Rital of Proof (37 page)

"Not tomorrow?"

"No."

"Is she a danger to you?"

"Yes."

Green nodded in understanding. If she lost the fight with Claudine, River would be defenseless against her. At least Jorlan would be protected by the terms she had forced Claudine to accept. Claudine might very well take her anger out on the man who had been her enemy's pleasurer.

"I'm sorry for that."

"I'm not. I have a whole new life that I am very eagerly looking forward to—thanks to you."

"You'll be all right?"

His green eyes flickered. "Better than you know."

"Good-bye, River. Good way to you."

"And you. Green."

She went to the door and stopped. "I have always felt there is a hidden side of you, River, a side you don't let anyone see."

River's jade eyes glinted through lowered lashes. "Perhaps you just think this side exists. Green. Perhaps I am nothing more than what you see."

"When I was a little girl, I used to think that it was actually Arkeus that revolved around Forus."

The edges of River's sensual mouth curved up secretively. "Interesting concept," he murmured.

"Something tells me I wasn't completely wrong, either." She smiled knowingly and left.

River watched her through the window as she made her way along the street.

Alone, his jade eyes brightened to a most interesting shade of aqua.

"You'll tell him I love him?"

Green stood over her sleeping son, her fingers lightly brushing the few hairs on the top of his head.

"Don't do this. Green. Let me go to her. If I give myself to her as forfeit, the Septibunal will dismiss everything, including this insane challenge!"

Green squared her narrow shoulders. "No. I will not do that. How can you even think to go to that monster? You would never survive it, Jorlan."

"I will take my chances!" he all but roared. "I cannot let you do this!"

"You cannot let me do this? Do not be foolish, blaze-dragon. This is what a Marquelle does. Now I will speak of it no more."

"It is suicide."

Green notched her chin up. "And what makes you think I cannot take her?"

"Green, I love you and think most highly of all of your abilities but you are not a warrior. She
is.
Be reasonable on. this! Let me—"

"No. That is the end of this discussion."

His pale eyes narrowed. "Very well, then, come with me for a ride."

"Now? At this hour?"

"If not now, when?" he spoke softly.

She swallowed at his underlying meaning. This might be their only chance. A soft rumble in the distance seemed to accentuate his request. It brought to mind some of the dangers of the night. "Jorlan, do you mean on your Klee?"

"Yes. Come." He held out his hand to her. "Let me show you a world that you don't know."

Hesitantly, she held out her hand to him. She wanted to experience what he did on these rides.

"Do you think it wise to go so far out?" Green glanced warily down at Sabir's gently ruffling feathers.

"Do I think it wise?" He smiled enigmatically.

"You know what I mean—safe."

"I would not take you anywhere I did not think was safe. That is not to say it is not dangerous." His lips nibbled the back of her neck.

Green scrunched her shoulders up at the ticklish action. "Now, why did I expect a forthright answer? You never give one—"

"I always give you a forthright answer, lexa. It is just
not
the answer you expect."

"Nooo—it's not an answer I can decipher." He chuckled behind her as he nudged Sabir into a faster pace.

Green clutched the Klee's mane. She'd never admit it but she was more used to Kibee's slower, even trot.

He took her far out onto the back lands, rolling vistas under the wide expanse of night sky. Green had always loved this part of the estate. The indigenous plants had never been tamed back by human hands. It was a primitive Forus vista, alive with the sights and sounds of Forus life. Even though women had colonized this place for over a thousand years, the night remained alien. It became an exotic, mysterious veil that shrouded the senses. Elusive, beckoning. Perhaps even dangerous. She glanced up over her shoulder at Jorlan.
Exactly like her name-bearer.
A shiver trailed down her spine.

She was not surprised that he noticed. Nothing ever got by those penetrating aqua eyes.

In the distance, swirls of vapor spiraled into the sky, rising from the ground in a prelude to the night's enchantment. The air itself seemed to take on a shimmering pattern. Clouds gathered around them. Green blinked, mystified by what she was seeing. "Jorl—"

"Shhh." His arms came around her, bringing 1 closer to him. "Enjoy the night. Green. There is nothing to harm you here."

Sabir picked up speed. Out of nowhere firewings surrounded them, accompanying them on their journe Their rapidly beating luminescent wings, fluttering, tiny, bell-like chimes. The small lights glittered over her h as the long strands trailed into the wind.

A strange, beautiful scent filled the air. Moist with hint of night tilla. Green inhaled deeply, letting the wonderful aroma tingle down her body. No wonder the Kloo and Klee loved to sleep on the leaves.

She closed her eyes as she exhaled slowly, her entire body coming alive to its potent call. Sometimes dawn, her favorite time, brought with it a special promise of the day. But this was different. "Why have I never felt this before, Jorlan?"

"It is the special song of Forus, Green." His warm breath licked the folds of her ear. "It is opening to you, my love."

As if on some unheard cue, the Klee also inhaled. Sabir filled his intake chambers with the air of night song. A low, warbling sound resonated through his throat. Along the horizon, arcs began to skip from cloud to cloud.

Sabir, fueled, increased his speed across the land, his pace literally taking Green's breath away.

Behind her, Jorlan's solid, warm chest and encircling arms, her only anchor.

"We must go back before the arcs get closer, Jorlan," she called back to him above the rumblings of the approaching storm.

"That wouldn't make much sense, lexa, as we are heading
into
the storm."

Green struggled in his embrace, trying to turn about.
"Into the storm?
Are you mad? We cannot—"

He brushed his cheek over hers as he leaned forward to speak. "You must trust me, Green... as I am about to trust you."

Green opened her mouth to object—then snapped it shut. This may very well be the last time she had a chance to find out what it was that he kept so closely guarded. She was positive that, whatever it was, it held the key to him.

To everything that he was.

She knew that what she was about to witness would change her perceptions forever.

It was dangerous, but she didn't care. She wanted to know.

She needed to share this part of him—even if it meant surrendering herself to his judgment in this. She had sacrificed everything for this man; but there had never been any doubt in her mind that he was worth her faith, Silently, she nodded.

He exhaled against her throat, a brisk rush of sultry air.

Into the night Sabir raced, surrounded by firewings. Arcs began randomly cascading toward the ground, hitting the ore-rocks with loud, crackling booms. The atmosphere around them became highly charged. Thunder shook the ground.

No...
not thunder!

Green looked out across the fields to a far rise in the land. There, where night met land,
thousands
of wild Klee gathered! Green's lips parted at the spectacular sight. They were all running in the wind! Their feathery manes were lifted into the sky; they almost seemed to glide through the arcs! Firewings flitted beside them in joyous accompaniment.

"By the Founder!" She whispered, "What are they doing?"

"They are racing the arcs." He bent them farther over Sabir's back. "As we are about to... "

Before Green could respond, Jorlan motioned to Klee with a flick of the reins and they turned directly into the storm. A hazy light surrounded them; the firewings increased until there were so many of them, it was like seeing through a curtain of tiny stars. The arcs were fast approaching them. The air seemed to hum with urgency. The rumbling grew and grew.

Then it was upon them.

Arcs sizzling, spitting down from the sky around them. The atmosphere ignited. Jagged bolts struck the rocks in deafening crackles of sound. All combined with the hooves of ten thousand Klee racing!

Amid the excitement of the storm, Green noticed something she had never realized before. "They don't break apart," she marveled.

Jorlan smiled mysteriously. "No, they don't."

The arcs came faster and faster. Hitting all around them. The back of Green's neck tingled, both from the electrified air and Jorlan's breath.

The firewings began forming a spark netting around them!

"Are they protecting us from the arcs?"

"Not entirely. You see, they are protecting the arcs
from
us."

"What do you mean? Tell me what is happening."

"The storms are not what people think."

"What are they?"

"The arcs are conduits of Forus."

Green tried to turn in her seat. "What do you mean,
conduits
?"

He shrugged. "They are the carriers, if you will, of a type of conversation."

"I do not follow you."

"I will explain shortly. For now, enjoy the experience. It will make you feel good."

She did feel good. Unbelievably good.

Suddenly the Klee raised their heads in unison and blared joyously at the sky. The deafening sound rose over the arcs themselves, reverberating across the land. It was an incredible sight. "What are they celebrating?" she yelled over the din.

"Forus life, my name-giver," he called to her, before throwing back his own head to joyfully shout into the night. It was a rejoicing release of strength, a gathering, of power, an acknowledgment of respect.

A warm rain began to fall, washing the air clean. Green and Jorlan lifted their faces, letting the balmy water sluice gently over them.

The arcs started to move off to the east. Most of the Klee scattered, disappearing into the wild as quickly as they had appeared.

As the last of the arcs rumbled past, a few of the younger Klee chased after them.

Firewings flittered lazily about them now, and Sabir slowed his pace to a natural gallop—still swift by anyone's standard.

Jorlan turned Sabir to the west, following an ancient trail into deeper vegetation. Some of the firewings followed them. The brief touches of their wings felt like tiny kisses along Green's arms.

They entered a hidden glade. Arkeus' shine glinted off a cascading waterfall and a small pool. A Dreamtree to the right of the pond was in night bloom. Its long, feather-strands swayed in the crisp after-breeze of the arc storm, creating a peaceful, shushing sound. The top of this Dreamtree was dotted with pale pink blossoms. The fragrant blooms were deep purple in the center and surrounded by the Dreamtree's signature curved leaves. The spicy essence was said to inspire the heart's desire.

It was a beautiful spot. Hidden, lush, mysterious, beckoning.

"A favorite place of mine, since I have come to your lands," Jorlan told her.

She was not surprised. The place was much like him.

He brought Sabir up and dismounted, then offered her a hand down. She refused his help; after all, she was a She-Lord. "I don't need your help; I am an accomplished rider."

His lips curved up as he removed his hand. A stubborn She-Lord.

She swayed dizzily. He righted her, giving her a knowing look. "You have never raced the storms before, lexa. There is a lot of energy. It can be disorienting."

"So I see." She staggered over to a large rock, grabbing the edge of it as she sat down. With a shaky touch, she pushed her hair off her face.

In just a few hours she would be meeting Claudine in a probable death match. She didn't want to think of that now. She didn't want to take one moment from her time with Jorlan.

She patted the rock. "Come, tell me what you will, name-bearer." She smiled slightly. "Tell me how many impossible things you can do before morning." Her nose wrinkled. "My mother used to tell me that—it was part of a story she told me at bedtime I think—something about a girl, an explorer of worlds. She went through a wormhole... I can't remember the rest of it, except that someone or something was always late."

Jorlan rested across the top of the flat rock, lying on his side next to her, his bent arm supporting his chin. "Too bad you can't remember more; Arkeus would love it."