Whisper of War and Storms (Heirs of Elydor #1)

Chapter 26

26

KAEL

Of all the riders we’d come across, none had been a threat to Mev. Staying on back roads had done us well. But the closer we got to Aethralis, the fewer options we had. Last night we slept among the stars, our party exhausted by the hard pace.

“Have you ever been married?”

Mev had asked that question as I’d begun to stir this morning, intending to get up and check on Stormbreaker and ready our party to leave camp. Instead, I’d answered her question.

“We call your marriage a union. There are no officiants involved, but most unions are celebrated with an offering to the gods, though each clan has their own tradition. But no, I have not been.”

“In all the years you’ve been alive? Why not?”

“There’s not been one person I’ve wanted to spend an eternity with.”

“Not one?”

“Not one,” I’d affirmed. “Have you ever thought to marry?”

Her pause should not have made me feel anything more than a mild curiosity. Instead, I’d imagined the man she was thinking of now, wondered what he looked like. Why they hadn’t married.

Jealous of a human? Impossible.

“Once.”

I’d waited. And waited. Eventually, I realized the silence she so despised was, in fact, unbearable. “Are you going to continue?”

There was no guile, only curiosity, in her expression. “Do you want me to?”

Good question. “Aye,” I’d said, despite myself.

“I met him my first day at the museum. We bonded over our love of artifacts.”

“He sounds fascinating,” I’d said with more than a measure of sarcasm, earning a hard look from Mev. “Apologies. Do continue.”

“We dated for almost a year. I did think maybe we’d get engaged. Married. House with a picket fence and all that. But we broke up instead.”

“Why?” I’d asked, catching myself memorizing every feature of Mev’s face. The outline of her smooth cheeks. Her delicate nose and eyes that were so Aetherian I still could not believe I’d overlooked the fact.

“Something about that life just didn’t appeal to me. Not the being married part, and he was a great guy.” She’d taken a deep breath, so deep that I had almost seen the sense of calm that claimed her. “I wonder if maybe… I was meant to be here.”

As we rode now, I considered Mev’s earlier question and her response, as well as my reaction to the faceless man that had claimed her heart, at least for a time. To say my future with Mev was uncertain would be a wild understatement. Yet nothing had felt more right than waking up beside her. Talking to her. Connecting to a woman that was my enemy.

Or at least, should be my enemy. Of course, if I were honest with myself, she’d become anything but that.

Sensing a slight shift in the ground, I pulled on the reins. We were less than a day’s ride from the capital if we kept this pace. Had I cursed us in thinking prematurely we’d gotten Mev to safety?

“What is it?”

I handed Mev the reins and dismounted. Kneeling, I closed my eyes and concentrated. They were far off still, but my initial suspicions held true.

“Someone is coming?” Lyra asked.

I stood. Both she and Rowan had ridden back to us.

“More than one.”

“How many?” Rowan asked.

“Sensing a disturbance in the ground is not as precise as that.”

“Now is not the time to be difficult,” Lyra said.

Being difficult to Rowan came so easily though. I’d admit, his aid had been welcome, but he was human. And had a good rapport with Mev. Which was fine, but the man could charm a tree to bloom in the dead of winter.

I smiled. Except, he couldn’t do that because Rowan didn’t possess such magic.

“I’m glad you are in good humor about our company, Kael,” Mev said. “But perhaps we should devise a plan?”

Lyra and I exchanged a glance. “Do we run or stay?” she asked.

Precisely the question I pondered. If Mev was an experienced rider, I would be inclined to outrun them. I disliked their numbers—at least ten riders.

“Mev,” Rowan said. “Listen to me. You have the Sight. My own abilities are not like yours and are of no use here. You’ve worked with Lyra to harness air magic. Do the same now with your mother’s abilities.”

At mention of her mother, Mev sat up straighter. “What do you know of my mother’s abilities?”

I’d been about to ask the same.

“We can discuss that later. For now, just close your eyes and try.”

Though Mev eyed the human suspiciously, she listened. He seemed to know a lot, even for a royal emissary.

“Quiet your mind,” he said to her.

I reached up to steady Stormbreaker, smoothing his mane.

“Feel the energy around you. Focus on the riders. Try to sense their intent.”

Mev closed her eyes and breathed deeply, in and out. She looked so fragile and beautiful.

“Let your intuition guide you. Can you feel their purpose? Are they friend or foe?”

She continued to breathe even as the riders came closer. I would not interrupt them, but we needed to make a decision. And soon.

“Think of it like reaching out with an invisible thread,” he prompted, Rowan’s voice calm and soothing. This was not the first time he’d instructed someone on how to tap into their subconscious mind.

My own abilities are not like yours and are of no use here.

What were his abilities, precisely?

Mev’s eyes popped open.

No, not fragile at all. Her blue eyes were wide with determination. Sitting atop Stormbreaker that way, back straight and expression full of purpose, she looked so very different than the woman who’d come through the Gate. And it wasn’t just because of her hair.

“They are foe. I am certain of it.”

“Well done,” Rowan said, smiling at her.

Mev looked down to me and dismounted. Knowing what I had to do didn’t make it any easier. I was about to tell her the plan when Mev’s earlier words rang through my ears.

What if I wanted to ride by myself?

“In my opinion,” I said to her and not Lyra or Rowan. “Based on the number of riders and your assertion of their intent, you should ride ahead with Lyra while I stay to slow them.”

“No.” Her response was swift and sure. “I will not leave you.”

“Mevlida?” Lyra never used her full name but did so now. Mev gave the Aetherian noblewoman her attention. “Prince Kael is the strongest of all Gyorians, save his father and brother. If he wished to best me, he could do so easily. It would take more than a few men to overcome him, nor would they even attempt to do so unless they courted a war.”

I was grateful for Lyra’s words, but was unsure if they swayed Mev. Her panic at leaving me was apparent. The vibrations below me were getting closer.

Knowing she wanted me with her, even as my intentions had been duplicitous… something inside me simply snapped.

“I will join you in Aethralis, Mev. If not before then. You have my vow.”

“Promise me you will not be killed.”

“I am immortal, princess. Lest you forget.” Also, I would not promise something I could not guarantee. It was unlikely, aye. But I’d witnessed with my own eyes the death of seemingly indestructible warriors, though I had no intention on today being my last.

“But—”

“I will stay with him,” Rowan said. “And give my life for him, if needed.”

Everyone turned to Rowan then, no one more surprised than me.

“She is the key to opening the Gate,” he explained. “Mev must get to Aethralis safely, something we cannot guarantee if we remain here and debate for much longer.”

“Kael.” That one word, from Mev, broke open my heart. She said it as if we’d not see each other ever again. I held her, allowing our hearts to beat as one for as long as I dared and then kissed her deeply.

“I will re-join you soon.”

Wiping away a single tear that escaped onto her cheek, I nearly pulled her back to me as Mev walked away, toward Lyra. I’d have helped her mount, but between Lyra’s outstretched arm and Mev’s agility, she was sitting atop the white steed before I could take a step.

I love you.

Without warning, the two rode away.

If she’d stayed just a moment longer, I might have said the words. They were true, after all. I’d known it the moment I’d decided not to take Mev to my father.

Maybe sooner.

“We need to talk,” I said to Rowan. I intended to find out how he knew about Mev’s mother’s abilities, a closely guarded secret even in Aetheria. But first, we needed to prepare. If Mev and Lyra hadn’t fled behind us, I’d simply have crossed my arms and waited for the riding party. But they needed to be stalled. Now.

“Glad we’re at the talking stage,” Rowan replied. “Tell me what to do.”

“Stay behind me and don’t hurt yourself,” I said in response, lifting my arms and surveying our surroundings, ready to get started.