Hunted: The Warrior Chronicles #2 Page 7

  “I’m not the only one they’re terrified of. You blast the whole city with that curse of yours. They don’t know what it is, but it hurts, and they know it comes from you.”

  “I’m going to be the first one carted away if the Graygual come calling.”

  “No. You’ll be the reason they come in the first place.”

  Cayan felt all elation drip away at the gravity of that statement. He was the best hope his people had of staying in one piece, but he was also their biggest danger.

  His mind invariably went to Shanti as he nodded at Sanders and made his way to the large park within the city limits. She’d always been balancing on that sword’s blade—her people’s best hope, but their inevitable downfall. She’d carried that unimaginable burden since she was five years old. Shouldered it like a weight, knowing her duty would lead to the deaths of everyone she loved, and everything she knew.

  Not only that, but Cayan was positive she’d saved some from the last battle. She’d been forced to choose who would live—who would be the biggest help in her continued war effort—and who would die. She sent her own people to get cut down, watched it happen, before being forced to flee… alone.

  How could she stand it? How had the guilt, and remorse, not eaten her alive?

  How would he be able to stand it, if he ended up having to do the same thing?

  Cayan took a deep breath as he wandered into the trees, letting the healing touch of nature rejuvenate his Gift. It soaked into his body and smoothed out the ache and fatigue of training and stress. He sank down next to a large tree, closed his eyes, and let his Gift unfurl, trying to keep up the practice until he met her again.

  Chapter Five

  The fire crackled within the clearing. Sparks danced and swirled into the air, barely dodging branches reaching overhead. A brook, weaving in and out of rocks, gurgled as it wound down the gentle slope.

  She and Rohnan sat beside the fire, watching the dancing flames as they curled around dried timber. The light flashed across Rohnan’s handsome face, highlighting the straight lines and perfect features. The sun and wind had put an unnatural reddish hue on his cheeks, and made his once-porcelain skin just a little ruddy, but despite the year of travel his health shone through. His long, blond hair was glossy and light. His muscle made him lithe and agile, his movements refining his overall appearance.

  “You’re prettier than me,” Shanti said with a smile, hating to look away from him in case she woke up to realize this had all been a dream, that meeting him again wasn’t real. If she did wake up, and find him gone, plunging her back into the bleak loneliness she’d been living, she had no idea how she’d cope.

  “Always was.” Rohnan glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. She could feel his soft humor.

  “Yes, true. But this last year has been harder on my appearance. You still look…fresh. How is that possible?”

  Rohnan shrugged. A smile worked at his lips. “Women in some of these foreign lands try to sell their chastity as a virtue. But what they’re really after is secrecy. They have the same urges as our people, they just live a double-standard where they’re not supposed to indulge sexually like the men. When I realized that, and made it clear I didn’t believe in that double-standard, I had no problem finding beds whenever I chose. And I chose often. Loneliness has never suited me like it does you.”

  “It doesn’t suit me, Rohnan. It plagues me,” Shanti said quietly, looking back at the fire.

  Rohnan’s smile fell. She felt the comforting pressure of his hand on her forearm. “I am sorry about Romie. I didn’t know he had put himself up for Sacrifice, but he was a good man. One of the best. There were better people to watch over the children—he wanted to help in any way he could. He gave his life for our future.”

  Shanti took a shuddering breath. The memory of those earth-brown eyes rimmed with blood flashed through her mind. She wiped a tear from her cheek. “He could’ve told me.”

  “You wouldn’t have acted sensibly—he probably knew that. You didn’t understand each other. You didn’t have anything in common.”

  “I loved him.”

  “Forgive me.” Rohnan ran his fingers through her hair. “You had love in common. A deep, soul-clutching, first love. But aside from that, you didn’t line up in any other way. You wouldn’t have understood his choice because you didn’t understand his calling, and he didn’t understand yours. You wanted to fight as often as you made love. He was too sweet for you—he just wanted to hug you and make you happy. He never understood your temperament.”

  “You make me sound like a villain.” Shanti slapped his hand away.

  Rohnan waited a moment, and then resumed his gentle stroking. “You’re a warrior. You need to fight, to dominate, and to be dominated. Your life is a permanent struggle, and you need that in your intimacy or you can’t completely respect your partner. How often did you beat on me when we were kids?”

  “You deserved it.”

  Laughter rumbled in Rohnan’s chest. “Very rarely. The difference between Romie and me was that I understood the warrior mentality since I was training in it. It wasn’t my calling, either, but it became my duty. Then you gave me the rare privilege of being your Chance. That distinction built up my ego, something I have always needed help with. You made me tough, and your guidance made me better.”

  “If only it improved your jokes…”

  Rohnan chuckled quietly and looked back at the flame. The crackling of the fire permeated the otherwise peaceful night. After a few moments, Rohnan said, “Cayan.”

  That was it. He just said the name. Even so, Shanti went on the defense immediately, and she had no idea why. Rohnan could probably figure it out with his horribly potent Gift, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to know.

  Feeling her reaction, Rohnan smiled. He poked at the fire. The flame rose and whirled into the air, sending sparks up toward the reaching branches overhead. “Your power found a mate. We didn’t think one would exist for you.”

  Shanti shifted her gaze from the orange flame to focus on Rohnan’s face, mostly blank but for the knowing smile.

  “How long have you known my power could have a mate?” she asked.

  “Since before you started east.”

  “And you didn’t mention it…”

  Rohnan sighed. “I overheard your grandfather talking. He asked that I keep it to myself. Obviously I wouldn’t have. My duty as Chance is to tell you everything, but when I found you, you were sitting with Romie under your favorite tree. Even if I couldn’t feel your love for him, I could see it in your eyes. Our future was uncertain, your desire to mate him was more than false hope, and we didn’t think you could ever have a power-mate, anyway. I couldn’t fathom the point in depressing you further. So I didn’t mention it.”

  Shanti dug at the ground with a twig, hating and loving that memory of Romie at the same time. Bittersweet. “I can’t fault you. From what we knew at the time, the information wouldn’t have mattered. But it might have helped avoid some awkward situations on my journey…”

  “We will witness fireworks. Bright, powerful fireworks that will change the world,” the older man, who’d revealed his name was Burson, said in a soft voice. He barely moved within his place in the shadows from where he had been staring at the stars and muttering to himself.

  Shanti rolled her eyes. “What did I tell you about talking crazy in this language, Burson? Forbidden, remember?”

  “It is a wonderful journey on which I find myself. Full of surprise and humor. I did not expect that. But then, we were only given milestones—we were not given personalities.”

  “I think it’s about time you told us more about this Wanderer. And about your Gift. Are there others like you?” Shanti asked.

  Burson rose and slowly moved closer to the fire. He sat opposite Shanti and stared at the flames. “I do not like to repeat myself. There are many journeys we will take. I’ll tell you more about myself and my mission when the two halves…” Burson paused and
switched languages. He glanced back up at the sky with a smile. “When the two halves finally unite and blast power into the sky.”

  “The two halves?” Rohnan asked.

  “The creator needed two hands to mold the world—one for stability, one for flair, and both, together, to hold it tight to his breast and keep it safe.”

  Shanti glanced up at the sky. A blanket of twinkling stars were stitched into the velvety black. “I think we should at least hear why humor makes you look upwards like a madman, Burson. Are you hearing voices?”

  Rohnan huffed out a laugh as he followed her gaze. “Chosen, you went from traveling alone—or should I say running away alone…?”

  “I’m almost over that villainous comment, Rohnan, and not far from beating you senseless.”

  Rohnan’s laughter echoed through the trees. “Traveling alone, then. You went from traveling alone to traveling with family and a mysterious madman. It could be worse.”

  Shanti sighed and stretched out beside the warmth of the fire. She braced her head on her hand, still staring at the flame. “It could be, I suppose. I don’t know how, but it could be.”

  After a beat in which smiles around the fire flickered like the flames, Shanti said, “When did you hear about the other Chosen, Rohnan?”

  She barely saw his shrug as the shadows played across his expanse of shoulder. “Along the way. A woman said something of it while we lay in bed. She liked to gossip—she was a barmaid. I found all I needed from her, but still sampled the rumors in other taverns just to be sure.”

  “What did you think?”

  Rohnan hunched forward. “Until then, I wasn’t sure you were still alive. I feared the worst. When I first heard about the new Chosen, I was happy and terrified at the same time. I thought it was you. That you were alive. Scared, of course, because the Chosen was rumored to be part of an organized army. You didn’t have that, so I thought you had been taken. Then it turned out to be an Inkna. As I happened in taverns for more information, I heard about the violet-eyed girl. Sightings. They said you helped a great Captain take down a city of Inkna…”

  “Yes.”

  Rohnan studied the flames. “I am eager to meet this great Captain of men. He is rumored to be eight feet tall and as big as a forest.”

  “As big as a forest?” Shanti laughed. “My goodness, that is certainly large. Even being as big as a tree would be a feat.”

  The smile didn’t reach Rohnan’s eyes. “You were right when you said this has become bigger than us, Chosen. All of this. I hunted down Burson because I didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t know how to find you and no idea how to combat this upstart-Chosen. They wanted Burson, so I figured I should get him. We couldn’t have possibly prepared for all of this.”

  “No, we couldn’t have,” Shanti said quietly. “Which is why we are going to get help.”

  “But you are still the Chosen. That much I am sure.” Rohnan’s lips thinned—him at his most stubborn. “The Chosen must reunite her distant kin. That was clear. The Shadow People are our distant kin. The Inkna are not.”

  Shanti was about to retort when something tickled the very ends of her awareness. The wide-reaching net of her Gift picked up a mind she recognized.

  She sat up in a rush. “He’s coming. Death’s playground,” she cursed, “He’s on our trail! Coming slowly, but he’s got our trail.”

  “The Hunter?” Rohnan asked, standing. “You’re sure it’s not just another band of thieves?”

  Shanti gave Rohnan a level stare as she felt the intruder’s mind. Two Gifted crouched around him, watchful. They waited for an attack. Other, less intelligent but no less dangerous men traveled with him. Eight of them in all.

  “The distance is too great to attack with the Gifted blocking his mind. I’d just alert them that they are gaining.” Shanti swore and kicked dirt onto the fire to smother the flame. “Burson, can you deaden their Gifts?”

  “Not at this distance. I don’t have anywhere near your range. But neither do they, so they have no reason to push any faster. Although, they are already moving faster than we are.” He helped Shanti put out the flame as Rohnan packed up their sleeping sacks. Cunning intelligence burned in Burson’s gaze, a look Shanti realized was locked with survival and his insistence on being her guide. “That particular officer is extremely ruthless. He will drive those with him to death without compunction. You may be determined, but he is obsessed. We need to get off this trail and cover our tracks.”

  “He wants into Xandre’s inner circle, and he is on the trail of the violet-eyed girl and a man who can prevent the use of the Gift—two finds of the greatest importance to Xandre. I don’t think obsessed really covers it,” Rohnan said as he jogged to the horses. “We can move faster on this trail if we leave the animals behind…”

  “No!” Burson finished with the fire and walked toward his horse. “These horses play a part. We must keep them.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that,” Shanti said as she lowered her head and approached her horse. It jerked its snout up, something Shanti now recognized as annoyance. “My bloody bastard of an animal is temperamental, but I would hate to leave him behind when I am winning this battle of wills.”

  “You are well-matched with your animal,” Burson said in complete seriousness.

  Rohnan guffawed despite the danger.

  They hurried to get everything packed and headed out, traveling as fast as they dared on the rough path in the darkness. A horse breaking his fetlock now, or worse, a human, would mean definite capture. They couldn’t risk it.

  * * *

  Two days passed in a desperate plight, pushing themselves to the point of exhaustion. No matter how fast they went, or how reckless in their escape, the Hunter still gained on them. Slowly, methodically, that mind worked his way closer, ever persistent on their capture. Two of his men had dropped, near-death, and had been left behind.

  “I don’t understand how he can do it,” Shanti huffed as she made her way groggily. “No human can keep this pace.”

  Her foot slipped off the side of a rock and sent her balance way to one side. She clutched her horse’s reins to keep herself from stumbling into the small stream. A toe left a deep imprint in the mud on the bank. Mouth dry, legs aching, she forced herself forward, sparing only a tiny glance back to make sure Rohnan was still following. He looked just as haggard as she felt, and she had every belief Burson was just as weary.

  “He wants rewards more than life, it seems,” Rohnan said in something close to a groan. He stumbled, falling against his horse.

  “He is without horses,” Burson called, his voice tight with strain. “He can move faster, but when we reach the larger road, he will have no chance. He is short-sighted.”

  “I didn’t think Superior Officers were short-sighted.” Shanti closed her eyes for a moment, stumbling blindly.

  “He is human, and he has not yet come up against someone with your skill. I have a feeling he will not enjoy the lesson.”

  “The trail is wider here. Can’t we ride?” Shanti asked.

  “The horses are slipping just as much as we are with only the weight of our packs. If we add our weight, one of them is bound to step wrong and break a leg.” Rohnan answered.

  Shanti shook her head and dug out her map. Her foot slipped again, tilting her away left. This time her horse jerked its head upwards. The reins slipped from her hand and she fell in a heap into the middle of a prickly bush.

  “I am going to cook and eat that blasted animal, never mind setting it free!” Shanti growled. Jagged branches cut into her back and arms.

  Rohnan stepped forward, graceful despite his fatigue, and offered a hand. She grasped it with her own and accepted the pull. Once on her feet, she brought the map up. A tiny portion of the trail carried on until it branched to the left. To the right lay a larger thoroughfare. They were almost there.

  Shanti tucked the map away and grabbed the bridle with a rough hand. Her horse huffed, but let her. “Exactly. Yo
u’re bigger, but I’m meaner—”

  Shanti’s voice hitched as strangers entered her awareness. She groaned and slumped as she walked. “We’ve got thieves coming and I don’t have enough energy to scare them away mentally.”

  “Save it for danger,” Rohnan agreed as they kept moving. “We can offer them gold, like the others. That usually seems sufficient.”

  “These aren’t normal thieves,” Shanti said in a low voice as she felt the watchful minds coming her way. Intelligent and sly, she could sense them, but not hear them. They had some skill sneaking around, which meant they’d had some training.

  “Graygual?” Rohnan asked, warning coming into his voice.

  “I don’t know. They don’t have the brain power of an upper-level officer, but other than that, I can’t tell.”

  Shanti staggered forward as she sensed a surge of adrenaline within a pack of four males and one female. They were drawing near, quickening their pace through the trees and rough landscape. The female’s mind started to soothe, then become tranquil. Shanti could feel the single-minded concentration of an excellent shot.

  “Flak! Archer!” Shanti attempted to dive to the side, but her legs gave way beneath her. She dropped and rolled, tucking herself into the foliage.

  Rohnan stepped behind his horse with his staff at the ready. Burson was hidden back behind the animals, his colorful mind disappearing entirely.

  “Did Burson get hit?” she yelled, grabbing all five minds in a steel grip, ready to defend if it came to it.

  “No. He’s behind his horse,” Rohnan yelled.

  “His mind vanished,” Shanti explained, monitoring the movement of the five. The woman stood still, hiding within the trees. The other four spread out, one in front of them, one behind, and the other two about to burst out onto the path.

  Definitely trained. They’d surrounded Shanti’s small party and were moving closer in a coordinated effort.