The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Two: Beyond the Veil (58 page)

“You are leaving?” Aiva asked, a hint of unease in her tone. She didn’t want him to go. He was the closest thing to a friend they had in the entire village. The thought of being left in Enokih’s care without him was disconcerting. Enokih had shown herself to be set in her ways and unknowledgeable of anyone outside her own people. Her company would be less than pleasant.

“Only for a day or two. When I return we will see about getting you to the King.”

“I suspect your daughter will have no use for me. She seems to dislike the way my people practice medicine…”

“Enokih dislikes admitting that anyone might understand the work she does,” Uttae smirked, motioning Aiva toward the door of the shop. “The use of spirit energy among our people is sacred. Those who have made it their lives to build upon their understanding of its workings are revered. She knows very little of Vor’shai medicine and is intimidated by the ease in which you and your husband access the gifts. Don’t let her roughness fool you. She has a great deal of respect for you both. Enokih believes the spirits must smile upon you for favoring you in their magic the way they do.”

A smile played at the corner of Aiva’s lips to hear Uttae’s admission. It had never crossed her mind that the Vor’shai energy might be frightening for Enokih. She only wished Enokih could more easily let her opinions be known rather than retaliating against them in anger due to her lack of understanding. “I will do what I can to help, then,” Aiva nodded in agreement. “By the time you return, we will hopefully have no need to impose upon your family much longer.”

“Worry not on it, Princess. I have reason to believe your people would do the same for mine.” Grabbing onto her arms Uttae positioned Aiva on his back once again, eyes lifted to the trees overhead. “Hang on tightly. When we reach the house, there is a river a short distance through the trees where you can bathe and seek to make yourself comfortable for your stay. Just be watchful of the crocodiles. You are a slight woman. They will swallow you in a single gulp if you let them get too close.”

“Crocodiles?” Aiva gasped. She’d heard of such creatures, but never before had she set eyes upon them. It was an alarming thought to consider. “I do hope you speak in jest.”

“One does not jest when speaking of crocodiles,” he smirked. “Just keep your eyes open and you will be fine.” Crouching down Uttae gathered his strength, feet pounding along the ground until they reached the edge of the clearing. In a powerful leap he took to the trees, seeming to run across the branches with nothing more than an occasional jerking motion to reset his hold and swing to the next. Burying her face in his back Aiva clung to him for dear life, anxious to be at the house and safely on solid ground once more.

The day passed quickly for Aiva at Enokih’s side, tending to the men and women who came to her for spiritual and medicinal aid. Uttae came to check on them from time to time, occasionally stepping into the room to watch in silence before slipping out again without a word. By the time the sun started to set, Aiva could feel her stomach ache from hunger, reminding her of the fact that she’d barely eaten anything in days. Other than a mug filled with water brought in throughout the afternoon, she was famished. Drained.

Her hand came to rest over her abdomen to apply pressure in hopes of easing the pangs. Turning away from Enokih to hide the discomfort, she found herself staring into the muscular chest of Uttae. “Princess,” he stated calmly. “Your clothes are prepared. Enokih will assist in making sure they fit suitably and then I must be on my way.”

She was both excited and fearful of what garments Uttae had purchased. Anything would be better than the tattered dress she’d been wearing since diving into the frigid waters. After cleaning the dirt from her skin in the river, she had hated the thought of putting the rags back on, though she had little choice. She only hoped that what she was putting on now would cover her more than the clothing of the Tuniron women she’d seen in the village.

Offering a bundle of what looked to be chains, leather, and fabric to Enokih, Uttae turned around, granting a minimal amount of privacy for Aiva to undress. At her hesitation, Enokih was to her, quickly untying the laces at Aiva’s back to pull the dress over her head. Embarrassed, Aiva wrapped her arms around her chest, crouching forward to conceal as much of her skin as possible. She could hear Enokih snicker from under her shroud. “There is nothing to this woman,” she scoffed. “I don’t understand how the sea did not swallow her up.”

“Be nice, Enokih,” Uttae said sternly. “She comes from a strong family. I would not want to spur her into action and test whether or not she has been taught to fight the way her parents do.”

Enokih wrinkled her nose, saying nothing. Even she knew better than to press the matter in the presence of her father. Handing a ball of wadded fabric to Aiva, she motioned toward her legs. “Put this on. I will help if you have trouble.”

Confused by the item, Aiva held it in front of her. It appeared nothing more than an undergarment attached to a wide leather belt cinched around the hips. Two long strips of fabric had been cut to dangle from the front and back, adding more coverage than the loincloths worn by the others in the village, though not much. The material hung nearly to the floor, looking more like a full skirt at first glance. Once she managed to slip it over her legs, she found the sides split open, revealing her bare skin along the thighs. While she attached the belt around her hips, Enokih placed a metal ring around her neck, a length of matching crimson fabric attached at the front to hang down over her breasts. Pulling it taut, she tied the material at Aiva’s back. It concealed the most important parts of her body, yet left little to the imagination, her slender midsection completely visible between the shirt and belt.

“How does it fit?” Uttae asked, turning slowly to make sure Aiva was sufficiently covered before completing the motion. Aiva left her hands positioned over her stomach, wishing desperately for more material to wrap herself in.

“Must my legs be so bare?” she replied quietly, not wanting to offend him. “It would take very little to make the skirt more full and humor my modesty.”

“Think a bit more practical, Princess. You plan to embark on a journey which will lead to inevitable battle. How do you expect to fight if your legs are restricted by cloth?” Uttae’s brow rose curiously. “This garment provides the freedom necessary to maneuver in combat.” Drawing something from a large pack draped over his shoulders, Uttae stepped forward, kneeling in front of Aiva. His hands reached out, tying a leather strap around her upper thigh, testing the tightness with his fingers before rising to his feet. Curious, Aiva looked down to what Uttae had placed there, noticing what looked to be a small sheath, equipped with one of the bone-hilted daggers she’d seen on display at the shop.

“General, you did not have to provide us with weapons. You have already done so much,” she breathed. Intrigued by the dagger, she drew it forth, the torchlight in the room playing off the sharpened metal of the jagged blade. It was long. Capable of causing significant damage for such a small weapon.

Uttae watched her, nodding absently while retrieving another item from the pack. “I did not have to, but I have little doubt that King Ihklos will approve your transport to the islands. If you are going to be amongst those barbarians, you will need something to protect yourself. While weapons are available in their shops, my concern is that their thieves would prey upon you before you could reach the merchant.” He clasped a sturdy leather bracer around her forearm. From underneath the thick material he pulled forth another tiny dagger concealed within. “One can never be too cautious. Now,” he replaced the dagger, staring at Aiva inquisitively. “Do you know how to wield a sword?”

A smile curled at the edges of Aiva’s mouth. That was one answer she could proudly give. “I have been trained by General Cadell since I was a mere child.”

Nodding approvingly, Uttae revealed a scabbard from inside the pack, letting the empty material fall to the floor at his feet. It was attached to a thin yet heavy leather belt, fit perfectly to Aiva’s slender waist where he clasped it, hanging securely from her hips. “Then this should be enough to guarantee your protection, here in Tunir as well as on the islands. While Enokih is a strong woman, she has spent her years in practice of meditation and magic. I would feel comforted if you can offer protection while I am away.”

“Father,” Enokih protested in obvious humiliation. “I don’t need this woman to watch over me…”

“Hush, Enokih,” Uttae commanded. He flashed a hard gaze in his daughter’s direction, instantly sending her into obedient silence. “In my absence, I also expect you to feed the poor girl and her husband,” he slapped his long fingers over Aiva’s bare midsection, causing her to exhale in surprise from the soft blow. “I could count her ribs if I chose. I expect there to be some meat on her bones when I return.”

He strode over to Enokih, gently placing a kiss upon her forehead before turning away, casting one last glance at Aiva on his way out the door. They both stared after him, neither saying a word. Regardless of Uttae’s assurances that Enokih held even the slightest respect for Aiva, she couldn’t help but feel as if their time together was loathed equally between them.

“I should check on my husband before it gets much later,” Aiva announced, desperate for an excuse to be free of Enokih’s company. There had been little opportunity for her to see Callum since she left that morning. She was anxious to see if his condition had improved.

“He is sleeping,” Enokih stated flatly. “You should not disturb him.”

“I will not disturb him, but he should at least be woken long enough to eat something. He will get sick if he does not.”

“I saw him fed around lunchtime. He was given some bread and a mug of tea with some herbs to help him relax.”

Aiva’s heart sank at what Enokih said. Herbs?
Oh, please don’t let them be the same ones forced upon us in our first nights here…
“What kind of herbs exactly did you give him?”

“The kind that will keep him still so his wounds can heal,” Enokih turned away from Aiva irritably. “It will grant his body a few days without him attempting to squirm about constantly.”

Exasperated Aiva threw her arms into the air, barely holding back the urge to scream. Why couldn’t this woman just leave him alone? He would be fine without her herbs. If he was asleep, it would make it more difficult for Aiva to manipulate the energy in attempts to hasten the healing process. Enokih was only prolonging the length of their stay by insisting on utilizing her herbs and whatever other concoctions she’d been feeding Callum since his arrival. “I must insist you not give him that mixture again,” she said through gritted teeth. “We have a long journey ahead of us and if he is left in slumber for the rest of our stay, he will not be strong enough to defend himself.”

“My father thinks highly of your skills in combat. Could you not protect him?” Enokih waved dismissively. “I tend him by my means. If you have a problem with that, you can find shelter elsewhere. You were not brought here to tell me how to do my job.”

“No, I was not brought here to tell you how to do your job, nor is that what I am doing. You can treat your own people in whatever way you please, but I ask you to leave my husband’s health in my care. With the utmost respect for what you do, it is obvious that your knowledge of my people is creating a conflict of interest in regards to how he should be tended. I know his body and how it works. You do not. Please – leave him be.” Aiva exhaled, feeling a weight lifted from her shoulders. She had said it. Although she feared the repercussions, it was necessary.

In a huff Enokih brushed past Aiva toward the door. “Fine,” she said coolly. “I will not meddle in his health any further. But don’t come to me when his bones do not mend and you cannot determine the reason why.”

Aiva thought to say something in retaliation. Instead, she felt it best to let Enokih go. She watched her walk through the door in a blur of blackened fabric, leaving it open in her wake. Given her mood, Aiva didn’t expect to see her again for the rest of the night.
Good riddance
, she thought irritably, making her way from the room to check on Callum.
Maybe in the morning she will have developed a bit of sense.