A Dark and Dangerous Path
A Dark and Dangerous Path
Bess grinds to a halt, the inertia forcing Ayris closer to me as we jostle together upon her back. The trail we're following is difficult to traverse; between that and the pitch darkness I have to keep reminding myself that I'm amongst mostly shifters whose sense are far more heightened than mine. For all Ayris' jokes about me being an almighty sorceress, I'll be damned if I can see a god-damned thing in this blackness. I'm not sure how long I slept, but the night air has grown colder and the rain has turned to sleet, which falls in sheets and slices across my face as my hood blows back. I feel Ayris dismount; and go to do the same but he stills me, placing his burly hand upon my leg.
"Wait here with the guards, allow me to scout ahead".
My instincts demand he stays close to me, but I know I would likely be of little use. His lycan senses are keen; and his steps light, despite his size. He doesn't need me holding him back.
My chest thumps with worry; praying we haven't stumbled upon more monsters on our travels. I have no idea how I managed to freeze the mantis on the hillside or indeed how I thought I heard Renys speaking in my head. But I'm unsure that I'd be able to do it again - and that worries me.
Bess huffs and taps her hoof impatiently as I stroke her neck.
"He'll be back soon, girl, don't worry" I whisper.
"Is the reassurance for the horse's benefit or your own?" I jump at Renys' voice as I straighten. His figure sat upon that curious beast he's mounted upon, sidling up next to Bess and I.
"Both" I answer honestly, my gaze wandering hopelessly in front, seeing nothing but gloomy blackness, before turning to face him.
"Your mate is perfectly capable of handling himself, my lady. I see no reason for you to worry" He chuckles, adjusting upon Quella, his lexara. Despite the darkness I see Quella eyeing my curiously; and I recall how Renys had claimed her obedience toward me was so unusual.
I nod, knowing Renys probably right, but the pit in my belly still remains.
"The bond will heighten your worry" Renys continues, my eyebrows raising as he speaks. "Newly mated and expectant, it is no wonder your instincts are telling you to go to your fated" He continues, gesturing to my belly.
I cock my head. "You seem to know a lot about it. All this... fated mates and bonding" I say.
Renys huffs a small laugh.
"It is a glorious thing, to find a fated mate who is destined to be yours and only yours" Renys answers "Stars aligning so you may both find one another and bond to one another in a union so sacred that it is written about in the ancient book of Wrin".
My eyebrows wrinkle. "So... Kind of a big deal, then?"
Renys laughs, my human eyes able to see the flash of teeth through the icy sleet that falls in sheets between us.
"Indeed. A very... big deal"
I'm not sure what I detect in his response - sadness, maybe? Or something close to longing.
"I could hear you"
"Clearly my sneaking skills require some finessing" Renys smiles.
"No" I reply "In my head. With the mantis. I heard you telling me what to do".
Renys is silent for a moment.
"Our abilities are not too dissimilar" He responds "The Velithians were once closely bonded to my kingdom. It was a strong alliance - yielding a positive blending of magicks".
I can't help but wrinkle my head in confusion.
"Our kind are closely related, Laurel. I am aware you can transfer your consciousness to other living beings - that bird, for one-
"Whilst I cannot speak to animals or see through their eyes, I can communicate telepathically with beings whom hold a similar magick to my own"
My mouth falls open. Renys' people and my ancestors were somehow closely allied?
In times gone by, I dare say you and I would have been betrothed, Laurel I hear Renys' voice whisper in my mind Powerful Velithian nobility and the strongest crown fae for a century coupled together? An undeniably powerful alliance.
My breath hitches, not liking the implication. I hear Renys chuckle in my head.
Being fated trumps any arranged alliances my people would devise. The fae are not so brutish that we would deny a fated couple in order to further our kingdom
My mind races with the implications. If what Renys says is true, then he's likely correct. His people and the Velythians were once closely allied and mated together in order to blend their magical abilities. It's why we share so many similarities and why he's able to whisper all these thoughts into my head.
I wonder... I take a deep breath and focus the little flame of power in my belly as I look to Renys. Am I capable of communicating using only thoughts?
‘Could you tell me more about my ancestors?’ I will the words in my mind and try to push them towards him.
Nothing. He sits still for a moment, before flashing me a friendly smile; as I realise I’m staring at him awkwardly.
I have little time to ponder on my disappointment as movement and voices up ahead break any further conversation between Renys and I as we look in front of us.
"I can't see a damned thing" I hiss, annoyed.
Renys says nothing, eyes locked up ahead.
Be ready Renys commands in my head. I feel my pulse quicken as we wait silently in the dark, frigid sleet slicing the air around us.
I grip the bow at my side and reach to my belt, realising I have no weapon for close encounters should I need one, but I feel Renys tap my arm gently, thrusting a rather hefty dagger into my hand.
Thank you
Renys nods, his palm curling over the hilt of his sword.
A blinding flash up ahead has the horses whinnying and the men cursing as it blinds all of us momentarily. We don't have a moment to process what we're seeing before I hear Ayris bellowing - his breath heavy as he races toward us in the inky blackness.
"ORBS!" He yells through the blackness "Be ready-"
His voice is cut off as chaos erupts around us, the horses are spooked, rearing in alarm as they sense the danger. Bess huffs and whinnies annoyedly, but she keeps me mounted. Renys draws his sword and Quella hisses, voicing her own displeasure as we frantically look around for signs of movement from the treeline.
Yelling from up ahead draws our focus - men yelling and screaming and the sound of weapons being drawn fills the night air.
"Stay close" Renys orders "Your eyes cannot see the danger ahead - perhaps that is a benefit"
Panic all but strangles me - WHERE is Ayris? I want to go to him, to make sure he's alright. But I know Renys is right, I'm at a disadvantage here and I can't see anything.
The flame blooms in my belly, coiling and curling as it grows. I understand that my powers seem to be linked to my emotions, but this is completely unprompted, as though I know what my body wants me to do before I even have to think. I pull back my hood and lift my arms, my magical connection growing stronger as I reach for the clouds above us. I sense Renys watching but I pay it little mind as the sky begins to rumble and crackle.
The lightning strike explodes not 10 feet from us and illuminates the horror.
Mantis hurtle toward us; their gruesome forms lunging and claws clacking. I feel the fear and fury burst from me as I send a surge directly in their path - the lightning findings its target effortlessly as the creatures explode from the ground before landing in a smoking heap on the ground.