Broken Forest: Book One of the Daath Chronicles (37 page)

“Avikar, you are dying. Right now you lie in a bed with a severe fever and you’ve lost a lot of blood.”

“Lucino is dead. Jeslyn is safe. I’ve done my duty.”

The man frowned. “That’s all? You did your duty and now your life is forfeit?”

Nothing mattered now. I fulfilled my oath.

The stranger grabbed my arm.

“Hey! What are you …” A bright light flashed and we were in a room. There I was, lying on a bed, Jeslyn sitting on a bed next to me. Derrick, Raven and Jericho sat in the room watching an old man apply compresses to my face.

Jeslyn sat, crying, Derrick holding her. Seeing her upset, seeing them all upset over me was crushing. I reached out to Jeslyn, but my hand passed through her. I turned around at the stranger. “Why are you showing me this?”

“Because you think you are worthless and here are people who love you, grieving for you. Your death will affect them in a way you cannot fathom.”

I fought back the tears. “What does it matter now? Aren’t I dying?”

The stranger placed a hand on my shoulder. “Not yet.”

There was a burst of brilliant light. I shielded my eyes, and when I removed my hand, I was back home at the lake. “What are we doing here?”

The stranger disappeared, leaving me alone in the one place I hated the most. I stood by the shore, looking at the calm waters of the lake.

From far away someone laughed. I turned in the direction of the voice. There running towards me, was Jimri.
It can’t be.
My knees buckled and I dropped to the ground.

“Avi, Avi!” Jimri crashed into my arms wearing a dimpled smile. I wrapped my arms around him.

“Jimri, I’m so sorry,” I cried against his shoulder, hugging him as if he’d disappear.

“Aww, it’s all right. It wasn’t your fault. I slipped on a rock.”

“I shouldn’t have ignored you. I should’ve been a better brother. I should’ve never let you out of my sight.” I hugged him harder. “I couldn’t save you. I tried, but it was too late.”

His small hands patted my back. “I know, Avi. You’re my big brother. You always watched out for me.” He wiggled out of my grip and grabbed my hand. “You gotta get up.” He tugged on my arm forcing me to my feet. “Time’s running out Avi. You have to go back.”

I wiped my eyes. “Can’t I stay with you?”

He pulled me away from the lake. “No, Avi, you have to go back!”

“Why? What for? I’d rather be with you.”

“There’s lots of great things. Plus, you’re a hero now. They’ll write stories about you. And that girl Raven, I like her.”

I managed a smile. “Yeah, I kind of like her too.”

“It’s time to go, Avi.”

“Will we see each other again?”

Jimri’s big dimples smiled at me. “Yup.”

I knew what it had felt like when Jimri had died. I wouldn’t let Jeslyn go through that. I wouldn’t let her lose another brother, not when I could help it.

“He’s awake!” Jeslyn leaned over and covered my face with kisses.

“No need for the smothering,” I said in a groggy voice.

She grabbed my hand. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Now, now, you can all visit later. The patient needs his rest.” An old man ushered them away. “Give the boy some space.”

“Wait,” I said, looking at my teary eyed sister. “I want a few moments alone with Jeslyn.” The old man nodded and everyone left the room.

Jeslyn’s eyes watered.

We sat in silence, both staring. Where to start? Using my hands, I pushed myself into a sitting position. I groaned and Jeslyn re-arranged the pillows.

“You need to be careful, Avi,” she said.

“I thought you were dead.” I was too weak to fight the tears and for the first time, I didn’t care.

She grabbed my hand, squeezing it. “Well, I’m not.” She smiled.

“How? What happened? And Lucino, is he dead?”

She leaned over me, her other hand clamping over mine. “There’s a lot we need to talk about.”

I nodded.

“But first, you need to rest.”

My body ached, but I couldn’t sleep, not yet.

“Jeslyn, I know things have been different with us ever since…”

“Don’t, Avi.” She shook her head, a tear running down her face. “What happened in the past is the past. I haven’t exactly been the sister I should have been. I’m just as much to blame. I miss how it used to be.”

An image of Jeslyn and me, before Jimri and Calli were born, entered my mind. We were hiding in the stables, laughing as Jumper tried to find us. Back then, we played pranks together.

“Me too,” I said.

Exhaustion forced me asleep, but before I closed my eyes, I saw Jeslyn smiling. The same smile as when we’d sneak into Mother’s pantry and steal pieces of leftover cinnamon cake.

In that moment, I knew everything would be all right.

I spent the next few weeks lounging around Jericho’s waiting for my wound to heal enough to travel home. Raven kept me company and Anna tended to me like a mother hen. Derrick and Jeslyn had been off on their own, visiting the town and learning more about Daath. I worried about her. She seemed distant.

We’d asked her a dozen questions about Lucino, but she gave us very little information except that he was very kind. I didn’t want to say anything to Derrick, but I sensed my sister was hiding something.

Word had spread through Daath that Lucino had died during a tragic fire at the dollhouse. Lucy had been spotted near Lucino’s mansion, but had yet to make her agenda known. For now, Lucino’s personal guard still had control, but not for long.

Jericho had created a secret committee to free Daath from Lucino’s guard. The first step was to find alternate routes in and out of Daath then find Lucino’s hidden ships.

The night in the temple was still fuzzy. I spent a lot of time trying to remember the whole fight. Derrick had found me lying in a pool of blood and Lucino nowhere in sight. By the pit were several scraps of burnt clothing. Watching Lucino burn was the only image that had stuck in my mind. Something about the fight bothered me, but I couldn’t remember. The doctor said my memory would return in pieces as I healed.

We accomplished our goal and soon we would be leaving.

Home—it’s been so long.

I stared out the window, watching Raven throw a ball to Bruno. She glanced at me and waved. I smiled and waved back. Things between us were good. That intense chemistry was still there, but I ignored it or tried to. Any time she was near me, I couldn’t help myself. I’d flirt, apologize, pretended I wasn’t interested, then flirt again.

“Why do I have to leave?” I said, pressing my head against the window pane. When the words left my lips, everything made sense, and I shuffled outside.

Bruno charged at me. I slowly bent and rubbed behind his ears. Bruno’s leg rapidly kicked the ground.

“Hi, boy.”

Bruno licked my hand happily and I moved to scratch his side.

Raven walked over. “How are you feeling today?” she asked.

I touched my chest. “I think it’s almost healed. I’ll be able to go soon.”

“That’s good. I’m sure you’re anxious to get home.” Raven bit her bottom lip, staring at the ground.

“Not really,” I said. “I’ll just have to go back to working on the farm, no more adventuring for me. I would’ve loved to explore more of Daath.” I let the thought linger, trying to read her reaction.

Her eyes sparkled. “If you wanted to stay, I’m sure Jericho wouldn’t mind and I could show you more. There’s so much to see. You’d love it.”

I grinned.

She’d been reserved around me. Pretending she didn’t like me in that way. Although, whenever I made a flirty comment, she blushed.

I walked to a hammock slung between two tall trees. I grabbed the netted material and attempted to sit on it, but the hammock swayed away.

Raven giggled. “Want a hand old man?”

“Ha-ha, no, I’m fine, thank you,” I grumbled. I gripped the hammock tighter and jumped into it, only half of me actually making it in. I held on trying to regain my balance which wasn’t working.

Raven placed her hands on the hammock.

“I said I was fine,” I protested.

She laughed. “Yes, I saw how well you were doing. Stop being a baby and let me help you.”

She held the hammock in place while I pulled myself in. Once I was lying in it comfortably, she let go.

The hammock swung back fast causing Raven to lose her balance and stumble on top of me. I groaned.

“I’m sorry!” She tried to scramble out, making the whole thing swing even more.

I groaned again.

Raven tried lifting herself off, but it was an awkward position and she couldn’t hold it long. I started laughing, which made my chest hurt more, which made me groan more.

“Avikar, are you okay?”

Seeing it was pointless for her to get out, I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her next to me. “It’s much safer if you stay in it with me.”

She sighed. “All right.”

I let go of her waist and moved over slightly until we were side by side. Putting an arm behind my head, I stared at the clear blue sky. The smell of Anna’s newest cake drifted through the air. Fig. Raven peered up at the sky, the sunlight beamed down, making those dark orbs of hers sparkle like topaz.

How can I leave Daath knowing I’m leaving her?

“Raven, I think I want to take you up on that offer to stay.”

She turned and we were eye to eye. “What about Jeslyn?”

“Derrick can take her home and Jericho planned on sending an escort with us. They’ll be safe.”

“What changed your mind?” she asked.

“You.”

“Me?”

“I don’t want to leave you.”

She looked away. “Do you really mean that?”

“I told you I would never to lie to you again.” I grabbed her hand. “I need to know how you feel about me?”

“Do I need to answer that?” she huffed. “You know how I feel.”

“Do I? Sometimes I think you like me and other times I’m not so sure.”

Raven pouted. “I’ve been trying to hide my feelings because I knew you were leaving.”

I inched closer. “I’m not now,” I whispered. She chewed her bottom lip and I squeezed her hand in reassurance. “I love you and I’d never leave Daath, unless you were coming with me.”

She closed her eyes and smiled. “I’ve been waiting for you to say that since the first day we met.” She opened her eyes.

Before she could say another word, I kissed her. My hands slipped down her back, caressing her. Life stayed still while we kissed. Nothing mattered but the way she felt in my arms. Each kiss more intense than the one before. My hand slid under the bottom of her shirt, tickling her belly. She giggled and pulled away.

“Sorry,” I whispered between breaths, gently kissing her cheek, then trailing my lips down her neck.

“Avikar,” she giggled, twisting as my fingers playfully pinched her sides.

I rolled to the side, wrapping my arms around her waist. “I guess I have my answer.”

Closing my eyes, I rested my head in the hollow of her neck. She hummed to herself and brushed my hair with her slender fingers. The wind swayed us back and forth. My body relaxed, a smile formed on my lips, and, for the first time in years, I was at peace.