24. Zari
Chapter twenty-four
Zari
Z ari and Yansin set out at dawn. As they walked, Yansin told of the ancient fae who had wielded the Crescent Blade.
The tales spanned centuries, long before Rhydonia was a unified nation.
He told her of unicorns, sea beasts and dragons, and she marveled, even when Yansin added the stories might not be entirely true.
“Magic is real,” she insisted. “So perhaps dragons are as well.”
“Perhaps. But my father had not seen one in his lifetime, and he was centuries older than my mother.”
“Centuries?”
Yansin chuckled. “Strange, I know, but if you had ever met them, you would have thought he was the younger of the pair. He was fond of jokes, never serious for very long.”
“You must take after him, then.” For Yansin had been so playful back in the capital. Though, she’d noticed a shift in his personality, as if his natural tendency toward good humor was muted. “How did your parents meet?”
Yansin’s fingers ran through his hair. He’d fought with it constantly as they walked, tying it back, then letting it fall free, only to grow frustrated and pull it back once more.
“He told me he’d gone wandering, far from the isles, and found my mother with her toes in the sand and a song on her lips. He’d fallen in love that very minute. ”
“He traveled far.” The fae isles were in the far north, and as east as one could go. Karsic, though, was in the southwest. She wondered why Yansin’s father had left the isles, and how no human had caught him as he’d traveled. “Was he a soldier?” she asked.
He shook his head. “I do not think he drew a weapon once in his life, and certainly never against a human.” His smile turned a little bittersweet. “The hatred of mortals is not woven into a fae’s blood. The Queen’s will dictates much for the fae.”
“Has she always hated humans?”
Yansin looked up at the leafy canopy above.
The forest around them felt like a blurry daydream, all shadows and dark leaves.
“She has spent a thousand years blaming humans for all her hurts and griefs. I do not think she can recall a time, now, when they were not her most hated enemy. It is easy for many fae to be envious of humans.”
Zari tilted her head. “Fae are immortal and have magic. What’s there to be jealous of?”
The faintest blush rose to Yansin’s cheeks. “A common thing to call humans is taveshem; rabbits, basically. For how swiftly humans can…”
“Ah,” Zari, understanding the metaphor, reddened as well. “So fae…” She trailed off, finding herself unprepared to say the words reproductive rate , despite her medical training. This was far from a clinical setting, after all.
“Fae children are rare. Each one is celebrated with more fanfare than a mortal might receive in eighteen years of birthdays. Their naming days are grand parties attended by their entire isle.”
If children were so rare, and the fae casualties had been so high… Zari’s gut twisted. How long would it take for the fae to return to the population they’d had before the war? “You said their isle? Does each family have their own?”
Yansin’s lips pressed together. “Are you sure you are not too inquisitive? Remember what curiosity caused the poor crab.”
“It’s a cat,” Zari corrected. “Curiosity killed the cat.”
“Nonsense. Every cat I know is far too practical for such a fate. It’s a crab that got into…” he paused and locked eyes with her, “…hot water. ”
Zari groaned at the pun. “I promise that was my last question. For now.”
“Then I shall answer it, if you promise to answer mine in return.” He only paused for a moment, closing his eyes to think, before explaining.
“Each of the fae isles is ruled over by a Stellaris. The isle’s residents pledge their loyalty to her.
In return, they are given lodging, food, and protection, but there is no binding clause keeping them there.
If, let’s say, a hunter heard another isle had better game, she could request to move there.
” Yansin shrugged. “An over-simplification, perhaps, for the fae do love to complicate such things.”
“So the Stellaris own the land, and the others work there.” Zari said. Strange to imagine Hazelle ruling over an isle full of fae, but perhaps the sweet girl was more serious in her home country.
“Indeed.” Yansin said. “Now it is time for me to ask you a question. You told me you trust the companions you plan to meet at Lochna. Why? For I worry you might be walking your way towards a trap.” Yansin’s expression turned grim. “There is little love on the isles for humans.”
“It is not a trap. I met a fae, in the capital, and he told me that… that my father lives. He gave me his pocket watch and promised to take me there. Then, we were separated and agreed to meet at Lochna.” Only now that Zari had time to reflect on the past events, did she realize how rash she’d been.
Lochna was the largest lake in Rhydonia.
How was she to find the fae, even if they did make their way safely to its shore?
“I will have to leave you before then,” Yansin took Zari’s hand in his own, running his thumb over her knuckles. “There are too many fae who would see me as an abomination.”
“Surely not! Why, Hazelle is the sweetest person, fae or human, I’ve ever met, and Daeden is not unkind.” Despite being an Oathborn, she thought, but did not say. “Did you ever meet an Oathborn warrior, Yansin?”
He nodded, but offered no other details.
“I’m sorry. I promised no more questions and…”
Yansin smiled at her, his hand reaching out to cup her cheek. “I will allow your questions, I suppose, for you do look so adorable when you ask them. ”
“You flirt,” she replied, smiling. Against his palm, her skin heated. His thumb brushed over her lips.
“Nonsense,” Yansin replied, his thumb brushing over her bottom lip. The soft warmth spreading through Zari’s body blazed hotter.
“A flirt only offers words. Meanwhile, I…” He leaned closer, hesitating just a breath away from her.
Was he… She nodded, offering permission for something she wasn’t even sure he’d requested.
When his lips found hers, she realized she’d been right.
Zari melted into his embrace, as if she was a plant seeking sunlight, her fingers curled around the muscles of his back.
His heartbeat was slow and steady, far more than Zari’s own.
Every bit of her body was alive, desire wild and headstrong taking hold.
The kiss deepened, as Zari closed her eyes, losing herself in the sensation.
With a gasp, finally, they broke apart for air.
Only then, did Yansin speak, “Meanwhile I believe in both word and action, where you are concerned.” His fingers tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, as he brushed a second kiss over her lips, this one sweet and chaste. “However reckless that may have been.”
“I don’t mind the occasional bout of recklessness. At least, not from you.”
Yansin laughed. “But only an occasional one, correct? I should otherwise be on my best behavior?”
“Dare I ask what you’re like on your worst?
” Her tone had a sultry note to it, one that slipped from her like a sigh, as if her yearnings had taken full control of her voice.
Because she did wish she could know him in that reckless way he’d hinted at, that one kiss could turn into countless more, that they could sink down to lay in the shade beneath the trees, as passion overtook them.
Before the bravery escaped her, she placed her hand on the back of his neck and kissed him once more. They were nearly the same height, and as their bodies pressed together, she felt entirely aware of all of him, from the strength of his body to his own growing desire.
“Zari.” He growled her name, as if holding back a barely restrained hunger. “Did I not promise you I would remain a gentleman? ”
“You have been! I only wonder what it’s like. On the other side of such things as…”
“As respectability and propriety, when defined by the Rhydonian powers-that-be?” One auburn brown arched up.
“You make it sound as if we invented such things! As if it’s a flight of fancy for it to be scandalous for an unwed couple to—”
“It is, Zari!” Yansin turned to her, catching her hands with his, and held them tightly. “Do you not understand? I am following your rules, your lead, for things are very different on the isles and—”
“And you have lovers on the isles? Is that it?” She yanked her hands back. “Ones who are more free with their kisses?”
“No!” Yansin reached out, though he did not touch her.
“Is it because you’ve had other, better lovers than me? Fae ones?” A small part of Zari bristled at even saying the words. “Now you’re stuck with this pesky Rhydonian.”
“I’m not stuck with you, I chose you.”
She shook her head, refusing to hear him, to believe him. She’d been a fool to trust him, a fool to even start this journey.
“Zari,” he said her name again, this time, as gently as a prayer.
“I chose you. I care about you. I do wish to strive toward the ideals you would want in a man. Even if, yes, I am not as familiar with them, as I was raised on the isles.” His words hung heavy between them.
“And I fear they have shaped me far more than I might have wished.”
So it wasn’t his father who had traveled so far, but his mother.
Yansin was from the fae isles. A thousand questions ignited within her, wondering if he knew her companions, if he’d ever met the Queen, or knew more than he’d already told her.
But where she stood, staring up at him, only one thing mattered.
“Who do you want to be?” she asked. “To me?”
She found herself unsure of what he might say and in the silence, her heart raced .
Finally, he spoke. “No more than who you saw me as, when we first met. A simple photographer at a failing newspaper, who had the great fortune of crossing paths with a brilliant, beautiful, spitfire of a nurse.”
“Then be that for me, Yansin Kanoa. I would not ask anything more of you.”