Vengeance Born (The Light Blade #1) (38 page)

“The
Lady
doesn’t always provide clear paths for us to tread but with
Her
guidance we’ll make it. You told me that once.” Her whispered words drew another smile from him. “I’m not alone.” She sent a swift prayer heavenward, grateful for his patience. “As for forgiveness for making me feed from you, there’s no need to ask for any. I don’t blame you for saving my life.”

Kalan’s embrace grew tighter as profound relief eased the crinkles of stress around his eyes. She lay her fingertips over his curved lips.

“Candra tells me I’ve been asleep for four days,” she said and tugged him to his feet. “Why are you dressed in warrior leathers? What’s happened in that time?”

His leather breeches creaked quietly as he climbed into the bed behind her and tucked her in against him, using the solid warmth of his body as support. His arms went around her, as if he couldn’t bear not to be touching her in some way. While his demonstration of affection felt odd, especially in front of the others, she liked the security of sitting between his legs, her back pressed against his broad chest.

“There’s so much to tell you,” he said, entwining his fingers with hers. “Candra, I don’t want to wear her out. Is it all right to talk?”

“As long as she tells us when she gets tired.” The woman took her own seat and Arek moved to the foot of the bed and sat on one corner.

Annika listened as each told of the events that had transpired from the time when she and Kalan had parted in the marketplace. The disclosure of what Arek had found in the journal and the corruption of the Blade Council astounded her. To think humans and demons had once lived together was shocking.

In part, Davyn had been right to predict Savyr’s reaction to such information. The
Na’Reish
bordered on fanatical when it came to matters of bloodline purity. As did some humans, she thought wryly.

Kalan stroked her wrists with his thumbs as he told her about Hesia, Varian, and the other
Na’Chi
. His touch grounded her as a wave of intense emotion overwhelmed her. She didn’t know whether to cry or laugh.

“Hesia didn’t kill the
Na’Chi
babies?” He shook his head. “Thank the Mother of Mercy…” Her voice caught. She dragged in several deep breaths. “Where are they now?”

“In the compound.” Kalan’s voice was a gentle rumble inside his chest. His hand cupped the back of her head and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Light Blades and
Na’Chi
alike are watching each other warily. It’s going to take time for everyone to get used to one another. Kymora and some of the other Servants have moved into their makeshift barrack to help ease the tension.”

“The children are leading the way in making new friendships,” Candra said dryly. “Rissa’s been visiting them since they arrived and she’s dragged several of her friends with her. The children from both races are playing in the garden as we speak.”

Annika issued a shaky laugh. “When can I meet them?”

Candra lifted an eyebrow and gave her her best Master Healer’s stare. “Not today. Maybe tomorrow,
if
you rest and eat well.”

“There’s one more thing you should know…” Kalan’s strange, neutral tone alerted her to a subtle tension that had been growing in the room since the revelation that the
Na’Chi
weren’t the bloodborn disgrace either race believed them to be. “Arek, would you go and get the wall hanging?”

She frowned. “Wall hanging?”

The blond warrior left the room without saying a word, returning a few moments later. In his hands was a rolled-up piece of woven cloth. His face was a stony mask; only his eyes showed any sort of emotion and she found it hard to interpret. She glanced to Kalan then Candra, uneasy with the strain she could feel radiating from Kalan’s Second.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Kalan nodded to Arek and gripped her hand more securely. “Show her.”

The skin around the Light Blade’s eyes tightened then he unfurled the hanging like a blanket across the bed. Annika gasped as the picture was revealed. Blue eyes as bright as glacial ice stared at her from the visage of a woman who bore the same facial features she’d seen reflected in the mirror during the last twenty-five years.

“That’s me! But her eyes, they’re blue… and there’s no marking on her face—” Confused, she reached out to touch the pale cheek of the portrait then left her hand hovering over the fabric as doubt gnawed at her stomach. “Who is she?”

“My mother, Jarella…” Arek’s voice was hoarse. Annika’s head snapped up at the brittle sound of it. She sucked in a sudden breath at the tormented expression on his face. A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Our… mother…”

Her jaw loosened.

“Jarella was Davyn’s daughter,” Kalan said softly. “Arek was three when she was taken by Savyr. Too young to remember, he never knew what she looked like and Davyn never let him see this hanging. We found it in the room where you and Rissa were imprisoned.”

“I’m her daughter?” Annika’s hand shook as she touched her mother’s face, and wished the rough texture felt more like skin. A tear slid down her cheek. She swallowed hard. “Davyn knew this? And he still tried to kill me?”

Candra issued a low-pitched sound of disgust. “It was Yance who revealed the truth. Davyn refused to speak. Being two of the eldest surviving Light Blades, they knew who you were the moment they saw you. Yance remembered Jarella from the days when he trained her as a warrior.

“Setting you up to kill Rissa was Davyn’s insane attempt to cover the truth and erase the family shame before others recognized Jarella in you. If there was no reminder of his perceived shame he could go on living the lies he’d told so many others.”

Kalan watched a myriad of emotions flicker across Annika’s face as she struggled to comprehend the facts in a situation none of them had a hope of ever fully understanding. It hurt to see her cry but he was glad he could offer her the comfort of his presence because no words would reassure her.

He glanced over at Arek, and winced inwardly at the tortured expression on his friend’s face. The last four days hadn’t been easy for him. For almost thirty years he’d grown up resenting the loss of his mother, adopted many of his grandfather’s beliefs and much of his hatred for the
Na’Reish,
and now he was faced with the tangled puzzle of figuring out how to cope with having a younger, half-blood sister. One he’d hated from the moment he’d first seen her.

Annika stiffened in his arms and he heard the soft catch of her breath. He watched her steal a glance at Arek and knew she’d made the same realization. But before she could say anything, Arek turned on his boot heel and disappeared from the room.

“Arek!” Candra called and she started after him, her brow creased in concern. They all heard the outer apartment door slam shut.

“Let him go.” Annika’s soft plea stopped the other woman’s pursuit. “This has to come as quite a shock. I know I hardly believe it.”

“How I’d love to have just five minutes alone with Davyn,” Candra hissed, her dark eyes flashing. “His hatred has infected too many lives.”

Kalan met her gaze, his own anger tightly restrained. “He’ll be judged for his actions, be assured of that.”

The woman let out a short sigh and shook her head. “I don’t envy you your position, Kalan. The days ahead will be tough. A new Blade Council should be appointed as soon as possible. Reports are already coming in of unrest and turmoil among our people. They need strong guidance and leadership to erase the instability brought about by Davyn’s and the others’ actions.”

“I know. Over the last few days, I’ve been busy reassuring and explaining the situation among our own warriors.” Annika stroked his arm, the simple action easing his frustration. “Some have left the Barracks and returned home.” He pressed an apologetic kiss to Annika’s cheek before he spoke his next words. “They refuse to live or serve alongside the
Na’Chi
.”

Candra’s troubled gaze locked with his. “Whatever decisions you make,
Chosen
, present them sooner rather than later. The more time our people have to worry, the more likely unpleasantness will occur.”

She excused herself then to return to her duties at the hospice and left them with instructions to call her if they needed her. Kalan was content to hold Annika in his arms, aware that she was beginning to flag. The emotional toll had wearied her.

“I should leave you to rest,” he murmured.

“Would you stay with me?”

Her plea warmed his heart. “Let me take off this armor and I’ll join you.” After setting it aside, he stripped, aware that she watched him through sleepy eyes. The soft smile on her face was for him as he settled alongside her under the covers and she snuggled in against his side.

He listened to her breathing slowly even out and, while he was just as exhausted as her, having not slept more than a few hours each night since the attack, his mind wouldn’t settle. Candra’s valid comments kept replaying in his head.

“I can hear you thinking, Kalan,” Annika murmured, her words slurring. “You need to sleep. Dedicate your worries to the
Lady
and close your eyes. You can deal with them tomorrow.”

He chuckled and did as she asked, also thanking the
Lady
for Annika’s indomitable strength. Tomorrow was indeed soon enough to plan and consider the options available. He’d need a clear head and sharp wits if he wanted to avert civil unrest. War between his people would be catastrophic if the
Na’Reish
chose to attack.

Annika’s hand lay over his heart and he placed his on top of hers, finally able to relax, and in between one breath and the next he fell asleep.

Chapter 28

V
ARIAN listened to the squeals of laughter from the children, human and
Na’Chi
alike, coming from the garden and the infectious sound curved his lips into a small, rare smile. In the few days they’d been there the youngsters had learned it was all right to make that amount of noise and he’d never seen them laugh out loud so much. He leant against the tall rock at his back and cast his gaze around the compound as he heard the familiar
tap-tap-tapping
of a staff on pavement coming from his left.

“Are you coming to join the others for noon-meal?” Kymora’s melodic voice grazed his hearing and brushed like a caress across his nerves. “Some of the Councilors’ families are joining us today.”

“In a little while,” he replied, wondering how she’d known where to find him amidst all the noise. Behind him he could hear the Light Blades training, as they did this time every day. Conversations came from several directions and, over by the hospice, a supply cart from the city delivered barrels and crates. The people unloading them were not particularly gentle.

Kymora’s staff drew level with him and he deliberately stretched out a leg so that it hit his boot. Her delicate eyebrows rose. “You do know it’s rude to trip a blind person. Once you spoke I knew exactly where you were.”

He snorted. “You wouldn’t have fallen. For someone without sight you’re remarkably coordinated and agile. I’ve also seen you train with that staff.”

“Have you been spying on me?” She wagged a finger at him and a teasing smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “Where were you this time?”

“On the wall running around the back of the
Chosen
’s apartment closest to the temple. It makes a good lookout.” He liked how the sun lit her long, dark hair. Today she’d left it free and it fell around her face in gentle waves. “You’re quite skilled with that staff. I’m glad you didn’t use it on me the day we met.”

This time both her eyebrows rose. “Two compliments in one day.” She stepped closer and her light, florally scent teased his nose as her expression grew more somber. “You seem constantly surprised by my skills…”

The enjoyment he received from their conversations continued to startle him. They were as direct and straightforward as the ones he had with Lisella. He quite liked talking with Kymora, probably more than was prudent.

Her not so subtle query had him considering how to answer without offending her. “Physical deformities are frowned upon,” he said, gently.

“By whom? The
Na’Reish
? The
Na’Chi
?”

“Both.”

Her head tilted as she considered his answer. “Your tone was clipped, short. Did my question bother you?”

Varian grimaced. She was also superb at reading people’s voices, much the same as he picked up on facial expressions and scents. “I know what it’s like to have people judge you.”

“You’re not just referring to your
Na’Chi
markings are you?”

“You don’t remember, do you?” Stepping toward her Varian took her hand and placed it on his jaw. Her soft touch tingled as she traced the scar on his skin. “I received this in a fight against a
Na’Reish
guard. It never healed cleanly.”

Kymora’s sightless green eyes blinked and a frown pulled her brow down low. “The
Na’Chi
judge you because of this?”