Union (31 page)

He met Nykin at the edge of the beach and immediately pulled him in for a kiss. “The witch was gone by the time we got there.”

Nykin sighed in defeat. “And the barrier?”

“Intact still. Glaevahl managed to fix whatever damage she’d caused.” Ryneq turned and started walking back toward the building behind him. He looked over his shoulder to make sure Nykin was following. “Come on, they’re serving supper upstairs. I bet you’re starving.”

“Yeah, I am.” Nykin was still sweaty from spending the day in his leathers, but the promise of food made his stomach rumble. He waved a hand over his uniform. “I should really change first.”

Ryneq shook his head. “I wouldn’t bother.” He gestured to his own uniform, and Nykin noticed for the first time that Ryneq was sweaty and dirty, and probably in an even worse state than he was since Ryneq smelled of horses too. “Nearly everyone up there has just come in from patrolling the border. Now is not the time for worrying about your appearance.”

“Okay.” Nykin shrugged and trailed after him.

S
UPPER
IN
the royal dining room was a far different affair than the last time Nykin had eaten there. Far more people were present this time, and three of the elders were congregated around the end of the huge table, surrounded by books as they worked and ate.

Nykin nudged Ryneq in the side and pointed over at them. “Have they found a way to kill the witch yet?”

“I’m not sure, but they were excited about something earlier, so they must be close.” He led Nykin over to the side where plates of delicious-looking fish were laid out alongside various breads and fruits.

Nykin glanced around as he filled his plate. The queen was in deep conversation with Nihathyl and Avelor, and none of them looked too happy. Nykin hoped it wasn’t anything to do with Faelon. He really wanted to go and see him and decided to drop in and visit after he’d eaten.

Selene had flown back a little earlier than Nykin and was already chatting animatedly with Lerran when Nykin spotted her. They seemed very cozy, and judging by the look on Selene’s face, whatever they were discussing had nothing to do with the witch.

Ryneq drew alongside him and followed Nykin’s gaze. “Those two seem to be getting on well.”

Nykin could tell by his tone that he and Ryneq were thinking along the same lines. If Selene and Lerran weren’t already sleeping together, then they would be soon. Nykin hesitated, not sure how to reply. Selene was his friend, and he didn’t want to get her in trouble, but Ryneq was his lover, and he wanted to be honest. He had no real idea how Ryneq would react to Selene and Lerran starting a relationship, but Ryneq had an amused expression still, so Nykin didn’t expect it would be too bad. He went with the truth as he saw it.

“Yes, they do. She likes him, and he seems to like her too.” He didn’t say any more and waited for Ryneq’s response.

“It certainly looks that way.” Ryneq paused, and slipped his arm around Nykin to rest a hand on his hip. “I hope she knows what she’s doing, though. I’ve never heard of an elf leaving Alel for anything or anyone.” He gave Nykin a quick kiss on the side of his neck, making Nykin shiver, and then left to join Avelor and Ahlyria.

Nykin smiled sadly as Selene leaned in a little closer to Lerran, laughing at something he’d said. She looked as happy as he’d ever seen her, and he hated the thought that she was getting far too attached. Selene was a bonded dragon rider, and she loved Kalesh. He doubted she’d be willing to give that up for Lerran, no matter how strongly she felt about him. He sighed and followed after Ryneq.

Avelor left as Nykin arrived, and he offered Nykin his seat. The others were discussing Torsere when Nykin sat down, and he leaned forward a little—just the mention of his home had him aching to be back there.

“At least with Seran occupied here, we can assume Torsere is probably safe from attack.” Ryneq paused to take a drink. “At least one of his men was in an Athisi uniform, so they must still have an alliance. But after the last time, I doubt Seran will be keen to split his forces again.”

The queen studied him for a few moments before replying. “Yes, I think you’re right. If Seran is intent on breaking through our barriers, as he seems to be, and has a substantial portion of his army waiting to attack, then I doubt he’s focused on Torsere as well.”

Nykin cleared his throat hesitantly. He still wasn’t used to speaking up in such company and having his opinion valued, but he felt the need to point out that they’d already made this mistake once. “Forgive me, Sire, but we underestimated Seran last time, and he did indeed attack Torsere.”

Nykin bit his lip, wondering if he’d done the right thing. He didn’t want to give Ryneq anything else to worry about, but he got the feeling Ryneq was purposefully avoiding the fact that Torsere could be vulnerable again.

Ryneq looked at him with a resigned expression before nodding. “Yes, Nykin. You make a good point.” Nykin relaxed, and settled back in his seat as Ryneq spoke again. “Although Athisi was led by Hatak then, so Seran was free to attack. But you’re right, we shouldn’t underestimate him again. We don’t really know if Seran is now sole leader of the lowland armies, but even so he could well have dispatched some of his soldiers to attack Torsere.”

“Do you have a way to contact your people?” Ahlyria directed her question to both Ryneq and Nykin, and Nykin didn’t hesitate to answer this time.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Ahlyria, please,” she admonished him gently.

Nykin’s cheeks heated as she smiled at him and gestured for him to carry on. “Yes, Ahlyria
,
Fimor and Kalesh are able to communicate with the other dragons in Torsere and have been doing so since we arrived. I’ll ask him if he’s been in contact with them today, if you’ll excuse me a moment.”

“Of course, Nykin. Do what you must.”

Nykin closed his eyes and concentrated on his connection to Fimor. His mark warmed as he felt Fimor’s presence in his mind.
“Fimor?”

“Good evening, Nykin. What can I do for you?”

“Have you spoken with Vashek yet today?”
He quickly explained about their discussion and what Ahlyria had asked.

“No, not yet. Kalesh and I were just headed out to do so.”

Nykin knew Ryneq would be desperate to hear Torsere was safe, now he’d brought up the possibility of an attack.
“Please hurry. It will put Ryneq’s mind at ease to know what’s happening back home.”

“Of course, Nykin. I’ll report back soon.”

As the connection faded, Nykin opened his eyes to find Ahlyria, Ryneq, and Nihathyl staring at him expectantly. “Since Fimor can’t contact them from inside Alel, because of your magic, he and Kalesh are headed out to sea to so do now. He’ll let me know as soon as he’s talked to Vashek.”

“Thank you, Nykin.” Ryneq placed his hand over Nykin’s and squeezed gently before moving it back onto the table.

They ate in silence, everyone casting glances at Nykin as they waited for Fimor to contact him. After a while, Ahlyria, Ryneq, and Nihathyl settled into an easy conversation about what the elders had discovered, but Nykin was still on edge. He rubbed a thumb over his wrist, smoothing back and forth over his mark and willing it to heat up with the connection of their bond.

Finally, he felt it, and he sat upright in his chair.
“Fimor?”

“Relax, Nykin. I spoke with Vashek, and all is well in Torsere. The patrols have reported the Athisi delegate is still in Rodeth, but as yet they haven’t seen any movement of troops.”

“Thank you, Fimor.”
He said goodbye and relayed the information to Ryneq and the others.

As Nykin spoke, Ryneq relaxed and set his fork down on the table. “Nykin, can you ask Fimor to make contact with Vashek twice a day from now on? He and Kalesh can take turns since they’re both busy with patrols.”

“Yes, of course.”

“We don’t know how long it’ll take to catch Seran and the witch, and I need to know what’s happening back at the palace.”

Nykin nodded his understanding. Ryneq hated being away from his kingdom even more than Nykin did. It must be killing him to have to remain here, but they had no way out of it. Because of their alliance, they needed to stay in Alel until Seran was either caught or stopped attacking the barrier, especially while Cerylea was here. Seran wasn’t only a threat to the elves but to Torsere and its people too, and Nykin knew Ryneq wouldn’t leave until they’d eliminated the threat.

Nykin excused himself after he’d finished eating and headed down the corridor to where Faelon was staying while he recovered. Ryneq had told him where to go when Nykin had mentioned his plans earlier. He knocked on the door, smiling at Avelor when he opened it.

“I wanted to see how Faelon was doing, if that’s okay?”

Avelor returned his smile and stepped aside, beckoning Nykin to come in. “Of course, Nykin.” He stopped him with a hand on his arm as soon as he was through the door. “Faelon told me what you did. He said he felt you helping him, boosting his magic with Fimor’s.” He leaned closer and spoke quietly. “Thank you. I will be forever in your debt.”

Nykin was about to say that Faelon had saved his life so no debt needed to be paid, but when he drew back and saw the look on Avelor’s face, he let the words go. Avelor wasn’t thanking him on Faelon’s behalf, he was thanking Nykin for keeping Faelon alive so he wouldn’t have to live without him. Nykin would have felt exactly the same if it had been Ryneq.

Avelor finally led Nykin over to the huge bed in the next room, where Faelon was propped up against a stack of pillows.

“Nykin,” he said, smiling when he saw him. “How are you feeling? I heard that saving me was a tiring affair.”

Nykin grinned and sat down where Faelon was patting the bed. “I’m good, thank you.” He waved a hand over Faelon’s body. “You’re certainly looking better than the last time I saw you.”

“Yes, thanks to you and Fimor.”

Nykin paused. He’d been thinking about his next question since Fimor had explained about Faelon’s magic. “You knew, didn’t you?”

Faelon sighed, and settled further into his pillows.

“About what had happened when you saved my life? You knew, but you never said anything.”

Faelon nodded.

“Why?”

Faelon closed his eyes for a moment before meeting Nykin’s gaze. “I didn’t know if Fimor would be able to sense it, and if he couldn’t, then you’d never have known.” He struggled to sit up, and Nykin immediately leaned forward to help him. “Thank you.”

Faelon took a couple of steadying breaths, clearly still in considerable pain, before continuing. “Your wound was so deep, Nykin, I couldn’t help the way my magic clung to you. I thought about telling you, but then Ryneq was so very possessive where you were concerned. I didn’t think it would have gone over well at all.” His lips twitched, as though trying to hold back a grin. “In fact, I think he would probably have run me through with his sword and smiled while doing it.”

Nykin couldn’t help it, he burst out laughing. “Yeah.” He thought back to those first few days after he’d woken up from his injuries. Ryneq had been particularly overprotective, and Nykin could just imagine how he’d have reacted to Faelon’s news. “You’re probably right.”

They lapsed into silence, and Nykin’s mind swirled with all the implications of being connected to Faelon like this. “What does it mean though… for us?” he asked finally, blushing a little when he realized how it sounded. “I mean, is it like my connection with Fimor? Are we linked somehow, will I be able to hear your thoughts, or… I don’t know… sense your feelings somehow?” His relationship with Ryneq was still relatively new, and Nykin didn’t want anything to come between them. Especially something like this.

Faelon smiled and held up a hand to stop Nykin’s rambling questions. “Relax, Nykin. Although my magic has bound us together, it is nothing like your bond with Fimor.” He paused, as though trying to find a way to put it into words. “We can’t communicate telepathically, and you won’t be able to sense my emotions, but it’s my understanding that you will be able to sense my magic.”

Nykin thought back to when the witch had injured Faelon with her spell. He’d felt it then—deep inside and in his bones—felt the way Faelon’s magic had reacted and then steadily began to falter. Nykin absently ran his hand over the place where Faelon had healed him, if he concentrated hard he could still detect a low thrum of magic under the skin.

Faelon raised his eybrow, a slight smirk on his lips as his gaze dropped to where Nykin’s hand rested on his side. “I see you already knew about the last part.”

“Yes. Before, with the witch….”

“Ahh,
of course
.” Faelon’s expression softened as he studied Nykin’s face for a moment, and Nykin wondered exactly what he saw there. “Rest assured, Nykin, the connection we now share will not affect your relationship with Ryneq. I can explain it to him if that would help?”

“Maybe.” A thought suddenly occurred to Nykin, and he wondered why Faelon hadn’t mentioned anything about it yet. “What about you? How does all this affect you?”

Faelon grinned. “It’s a little different for me. You have innate magic, Nykin, intensified by your bond with Fimor. I can sense it, and Fimor’s to a certain extent, but I can also sense your emotions.” Nykin must have looked as horrified as he felt because Faelon laughed and immediately put his hand on Nykin’s arm. “It’s not like that. I only get a vague sense of how you’re feeling, when those feelings are particularly strong. If you were an elf, it would be much different.”

Faelon let out a huge yawn then, and Nykin took it as his signal to go. “I should let you rest,” he said getting up off the bed.

“Nykin.” Faelon caught hold of his wrist before he could move away. His expression was serious as he spoke. “Thank you, for saving my life. And I’m sorry about not telling you about the rest of it.”

Nykin twisted in Faelon’s grip and curled his fingers around Faelon’s wrist. “I’m just happy I was able to help you this time.” He squeezed once before letting go and stepping back from the bed. “You’d better hurry up and get well soon. We need all the help we can get catching that witch.”