Silent Orchids (The Age of Alandria: Book One) (25 page)

There it was, the entrance to the cave—the exit to their immediate freedom. He and Kaeleigh made it through just as the black mist began to solidify behind them and threatened to block Finn and Chel from the exit. Daegan growled in frustration. They had made it this far and after everything, he was not about to leave Finn and Chel behind like this—even though it provided the perfect opportunity for him to “lose” them. Kaeleigh would never forgive him. Daegan wasn’t sure why it suddenly mattered to him, but it did.  

“Finn, RUN! Jump through it before it solidifies, or you will never get out,” Daegan yelled as he set Kaeleigh down in a small patch of sunlight he spotted. Running back, he grabbed Finn’s arm to assist in pulling them through the partially solidified black mist. It was like pulling something through a thick cobweb. He used his other hand to cut through the darkness, aiding in their release. In a matter of seconds, they tumbled through, barely clearing the entrance before the
thing
solidified. 

Breathing heavily, Daegan grabbed Kaeleigh, shouting at Finn to keep running. They had to get farther away. He looked back just as snakelike tendrils—or tentacles—began to grow out of the solid wall of black that suddenly had red eyes of fire. He didn’t know if this was a messenger of the Droch-Shúil, or an actual part of it. With shivers of unease, he thought perhaps the latter. A hissing whisper of words began to flow out of the creature of darkness, audibly carried on a visible vapor of evil. 

“Run, but we will find her; there will be no escape. The Orchids will be destroyed.”
The voice faded the further away they got.

They ran until Daegan was certain it was not still reaching them. But to be safe he ran to where he knew the nearest clearing was, where there would be sunlight enough to keep out the darkness that pursued them. The darkness that pursued
her
. She was the one—the Sol-lumieth—and now he knew it without doubt.

Chapter Twenty-six

Finally having settled in yet another small clearing, the entrance to which had been sheltered from the rest of the forest by some overgrown thorn bushes and worn down with time, they slept. 

Sometime later, Kaeleigh woke up feeling somewhat refreshed. Seeing Chel asleep next to her looking much better than when she was bound in that cave, she took a deep breath of relief. Slowly, gently, not wanting to wake her, she reached over and put her hand on Chel’s arm. She needed to make sure that she really was all right. Her eyes widened as she realized they were also alone, once again. No Finn and no Daegan. After everything they had just gone through, Kaeleigh couldn’t believe they would leave them alone again. They had to be nearby. Desperately, she wanted to wake Chel. She looked at wounds that were almost healed—much further along than she would have expected. She needed to let Chel’s body heal before they moved.  

Kaeleigh got up and dusted herself off. She still felt weak after everything that had happened the night before and hoped they would find some food soon. Looking down at where she had been lying, she saw her sword placed in some kind of scabbard that Daegan must have put there for her. She strapped it around her waist, feeling more confident having it on her person as she walked.

At the edge of the clearing, she tried to get a feel for what was around her. Since being in the forest, her instincts had intensified. She felt a lot of things changing inside her; things she couldn’t even describe. Her thoughts, her emotions, her vision and hearing—it all seemed to be intensifying out of her control. She wasn’t sure how much longer she would be able to contain it. Lately, she felt as if she might explode from within, but oddly she wasn’t afraid of it and consequently it felt more right than anything she had ever felt before.  

“There is an energy radiating from you now. I can see it—I’ve been watching it seep out, but the barrier holding it back is about to let loose. I’ve never seen it work like that before. You’ll need to learn how to suppress it,” a voice spoke from the shadows within the trees just beside her. 

Kaeleigh walked unafraid a few steps closer. “And why would I
want
to do that?” she retorted, knowing the voice to whom she spoke.

“It makes you an easy mark.
You
are being hunted, you know,” Daegan replied nonchalantly. He didn’t show any sign of getting up to join her. “They weren’t after Chel in that cave, it was a trap set for
you
,” he continued. Then, standing up but not moving forward, he said with extreme intensity, “Who
are
you? Who are you really and what have you to do with Alandria? This is something you
need
to know.” It was almost accusatory.

Kaeleigh stood tensely, offended at his inquisition. After all,
he
was the one who had sought
her
out and brought her here! Still, she was trying to answer the same question for herself. On a deep sigh she said quietly, “I don’t know. I mean... I’m just
me
. I don’t know what it is but I feel a connection to this place. I don’t understand it yet, but I
will
figure it out. It feels heavy and important.” 

Suddenly Daegan was in her face, staring intently into her eyes, his hands gripping her upper arms. “Kaeleigh, it IS important. This isn’t a game. They
will
kill you and I need to know why. I need to know
why
they are hunting you and
if
I should keep protecting you,
if
I should put
my
life on the line before we get back to those who’ve sent me,” he said desperately as they were so close they were almost touching. Heat from his body was radiating away from him, almost seductively surrounding her. Breathing deeply, heartbeat accelerating, he let his eyes wander slowly from hers, exploring her face landing on her lips, then quickly back to her eyes. He released her arms. 

Kaeleigh blinked, breaking the spell that kept her lost in the deep dark abyss Daegan had for eyes. She took a step back, releasing her body from the magnetic pull of his own, allowing her brain to think. Kaeleigh didn’t want to think when she stood so close to him.

“I know I am here for a reason, and I can’t choose for you, but you gave an oath to be our guide and protection until we were presented to those who sent you. I will hold you to your word. Nothing more. I did not and will not ask you to give your life for mine. After we reach our destination, you will no longer need to risk your life on my account or that of my friends. I’m grateful for your service, Daegan, especially back in the cave for my life and for Chel.” Kaeleigh took a deep breath, suddenly angry but trying not to let Daegan see her slowly losing it.  

Daegan watching her intently, and without expression, nodded. “Very good. You just dampened your energy flow, even though you were angry,” he replied, as if everything she just had said was gibberish. 

Ugh!
Suddenly feeling extremely patronized, Kaeleigh took another step backwards and started to turn away from Daegan. 

He reached out to grab her arm but she jerked it to her side before he had the chance. “Kaeleigh...” Daegan sighed with surprised regret at having lost his brief connection with her and took a step toward her.

“If it’s not too much
trouble
, could you keep an eye on Chel until she wakes up and could you tell me where Finn is please?” Kaeleigh asked politely, covering up the anger that she was using to suppress the hurt that she unexpectedly felt.  

Daegan, feeling her shut off from him, did the same. The last thing he needed was to make this more than a business transaction between him and Maleina. “Finn couldn’t sleep. He had... things on his mind, I think you would say. You will find him straight that way, not far. He asked me to keep you here, but I do not care what he wishes. There are things you should know.”

Frowning, Kaeleigh began to head in the direction Daegan pointed. Then she stopped and looked at Chel and, turning back to Daegan, she asked, “And Chel?”

Daegan nodded then said, “Of course. She will be safe with me.” 

Kaeleigh nodded and headed in the direction where Finn was mysteriously doing whatever Finn was doing.
Maybe he will finally tell me what is going on.

He watched her go, taking a deep breath and wondering how she seemed to affect him so. He thought about how he had held her as he ran with her from the cave. When he saw that creature about to end her life, he couldn’t breathe. His reaction had been instantaneous. It wasn’t just to protect her as he had promised or to see what she could possible do for his realm; he wanted to keep watching her... to be near her. When he had brought her into this clearing, to his surprise, in her partially conscious state, she had actually seemed to try to get closer to him. Not quite sure what to make of that, he tried to ignore it. She probably thought it was Finn; they were close. Without meaning to, he had smelled her hair as wisps of it flew into his face. Vanilla and cinnamon mixed with the natural scent that seemed to be femininity infused with scents of the forest. Intoxicating. He found he could get lost in it, but he wouldn’t. 

✾✾✾

Kaeleigh didn’t have to walk through the forest far before she heard a small bubbling creek and followed the sound toward the base of a small decline. This part of the forest felt different than what they had walked through already. It felt lighter, airier, as the trees were spaced further apart. There was younger, newer growth here. It was even playful as the trees swayed with the wind. The sound of the creek slowly trickling over rocks was a welcome sound. Peaceful. She hadn’t realized that she was thirsty until now and headed to refresh herself and clean up a bit. Now that she thought about it, the rest of them could use some cleaning up too. She made a note to bring them down here before they kept moving.  

✾✾✾

Finn was sitting at the base of a large oak tree right on the edge of the water, his back facing the clearing behind him. He felt like his skin was crawling and he wanted to do nothing else than scratch it raw, but he ignored it. He had been ignoring it since he got into Alandria, but it suddenly grew worse with their present location. This was a place of redemption, yes, but also of his shame. Finn became vividly locked in the regret and memory of another time as if it had happened yesterday...

From the center of the circle, Finn could see the Elders cloaked in their ceremonial cloaks surrounding him. The white hooded one had released his bindings with a simple touch of his hand. Finn could feel the magic releasing his hands but also holding him captive where he stood on the boulder. He held out his left hand, palm up, waiting for the sting of sliced flesh. Closing his eyes, he could smell the coppery scent of his own blood before registering the pain. He refused to flinch or utter a sound. He wouldn’t dare. He deserved this, and more. This was the commencing of his punishment...
 

“The blood spilled here tonight is not only an offering, but represents what will happen to the one who breaks the vow. The boulder is the strength of the bond created and serves as silent witness. The earth absorbs the secrets of the vows; it is ever present and will execute punishment as it deems necessary, even if all others are unaware...

“Your crime of murder upon the Ferrishyn... You have been spared and commissioned with the guardianship and protection of a blessed child. Let it be known...” As the Elder paused, Finn hung his head and let the Elder grip his forearm. Looking him straight on, the Elder waved a hand over the space on his forearm, placing a magical brand that could never be removed. Head already hung with shame, Finn dropped his shoulders, his final stand of pride stripped, wishing for death instead. “You are hereby banished!” The words would forever echo in his mind. 

He had vowed then to protect Kaeleigh with his life or with his death, and this would be no exception. Alandria was no longer his home, but she was. He would do what he had to, to keep her safe. 

She gasped when she saw him. “Finn!” she shouted. “What are you doing?” Kaeleigh kneeled beside him and grabbed his hand, which had a white-knuckled grip on one of his knives, and pulled him away from his other arm, on which he seemed to be CARVING.  

He looked up at her with both anger, confusion, and a sad, faraway look that she had seen only a couple times before when he didn’t know she was watching him. Finn jerked his hand away from her and scooted back to where he could stand. He looked like a frightened cat about to bolt, but he didn’t. He didn’t say anything. He just stared at the water.

“Finn?” She paused, trying to sound weak and nonthreatening, the way you would with a scared animal that you were trying to calm. “Finn, what’s wrong? Why are you doing that to your arm?” she said, unable to take her eyes off of the rivulets of blood flowing from the gash in his forearm and streaming down to his fingertips then onto the grass below him. Still no answer from Finn. Furious and scared that one of her best friends was hurting himself and that it might be her fault, she lashed out at him. “FINNLAN! Answer me... What the hell are you doing to yourself?”

Angry that he felt
compelled
to answer her, here of all places, he shoved his bleeding arm out at her. Nodding at his arm, he spoke quietly but full of anger. “You don’t want to know what
this
is. There are things about me that
you
, of all people, don’t want to know about. You think you do, but you don’t. If you really did, you would have seen and asked questions long before now. You’ve explained away a lot over the last years. You are suppose to, though, it’s your brain’s defense.”  

Completely caught off guard, Kaeleigh sat down, trying to make sense of what Finn just said. Still worried about the condition of his arm, she kept looking up at it. Sighing, Finn covered his bleeding arm with his opposite hand to staunch the blood flow then sat down beside her.