The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Two: Beyond the Veil (60 page)

“The stories are true then,” Ihklos lifted his chin, staring down his nose at Aiva. He was fascinated by her. She could tell by the glint in his eye, unable to tear his sight away. “I heard you harbored a spirit in the flesh. The power is visible in her eyes. They glow from the energy within. I have never known anyone to possess the gifts of the spirits with such strength. Is she one of their deities? One of the Vor’shai goddesses in flesh and blood?”

“Their people have a strong bond with the spirits, My King. The abundance of energy is visible in all Vor’shai.” Uttae bowed low, respectful. “I would not speak of it if I had not witnessed it with my own eyes.”

Nodding in understanding Ihklos brought his thumb and forefinger to Aiva’s chin, grasping it lightly. With nothing more than a gentle pressure he tilted her face from one side to the other, seeming to admire what he saw there. When he spoke next it was in his native tongue, directing the statement to Uttae without taking his eyes from Aiva. She wished she had some understanding of their language. Her pulse raced under his scrutinizing stare. If he had anything to say about her, she wanted to know what it was.

Afraid to pull her head from his hold Aiva remained in Ihklos’s grasp. Uttae chuckled at whatever was said. She prayed he would respond in a manner which would allow her to determine the context of the King’s statement. To her dismay, her wish went unanswered. Uttae replied in the same strange language, the conversation continuing between the two men. Ihklos was smiling. It seemed a good sign. If he was in a pleasant mood, there was hope yet of acquiring a boat to the islands.

“I desire to see this witchcraft,” Ihklos stated suddenly, releasing his hold on Aiva. “What can you show me of the gifts granted you by the spirits?”

Aiva stared at him, baffled by the request. “What exactly would you like me do?”

“Anything,” he waved distractedly. “Prove to me that the spirits favor you the way my people rumor. They say you are more skilled than any witch in Tunir. That is a powerful claim. I require evidence.”

“Your Majesty, I never claimed to be better than your witches – ”

“Princess.” Uttae cut her off before she could argue further. “Remember what I told you.”

She fell silent, embarrassed. He had instructed her not to argue, but she didn’t want Ihklos to think she considered herself above his people. Although Enokih might think Aiva so conceited, it wasn’t the case.

What could she possibly do to give Ihklos the display he required? Any trick of the energy seemed trivial. Unimpressive. But if he was unfamiliar with the ways in which the Vor’shai could utilize the gifts, even something small would come as a shock. Extending her hand she rotated the palm toward the ceiling, inhaling a deep breath to center her energy. In a flash, a blue light appeared over her palm, hovering there, the size fluctuating at her whim. Ihklos’s eyes opened wide, gazing at her in wonder, his long fingers reaching toward the light.

“Incredible,” he breathed. “It is so pure and effortless. How do you conjure without need of ritual or incantations to summon the energy?”

“There is no need to summon something which I already possess,” she said simply, closing her hand to cause the glow to blink out of existence. “It is just a matter of focusing the energy where I desire it to go. The uses are nearly limitless, though my people have very specific boundaries which we dare not cross. The power we wield is a gift, and therefore we do not take it lightly.”

“Understandably so,” Ihklos nodded. He gave a wave of his hand, motioning for Aiva and Uttae to follow, his long strides carrying him back to the throne. Settling himself upon it, he held Aiva’s gaze, leaning forward intently. “I must ask what a woman like yourself has need to request of me. My General says you require assistance.”

Aiva smiled. Finally. They had reached the topic she held interest in. “I do, Your Majesty,” she replied, dipping into another graceful curtsy. “My husband and I do not require much, but we are in need of transportation from your land. It would not be far. We seek only to reach the shores of the Luquarrian islands to the north. Unfortunately, we are without a ship to take us there.”

He stroked his chin, contemplative of what Aiva asked. It seemed a simple request. She dreaded to hear what his decision would be. “I dislike sending my men away from our country,” he said flatly, leaning back in his seat. “The only reason I entertain the idea now is because my father was fond of your kind. And if the spirits have blessed you to such an extreme, I dare not slight them. My concern is how many men will be required to complete the task and when they will be leaving.” Ihklos managed to shift his eyes away from Aiva, setting them sternly on Uttae. “General, you know very well we have the big hunt in a few days. As it honors my father, I will not allow my warriors to leave before then. In fact, I must insist that our guests participate. It would honor my family greatly.”

“This I understand, My King,” Uttae took another step forward. “While the lady might be able to take part, her husband will not be healed enough to do so. His wounds were severe. A hunt is out of the question.”

Ihklos rose to his feet, coming to stand in front of Aiva once again. His hands reached for her arms, the length of his fingers easily wrapping around the entirety of her biceps. “Do you think the lady is sturdy enough to keep up with your warriors?”

“If you insist on her participation, then I hope for her sake she is,” Uttae smirked. “My only request, if she accompanies the men, is that I be allowed to keep watch over her. I would not want to be the one to tell the Tanispan King that his daughter was killed due to lack of care on our part.”

“Of course. We will have our best witches present to care for the wounded. I trust your daughter will be in attendance?”

“She wouldn’t miss the hunt,” Uttae smiled. “And I would not deny my King her company.”

“Then it is decided,” Ihklos stated, releasing Aiva’s arms with a smirk. “The petite witch will hunt with you. If she is able to impress me, I will arrange a boat to take her and her husband to the Luquarrian islands. Does this suit the Princess?”

Aiva felt her entire body tremble at the thought. How was she supposed to keep up with these men? They could climb trees without effort. Hunting tactics in Tunir were far different from anything she’d seen in Tanispa. Callum would never approve. But what choice did she have? Ihklos offered the boat she needed. She had to do it. Not only for her and Callum, but for Edric. For Shaelyn. If they could get to the other men, it would make anything else worth the trouble. “It suits me fine, Your Majesty,” she replied calmly, grateful for the steadiness of her tone. It wouldn’t do any good for Ihklos to notice her uncertainty. “I look forward to the challenge.”

“I like this woman,” Ihklos patted Aiva’s arm gruffly. “A shame she is spoken for. Perhaps I will have a chance to meet her lucky husband before their departure.”

Warmth built in Aiva’s face at the compliment. Averting her eyes she took a step backward to increase the distance between them, seizing the moment to give a low curtsy in farewell. She’d seen and heard all that was necessary from this man. What she wanted now was to be out of his presence and back in Iachoor with Callum.
But you won’t be there until tomorrow.
She grimaced at the thought. Why couldn’t they return sooner? Surely Uttae’s men were more than capable of making the journey at night.

“If he is up to the task at the time of the hunt, I will see that he accompany my daughter and me from Iachoor. He can remain here with Enokih to care for the wounded while his wife and I bring back the trophy,” Uttae nodded, bowing low to Ihklos. The king laughed heartily, making his way to the throne.

“You have been the victor for years. Do you think you can do it again, old man?”

“What I lack in youth, I make up in skill. The Princess and I will be victorious. Wait and see.” Uttae brought his right fist across his chest, striking over his left breast with a loud thud. Acknowledging the salute, Ihklos returned the gesture, waving them toward the door.

“Until the hunt, then,” he smiled. “May you have a safe trip home.”

It rained the entirety of the journey from Ghaient to Iachoor, droplets of water pattering down atop the canopy protecting Aiva from the elements. Her nerves were frayed, not having slept at all since leaving Ihklos’s palace, plagued by images of the terrible things that might happen during the hunt, making her second-guess her decision to accept the challenge. She was no hunter. She barely considered herself a fighter. Nothing Cadell taught would be of any help in this jungle. Much the same as it had done nothing to protect her from the sandstorms in the desert. She knew how to fight people. That was far different from the beasts lurking amongst these trees.

Uttae refused to listen to her pleas after leaving the king, insisting they remain in Ghaient until morning. Camp was set up outside the city, offering Aiva nothing more than a thin fabric tent to act as a barrier between her and the wild animals she listened to throughout the night. Men were positioned outside her tent to act as guards in case anything came too close. At one point she was certain she heard one of the guards make use of his spear, though fear prevented her from verifying whether it was true.

She sat now, knees pulled tight to her chest, staring blankly into the distance with the rocking of the platform. They would be to Iachoor soon. The path was becoming more familiar. Her heart ached for the sight of Callum’s face. Even if he remained asleep, she wanted to look upon him. To know he was alright.

Outside Uttae gave a loud command, the platform Aiva rode upon quickly being lowered to the ground. She was in motion and on her feet before the men could reach her, declining their assistance. Uttae peered quizzically at her as he completed the distance between them, gesturing her toward his back. “In a hurry, Princess?”

“I am anxious to check on my husband’s condition,” she stated matter-of-factly. There was no shame in admitting the truth. “With any luck he will wake soon… unless your daughter has chosen to render him unconscious yet again.”

Uttae chuckled, tugging on Aiva’s arms to make sure they were securely fastened around his neck. “If you asked her not to do so, I hope for her sake she listened,” he said calmly, taking flight into the trees with a swift leap. Aiva was too tired to appreciate the feeling. Her only concern was the dampness of the branches, watching every grip of Uttae’s hands and feet with bated breath. He showed no hesitation, easily finding his hold with every swing.

At the top, he stepped through the door, turning around to lower Aiva from his shoulders. She shivered from a sudden chill, a cool breeze blowing through the entryway, reminding Aiva of her dampened clothing. If what she wore could even be considered a garment. “When will we depart for Ghaient next?” she asked, curious. It was a question which had weighed heavily on her mind since leaving Ihklos’s palace. There was finally an opportunity in sight when she and Callum would depart for the islands. When Callum awoke, she wanted to give him the news. It would brighten his spirits to know they would be leaving soon.

“Three days,” Uttae said with a sharp nod. “I recommend you eat well and get as much rest as you can. The hunt will be no easy task.”

“It would not be a sport if it was easy,” Aiva sighed, patting the sword strapped around her waist. “I will do my best to impress your king. My only concern is that I may slow you down. It sounds as if you have a reputation as the victor. I would hate to be the reason you lose.”

“We will have plenty of help. Do not worry,” Uttae patted the top of her head lightly. “Go to your husband. I must see to my men before dinner.”

With a grateful smile she hurried down the hall. It felt good to be back within the familiar walls of the tree house. It was the closest thing to a home she had in weeks. More than a month had passed since they first set out on their journey. She was beginning to think they would never make it back to Tanispa. That they would never know what it was like to be home again. The concept was foreign to her. It was so easy to forget. Oh, how she’d taken everything for granted! Closets filled with gowns and shoes, glittering jewels laid out for her to wear – all the parties and social gatherings. And her bed. The warmth and comfort of a real bed, covered in thick, cushiony blankets.

She was lost in the thoughts of her rooms at the palace when she finally reached the door to the tiny quarters where she left Callum the day before. Quietly, she let herself into the room, keeping close to the door as she closed it behind her. Turning toward the bed she gave a cry of surprise to find Callum standing only a few inches away, equally startled by her sudden arrival.

“Aiva…”

“Callum, what are you doing out of bed?” she gasped, hand pressed against her chest to ease her racing heart. “You are not well enough to be standing. Uttae will be unhappy if he discovers you on your feet.”

His eyes were locked on her, growing wider as he took in her appearance. “Sweet Sarid, what are you wearing?” he breathed in disbelief. “You are… what happened to your clothes?”