inside my chest, clashing against the charisma there.
Forsaken hells! Something must have changed when Tye shifted to make this connection between us so intense.
Dealing with the mate bond pull and the charisma heat was going to be … a challenge.
But at least we were in the right place to find the answers. And could it really be any harder than fighting off wraiths and hunting dangerous relics in crumbling, trap-ridden ruins?
Rolling my shoulders, I let out a slow breath and felt for my korra, focusing on it until those distracting sensations calmed and I could think again.
We were safe, and Jaiel was back in working order.
Once we solved whatever was happening with Tye, we could be on our way. Perhaps our gracious hosts could even give us some information about that hermit El — Liam had mentioned.
Standing taller, I slipped my pack onto my back and reached for Jax”s reins, intending to lead him into the stable.
A young boy with dark hair and a wiry frame grabbed them first, though, and grinned up at me, mischievous yellow eyes glinting.
My mind stuttered. I … how … he had the same eyes as Tye!
What were the odds? There were some strange eye colors in the Empire, but yellow had always been unique to Tye.
Could his family have been from here?
”Don”t worry, ma”am. I”ll take care of them for you,” the boy said, chest expanding with pride. ”And they”ll be with the rest of the fleirals in the stables, if you want to come visit.”
”Go on, Finn,” Alpha Blackwood interjected, ruffling the child”s hair. ”I”ll take the guests to the Great Hall. After you”re done with the fleirals, find your great-gram and tell her to prepare a calming potion for Tye. And if he”s not back by then, could you go out and find him?”
The boy looked like he wanted to ask something, but nodded and scampered off across an enormous field of what seemed to be wheat, fleirals trailing behind him.
They barely dodged a giant white diyre laying, ears half-cocked, while a half-dozen puppies tugged at her fur.
They”re adorable!
”Jaiel — look!” I turned to show him, but froze as a tall man in a floor-length black cloak stepped in front of us. His brown eyes were wide with mock shock.
”Prince Kierstall?”
”Mage Korym,” the prince said, voice tight as he gripped my elbow and pulled me back to his side. ”What are you doing here?”
”I was about to ask the same thing,” the man replied, smile not quite reaching his eyes. He looked between the two of us, brow knit. ”I”d heard you both perished.”
”Oh, really?” Jaiel glanced behind the man. ”Well, we”re both alive, thank the Gods. We”d better get going, though. Wouldn”t want to keep Alpha Blackwood —”
The man removed his hood, revealing a head of short black hair, and allowing the sunlight to reveal the scrolling tattoo decorating the side of his scarred face and the metal collar secured around his neck.
A collared mage?! What in hells was one doing here of all places?
The man”s green eyes widened. ”Strange you haven”t checked in by now. Lady Frexin has been worried.”
My mind struggled to keep up … was he an agent? If so, how was he so nonchalant about being an Empire”s collared mage in this place? And how did he know Jaiel?
Jaiel”s jaw tightened, but he kept that smile. ”Unfortunately, we”ve been unable to check in due to complications of our arrival. You wouldn”t know anything about that, though, would you?”
”Unfortunately, not,” the mage said, shaking his head. ”I know nothing beyond what Lady Frexin has sent me. I”m sure you”ll get in contact with her soon and explain yourself, though.”
I suppressed a pang of concern … if he worked so closely with Lady Frexin, why had I never heard of him?
As though he”d heard my thoughts, Mage Korym turned to me, eyes wide. ”And you! Savior of Karemi! What an honor to finally meet you. I”ve heard from a certain someone that you are quite the relic hunter.”
Gods. I hated that title, and it was even worse coming from him!
The mage smiled his empty smile and held a hand out.
I forced myself to shake it as chills and disgust rolled through me. Touching him was like being bitten by a slimy trostell, and I couldn”t stop myself from yanking my hand back.
”Oh, apologies.” He chuckled softly as he withdrew his outstretched hand. ”As a collared mage, I tend to make both mages and non-mages uncomfortable. We can”t all be beautiful and famous, now can we?”
I”d met collared mages before, and had never had a reaction like this.
No. There was something else wrong with him.
Winking, Mage Korym slipped his hood back on, then waved to someone behind me.
”Apologies,” he said. ”I must be off. I”m still on an important mission for the Lady, and have much to do before tonight”s festivities. At least you should be able to enjoy yourselves, though, now that Lady Frexin has sent a replacement team to finish your work!”
”Replacement team?” I gasped.