Chapter 39
Yasmin had her eyes closed as Arya combed her wet hair.
She had taken the longest bath of her life.
Her skin was still puckered from the water.
They’d fed and clothed her, and now she was being fussed over.
She drew in a deep breath and listened to the soft melody of the stones.
Their song had risen joyfully when she woke.
Now, it sat in the background, playing softly without her having to touch anything.
She didn’t know what had changed, but something had.
“You have the most beautiful hair,” Arya said.
Yasmin smiled. “Thank you, but yours is prettier.”
“I’d much rather have yours.” Arya set aside the brush. “Shall I braid it?”
“If you’d like.”
If Yasmin thought it would be the simple plait she normally did, she soon discovered how wrong she was. Her eyes locked on the bed. She had spoken to Manu, Arya, Dain, and Vijay, but Ravi had yet to visit. No one had said much about him.
“It’s good to see you up and about. You have no idea how worried we were,” Arya said.
Her injuries were healed, but Yasmin would be weak for a little while yet. “How long did it take Vijay to heal me?”
“He and two others worked on you for two straight days.”
“Two?” she asked in shock.
“Every hour. They were all shocked you were still alive when I brought you here. We weren’t sure you would make it.”
“What of the device? Did Ravi find it?”
“He, Manu, and Dain tracked the elf who had it. The threat is over.”
“That’s good.” She wanted to ask if that meant Ravi had returned to Rannora, but she couldn’t get the words out. “What of the rest?”
Arya’s touch was light and gentle as she gathered small portions of hair. “Gita and One got away, unfortunately. We rescued everyone we could. Some of the staff didn’t trust us to help.”
“They were under Shaldorn’s control for too long. I’m glad some were freed.”
“Gita abandoned Shaldorn. At least, that’s what we believe.
Dain and I have been combing the fortress while Manu and his people look in the mountains for Gita and One.
We found evidence that someone returned to Shaldorn, but they didn’t remain long.
I don’t know what will happen to the stronghold.
It’s in Manu’s territory, so Dain left it up to him. ”
Yasmin tried not to think of the horrors that had happened there, but she wasn’t sure the memories would ever leave her. “I hope Manu tears it down.”
“I’ll be leaving soon.”
Yasmin tried to turn her head to see the Dark Elf, but Arya tsked and continued braiding. “Must you?”
“You were healed for two days and slept for three.”
She had lain in bed for five days. No wonder she was so weak.
“My superiors expected me back yesterday. I can’t linger any longer,” Arya said.
Yasmin reached back and covered the Dark’s hand with hers. “I’m glad I got to see you before you left. Thank you. For everything.”
“This operation succeeded because of you. We owe you thanks.”
Once again, Yasmin almost asked about Ravi, but she feared what she might hear. “I did what I had to do.”
“What will you do now?” Arya asked.
Yasmin shrugged. “The assignment isn’t complete until we return to Rannora. At least that’s what I was told.”
“There. All done.” Arya came to stand before her. “As soon as he learned about your injuries, he came straight here and didn’t leave your side. For five days, he remained and watched over you.”
Yasmin’s heart squeezed at the words. “Who?”
Arya gave her a sad smile. “You know who. The only reason he wasn’t here when you woke is because Dain made him bathe. He asked me to stay with you in his stead.”
Yasmin wondered what it might have been like to open her eyes and find Ravi there. What would she have said? What would he have said? Neither had said anything about their kiss. Obviously, he cared if he stayed with her. But… “Why hasn’t he come to see me since?”
“Males,” Arya said with a roll of her eyes. “Who knows what goes through their thick minds? I can tell you he was willing to do anything to ensure there were enough Star Elves to heal you. He refused to let you die.”
Yasmin couldn’t work out how someone could be that committed to helping another but then ignore them. She’d thought they had become…friends.
“I don’t know Ravi well. From what little I’ve learned, he’s stubborn and immovable at the best of times.
He was worried about you. I’ve never seen someone so visibly distraught like he was before.
Ask him why he hasn’t come. I know I would.
He might not tell you, but you won’t get an answer unless you put the question to him. ”
It was good advice. She forced a smile as she looked into Arya’s dark gray eyes. “I say this with all honesty. I hope to see you again.”
“I’ll make sure it happens.” Arya winked. “Good luck.”
Yasmin watched the Dark close the door behind her as she walked out.
She reached up and felt along her hair, her fingertips skimming many smaller braids that had been plaited together into a fishtail.
If this expedition had taught her anything, it was that her hatred and anger shouldn’t be directed at all elves. Only those who deserved it.
Elves had hurt her, but elves had also saved her.
She stood on legs that still wobbled some, but she was alive. Her bones were mended, her flesh repaired. No one looking at her would know that she had been so close to death. But it hadn’t been her first brush with it. Her scars were on the inside, hidden from everyone but herself.
Yasmin had another chance at a future. One where she could continue to ignore the past and the role it played in her decisions or confront it.
Face it. And heal. If the past four years were any indication, ignoring things didn’t work.
She didn’t want to carry the anger and pain around anymore. It was time for a change.
She looked at the chair near her bed. Was that the one Ravi had used? She had soldiered on for others all her life, putting aside the things she wanted or needed. Ravi had kissed her. He hadn’t been acting.
And neither had she.
Yasmin walked to the door and stepped out into the hall. Manu’s home was large, but she would search every floor until she found Ravi.
Locating the Sun Elf proved more difficult than Yasmin had initially believed.
She was about to give up when she turned a corner and saw him.
She halted, her heart hammering in her chest with excitement and nervousness.
His back was to her as he looked out across the city through an arched window with thick pillars on either side. For a moment, she simply stared.
There had been moments when she had been sure she would never see him again. Now, here he was. Everything she had thought about saying formed a lump and locked in her throat. But she couldn’t walk away. Not now. For better or worse, she needed to know the truth.
Yasmin gradually made her way to him. From the first moment she’d seen Ravi, he had been confident and assured, an elf who saw the path he was supposed to walk and strode upon it boldly.
He didn’t appear quite so assured now. Like his world had been shaken vigorously and hadn’t settled back the way it had been before. She knew a little about that herself.
His broad shoulders lifted as he drew in a deep breath. He raked a hand through his unbound golden hair, then turned to leave. She parted her lips to call out to him, but her voice didn’t work. He did a double take in her direction and halted in his tracks.
A dozen things popped into her mind as they stared at each other, but none of them seemed right.
Not until she opened her heart. “When Manu found me shivering on the mountain, I didn’t have the strength to push him away when he lifted me in his arms and carried me to a nearby cave.
I tried to tell him to bring me back and let me die, but he ignored me.
He built a fire, hunted food he soon had roasting over the flames, and covered me with his coat.
“He said very little at first, which was fine because I didn’t want to talk.
I had wanted death and was angry that he had prevented that.
Yet I didn’t throw off the blanket and walk back out into the storm.
Not even when he left to find food. I didn’t refuse to eat either. That’s when he started talking.”
Ravi’s copper eyes studied her. He said nothing, but he didn’t walk away.
Yasmin took that as a sign to continue. She closed the few paces separating them to stand before him.
“He talked about this city. Navara, he called it. He told me about his home and his favorite place.” She nodded at the arches.
“Here. He said that it gave the finest view of the city. He talked for what seemed like hours before I ventured to speak. I told him that a city couldn’t be within a mountain.
That it wouldn’t be big enough. He just smiled.
I never thought I’d get to see Navara myself. ”
She faced the arches and gazed at the city. Navara wasn’t as large or grand as Rannora or Belanore, but it was still a sight to behold: the light pouring in from the opened tip of the mountain, the streets where the residents walked, and the beautiful buildings shaped from the mountain itself.
“Did you know the Mountain Elves used to be united? Now, they’re split into different factions all around the peaks,” she continued. “Manu is lord of Navara. His ancestors were kings of the Mountain Elves. By chance alone, he was born into that line of royalty.”
“Yaz.”
Her stomach fluttered at the sound of her name on his lips. She turned her head to meet his gaze. Her fingers itched to touch his face, to skim along his jaw and delve into his hair. “I hear you succeeded in obtaining the device.”
“With your help.”
“I did little. You did the most.”
He glanced at the floor as he clasped his hands behind his back. “How are you feeling?”
“Good, considering I was apparently teetering between this life and the afterlife.”
“It’s good to see you awake.”
She searched his eyes, looking for…what, exactly? Desire? Love? It was ridiculous to hope for such a thing. She had hunted for him because she needed an answer. The memory of his kiss still lingered. As did the pain of his absence.
“Why haven’t you come to see me?” She hated how her voice wobbled.
“I was going to.”
An excuse wasn’t an answer. Then again, perhaps it was. He didn’t want to tell her the truth. Instead of pushing, she decided to accept his words and move on. To do otherwise would be senseless.
She nodded and turned to walk away.
“Yaz.”
Her mind told her to keep going, but her heart urged her to stop. She halted, but she didn’t turn around.
Ravi’s bootheels sounded on the stones as he approached. He didn’t stop until he stood before her. His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “I’m overjoyed to see you awake. I was about to get something to eat. Will you join me?”