Secret Worlds (325 page)

“Aha!” Ildir shouted, which caused me to jump.

Marren chuckled.

Ildir took his large axe, climbed to the top of the rock, and stood facing the group.

“Catch me, won’t ye?” he asked of no one in particular then raised his axe high above his head and slammed it down on the top of the rock with a loud shuddering blow that sounded as though lightning had struck the rock instead of his axe. Naloud wiggled in her father’s arms at the commotion, just as the rock cracked and crumbled underneath Ildir. The agility of a dwarf would never cease to amaze me. He jumped from the crumbling mass underneath him to a cleared area of ground to the right of the rock.

All that was left was for us to move the new debris and cross.

Something doesn’t feel right,
I said to Marren through our private way of communicating.

I know. I feel it, too.

The last of the rubble was moved by late afternoon. The beginning of fall graced the trees in shades of amber and gold with specks of emerald spotted throughout. The day was warm, but only just. I feared the weather on the other side though it was silly to do so. This realm matched the mortal one so closely that everything stayed in line. Time, weather, the seasons. Everything except for the size and the way human hands hadn’t touched the land and corrupted it into what the mortal realm had been.

I don’t think we should wait any longer. We should move,
I said.

I agree.

Murmurs moved along in hushed tones in the beginning and growing into an even hum. Everyone felt it. The time to go neared and anxieties were high.

Marren leaned into me.

“Let’s get this over with,” he said in a hushed tone, then moved to stand so everyone could see and hear him. “I want everyone to travel together in a group. Once we’re crossed over, you can find your families and join them. I highly suggest you keep your identity a secret, as much as possible. I understand some of you may have a harder time doing so than others. My advice is to stay out of sight from humans. Wait and be careful. Things have changed more than you may realize in the time our people left the mortal realm. And always remain wary of those who side with Jiren. You may find yourself in a trap before you can blink.”

With a nod, people started to file through the opening of the cave to the crossover and the mortal realm beyond. Marren rejoined me, with Enid and Raden by our side. Ildir stood at the mouth of the cave, assuring himself of the races safety.

“Do you plan to remain with us, Raden?” I asked.

“I intend to for a while, aye.”

“And you, Enid?”

“Of course, dear A’lainn,” he replied.

“What about Ildir?” I asked.

“The mountain on the other side is where his home is,” Marren said. “He will be rejoining his people there and will destroy the crossover when it’s time.”

I nodded as Naloud turned over a rock she found sitting at our feet. She stared at it intently opening and closing her hand several times. I reached down and picked her up, resting her on my hip. My mind once again drifted to Serid.

“I keep thinking about Serid, Marren. Do you think Jiren killed him and Okelo?”

“Jiren isn’t the type to take prisoners, Relena.” He grabbed my hand and led us to the mouth of the cave, behind the rest of the races.

“What happens to this place once we cross over?” I asked.

“It will remain until it is safe for us to stay on the mortal realm for good,” Marren replied.

“Are there others staying?”

“I am not sure. My hope is everyone will cross over, eventually.”

I stopped then turned to set my eyes one final time on the immortal realm. The looming forests ahead of me, the shadowed peaks beyond, the darkening sky above, and the slowly setting sun along the horizon. I would miss this place. The aromas, the sounds, and the sensations. Finally, I took one last deep breath of the air then said, “Let’s go home.”

We turned around and walked through the cave. Once again feeling the ink, thick as water, swell around me in a cold embrace. I held on to Marren’s hand and Naloud’s small body as we walked through the disorienting shield protecting the immortal realm. Slowly, the inky black lightened into dark gray and then lightened more as a light appeared in front of us, dotted by bodies of the races. Their cheers and excited murmurs filled the mouth of the cave and echoed back. The cool night air blew, swimming around me as if in a hug of welcome. The scents of the mortal realm assaulted my senses. Dirt, must, iron, and death. An aroma I recalled as being a part of the woods but after living in the immortal realm, where death seldom exists, I realized it was the sign of mortality lingering in the air, sweetening it, making everything—especially living things, seem much more sacred and special.

As we stepped out of the cave, we said our goodbyes to our friends and turned, with Enid and Raden, toward our home that waited for us.

I found myself longing for the white polished stone and enchanted wood carvings of my home. The home I was brought to, very much against my will. The magic surrounding the palace worked through my guard—my shield—over my heart, and allowed me to see it for what it was. Simple beauty and love. And Marren? I fell in love with him quickly. So persistent he was. Persistence that paid off in the end.

So caught up in my daydreams of remembering our home, discovering that there was people there who shouldn’t be came as a total and complete shock. Marren snapped something incoherent in his native language. Nevertheless, the sound forced the hairs on the back of my neck to rise. One syllable I recognizable in his rant froze me to my core. Cyrs.

I clutched Naloud closer. They were making good on their threat and would no doubt try to take my daughter in my place. I could tell with the way Marren stood in front of me, he feared that as well.

Don’t let them take her, Marren.

I won’t. I promise.
He turned toward Enid, “Go check the stables. Try to remain out of sight. If it’s clear, come back and take Naloud. Hide there with her.”

With a nod, Enid ran as fast as he could within the shadows of the trees surrounding our home.

“What about us?” I asked, as the fear of letting my daughter out of my sight with the Cyrs around clutched my heart.

“You,” he said, turning toward me and pulling the hood of my cloak over my head, “will be with me. We’re going to scare them off.”

I couldn’t help the smile stretching my lips. The idea of just desserts replaced my fear. “Mm, I like that idea.”

Marren chuckled, sending my heart in a light, fluttering dance.

“Raden,” he said.

“Aye?”

“I’d like you to stick with us. But, I will understand if you need to go see to your forge.”

“Wouldn’t dream of leav’n ya.” Hearing the sound of rapidly approaching feet, Raden propped his axe upon his shoulders with both hands on the handle, ready to decapitate the intruder. I clung to Naloud tighter, who slept in my arms. Her head rested on my shoulders.

“Oh, Enid my boy! Don’t ye know better than to sneak up on a dwarf?”

“My apologies, old friend,” he replied, bowing slightly with his hand over his chest. He turned to us and said, “The stable’s clear, but it doesn’t look good.”

“How so?” I asked.

“Well, it appears they held someone there and…well, there’s a lot of blood, and it smells horrible.”

“Damn!” Marren snapped a little loudly. The sound traveled too well through the trees and caused Naloud to startle. She resettled quickly with her breathing returning to a slow and even pace. Marren stomped in front of me, with one hand on his hips and the other cupping his forehead. I tried to listen for anyone investigating the sound.

“Go check Raden’s home and forge. There has to be a place we can hide her.”

“Wait!” I said. “There is.”

Marren stopped pacing to face me with expectant eyes. Even Enid and Raden waited with somewhat surprised expressions on their faces.

“The cave.”

Marren’s lips parted with eyes that seemed cold, but alert. I didn’t understand what it meant. Shock? Surprise? Anger for not thinking of that himself? All of them? I wasn’t sure. We seemed to stand for several precious long moments while he thought everything over. His eyes fell to the ground and knitted his brows together.

Raden cleared his throat, which forced Marren’s angry eyes onto him. “Not that I don’t want a fight, but I think Relena is right. The cave would be the best place for her—even if it’s only temporary. We can turn back and get there by dawn. Rest there—”

“No. Not that cave,” I interrupted.

Again, stares of surprise and this time confusion.

“The cave no human will go into because of the stories about it.”
The one we spent my first night as a werewolf in…

The light behind Marren’s eyes illuminated, his sudden realization of which cave I referred to. A small smile pulled at the edges of his mouth. He thought of that night too. I forced the blood to leave my cheeks. Not that anyone would notice at night, but I didn’t want to take the risk.

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Marren said, stepping in the direction of our temporary sanctuary.

***

At some point, we realized we were being followed. Marren noticed first, then me. He used his private way of communicating with me.

We aren’t alone. Someone must have heard us and is following a short distance behind,
Marren said to me.

I know. I thought I heard someone a few times. But every time I look back, there’s nothing but trees and foliage.

Take Naloud and Raden to the cave. You remember the way?

Yes,
I answered quickly to keep Marren from worrying. I understood how important it was not to lead anyone to the cave. It served as our only shelter, our only sanctuary, when out on hunts or runs.

Good. Stay safe. Wait there for me.

You too. I will wait.

“Enid. Run with me,” Marren said, then took off in a full run. Enid’s form took up Marren’s flank. They ran in an arc away from us. I understood he meant to approach from behind our pursuers.

“What’s that all about?” Raden asked.

“We’re being followed,” I whispered.

With a nod, Raden’s hands tightened on the handle of his axe. I placed a hand on his shoulder. When he glanced up, I shook my head. Sighing in defeat and disappointment, he relaxed his hold a little.

We approached the mouth of the cave. I gazed behind me and strained to listen for any sign of Marren, Enid, or worse—our pursuers. I stood still, waiting for the slightest flinch in an aura. A difficult task given the slight breezes blowing through, gently shaking leaves and small branches of various different plants. Nothing large enough to belong to a human. Even a sorry excuse for one, such as a Cyr.

I walked backward into the mouth of the cave slowly, facing the woods. Just in case. Raden propped his axe against the wall on the inside with a tiny clank. Even that tiniest sound bounced back and forth, echoing our location.

I glared at Raden who sighed and puffed up his shoulders, letting them drop heavily. I held back a laugh. The dwarf shrugged with armor, almost making his head disappear beneath his breastplate.

Naloud needed a bed or something soft to lie on. Taking off my cloak and folding it into a soft cushion, I laid it on the floor of the cave. After brushing away the loose rock and other debris, I laid her down on top. She squirmed. A small sound of scorn escaped her lips. But she quickly settled down, placing her fingers in her mouth and sucking.

“Now what?” Raden asked.

“Now we wait for Marren.”

“Is it just me or is everything too quiet for trying to capture someone with a death wish?” Raden asked after a few moments of silence.

I had to admit even I silently questioned the lack of sound in the woods. I tried to keep myself from acknowledging the thought, but now I was forced to face it. Something was wrong.

Just before the dawn turned the dark sky into lighter shades of blue, illuminating the shades of green within the woods, I left Naloud in the care of Raden. He didn’t like the idea, and quite frankly when Naloud woke up, she wouldn’t either—but this was what I had to deal with. I had to find out why Marren didn’t come to the cave and how a small group of Cyrs managed to overtake two powerful werewolves.

I found my way back to my home. Sometime before arriving, burning flesh filled the air and clung to everything in sight. Loud voices floated on the wind. I hesitated, not recognizing either of them, and for a moment worried about Marren, but reminded myself that if I was alive, so was he.

Moving forward, more hesitant than before, I made my way to the garden, now filled with piles of beaten and broken bodies. The smoke stung my eyes, though the sight was what caused me to tear. They were girls of different ages, sizes, and shades. Most, if not all, were covered in bruises. At least the parts that weren’t already charred. Not even realizing I was moving, I approached a pile.

Defiled women.

My sadness quickly turned into hatred and anger so great my vision nearly clouded. A hand gripped my wrist. I did only what I could do. Fight.

I closed my eyes against the stinging smoke and swung. My wrists were caught. I tried to blink the fire away, but the blurred image remained in front of me. They shouted something I couldn’t understand, like the words came from underwater or from behind a thick door. Nothing but garbled gibberish. I lifted a leg to kick my capturer off of me, only to have my move used against me. My other leg was knocked from underneath me. I fell to the ground, peeling the first few layers of skin off of my elbow.

I started to scream “Get off of me,” but it came out like, “Ge oufmi.”

Then his voice entered my mind.
Relena, love. It’s me. Why are you fighting me?

I had been crying so hard and loud, I didn’t realize Marren pinned me to the ground. He pet my head and shushed softly into my ears. My body shook violently with the sobs that racked my body so completely.

***

It took me nearly the rest of the morning to calm down. When I did, it was only because exhaustion had taken me. I woke with a sight all too familiar. The balcony to my room with Marren staring out over the dense trees before the towering Peaks of Domar. The sky darkened to a deep blue at the peaks and lightened gradually toward our home. Sunset. I slept the entire day.