The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Two: Beyond the Veil (42 page)

With steady breaths she continued the process, painfully slow in her efforts. Her eyes opened to watch the wound closely, aware of a strange substance beginning to leak from the laceration, rolling along the skin to drip onto the ground below. Gradually, she could sense the muscles reviving in Callum’s hand. Resuming their functions, relieved of the poison. She held Callum still until she was content that the toxin was fully flushed from his veins, releasing him with nothing more than a quick motion of her hands. If he was angry, she didn’t dare attempt to speak with him on the matters she desired. It would have to wait until his mood improved. Whenever that might be.

She felt hurt by his harsh dismissal. Lowering her eyes to the ground, she decided against saying anything. Her legs moved to step around Callum, stopped by his now-healthy hand pressing gently against her chest, holding her in place. His mouth opened as if to speak, though no words came. He looked torn. Pain remained visible in his eyes which Aiva doubted to be caused by physical injury. It was too deep. Too intense.

Unable to bear the sight of him, she pushed his hand away. He needed to make up his mind. He couldn’t tell her to leave and then force her to stay. He’d made it very clear that he wanted no part of her company. “Excuse me,” she whispered, moving quickly toward the others.

The men were gathered around Lorand, watching Ashoec and Kehprit work diligently on the entry site where the arrow had been. It was removed, discarded to one side, a safe distance away. Pushing through the crowd, Aiva grimaced at what she saw. Lorand remained alive, though barely. The poison was strong. Contact with his skin wasn’t necessary to feel the energy inside him struggling to flow, impeded by the strength of the venom.

Kehprit finished placing a makeshift bandage over Lorand’s back, requiring assistance from the other men to lift the body from the ground to lay it over one of the aneakt.

“What is his condition?” Callum asked, the sound of his voice catching everyone off guard, unaware of his approach. Kehprit frowned, shaking his head solemnly.

“Not good,” he stated. “While he lives, the poison is strong and the wound is severe. We cannot linger, however. The shore is not far, nor is our enemy. We are not equipped to fight the Syet. Our people will achieve retribution once you are safely at sea. Another inspection of this man’s wounds can be done upon reaching your destination.”

“You can ride with me, if you like,” Aiva offered, realizing Callum’s lack of transportation at the death of his aneakt. She was the only one who didn’t already have a riding partner. Despite her anger at the way he had treated her, she couldn’t very well leave him to walk.

He looked at her, the expression on his face indecipherable. “No, that will not work,” he stated calmly.

“I could ride with you and the Princess could take my place with Gadiel,” Kaemin chimed in from where he stood amongst the crowd. Callum’s eyes seemed to flash at the suggestion, giving a sharp shake of his head.

“That will not work either.”

“The Prince and the Princess will ride together. There is no time to argue,” Ashoec announced loudly, already positioning himself atop his mount. “The longer we wait, the more chance we have of the beast men searching us out. They know we have wounded men. They will expect us to stop.”

Gritting his teeth, Callum inhaled deeply, fists clenched. Something about the idea of being so close to Aiva bothered him. She just wished she knew what it was. “Come on,” she sighed, unable to hide the dejection in her tone at his behavior. Lifting herself into the saddle, she leaned forward to allow more room for Callum to ride, eyes focused straight ahead to avoid the awkward stares, not wanting to see the confused glances from the others. “It’s only a little further and then you can keep the entire length of the ship between us, if you so choose.”

Callum pulled himself onto the saddle behind her, uncertain at first, his hands tentatively hovering in search of a way to hold himself in place. Frustrated, Aiva grabbed onto his hands, situating them at her waist with nothing more than a harsh exhale of breath. They didn’t have time for this. It was beginning to seem Callum was no less fickle than her when it came to his feelings. One minute he was warm, the next he was cold. It was impossible to know from one moment to the next what his opinion would be. She wanted to feel guilty for having treated him the same, but at this point, she considered them even.

“Listen to our guides,” Callum commanded the others, his voice stern. “Keep vigilant. With any luck, our ship will be at the port when we arrive.”

The sound of water breaking against the shore came as a welcome relief to Aiva’s aching, exhausted body. The sun was beginning to set along the horizon, marking the end of the second day since leaving the Feh Noq city of Lemahic, having traveled without sleep. Joy was short-lived in the hearts of the unit. The Tanispan navy was nowhere to be found. Aiva feared the worst as to what might have kept Edric from arriving by now. If his journey had been as arduous as her own, the possibilities were endless.

No one spoke a word, too disheartened by the realization that they were stranded at the furthest reaches of Palinon. Lorand acted as a distraction to their weary minds, tending his wounds. Checking for signs of life. He was fading. Aiva couldn’t bring herself to hold onto false hope of his survival. They would lose another man. It was only a matter of time.

Though Lorand’s death would be a tragedy amongst the others, Aiva couldn’t help but feel somewhat grateful. The Syet had been aiming for Callum. Lorand was merely an obstacle in their way. It was frightening to think how close to disaster they had come. Without Callum, she would be lost. Even with the support of Kaemin and Gadiel, she doubted her ability to cope if anything happened to Callum. They were only just beginning to mend things between them. The gods couldn’t take him. Not yet. Not like this. There was still so much left unsaid.

“Are you alright, Aiva?”

Startled by Kaemin’s voice, she straightened her posture. There was no good way to answer his question. She wasn’t alright. It was difficult to know what that meant anymore. “I can’t say,” she frowned, letting her gaze drift out over the sea. It was a beautiful sight. Water as far as the eye could see. Several islands dotted the otherwise blue horizon, the burning orange hue of sunset making the clouds look as if they were aflame.

“You can’t say, or you don’t want to say?” he urged, coming to stand by her side. “Are you still having trouble with Callum? Gadiel mentioned things were going better.”

“I thought they were,” Aiva sighed, forlorn. “I don’t know what to think anymore. Sometimes we get along as if we are the best of friends – and other times I feel like he hates me more than anything. I dislike the resentment. This time, I’m not even sure what sparked it. While with Phaezut, we made so much progress. We talked and laughed… Can you believe that?”

Kaemin chuckled quietly to himself. “Yes, I can believe that. To this point I’ve yet to witness it, but I can see it. There’s a long history between you both. It’s only natural you should enjoy each other’s company. Was anything said which might have caused hard feelings?”

“No, that’s just it. Everything was fine. But then… when we were preparing to leave the city… Lorand asked to speak with Callum. I don’t know what was said between them. Callum has avoided me ever since. He seems so angry but for once, I haven’t done anything wrong. There is no good reason for him to be this way. None at all.”

“He does have a lot on his mind. If you think about it, he has lost half of the unit.” His confident expression faded, forcing a reassuring nod. “I know I shouldn’t count Lorand among the dead quite yet, but I think it’s safe to say that no one here is under any delusions he will survive his wounds. Even if we managed to cleanse the toxins, the arrow alone created enough damage to take his life. I’m sure Callum is just distracted. This isn’t exactly the best circumstance for the two of you to do any soul searching.”

“I didn’t tag along to soul search,” she frowned. It was comforting to consider Callum’s change of heart had nothing to do with her. That it might be spurred by the situation they found themselves in. But she wasn’t so sure. His words haunted her from the previous afternoon.
Go see to the men. You’re good at that.
What did he mean? When questioned, he made no attempt to give an answer. She could only speculate his thoughts. And anything that came to mind leant little solace. “So much has changed since we left Escovul,” she said, wistful at the memories. “When I first crawled into that supply wagon to stow away, I was convinced Callum was a traitor. My intent was to expose him. Instead I was forced to accept his company for Shaelyn’s sake and now… his company is all I can think of.”

A smile became visible on Kaemin’s lips, his hand reaching to clasp Aiva’s gently in his own. “You warm my heart to hear you say that. Are you no longer under the belief that he is against us? Do you still intend to pursue an annulment?”

“I’m still waiting for an opportunity to speak with him on the matter,” she nibbled her lip thoughtfully. It felt strange and yet somehow helpful to speak the words out loud. With Gadiel it had been humiliating. Standing there with Kaemin – it felt natural. He was engaged to Calie. In a sense, it was like having her friend there with her again. “He doesn’t know I’ve had a change of heart. Gadiel approached me about it before we left the Feh Noq city. I didn’t realize how obvious my feelings had become, but even he noticed it.”

“Gadiel approached you? I wasn’t aware the two of you were so close.”

“He is a good man,” Aiva nodded. “We had occasion to speak after my tumble into the ravine. He is the only other man here who is aware of the precarious state of my marriage. The only difference between his advice and yours is that he is more aggressive. Gadiel has this way of saying things that slap me in the face without raising a hand.”

“When did he approach you?” Kaemin looked thoughtful. Aiva could feel his eyes on her, watching her closely. “You said it was the day we left the city?”

“Yes. Gadiel knew of a very… awkward situation which occurred between Callum and I the night before. He counseled Callum against coming to escort me from my room the morning of our departure. Gadiel took that moment of privacy between us to inform me of his feelings on things. Regrettably, we were never able to finish our conversation. Lorand interrupted and there has been no time since.”

Something flashed in Kaemin’s eyes at the explanation. Tightening his hold on her hand, he led her closer to the water’s edge, scanning the beach to make sure no one was near enough to eavesdrop on their conversation. “Lorand came upon the two of you?” he asked sternly. “Where were you at the time he discovered you together?”

Aiva peered at him, unsure of what he was getting at. “We were coming out of my room. Why does it matter?”

“Do you know what that might have looked like to an unsuspecting soldier? To see the wife of his commanding officer exit a private bedchamber with another man?”

Her jaw dropped in disbelief. It couldn’t be. Lorand wouldn’t have dared assume something so improper of her and Gadiel. “I can’t believe it,” she shook her head, vehement in her disagreement. “Not only is it offensive that anyone might consider me so promiscuous, it is absolutely ridiculous that he would confront Callum with a mere suspicion. He had no proof. Nothing to base his assumptions – ”

“Other than witnessing the two of you walking out of your bedchambers? Was the door closed? Did you say anything to Gadiel once in view of the hall?”

“The door was closed but only for the sake of no one overhearing the directness of Gadiel’s tone when addressing me. I am his Princess. Not to mention it would have been inconvenient if the other men were to become aware of the intentions for an annulment. Gadiel said it himself that the men might take it upon themselves to seek my hand if the information became public knowledge.” Frantic in her hope that what Kaemin suggested was false, she strained her memory to think back on their conversation. What was said within Lorand’s possible sight? Gadiel was leaving. Angry with her stubbornness. She had grabbed him to prevent his departure without hearing her final pleas… “Oh gods…” she breathed. “Kaemin, what do I do? Callum cannot be allowed to think I would do such a thing! We have had our troubles, but he is my husband. Annulment or not, I would never do anything like that. The mere thought is adulterous.”

Glancing around the area Kaemin tried to calm her, hushing her desperate exclamations. They were beginning to draw attention. “Aiva, be quiet,” he warned. “If your intention is to keep the other men from discovering the troubles under the surface, then you have to maintain your composure. We’ll figure something out. We don’t even know if that was what Lorand spoke of with Callum. It would be foolish of us to presume.”

“But he won’t speak to me. How am I supposed to find out?” Details were beginning to fall into place that only added to the panic in Aiva’s heart. It made sense. Lorand had looked uncomfortable in the presence of Aiva and Gadiel before they proceeded to Phaezut’s throne room. And again in the desert – Kaemin had offered Aiva to take his place behind Gadiel on the aneakt. Callum’s response was quick to decline the offer. And with good reason. If he believed intimacy between the two of them, the last thing he would desire was to see them pressed together on the back of some animal.