47. Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Seven
Kya
O nce we made it back to Ryker and Odarum, with Vicria in tow, Ryker told Odarum to Travel us to a specific place just outside the Noavo station where Hakoa and four other warriors were waiting for us.
No one spoke as we arrived. Ryker and Hakoa exchanged a nod before Ryker handed Vicria over to one of the warriors, and they all turned and walked toward the mountain.
“Where are they taking her?” Malina asked and I didn’t miss the slight glance that she shared with Hakoa before he and the other warriors left.
“Voltaryn,” Ryker answered.
“It’s real?”
Even with our extensive network, we had never been able to confirm the rumors of the prison within the Eckterre mountains.
Prisons were forbidden. Hundreds of years ago, the council of Sages, Scholars, and the Worthy of the Nations voted to have them eradicated and opted for harsher punishments—either the Raith or the Nex.
Both options removed the threat of the criminal.
They would have their abilities removed, or they would face death. As harsh as it was, it was effective.
“It is real. The Noavo guard it and its occupants.”
“What’s the plan with the Sage then? Just hold her there forever?” Malina asked.
“Somewhat. But that’s not entirely what Voltaryn is for,” Ryker said.
“What else is it for?” I tilted my head to the side.
“Interrogation.”
After leaving Vicria in the hands of Hakoa and the Noavo, we spent the next two weeks transcribing the dark book, which was proving to be more difficult than anticipated since the pronunciation was complicated.
In the early mornings, I would freeze my ass off outside with Odarum, working on strengthening my wings to eventually be able to fly.
Ryker would help also, when he had the chance, but mostly he had other tasks to take care of.
Malina and I would train in between stints of translating, keeping our bodies in shape and working on relying on her other senses while I was invisible to better herself and allowing me to practice with my magic.
I had been able to increase the amount of time that I could use it, going longer and longer each time to build my endurance.
No new attacks had occurred since Vicria had been taken and that eased my worries but it didn’t feel right.
Something was off, especially as I continued to learn more and more from the dark book.
But until I could fully understand it, it was all we had to go off of, and we could breathe for a moment.
Odarum continued to push me to manifest his gift but to no avail. He would leave for hours or days and come back just to urge me to try harder. All he could tell me was that a presence had made itself known, and I needed to hurry. Which led me to wonder if the Sage wasn’t the end of it after all.
“Come in,” Ryker’s deep voice called out after I knocked on the door to his study. We had been busy all day and hadn’t seen each other since last night.
I pushed open the door to find Ryker behind his desk writing.
The days were getting darker as winter approached, and the study was lit with warm hues from the sconces lining the walls.
His hair was messy, like he had been running his hand through it over and over.
The top buttons of his shirt were undone, and the sleeves were rolled up.
His face was set in hard seriousness as he concentrated on his work.
I closed the door and approached his desk when he glanced up at me.
The tension in his shoulders relaxed a bit, and he smiled wide enough to show his teeth. He stood and strolled over to me, grabbing my face and brushing his lips on my forehead.
“Do you have a moment? I hope I’m not interrupting.” I gestured to the desk behind him.
He waved it off. “Never. I’ll always have time for you. Have you had anything to eat yet?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I just got back from speaking with Odarum and I think Mal went to the city for the evening. She’s been going out almost every night after sitting with me all day.”
He chuckled. “Would you like to come eat with me? The kitchen staff will have gone home by now, but I’m sure we can find something.”
“Gods yes. I’m starving.”
He placed his hand on the small of my back and led us to the kitchen. I perched myself on the counter and watched as he went through the cabinets and gathered food on a platter.
I snickered when he set it down next to me. I picked up an apple and took a bite.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, taking a bite of my apple as I offered it to him.
“I just never imagined that a Lord would ever serve me food. ”
“Little gem, once we are mated, I’ll be serving you in many ways.”
I felt my cheeks flush. Ryker put his hands on my knees and spread my legs. He stepped between them. I bit my lip and his eyes flicked down to the motion. He leaned forward and kissed up my neck.
“Ryker,” I breathed. “I thought you wanted to eat.” His calloused hands moved up my thighs making my breath catch.
“There’s only one thing I want to eat right now.”
And I wanted nothing more than to satiate his appetite. We were both starving for each other.
“We can’t.” My voice was a pained whisper.
He stopped his languid motions along my neck and raised his head. His silver eyes darted between mine.
“There hasn’t been an attack in weeks. If she were going to attack again, she would have done so by now. If you’re worried about the mating trial, I’ll take care of it. Unless…you no longer want—”
“Stop.” I pressed my finger against his lips. “I will always want you, want us . So don’t say that.”
He nipped at my finger and smiled. “Alright.”
“But I’m still worried. It just feels too…easy. What if we’re wrong, and it wasn’t her after all?”
He stepped back and crossed his arms. I tried not to pay attention to his hardened length pressing against the seam of his pants.
“You think we should wait a bit longer to see if another attack happens?”
I nodded. “Has she said anything?”
“No. Nothing of use at least. She’s only demanded to be released.”
I looked off to the side. “Can you not go into her mind and figure it out for yourself?” I glanced back at him .
“I tried.” His face revealed no emotion.
“Something is off about her mind and I don’t know what it is.
While I can hear her active thoughts, everything else is…
blocked off somehow.” His jaw tensed. “I attempted several times, pushing and trying everything I could but,” he shrugged his shoulders, “I couldn’t get access to her mind. ”
“How is that possible? Has anything ever happened like that before?”
“I don’t exactly do it often, but no, I’ve never encountered a mind I couldn’t penetrate.” He swallowed. “My guess is it has something to do with that dark magic but I honestly don’t know.”
Dark magic is really starting to piss me off.
“Did she at least confirm or deny that she was behind the Glaev? Or that she was present in Helerie?”
We need something to work with.
He shook his head and that didn’t make me feel any better about it. At the very least, I expected her to lie and deny the allegations against her. “What about the book? Has it said anything about the Glaev or how to stop it? Or how it’s wielded?”
“Not specifically. But some of the Scholar’s notes are starting to make more sense.
He talks about power retention, conduits, and adaptation, but I don’t know what all of that means yet.
” I hung my head and sighed. “I’m trying.
I really am. But I don’t want to risk us being wrong and be the reason that Oryn suffers even more. ”
He gently grabbed my chin and lifted my head. “Then we’ll wait until we’re certain.”
“Okay.”
“Finish eating. We’ll worry about this again in the morning. But for now, there’s somewhere I’d like to take you.”
“Where?” I asked with a mouthful. I had pretty much lost my appetite, but I forced myself to eat a few more bites .
“Saabha. It’s one of the smaller towns in the northwestern region of the mountains. It’s not that far from here.”
I had never heard of it, but I was intrigued and up for a late night trip. I swallowed my food and pushed my plate away. “And how will we get there?” I had a feeling I already knew and I wasn’t looking forward to it.
Ryker’s lips spread into a wide grin. “Well, you need to practice feeling the wind on your face.”
I groaned.
It’s going to be so cold.
I was right. It was freezing this high up and the chilled night air cut right to my bones.
I was thankful for the warm clothing while flying.
Ryker held me as we soared over the mountaintops, gripping me under my knees and back.
The night sky was sprinkled with soft clouds, illuminated by the waning moons on the horizon and the stars.
Regardless of the cold, I loved it up there. I felt free from everything.
Ryker was right, it wasn’t far when flying, but I couldn’t imagine how long it would take to travel on the ground, winding through the mountainous terrain.
By the time we landed on the outskirts of Saabha, I felt frozen.
Ryker shifted away his wings in the darkness of the night before he took my hand and led me into the town.
Though the nights were growing longer with the winter season, it was still relatively early in the evening.
People were still bustling around shops and other businesses along the gravel streets.
“Where are you taking me exactly?” I asked, pressed into his side for warmth as we walked, and he put his arm around my waist to hold me closer. I could feel the heat emanating from him and I stopped shivering.
“I wanted to get you something, so I had some new daggers and arrows commissioned for you.”
“Really? You didn’t have to do that. But why all the way out here? Aren’t there blacksmiths back in Voara?” I looked up at him.
“Yes, there are. But the wielder here… Well, lets just say that I wanted a special touch for these,” he said with a smirk.