Wings of Tavea (24 page)

“That was behavior I would not have expected from an honorable person such as yourself,” he mocked.

“You said no rules,” she reminded him.

“I did,” he conceded. Placing his hands behind his back, he began to walk the circle. “There are many things I could teach you, but I don’t know how much time we have. So we need to focus on your strengths.”

“Will you teach me how to jump like you?”

He actually smiled. “No, that’s a Tavean thing you have clearly not inherited. You need a fair amount of grace if nothing else.”

She put her hands on her hips. “Hey.”

He shrugged. “You like the truth. Now, I want you to play to your strengths. Think outside the box.” No sooner had he finished the sentence than he bubbled.

“Great,” she murmured, tensing. He had of course forgotten to teach her the neat little trick he had used before to locate her bubble. The next second she found herself flat on her back, Alcander leaning over her, his fingers blazing with power.

“Never just stand there. Get up, let’s go again.”

Her eyes widened as he vanished. She leaped to her feet and turned in a circle, hands out in front of her before she was again slammed into the stone floor. She cracked her head this time and moaned. That was exactly the same spot she had hit yesterday. Tears pooled in her eyes against her will. Blinking, she refused to let them fall, no matter how bad it hurt.

“I said don’t just stand there!” he chastised. If I wanted you dead, you would be. Come on, Kiora!”

She pushed up on her elbows as he vanished again. Swearing, she leapt to her feet. Her back, elbows, and head were all throbbing, and the last thing she wanted to do was find herself on her back again. She scanned the room. The dust and dirt in the training area was thick, especially around the edges where it had settled into ridges and cracks.

She called up the wind, swirling it around the room. It recoated every inch in a sheet of dust, except for one circle not five feet from her. It wasn’t as impressive as Alcander’s methods for ferreting out a bubble, but it did the trick.

Grinning, she flicked her wrist and popped his bubble. He raised his hand but she was ready for his shot. She dropped flat to her stomach and knocked his feet out from under him in one sweep. He crashed down next to her. She pulled herself to her feet, bursting with pride. It was her pride that did her in. Magic slammed into her, throwing her across the room and into the wall. Several things cracked, and pain seared through her ankle and elbow. She dropped, her weight landing on the same elbow and ankle that had just snapped. She screamed in pain as her foot rolled backwards at an impossible angle.

Alcander ran, sliding onto his knees in front of her. “I am so sorry,” he said, his fingers hesitantly reaching for her. “Where does it hurt?”

“I broke my ankle, and my elbow, I think.” She threw her head back, clenching her fists as her breath came in short bursts. The pain was increasing in waves.

He reached out to her several times before stopping and running both his palms over his head. “I should have watched where I was throwing you. The spell doesn’t protect against walls, only magic.”

“It’s all right,” Kiora grunted. Her arm slipped off her lap a fraction of an inch, sending pain stabbing through her elbow. She cried out. “I wish Emane was here.”

Her tears made everything blurry, but she could have sworn she saw Alcander flinch.

“I am going to be as gentle as I can,” he said, sliding his arms underneath her. “We need to get you to Lomay.”

“No, no, it’s all right!” she yelped as his arms tightened around her.

“Don’t be a baby,” he said, picking her neatly off the floor.

Her foot dropped suddenly as they rose and she jerked backwards, yelling, “If my elbow wasn’t broken I would punch you!” She buried her head in his chest, her arm cradled across her stomach.

“You can punch me later, after you’re healed.”

“And I am not a baby,” she said into his chest, using the words as a release for the pain she was desperately trying to hold back. “I have broken bones!”

“You’re right,” he murmured against her hair. “You’re right.” He began walking out of the cave. Kiora braced herself for the movement, but he really did walk like a cat, padding so softly she could barely feel anything.

* * *

WAKING, KIORA FOUND HERSELF lying on her bed, the covers pulled nearly up to her chin, and best of all—pain-free. She saw Alcander standing by the door.

“Ready to punch me?” he asked, holding out his arm. “I stand by my word.” She shook her head. “If you are worried about hurting me, I assure you—”

She laughed out loud. “Thank you, Alcander, but no.” She pushed herself up in her bed, wiggling her previously broken foot. “Lomay?”

“Yes.”

“Did he yell at you for breaking my foot and my elbow?”

Alcander’s eyes twinkled even though his face remained stoic. “He did.”

“Good.” She tried to stay serious, but her lips twisted into a smirk.

“I had some clothes made for you,” he said, pointing to the pile at the end of the bed. “I thought you could use something appropriate for dinner tonight.”

“Thank you.” Running her hands through her hair, she grimaced.

“What’s the matter?”

She jerked her finger through a knot in her hair. “I’m disgusting.”

“Hmmm,” he mused. “I thought perhaps humans didn’t bathe.”

She looked up at him. “Are you making a joke? I didn’t know Taveans could do that.”

Crossing his arms in front of himself, he said, “I don’t think you know enough Taveans to make that assumption. Perhaps it is just me.”

She looked at him closer. His voice held its traditional evenness, but his eyes silently laughed.

“Oh my word, you
are
joking!”

“Of course not. If you would like to bathe, you know where to go. Dinner should be ready by the time you’re done. If you would like me to accompany you, I will be at Lomay’s.” He left Kiora to wonder if she had imagined everything.

Smiling to herself, she climbed out of bed and picked up the clothes Alcander had left for her. There was a white pair of pants—wide, almost like a skirt. She had seen a similar style on several of the woman since arriving. The bright blue tunic had been meticulously embroidered with gold and silver thread. The neck and sleeves were decorated with vines and buds.

Tucking it under her arm, she headed down to bathe. Eyes stopped and followed her as she passed. Kiora waved and smiled. Some waved back, others looked quickly away as if they had done something wrong. She wondered if Alcander had instructed them not to stare. They certainly seemed hesitant to talk to her. Except the children. The children looked longingly after her, stopping their games and watching until their mothers called them. Kiora felt very lonely again.

On her way back to Lomay’s house after her bath, she was startled when someone finally talked to her. The woman with the ostrich body put her hands on her waist, watching Kiora as she walked by, and said, “I told Alcander that was the perfect color for you.”

Kiora stopped, almost looking over her shoulder to see if the woman was talking to someone else. “Um, thank you.” She smoothed down the front of her shirt, running her finger over the beautiful embroidery. “Did you make this?”

“Of course. There are none better than the Omelian. We make all the clothes,” she said with pride. “And I told Alcander those would suit you perfectly.”

“Thank you, they are beautifully made.” She stood there awkwardly before adding, “My name is Kiora.”

The ostrich woman gave a boisterous laugh that made her feathers jiggle. “I know who you are.”

“What is your name?”

“Perina.”

Kiora smiled, grateful someone was speaking to her. “It is nice to meet you, Perina.”

“Perina!” Alcander shouted from Lomay’s door. “Kiora has things to do.”

“Prince Alcander,” Perina yelled back, grinning. “As I have told you before, you must learn how to relax.”

Kiora giggled.

“Maybe I need to cut your clothes a little larger, Alcander,” Perina said, pursing her lips thoughtfully. “I think they are raising your blood pressure.”

“Perina!” Alcander shouted.

“All right, all right.” She laughed, leaning into Kiora. “He acts as if the fate of the world rides on how many steps we take that day,” she whispered, winking. “You are good for him though. He has been calmer since you arrived.”

Kiora looked over her shoulder to see a scowling Alcander in the doorway. She whispered, “Calmer? Really?”

Perina burst out laughing. “You better go before he exiles me.” She walked off, still chuckling.

Kiora walked over to Alcander, grinning.

“Glad to see you are making friends.” Alcander’s eyes were on Perina, who was still laughing. “What did you say to her?”

“Hmmm, me? Nothing,” Kiora said, ducking underneath his arm.

He turned to follow her. Eyeing her wet hair he asked, “Don’t you know how to dry yourself?”

His constant questioning of her knowledge aggravated her. “I like to let my hair dry on its own,” she said snidely, making a mental note to look up hair-drying as soon as she got back to her room.

His eyebrows raised, but he said nothing.

She looked around. “Where is Lomay?”

“Probably spying on the Shifters, if I had to guess,” he said, holding out his arm. “Are you ready for dinner?”

Her cheeks burned with sudden shyness and she linked her arm with his, trying not to notice the slight buzz of magic at his touch.

At dinner Kiora watched for Drustan, but he was not among the group of Shifters delivering the main course. She hoped he was all right. Both his and Lomay’s absence renewed her worry.

Kiora picked up her fork but hesitated. Giving a large smile to the few around the table who had noticed her hesitation, she leaned towards Alcander and whispered, “There is no dragon today, is there?”

Grinning just as wide as she, which was strange for him, Alcander replied, “No, I asked that it be left off the menu. The Shifters were pleased to have the extra meat.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” His smile reached from his lips to his eyes.

After dinner, Shifters arrived carrying dessert trays. Drustan was among them. Kiora gave a grateful sigh of relief—he looked all right. She longed to catch his eye, to talk with him. But Drustan avoided her at all costs, even angrily refusing to deliver dessert to her when another Shifter pointed him in her direction.

What was going on? Kiora looked to Alcander. He shook his head almost imperceptibly.

“Later,” Alcander mouthed before turning his attention back to his plate.

Taking a bite of a fluffy white dessert, Kiora tried to push the frustration out of her mind by distracting herself.

Looking down the table, she couldn’t help but smile. The little winged boy who had tried so hard to talk to her the other day had tipped his chair back on two legs and was flapping his wings furiously to keep himself balanced. He was very pleased with himself until his mother caught sight of him and swiftly pulled him back down on all four legs. Noticing Kiora’s laughs, the little boy grinned from ear to ear, stretching tall in his chair as if he were the pride of the camp.

Alcander turned his head to the side as the Shifters moved their way down the table. “They are watching him,” he murmured, barely moving his lips.

Kiora tried to nonchalantly observe the Shifters. Alcander was right—they were either watching Drustan or her. She understood Drustan’s actions a little better now. He was being watched, tested. Despite being a Shifter, they did not trust him.

Smiling, she turned back to Alcander, pretending to carry on a very amusing conversation. “They don’t trust him?”

He smiled in return. “Nor should they. I brought him back alive. It makes them suspicious.” Alcander scanned the end of the table where the Shifters were just finishing their delivery of dessert. “Can you call to Drustan?”

“Yes.”

“Tell him to fight back,” Alcander said before he stood, the smile falling from his face as he grabbed what was left of his dessert.

Kiora wanted to ask him what he was doing, but he was already storming towards Drustan.

“
Drustan,”
she called, “
Alcander said to fight back.”

She saw Drustan flinch as her thoughts reached his, but other than that he made no sign of understanding. Instead he kept his back to Alcander, carefully placing down two more plates.

“Hey!” Alcander yelled, holding out his plate. “You.
Shifter.
This is not acceptable.”

Drustan looked down. “It looked acceptable enough for you to eat most of it.”

Alcander slammed the plate into the ground at Drustan’s feet. It shattered, sending shards of glass spiraling outwards. Reaching out his hand, Alcander hit Drustan in the gut with magic, sending him flying into a tree.

“Do not question me,” Alcander roared.

Drustan pulled himself to his feet, sputtering with anger. “You have already tricked me in to wearing this,” he snarled, holding up his bracelet-wrapped wrist. “And now you expect me to serve you as well?” Two Shifters rushed over, each taking one of Drustan’s arms, shaking their heads before glaring at Alcander.

“Go,” Alcander yelled. “Get him out of here. Don’t let me see his face again, or you will all suffer.”

The two Shifters dragged a kicking and sputtering Drustan away from the dinner table. Kiora’s heart was beating in her throat, and it was everything she could do to remain seated. Alcander walked back to her chair and looked down at her. “Are you finished?”

“Yes,” she said, placing the napkin on the table.

“Join me.” It was not a question. He held out his elbow.

She swallowed and stood, linking her arm with his.

“Please enjoy the rest of your dinner,” Alcander said to the table of silent onlookers. The group inclined their heads to their Prince and obediently turned their attention back to their plates as he led Kiora away.

Once they were out of earshot, Alcander said, “Hopefully that will give the Shifters something to trust.” They took a few more silent steps. “Did I upset you?”