Chapter 31 Ariana
ARIANA
All the Lysians were busy being productive except for one lounging by the fire, accompanied by Edda. Iver’s and Edda’s laughter greeted me as I approached them. They were giggling to themselves, probably at the expense of someone else.
“Ah! Princess!” Iver welcomed me, patting the ground beside him. “Come, join us.”
Edda snorted. “She is no princess. She is the Leader Superior now, you clever little Lysian.”
“Little!” he exclaimed. “Have you by chance seen your own size? The two Bavadrin women, going around calling me little.”
“Physical size has nothing to do with it,” I commented.
“Indeed, you are correct.” Iver grinned, turning to observe Edda. “There is certainly something darkly dangerous about you.” He playfully wiggled a finger at her. Though the way he said it made it sound more like a warning than a joke.
Edda laughed lightly. “Of course there is.” She yawned, bringing a hand to her mouth.
“I’m exhausted. Most of us did not have the Lysian King acting as their personal armchair to sleep against during this leg of the trip.
” She arched an eyebrow, and I felt my cheeks warm.
When I did not rise to her bait, she got to her feet.
“Goodnight,” she said with a small smile.
I didn’t respond, still harboring anger and hurt from the time she ripped into me about my relationship with the Lysians. She never tried to apologize or talk about it. The wound was left open.
“Sweetest dreams to you, old-timer,” Iver commented and turned his attention to me. “My brother run away from you?”
“He didn’t run away,” I stated flatly.
He laughed, though his eyes trailed Edda. “Sure, whatever you say.”
“What did you mean about Edda?” I asked, watching her as she walked towards the single massive tent, disappearing into its shelter.
Iver leaned back onto the grass, placing his hands behind his head, observing the night sky. “I’d like to think I am a pretty spot-on judge of character. Give me a few seconds looking someone over, and I could tell you just how annoying or dumb they may be with remarkable accuracy.”
I rolled my eyes. “You cannot possibly know all that just by a quick glance at someone.”
“That’s where you are wrong, my tiny princess. I can.” The confidence coming from him was substantial.
“Fine, say I agree with your ridiculous skill of being able to judge one’s entire being with no knowledge of their experiences, thoughts, or feelings. What do you make of Edda?” I asked, playing along as if agreeing with his ridiculous skill.
“She gets by having everyone around her think she is some sort of loony old woman, but she is much more devious than that. Apart from myself, I think she may be one of the smartest people in this camp, which makes her dangerous.”
It was difficult to keep my jaw from dropping with a remark like that. “Do you ever tire of thinking so highly of yourself?”
“Never, only ’cause it’s true.” He grinned, flashing his teeth.
I sighed and lay back on the grass. “Well, then, wise Lysian, what do you make of me?”
His eyes narrowed. “I rarely share my thoughts with the subject itself.”
“That is such a lie.”
His chest rumbled with a small laugh. “Yeah, you’re right. So, you wish to know my thoughts about you, eh? How brutal do you want this to be?”
“As brutal as it requires.” I smiled, welcoming the evaluation.
“You’re not too bad,” he finally said without adding more.
“What? That’s it?” I rolled over onto my stomach, propping myself up on my elbows. “C’mon, I’m stronger than I look. I can take it.”
Iver shrugged. “I could say that it is obvious you care for others. You are kind. I think you downplay your strengths. You certainly have not shared your secrets, and I am intrigued by that. But honestly, when it comes to who is more of a threat to my family, Edda has you beat there. Despite the secrets you continue to try to keep, you are no threat to us.”
“You think me weak,” I commented.
“Not the least.” His gray eyes turned to me.
“You just do not possess the personality of someone who would concern me. However, that does not mean I view you as weak. I believe having you as an ally would be quite useful for us. So, Ariana, do you intend to go to war against the dark and evil mysterious forces of the Sidhe alongside us?”
“Do not badger her with such questions.” Kole approached, holding a bowl of potatoes and sausage. “It is not your place to ask her such things.”
I rolled over and sat straight up.
“Oh c’mon, we were just having a casual conversation.” Iver’s grin sharpened.
“If Erik heard you asking such things . . .” Kole growled.
Iver sat up, shrugging. “He would what? Where is the great King anyway?” He made a show of looking around.
“He hasn’t returned yet,” Kole informed us, holding the bowl out for me to take. It warmed my icy fingers, steam rising from the soup.
“Do you think he is alright?” I asked Kole, but Iver answered first.
“Of course he is. A single unpleasant conversation will not harm our great King.”
I turned to him. “What makes you say we had an unpleasant conversation?”
“He’s run off to clear his mind, hasn’t he?”
“Mind your mouth,” Kole growled.
Iver rolled his eyes. “You used to be so much more fun before . . .” His words trailed off, though there was a dangerous glint in his gaze.
“Before what?” I asked, turning to Kole, who was now deathly still. Rage simmered beneath that stillness. Clearly, this was not a conversation he was planning on having.
Kole took a single step towards Iver, and the intent of it was deadly. I was not the only one who picked up on the shift.
“Why don’t you scamper off before your actions result in something regretful?” Iver commented, his voice low. Though he remained sitting on the ground, his demeanor changed, his focus concentrated on Kole, poised to act if needed. Unease settled over me at the thought of this possibly escalating.
Kole’s entire body tightened as his muscles stiffened. He then angrily pivoted and stormed off without another word. Iver relaxed back onto the ground.
“Why do you do that?” I asked.
“Do what?” he asked, looking innocently at me as if unaware of his actions.
“Push everyone with your words to no end.”
“Do I push you?”
“You try by calling me princess,” I pointed out.
He chortled. “Sweet princess, that is me simply joking around with you.” Then, smirking, he turned his attention to me. “Would you like for me to push you further?”
“Not really.” I focused on the bowl of soup in my hands, beginning to greedily eat.
“Well, then consider yourself lucky.”
“But why do you do it?”
He shrugged. “Why not? It keeps life a bit more interesting and fun to oppose the firm beliefs others have about the world and themselves.”
“I don’t imagine it wins you very many friends.”
He viewed me. “Those who stick around are the only friends I need. If they don’t like it, then they can get lost.”
We fell into silence as I ate my meal. Once good and full, I lay back on the ground, staring at the cloudless dark sky.
I’m not sure how long we lay in silence before Iver asked, “So, you never answered the question. Do you intend to stand beside us against the Sidhe?”
“I don’t know that they had anything to do with the disappearance of your sister,” I stated. Erik mentioned an Oracle had informed them of this information, but I had no way to confirm.
“I have an inkling that you agree that there is something wrong over there. It’s like something tainted the land in darkness in that direction.”
I did not respond, for he was right.
“So?” Iver pressed.
“My answer remains the same. I will help you, but not as someone forced to because I am your prisoner.”
“So, a trade for your freedom?” He turned, looking at me.
“I wouldn’t call it a trade.”
“We both get things we want. Sounds like a trade.”
“If the Sidhe are truly responsible for the disappearance of conjurors in both of our lands, then I want to stand with you against them. I am not trading anything for it.”
“But you would withhold help if we do not give you your freedom,” he said as if again to clarify.
“I will not subject my people to fighting for something they have no faith in. How could I ask them to risk everything when they believe I am doing it only to save my own life because I am a prisoner? I vowed to be better than the last Superior.”
He turned his attention back to the stars above.
Silence fell over us once more.
Eventually, a breeze rushed around us, and I peered at the fire, which had turned to embers. How long had we been lying outside? No Lysians except for Iver were around. Were they all sleeping?
“When do you think Erik will return?” I asked with a whisper, not wanting to disturb the peace that surrounded the camp.
“He has been back for a while now,” Iver replied, tilting his head to look at me. “You want to lie down?” He nodded towards the tent.
Go in there? With all the Lysians already inside? Usually, I was the first one in and the last one out. I liked it that way. Going into the tent now felt like entering a den of lions.
Iver appeared to read my emotions and laughed lowly. “Would you like a blanket and pillow? We can just stay out here.”
“Oh no, I don’t want to trouble you.”
“It is absolutely no trouble at all,” he said with a smirk, then louder added, “Kole will bring them out to you.”
“It’s really okay,” I said, but Kole was already emerging from the tent, carrying blankets and a pillow. He made his way towards us with a scowl directed at Iver.
“Thank you,” I murmured, taking the bedding from him.
“If you need any help, just scream,” he said to me as if he were wishing good night with those words.
“Help with what? I can protect a single Bavadrin from the scary woodland creatures without a problem,” Iver commented, and Kole ignored him as he turned and walked back to the tent.
Silently, I shook my head while wrapping the blanket around me.
“What?” Iver asked in mock surprise.
“Both you and Edda burrow under his skin to no end. You are both lucky to still have your heads attached to your necks.”
Iver’s teeth flashed with a smile. “He could never hope to separate my head from the rest of my beautiful body.”
I smashed my hand on my forehead, knowing Kole likely heard everything and was fuming even more.
Iver chuckled. The sound grew quieter until all we heard were the distant crickets and the periodic breeze sweeping through blades of grass and rustling the leaves still attached to the trees.
Slowly, I drifted off to sleep. Thankfully, it was void of dreams.
The gentle and distant sound of bickering eased me out of sleep. Edda and Kole were back at it, with Edda driving the oversized Lysian mad without care. Was it time to get up already?
“Ariana,” Erik’s voice from nearby forced my heavy eyelids to finally open.
He was crouched down in the grass beside me.
“Oh.” I sat straight up, which was challenging with how the blanket wrapped thoroughly around me. “Hi.” I couldn’t think of anything else to say.
He smiled. “It’s time to go.”
“Okay.”
“If you’re feeling well, then you may ride on your own. Kole will be fine riding with Edda.”
I glanced behind Erik to Kole. His shoulders tensed. Even from that distance, it was clear. Though he did not look at us, I knew he likely was listening.
“No, it’s fine. I’d like to finish this trip with you if that’s alright,” I said to Erik, but caught the easing of Kole’s shoulders in the background. He was definitely listening.
I also needed them to find comfort in Edda riding on her own. So this was good exposure for her.
“Very well.” His lips inched up at the corners. Erik rose to his full height and walked over to his brother, who was fast asleep a few feet from me. He nudged Iver’s side with his foot once. When Iver did not stir awake, Erik nudged him again, harder that time.
Iver growled. “Bloody ashes. What is the matter with you?”
“It’s time to go,” Erik stated, voice void of warmth.
Iver groaned, sounding like he was speaking without opening his mouth. It was unintelligible.
Erik sighed, head tilted to the sky, eyes closing as if saying a prayer to the Spirit.
The way the sun glistened against his dark hair, it was as if the edges had an ethereal golden glow.
“If you’re not up and saddled by the time everyone else is ready, then we will leave you here,” he warned as he stalked away to join the other Lysians.
I quickly rose, smoothed out my clothing, folded the blanket, gathered the pillow, and was ready to go while Iver still lay motionless on the ground. The other Lysians were nearly finished deconstructing and putting away the tent. Half the horses were already saddled and ready to go.
“Hey, Iver. We need to go,” I urged, but he did not move.
Had he fallen back asleep? “Iver!” I contemplated physically waking him but did not want to startle a Lysian with predator instincts, so I kept a safe distance and chucked my pillow at his face.
When he did not move, I turned towards the others.
Two steps later, I was shoved forward by something soft, thrown with force. At my feet was a pillow. I twisted around, yet Iver still lay on the ground as if he had not moved a single muscle.
Picking up the pillow, I chucked it at him once more.
He did not react.
I took a cautious step backward. Nothing.
Four more steps and still nothing. He remained still as the dead.
Turning, I made it a couple of feet before the wind was nearly knocked out of me, and I dropped the blanket I was holding.
Never had I thought a pillow could have such strength, though never had I seen it thrown by a Lysian before.
I spun around, but he was gone.
“It isn’t nice to attack someone while they sleep.” Iver’s voice came from behind me.
With a sharp but silent inhale, I spun again, meeting his gray eyes with my own.
He stood right behind me and holding the blanket I dropped.
It was alarming how silently he moved and at such speed.
It almost seemed like magic. Was it a conjuring ability of some sort? The thought made my throat tighten.
“I was just making sure you didn’t get left behind.” I stepped around him, shaking off my surprise and leaving him holding the blanket. Iver trailed me with a smile as we joined the others.