“Another presence besides the one she already has?” Alaris asked.
“What?” The Priest asked as if that was an important detail he had somehow forgotten.
The days he had spent healing his hand and drowning in his madness of a lingering hole for the return of the Heir had affected his memory somehow.
But now he was getting better, the presence of the Heir was all he needed to be himself again.
This war shall be won by them.
IT WAS WRITTEN!
“The Bearer of the Life Gem is connected to her. That is the connection she shares with the gem.”
“Of course, that. Well, it could be the Bearer, then. But the connection is certainly stronger than it was before.”
“Maybe because she now has the Life Gem in her possession.”
“Indeed.”
Maybe they had nothing to worry about after all, but that left one thing and they were both thinking about it.
“It doesn't explain the sealed memories except if the stone had sealed those memories to grow its bond with her more. Seeing her now as its own Bearer.”
Alaris' eyes widened. “It can do that?”
He should know about the Life Gem more than the Priest; after all, he had a Gem of his own. However, Alaris never really had a mentor to teach him how to become a Bearer, and most of the things he knew about his Gem, he had to find out on his own. He had many years to do that, and he had explored many depths to the ability of the gem. However, there were little things like this that he had missed in his training.
It was just like how he had found out that he could heal broken bones with fire.
Being away from his realm from an early stage in life made him lack the knowledge of many things and something about that made him uneasy. Doubting his abilities was never something that settled well with him but right now, all he could think about was the fact that the dragons on the White King’s side knew better and had been trained better.
What if they were better than him? How would he be the Heir and Saviour, if his enemies were better equipped with the understanding of their abilities than he was at his?
“Gems like these are beings on their own. I’ve seen some that choose their master. There is nothing to worry about, except when you want her to remember him again. Now is not the right time, I must advise. If possible, never would be perfect. The next time we try, she might lose her life.”
So it could be the gem itself or the previous Bearer interfering.
The image of the silver-haired Lady flashed in his mind and suppressed a shudder.
He would prefer this interference to be from the Gem and not the previous Bearer.
“You must tell me all you know about the Gems,” Alaris said, suppressing his fatigue and need to sleep.
He had to be better! He had to be better right now!
___
___
Nyka pressed the juice of the crushed herbs on the cut on her arm. She was seated at the mouth of her cave, looking up at the sky and wondering why her father wasn't back yet with the survivors from the other caves that had been ambushed.
She was really starting to get worried about him.
She was seated here alone but she knew that she really wasn't alone. The Heir had instructed about two warriors to always keep their eyes on her. They weren't doing well at being discreet, she could see them watching her with their peripheral vision as they seated next to the fire some distance away.
That Heir had so much pride to think he could just come here and the control and the people were foolish enough to give it to him. Gamama was dead, after dedicating all her life to them, and no one was grieving; her Father - their leader, was away, and no one was talking about him, no one was worried for him!
Her family had given their lives for this revolution, for them, and at the sight of someone who hadn't even sacrificed anything for them, they forget everything!
She hated everyone.
That reminded her of Belladonna, that was what she said her name was.
She did have the ability to be a Channeller but it was stupid for her to wait around for that. Waiting to fall into her good grace? That may never happen; besides, she didn't have the patience for that, and she hated them too much to truly hope on that.
That made her ask herself the question that had been bothering her again. In what way could she exploit—
She snapped out of her throat, quickly pulling a dagger she had lying on the ground and pointing it at the intruder.
The blonde-haired woman took a step back, with a calabash of food in her hand.
“Tsiri?” Ny'ka’s face hardened, and she pulled the dagger away. “What do you want?”
“We are worried about you, Ny'ka.”
“Worried.” She scoffed.
Of course, she had friends, but a fight had occurred between them before the coming of the Heir to their cave and since then, they had gone their separate ways.
It was as a result of the attack they carried out a while back. They had been forced to retreat, and close the passage, but as the passage walls were closing, they saw Ijak coming towards the door.
It was obvious he wouldn't make it. They couldn't see the White King’s warriors that were hot on his trails but everyone knew that he would be captured.
Ijak may be strong and loved, but he was not good at the face of torture; he would spill.
So, thinking quickly, Nyka had grabbed Tsiri’s arrow and shot Ijak with it; it was a killing blow. Before the passage went close completely, they saw him drop to the ground dead.
That broke their friend group and left her as an enemy even though they knew that capturing Ijak alive would have put all their lives at risk.
Dead men tell no tales, so they say.
It was better that way; they all knew, yet they hated her for the tough decision she made.
Hypocrites!
As if she hadn't grieved him too. He was a good warrior, a better friend.
His absence had been felt.
“It is because you love him, but he chose Tsiri instead; that is why you killed him!” They had accused her.
Absolute nonsense!
She didn't love him, she could never love anyone, not like that.
She already loved her people and her family; any other thing would make her less of a warrior, and by Ina, she was not less of anything that she was!