Warrior (11 page)

“Your sister looks just like you, by the way.” Silver, which displayed his strongly skilled line, swirled around the edges of Guy’s pale blue enchanter eyes. “Although, I knew she was not you the moment I saw her.”

Maslin snatched two saddles from the rack and headed for the outer door, calling over his shoulder, “Hope, I’ll grab some food for lunch and see to the horses. I won’t be long.”

“Sure.” I crossed to Guy. “I can’t believe you’ve met Faith before I even have.” I checked out the melted portion at the base of a stirrup he was working on. “Oh, well done, the spell of heat without fire. That’s the closest I’ve seen you get to melting metal.”

He gave a lazy shrug. “I’m getting there.” Guy passed the stirrup to me. “I think the ditty needs to be longer to keep the heat generating. I’ll master it and when he’s released, prove to my father I didn’t slack in my studies. Not once.”

Running my fingers over the warm metal, I smiled. “I know you haven’t slacked.” Oh boy, what must he think of me, bound to a protector? “So, you heard about Silas?”

“Yeah, you’re bonded to one of them, like Faith.” He sighed. “Your life is tied to Carver’s, as hers is with Loveria’s. I’m sorry.”

I leaned against his workbench. “Me too, but there is a benefit.”

“Impossible. Although, this I’d like to hear.”

“Now I’m mated to a protector, I’ll do everything in my power to find your father and our other captured warriors. Alexo mentioned your agreement with Faith.”

“I would have told you as soon as I saw you. It was only a few days ago I spotted Faith with Loveria on Peacian soil and struck the deal.”

“I’m glad she agreed to your request. It shows she thinks of our warriors even though she is mated to the enemy. It’s a good sign she’s loyal to us.” I set the stirrup next to his opened notebook filled with his scrawl. “Ah, how am I meant to read this? I can’t document your skill when this is what you give me.”

Looking sly, he nudged my shoulder with his. “Just ask and I’ll repeat what I’ve written for you.”

“Or you could write with a tidier hand. Oh my goodness.” I grabbed his arm. “I haven’t told you yet. I have telepathy and fast-healing. It just happened.”

“Congratulations. Alexo must be pleased.”

“Yes, and tell me, you sensed a firming toward the location of yours when we last spoke. Do you have any more news?”

Men always felt the call, the insistent burn to locate their soul-bound one, and Guy had spoken to me of his desire, the pull at times coming from Earth, and alternately from Magio. He worried greatly since he had searched for her from among his fellow warriors and not discovered his match.

“She moves around too much. If she is Peacian as you have discovered yours is, I will not travel down that road. I’ll steer clear of her and ensure the bond doesn’t activate.”

Even Silas’s true desire of a woman, a protector who’d fight by his side, was one I couldn’t fault. Our countries were at war, our relationship–no, non-relationship–a secret we must keep. Things would have been easier had he never come and activated the bond. Although where would my mind-merge have led me? To death because he had not? I shuddered at the thought.

No, what was done was done. Now I needed answers about my ability of mind-merge. Someone must know it. Or about Katerin Sol. Who was she and where had she come from?

“What are you thinking, that has that deep frown on your face?”

“Katerin Sol, my mother’s mother. I must find her or her people. That is where I will discover what I need to know about my mind-merge. Or at least I hope I will.”

“Hmm.” He tapped his chin and glanced over his shoulder to the door Maslin had left by. “The surname of Sol is referenced to the sun, and many of the desert families hold it. Have you spoken to Maslin about this? His Sol ancestors are from a compound in No-Man’s Land. His grandparents are still there and their tribe is remote.”

Maslin was a Sol. I should have spoken to him. “I’ll get onto that.”

“Hope, the horses are ready.” Maslin patted the doorjamb as he peered around the corner. “Guy, we’re heading to the Rocky Ledge’s watering hole. The horses need a run.”

“Sure.” Guy saluted. “You two have a nice lunch.”

I approached Maslin. “Could we talk more about the Sol compound?”

“Ah yeah, but let’s wait until we get to the Ledge.” He ran his hand over my horse’s saddle, yanking and checking the buckle. “I’ll give you a foot-up.” He clasped his hands and I set my foot into his palm-hold.

I jumped and slid into place.

Maslin passed me a hat. “Check your saddlebags. Make sure you’re happy with what I packed.”

A flask of water, snacks and sandwiches. “Yep, that’s good.”

After hoisting up into his saddle, he rode out and I followed.

Maslin grinned at me, clicking his tongue to encourage his horse into a gallop.

I joined him and picked up speed as we let our horses have their heads. “I love this place,” I yelled into the wind as we raced.

“Me too,” he shouted.

We rode, our surroundings still beautiful in spite of the harsh drought.

Brilliant colors shimmered around us, red the predominant, with the dusty landscape broken by the towering gum trees. Beyond the rocky hills, the ridge rose steeply to meet the rich blue of the sky. The sight enthralled, because the Ledge was like a slab of stone appearing out of nowhere.

An hour passed and we neared our destination. What must Donaldo be thinking with Saunder’s father now returned? He would have heard and I should have asked one of the warriors, only with all I’d been through, I’d forgotten.

“Hey, Maslin, what happened with Tawson Rivera?”

“Lieska took him to Dralion when he woke. She informed Donaldo she’d found him in Peacio, making up quite the tale. Tawson was groggy and unresponsive, his recollection of those hours before and after he woke hazy. Saunder’s with him, and as far as I’ve heard, Lieska’s word stands.”

Hmm, Silas should know what had occurred since I’d left him.

Telepathy.

Trust between mates was a given, and those who had the telepathic skill always connected in order to maintain closer contact. I only hoped with him being a protector, I still had that level of trust to create the threaded link.

Focusing directly on him, I sent out the call. “
Silas. Please hear me.
”

The horse underneath me pounded across the hard-packed earth.

No word from Silas, not a flicker.

“
Answer me, please. We need to talk.
”

“
Hope?
” His voice was a stunned whisper.

I grabbed hold of the link and locked it down. “
Oh my, guess what?
”

“
Hell, you have telepathy. Brilliant. Wait there. I’ve been detained. It took a while to find Carlisio, but I’ve finished speaking with him.
”

“
Um, I’m not in Peacio. Alexo collected me when he saw I fast-healed.
”

“
What?
” His voice rebounded around inside my head. “
Damn it. I leave and he comes and takes you. Where are you? Your bedroom?
”

“
No, I’m out riding.
”

“
Where?
”

“
On my horse.
”

“
Don’t be smart.
”

I groaned. “
I’m with Maslin and I doubt the two of you would get along.
”

“
Where are you riding to? You and I shouldn’t be separated right now. We spoke about this.
”

My saddlebags held a meal, one he wasn’t invited to. “
Ah, none of your business.
” I didn’t need him turning up, not that he had the image for the Ledge to ’port to.

A furious snort traveled down our link. “
I’ll kill him if–
”

I snapped it shut, blocking him from reconnecting. Laying out the groundwork was important. He couldn’t tell me what to do.

Gripping the reins, I shoved all thought of him aside and soaked in the beauty of tumbleweeds blowing across the land.

Running my hands down the gelding’s sweaty neck, I settled lower. The ride lengthened, and we passed several half-dried watering holes before Maslin angled off toward the one we’d aptly named the Rocky Ledge. The Ledge’s watering hole descended deep inside a rock-strewn basin, one the cattle found impossible to reach. This hole held the most water of all of them.

As we drew up to the side, we slowed our mounts. I slid my leg over the saddle and jumped to the ground.

Maslin took my horse’s reins, slung them over a low branch and tethered our rides to the same tree. He grabbed the supplies from his saddlebags and mine and inclined his head toward the rocks which rimmed the basin. “We’ll eat down by the water.”

“Sounds good.”

He looped a blanket over his arm and led the way.

I followed over the rough boulders, scrambling in some places until we reached the heart of the watering hole. This was one of my favorite locations, an oasis with towering trees along the perimeter offering delectable shade. The water invited one to swim, and the soft patch of green grass to sit.

Maslin flapped out the gray saddle blanket and spread it over the ground. He dropped his pack, lay down and clasped his hands behind his head. “I love this spot. It’s so peaceful.”

“Thanks for thinking of this.” The outback had many secrets, and this location was one of them. I plopped down and settled on my back with my ankles crossed. I peered through the dappled leaves above. Blue sky dominated, with not even a wisp of cloud in sight. So serene.

“I understand you need to mind-merge with Carver every third day.”

“For five minutes when I do.” I rolled to my side and leaned toward him on one elbow. “I didn’t know this would happen with Silas. Although he and I should take things slow. There are too many factors for me not to make that call.”

“The slower, the better,” he added.

I wanted to be honest with Maslin. “With the mind-merge I saw what Silas desired, and it’s not to have his enemy as his mate.”

“He should want one of his own.”

“I need to keep an open mind, but being here reminds me of the world of difference between him and me. I spend half my life here, and the other half in Dralion. I’d have to find a way to factor Peacio into it, and I’m not sure I can do that.”

“I don’t envy the position you’re in, only, do not eliminate me from the equation.” He passed me a flask of water, one of the cut sandwiches and some fresh fruit. “Now, no more talk of him when I’d like to talk to you about my grandparents.”

“I’d like that as well. It’s your father’s parents who are from No-Man’s Land, right?”

“Yes. For my father’s efforts with the warriors many years ago, he accepted the relocation they offered him to Dralion. My grandparents though, still live in the Sol compound, and one of the benefits of serving as a warrior is gaining access out. I travel to No-Man’s Land whenever it’s possible, although our relationship is new and I’m still getting to know them.”

“It must be awful for your family, particularly with your father losing contact with his own parents.” I unwrapped then bit into one of the sandwiches he’d brought.

“It’s difficult, but we’re immensely grateful I can visit and take home news to my family. I’d like to take you to the compound. And now I know of your mind-merge, I’ve had niggling thoughts. I’ve heard a little about it, or at least I’m sure I have.”

“Oh my goodness. You might have heard of mind-merge? No way.”

“Only a touch, because I’ve not paid a great deal of attention, and my trips to No-Man’s Land have been about meeting my family and rebuilding lost bonds. I didn’t want to excite you too soon if I wasn’t correct.”

I jiggled about, unable to sit still. “Tell me more. Don’t miss a thing.”

“When Goldie told us everything, it seemed too much of a coincidence. I’ve heard the odd bits and pieces about the merging of one’s mind to another’s from within the Sol compound. We should investigate.”

I bounded to my feet and skipped in a circle. “No-Man’s Land experiences the disruption of the energy field.” How had I not paid more attention to the fact Dad lost sight of me for a few days? I had to be in the dark for that to happen, or of course, in a gray area. The only gray area was within No-Man’s Land near the border to Dralion where one’s skills faded in and out because of the dome’s energy field so close by. I reached down and grabbed Maslin by the hands. “We have to go. Now.”