Vengeance Born (The Light Blade #1) (39 page)

“We’ve inherited a few of the more unsavory personality traits of our parents.”

“Is that why you choose to stand in our memorial garden alone?”

“Memorial garden?”

She nodded and waved a hand at the rock behind him. “There are names carved into the rocks behind you. They’re the Light Blade warriors who’ve died in the war against the
Na’Reish
.”

Varian wondered if that explained the unhappy looks he’d received from several humans as they’d passed him on the way to the temple or
Chosen
’s apartments. He’d interpreted them as looks of disgust for what he was, not because he’d been using the stones as a convenient place to lean, and ignored them. Warmth flushed his cheeks.

“I didn’t mean any disrespect.” His words were stiff. “I didn’t know—”

“It’s all right. Annika didn’t know either.” Kymora’s hand slid to his shoulder then along his arm until her hand grasped his. He wanted to draw away from her but found he couldn’t. She seemed to enjoy invading his personal space and wondered if she did it deliberately. “You don’t like mixing with others, do you?”

The
Na’Chi
had learned not to bother him but she poked and prodded and pushed his limits every time they met.

“You prefer it,” he retorted. “Much like Lisella.”

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

“What’s wrong with a little solitude?”

“Nothing. I spend a portion of my day in quiet reflection. It helps calm the mind, gives me time to gather my thoughts, but I don’t deliberately spend hours alone.”

“Are you saying that I do?” He found it hard to inject any anger into his voice.

She issued a soft chuckle. “You know you do.”

“So? Perhaps I’m more discriminatory about whom I mix with.”

Her chuckle turned into a laugh as if she truly took pleasure in their debate. “You seek out Lisella, one of the younger scouts, and you enjoy the company of the children but very few others.”

“Now who’s been spying on someone?”

“I like to listen.” Kymora flashed him an impish grin that he felt right to his toes. He blinked at the image of him kissing her smile from her face. It came from out of nowhere and left him at a loss for words. “Are you ready to come to noon-meal yet?”

Varian shook his head, unsure if he was protesting his attraction to the human woman or at the desire for him to accompany her to the meal. “You’re not going to give up and leave me be, are you?” His tone was a little gruffer than he’d intended.

Her smile faltered. “I will if that’s what you want, Varian.” She let his hand go and gripped her staff, her face resuming its usual polite look; the expression she reserved for her meetings with the Blade Council. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.”

Varian cursed himself for his abruptness, not liking the absence of her warmth but he’d brought this on himself. He raked a hand through his braids, uncomfortable now in the silence between them. He had no idea what to say to reestablish the rapport he’d come to expect and like with her. But when her staff moved so did he, before he even realized he was going to stop her leaving. He gently pried the wooden staff from her fingers then tucked one of her hands into the crook of his arm. His heart beat faster at the startled look on her face.

“I’d rather sit at the end of a table.” Varian didn’t know whether his voice shook with the anticipated nervousness of being among so many people or because he was afraid of how she’d respond to his rudeness.

“You truly don’t have to go to this if you don’t want to, Varian.” Her fingers tightened on his arm. “I don’t want you to come because you feel guilty for snapping at me. I shouldn’t have pushed you like I did. We could have noon-meal at the temple kitchen if you like.”

Her words eased the rapid beat of his pulse. He heard Lisella calling the children to noon-meal. “I don’t know why you put up with me,” he muttered.

“It’s part of my job,” she replied with a gentle smile. Her other hand patted his forearm when he tensed. Her voice softened. “It’s also because you’re my friend.”

He searched Kymora’s face for any sign of untruth then inhaled to test her scent. Her floral scent was deeper, stronger. Her sincerity was genuine. The tension inside him lessened and the warm sensation that replaced it left him feeling uncertain.

“It’s not easy letting others in, Kymora,” he said quietly. Lisella turned in his direction and he waved to indicate they were coming. “I’m not a people person. Circumstances have never fostered the level of trust needed to form that sort of bond. I let very few people close to me but, with you, I’m willing to try.”

Her smile returned. “
Lady
willing you’ll succeed.” He grunted. “And we’ll work on your faith while we’re at it.”

His lips twitched. “You’ve definitely been speaking to Lisella,” he said dryly.

She laughed softly but didn’t reply. Varian kept their pace steady and they headed to the Barracks for noon-meal.

KALAN felt Annika move closer to him as she entered the building that had been converted into a dormitory for the
Na’Chi.
He heard her sudden intake of breath and knew her excitement at meeting them had changed to nervousness. Scattered around the room, some in groups, others seated on their pallet beds occupied with tasks, the
Na’Chi
went about their nightly routines with quiet efficiency.

It was one of the first traits he’d picked up during his many visits here. Very few loud noises were made. No raised voices, conversations were kept low-pitched, children played. Smiles were present but laughter was rare. Even moving around the room was done on silent feet, children included. When he’d questioned Varian about it, he’d learned that the habits were ingrained from a very young age. After living under the noses of the
Na’Reish
, the behavior was second nature.

Barely a step inside the doorway, Kalan watched as three young men moved to block their path and several others took up flanking positions. While none were overtly hostile, all were alert, their stances indicating they were ready to react if the need arose. It was a move he’d seen them use outside in the compound many times.

“
Chosen
, welcome.”

Varian’s deep-voiced greeting seemed to be an indication to the others to stand down. They stepped back and resumed whatever they’d been doing when they’d arrived but their watchful gazes never eased. Their discipline impressed him and was part of the reason he’d brought Annika for a visit. She’d been keen to meet her people and he wanted to speak to Varian about a matter he hoped would benefit both races.

“Annika, it’s so good to finally meet you.” A woman with long, dark hair accompanied him. Her smile was warm and he felt Annika’s tight grip on his hand ease. “I’m Lisella. Please, come in and join us. I’ve just put on a kettle for an herbal tea.”

Annika’s gaze flickered to him, an eyebrow raised in question.

“Go on, I’ll join you in a moment,” he said, with a smile. “I need to speak to Varian. Shouldn’t take long.”

Kalan watched as Lisella took charge and hustled her farther into the building, her light chatter putting Annika at ease. Introductions were made and a small group gathered around the open fire pit to share tea and talk.

“You wanted to discuss something with me?” Varian asked, his quiet tone drawing Kalan’s attention back to him.

Kalan nodded. “I’d like the
Na’Chi
to join us for our training sessions.”

“Is it a wise move? Our presence here is tolerated. I doubt many of your warriors have had the time to accept us yet.”

“It’s a calculated risk,” he conceded. “It’ll probably mean a few tense encounters but if it works then it’ll help ease fears out in the city and farther afield.” He’d thought hard about how to best integrate the two races. Defending themselves against a common enemy was a good start. “I’m not saying hundreds of years of hatred can be wiped away overnight but mistakes can be reconciled if there are willing people.”

The young
Na’Chi
grunted. “Kymora tells me you’ve been in meetings all day with village leaders. Hearing that your history was altered has to be unsettling.”

“There has been significant unrest.” He’d spent many hours defusing volatile situations but he hadn’t let those meeting with him hide from the truth.

“And the new Blade Council?”

“I’ve approached three possible replacements for Davyn, Corvas, and Yance and also two of the Guild-leaders. The new Blade Council should be inducted in the next couple of days if the
Lady
approves.”

“Will your people accept the changes?”

“In time. The
Lady
will guide us.”

He issued a disbelieving grunt. “How can you place hope in something you cannot control?”

Kymora had mentioned the
Na’Chi
scout’s reservations concerning the
Lady
. “What other alternative do I have? There are limits to what I can do. The rest I leave to
Her
.”

Varian said nothing more for a while and Kalan took the time to glance around the room for Annika. The group of
Na’Chi
seated at the fire had grown to include children. Whatever she was telling them had them all captivated. Her gaze lifted as if she’d sensed him watching her. While her smile warmed him, he realized that this was the first time he’d seen her so relaxed and content. It caught him off guard.

“
Chosen
.” Varian’s use of his title distracted him. The hint of tension refocused his interest on the scout. “I don’t wish to offend but I need to speak plainly.”

“Call me Kalan,” he said. “Titles outside the chamber are unnecessary.”

The man inclined his head then hesitated and the obvious sign of unease was surprising considering he’d grown used to the scout’s stoic personality. “I find it… unusual that you would so freely speak of your plans to us—”

“As opposed to the
Na’Reish
style of doing things?” Varian nodded. “Open communication is important to me. How else can I show my trust in others if I hide something from them?”

For a long moment violet eyes regarded him with solemn contemplation then Varian nodded as if he’d reached a decision about something. “How long will we live within the compound?”

“You don’t like it here?”

“It’s not a matter of liking it.” A slight frown marred his brow. “I understand the need for our two races to adjust to one another. The protection you offer us is essential but the surroundings and scrutiny is daunting for some.”

“Coming from almost total isolation to coping with so many has to be hard.”

“Yes.” Relief flashed briefly across the young
Na’Chi
’s face. “I’m worried the stress of adjusting might prove too much for some and misunderstandings may occur. That would only harm our cause. Is there a place we can go outside the city?”

The issue was something he hadn’t anticipated. “I’ll see what can be done,” he promised. “I’ll discuss it at the next Council meeting and have a solution for you in less than a week.”

“Thank you.”

Annika’s soft laughter drew his attention away from Varian. Again he was struck by the peaceful expression on her face. She’d truly relaxed among the
Na’Chi
. Even while living with him there’d been an air of cautiousness about her, as if she was unsure of her place in his world. Here she held no doubt and he discovered that dis-turbed him.

The longer he watched her interacting with the others, the more he recognized the emotion growing inside him. Jealousy. She hadn’t found complete happiness with him, among her mother’s people, yet in less than an hour she was as comfortable here as if she’d lived with them all her life.

For a heartbeat he regretted bringing her here tonight and then flushed at the thought. His negative emotions were unjust but, if he was honest with himself, he couldn’t suppress them as easily as he wanted to.

A shiver skittered along his spine as another thought arose from the darker side of his mind.

If the
Na’Chi
left the city, would she want to go with them?

Chapter 29

A
NNIKA finally gave up her practice of writing words and glanced at the balcony door of the apartment for the fifth time in less than an hour. Since returning from their visit to the
Na’Chi
Kalan had been quiet and withdrawn. She’d put it down to weariness but then he’d disappeared outside. Without his cloak.

Shifting in her chair, she chewed on the end of her pencil and stared at the wooden door. The quiet crackling of the flames in the fireplace and the cozy warmth in the room highlighted the fact he was standing out there with little protection from the elements.

Was he worrying about the reports of unrest coming in daily from his Commanders? Since riders had delivered the message about the Blade Council’s corruption and deceit he’d been inundated with meetings with village leaders who’d traveled to Sacred Lake to confirm what they’d heard. That coupled with Light Blades leaving the compound had to be playing on his mind.