I Can Hear You (12 page)

Mikal

When we arrived back at the castle, I was startled to see Nanya at the stables.  She placed her hand on my arm and I hesitated.  It was very unlike her, but if I rebuffed her, she might suspect something.  I could feel Ambriel’s anger and jealousy coursing through her body.  I watched as Nanya left, swaying her hips more than normal and I wanted to sigh.  I knew that problems lay ahead.

After showing Ambriel to her room, I headed to the battle room where I found Lukke, Damien and Avis waiting for me.  They came to attention with their heads bowed as I entered.

“Lukke,” I acknowledged first and everyone took an at-ease stance.

“Commander.”

“The human, Ambriel, is here at the castle.  Make sure everyone knows she is not to be harmed under any circumstances.”

“Yes, Commander.”  Lukkas turned and left.

“Damien, find Chadas and have him start her training immediately.”  Damien nodded before turning to leave.

“Avis.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Any suggestions?”

“No Commander.”  I nodded to him before turning to leave.  I needed to seek the elders’ counsel again.

Before I even knocked, I heard the soft, “Come in Mikal.”  I entered and closed the door behind me.

“How can I help you Commander?”  Risya asked before turning around to face me.

“I’ve found the human.”  I hesitated.

“Go on,” she stated.

“Her name is Ambriel.  She’s half Cusas and very powerful.”

“That’s not why you’re here.”  She stated simply.

“She’s my true mate.”  I admitted.

“And you worry about what the others will think.”

“Yes. No. I don’t know.  She’s human, how can that be?”

“She is but yet she’s not.  She’s Cusas.”  I couldn’t help but rub my forehead.

“What am I supposed to do?”

She smiled at me and said, “That’s what you have to determine.”  She turned back around and stared out the window.  The last thing I heard her say was “Don’t take too long.”

Walking back into the battle room, I found Lukke waiting for me. “Lukke,” I nodded.

“Commander, everyone knows that the human is not to be harmed.”

“Good, and Lukke?”  He looked at me, “Her name is Ambriel.”

“Are you okay Mikal?”  He spoke as my friend and not my second.

“I…”

“Commander.”  Damien came running in.  “The human is gone!”

“What do you mean she’s gone?  Gone where?”  I demanded.

“Chadas informed me that he took her to the training room and she just took off running through the castle.”

I tried to remain impassive but for the first time I felt my own fear.  I tried to
feel
her but couldn’t.  Panic consumed me!  What if something had happened to her?  “Search the castle!”  I ordered.  “Damien, bring Chadas to me!” 

I paced the room, unable to stop myself.  Worry filled my body as I willed her to be safe.  I was still pacing when Chadas strolled in without a care.  “You wished to see me Commander?”  He bowed his head.

“Why did Ambriel run from you?”  I asked with a stern voice and arms crossed.

“I don’t know Commander.  I took her to the training room and after I told her I needed to test her, she went running.”

I heard the lie in his voice even though he spoke the truth.  It was very puzzling.  Knowing the difference between lies and truths was one of my talents.   Just as I knew her name was not Amber, I knew there was more than what he was telling me. 

Several hours later Lukke returned with a grim look on his face.  “Commander, we searched and can’t find her anywhere.  Do you think she used the portal?”

“My instinct is telling that she’s still here.”  Lukke poured us both a tumbler of ale.

As we each took a drink, Lukke asked, “Is there something you’re not telling me my friend?”

I smiled a little before admitting, “She’s my true mate and I don’t know what to do.”

I watched as surprise shown on his face before he asked, “Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.

“But she’s human!”

“I said the same thing to Risya.  Her exact words to me were,
she is, yet she’s not.  She’s Cusas.
”

“Shit.”  He said.

“I know.”  We sat in silence and drank our ale.  I knew Lukke would keep this news to himself.

After we had downed all of our ale, I looked to Lukke and said, “Have them keep searching until she is found.”

Amber

I woke up lying on my back in the dusty closet.  The floor was hard which made my body hurt to move.  I don’t know how long I’d been in there, but I felt somewhat rested.  As I sat up, I thought about what I should do.

If I used the portal and returned to my realm, I risked the Santiarns finding me.  I also didn’t have anywhere to go.  If I stayed, I might be safe but nobody liked me being here.  I felt betrayed by Mikal.  He made it sound like he would help me; instead, he abandoned me as soon as we arrived.  Nobody even told me who would train me or how. 

I thought about going back to my father’s house but I couldn’t keep putting him in the middle of this. 
Time to put on my big girl panties,
I thought. 
No more hiding.
It was time to embrace my heritage.  I reached up, unclasped the necklace and placed it in my pocket.  I closed my eyes and concentrated on my surroundings.

I sat Indian-style with my head bowed and legs crossed.  I watched the scene unfold before me.

Many warriors searched every room and I knew they were looking for me.  Then for some reason, everyone stopped and looked the same direction.  I walked among them, unnoticed.  I hadn’t seen any of them before when I noticed Mikal walking their way.  “Everyone leave,” he ordered.  As they left, he kept walking until he came to a door.  I recognized the hallway and the door he stood in front of.

Opening my eyes, I jumped to my feet knowing he was heading this way.  I didn’t want him to find me hiding in a dusty closet like a scared little girl.  I entered the hallway and headed the opposite direction until I came to a populated area.  All eyes turned toward me.  I heard them all. 
Who is that? What’s a human doing here?  Does the Commander know?
  They were mostly women and children.

I found one woman standing with her mouth open when I asked, “Can you tell me how to get out of the castle?”  She just pointed so I turned in that direction.  I’d almost made it to the door when I felt him behind me.

Turning slowly, I faced Mikal standing there with his arms crossed.  “Where have you been?” he commanded.

I remained quiet, holding his gaze. For some reason I couldn’t read his thoughts like I could everyone else…hmm.  I saw his features soften and when he stepped closer to me, I stepped backwards and crossed my arms.  “Ambriel,” he said quietly, “I’ve been worried about you.”  My body craved his as my heart beat faster the closer he stood.  I kept reminding myself that he didn’t want anything to do with me, couldn’t have anything to do with me and he abandoned me as soon as we had arrived here.  I tried to strengthen the crumbling wall I had built between us.

When an unknown man showed up, I looked to him and asked, “Can you please show me to my room?”  He looked to Mikal and I saw him nod from the corner of my eye.

“Follow me,” he said as he turned to leave.  I walked away and even though it took everything I had, I didn’t look back.

Mikal

When I spotted Ambriel about to walk out of the castle, I felt relieved and anxious at the same time.  She was trying to leave here, leave me.  My heart pounded in sync with hers.  When she turned around, I asked her where she’d been with a voice harsher than I wanted it to be. 

I took a step toward her, needing to be close but she stepped backward. I could see the betrayal in her eyes and could feel it in her soul and even though I remained strong, it almost staggered me.  How had I betrayed her?

I told her that I was worried and she crossed her arms.  Lukke showed up and she asked
him
to show her back to her room.  Jealousy coursed through my body as the words of Risysa rushed to the forefront of my mind. 
Don’t take too long. 

Amber

My emotions were all over the place as I walked back to my room.  “Hi, I’m Lukke.”  The huge man said.

I looked up at him with a startled expression.  I think he’s the only one that’s even tried to be nice.  “I’m Amber.”

He looked confused when he said, “I thought your name was Ambriel.”

“It is but I’ve been called Amber all my life.”

“Why?”  I heard curiosity both in his mind and in his voice.

I shrugged, “Mom said never to use my real name.  It wasn’t safe and now I’m used to being called Amber.”

“I see.” We walked slowly, him now walking beside of me instead of in front.  My stomach rumbled loudly from hunger.  “When did you last eat?”

“I’m not sure.  It’s been awhile.  I’m not even sure how long I was asleep or what day it is.”  We immediately changed directions and I briefly wondered where we were headed.  We passed by people who looked at us with an odd expression.  I felt comfortable beside Lukke.

We walked into a large, crowded dining area.  “It’s midday meal,” he said as he led me to an empty chair away from everyone.  He took a chair opposite mine so we could face each other.  “How do you like it here so far?”

I snorted a laugh before saying, “I’m sorry.”  With his surprised expression I said, “You are the only one that’s even tried to be nice to me, so I’d say I haven’t liked it very much.”

“What about the Commander?”  He asked with a bewildered expression.

“You mean Mikal, right?”  He nodded.  “I haven’t seen him.  When we first arrived, he took me to my room and just left me there.”  I shrugged as if it were no big deal.

Just mentioning his name made me uncomfortable and my eyes looked everywhere but at Lukke.  That’s when I spotted Mikal sitting with a woman and her hands were on his arm, her body turned toward him. He was talking quietly to her with his head bowed close to her face.  Anger swept through me like a tornado as I watched the two of them.  He must have felt my stare because his eyes shot to mine with surprise and something else on his face.

“Are you okay?”  Lukke asked.

I turned back to face him. “Yeah, why?”

“Your eyes were glowing.”  He said in awe. 

“Can we go somewhere else to eat?”  I needed to leave. 

I watched as he glanced down the table to where Mikal sat with a female.  I thought I saw a flash of anger on Lukke’s face before he smiled at me and said, “Sure.  I know somewhere we can go.”  He came around the table and when I stood, he offered me his arm.  I hesitated before taking it as he escorted me out.  I could feel Mikal’s stare on my retreating back, but I didn’t care.

Lukke led me out of the castle and down to a nearby market.  As we sat at an outdoor table, he ordered us both some food.  “Thank you.”  I said, meaning every word of it.  I was grateful that I didn’t have to sit in there and watch Mikal with that woman, female, whatever they were called here.

“You’re welcome.”

The market was crowded and my head started to hurt. 
Is that a human?  What is he doing with her?  Why is she here?  Why is he with her?
The last seem to be the most common.  I instinctively rubbed my forehead.  “Are you okay?” Lukke asked with concern.

“Yeah, I just wish everyone would be quiet.”  I answered without thinking.  It was very easy to be around him and I liked his company a lot.

“What do you mean?  It’s not very loud here.”  He said as he leaned closer to me, his words were almost whispered.

I looked around the market and then leaned closer to Lukke.  “See that woman over there?”  I nodded in her direction.  When he nodded his head I said, “She doesn’t understand why you’re with a human.  The man to her left is attracted to the woman who is watching us.  The owner who took our order wants to deny us service but he’s afraid of you.”

“How do you know this?” he whispered still leaning close.

“They scream it at me.  Well not scream, but they think it very loud.  It gives me a headache.”  I said with a grimace.  He looked at me with wonder in his eyes.

A man came around the corner with rage on his face and a sword in his hand.  He approached our table and shouted, “You dare bring a human to our peaceful world?”  Lukke jumped up and drew his own sword.  The crowd gathered around as the two fought.

Lukke grabbed my arm, “Ambriel, are you alright?”  I saw concern on his face.

I felt panicked as I looked around.  “We need to leave.”  I said before I jumped up and started walking.

He fell in beside me as we hurried away.  I turned back just in time to see the angry man with the sword.  “Where is she?” he yelled.  I stepped in front of Lukke to hide myself from view as we kept walking away.

He must have noticed and heard the angry man.  When we were out of sight, he grabbed my arm and asked, “You saw that!  You saw him coming before it happened!”

I let out an exasperated breath as I said, “Yeah, and you two fought with everyone watching.  We couldn’t have eaten anyway.”  We walked a little bit further when I said, “I need to go back, I don’t belong here.”