Chapter 6 Azahara
Azahara
Moondancer carried them relentlessly until they emerged from the thick cover of trees.
Azahara had anticipated a surge of relief as the sun’s rays greeted them, but the overcast sky dampened her expectations.
Instead of stepping into a world bathed in light, it felt like transitioning from one dimly lit room to another.
Kaed pulled on the reins, bringing them to a stop. He was so quick to dismount Moondancer, that she fumbled with getting down herself, nearly catching her foot on the bags and falling.
He was looking at her, and that expression of anger and fear laced his face.
She nervously toyed with her fingers, her mouth opening as she sought to apologize. The realization dawned on her that it was probably her screams that had alerted them to their presence in the first place. The weight of becoming the burden she had hoped to avoid settled heavily on her shoulders.
Before she could utter a word, his arms enveloped her. His fingers intertwined within the thick, red ringlet curls while his other arm held her close against his chest. There was no gap between them, leaving her breathless. She had forgotten how to move, her arms hanging limply at her sides.
He was so warm, like the sun after a long winter.
Her body curved into his, every inch of her pressed against him. His face buried down into her shoulder as he let out a sigh.
Only then did she realize that she hadn’t moved to reciprocate the embrace. Her arms found their mobility, slowly wrapping around his torso. She felt him physically relax in response, and it brought a sigh of relief from her lips.
The urge to say something was strong, but she kept her mouth shut.
She feared if words escaped that they would ruin the moment.
Instead, her eyes closed, and she leaned her head against his.
Their breathing became one as the world passed around them.
With the threat hopefully behind them, they allowed for this moment.
After several minutes passed, Kaed gently pulled away from her. His forest eyes met hers. “Are you okay?”
Breathlessly, Azahara nodded. “Yeah… alive, thanks to you.”
He shook his head. “I’m alive thanks to you.
Quick thinking on your part is the only reason my heart still beats.
” For some reason, the thought of his heart stopping made her chest constrict.
“I thought…” He stumbled on his words. She watched as his jaw clenched, his eyes never leaving hers.
“When the Vaeragi tackled you off Moondancer, I thought…”
She let out a single breath. Her eyes burned as she watched him struggle to find the right words. Kaed knew what he wanted to say, but saying it would be crazy. Would it? Had she not felt the same when she saw the arrow flying straight at his chest?
She reached out and placed her hand over his heart. “I understand.” She watched him straighten and his throat bob. “Somehow, we made it out. That’s what matters.”
Kaed took a deep breath, and again, he held back what he wanted to say. He released the breath with a heavy sigh.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” he said, his hand coming atop hers.
“I’m glad we are both okay.” She smiled at him, and he did the same.
After a beat, Azahara removed her hand from his chest and looked around.
Her eyes scanned the tall peaks that aided in directing them to their escape.
They were just beyond a wide creek, which was fed by the waters of the Veesilka Mountains.
Hundreds of Balsam Fir trees lined the range, all covered in a light layer of snow.
The mountains disappeared into the overcast sky, the clouds kissing their peaks.
Her eyebrows pulled together, and she looked to the right while taking a few steps in that direction. She felt Kaed inch towards her but hesitated. Several boulders lined the furthest fold of the mountainside.
“I know where we are.” She craned her head back towards Kaed, a weary expression on his face. “We traveled far east.” She bit her lip and looked back at the rocks.
“Yeah, we have at least added another day of traveling.” Kaed checked on Moondancer, looking through their bags. “It is too cold near the mountains; we must move somewhere else.”
Her eyes dropped to her feet, watching as she curled her toes into the dirt.
“We can...” She hesitated, as she had never brought anyone to her home before. The thought filled her with apprehension, knowing that revealing her sanctuary could expose all her secrets hidden behind those doors and within those walls.
Her eyes wandered back to him, watching as he dug through the bags attached to his steed.
“My home, we can go and stay there. At least for a couple of nights. There is food, fresh water, and we can get cleaned up.” Her lips pressed together tightly as Kaed turned to look at her.
“I didn’t realize we would come so far east, my land sits between here and the Bath?lisk Sea.
” He was looking at her, and try as she might, she couldn’t place the expression on his face.
She continued, “I know you have a duty to the Order. If you can’t stay, I understand. I want to give you a place to sleep and rest, you know—before you go on your way.”
“You should still see a healer.” His eyebrows pulled together.
“Right,” she uttered, but her mouth moved as if she were speaking without any words escaping.
“We can leave after a few days, but I’m not leaving you until I know you are safe from infection or other ailments from your wounds.” Kaed crossed his arms over his chest and leaned to one side. “No buts.”
Azahara couldn’t explain why, but those were precisely the words she longed to hear. She knew it was not wise to allow the attachment to settle. Playing with fire would get her burned, and possibly Kaed. Imagining something happening to him because of her was hell in of itself.
“Then it’s settled,” he interjected in her momentary lapse of reality. “How far is your home from here? Can we walk, or do we need to get back on Moondancer?” Fair question.
She stepped forward, moving around them, and looked down the river. “I’ll walk us through the river.”
“Moondancer can do that.” His tone was a bit perplexed at her statement.
“That’s the thing, she sort of can’t.”
“Cryptic, but I’m listening.” He then stood beside her, looking in the same direction as she was.
“Well.” She cleared her throat. “There are wards in this area.” She dared a glance at him. It wasn’t for not—the look on his face filled with surprise.
“Wards? Is this land protected?”
“Not the land, well, technically, yes, the land. Its protection is for me,” she explained.
Kaed had a puzzled expression lining his face, his lips pressed into a fine line before asking, “You sure you’re just a human?”
She laughed nervously. “Yes! I can explain. It’s not as complicated and strange as you may think.”
“Uh-huh.” He wasn’t convinced.
“We can walk.” She slid around Kaed and slowly led the way. Staying to the right of the creek first. “Not that I don’t love riding, but we have been doing so for two days now.”
She heard Kaed give a throaty chuckle. “I’m fine with that.”
While Azahara may have led the way, she kept their pace similar, where only a foot or so lay between them.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, and all she could think was how often he asked how she was. She wanted to understand if it were his natural protective nature as a ranger for the Order, or something else.
“Tired. I could probably sleep straight through the week if given the means.” She rubbed at the back of her neck, her nails digging into her skin as she dragged them across her shoulder. Wincing, she dropped her arm quickly. “I think I’ve added a new bruise, thanks to that Vaeragi.”
It then dawned on her; she hadn’t even asked how Kaed was doing.
She turned so swiftly that it prompted Kaed to react with a quick turn of his own. “What’s wrong? What is it?”
She grimaced and shook her head. “I’m sorry. How have I been so rude? How are you? You fell backward off a moving horse.” Slowly, he turned back to look at her, and a look of astonishment crossed his face, leaving him gaping at her.
“I’m fine.” How he smiled, delicately licked his lips, and tilted his head downward with an innocent charm, sent a flurry of butterflies fluttering in her stomach. Holy fuck, he is gorgeous. “Thank you, Aza.”
“Huh?” She could feel her cheeks burning. “For what?” Had he heard her thoughts?
“For… your concern?” Azahara, embarrassed, turned back around and began walking again.
“No-no problem.” Her exhaustion must have been playing tricks on her mind. Luckily, Kaed found her awkwardness amusing and laughed it off. Internally, she was screaming at herself, urging her to regain composure.