The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Two: Beyond the Veil (63 page)

With an embarrassed groan Callum brought his hands up to cover his face. “Sweet Sarid. Shae should not have read those. They were… not appropriate for her young and impressionable mind.”

Her laughter grew to see Callum’s discomfort. From under his hands she could still see the flushed tone of his ears brightening at the tips. “My goodness, Callum,” she chortled, sliding closer to his side. “What in the world did you write?”

“It’s not important,” he shook his head, tilting it back in defeat to stare at the roof of the canopy. “You know what we should be doing while we have time,” he stated flatly, changing the subject. “There is still distance between us and Ghaient. It would be a perfect opportunity to attempt another look at my injuries. If we keep diligent in our work, I will be healed enough to be of more assistance within a few days.”

Grateful for the distraction Aiva nodded, taking her position beside him, hands outstretched across his midsection. Words no longer seemed necessary. Whenever she opened her mouth around Callum, she had a tendency to find herself in conversations that were best left unspoken. Staring down at him, she watched his eyes close, prepared for the rush of energy she would send through his system. It would be a drain on her before the hunt, but his safety was important. Once they reached the islands, she relied on Callum to guide and protect her. He was more familiar with their enemy.

Deep in meditation, the journey passed in a blur. She wasn’t sure exactly when she collapsed at Callum’s side, overtaken by sleep, though when she awoke she felt very aware of his absence next to her on the cushions. Drawing in a sharp breath she sat up, heart racing in fear of finding him gone. To her relief he was still there, seated near the edge of the platform, curtain drawn back, staring out into the lush green of the jungle. She could see the village of Ghaient coming into view up ahead. Scooting across the platform she leaned against Callum’s back, arms rested upon his shoulder to follow his gaze, a smile forming on her lips. “Is it not beautiful?” she asked, noticing his sights set on the impressive image of King Ihklos’s palace. The moss-covered stone revealed the age of the structure, tree roots climbing along the roof and down the sides where the jungle had begun to take it back into its clutches over the years.

“I’ve never seen anything quite like it,” he breathed, nodding in agreement. “It’s unbelievable.”

Uttae was calling orders to the men, their pace slowed, coming to stop in front of the palace doors. Aiva tried to ignore the strange looks cast her way by the men as she climbed from the litter, glancing behind to see Enokih step from a separate platform a distance back. She didn’t want to think about what the soldiers believed had caused the commotion between her and Callum during the journey. It was important she remain focused on the task at hand.

The village bustled with people, densely populated now in comparison to what it had been during her first visit. No doubt there to watch or partake in the great hunt. Many of the men were armed with bows and arrows, long scabbards at their waists, along with various strange weapons that Aiva had never seen before. A hard pat on her shoulder ushered her forward, forcing her away from Callum where he was still finding his way off the platform. Glancing up she could see Uttae’s tall frame separating the two of them, bypassing the guards at the door with nothing more than a sharp nod.

“The hunt will start soon,” Uttae grunted, hurrying her down the halls toward the door of the throne room. “We must first pay our respects to the King before we set out to the jungle.”

“My husband really should be with me if we are going see King Ihklos,” she argued. Her neck craned to look over Uttae’s shoulder, frantic to see if Callum was behind them. Near the entrance she could see him guided through the entry arch with Enokih, several of the soldiers from Uttae’s unit marching on either side.

“Do not worry about your husband. You should be concerned about yourself.” Uttae paused outside the doors, giving only enough time for the guards to pull them open before striding confidently into the room.

King Ihklos was standing in front of his throne, arms opened wide in greeting. Footsteps sounded behind them as the others made their way to stand outside the door, awaiting signal from the guards to see Callum and Enokih through. “General Uttae!” Ihklos beamed joyfully, his smile settling on Enokih’s shrouded form as she came to Uttae’s side. “You have brought your beautiful daughter – and the lovely blue-eyed witch. I must say, I did not think she would come.”

“My daughter or the Princess, Your Majesty?” Uttae inquired calmly. Ihklos chuckled to himself.

“The Vor’shai witch, of course. I knew your daughter would come. She has not missed the great hunt in years,” Ihklos stepped forward, stopped abruptly in front of Aiva. “Are you ready, Princess? I am anxious to see what you bring to the festivities other than a pretty face.” His gaze swept beyond her, shifting at the sight of Callum moving proudly to stand at Aiva’s side. Ihklos smirked, taking a step back to look Callum over with his usual scrutiny. “This must be the witch’s husband? You have caught the hand of a lovely woman. However, I must wonder if she is brave or foolish for accepting the challenge today.”

“She is braver than any woman I know, Your Majesty. It is I who am the fool for allowing her to come,” Callum stated, his disapproval evident in his tone.

Ihklos grinned at Callum, patting his arm with a solid clap of his hand. “You seem like a good man. If not for the injuries I am told you sustained, I would have enjoyed extending the challenge to you as well. Do not fret, however. I am willing to bet the gold coins of your people that your Princess will return before my warriors and empty-handed. She will be at your side again before the night is out.”

Aiva’s eyes opened wide, offended by Ihklos’s insult. Empty-handed? He didn’t think she could keep up with his men. Lips pursed, she turned to look at Callum, noticing his furrowed brow. “You bet against my wife’s ability to match the strength and determination of your men?”

“I mean no disrespect, Prince. She is a slight woman and far out of her element in my country. There is no shame in failure given the odds. It is admirable she is even willing to try.” Ihklos turned away, directing his attention to Uttae. “Will it be only you and the witch in your group, or have you chosen another to join as well?”

“My man Kroth will accompany us, My King,” Uttae bowed, eyes shifted to Aiva in curiosity. She knew her displeasure was obvious. There was no concealing it. She was furious by the lack of respect Ihklos displayed in questioning her strength. To insult the royal heir of the Vor’shai was a direct blow to their entire race.

Fists clenched, Aiva struggled to hold her tongue. She wanted to make the affront known, convinced that King Ihklos was ignorant to the severity of his claims. Etiquette prevented her from speaking her mind. She didn’t care if they had to swim the distance between the northern shore and the Luquarrian islands; they would be leaving this horrid place the first chance presented.

Callum’s head lowered, twisting to one side, his voice directed quietly so as to be heard by no one other than Aiva. “Although I still disapprove of the danger you place yourself in, I must support your decision for the honor of our people. I can already tell by the look in your eyes that you intend to force his words down his throat in shame. He challenged the wrong woman if he hoped to prove a point. Just be careful. You know I worry about you.”

“Keep watch on the door, Callum. General Uttae and I will be the first ones to return, but as the victors. Not in defeat.” Aiva forced her scowl into a smile, chin held high in a show of defiance. “Is that not right, General Uttae?”

“What is that, Princess?”

“Oh, I was just telling my husband about how you and I are going to win this contest. When will we begin? I am anxious to be on our way.”

Ihklos laughed to himself, bemused. “It sounds as if the witch is overzealous to get out there among the beasts. You should not keep her waiting.”

“As you wish, Your Majesty,” Uttae bowed low again, his gaze falling steady on Aiva. “Take this moment to say your farewells to your husband. Make it brief. We need to be ready before the horn signals the start of the hunt.”

Turning to Callum, she rested her hands on his arms, staring deeply into his solemn umber eyes. He looked crestfallen though she could see understanding in their depths. This wasn’t just about a boat to the islands. It was about the honor of their people. “I will return, Callum,” she assured him, lifting onto her tiptoes to gently press her lips against his cheek, hoping he might find solace in the gesture. “I made you a promise, and I intend to keep it. This is not my night to join the stars. Take comfort in that.”

“I’m starting to think I understand the way you felt when I told you I was leaving those years ago,” he frowned, planting a soft kiss on Aiva’s forehead as she lowered back down to the flats of her bare feet. “You’re right. It’s a terrible feeling. I expect you to keep your promise and return to me.”

“I have every intention of doing so,” she smiled. Her hand reached up to muss his hair the way he had always done to her since she was a little girl. He couldn’t help but smile, returning the favor somberly. “I’m ready, General,” she stated calmly, holding Callum’s gaze a moment longer. She had to get away from him before the sight of his doleful eyes caused her to change her mind.

Uttae gave Callum and Enokih a final nod, motioning Aiva toward the door. Determined to keep her confident image, she kept her head held high as she made her way toward the hall, relieved to be out of Ihklos’s sight once they stepped through the door. Her heart fluttered. What was she getting herself into? She didn’t even know what they were hunting, let alone how to kill it.

The litter she and Callum arrived on had been taken away, the men from Uttae’s unit dispersed, preparing their weapons along with the other soldiers that filled the village. A single man remained outside the arched entrance, snapping to attention at their approach. Uttae’s mouth curled into a grin, signaling the man to relax. “Princess, I would like to introduce you to my second-in-command and the third addition to our hunting party today. Kroth speaks your language, which will make communication easier during the hunt, though I recommend you talk slowly when directing questions to him. His comprehension of your words is not as refined as mine.”

She looked the man over, unsure of what would be considered a proper greeting. A curtsy felt too feminine for a woman who was about to embark on such a task with these men. If he understood anything Uttae said, he would be aware of her status amongst her own people. As a princess, she felt justified in giving nothing more than a respectful nod. “It is a pleasure to meet you,” she said with steady confidence. A third person would make things less complicated. An extra pair of hands if she wasn’t able to offer Uttae the additional strength he needed. Folding her arms across her chest she turned to Uttae, forcing herself to speak the question which had lingered in her thoughts for days. “What are the rules of this little game?”

“Little game?” Uttae chuckled. His hands ran over the straps of his weapon harness, content that it was secure. “To start, we are not looking for ‘little game.’ Our intent is to bring back something much larger. The prized beast is what my people call an orkteid. You may liken it to your forest stags. There are similarities, however, the orkteid surpasses a simple stag in size and strength. If you can picture in your mind what I describe, then you will do well enough in helping us spot one.”

“Stags? But they are not exactly uncommon. How do you find this a challenge?” Aiva peered at him. It didn’t make sense. In Tanispa stags were plentiful. Often hunted for food and sport due to their high population. With so many Tuniron warriors in a single location, it seemed almost comical to think of them running out into the trees in search of such a simple creature. There would be enough of them for every warrior to catch their own without need of a team.

It was Kroth who laughed at her question, his dark eyes sparkling at her in the afternoon sun. “Orkteids not like your stag,” he said, the statement broken, hindered by his lack of familiarity with the words. “They much larger. Not near village. Could take days find.”

Days?
My ears must be playing tricks on me…
“I’m sorry, I thought you said days. General, is he mistaken on his wording?”

“No, he is quite accurate. Like I said, he is slow with your dialect, but he understands it.” Uttae beckoned Aiva to come closer, turning to move further from the palace, deeper into the crowds of the village. “The longest hunt in which I participated spanned more than a week.”

“I was under the impression this celebration concluded before nightfall…”

“We will be fortunate if we have entered into a territory by nightfall where the orkteid may cross our path come morning. Chin up, Vor’shai Princess,” Uttae smirked. “If we keep moving, I will have you back to Ghaient soon enough.”

Aiva’s heart fell in desolation. Days… They didn’t have days. In that time they could easily become lost in the maze of trees and wild plants that rose like walls around them at the village border. Callum expected her before evening. What would he think if she didn’t return for a week? Or longer… She couldn’t think about it. It didn’t matter if she had to sacrifice sleeping through the night to keep on the move. They would find this – orkteid – before too much time was allowed to pass.

From somewhere overhead Aiva could hear Ihklos’s voice shouting in the Tuniron language, drawing the attention of every warrior across the village. She scowled at her inability to understand his words, listening to the occasional cheer and exclamations of approval from the crowd. Head tilted back, she searched for where Ihklos spoke from, coming to rest on his bulky form high atop the stone roof of his palace. At his side stood several figures, shrouded in similar cloaks to that worn by Enokih. In their midst she felt her heart ache at the sight of Callum standing there, staring down at her solemnly. He didn’t seem to hear anything spoken by Ihklos. In the moment when their eyes met, Aiva could think of nothing else.