Unquiet Slumber (53 page)

She dressed and sat down to brush out what was left of her hair. Feeling the uneven ends, she exhaled loudly. Given everything else, a haircut was a silly thing to be upset over but she couldn’t help it. She felt like she had lost yet another piece of who she was.

Seth and Gabriel had been watching her from the side and walked over. Seth asked, “Can we be of some assistance?”

Tianna glanced up at Seth with a look of desperation. “I’m not sure what to do.”

Seth kneeled next to her. “Let us try to help you.”

Tianna nodded in defeat. She didn’t think anything would work, but she was willing to let them try. She turned her back to Seth as he moved directly behind her and ran his fingers through her hair. Normally, he felt life in her hair and it caressed him back. Now her hair reflected Tianna mood—depressed and lifeless. He thought it was still beautiful and he liked the slight waves it held now that it wasn’t being pulled straight from its weight.

While Seth brushed, he pondered on what to do. Gabriel joined him and offered, “We could try to straighten the ends.”

Nathaniel recalled how some of the Inari with shorter hair had worn their hair. He called out, “What about making some small braids like the Inari wear?” He jogged back to his saddle bags and quickly returned carrying a small pouch.

Seth used a brush to smooth her wet hair and then stepped to the side. Gabriel came forward and pulled out his knife whose very sharp edge glistened in the sunlight. He gently cut the uneven ends, removing only the minimum amount of hair.

Nathaniel handed the pouch to Tianna. “You can use these. I collected them when we were in Willow.” He wanted to tell her that he originally planned to give them to her as a remembrance of the location of their first kiss once they arrived back in Haven. Given their change in relationship, now seemed a better time to offer the gift.

Tianna opened the pouch and pulled out wooden beads of many sizes and colors as well as some gems, dried flowers, leaves, and feathers. She thought they were all beautiful. She smiled and choked out a quiet, “Thank you.”

While in Willow, Hollee had taught Seth how to create braids incorporating beads. He was now very grateful for those lessons. As Seth braided Tianna’s hair, she handed him things he could braid in with Marcus, Gabriel, and Nathaniel all offering suggestions.

Seth ended up making several small braids along the sides of her face and in various spots around her head. When he was done, they all smiled at the final product and patted him on the back.

Marcus smiled and said, “Very nice, Seth. She looks beautiful.”

Nathaniel added, “She looks exactly like an Inari.” He looked at Tianna and suggested, “I think you should put on one of your Inari outfits and make the look complete.”

Everyone agreed enthusiastically.

Tianna felt the braids and tried to smile. She stood and kissed each of her companions on the cheek—even Nathaniel. They both trembled when they touched. She then changed into a new outfit per Nathaniel’s suggestion.

As everyone started to pack up to continue their journey, Nathaniel walked over to where Gabriel had cut Tianna’s hair and collected all of the hair clippings.

Tianna warned, “I think we need to destroy the cut hair. Kai used some of what his Drenn warriors cut off me to attack Coldrenn. He said that’s how he was able to destroy the whole village. It seems the wizard in Eden was correct and my hair does possess magical properties. We can’t let any more of it fall into enemy hands.”

They all agreed. Nathaniel grabbed a bag and put the clippings in it. “We can burn it at one of our campfires.” He knew he wouldn’t be able to do it so he walked over and gave the bag to Gabriel, who understood without any words being exchanged.

Marcus led everyone back on the trail and they continued their journey.

The next day at the evening camp, Gabriel announced their nightly training session. Seth stood and began to prepare, but Tianna remained seated.

When Gabriel questioned her, she responded shortly, “I don’t need any more training. My powers have grown enough for me to protect myself.” She had no desire to embrace any of her powers. It was her powers that had her trapped in her current mess.

Gabriel raised his eyebrows. He knew what was happening in Tianna’s mind and needed her to once again embrace that which was within her. He replied, “Oh, really? None of us would argue that your powers have grown but that means you need training even more.”

Tianna shrugged him off. “I know enough. Fighting won’t help me fight Kai in my dreams.”

He knew that, in her current state of mind, she was vulnerable to everyone. He needed her to let out the pent up feelings inside to regain the confidence she was starting to show prior to her separation from Nathaniel. He needed her to also embrace the power she showed outside of Coldrenn.

Gabriel motioned Seth to sit to the side and just watch, while he grabbed his sword. He turned to Tianna and commanded, “If you’re so tough, get up and fight me.” His dragon growled.

When Tianna didn’t move, he threw a sword at her feet and yelled. “Get up, now!”

Not wanting to feel his corrective swat again, Tianna stood and reluctantly picked up the sword.

Gabriel readied his sword, but Tianna just stood with her weapon hanging limply at her side. He attacked. She wasn’t prepared and had to scramble to get her sword up to protect herself. He cut her arm in his strike.

Nathaniel jumped to his feet, but Gabriel waved him back down. Tianna gawked in shock as she wiped blood from her arm. Gabriel didn’t wait. He yelled and attacked her again. This time Tianna had her sword up in time and blocked his strike. He continued to attack her, trying to force her to engage. She refused and he repeatedly won each battle.

Gabriel paused to yell at her. “You can do better than this! You’re battling like a child with a toy sword. Engage and show me what I’ve taught you.”

Tianna was out of breath and frustrated. “You keep beating me because you’re Royal Guard. You’re also almost twice my size and much stronger than I am. I could never beat you no matter how much I train.” She walked off saying, “There’s no point to this.”

Gabriel couldn’t let her give up and called her back. He must force her to engage. “Okay, if not me, then fight Marcus. He’s not Royal Guard or of the Warrior Sett. See how you do against him.”

Marcus nodded to Gabriel and stepped forward without a weapon.

Tianna turned and gave him a puzzled look, “Where’s your sword?”

“I’m going to fight you without any physical weapon.” He motioned her forward to attack him.

Tianna shook her head adamantly. “I refuse to fight you unarmed. You must be able to protect yourself.”

Refusing to give in, Gabriel replaced her sword with a stick and said, “Now you won’t have to worry about cutting him. Just hit him.” He taunted her, “Unless you’re afraid to fight him? Maybe you’re too weak and frail to be a warrior.”

Tianna’s eyes flashed in anger, she readied her stick, and began to circle Marcus. She attacked him over and over again and he repeatedly avoided each attack. The more frustrated she became, the easier it was for Marcus to avoid her strikes. Tianna knew he was playing with her and could take her completely out of the equation if he had wanted to.

Gabriel pulled Tianna to the side. “Do you see? He doesn’t need a physical weapon. He’s beating you because he’s using his mind. You’re attacking without strategy, which is giving him the perfect opportunity to dodge your moves. Recall what you’ve learned during our journey. Use it now!” He pushed her back into the fight.

Tianna shook her head. “Marcus is a brilliant strategist. Of course he can out think me in battle.” She dropped her stick.

Gabriel wouldn’t let her leave. “Then let’s try another.” He motioned Nathaniel forward. “Nathaniel isn’t a warrior or a strategist. Try fighting him.”

Tianna thought Gabriel was crazy. She wasn’t going to fight Nathaniel.

Nathaniel didn’t want to fight Tianna either, but he understood what Gabriel was trying to do. He knew that Tianna needed to reconnect with her inner natures or they would all be in danger—her most of all. He had to do whatever was needed to keep her safe and out of Kai’s arms.

He picked up Tianna’s sword, tossing it to her, while Seth handed him his sword. Nathaniel held his weapon at the ready while he started to circle her.

She half-heartedly readied her weapon and glared at Nathaniel. When he came at her with a strike, she blocked it. She was shocked by the amount of force he had used. He was attacking her as Gabriel would.

She stepped back and readied her sword again, but this time with a little more concentration. When he attacked, she blocked and then struck back. Within a few minutes, the mock battle was in full force. When he caught her off-guard and she fell back on her butt, something snapped and her anger came raging to the surface. She went from defensive positions to being the aggressor. Her eyes flashed red and she went after Nathaniel with all of her pent up anger.

She screamed, “How could you!” and swung her sword. The force of her strike caused him to stumble. She didn’t give him a chance to regroup before she attacked again and again. He had to concentrate hard to block her strikes. Given that he was still standing, she yelled, “I loved you!” and a burst of power shot out from her body, pelting him with nuts, sticks, an anything else that was loose on the ground. As he tried to protect himself from the flying debris, a vine snaked in and ripped the sword from his hand. With a mere flick of her finger, she willed a root to grow out of the ground, tripping him. He fell to the ground unarmed with bruises and scrapes all over of his body.

Tianna stalked toward him, her eyes flashing.

Gabriel could feel her anger and feared she might seriously hurt Nathaniel, so he motioned Marcus to jump in. Marcus scurried over quickly, picked-up Nathaniel’s sword, and attacked.

Marcus’ distraction worked and Tianna was forced to defend herself. Marcus never gave her a chance to refocus on Nathaniel and forced her to continue the battle. She fought him with precision using the strategies Gabriel had taught her. When she received another cut on her arm, a branch came flying and knocked Marcus out of the fighting area.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Nathaniel trying to stand and had a vine grab him, wrapping him tight.

When Marcus waved to Gabriel that he was okay, Gabriel gave out a battle cry and joined the fight. As they battled, the wind started to whip around them. The power her body was giving off made everyone’s hair stand on end, similar to the sensations they felt outside of Coldrenn. She continued to fight until she was so physically exhausted that she was having a difficult time lifting her sword. She then dropped to the ground, falling to her knees, and screaming out the last of her anger and frustration.

Once the sense of power receded, Gabriel approached Tianna saying, “That’s my girl. Welcome back.” He helped her to her feet.

She glanced up at his face and couldn’t help but laugh. She wasn’t sure why but it felt good.

Gabriel chuckled. “Could you do me a favor and untie Nathaniel?”

Tianna shifted her gaze and saw Seth unsuccessfully trying to undo the vines that wrapped Nathaniel up tight.

Tianna touched the ground and the vines started to recede. She stood and walked over to Marcus, who was sitting on the ground rubbing his chest. She squatted down, placing her hand on his chest willing her blue fire. Marcus sighed as the pain left. She gave him a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry about the branch.”

He chuckled as he stood. “You do pack a punch when you’re angry.”

She then walked over to Nathaniel, who was still getting himself untangled and sat down next to him. Marcus motioned Gabriel and Seth to join him back at their campfire. He knew Tianna and Nathaniel needed a moment to talk privately. Tianna’s arms were still bleeding so Nathaniel offered to heal her cuts. Tianna agreed and, when she felt his healing touch, closed her eyes.

As Nathaniel healed her arm, he said, “I’m sorry for all of the pain I’ve caused you. If I could make it all go away, I would. ”

She sighed, opened her eyes and began to use her fire to heal the wounds she had inflicted. As she worked, she said, “In time, I’ll learn to accept our changed situation. I spent most of my life convinced I would never know love. You taught me that I do have the ability to love and, for a brief period, I felt what it was like to be loved in return. For that, I’ll always be grateful. You’ll always have a special place in my heart—no matter how our futures unfold.”