Tyler's Story (Tales of Quelondain) (21 page)

She closed her eyes and felt the tears run down her
cheeks. God, she missed him. Did she still love Blake? Yes. But
what she’d been through with Tyler; they’d fought together, bled
together.

She sat back against a tree and let the sobs come.
What was she supposed to do?

“Heidi! Honey… Baby, it’s ok.” Blake rushed to her
side and wrapped his arms around her. “Shush, now. I’m here.”

“What… what are you doing here?”

“Your mom phoned me at work to tell me she was
worried cause you were going hiking.” He smoothed her hair. “Heidi,
you should have waited for me.” He helped her to her feet. “Come
on. Let’s get you home. I’ll phone in and take the rest of the day
off and you can phone in and we’ll just stay home tonight.” He
looked into her eyes with a slight frown. “Ok?”

She wanted to say yes. She wanted to tell him nothing
would make her happier, but she was sure that the best way through
this was to keep busy. She shook her head.

“I have to go in. I’m ok. Really.” She smiled to ease
the worry in his eyes. “I need to do this, Blake.”

He took a deep breath and nodded, though she could
tell he wasn’t happy about it.

“Come one, I’ll get you home.”

By the time they’d gotten back to the apartment, his
presence beside her had helped to ease away some of the chaotic
thoughts running through her mind.

“Blake?”

He leaned back against the door. “Hmm?”

“Do you still want to ditch work?”

His grin spread and he nodded. “Give me two seconds
and we’ll make some popcorn and I think there’s some chips and dip
in the cupboard… why don’t you go pick the first movie?”

She smiled and nodded.

“Which movie did you pick?” inquired Blake as he
entered the living room carrying bowls heaping with junk food. He
set them down and returned with a couple mugs of hot chocolate.

“Top Gun.”

“Ah, the classics. Another reason why I love you.” He
leaned across a bowl of taco chips and kissed her lightly.

They settled in for a movie marathon and as the first
jet flew across the screen, Heidi moved the bowl so she could
snuggle into his side. Blake kissed the top of her head and pulled
her close. By the time Maverick and Goose were being told they were
going to Top Gun, she was asleep.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“I’ll take a rye and coke, sweetheart.”

Heidi nodded to the dark haired man as she lifted her
tray and made her way back to the bar with her latest orders. “Sure
thing, Frank. Are you starting a tab?”

He grinned and she chuckled.

Robbie, the bartender, looked up from the beer he was
pouring as she set her tray down.

“I need three Kokanees, a Canadian, one rye and coke,
one rye and seven,” she looked back to one of her tables, “a Mike’s
Hard, a vodka and seven, a Coors Light, and a cherry whiskey
paralyzer.”

He gave her a nod and started on the order as she
punched everything on the screen in front of her.

“Hang on, Heidi,” he said as put the last drink on
her tray. He reached over and adjusted the green bandana she kept
tied on her upper arm. She smiled her thanks and continued her
rounds.

She noticed a man walk into the bar and seat himself
in the corner. She made her way to his table, each step getting a
bit slower than the previous one as she took in his shaggy dark
brown hair, the line of his jaw, and the shape of his shoulders
while he twirled a coaster on the table.

“Can I get you anything to drink?” Her heart jumped
into her throat as deep brown eyes met hers.

“I’ll take a Canadian.” He frowned. “Are you ok?” He
stood and sat her down in his seat. He brushed the dark brown bangs
out of his eyes.

Heidi made herself take a closer look at him and she
took a few deep breaths to calm herself. “I’m fine. Sorry. It’s
been a long night.” She stood and noticed his eyes move to where
the bandana had slipped. She pushed it up again. “Are you starting
a tab?”

He nodded. “Put it under Brent.”

Robbie looked up and frowned as she reappeared at the
counter. “Are you ok? You look like you’re going to pass out.”

She shook her head. “I… that guy, he looked… I had a
flashback.” She retied the bandana snuggly.

He smiled kindly. “Why don’t you take the rest of the
night off? It’s slowing down; Carly can handle it.” He put a hand
on hers at the shake of her head. “Heidi, it’s only been three
weeks since you managed to escape the men that kidnapped you. No
one would blame you if you took some time off. Go home. I know if I
was Blake, I’d be sick every time you left the house after what
happened.”

“Ok.” She smiled. She went to find Carly, told her
she was taking the rest of the night off, and headed out to her
car. She started the engine and looked at the clock. Twelve thirty.
The night was almost over. Robbie was right; Carly could handle
it.

Once at home, she unlocked the door to the apartment
as quietly as she could and turned to close it softly behind
her.

“Hey.”

Heidi screamed, her hand going to her hip where her
dagger had once sat. Blake held up his hands.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“I… It’s ok. It’s been a long night. What are you
doing up?” She went to sit on his lap and tried to calm her
heart.

“I couldn’t sleep.” He kissed her softly. “I’ve been
thinking about things.”

She snuggled into his chest. “About what?”

“I think we should move.”

She looked up at him, frowning. “Why?”

“Everything here scares you. You won’t go into the
woods. I miss our walks together. Every time we go out, you have
these flashbacks.”

“It will get better.”

“Not unless you decide to talk to someone about it.
Heidi, I know you’re not telling me everything.” He held on to her
arm to keep her from getting up. “I mean, I believe you… I don’t
doubt you were kidnapped, but it just seems like there’s more that
you’re not telling me.”

Heidi shook her head and tried to keep the tears from
welling in her eyes.

“I want you to talk to someone. You need help.”

“I’m fine.”

“I want us to talk to someone.”

“What do you mean?”

Blake took a deep breath. “I mean that I know that
those three months were probably horrible for you, but they weren’t
easy on me either. We both need to get past this.” He wiped the
tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. “I love you, Heidi, and I
don’t want to lose you to this.”

Heidi leaned her forehead against his. He sounded so
tired.

“I love you, too. We’ll figure something out.” She
smiled and kissed him, lacing her fingers behind his head. The kiss
was soft, hesitant on his part. She felt a pang of guilt. He hadn’t
done much more than hold her since she’d been back. She’d never
said she’d been raped, but she hadn’t denied it when the police had
asked what her abductors had done to her. To say she’d been held
captive for nearly three months and to not have been taken
advantage of simply seemed like an unbelievable story. Especially
when she’d shown up beaten black and blue and branded.

She held his face lightly in her hands. “Kiss me.”
She leaned toward him again and sighed as his lips pressed against
hers, not quite as hesitantly. She moved so that she straddled him
on the couch and she shivered as his fingers found the skin under
her shirt.

Blake groaned as she pulled his t-shirt out of his
jeans and ran her hands up his chest. He wrapped his arms around
her and let his lips trace along her jaw, down her neck. Heidi
shivered as his tongue slipped along her collar bone. His lips took
hers again before pulling away. He looked into her grey green eyes,
his need so clear in his that her body clenched at the sight of it.
She ran her thumb over his cheek bone.

“Let’s go to bed.”

His mouth claimed hers and he stood with her still in
his arms and carried her to the bedroom.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Alright, Heidi. Enough is enough.”

Blake had left for work after kissing her senseless
just like he’d done countless times before she’d disappeared. She
sat on their bed, her mind made up. It was time to forget
Quelondain and the best way to do that was to get rid of the things
she’d brought back with her.

She moved to her dresser and dug into the back of her
shorts drawer until her fingers found the rough leather of her
pack. She took a deep breath. She hadn’t looked at it since the day
she’d gotten back. One of the first things she’d done after Blake
had dragged her into the apartment was to hide it. She didn’t want
the police questioning her about the dagger and any of the clothes
she’d brought along.

Heidi grabbed the bag and pulled it out in one swift
motion like she was ripping off a bandaid. Her fingers ran over the
pockets. She stood, ready to throw the entire thing in the trash
out in the alley, but something stopped her. Could she throw out
the dagger Tyler had bought her? She reached into the pack and
pulled out the three tunics and two pairs of pants, laying all of
them on the bed. She remembered the look on Tyler’s face when he’d
first seen her in the light blue tunic. She touched it softly. Next
to come out was the money pouch which still held coins. Her hand
found the hilt of her dagger, still in its scabbard, and she pulled
it free of the pack. She traced the delicate vines etched into the
hilt.

It was a good blade, she argued with herself. It was
stupid to throw away a perfectly good blade. She twirled it in her
hand before setting it back onto the bed. She reached into the pack
to pull out the small knife John had given her as a joke after
she’d teased them for looking like barbarians cutting their food
with their daggers. She frowned. The hilt her fingers touched was
too big to be the knife’s.

Her throat tightened and her heart dropped at the
sight of the knife in the leg sheath. When had he gotten it? She
placed it beside the dagger. They were a pair. Tears spilled down
her face and fell onto her lap. She had to forget; she just had to.
She took a long shuddering breath and put everything back into the
pack.

Chapter Nine

Tyler ducked under the water and scrubbed himself
down with soap. He opened his eyes and looked at the underwater
world; the weeds, small fish and bugs all tinted a greenish blue.
He blew his breath out of his nose and resurfaced, shaking the
water out of his hair. A flutter of wings on the shore of the river
caught his attention and he grinned.

“Bird!” He swam the short distance to shore, shifted
and shook himself dry before shifting back and pulling on a clean
pair of pants. He looked in his pack and pulled out his grey tunic.
He felt a small pang in his chest as he thought of Heidi wearing
it. He set it aside and found his green one. He sat and Bird
settled on his knee.

“How did you find me?”

She flashed him pictures of other blue birds.

“You were spying on me, were you?”

She did her best impression of a shrug and he
laughed.

“Well, I’m glad you’re back. It’s been lonely without
you.” He petted her little head. “I’m sorry about before. I
shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

She flew up and pecked his cheek. Her head cocked to
the side.

“The leg? It’s good as new. There’s barely a scar.”
He grinned. “So, according to a drunk Wedelve I ran into a couple
of days ago, I should be in Vinelane tonight. Was he right?”

She bobbed her head.

“Perfect. I could use some salt and cheese.” He
packed his bag and hiked it onto his shoulder. “Were you in Sageden
the past month?”

He watched as she showed him pictures of his family
and friends. His chest tightened at the sight of the smiling faces.
His mom and his Aunt Hayden sitting on a blanket while his dad and
Uncle Jasper wrestled with his cousins whom he’d yet to meet.
Tantara and Roben enjoying a mug of sloan while they played cards.
Brice, Matthew, and Danny working on their sparring. He smiled at a
picture of Bree and Brynn glaring at Kasey while he showed them how
to gut a fish. He laughed at the picture of his friend Phlann
covered in mud after slipping down a river bank, his golden scaly
horse body black with dirt, his human torso just as filthy.

“Did you tell them why you were there so long?” He
glanced sideways at her as he walked by the branch she was sitting
on. She bobbed her head and flew ahead to another branch. She
showed him the picture she’d shown them.

He snorted and tried not to laugh. “I don’t think I
looked that angry, but thank you for leaving the bruises out of it.
I’d hate to think they’ve been worrying about me.”

She cocked her head at him.

“Fine. I know they worry about me regardless.”

They made their way down the path to the town of
Vinelane. He smiled as it appeared before them. Like most Wedelven
villages, it reminded him of Sageden.

“Good day.” A young Weldelve with skin so green he
seemed to glow nodded along with his greeting. Tyler smiled.

“Good day. Could you direct me to the Inn?”

The man’s caramel colored eyes met his. “If you go
three streets in this direction, turn left and keep walking, you’ll
go right past it.”

Tyler thanked the man and was glad to find the inn
exactly where it was supposed to be. An older Wedelven woman, her
dark tan skin striped with dark brown, smiled from her position
behind the desk.

“What can I help you with, young man?”

Tyler grinned. “I’d love a room if you have one.”

“Well, now, aren’t you in luck. I happen to have one
that should suit you just fine. That is if you’re not expecting
anyone to join you.”

He shook his head. “No. It will be just for me.” He
followed behind her as she led the way.

“It will be three pieces for the room and breakfast
is on us.” She nodded her thanks as he handed her the money. “Here
you are. The pub is just down the hall and to your left.”