The Lord of the Clans (18 page)

“Excuse me, is this Frahern?”

“Aye, it is.”

“Could you tell me where I might find Moyna the healer?”

From up close, the man looked older than she had first thought. He bobbed his head while gesturing past the fountain.

“Follow this pathway right down to the back. Hers is the last house before the edge of the forest.”

“Thank you.”

They found the house without any difficulties. Deciding to leave the horses up front for the time being, she dismounted and knocked while Cameron came to stand next to her. The prospect of seeing her aunt after so many years filled her with joy now that she was finally here.

Yet when the door opened, she couldn’t help but gasp at the person standing in the candlelight.

“You!”

Chapter Twenty-Four

“Ariana!
I’m so glad to see you, my child.”

“So am I.”

Wrapped in a big hug, dazed by this turn of event, she stood still until released from the thin arms.

“But I don't understand. How come you’re here?”

The Lord of the Clans moved forward, his huge stature blocking the light from any outside viewer. She realised introductions had become compulsory when she felt his hand on her shoulder.

“Cameron, this is my shaman.”

Although he muttered a few words that sounded like “what were the odds?
”,
he spoke too low for her mentor to hear his wry repartee. At least she hoped so. She put a smile on her face and stepped inside.

“Shaman, this is our Lord.”

The gaunt man’s eyes widened as he raised his head to look at his ruler. If astonishment had a face, it would have been his in this particular moment. Then he recovered and bowed.

“I’m honoured to meet you, my lord.”

Cameron probably didn’t feel as honoured because he all but ushered the three of them into the house before closing the door.

“We need to talk, shaman.”

“I am at your service, my lord.”

This wasn’t going the way she had planned. Unwilling to let the men launch into an endless
discussion,
she took her shaman’s hand.

“Where’s my aunt? How is she?”

“She’s gone out with her husband, but they’ll be back shortly. I can assure you she’s fine. I treated her as soon as I got here.”

“Thank the Mighty Gods.”

“Ariana, I left home a few hours after you. I meant to catch up with you on the road, but I never found you. I’ve been here for four days now, and I must say I was getting really worried. Where have you been?”

First, she wasted three days riding due north instead of west, until she stumbled upon Cameron’s warrior clan and got locked up in chains. Then they had been delayed at both temples.

“I’m afraid I got a little lost.”

“I feared something like this would happen. That’s why I changed my mind and rode after you.”

“Well, I’m all right, thanks to our Lord. But I’m so happy to see you, shaman, and I have so many things to tell you.”

Cameron nudged her back so lightly that she wondered if she had really felt a poke. Yet as his finger lingered against her body, she recalled his previous warnings and went quiet. Who knew his trust issues might prove well-grounded after all. In any case, she’d already picked her side.

“Shaman, how about you make some tea while we wait for my aunt? Is there a place we can refresh?”

“Dear Creators, I’m not the perfect host, am I?”

“You're doing fine.”

He backed away to give them some space, looked at their dusty clothes, and gestured toward the back of the house.

“You’ll find everything you need through that door. Meanwhile, I’ll go make some tea. You must be dead tired after your long journey.”

“I am, for one.”

As he left them to head toward the kitchen corner, she turned round and whispered to Cameron.

“You believe we can’t trust him, don’t you?”

“For now, yes.
Listen, I’ll take the horses and set up camp at the edge of the forest while you get cleaned up. Don’t speak to him or to anyone else, and don’t get out of that room until I’m back. Is that clear?”

“As clear as water.”

“Good. Now, go!”

“Would you mind bringing me my saddlebags?”

He went outside while she followed her shaman’s instructions and opened the door. To her delight, the small room contained everything she needed to feel clean again. When Cameron came back, he dropped her bags on the floor.

“There. I’ll be right back.”

She grinned at him, feeling like they were two conspirators against the whole world. Then he left her alone and she set to work. She used cold water on a white cloth to wipe sweat off her naked body.

Once she felt crispy clean, she put on a fresh shirt and a fluid skirt before she smoothed her long hair. The sometimes painful brushing took her a great while as the wind had pretty much tangled her hair into a turbulent mass. She managed it just in time to hear a knock on the door.

“Come on in.”

Cameron’s gaze travelled down to her skirt as she stood ready for a pleasant evening in her aunt’s company. He'd always seen her wearing the so comfortable men’s pants she favoured for riding, but tonight she wanted to look good for Moyna. To have her recall the little girl she used to be.

He must have found a stream or a river in the forest because he’d changed and shaved. Deprived of the light, fair stubble, the straight line of his jaw drew her attention and she had to squeeze the hairbrush to avoid caressing his scar. His eyes glinted while he detailed the curve of her hips. His scrutiny making her nervous, she picked up her saddlebags to stuff the brush inside.

“Is my aunt back?”

“Not yet.
Come,
let’s have a talk with your mentor.”

“All right.”

A nice fire blazed in the hearth. They sat down around the kitchen table while her shaman poured tea.

“Here, my child. This will do you good.”

“Thanks.”

As they all sipped the hot beverage, she wondered how long it would take for the hostilities to begin. The Lord of the Clans swallowed as if he’d choke on the drink, and her shaman watched him with a guarded look. When the heavy silence started to make her skin itch, her mentor put his mug down.

“I’m sure Moyna will lodge you tonight.”

“There’s no need. I set up a tent in the forest.”

Glad that neither man had a weapon at hand, she nevertheless tensed. The battle had begun, and she might lose more than she anticipated. She glared at them over the rim of the mug. Whatever issue they intended to fight over, she wouldn’t be a part of it.

“With all due respect, my lord, Ariana is as yet unmarried. Her sleeping in your tent would be deemed inappropriate.”

“By whom?”

Her shaman looked taken aback by the simple question. Well, he was about to meet the Lord of the Clans. Good luck to him.

“Moyna, for a start, and, I guess, the villagers.”

“Unless her aunt is a dimwit, she’ll figure out exactly where, and with whom, Ariana has spent the last few nights. As for the villagers, I don’t think they’ll raise an eyebrow given that Ariana lives all the way across Borgom.”

“What about her promised? I’m certain he wouldn’t look favourably on this compromising situation.”

“He’ll still do as I say.”

Kelton’s face pervaded her mind at the mention of his name. His soft, brown eyes gazing at her, the lilted smile he had every time he came to see her, the happy sound of his voice when they’d made their pledge. He held only respect for her and he didn’t deserve to be made a fool. In spite of her desires, she placed a hand on Cameron’s forearm to catch his attention.

“If it’s all right with you, I don’t mind staying here tonight.”

The intense look he shot her physically hurt. Pain jabbed at her heart and stomach like the sharpest knife and spasms wrenched her guts. As she abruptly realised the enormity of her slip-up, she read in his eyes the emotion she dreaded to ever see there.
Betrayal.

He’d believed, protected and supported her from the very first moment, yet she had just chosen Kelton over him.
What’s more, had done so right in front of her shaman.
With his stinging stare fixed on her, he removed his arm from under her hand.

She had lost him.

One small, wrong decision and all of a sudden she felt empty, cold without his warm touch, alone without his affection or approval. She didn’t need to ask to know he’d never forgive her. Even though they had no claim over each other, he’d wanted her to be his, in flesh and in spirit.

They’d have gone their separate ways once the quest was over, but in the meantime she should have been his alone.
Although he’d never fully expressed it, the idea that he cared for her deepened her pain.

Out of the blue, Doireann’s distressful warning rang in her ears.
You aren’t just his healer. You are mates, and you’re in love with each other
. Could it be so? Had love gripped their hearts to the point where betrayal, longing and lust became allies in the search for happiness?

As much as she feared considering the option, the mild affection nudging her toward Kelton paled in comparison with the feral hunger she felt for Cameron. Every time he looked at her, every time he touched her. Bowled over, she flinched when her shaman’s voice snapped her out of her stupor.

“I didn’t send you away from home to heal your aunt.
At least, not entirely.
As it happens, I believe we’re all in great danger.”

“The Darkening.
I know.”

For a wonder, he didn’t seem all that surprised when she named the threat casting a shadow over their heads.

“Won’t you tell me what happened to you?”

Unwilling to reveal anything Cameron wouldn’t like her to disclose, she glanced at him. He avoided her eyes to stare at her shaman.

“What do you know?”

“I’ve heard of a darkness about to devour our world, and of a great power that might prevail over this menace.”

“What power?”

“I think you already know, my lord.”

They both stared at her. When she didn’t say a word, Cameron drank the last of his tea and put the mug down.

“Why did you never tell her she has magic?”

Her shaman smiled, and his familiar grin finally reminded her of the man who had taught her everything.

“She wasn’t ready for such powerful knowledge because she’s lived a secluded and rather lonely life. I knew only real trials would make her accept the truth. If I’m not mistaken, she has now gone through different experiences. Enough to understand she can’t escape her destiny.”

Destiny?
No, she still didn’t feel ready to surrender to fate. She had bragged to the leader of the resistance, but her weakness now made her tremble at the knees. Why couldn’t someone else ride north to vanquish the darkness? After all, people like wizards and witches possessed magic, so why couldn’t they band together to face the impeding danger?

“Shaman, why does it have to be me?”

“I’ve trained many girls with magic in the art of healing, but I’ve known you were special since the day you were born.”

His baleful tone dried her throat. She sensed a revelation coming, an inexplicable dread creeping up her bones to eat at her marrow. Then, when her mentor suddenly stared at Cameron as if he expected support from him, she knew her fate had been sealed.

Chapter Twenty-Five

The lump in her throat prevented her from breathing properly and she let the shaman take her hand in his.

“You don’t have magic, Ariana. You are magic.”

What difference did it make? Should she be relieved to hear about this apparently important distinction? So far, she didn’t feel less scared, yet she listened to the rest of his explanation.

“Have you never wondered about your tattoo? You’re the only person from our tribe to bear the mark of the Ancients. I’d even say probably the only one in the whole realm.”

“I had no idea what my tattoo meant until Cameron told me.”

“This particular drawing signifies that your power comes from the Ancients. They bestowed pure magic on you.”

She recalled the Shrine of Fate, the war paintings on the cave walls, the long deserted feel of the place.

“How can they do that when they’re all dead?”

“They might be long dead but their spirits live on, in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the sun we draw energy from. Whenever evil threatens the Four Kingdoms, a mighty power arises to challenge it. The Darkening is intent on destroying our world and you’ve been chosen to defeat it.”

“Fantastic. I’ve always dreamt of doing just that.”

Her bitter tone obviously didn’t escape her shaman as he applied a slight pressure on her fingers.

“This must be very hard on you, Ariana, but know that I’ll do everything to help and guide you.”

“Like telling me how I’m supposed to beat this darkness?”

“Unfortunate as it is, I don’t possess this knowledge. All I’ve been able to learn is that you mustn’t fear the outcome. You will prevail as long as you accept your weaknesses and turn them into strengths.”

“Huh?”

He might mean well, but his words sounded like gibberish. Although they appeared to be speaking the same language, she didn’t understand him. He let go of her hand to rub his cheeks like a man struck with weariness.

“What would you say is your weakness? Don’t think about it, Ariana, just answer the question.”

“My lack of physical strength.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never wanted to be a man, but I'm certain I’d defend myself much better if I had more muscle. I really wish I could be as strong as...”

Her voice trailed off while she turned toward the Lord the Clans. Without asking for his gigantic stature, she wouldn’t have minded being able to fight off several men, like he had done before almost dying in the barn, or subdue an enraged mountain lion.

His eyes on her, he cocked his head.

“I may possess the force to wield my sword, but I’ll never heal people the way you do. Isn’t it something to be grateful for?”

She supposed so, although in her current position she didn’t believe her special healing power would be of any use. She needed to destroy the darkness, not treat it for chickenpox. Lowering her gaze, she grabbed the handle of her mug and drank the last few sips of tea. Her shaman sighed.

“Listen to me, dear girl, and may my words show you the light. Dwelling on what you can’t achieve won’t enlighten you. On the other hand, focusing on what you’re able to do might bring the answer you seek. All I can say is that the Darkening is upon us, but you aren’t ready to face it.”

Only then did she remember the disc and the square. Weren’t they supposed to guide her in some mystic way or at least to back her up? To do whatever they had been created to do, and see her safely through the ordeal? Whatever their use, she couldn’t rely on unknown artefacts to show her the right way.

Surely Cameron wouldn’t have forgotten about the small, black objects. Not with all they’d gone through to retrieve them. She had no memory of the Shrine of Destiny, but he’d hacked at trees and vines for the better part of the afternoon. Given that he hadn’t yet mentioned their findings to her shaman, she settled on following his lead.

“Then prepare me.”

“It’s my intention. Actually, we’ll start tomorrow morning.”

His gaze taking on a respectful and possibly hopeful glint, he shifted his thin body to look at Cameron.

“With our lord’s permission.”

“By all means, shaman.
Get her ready.”

He didn’t smile, yet she heard a hint of amusement in his tone. Unable to discern what could possibly be funny to him, she figured he’d find entertainment in watching her learn and practise.

Then again, which kind of training did her mentor conceive?
More sword play or magical tricks?
In spite of being pure magic, she'd never so much as raised a feather with the power of her mind.
Nor thrown fireballs with a beautiful sway of her hands.
Not even lit a candle without a flint.

She revered the Ancients, but their defence strategies eluded her. They could have picked any warrior in the Four Kingdoms to accomplish this feat, so why had they designated her as wielder of a great power? Maybe in the old times their leader had been a woman.

Regardless of all the questions swarming her mind, a more pressing issue also troubled her. Night had fallen a while ago now, and her aunt still hadn’t made an appearance. Where was she?

“Shaman, aren’t you worried about Aunt Moyna? It’s getting late.”

“Her husband took his tools with him. She said they wouldn’t come back early because he’s repairing a friend’s house. She even cooked a meal for me before they left. Would you like to share?”

The mention of food stirred rumblings in the pit of her stomach. A large grin on her face, she bobbed her head.

“With pleasure.
It seems our journey hasn’t been about eating at all, and I’m starving.
Thank you, shaman.”

“Your aunt is an excellent cook, you won’t be disappointed. Just give me some time to heat it up.”

“Take your time. There’s something we have to do first.”

She wanted to see his camp, even though she wouldn’t sleep there tonight. Just in case she might need him later. As Cameron glanced at her with a questioning look, she rose from her chair and went to grab her cloak.

“I left something I need in your saddlebags. Would you mind showing me the way to the camp?”

“Of course.”

She hadn’t touched his bags once, so he knew she was lying. Remembering too late that she could have requested her double sling, she followed him to the door before calling out to her shaman.

“We won’t be long, don’t worry.”

“I’ll be waiting here.”

Used to the brightness of the candles lighting the house, she had to let her eyes adjust to the dark street outside. The forest began right past her aunt’s lodgings, trees obscuring the sliver of moon.

Unlike her, night didn’t seem to hinder his senses much as he walked a straight line to the place where he had set up his tent. Their horses grazed grass in the small clearing.

“Why are we here, Ariana?”

“I needed some fresh air. All this talk of the Ancients and their great power started to give me a headache.”

“What else?”

He never bought her small lies, did he? Concealing the beginnings of a grin, she expelled a long sigh.

“Actually, I wanted to make sure of something. Do you trust my shaman?”

“I don’t trust people.”

How did anyone live without relying on close friends or relatives? He scratched his jaw with two fingers.

“The man appears genuine, though. He hid the truth from you, yet he might have had your best interest at heart. Time will tell.”

“What about the disc and the square? Should we mention their existence? He may have an inkling of how they work.”

“You heard him, he knows nothing. It’s best to keep this information to ourselves for the time being.”

She nodded, her instincts telling her to go along with him. Leaves rustled under the breeze as she dropped her gaze. In the near darkness, his huge presence suddenly ignited a completely different feeling in her, but she wouldn’t let her arousal dictate her actions.

“We’d better get back.”

He stood still. Was he expecting her to speak of her choice to sleep at her aunt’s house? He believed she'd betrayed him, but as much as the idea tortured her, she didn’t want to go down that road. Not now. Unable to make out his expression, she tensed when he took her arm, but he just stepped forward and led her out of the forest without a word.

Back at the house, the three of them sat down for dinner. Her shaman greeted them with a smile before filling their plates with potatoes and beans. Her aunt’s cooking deserved only compliments, as he had stated, and her ale worked like a charm. Pretty soon she felt like chattering away, although the conversation couldn’t be called animated at first.

She praised Cameron’s courage and fighting skills when her shaman asked about their journey from the Longrocks Mountains to Frahern. Listening to herself, she realised at some point that she sounded just like the heroic stories people loved to tell about the Lord of the Clans.

She might even be participating in the creation of his legend. The way she was going on and on about him soon caused Cameron to knit his brow together, but it raised a quizzical look on her shaman’s face.

“Even if I wasn’t aware of his reputation, I’m sure our lord is the best protector you could have asked for.”

True, although in her opinion he also had the slight tendency to get hurt. As she wasn’t used to ingesting spirits, and the ale definitely made her light-headed, she felt like having fun at Cameron’s expense for once.

“That’s because you don’t know him, shaman. He gets wounded all the time. You’d think he’d pay attention, but it’s like he enjoys throwing himself at his opponents’ blades. That’s not even the best part. Do you know what he does when there are no enemies around? He stabs himself.”

Open-mouthed, the gaunt man stared at her while she giggled without restraint and took hold of her drink. Cameron placed his hand over it before she could lift the goblet off the table.

“That will be quite enough, Ariana. I’m confident your shaman isn’t interested in pointless details.”

His firm voice tore through her inebriated lapse and sobered her up faster than a bucket of cold water. Looking at them both with a sheepish grin, she removed her fingers from the goblet.

“I think I’ve had enough ale tonight.”

The funny countenance of her shaman prompted her to polish off her plate. With her belly full, the last strands of her giddiness dissipated. Although they ended the meal in silence, she didn’t feel an awkward tension between Cameron and her. His sense of humour apparently allowed him to take her banter as jest, and she was grateful for that.

A gust of wind cooled the back of her head when the front door opened. Finally, her aunt had made it home.

“Ariana?”

The surprise contained in the questioning tone didn’t trouble her half as much as the voice at her back. Cameron and her shaman turned their heads toward the door while she kept on staring ahead.

At nothing.
At anything but the person standing behind her.