A Quick Sun Rises (11 page)

“I know what it is to love. I know the sorrow and pain of a desired heart that may never receive in return what it offers constantly.” She looked deep into Thane’s eyes and he couldn’t help the feeling that she was a part of him. “I know the anguish that comes with letting go the only one that makes you feel complete inside.”

Thane suddenly felt that he and Jne were the only ones left in the courtyard. Her words held him for a long moment, warming him while at the same time filling him with grief matching that which he’d felt while connected with Tchee. It was at that moment that he realized that she had laid herself bare before him. Stripped away were all the walls of protection most people carried to keep themselves from being hurt and now Jne was offering it all to him, allowing him to see her as she truly was, with all the insecurities and uncertainty and she was giving it to him to do as he pleased. It was like a volcano of ice erupting out of her and filling him with its promises of warmth while chilling him to the core.

And then he understood. He’d grown up knowing disappointment and hurt coming from those who should have loved him or been his friend but now he finally comprehended what it was to give. What it meant to strip oneself of all false pretense and offer up what was left to another without thought or care as to how it would be accepted or handled. It was love in its purest form and nothing could destroy it. The sacrifice in its offering was what made it infinite. To hold it back in even the slightest degree was what weakened it and made it of less worth; what starved it and withered it to the roots. And to deny the offering, to cheapen the sacrifice by turning away when it was offered so freely, was to blaspheme it and desecrate its purity.

He held Jne’s gaze for a moment longer before turning to stare at the two large birds standing silently and proud behind him and for the first time he saw beauty. For the first time he truly understood honor.

“We go.”

Chapter Seven 

Jne pressed her face against Thane’s back; her arms wrapped like securely tied rope around his stomach becoming a noose that threatened to choke off his breathing. She dared not look down or even open her eyes for fear that the ground might see her and snatch her back like a jealous lover. Though at such altitudes the wind was certainly cold, her constant shiver was not a result of the air temperature but instead revealed her perceived shame at the terror that gripped her while soaring at such heights. Never would Thane have thought there existed such a thing that would cause the Tjal woman to manifest the slightest inkling of fear but, apparently, flying was it. His first reaction was amusement with a slight desire to rib her for what he identified as an exhilarating experience. But the image of her in Calandra standing before him completely open and exposed quickly reminded him of the total trust she had exhibited and he realized that he would never tease her when it came to her sense of honor.

Thane, on the other hand, felt more alive and free than he ever had. His ArVen Tane was filling him with utter exhilaration to the point that he felt he never wanted to touch the ground again. His hands lay slack against the roc’s body that had freed them from the confines of the earth and brought him to a point of such total communion with the ArVen that it bordered on worship. Never before had he given himself over so completely to one Tane allowing it to fill his body and senses so fully. He felt a sudden connection to it that all at once exhilarated him yet filled him with fear that he would be consumed by it to the point of losing his identity, his body becoming an integral part of the air surrounding them. It was pure and raw power wholly at his bidding to command as he wished to the degree that he knew it had no capacity to deny even his slightest whim. He was the master of the air.

Tam was also experiencing a sacred moment as she too communed with the ArVen, though not in the slightest bit equal to what Thane enjoyed. She could feel the faintest pull as if invited to be free of the roc and merely fly on her own. The wind caressed her senses and seemed to be calling for her to join it offering up promises of complete freedom and an uninhibited life.

Dor had agreed to let her sit in front, knowing full well before they even elevated the slightest distance from the ground that this was not going to be an experience he would cherish. He too held tightly to Tam though, unlike Jne, he was still able to appreciate the beautiful vistas offered to one soaring so high above the ground.

Once Thane had given the word of acceptance to the roc’s offered sacrifice, they wasted no time in mounting the giant birds. It was a sad and sacred moment as the life-given rocs relinquished their hold to one another, giving all in sacrifice to carry them. At the last moment they turned their sharp eyes onto each other and let out a mournful cry that reduced all present to bitter tears.

Jack agreed that he and those remaining would gather as many as would come and start heading west toward their ultimate goal of Bedler’s Keep. Thane, and those with him, would catch up as soon as their mission was complete whether that meant success at retrieving the arrow or not.

He tried not to think too much about what it would be like to return to his people after having been beaten mercilessly and left to die at the hands of trolls. He wondered about his father. Would he be happy his son was still alive or would he turn his back in disgust. He had not thought much about his home since being left on the Shadow Mountains, blocking out, he supposed, the painful life that had been his up until that time. It was ironic to the extreme that he finally found acceptance and love from one whose race had almost annihilated his own many centuries past. Jack had been more a father to him in the relatively short amount of time he’d known him than his own father had been his whole life. Though he had come to embrace who he was, no longer ashamed of the powers he possessed, the darkness of his past still clouded over him stealing the exhilaration he’d been feeling while communing with the ArVen. Doubts began slicing through his confidence like water freezing in the cracks of boulders that eventually expand to the point of breaking them into pieces. Still, he would give almost anything to have even the smallest relationship with his father.

He thought of the jealousy he’d felt toward Dor and the love and respect he shared with his own father and suddenly Thane worried for his friends. His return could not be any worse than when he’d been exiled, short of losing his life, which he now felt confident would not happen. Dor and Tam, on the other hand, had left behind loving and secure homes to come after him and now they were returning to what would most likely be joyous reunions to real homes full of happiness and family that wanted them. He suddenly felt conflicted. In the face of all they confronted west of the Shadow Mountains, would they not rather stay with their families? Tam had chosen Dor and now, in the presence of the kinpa, they could be joined and be a family of their own. Though he would miss them terribly, they had lives waiting for them in the Ardath. They would be welcomed home and wanted. They had a responsibility to the Chufa race. Against the great host of evil that threatened, two Chufa would most likely not change the tide of the war. It was the arrow that would make a difference, not Dor or Tam. And even then, the arrow would not provide the power to eliminate the massive army now bowing to Zadok’s bidding. If they failed and Zadok’s minions won the conflict, it would not matter where their lives were ended. At least, should they stay in the Ardath, they would know happiness for a time. He knew he would not be able to convince them otherwise, but he hoped that once they were back home, with their families around them, that they would finally decide to stay. He, on the other hand, knew already in his heart that his return would be ill accepted. Only his mother would show any joy at seeing him, and he hated knowing that it would probably cause her more pain to see him again than if he’d just never returned. He wanted her to know he was safe though, to know that he loved her and that he was fighting to protect her. And no matter if they never saw each other again, she could be proud, and know in her heart, that her son had given all so that those who hated him most might be safe. He had chosen the correct course no matter what others thought.

Even with the added speed and ease that flying offered, they still figured it would take the better part of three days to finally reach their destination. Then at least one day, if not more, to try and convince DaxSagn to give up his most prized possession before turning back toward Calandra. By that time, Zadok’s army would most likely be in the process of stripping the city of its remaining life and wealth. He only hoped the trip would be worth it. A part of him felt guilty for leaving Calandra at such a crucial time but as Jne had pointed out earlier, there were no easy choices in war, only those that were of most benefit to the greatest numbers. War was not for the weak or faint of heart.

As the sun reached its zenith, the birds slowed and then circled lazily before descending to the ground. Thane knew they must be tired and need something to eat, as did he and his companions. As the ground reached up for them, he tensed, bracing himself for a rough landing but was surprised to find the giant bird set down gently onto the soil. It took a moment to peel Jne’s arms away from his waist and convince her that they were indeed on the ground and that she could open her eyes. When she finally did, she almost tripped in her efforts to set her feet firmly on solid ground. She glared at the three Chufa as if daring any of them to say something about her fear of flying but at once relaxed when she realized no one was even looking at her, each happy to be free of their mounts so they could stretch their legs and search their packs for something to eat.

Before leaving Calandra, they thought it best to return to camp and retrieve their packs and weapons. The two rocs descending on the crowded refugee camp caused no small stir as many thought the dragons had returned. The relief they felt was short lived though as the call went out for everyone to pack up again and start for the western gates where they would meet up with Jack and the others. Thane quickly spoke with Bren and Kat apprising them of the situation and urging them to retrieve all healers from the city. A number of the refugees had refused to leave, placing their trust, as it were, on Calandra to protect them. No amount of pleading or arguing would dissuade them so they were finally left to their fate as they willed it.

Tam shouted a protest as the rocs suddenly leapt into the air and took flight, leaving the four of them behind. “They’re leaving us!” she cried, reaching a hand skyward as if to pull them back to earth.

“Do not worry,” Thane soothed, as they all watched the magnificent birds turning south before racing away. “They go to feed and replenish their strength. They will return soon enough.”

“They can take all the time they like,” Dor complained while trying to rub feeling back into his legs. Jne just nodded while Thane and Tam shared a smile.

Everyone busied themselves with pulling from their packs what they wanted for the midday meal and then sat in the late spring grass that was plentiful in the area and spread across the many small knolls and mounds that rippled the landscape. Little patches of wild flowers lent color to the area and the slightest buzzing sound was heard as honey bees hungrily supped on the flower’s nectar. An occasional tree or shrub sprung up haphazardly, breaking up the terrain with chaotic splendor and lending the slightest patches of shade against the day that was warming up quite nicely, giving a sense of peace and security that contrasted greatly with the terrible circumstances that threatened.

“Do you think they’ve changed much?” Tam suddenly asked.

“Who?” Dor mumbled while shoving another piece of cheese into his mouth.

Tam smiled. “Our families, of course.”

Dor smiled at her. He had not really given it much thought, his mind having given so much effort to keeping his body on the roc’s back and his breakfast in his stomach. “I don’t know. It seems like an entirely different life though we really haven’t been gone all that long, have we?”

Thane watched the exchange in silence, not offering any of his own thoughts while Jne watched him with a flat stare that revealed nothing as to what she might be thinking.

“I can’t wait to see the wonder in their faces at our return,” Tam said, the excitement obvious in her voice.

“We’ll need to be cautious,” Thane abruptly offered.

“Why?” Tam asked, regarding him for a moment her expression changing from one of surprise to one of painful understanding.

“We are not the same children that left the Ardath forest in the months past,” he continued. “Look at how you are dressed,” he said, pointing out the Tjal garb they had all adopted to cover their true lineage. “And Dor’s head,” he added, referring to the slow growing hair that had still not reached the back of Dor’s neck. “No longer flow the black hairs of the Chufa down his back, a leftover result of his rescuing you.” He now turned his green eyes on Tam. “And you,” he breathed, “you still demonstrate the physical degradation of one addicted to
dranlok
. You have yet to regain all the weight you lost. Though you do your best to hide it, you are still not back to your full strength.” Thane shook his head. “We are not the children they remember,” he continued, his gaze now set on the distant horizon. “And there is one among us who will be seen as an enemy,” he finished, though whether he meant Jne or himself, none could tell.

Dor and Tam looked at their friend, the immediate shock of his words slowly turning to understanding. He was right. They were different and to carelessly saunter into the village without the least bit of preparation may find them all pin-cushioned with arrows.

“Our clothes are easy to change,” Dor proffered, “and Tam’s thin frame might be expected of one suddenly appearing out of the mountains. And though my hair may cause a stir, I don’t think it would be enough to have me banished.” Dor said the last word and then immediately wished he hadn’t. Looking to his friend, he waited to see his response, already preparing to apologize.

But Thane smiled sardonically. “You are right. Nothing so minor would be cause to beat you and leave you for dead.”

Dor sighed. “Thane, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”

Thane waved him off shaking his head and giving him a genuine smile this time. “Don’t Dor. It is not your fault what has happened to me and I should not burden you with my own bitterness. You have always been the greatest friend to me.”

“You are right, though,” Tam added. “We do need some sort of plan for getting into the village without taking an arrow to the chest.”

Jne watched the exchange in silence, unable to offer an opinion not knowing the culture or background of the people with whom they were dealing.

“And what of Jne?” Dor asked, and all could see her tense as if watching the hackles of a wild animal rising in warning. “We cannot take her into the village with us. That will certainly start a fight.”

“I go with Thane,” she stated flatly, though the embers in her eyes betrayed her growing anger.

Thane ignored the exchange, instead addressing the problem at hand. “With all of the trolls gone from the Shadow Mountains, the patrols may have grown careless in their vigilance which could give us the opportunity to slip past them, but then what? As soon as we reach the village the alarm will still be given and we may risk losing one of us to a stray arrow.”

“We could go to my parent’s hut,” Dor offered. “Once inside, we would be safe. My father could then bring DaxSagn to us without alerting anyone else.”