Warrior Blind (6 page)

“How so?”

“
Your
 
representative fed
 
your
 
female food that was tainted. She did not know and shared it with the princess. They all fell ill. If not for Bronwen’s strengths as a healer, one of great future power if her gift has not been too damaged by Ramorakin, they would have all perished. Remember that. She sacrificed a great deal to protect your niece. And the princess. Your entire kingdom is in that small girl’s debt. And she has yet to be recognized.”

“She will be.” He would treat her as the queen of his people should be treated. All would love and revere her. He would see to it.

The Laquazzeana laughed. “Oh, Koios Bhre Lothicanos, you have much to learn, do you not? She does not want reverence; she does not even want recognition. The girl hungers for safety and her mate to love
 
her.”
 
The laughter died on the air. “Yet you are not yet capable of such. Perhaps the girl would be best sent back to her own world or to the world of her goddess. She can be away from you, and she will be protected by others.”

“Absolutely not.
 
I
 
will protect her. It is my duty and my right as her
 
gamata.
 
Her mate for always.”

“She never acknowledged your claim. You are not yet her mate.”

“I spoke it in the presence of the high king, and he did not deny. It is as good as done.” If it wasn’t, he wouldn’t have felt the bonds between them, would he? “I need to get to her. Where is she now?”

The Laquazzeana waved her hand and the air parted between them. A white glow formed, and in the center of it a great battle raged.

“Where is this?”

“Thrun. The Dardaptoan city. The girl was caught in the attack. Look at her. She is beautiful here, isn’t she?”

Koios looked. His female was there, the Laquazzeana Aureliana and the high prince Renakletos at her side. Like they so often were. This time they protected her as she healed.

He’d seen her heal once before, in spite of her blindness. The day the Laquazzeana before him had risen the Dardaptoan Aureliana.

His female lost all timidity when she healed, and her recklessness was evident in the Laquazzeana’s glow. She paid little heed to the fighting around her, as warriors—mostly of the Warrior demon caste—were felled by the creatures they fought. Instead she was running between those she could reach—how could she even see where to go?—and emanating a pale orange light. And she was directing others; healers wearing the blue of their Kind. They looked to
 
her
 
to lead. That small, vulnerable female was commanding her own troop of healers.

He never would have fathomed such.

“Why is she glowing?”

More laughter echoed through the cavern. This time the rock walls shook from the force. Koios fought the urge to cover his ears at the sound. “Do you not
 
know
? The girl isn’t Dardaptoan anymore. And hasn’t been since the moment she made the decision to give her soul to ensure that young Zephra would live. Her sacrifice was noted and the decision was made to accelerate her destiny.”

“And what destiny is that?”

“The fates of the worlds rest on her small shoulders. Think you the Laquazzeana would not give her every gift we could to protect her?”

“Are you saying that she is as you are?” Forever doomed to madness?

“I’m saying her soul was birthed from mine
 
before
 
Aureliana was changed. Now
 
you
 
are tasked with keeping her safe. That was why you were chosen. Because through your actions, because of
 
proximity
 
alone, you were close enough to act as
 
her
 
guardian. To be honest, there is still some doubt amongst my Kind whether or not you are up to the task. I spoke in favor of you, but even I am torn as to whether you can manage. Do not fail me—or her—again.”

Chapter 10

HE
found her on the edge of the dwindling fight. The Laquazzeana Eaudne was near enough to protect her, but it was still too damned close for Koios’ peace of mind. He could not flash to her, but with the sword he grabbed off a fallen foe he was able to cut a path to his
gamata
.

Never again would he allow her so close to a battle. No matter what he had to do.

Her clothes were soiled and ripped, her hair hung loose in her face, and her skin was far too pale.

But a faint blue light surrounded her, its warmth drawing the injured in her direction.

From both sides.

He saw a Rhacshas demon—filthy little bastards—pawing at his
gamata
’s tunic, begging for her care.

He fought his natural inclination to just dispatch the beast to the end world and be done with it.

His
gamata
humbled him in that moment. She put her hands on the filthy beast and began to heal it.

Koios forced himself to allow her to finish.

She rocked back, and her shoulders slumped. Her sightless eyes closed

He stepped over the Rhacshas and bent down. Koios scooped up the female and held her tight against his chest. Her fragility terrified him.

But she vibrated with a power he had not expected.

Was she Laquazzeana, like Phaenna had implied? If so, why did she feel so weak and delicate in his arms?

She tried to protest his hold, but he sensed she did not have the strength for much fighting. The trembling stopped and she went limp.

Fear shot through him again—had she harmed herself? Given over too much?

“Bronwen?”

She did not respond.

Eaudne put her hands over his female’s heart. The older Laquazzeana looked up at him. “She has given so much this day; the power she now possesses requires training, harnessing, before she can learn to balance it.”

Koios was an experienced warrior, and easily blocked out the sounds of the nearly ending battle around them. His focus was fully on the woman before him—and the one in his arms.

“What do I have to do to help her?”

Eaudne stared at him, her odd gold eyes somber and almost bleak. “I hope you mean that. There is much that the coming days will bring for her. She is needed—and so are you.”

She brushed a damaged and scarred hand over his
gamata
’s hair. “I did not see it before…she has a reborn soul. And one that suffered greatly before. I will grieve that suffering, as only a mother can. But that is something for another time. Now, she needs someplace quiet and secure to rest.”

“Will she be well?” Koios did not believe in recycled souls. Such was not his people’s way. When a demon died, they were gone. Their existence just ceased to be. He followed the Laquazzeana through the courtyard and away from where that evil bastard Black was cleaning up the bodies of the dead that hadn’t turned to ash.

Some demons—like the Rhacshas—decomposed quickly, while others such as the Warrior Kinds would be celebrated with all appropriate funeral rites.

“Sometimes for the Dardaptoan Kind, when the soul has been reborn it can take many years for the new soul to be at peace with the old. Especially if there was great suffering before. That adjustment is made more difficult for
her
now. Because of all the changes she has been through. Being Laquazzeana—it takes from a soul, as well. The power must be housed within the soul. If an old soul is struggling with a new and that power is added, turmoil will only grow for a time.”

“Can it be stopped?” He did not want her to be a Laquazzeana; perhaps he could change it? He did not know where they were going, but he needed to get her someplace secluded.

“Everything can be stopped. With the right—or wrong—choices. But I am not sure that this should.” She led the way past the warriors now taking up guard positions, then up a flight of marbled stairs. It was slower progress than Koios liked, but he said nothing.

The Laquazzeana was fatigued—and she was maimed on one side of her body.

But he did not offer assistance—he understood pride, and that she would not allow it.

But…if she was Laquazzeana, should she have not been able to heal her own body?

His arms tightened around Bronwen. What exactly
was
she now?

“There are private suites in here. I do not think they were touched by today’s attack. She needs quiet, peace, light, and rest. She needed it even before today, but even more so now.”

“I will see that she has all she needs. This I vow.”

“I will hold you to that vow, Warrior.”

Chapter 11

BRONWEN
fought the nightmares and forced her body to wake. She still heard the screams of the dying, though she rested on a bed. Where exactly was she?

A large hand brushed the hair off her cheek.

“You are awake then.”

Fear had her stomach twisting immediately.  Had he taken her back to Lothicano,
again
? “Koios? Where am I now?”

“Still in Thrun. Where I found you almost two days ago.”

“I’m not exactly sure how I got here.” She remembered the heat of battle, remembered Eaudne at her side, Eaudne flashing her to the city to begin with. She remembered beings dying beneath her hands, and she remembered many of them
living
from her skills.

She remembered healing, remembered the power of her gift pulling at her soul. It had never felt that way before.

It had felt
right.

But why was she with
him
now? And had he said that was two days ago? “What’s happened?”

She felt so vulnerable on the huge bed. Had he been with her the entire two days? Where was he at right now? She tried to listen, to feel where he was. Finally she couldn’t take the suspense any longer. “Why
are
you here?”

He sank down on the bedding. Bronwen thought about protesting, but just didn’t have the energy to. Or to move away from him.

“It is
my
place to be at your side when you have need of me.”

“I don’t want you at my side.” She could not deny the fact that he was the mate the goddess had given her, so technically it
was
his place to be with her when she had a need. But she didn’t have to allow him that place. And she never would. “I need to get up. To find Auri.” A thought occurred to her. Nalik and Cass, Auri and Ren, they had all been there with her two days ago, hadn’t they? “Was anyone hurt? My friends? My family?”

“All came through the battle safely. The young Druid girl—Black’s mate—she was surprised in the attack, and suffered a few scratches. But her beloved plants have healed her now.”

“Cass? Anyone else?”

“After his mate was touched, that bastard Black saw to it that the encroachers were dealt with appropriately.”

She bet Nalik had. She loved how he cared about his mate. The man deserved to be happy. “I need to—”

“You needed to rest. But now those Laquazzeana have demanded you join them shortly.”

“Me? Why?”

“I think you know why.” He flooded her space with his body, his scent. Bron fought the urge to back away. Then she didn’t have a chance—his hands were around her waist and he was lifting her. Bron fought a yelp.

He settled her on his lap and she felt a brush start going through her hair.

Koios was brushing her hair.

“What are you doing?”

“You have beautiful hair. Soft. And it is tangled. The female Aureliana washed it for you yesterday, but it has matted again. I am sure you do not wish for the Laquazzeana to see you like this. I have procured fresh clothing for you as well.”

“Someone
else
can help me. Auri or Eaudne. I don’t think you need to.” And it wasn’t as if she couldn’t dress herself, was it? She’d managed for the past fifty years.

“Of course I do. I am your mate, am I not?”

“No, you most definitely are not.” Her soul hurt even to voice that lie, didn’t it? “Please stop.”

“We do not have time for your childish nerves,
gamata.
You are needed with the rest of your Kind.”

“Kindara needs me?”

“You are no longer Dardaptoan. Do you not remember? You are Laquazzeana.”

“No, I am not.” She couldn’t be. She had been there with Auri the day Auri was changed. And while she had not been able to
see
what had happened to her foster mother, she had certainly felt it. The power had been hard for anyone to miss that day.