Beloved (40 page)

Brenna and Blayde exchanged worried glances. “Yes,” Blayde finally said. “King Tyrius uses them to steal a Royal’s gifts. If Octavion is truly bound by them he will have no strength to fight and even if his gifts have not been entirely stripped from him, the chains will make it so he cannot use them.”

It was just as Kira thought. “He’s not answering me so we can only assume they have him chained up.”

“I agree,” Brenna said. “We should assume the worst and plan for it. Do you have any idea how we are to get him out?”

“Yeah.” Kira pointed to Althros grazing in the meadow. “I’m riding right through the main gate like I own the place.”

“What?” The question burst from both Blayde and Brenna at the same time.

“Look. King Tyrius wants me and I intend to at least make it appear that he’s got me. He’ll be expecting a full on attack by every Royal Xantara can talk into helping them, but he won’t be expecting me to come alone. I’ll ride in on my big white horse with my shiny red hair blowing in the breeze and nobody will know what to do. Even if they capture me, I’m sure they’ll take me straight to the king and then I’ll work my magic. If I can’t talk him into releasing Octavion then maybe he’ll trade him for me. It’s worth a shot.”

Blayde shook his head in disgust. “And how exactly do you get out?”

“Same way I got in.”

“That will not work, Kira.” Blayde stood and began pacing. “Someone needs to go with you. A Royal so if something goes wrong he can grab you and leave.”

“Or she,” Brenna corrected him.

Blayde stopped long enough to glare at his sister. “No. I will not allow it.”

“Allow it? I will have you know—”

“Stop,” Kira interrupted. “I go alone. It’s the only way this will work. If one of you went with me, you’d be killed. They’d have no use for you. No one would dare kill me if they knew they could gain favor from the king for delivering me in one piece, unharmed. Not to mention the reward that’s been offered is for me to be captured alive. They’d be more likely to protect me from anyone else getting to me.”

Blayde settled back on the ground to look at the map again. “What if I followed you to the mouth of the canyon, made sure you at least got that far safely? Then I could watch you from a distance and stay out of sight.”

Brenna sighed deeply and sat back on her heels. “
We
could watch her better from two different viewpoints. And what about Altaria and the others? I am sure they will want in on this.”

Kira folded the map and stuck it back in her pouch. “You’re all missing the point. He could capture all of you and take your gifts. Is that what you want? All I need from you is to be here if things go really bad. I can call you, then you can come to my rescue. So, either I go alone or we dig another grave for my husband. It’s that simple.” She stood and left them sitting there. She didn’t turn to see if they stayed chatting or got up and went their separate ways. She didn’t care. All she knew was if they wouldn’t support her decision, she’d have to figure it all out on her own.

Going back to the castle wasn’t an option—they’d literally lock her up so she couldn’t leave—so she borrowed a blanket from Lessa and found a soft place near one of the fires to sleep. She told everyone she’d leave at first light, but as soon as the camp grew quiet and the fire was nothing but a few glowing embers, she gave Mahli strict instructions to stay in Lairdor with Blayde and Brenna and set out on her own. With her gift of night vision, she didn’t need to wait until first light. As it was, it would take a full day—maybe two if she lost her way—to get to Kazedon.

At the edge of the meadow she turned around for one last look at Lairdor’s new home. Soon there would be structures built here, maybe even a business or two. Kira longed to see that day, but she knew it might never come. Not because King Belesgar wouldn’t honor his word, but because her fate was uncertain. At least she’d die knowing her family was safe here, even if she never returned.

By midday, Kira had made it to the mouth of Fire Canyon. Though crude, she was never more grateful for having an accurate map. Twice she’d come to a fork in the road and if it hadn’t been clearly marked on the map, she may have turned the wrong direction.

She discovered something else along the way as well—not many people traveled to or from Kazedon—at least not by road. The closer she got, the less worn the path. In fact, it could probably be more accurately called a game trail. The only reason she knew she was in the right place was the magnificent glow of the canyon. Whoever had named it Fire Canyon had it right.

The plain cliffs of tan stone jutted up from the ground and touched the sky weren’t that magnificent. But the vegetation that flanked the river flowing through the canyon actually glowed like a fire. Their feathery fronds swayed in the breeze, flashing shades of yellow, orange and red, while the smaller plants flickered like hot coals. It was breathtaking. As she got closer, however, she saw the plants for what they really were. What appeared at a distant to be long, soft feathers were actually razor-sharp blades filled with thorns.

Kira pulled Althros to a stop and hopped down to take a closer look, but before she could examine one of the plants, she heard footsteps behind her. She spun around, an arrow notched in her bow before she even saw her target—a white tiger standing on the edge of the tree line.

Kira lowered her bow, though she had to think twice about it. She should have at least fired an arrow to teach the cub a lesson. “Mahli! Get over here!”

Kira expected Mahli to run happily to her, but instead she tucked in her tail, lowered her head and took her sweet time.

“I told you to stay with Blayde. It’s too dangerous for you here. Or don’t you remember almost getting eaten by Jraks? I’m sure there are far worse things waiting for us in the swamp.”

Mahli bumped her head against Kira’s thigh, almost knocking her over. “What is with you? You’re acting weird.”

Kira crouched in front of the cat to get a better look at her. She buried her fingers in the cub’s fur and whiskers, and held her head so their eyes were only inches apart. Ire crawled up Kira’s spine as she realized the eyes she looked into did not belong to Mahli. Though Mahli’s eyes were the most beautiful sky blue, her right eye had a tiny flaw—a single thread of yellow—barely visible unless the sun caught it just right. As familiar as this cat’s eyes were to her, they belonged to someone else.

Kira pushed the cat away, stood and took a step back. “Altaria! How did you find me?”

The cub slowly rose onto its back legs before morphing into the kick butt warrior princess Kira knew all too well.

Altaria brushed the dust off her hands as if she hadn’t a care in the world. “How did you know?”

“I know my cub. What are you doing here? And how did you know where to find me?”

“I went to Lairdor this morning looking for you and Blayde told me about your plan. He guessed you’d be closing in on the canyon soon, so I leapt here and waited.”

“That’s cheating. I had to ride the whole way.”

“That was your choice, not mine.” Altaria walked over to one of the blazing shrubs, but didn’t touch it. “Are you planning to ride through this? If you make it to the other side in one piece, your horse’s legs will be a bloody mess.”

Kira folded her arms and shifted her weight onto one foot. “I hadn’t thought that far ahead. Maybe we could travel down the river. It doesn’t look that deep.”

“Great idea, except it’s full of sharp rocks and old thorns the bushes have sloughed off. I’m sure Althros will love having those stuck in his hooves.”

Kira dropped her hands to her sides and curled her fingers into fists. “Then what do you suggest I do, let Octavion die?”

“Of course not. But you could let us help you. After I spoke to Blayde and found out what you had planned, I went to Father. We both think you’re on to something, but the flaw in your plan is that you’re doing it alone.”

Kira relaxed her stance a little. “And what exactly did you and the
king
have in mind?”

“There is no reason to be so hostile. Octavion was my brother long before he fell in love with you.”

Kira sighed. As much as she wanted to do this alone, she needed to let those who love him help if that’s what they wanted. “I’m sorry. You’re right. So, what’s the plan?”

“Well, for starters, you let Luka and Cade take us to the other side of the swamp. Luka has been there and says there is a spot hidden by trees and rocks where we can leap and not be seen.”

“But what about Althros?”

Altaria glanced at the horse grazing a few feet away. “We will have to put something over his eyes so he does not get spooked, but I think we can take him too.”

“Well, it won’t work without him. Walking to the castle will be far less impressive than riding in on a big white horse.”

“Not to mention the white tiger at your side.”

Kira couldn’t help but notice the grin Altaria tried to hide. How she could be happy about a situation that could take both their lives, made no sense. But then, Kira had forced herself to cling to the good memories she’d shared with Octavion during her morning journey instead of dwelling on what could happen in Kazedon if she failed. Keeping a positive attitude had gotten her this far and would most likely sustain her for the rest of the day, regardless of the outcome.

“You’re not going, Al. I can’t take the chance of you getting captured like your brother. Besides, there’s no way you can convince me that your father is okay with this. He’d rather keep you locked up in the castle for the rest of your life than let you put yourself into a dangerous situation like this.”

Altaria’s smirk faded. “Is Octavion’s life less valuable than mine?”

“What? No! Why would you ask that?”

“Because you think my father would let Octavion die to keep me safe. Nothing is farther from the truth. Yes, he prefers I not be in harm’s way and if he had a choice he would make me stay behind, but he also realizes that my unique gifts may help save his son’s life. You and I will not be alone in this, Kira. He is not sending us into the hands of our enemy to be slaughtered—he is merely letting us take the lead. He has our backs, as you would say. And so shall others. You will see.”

Kira’s heart swelled at the thought of her friends and family not wanting her to go it alone, but she still couldn’t get past the idea of them being hurt, or worse, killed. She looked down at the Crystor, no longer a bracelet but a silver tattoo embedded into her skin. She ran her fingers across it, making it swirl and move to meet her fingertips. “I swore to protect you, not to put you in danger.” She looked up at Altaria and watched as her friend’s eyes shifting back and forth from green to icy blue and for the first time she saw a glimpse of what Blayde saw—two spirits acting as one. She knew Lydia was there and that Altaria spoke for her as well.

Altaria reached for her, touching the Crystor with one hand, revealing the red markings that moved in unison on her own wrist. “We are bound, my friend. Not like you and Octavion, but as sisters. Together we can do anything. We have proved that time and time again. Why do you doubt it now?”

Kira thought about that for a brief moment before realizing the truth hurt more than she wanted to admit. “Because I’m afraid, Al. I can’t lose him. I can’t lose you. I would die if—”

“No, you wouldn’t. You are a strong woman and will get through whatever comes. But we must have faith that the god’s will protect him and bring us all home safely. And you have to learn to trust those who love and care for you.” She put her hand on Kira’s shoulder. “To trust
me
.”

“I do trust you. It’s just . . .” Admitting the fear wasn’t the worst part of this conversation. From the moment she left Pride Meadow she’d had the confidence that she could do this on her own. She’d learned so much about this world and about herself in the past few months that she knew exactly what she was capable of. But now that Altaria was here—the epitome of strength and kick-ass attitude—Kira question her abilities.

She reflected on all the times she’d made stupid mistakes and put everyone she cared about in danger. That was the real reason she wanted to do this alone. Not because she didn’t trust them to be there for her, but because she didn’t want their injuries or death on her hands.