Mica (15 page)

“Perhaps but there are few people I misread, Dame Sun. You enjoyed our time together as much as I did.”

She flung him a humorless smile. “Somehow I doubt it. Women can often fake what a man cannot.”

Mica raised an eyebrow, a smirk on his lips. “So you’re usually so slick and wet for a man who doesn’t interest you? Fascinating talent you have, Dame Sun.”

His words angered yet aroused her. At the moment she was slick, wet and oh-so-ready for him. His gaze held hers and he cupped her breast, stroking gently. Sun’s pulse raced. Part of her wanted to stop him while a larger part of her needed his touch. Again Mica kissed her, his moist lips caressing hers, his tongue exploring her mouth. Slowly he slid his hand between the parted folds of her robe and beneath the waist of her trousers.

Oh, by the Spirit. Yes, Mica. Yes. Touch me.

One of his long fingers circled her slit then inched inside her pussy. Drawing a sharp breath, Sun clenched her vaginal muscles around his finger. He licked her ear and growled softly, a sound of animal desire, potent and arousing. A second finger joined the first, both rubbing and thrusting until her hips mimicked his rhythm. While his fingers stroked his thumb teased her clit.

Sun melted against him, panting softly, her eyes closed tightly and her fingers gripping his robe. He rubbed faster and her clit throbbed. The marvelous tightening inside her became unbearable. Orgasm flooded through her. She staggered, her cry of delight muffled against his shoulder. Mica supported her with one arm while continuing the sensual rubbing until the last spasm ripped through her.

Wrapping both arms around her, he held her for a long moment. Finally she pushed away.

“You are right, of course,” he continued, a knowing smile on his lips. His fingertip moving from her face to her neck then trailing over her nipples. “It was only meant to be one night.”

Gritting her teeth she shoved him away. By the Spirit she was weak around this man. Why couldn’t she resist him?

He continued, “Yet I would like to hear you admit it was more to you than vengeance.”

“Why?”

He held her gaze for a long moment. Leaning forward, he was about to kiss her again when a sleepy utterance from Blaze drove them apart.
Her pulse racing, she returned to her corner of the cave, pulled her blanket around her and tried to sleep. Mica remained at the cave entrance for several moments before settling down for the night. She wondered if sleep eluded him as it did her.

* * * * *

The next day passed without any new crisis. At dusk they found another cave to spend the night in. Mica told more stories of wizards, the Ancient Wars and Glacara.

Familiar with many of the legends, Blaze relished the stories. Sun had to admit Mica was a gifted storyteller. His deep voice possessed an almost musical quality. His descriptions were so vivid that Sun swore she smelled the fires of old Aldora or felt the water encompass her body when King Alrik dove to the bottom of the sea and received magical powers from the wizardess Beryl. She saw the skeletal helmets of Old Zaltana and watched the sky darken and lightning strike at the climax of the Ancient Wars.

“The wizards gained power from the Spirit.” Blaze nodded once Mica finished his tales. “It’s what I was taught.”

“The Goddess gave them their powers,” Mica insisted. “Beryl, the one to inherit the power of all wizards, was female.”

“The Spirit has no sex,” Blaze said.

“I suppose it doesn’t matter what we believe as long as good is done.”

Sun raised her eyes and blew with disgust.

“He speaks the truth,” Blaze told her. “Sun or moon, each light casts warmth on all it touches.”

“Somehow, I knew you’d agree with him, Blaze.”

“I know, Dame Sun. You’re a hard woman who cares for nothing least of all me.”

“I already said what I thought of you.”

“Yes. You wish me to die a slow, painful death. Many feel the same.”

Curling her lip, she cast him a sour look. “I’m sure.”

“And many don’t,” Blaze interrupted. “The spirits tell me. Your work is sincere and good.”

“I’ve had enough for one night.” Sun rolled onto her side, facing the cave wall.

Blaze and Mica continued talking for a short time before they too settled down to sleep.

“Beautiful dreams, Dame Sun,” Mica said.

“Nightmares, Mica,” she muttered, her stomach twisting at the sound of his familiar chuckle. Tonight they would share no kisses or touches. She would remain in this spot even if she didn’t sleep for a moment.

* * * * *
“The settlement is just over that dune.” Mica pointed ahead.

Raising a hand to block the sunlight, Sun gazed across the desert.

“It’s built on a small oasis,” Mica continued.

“Smoke scented,” Blaze murmured.

Sun glanced at her mentor, noting a peculiarity in his expression only perceivable to someone who knew him well. “What’s wrong?”

Blaze shook his head, kicking his mount to a canter. Sun and Mica urged their horses after him. They paused atop a dune and stared at the remains of what had once been a small but prosperous village. Dusky patches of ash splotched the oasis’ green surface. Remains of huts smoldered on the torn ground. Bodies were strewn amidst the rubble.

Cursing, Mica urged his horse to a gallop. Sun and Blaze followed. Before they reached the oasis, Mica had already dismounted. They joined him in searching for survivors but most of the bodies were decapitated, missing limbs or burned beyond recognition.

“This is my fault. Why didn’t I come sooner?” Mica snapped, stepping over the rubble.

“There are no animals,” Sun noted.

“Of course not. They would have taken those for food or transportation.” Mica’s eyes gleamed with fury and sorrow. “Why didn’t I travel faster? The fires are still smoldering so this couldn’t have happened more than a day or so ago.”

“How were you to know?” Blaze said. “The fault is not yours but the vile ones who lit the flames and swung the swords.”

Mica ignored him and continued searching, his face ashen. “Just like it used to be. I thought this brutality was over.”

“Just like before,” Sun murmured, glancing at him as she approached a well in what must have been the town square. “This is exactly what happened to my village when your father—”

“I know.” Mica’s gaze fixed on hers. “It was his and the false emperor’s ways. It must have been done by their followers. This proves they
are
in the Kennas.”

Blaze held up his hand for silence then darted over to a collapsed hut. The Knight yanked up stones and boards. “Life.”

Mica and Sun joined him. After several moments of digging they discovered a man covered in splinters and gore, badly injured but alive.

“Uja,” Mica said as he and Blaze examined him.

The man half opened an eye crusted with blood and whispered, “Mica.”

“You’ll be all right. We’ll help you.”

“I’m dying.”

“Just rest.” Mica cut away the leg of Uja’s trousers.
Insects crawled over the swollen, pus-filled flesh.

Sun knew at a glance the appendage must be removed. She retrieved water from the well and rolled up her sleeves to assist Mica and Blaze.

“We’ll take care of this,” Mica told her, his voice calm though she noted lines of tension around his eyes and mouth. “Look for more survivors.”

Sun nodded, impulsively touching a hand to his shoulder before beginning her search.

She picked her way through the rubble. Half an hour later Mica joined her while Blaze remained with Uja.

“Have you taken off the leg?” she asked. Mica shook his head and she realized Uja’s wounds were fatal.

“According to Uja, it was an army who attacked. He overheard their plan to take the smaller villages across Upper Kenna then attack Ademene. We’ll have to leave right away. The village nearest to here must be warned unless we’re already too late.”

“Did he say whose army attacked?”

“They wore the symbol of the false emperor.”

“I thought he was dead along with your father?”

His expression angry, Mica’s jaw tensed visibly. “He is. But he had a son who apparently has loyal followers as well.”

“Loyal?” Sun kicked a piece of wood aside.

“A different kind of loyalty. They serve particular military bloodlines. As long as the warrior is of the right family and takes his place by force, they obey his commands.”

Perhaps her loathing of Mica’s father had colored her perception of the Kennas, but in spite of how many cultures she had been exposed to some of their ways seemed unacceptable to her. Lowering her gaze, Sun murmured, “I don’t understand your ways.”

“They’re not mine anymore. They’re archaic, violent and useless.” Mica’s fists clenched. “I can’t believe I let this happen.”

“Be reasonable. Even if we had gotten here before the attack the three of us couldn’t have stopped an army—at least not without time to plan.”

“I could have challenged their general and perhaps stopped the battle.”

“And perhaps gotten yourself killed,” Blaze stated. Both Sun and Mica turned. The Knight’s pale eyes shone with sympathy. “Your friend has passed.”

Mica closed his eyes for longer than a blink. Again Sun felt the urge to touch him, offer some comfort. His pain and guilt were almost tangible. Though she tried not to care about him, her heart betrayed her.

“We’ll bury the bodies we’ve found and douse the remainder of the flames,” Mica said. “Or I should say I will. None of this is your concern.”

“Oh please.” Sun raised her eyes to heaven. “We’ve come this far.”
“Now is not the time for pride or loneliness, Mirrored Rock,” Blaze told him. “We must remain like honey in a hive.”

She glanced at Mica. “He means we have to stick together. Let’s get to work.”

They spent the remainder of the day digging through the rubble but found no survivors. They burned Uja’s body along with many others then left for the nearest village nearly half a day’s ride away.

“I should go alone,” Mica said. “These villagers speak the northern dialect so you probably wouldn’t understand them. The two of you ride back to Ademene and warn them about what’s happening.”

“I speak the northern dialect,” Blaze said. “It’s not wise to travel alone. Besides the detour is small and this is the main path to Ademene.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Mica said. “With the false emperor’s men wandering about one of you could be attacked should you ride alone.”

“What of you?”

“I don’t matter.” Mica urged his mare faster.

Sun guessed he was hoping to cover as much ground as possible through the cold, moonlit night. Pushing the horses in the day’s heat wouldn’t be wise.

They reached the settlement at dawn and told them of the approaching danger. The villagers, grateful for the warning, offered them food and a place to rest. The three agreed to the meal but Mica refused to rest, saying he needed to reach Ademene as soon as possible.

“You both stay,” he told Sun and Blaze. “As I said, this is not your concern.”

“I’m sick of hearing you say that,” Sun snapped. “We’re a Dame and a Knight accustomed to hard travel and battle. This is what we do best so worry about yourself, not us.”

“Rest is wise,” Blaze said. “You haven’t allowed yourself a moment to—”

“I’m ready to go.” Mica stood from the low, wooden table in the home of the young couple who’d offered them food. “The village leader has provided us with fresh horses.

When ours are rested they’ll send riders with them to Ademene.”

Blaze began, “Several hours’ sleep is necessary for—”

“Then you stay and get it. I’m not letting what happened before happen again.”

“He’s right, Blaze. Speed is crucial since we have no idea when an attack could come.”

“Sun, you don’t—” Blaze began, but a fiery look from Mica stopped him. Shaking his head and muttering to himself, the Knight left the house and headed for the stable, Mica and Sun at his heels.

* * * * *

Mica squinted toward the sun and slowed his horse. The almost unbearable heat
made traveling uncomfortable. Still, they’d ridden hard since early morning. On this main path from Ademene, identified by stone markers, to the northern coast they passed several other travelers and warned them about possible attacks.

Though Mica wanted to reach Ademene as soon as possible he didn’t want to destroy the animals. He could sympathize with the horses. It had been almost two days since the group had slept. To Mica’s irritation the lack of rest affected him. He remembered a time when he could fight, train and scout for days with scarcely any sleep or food. He’d been a warrior then, a military leader who didn’t issue orders from a distance but rode into combat with his troops. The time he’d spent in prison and the banishment had marked him for life, however much longer that might be, since he didn’t doubt he would die soon.

Even the slight motions used to control his horse were painful to Mica. His bones and muscles ached more with each passing moment.

It’s from digging through the rubble a day ago and this constant riding.
You’re not used to
such hard work anymore, Mica.

He straightened in the saddle, dismissing the feeling of a metal pike driving down his spine. His heart pounded against his sore ribs when he realized he wasn’t suffering from simple weariness. Clutching his saddle’s pommel to still his trembling hands, he urged the horse ahead of Blaze and Sun.

“Don’t be foolish, Mirrored Rock,” Blaze called. “The beast won’t last.”

“We need to get to Ademene,” Mica said.

“Push a horse in this heat and we’ll end up walking there,” Sun commented.

“We’re making good time anyway.”

“In two days we’ll reach the grand oasis.” Blaze fell into step beside Mica.

“Mirrored Rock, perhaps we should stop for a time. At the next cave we can—”

“No. I almost forgot about another settlement several hours’ ride from here. I think it’s too small for the army to be interested in but we must be sure they’re safe. Then if we continue at a steady pace we could reach Ademene in two days.”

“You ask the impossible.”

“Nothing’s impossible.”