Vengeance Born (The Light Blade #1) (22 page)

Shields and weapons hung on the walls, a variety of chests were pushed up against the walls, and a large table with high-backed chairs sat in the middle of the room.

“Most live in the Barracks. Being the… commander comes with certain privileges.” His hesitation made her wonder why he’d faltered mid-statement. He gestured at two smaller wooden doorways on the wall opposite her. “My bedroom is on the left. The other used to be my sister’s, until she became a Handmaiden at the Temple. I don’t think she’d mind it being yours for a while.”

Annika edged her way around the rug to stand in front of the fire, sighing as she felt the warming air. An open archway on the last wall of the room showed her smaller chamber shrouded in darkness. She was tempted to wander over and look in but she hadn’t been invited yet.

“It’s a bathing room.”

She jerked in surprise and discovered Kalan watching her, a grin curving his lips. She pushed back the hood of her cloak. “I didn’t mean to pry.”

He motioned to a third door. “That opens onto a balcony overlooking the gardens.” Grimacing, he ran a hand through his hair. “Annika, I don’t want to leave you alone. We need to talk. There’s something very important I have to tell you that I couldn’t before, but I’d like to visit my sister. She’ll have worried during my absence.”

“Then go.” She raised an eyebrow as Kalan hesitated. The deep frown and uncertain expression he wore made her wonder what would take precedence over reuniting with his sister. “We can talk later. I promise not to leave the room on one condition.” She glanced longingly toward the archway. “May I bathe?”

Kalan’s somber expression lightened. He pointed to a chest near the archway. “Bath cloths and cleansing sand are in there.” He disappeared into his room a moment then came out holding a small bundle of linen. “Wear one of my shirts. I’ll ask Kymora to bring some clothes tomorrow. Are you sure you’ll be all right here by yourself?”

With a smile, Annika took the bundle off him. “Once in that bathing room, I’ll hardly know you’re gone.”

“Hedonist,” he accused her with a chuckle as he headed for the door.

Despite her reassurances, she felt his absence immediately. Her smile faded. The hollow sensation inside her went heart-deep. Unwilling to dwell on the problem, she focused on collecting what she needed for her bath.

After lighting more braziers within the room, she turned and her jaw dropped. She’d expected a wooden tub or maybe a basin and jug—not a tiled pool big enough to fit four people and deep enough that it would submerge most of her when she sat down. It was already filled with steaming water. Bending down to examine the mosaic on the bottom of it, she watched the water ripple and undulate and heard the faint sound of it splashing into something beneath the floor.

Her eyes widened. It was piped through the buildings? Not even her father had such luxury. Kalan hadn’t been joking when he’d said he liked to bathe.

Eager to try it out, Annika stripped and slid into the water, groaning as its warmth touched her skin. She was tempted to lie back and float but a series of eye-watering yawns dissuaded that idea. More likely than not she’d probably fall asleep mid-float.

Reaching for the jar of cleansing sand she washed quickly, starting with her hair and working her way down her body. She enjoyed its creamy texture as she smoothed it over her skin. As the foaming sand heated its fresh, light scent filled the room. With the water constantly circulating, it had little chance to cloud or get dirty.

Too soon she was finished. Reluctantly, she left the pool. The sensation of being clean for the first time in days was a pleasure she’d not forget anytime soon.

A hollow, wooden thud, much like the sound of a door being flung open in the outer chamber made her start. Snatching up the shirt, she slid into it, fingers fumbling with the laces.

“Kalan!”

Annika froze. The deep voice was unfamiliar. Bootsteps clicked on the flagstone floor, heading toward the bathing room.

“Kalan? It’s me… Arek. Are you in there?” A tall man about the same age as Kalan appeared in the archway. “Yevni told me—”

The man drew to a halt, surprise flitting across his clean-shaven face as he spotted her standing beside the pool. The armor covering his chest bore the sun symbol of the
Lady
. Did
She
bless all her warriors with such striking looks?

At first glance, the warrior’s hair was dark blond but when she looked closer it was made of a number of colors; light yellow, red, brown, even a few strands of pale gold. It was brushed back from his chiseled facial features and tied at the nape of his neck. His eyes were a deep blue, much like the sky as twilight approached, but there was nothing soft about them.

A cold sliver of fear sliced through Annika.
Lady of Mercy
, her cloak lay underneath the pile of dirty clothes. His eyes darkened. He’d seen her body markings.

“Na’Reish!”
His snarl lifted the hairs on her neck. His gaze bore into her, hard and merciless. Dangerous. Lethal. With a cry, he leapt across the distance separating them.

Heart pounding, Annika flung the jar of cleansing sand in the warrior’s direction. The granules sprayed through the air, blinding him and giving her enough time to dart around to the other side of the pool. She heard the jar shatter against the floor as she ran through the archway.

If she could just make it to Kalan’s room and close the door… his hand grasped her shoulder. She cried out in frustration and fright as she was swung around. A forearm slammed against her chest and pinned her against the wall. Instinct brought her knee up in a move she’d practiced with Kalan but the man twisted, his hard muscled, leather-clad thigh taking the blow. He grimaced.

Candlelight flashed off metal. A blade pressed against her throat. She sensed a sudden rush of power. Dark satisfaction burned in the man’s blue-eyed gaze.

“Now you die!”

Chapter 14

S
IX Light Blade warriors.

Varian heard Lisella suck in a sharp breath as Zaune’s hand signals alerted them to what lay just over the ridge. A stone’s throw away, the young scout lay flat on his stomach, barely noticeable, in the shadows of a bush perched on the rock ledge.

His hands gestured again.
Coming west.

Toward the line of
Na’Chi
traversing the slope behind them.

Breath hissed out from between Varian’s teeth. Why had he insisted on traveling before dark? Because they’d fallen behind Annika and he’d wanted to make up time. What a stupid, stupid decision. Risking all their lives should never have taken precedence over their safety.

He scanned the steep hillside. A few bushes. A half-dozen stunted trees. Even fewer boulders. He grimaced at the lack of cover to hide behind as the warriors went by. Backtracking was an option but he doubted they’d have time to erase their tracks. The Light Blades would top the ridge in less than a quarter hour.

“What are we going to do?” Lisella’s whisper barely reached his ears. “There’s nowhere to hide.”

“Get the group to crouch low and keep the children quiet.” He caught Zaune’s eye and motioned the scout back. “I need Barvi and Leanna.”

Fear flashed across her face. “You’re not going to kill the humans?”

“No.” Her hasty assumption made him smile. “Something even better.” His smile widened into a grin. “How good do you think humans are at running?”

Lisella stared at him as if he’d lost his mind, then her eyes flickered with comprehension. She slithered down the hillside to fetch the two scouts he’d requested. He waited with Zaune until they’d returned and quickly outlined his plan to them.

“Lisella, stay with the others.” He was expecting her frown.

“I’m just as fast as you.”

“If something goes wrong, you’ll be in charge of leading this group to the city and to Annika.” Her mouth tightened but she gave a nod. “Once we lead the Light Blades away, head for Zaune’s last marker. Push hard and you’ll close the gap to a day behind Annika. If we don’t meet you there in two hours, go on without us.”

“Be careful.”

“Always.” With that, he and the other scouts followed the ridgeline. The late afternoon sun was at their backs and they kept below the edge until they were well away from the group. With only the scent of the humans to guide them, they worked their way along the ridge until they reached a ravine that intersected the well-worn trail.

Zaune crawled up the short slope, peered along the trail then dropped back down. His fingers moved swiftly.
Four males, two females. Still advancing.

Varian glanced at each of them.
They must follow us. Ready?
He received three nods.
Now!

They all scrambled from the ravine onto the path. Varian almost laughed as the humans came face-to-face with him and his scouts. Their astonished expressions were remarkable. For the longest moment they all stood watching one another, barely a stone’s throw apart then he threw back his head and uttered a
Na’Hord
war cry.

“They’re
Na’Reish
!”

Adrenaline surged through him as the Light Blade warriors charged. Two even drew their weapons. Several heartbeats later he gave a sharp nod to the others and they all took off running.

Varian split off from the trail and headed downhill. Behind him, he heard boots scrambling over rocks. He swerved around a tree and caught sight of two warriors pursuing him. Another leap and he was into the shadow thrown by the hill. Sunset was minutes away.

Farther along the trail, he heard several cries then Zaune’s voice shouting at his pursuers.

Darkness would be their ally.

KALAN heard Annika’s cry when he was halfway along the corridor. The distressed sound ripped through him like a blade and he sprinted the remaining distance. The door to his quarters was wide open. Heart pounding, he took in the scene before him.

He recognized the blond warrior who had Annika pinned against the wall of his chamber, his dagger digging into her throat. Her fingers clamped so tightly around Arek’s wrist they were bloodless. Every muscle in her body strained as she tried to stop him from slicing open her throat.

“Stand down, Arek!”

The warrior’s head jerked around to stare at him. “Kalan?”

“Annika has my protection!”

Shock flickered across his friend’s face. His lip curled. “She’s
Na’Reish
!”

“She saved my life!” It was a relief Arek was even listening. He tended to act first and think later, especially where anything
Na’Reish
was concerned. “Let her go.”

Disbelief flashed across Arek’s face. He glanced back at Annika, a frown creasing his brow. For the longest moment all Kalan could hear was the blood pounding in his head and the harsh rasp of all their breathing. He waited, hoping Annika wouldn’t panic or try to move, ready to surge forward if the blade pressed any deeper into her neck.

Abruptly, Arek stepped back, but he placed himself directly between Kalan and Annika, shielding his comrade.

Kalan let out a quiet sigh and placed a hand on his friend’s tense shoulder. “Thank you.” His fingers bit into thick muscle as he squeezed. “What are you doing here in my apartment?”

“I ran into Yevni as I was coming off perimeter watch.”

Annika remained motionless against the wall, held still by the very real threat of the dagger clutched in Arek’s hand and the fact he hadn’t taken his eyes off her. She was trembling. Vivid yellow flecked the violet depths of her gaze.

“Annika, I need to speak with Arek.” The thin red line of blood on her neck stirred Kalan’s temper but he remained calm. “Go into my room and close the door.”

Her nod brought a wince of pain. “I need my pouch. It’s on the table.”

Arek scooped it up before she could move. He riffled through it, withdrew the small knife she used for cutting herbs, and tucked it into his belt. Then he tossed her the pouch. Annika took it without comment and retreated.

Arek pivoted as the door closed and Kalan found himself in a backbreaking hug. “
Lady of Mercy
, Kalan, don’t you ever leave me sitting in that damned Council chamber in your stead when I should be at your side protecting you. You never would’ve been captured if I’d been with you on that visit to Durrat.”

His friend’s anger was genuine but Kalan chuckled as he returned the hug. “It’s good to see you, too.”

The man pinned him with a savage glare. If he’d been any other person, that look would have chilled him to his innards.

“I’m still waiting to hear why you stopped me from killing that demon.” His hand flexed around the hilt of his dagger.

Kalan sobered, knowing just how close Annika had come to death. If he’d arrived a minute later… he sighed softly and waved the warrior to the table. He wasn’t surprised when Arek sat in the closest chair facing his bedroom door and placed his dagger on the edge of the table.

“I’m really tired, so I’m going to keep this short. Long explanations can wait until tomorrow. For now, you need to heed me and spread the word around the compound. Annika has my protection. Anyone who harms her will answer to me. She saved my life getting me out of that fortress. Twice.”