Rhuul's Flame (19 page)
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Braka may have been commanded to keep causalities to a minimum, but Rhuul had his own ideas. He didn’t care who he had to cut down. He was going to find his
dranaiya
and bring her back. Gods help them all if she was hurt. There was a strange pressure in his muscles. The crackle of nervousness flitted throughout his body, a sensation he’d never known. He never feared for another person’s safety before, never felt like a bundle of impulses. Not knowing where Lea was shook him to his core, and he had no precedent to explain why.
She is strong. She’ll be fine. She has to be.
They turned the corner to the way gate, its bright blue light glowing. He could feel the magical energy from the portal, and he summoned his flaming swords to his hands.
“You’ll have to tell me how you got those flames one day.” Veen tilted his head, looking Rhuul up and down.
“Lea gave them to me.” He could see her face in his mind. The green flames of her hair and eyes, her brown skin. He could even hear her voice, the absence of her leaving memories to haunt him.
“Highnesses.” The two guards returned, panting as they held out their burden.
Rhuul turned to look over the armor and his eyes widened. There was a silver-and-gold cuirass, burnished with the Iscarion seal, the mark of his family. But it had been changed. The Eidon warrior in the center had a pair of wings. Beneath the chest piece was something he wasn’t sure of. He moved the heavy metal to the other guard’s hands and stared.
There were thousands of paper-thin feathers made of silver metal. They shone in the light of the way gate, creating a dazzling effect. He lifted the piece, finding them all attached to each other by thin metal threads. He expected it to be heavy, but it had almost no weight at all.
“Let me help you put it on.” Veen took the item in his hands and stepped behind him. He draped the cool metal over his wings, and fastened the ties over his shoulders and around his waist. “I had this made for you a few years ago. I planned to make it something you could conjure, but it took a little longer to complete than I expected. It was just finished recently.” Veen moved in front of him and smiled. “Each of the feathers was individually crafted to be unique. It’s flexible, so if you need to fly, you’ll be able to, but your wings will be protected from arrows, swords, or other weapons. The feathers are light, but they are made of the strongest metal. They will not bend or break.”
“You had this made … for me?” Rhuul lifted his wings and gave a few test flaps, feeling the slight movements of the shiny feathers. Never had he known his father to show kindness toward him. The very idea of it didn’t make sense. “What are you up to, Father? What’s your plan?”
“My plan is to keep you safe. Your wings are your weakest and most vulnerable areas. I want them protected so you can focus on what’s in front of you.” Veen put a hand on Rhuul’s shoulder and let out a short sigh. “Despite our past, I expect you to return, my son. I meant what I said the last time we met. I still want the chance to get to know you.” He pulled his hand away but continued to hold his gaze. “We could get to know each other. When you’re ready, of course.”
He watched his father take a step back and lift the cuirass. Veen helped him into it himself and secured it to his torso. Rhuul dismissed his swords and put on his own leg guards. Looking down his body, he had a hard time believing he was in the palace. The building held only memories of hatred and torture. Now he was standing in those same halls, dressed in the finest armor, being treated like a prince.
“Be careful, my son. Find Avalea and bring her back.”
“I will.” He turned and walked up to the way gate.
“If there’s a chance for peace, we must take it. I owe it to both you and your mother.” Veen’s voice lowered, as if he struggled to keep his composure.
He didn’t respond. There were no words to say. His father’s behavior was the complete opposite of everything he’d ever known. Veen never spoke of Rhuul’s mother. Rhuul hadn’t even known her name until a few weeks ago. Now, she was spoken of all the time.
Could he have been telling the truth when he killed my grandfather?
He’d have to think on that later. “Let’s go.” He looked to his left, seeing Ghena at his side, Braka on his right.
“Make sure my son returns, Braka.” Veen’s tone could only be described as menacing, a swift departure from its previous wistful quality.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
They walked through the way gate and into the strange realm of Rinac. There was no time for sightseeing. Battles waged at the portal, Eidon engaging Celestan. They weren’t a direct threat, so Rhuul stepped forward, scanning the area.
“He’s real!” A Celestan stilled his sword and stared at Rhuul. Soon, other Celestan nearby did the same, all staring as if in shock.
Their Eidon opponents seized this opportunity, and prepared to strike.
“Hold!” Braka barked out the word and lifted a hand. “You are not to kill them unless it’s absolutely necessary.” His voice was empty, but his tone made it very clear this wasn’t the action he wanted to take.
The Celestan moved closer, stopping when Rhuul lifted his sword to one of them, pointing at a shield. “Where is this woman?”
“Araphene? She’s … Well, you can’t
see
Araphene.” The Celestan stared with wide eyes, looking at Rhuul’s wings. “You really are real.”
“Tell me where she is or I will—” He was ready to charge in, more than willing to cut the truth out of the Celestan piece by piece.
“I can show you where she is. Follow me.” The voice came from above.
When Rhuul looked up, he saw a Celestan female flapping high in the air. “Very well.”
“Wait, your mother, she was one of us!” Another Celestan spoke before blinking his eyes and shaking his head. “I’m supposed to…” In an instant his teeth were clenched, and his nostrils flared. He let out a feral scream and reengaged the Eidon near him.
The remaining Celestan began to behave in the same way, each looking confused before descending into a rage.
“Hurry, we need to go now!” The female Celestan moved off.
Rhuul ran to keep her in sight. The sounds of fighting grew faint behind them. He kept running. When Ghena fell behind, he held out his arm to him and allowed him to jump onto his waist. The fiend held on tight to his cuirass, and he picked up his speed.
After a while, the Celestan landed in front of them. “Why don’t you fly?”
“I can’t fly the same way you do. I need a stronger air current.” Rhuul lifted his wings. The metal feathers were still, his way of showing her there was no breeze. “I’m not here to talk about flying. Where is Avalea?”
She looked him over, a small smile on her lips. “This way. We’re almost there.”
“Can we trust her?” Braka walked close, his gaze on the Celestan’s back.
“She’d better hope so.” Rhuul alternated between looking ahead and eyeing his surroundings.
This is where my mother came from.
He’d never been around other Celestan. Now he was in their home realm, a place so different than Karn and all he knew.
They continued on, noticing structures in the distance. When they arrived at the buildings, they made their way through the large tents. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared, some whispering, others gawking in silence. Their Celestan guide led them to the largest tent and dropped to her knee. “Irashar, I’ve brought them.”
“You were expecting us?” Braka held his scimitar in front of his chest, prepared to strike.
“Yes, we were.” A Celestan male stepped out of the tent. His eyes widened when he looked at Rhuul, before a large smile appeared. “Araphene—Avalea said you would come. I’d hoped she was wrong.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Rhuul held his swords at his sides. Just like Braka, he would be ready to lash out if needed.
“I’ll explain—”
“No, you’ll take me to my
dranaiya
.”
“Very well.” The Irashar beckoned him to follow, leading him to another large tent. “You are among friends here. There’s no need to be on edge.”
Rhuul didn’t respond. When the Irashar held back the white cloth door, he walked inside. There were at least a dozen wounded Celestan in the space, and in the very back was Lea, in the midst of healing. An ocean of relief welled up inside him and all but spilled over as he dismissed his swords and ran inside. “Lea…”
She looked up, pulling her hands from the shoulder of a Celestan. “Rhuul!” She stood and started climbing over the wounded in an effort to get to him.
“Ava!” Ghena jumped down and vaulted over the injured. He leaped into her arms, nuzzling close to her body.
“Ghena!” She smiled and held him close, but she didn’t stop her progress.
Rhuul wanted to stomp right through the blanket of bodies at his feet, but he mimicked her movements, not wanting their reunion to begin with an angry
dranaiya
. When he was close enough, he reached out and lifted her into his arms. “Get down, Ghena.”
“I just got here!”
“Ghena, get down or get crushed.”
“Fine!” Ghena climbed down and bounded back toward the entrance.
With Ghena out of the way, he cupped her face, letting his fingers slip into her flaming hairline. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. There’s—”
He stole her words when he kissed her lips. She was really here, they were together, and she was safe. A strong shudder moved through his chest as he pulled her closer, the stress of being separated from her finally leaving his body. He’d never been so uneasy, so distraught, so angry. So afraid.
The feel of her hand on the back of his neck chased away the remnants of his anxiety, filling him with the heat he felt every time he was near her. He didn’t realize how profound the loss of her was, but he knew one thing: he’d never lose her again. He pulled back, breaking the kiss to stare in her eyes. “If you ever leave me like that again … Gods, Lea.”
“I missed you too,
kan’na
.” She rubbed her nose against his, forcing a smile to his lips. “I had to. When I saw that shield, I needed to come.”
“Well, you came, now let’s go. We’re leaving.” He took her hand, ready to lead her out of the tent.
“I can’t leave, Rhuul. There’s something going on here. Something bad, and I want to help them.”
He breathed in deep and closed his eyes. “I don’t care what’s going on here. This isn’t your realm, and these aren’t your people. They can figure their shit out on their own.”
“Rhuul,I won’t be spoken to like a servant. We’ve been over this.” She tried to pull her hand away, but he held it firmly.
“We don’t have time for this. Now let’s go home.”
“Home where? What date did you have in mind for our departure from Akash?” Another tug, but he wouldn’t let her go.
“You’re as slippery as any Eidon, you know that?” He turned to face her and shook his head. “The people here are trying to kill each other. Tell me why the woman I plan to spend my life with needs to stay here?”
“Because there’s something making the Celestan act this way. It’s the Lon Fahr. It’s a race I’ve never heard of, and they’re the reason why the rift exists with the Eidon. If it wasn’t for these … things, you never would have been treated the way you were.” She moved in close and lifted his hand to her chest. “I’m staying because they’re responsible for all the pain you felt, for all the lives you feel you need to take, for all the hate in your heart. They’re the reason we were separated, and I will burn them all.”
He watched her features harden. She looked as furious as she did the day she arrived in Karn. Her words bounced around in his head, vying for dominance over his need to protect her. “Then we’ll send others to destroy them. Why does it have to be you?”
“I need to see this through. I need to know the hate stops here, for good.” She brushed his lips with hers and spoke in a quiet voice. “I need to know no other child will go through what you did. They robbed you of your parents’ love. I need to do this for you. It’s important to me. They—”
“Lea … I don’t need their love. I have you. You’re all I need.” He had no idea where the words came from, but he meant each and every one of them. Just a few short days apart were enough to remind him of all she was. She accepted him in every way. She was there for him, fought for him, would kill for him. She was the most important thing in his life.
“Rhuul…” She pulled back, her flaming eyes steaming. “Are you saying…?”
He placed his lips on the outer edge of her ear, his heart filled to bursting with emotion. “I … love you, Lea.” He bit down, holding her in place when she gasped.
“I love you too, Rhuul.” When he released her, she reached up to her ear and narrowed her eyes. “Stop piercing me!”
“I can’t help it.” He chuckled, and appraised his work. He’d placed a shiny loop of gold through her skin. It glittered under the light of her flames, filling him with happiness. He blew out a breath and rolled his shoulders. “I’m not leaving you here, and you’re not ready to go. So tell me, Omala life bringer. What’s your plan?”
The End
Publisher’s Note
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About Nulli Para Ora
Nulli Para Ora is a romance author who writes in multiple genres. A lover of languages, anime, martial arts, video games, nature, and music, Nulli pulls inspiration from the profound to the mundane.
Whether it’s crafting a new realm, an alien planet, a new species, or an alternate reality, you can always count on twists and turns in Nulli's tales. Love can be irrational, undeniable, blissful, and sometimes frustrating, but it's also universal, binding hearts across cultures and time.
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