Chapter 16 Razik
Razik
“So we can Travel to Elshira, but we can’t Travel into the forest?” Kailia asked from where she stood beside Cethin while they waited for their horses.
“Few can Travel directly into Shira Forest,” Cethin answered. “And those who can, don’t, out of respect for the spirit animals.”
She nodded, gaze fixed on the trees. “I’ve never seen one of the spirit animals. Have you?”
Cethin gave her a tight smile. “I have, but not lately.”
Razik scoffed under his breath at the statement, Wren elbowing him lightly in the side. They’d seen plenty of spirit animals over their centuries of life, but beyond that, Cethin was bonded to one.
The spirit animals were powerful creatures bonded to the gods and goddesses.
With their connection to the gods, the animals were immune from the wards and spells of the realm, but they were still beholden to this world.
Razik had read a lot of history about them, but had yet to figure out how they’d become trapped here.
Because they were. They used to be able to go to the gods they were connected to, and now they remained here, many of them bonded to a being in the realm at the request of their god or goddess.
Cethin was one of those beings, because why wouldn’t he also be gifted something for no reason at all beyond his bloodline?
But then again, maybe Cethin was actually making a smart decision and not sharing everything about himself and the kingdom with someone he’d just met.
Didn’t make up for the fact he was shoving someone incredibly unqualified onto a throne though.
Someone he barely knew. Someone who had fucking stabbed him.
“The spirit animals reside in Shira Forest when they are not needed by their bonded,” Razik added as horses were led over, taking the reins for his mount and Wren’s. “It is considered sacred.”
Kailia nodded again, turning to look at the large castle that stood behind them. “And this used to be the capital of Avonleya?”
“Elshira. Yes, it was for centuries,” Cethin answered. “Since the kingdom was established.”
“Then why was the capital moved?” Kailia asked.
“There were several reasons,” Cethin answered with a nod of thanks as he was handed the reins to his horse.
“So we cannot Travel into Shira Forest, but we can simply walk into the trees?” Kailia said doubtfully as she was handed reins as well.
“Only once a year. For the Beltane Hunt,” Cethin replied. “Do you know how to ride?”
“Ride what?” she asked, attention still fixed on the trees.
Cethin glanced at Razik, and he only arched a brow. This was Cethin’s bride, not his. He could figure out how to deal with her without his help. Plus, he found it comical when Cethin became irritated by her mannerisms but had to try to hide it.
Scratching his temple, Cethin said, “A horse, Kailia. Do you know how to ride a horse?”
The female slowly turned to him, and Razik swallowed his amusement at the look on her face. This side of her was just as entertaining as she stared at the king as though he were stupid for asking such a question.
“Yes, king,” she replied curtly. “I know how to ride a horse.”
“It was a valid question,” Cethin argued. “I’m assuming you normally use your magic to travel—”
“So do you,” she interjected.
“I don’t know how you were raised or where,” Cethin said in obvious exasperation. “I simply wanted to ensure you knew how to ride rather than find out when you cannot control your horse in the forest.”
“My upbringing contained all manner of training, including riding a horse,” she retorted, as she lifted her foot to the stirrup and expertly hoisted herself up.
Cethin’s horse whinnied at the action, dancing back several steps and tugging its reins from his hold. Her ears flattened, and there was a wildness in her eyes anyone could see and should be wary of.
“It appears you are the one who needs to control your horse,” Kailia said with an air of nonchalance.
Cethin smiled knowingly. “Thera and I will be fine. You worry about your own mount.”
He turned back to his mare, the horse stilling at his approach, and he ran his palm down her neck a few times. The mare’s eyes took on a soft silver glow, and Razik didn’t need to see his face to know Cethin’s eyes were doing the same. She lowered her head, her nose nuzzling into Cethin’s shoulder.
Kailia watched with interest before she twisted to look at Razik from atop her horse. “He keeps a horse at the abandoned castle?”
“It’s not abandoned,” Razik answered, mounting his own mare and wondering why that was the question she asked instead of the obvious one.
“But you said the capital moved.”
“It did. We didn’t say this castle was no longer used.”
“Who lives here then?” she asked, turning her horse to look up at the structure once more.
“It is still in the family,” Cethin answered, his horse coming up alongside hers.
“Are we going to sit around and chat over tea all day, or are we going into the forest?” Bram teased, joining their company on his own horse. Then a grin curled up at one corner of his mouth as he said, “Wren, always a pleasure when you join us.”
“Why aren’t Fallon and Ariadne keeping you in line?” Razik growled, maneuvering his horse between Bram and Wren.
“We have better things to do than mother grown-ass males,” Fallon said, passing by on her horse. “You abandoned us, so I suppose it’s up to Jarek now,” she added with a fake sigh of resignation.
“As if Jarek can keep anyone in line,” Razik said flatly, the male coming to ride alongside Fallon.
“Says the one who left us for a cushy post in the castle,” Jarek volleyed back.
“Agreed. I don’t get to see Wren nearly as often now,” Bram cut in.
“You’re about to be eating horse shit, Bram,” Razik growled.
The male chuckled under his breath before moving ahead of their company, but not before looking back over his shoulder to wink at Wren.
Jarek and Fallon followed, leaving Ariadne and Draven to bring up the rear and keeping Cethin and Kailia in the center.
Last year, he’d been leading at the front with Valric.
Now he was stuck in the middle, getting constant shit from the rest of the Cadre.
It was all in jest, but it was still annoying as fuck.
And yeah, it struck a chord considering he was roped in with Cethin’s company, even if it had been his choice.
“I am confused,” Kailia said when they all started making their way into the forest.
Razik didn’t even want to know what was about to come out of her mouth. It was bound to be something unexpected, and he was proven right when she continued.
“You and Wren have relations, but she also has relations with Bram?”
“No, she does not,” Razik answered tightly.
“But…” Her brow furrowed, and she glanced at Wren where she rode beside her. “You seem overly friendly.”
“I told you, Razik and I are not bound in that way,” Wren replied.
The betrothal announcement had been made a few weeks ago, and the gossip mills had been abuzz.
More than that, Cethin hadn’t let Kailia go into the city without him since the day Razik had taken her himself.
In fact, he kept Kailia at his side at nearly all times.
It was ridiculous and petty, and Kailia was going along with it for whatever reason.
Except he knew the reason.
It was more comfortable for her to be in Cethin’s shadow. Even if she was still being watched and was still the topic of every conversation these days, Cethin’s presence was still the dominating one. She was hiding, and with Cethin’s constant hovering, Razik couldn’t call her out on it.
The next half hour was silent save for the sounds of twigs and stones beneath horses’ hooves as they made their way south into the forest. The conversations of the others were low, barely carrying to where they were in the center.
Kailia was her usual self, observing everything without an ounce of expression, while Cethin studied her.
He was actually impressed with how long it took Wren to speak. The female hated silence, something Razik had learned to live with considering his preference for quiet and solitude.
“So, Kailia,” Wren started, “did I hear correctly that you are from Shadowfen?”
“Mhmm,” she hummed, amber eyes focused on the trees above them.
“I’ve never been there. What’s it like?”
Kailia slid her gaze to Cethin, who gave her a small smile. “I’d also love to hear of your life before these last weeks. Did you always live in Shadowfen?”
Kailia’s eyes narrowed, and Razik was begrudgingly impressed with Cethin’s manipulation of the situation. Giving her space to answer but also fishing for information that he was clearly seeking.
She cleared her throat, and Razik watched her in his periphery as she shifted the reins in her hands and pulled the sleeve of her tunic back, briefly running her fingers along her wrist and forearm. Then she straightened once more.
“No, I did not always live in Shadowfen,” she answered simply.
“Where did you live before?” Wren asked.
She shrugged. “Across the Edria.”
“What?” Wren gasped, the company in front of them all glancing back at the sudden outburst.
“Everything good?” Jarek called, his voice carrying as they all slowed their horses.
“Everything is fine,” Cethin replied before refocusing his stare on Kailia. Lowering his voice, he said tightly, “That is not something to share so openly, tiny fiend.”
“Then don’t ask questions you already know the answer to.”
“I was asking about your past.”
“Then say that instead of asking such ambiguous questions,” she retorted.
The king’s lips thinned, and Razik was enjoying this far more than he’d enjoyed anything in a long time.
“I didn’t mean to start something,” Wren said, worrying her lip as she shot Razik a pleading look for help.
“Don’t look at me,” Razik said apathetically. “I was perfectly content in the quiet.”
“Same,” Kailia agreed. “When do we hunt?”
Cethin sighed heavily. “We can hunt whatever we find along the way.”
“Then I need my arrow.”