Chapter 20
Hannelore Mountain Range, Realm of Eldridge
F ocusing her attention on the strand of Connor’s lifeforce, Celina tried to determine if it was stronger than it had been the last time she’d checked. They had decided to ride out a ways from the town, then pivot and ride in a circle throughout the day, covering a wide band of land. This was the third check she’d done since they’d started.
“I don’t think it's any stronger from this spot.” Celina sighed.
Cass chuckled as she stretched in her saddle. “You’re frustrated because we’re getting close. That’s the good kind of frustration. We’ll find him, Celina. It’s just a matter of time at this point.”
“I know you’re right, but how do you deal with this anxiousness? I’m jumping out of my skin.”
“Practice.”
Jed chortled from the traveling pouch Rodric had made for him, asking to be let down. Undoing the ties that secured its outer sides to the saddle, she let it fall open. Jed jumped out of the pouch and landed with clambering grace on the ground before scampering toward the nearest set of trees.
Unworried, she let him go, content in the routine he’d developed. He seemed extremely capable of finding them, no matter how far they traveled while he milled about in the woods. By morning, he always returned.
Rogue threw his head, restless energy pouring from him. “He’s just as frustrated as I am. Think we can run again for a bit?”
“We’ve got a ways before we hit the base of the mountain, so it’s probably a good time for it.”
Turning in her saddle, Cass whistled to get the boys’ attention and signaled that they were going to run again. Riding together a handful of strides away, Rodric and Sev acknowledged the plan with a wave.
They took off again, and Celina sat deep in the saddle and let Rogue set the pace. Weeks spent living out of saddle and watching Rodric and Zora had improved her horsemanship immensely, allowing her to open up his gait fully. He was incredibly powerful, just shy of galloping over the terrain. Green from the tree line beside them became a blur as they went. Over the next few hours, they ran and slowed in pattern until Rogue was much calmer and growing used to his new herd. After their fourth run, Celina halted Rogue, panting nearly as hard as he was. She patted his neck, murmuring to him as Cass pulled up next to her.
A predatory screech made her look up as a bird of prey circling overhead. She couldn’t tell what it was, other than large and fierce. It swooped and veered at a dizzying pace, making quick patterns in the sky.
Sev and Rodric studied the bird intently, exchanging quiet words and a very serious look as they approached.
“What’s wrong?” Cass asked.
“That bird isn’t behaving naturally. I don’t like it.” Rodric rode up very close to Celina before stopping. “Did you see how it made those sharp pivoting movements as it got close to you, then to us?”
Unease filled her, making Rogue shift in agitation beneath her. The movements had seemed odd to her, but she didn’t know much about birds.
“Almost like it was watching us.” Sev threw Cass a look Celina couldn’t interpret. “Got birds working for you too?”
“Not us, no. But it’s not outside the realm of possibility.”
“That begs the question—friend or foe?” Sev asked.
Sensing they needed to make another decision about direction, Celina checked for her brother again. Diving into the magic, she quickly targeted him, all this practice making her fast in connecting to him. For the first time in months, she breathed a relieved sigh at the feeling of strength shimmering down his life strand. Finally. “I’ve got Connor. Definitely stronger. But I can’t tell if we should be going up the mountain or farther along the base.”
“Mountain,” Cass and Sev said decisively.
“Okay then.” Celina chuckled. A bubble of excitement churned despite the winged danger. They were really going to find Connor.
“Before we do that, we should go out a bit farther and see what the bird does. If it's intentionally watching us, we should be able to tell,” Cass said.
“Agreed.” Rodric shifted even closer to Celina, if that was possible. “Which is why we should split up temporarily. There’s an open pass up into this mountain range ahead. Let’s meet there. See what our watcher does when given two groups to follow.”
She nodded, along with Sev and Cass.
“Shimira, you’re with me.” Sev swept his arm open in welcome as he began to ride out, away from the tree line.
Cass followed him, kicking her horse into a burst of speed so that she shot just past him.
If Rodric didn’t look so serious, Celina would have laughed watching Cass and Sev’s competitive antics. She reached out to touch his leg, in easy reach with him pressed so close to her.
“Let’s wait a moment. I want to see if it follows them before we move.” His eyes were glued to the sky, but he touched his fingers to her hand in acknowledgment.
Warmth spread through her at the small gesture. She followed his gaze as they waited. Soon enough, the bird flew closer, until she could identify that it was a large red feathered hawk. It swooped through the sky, seemingly normal movements to Celina, before veering sharply in the direction of their companions. Sev let out a loud bird call of some type.
“That mean something to you?” She turned to look at Rodric.
He grimaced. “Yes. It’s a hunting signal—the predator has an eye on them. It means the hawk came close and low enough to see their faces.”
“At least it's only watching, not attacking.” The sooner they entered the cover of the trees blanketing the mountain instead of out in the open, the better.
“Not yet anyway. Stay close. If I give the word, you dart into the trees.”
Celina pursed her lips at the order but didn’t comment. She knew when to bow to someone else’s expertise.
They kept to a fast walk as they made their way toward the meeting point. About halfway there, the hawk came back into sight, keeping pace above them. It swooped in front of them twice, causing tension to rise. Zora and Rogue made strained attempts to lash out at the bird with their teeth. By the time they made it to the mountain pass entrance, the bird of prey had fully disappeared from view.
Everyone stayed quiet as they met up at the pass. Still feeling like there were eyes following her, Celina shivered. The feeling persisted as they made their way slowly up the mountain.
Coming to a plateau, Celina stopped to feel for Connor. Elation burst through her at the increased presence of his lifeforce. “He’s close. And in better condition than he’s seemed in the past. Whatever injuries he had must be healing well.”
She wondered what had caused the near death feeling she’d had originally, which had gotten worse before getting better. Something drastic had occurred. Whatever it was, she’d soon be able to help him through the rest of it.
Rodric motioned to Sev and Cass, and the two split off in the opposite direction, following the plan they’d determined for when they finally got close to their quarry. She rode beside Rodric as they continued out in the open.
Celina pulsed magic down her bond to Connor, then motioned Rodric to veer to the right as they approached a fork in the path. “Rodric, I can feel—”
An eerie screech split the air for the second time that day, cutting off her words. The red hawk raced straight toward her in an intense dive. Fear pummeled her, boiling through her blood as the bird raised its talons as if in the final descent to catch its prey.
Before she could make a decision, Rogue let out an outraged cry and reared up, pawing the air in the bird’s path.
Rodric’s weight crashed into her just as Rogue’s feet touched the ground again, pulling her off the warhorse and onto the ground. He covered her with his body, protecting her from the air attack. His head was tucked down next to hers, his arms covering both their heads.
Feeling Rodric flinch, Celina’s anger soared, chasing away the fear and shock.
“It was aiming for me. Let me try to lead it away.” If she could draw the bird’s attention, maybe Rodric could attack it, or she could knock it out with her healing magic. It was worth a try to keep the predator from ripping Rodric’s back to shreds.
He flinched again. “Absolutely not.”
Stubborn hunter.
Finally, the hawk relented. It gave a warning screech before retreating, wings beating the air with loud thrusts.
Celina sighed in relief. Rodric relaxed on top of her, his breathing a little ragged. After a moment, he sat up, pulling her with him as he scanned the sky. A fierce scowl displayed his mood.
Immediately taking advantage of her mobility, she moved behind him to check the scratches on his back. His thick leather coat was shredded. Beneath that, some of the deeper marks went all the way through his layers of clothing to his skin. The storm of anger returned even as she pushed healing light into him to take the edge off the pain. How dare the hawk and its master attack! They had done nothing to warrant such a thing. Damn murderous bird!
When she finished assessing his wounds, Rodric captured her wrist and guided her back in front of him. A smile had replaced his earlier scowl.
“What?” she asked.
He tugged her toward him and gave her a quick kiss. “I’m beginning to like this bloodthirsty streak of yours. I can feel all that anger you’re channeling in defense of me. I like it.” His eyes glinted wickedly as he grinned. “A lot.”
“Maybe next time you’ll let me defend myself.” She squeezed his arm. “You shouldn’t have protected me like that.”
The passionate gleam winked out between one heartbeat and the next, replaced by a hard wall. “Celina, I respect you and all the authority you wield, but I will never be okay with you in danger. Under any circumstances. It will always be my first instinct to protect you.”
“To your own detriment?”
“Yes.”
She glanced away, blowing out a frustrated breath. Anger at his obstinate need to protect her warred with fear for him putting himself in danger. Yet, she couldn’t really blame him, as her answer would have been the same.
“Why don’t we agree to protect each other and leave it at that for now,” she said.
“For now.” He nodded his agreement.
Touching his chest, she sent a light pulse of magic to him. There was no healing in it, just affection. No other reason than to strengthen their bond. Rodric’s breath caught slightly as she turned away. More than anything, at that moment, she wanted him to start associating magic with her touch. With love.
Walking over to Rogue, she checked the warhorse for injuries. He was still fuming, but otherwise seemed unharmed. Rodric moved around them and spoke to Zora before mounting. Her very vocal, irritated response made Celina laugh. She couldn’t agree more with the sassy horse’s sentiment. Rodric remained alert as they continued to ride, eyes constantly moving as they moved along the path for the threat they now knew existed.
C elina gripped her reins hard enough to make Rogue fidget as she drew Rodric’s attention. The blind turn ahead spiraled tightly upward around the mountain. Her brother was on the other end of that curve.
“This is it, he’s just ahead.” Tears welled up. She’d succeeded in finding him.
A still fierceness took over Rodric, reminding her of the ice leopard she’d compared him to when they first met. The hunter had taken over his features. He dismounted and motioned for her to do the same.
“Stay close and behind me.” He cut off her protest with a sharp shake of his head. “This is Eldridge, Celina. We don’t know who else may be with him or whether they’re friendly. We don’t need to give them any ideas about who you are or where you’re from until we know it’s safe.”
Celina fought to rein in her excitement and acknowledge that there was still danger around them. “Right. I’ll follow you.”
Rodric nodded, turning to give Zora the commands she had learned meant follow, quiet. Interestingly, he left off danger . Hopefully that turned out to be the truth.
Surprise hit her as they cautiously turned the corner. A small, fenced pasture circled a cleared area of land. Beyond it, standing against the mountain face, was a house. Shadows loomed around it, making her tilt her head. It was made in a way that blended into the surrounding landscape, but it was definitely someone’s home. The realization that they’d stumbled onto a homestead startled her. Who lived in such a remote place?
Nearest to them was a roughly made entrance to the mountainside. A wide door was partially closed, blocking half of the entrance. She could hear the animals within.
Heavy footfalls came from the barn, causing her breath to still. A tall man came into view ahead, moving with slow purpose, his back to them as he moved toward the house.
He was alive! Knowing it magically through the bond and seeing him in person were two very different things.
Connor! She shouted through the bond with a pulse of magic.
At nearly the same instant, the cry of a bird of prey rang vibrantly through the air. The man stumbled, freezing for a second before spinning around. His green eyes darted to them—and hardened.
The harsh look hit Celina hard, with real visceral pain.
Something was wrong. Even if he was using a cover, there was no need for that hint of menace with no other witnesses. What had happened to him?
Her healer’s gaze ran over him in assessment as he stalked toward them. A distinct limp gave his gait an uneven pattern. One of his arms was stiff, moving significantly less than the other. He was thin, but not gaunt, and his clothing was clean, if a little ill-fitted. Blond hair shorter than he had ever worn made his face appear rounder, fuller, than she was used to. He didn’t look like the man who had hugged her goodbye some months ago, yet her heart leapt.
She shifted her weight, wanting to intercept him, but Rodric moved just barely, reminding her to stay back until any hidden threats had been revealed. All she wanted was to run to her brother, ecstatic that he was alive. With some effort, she reined in her instincts and waited.
Connor called out a warning as he approached. “This is private property. You should leave unless you have business here.” The bird screeched in agreement.
Thank the stars. “Connor, we found you!” He could change his appearance, but not his voice. Joy and triumph crashed through her in waves. He was truly alive.
Connor stood his ground. A blade appeared in his hand as if from thin air. At least some things were the same, but his movement gave her a sour feeling.
“You need to leave. We don’t appreciate unwelcome visitors.” Connor turned his attention from her to Rodric, assessing him with a soldier’s gaze. Whatever he saw made him harden even more, shifting his stance slightly as if to block the entrance to the barn behind him.
Rodric matched his movements, shifting to block Celina and keep her brother straight in front of him.
Not good. Desperate for him to see her clearly and ignoring the pang of unease she felt from Rodric through their bond, she stepped a few feet to the side. “Connor, it’s me, Celina. Your sister. Don’t you recognize me?”
A look she couldn’t interpret crossed his features. “My name is Raiden. You’ve found the wrong man.”
The earth fell away. Her brother didn’t know who she was.