The Channel (The Gifted Book 2) (22 page)

Daen took a swig of water. "This is practice. It's about technique."

"Fine, but what if someone really good comes at me? I need to know what to expect. Those goons I fought yesterday made it easy. What if the next guy isn't as arrogant ... or fat?"

Daen considered her argument. She did need to know what to expect but he wasn't sure if now was the time to push her. Sparring with tree branches was only going to go so far, but he had been holding back.

After some consideration, he decided he would challenge her, carefully. "Okay, you got it. Just remember, you asked for it." He set his bottle of water on the ground and took a fighting stance, waiting for Rhea to do the same.

When she was ready, he came at her so fast she almost didn't see him coming. A quick twinge of panic pierced her body as she attempted to block his attack. But just as she thought she would have to cry uncle, the blur that was Daen became a slow-motion movie, just slow enough that she could see his attack, making it easy for Rhea to block and side-step his every move with ease.

Just as she'd done in the other world, she started to turn the tables on their sparring, moving from defense to offense and back again. With each attack she offered, he blocked with ease, making her realize there was no way she would defeat him head-on. She needed a way to surprise him, get inside his reach and take him out.

Rhea got Daen into a rhythm, one strike after another: left, right, left, right. The sounds of the branches slapping together started to fade as she focused on her attack. When she thought she was starting to appear predictable, she faked left, dropping her branch, causing his block to go unmet, throwing him off balance.

As she allowed her branch to fall beneath his block, she spun, stepping in closer to Daen and giving him an elbow in the ribs. He stepped back, but Rhea stepped with him as she pulled out the small dagger at her waist, a dagger she'd found in Sedare's saddle bag, and with her free hand, brought it to his throat.

The sounds of applause slowly reached her ears, and Rhea was herself again. Daen stood frozen, staring at her and her blade. He stepped back, their eyes locked while she sheathed her dagger.

Daen was quiet as he worked to catch his breath. "Did you just call the Libraim?"

"Not on purpose." But she knew it had joined her and that it had given her an advantage.

Daen looked a little concerned.

"What's wrong?"

He tossed the branch to the ground. "Nothing."

A quiet laugh drifted across the clearing from Randell. "He's never been bested, Rhea."

Taulin shook his head. "I'm just glad I don't have to fight her. If she's half that good with a real sword, I doubt I'd stand a chance." He laughed. "And here I thought I was actually helping her against the false warriors." He returned to the fire.

Suddenly Rhea felt like she'd done something wrong. As she watched Daen turn his back on her and walk away, her chest constricted. "Daen, I'm sorry."

He looked over his shoulder at her. "Never apologize for doing well," and returned to the fire.

Randell patted her on the back. "He'll get over it."

Taulin and Daen were already sitting by the fire as Rhea and Randell approached. She could hear whispers between them but couldn't make out what they were saying. "What's going on?"

Daen tossed a stick in the low flames. "Who's in control when you're connected to the Libraim?"

"I am." She surprised herself with her quick and confident answer.
Was she right?
Yes. She'd called to the Libraim but her moves were her own.
Why did he ask?

Daen turned his head and studied her face before looking at the stick that had just caught the flame.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"I just wasn't sure who I was fighting. You changed. You got this look in your eyes." He shook his head.

"I'll admit, the first time it happened, I'm not sure I was in control. But this time, I was."

Daen nodded. "All right."

Rhea looked at Randell and Taulin. "Does anyone else have concerns?"

Randell raised his hands in defense. "Not me."

Taulin shrugged. "If you're in control, then I'm fine."

Rhea tossed her branch to the ground. "I'm going to go clean up." She looked at the three in her group. They didn't look like they had even broken a sweat.

"Where are you going?" Daen asked.

"There's a waterfall not far from here."

Daen knew the one. "You shouldn't go alone."

Taulin started to stand, but Randell placed a hand on his arm. "I'll go with her." Randell gave Taulin a look. He was beginning to see how Taulin felt about her, and keeping watch as she bathed was not something he would trust Taulin to do.

~~~

Rhea had never showered in a waterfall before and was looking forward to the experience, even if the water was cold. She washed her hair and let the water pound on her sore shoulders and back, the cold water soothing her achy muscles.

On her way back to the clearing, Rhea found Randell sitting on a large rock with his back to the stream. "Hey. Thanks for keeping an eye out."

Randell jumped off the rock. "Sure."

"Randell? What was going on back there? I turned around and you and Taulin were ..." She paused, seeking the right words. "Are you two not getting along?"

Randell released a laugh from deep inside.

Rhea's feet locked into place, her brow raised in question.

Randell winked. "I stopped him from being your, um, guard while you bathed." Randell turned away from Rhea before he could see her expression. He wasn't sure he wanted to know how she felt.

Rhea watched Randell's expression change from casual to protective just as he turned away. She'd never given it much thought, being the only woman in a group of four.
Was she making them uncomfortable?

She'd lived in a co-ed dorm. She'd been surrounded by boys and would-be men for four years. But this was another world, another culture. She watched Randell walk towards the camp. "Thanks, Randell."

Randell grunted acknowledgment and continued towards the clearing.

Rhea stored her gear and retrieved her coat. The darkness brought a coolness that seemed to seep into her bones.

Sedare nickered as she approached the saddles and her things.

"Hello, fella." She rubbed his neck and stroked his forehead before returning to the fire.

Taulin stood when Rhea approached. "You look relaxed."

Rhea tried to ignore his attention. "It's amazing what a waterfall shower can do." She tried to sound casual and then thought about what Randell had said about Taulin. She glanced over at Randell.

He shook his head and chuckled quietly to himself, not willing to look at her. Daen wasn't any help either. He kept his eyes steady on the fire.

Something was up, but Rhea didn't care. She'd been to enough frat parties and hung out with enough college guys to know she would never truly understand them.

Rhea lay on her blanket as the conversation drifted to the topic of Taulin's family. He shared that his brother, Michel, had married and was trying to have a normal life, as normal as a prince could have. He wasn't interested in leading the realm. He liked working with his hands and had started his own furniture business.

Kaurl was the king's right hand, and his mother, the queen, was working hard trying to find a suitor for her daughter. It wasn't easy finding a worthy man who could warm up to Daulr's desire for adventure and working with the Laundan warriors.

The stories dwindled, and the men called it an early night. Rhea should have been tired after the long day and the practice, but her mind was racing. There was no way she could sleep right then, so she took first watch.

23
Decision

Queen Aubuel stood in the open walkway above her husband's training grounds, watching him spar with his trusted commanders. He was quite fearsome, brandishing his long sword against men more seasoned than he. She wondered to herself how he would fare in a real battle.

She scanned the grounds, looking for the other member of her family, her daughter Kiral. If it wasn't for Kiral's slender shape, she wouldn't know her from the other warriors practicing their skills. She dressed like them and wore her hair short, declaring that long or fancy hair required too much care.

Kiral's laugh drifted over the cacophony produced by the practice sessions, echoing off the walls of the castle on either side of the yard. A moment later, she saw her, smiling wide with laughter in her eyes. She was a gifted swordsman and fighter. Her ability to sense her opponent's next move made her near impossible to best.

Suddenly, the sounds of boots beating the stone floor behind her drew her attention away from her entertainment. A young messenger passed behind her on the way to the stairs at the end of the walkway. He disappeared on the steps and reappeared beneath her, heading straight for the king.

King Argeon saw the messenger approaching and stepped back from his partner to wait, hoping it would be good news.

The messenger bowed and extended his hand to present the tiny sealed scroll. It was a bird message, another to add to the many that were still arriving.

The king broke the seal and read impatiently.

Queen Aubuel watched attentively to see his reaction.
Would his expression cloud with worry or soften from good news?
It would be neither. She watched him dismiss the boy and tuck the message into his pocket.

She watched as his eyes scanned the sky, observing the first sign that darkness was approaching. He sheathed his sword and called the practice to an end. The queen watched her daughter and husband greet each other to discuss their session and her progress before returning to their chambers to bathe and dress for dinner.

"Ma'am?" The voice of the queen's assistant came from behind her. "Will you need more from me today?"

Queen Aubuel knew her assistant was anxious to get home to feed her family. "No. Thank you. That will be all."

The woman bowed. "Thank you. I will see you in the morning," and she was gone.

~~~

Gaibel leaned forward over the horn on her saddle, her face close to her horse's mane, trying to reduce any resistance that could slow her mount as he galloped towards the castle. Lanne and Beth were close behind, trying to keep up. They were on their third set of horses since leaving Eantan.

They'd kept the torches after exiting the tunnel and were now using them to the light their way through the darkness that had fallen a few hours earlier.

Lanne's leg and back muscles trembled from exhaustion. She couldn't imagine how Gaibel managed through similar runs when she was a royal courier, sometimes riding two days straight. Lanne was thankful their mad dash would end when dark faded to light.

Gaibel was fast approaching a trail that would cut hours from their ride, but in the darkness, it was hard to see. She eased up, bringing her horse to a canter, and then a trot, before walking him. She scanned the tree line for the entrance she knew was close by.

"Why are we slowing?" Lanne worked to catch her breath, not ungrateful for the reprieve.

"We are going to take a shortcut. I just have to find it." Suddenly Gaibel turned her horse to the left and disappeared into the trees. "This way!"

Beth watched anxiously as her commander veered away. She knew the trail and had ridden it before. They would have to slow their pace to maneuver around the low-hanging branches and fallen trees in the dark.

They rode as fast as the trail would allow, stopping once by a stream to grab a quick bite to eat and water their horses. Lanne's legs barely held her upright when she dismounted. Her back throbbed from the stress of riding at their breakneck pace. She was thankful for the rest and cringed at the thought of getting back on her horse, but she knew what drove Gaibel, maybe more than she'd ever been driven.

When they broke from the wooded trail, they were back on the road they'd left several hours prior. Turning left, Gaibel pushed her mount into a canter, knowing that pushing harder would wound the animal. They were close to their destination now. It wouldn't be long before Gaibel could report what she'd learned.

She knew the birds and the messages she'd sent would likely stay the king's actions for a short time, or at least she hoped. She had sent a message from the last guard outpost where they had acquired the horses they used now. All she could say in the message was 'Speak carefully. I arrive in the morning.'

~~~

Rhea was the last to wake, breakfast was waiting for her, and the horses were ready to ride. She had let her friends sleep longer than she was supposed to before asking for a watch change, so she hadn't gotten to sleep until late.

As she'd stood watch the night before, she had found it strange to be sitting in the middle of a forest, where the only light afforded her came from the low-burning embers of their fire. Technically, she hadn't needed any light to stand watch. She had closed her eyes and walked the grounds with her mind's eye, seeking signs of life.

She thought it was amazing how many creatures come out at night. She watched them scurry about, living their lives, and wondered whether the peace they appeared to enjoy was real for them.

She'd thought about how her life had changed in the last week. She'd wondered how her parents were coping with everything they'd witnessed before she left for Luxatra. Rhea's mind had been racing with these thoughts for a while, and she'd known she wouldn't be able to sleep, so she let the others enjoy their slumber.

"Are you ready to go?" Daen approached from behind as her as she ate her last bite of the instant oatmeal they'd brought with them. The supplies from the other world were a nice change from fruit, bread, and cheese. She still had a hard time with the dried meats.

"Let me rinse my bowl, and I'll be right with you. Thanks for packing my things."

"No problem."

Rhea walked towards the stream with bowl, spoon, and some personal items in hand, looking forward to her morning ablutions. She glanced over her shoulder to see if she was being watched before stepping between some bushes.