The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Two: Beyond the Veil (68 page)

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Callum stood, bowing to Ihklos in a deep and formal motion. Aiva watched him, awed by his grace before quickly rising to follow his lead. She was used to seeing him in the role of a soldier. It had been years since she witnessed him utilize the etiquette and poise of a nobleman. Ihklos returned the gesture of respect, his smile widening before turning away. He said nothing more, leaving them to stare after him as he made his way around the table and toward the wide door of the dining hall.

“Be ready in the morning,” Uttae stated calmly. “We will leave at the first light of day. Do not be late.” He bowed to them stiffly in farewell, quickly following Ihklos from the room. Aiva watched him leave, her entire body tingling with excitement. In a few days they would be on the sea toward Luquarr. Finally, everything felt as if it was starting to come together.
We’re coming, Shae
, she thought confidently, clasping Callum’s hand in hers as they made their way from the deserted dining hall. She had no intention of sleeping, but they couldn’t stay there. If only morning would come sooner. Unfortunately, all she could do now was wait.

.

Chapter Twenty-One

Aiva stood outside the door to their room, pacing the floor, heart fluttering with anxiety. It was almost time. She was dressed and prepared for the trip, wearing everything she owned. Packing had been the easiest part of the morning. When she dove into the sea after Callum, there was no thought about bringing personal belongings and the clothing she wore then had long since been damaged and discarded. All she possessed was the outfit Uttae provided while in Iachoor and the weapons he bestowed upon her for protection. Little else seemed necessary until they reached the islands.

Her hand lifted impatiently to knock on the door when it opened suddenly to reveal Callum on the other side. He was dressed in the pants from his Tanispan military uniform, the fabric only somewhat worn from the journey. The issued doublet was clutched in his hand, turned inside-out to conceal the markings. “I thought it best if you put this on,” he said calmly, offering the doublet to her with an air of insistence.

She laughed at him, accepting it from his outstretched hand. “You are only half-dressed yourself. Don’t you think it best if you worry about covering your body first?”

“It is one thing if I show up amongst those people without a shirt. You, however, are different. I would be more comfortable if you concealed yourself a little more.”

“I am clothed, Callum. You worry too much.”

“You are barely covered. Humor me, Aiva. I know what these people are like.” He took the doublet back, ignoring her protests while sliding the sleeves onto Aiva’s arms. She couldn’t bring herself to stop him. If it made him feel better, she would do as he asked. He was more familiar with the people of Luquarr than she was. While she thought he was being overly protective, it was possible his concerns were well-placed.

His fingers fumbled over the buttons from inside the doublet. She giggled nervously to feel his hands against her bare midsection. A look of intense concentration could be seen on his handsome features, working diligently to cover her exposed skin. “You know, it would be easier to fasten if you let me wear it properly.”

“If you wear it properly, it will announce to everyone that we are military. That is a detail best left unknown by the natives.” Managing to get the bottom clasped he coughed, pulling his hands away awkwardly. Aiva looked down at his progress, her laughter returning to find the reason for his sudden discomfort. “I’ll let you finish the top. I… probably shouldn’t have my hands that close to… you.” He stepped backward, adjusting his belt in attempts to mask the color visible in his cheeks. “The good news is that most of my coins survived our little swim. With those and whatever King Ihklos provides, we should be in good shape for the rest of our trip, so long as we avoid drawing the attention of thieves.”

From her vantage it was easier to finish fastening the buttons on the doublet, giving it a solid tug at the waist to make sure it fit securely. It was larger than she expected. The sleeves were loose, designed for Callum’s muscular physique. She felt like a child playing dress-up in her father’s clothing. “We’ll need to invest in new clothes when we arrive,” she stated, examining herself carefully. “If our goal is to not be noticed by the locals, we are going to fail. We both look as though we have been marooned.”

“It could be worse,” he nodded. Bending his elbow he offered his arm to Aiva. She accepted it gratefully, allowing him to guide her forward down the long corridor.

Her limp remained, the discomfort of her injured ankle having increased throughout the evening hours. Despite Callum’s protests and urges for her to sit, she’d been unable to stay off her feet. Her entire body was on edge. Afraid of what dangers they might encounter. Aware of her uneven gait Callum moved in closer, providing a support for her to lean against, easing the weight applied to the injury. She smiled at him, appreciative of his assistance. With him by her side, she knew he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. And with his help, her discomfort would be less noticeable to the Tuniron warriors. Her concern was Uttae discovering the pain she endured and demanding they stay in Tunir.

When they reached the door of the palace, Uttae stood outside, nodding to them in greeting. He stepped aside to let them through, indicating with his hand toward the litter which awaited them. “The shore is a slight walk from here. My men are already there to finish preparations for sail.”

Aiva let out a sigh of relief to see the familiar platform. Callum guided her to the side of the litter, helping her onto the cushions before settling himself next to her. The number of men surrounding it was fewer than when they left Iachoor. Only enough to support the weight of the platform and provide a watch in case of an unexpected attack. They had barely situated themselves when Uttae gave the order to move, the men hoisting Aiva and Callum into the air, falling into step behind their leader.

Torches burned brightly from the hands of the men at Uttae’s side, leading the way through the darkness of the trees as they set off into the jungle. The sun had yet to fully rise. From the ground Aiva strained to see the sky, finding nothing but the twinkle of nighttime stars still bright overhead. There was time before dawn. She hoped it wouldn’t slow them down. The sooner they were on their way, the better.

She and Callum said nothing throughout the trip. From the way his eyes gazed out into the shadows of the trees Aiva could tell he shared her anxiousness to be away from Tunir. By the time the shore came into view, they were both seated at the edge of the litter, watching the hint of light visible over the horizon. Callum was on his feet before Uttae gave the command for them to be let down, twisting back to take Aiva’s hand. She let him lift her from the platform, gently lowering her onto the sand, careful not to place too much weight on her injured ankle. “The islands aren’t far from here,” he smiled, pointing off into the distance at the wide expanse of water which covered the horizon from end to end. “Are you ready, Aiva? Once we’re there, our focus must return to the mission. If we can arrange a ride with one of the trade ships, we may be able to catch up to Edric and the others, or at least find ourselves not far behind.”

“I’ve been ready since we first reached these shores,” she chuckled, gazing out over the water. It was a beautiful sight, the sky orange and red, lit like flames consuming the clouds in the distance. Uttae called to them, waving toward a longboat just off the shore, several men already seated on the benches, oars in hand, waiting for the order to push off.

Her excitement made it easier to conceal her discomfort, moving swiftly along the sand at Callum’s side. At the water’s edge Uttae assisted Callum in helping Aiva into the boat, directing Callum to follow. “I hope you are well rested,” he winked at them, motioning to the oars at either side. “We are working with minimal crew. That leaves part of the work in your hands.”

“Fair enough,” Callum nodded, clutching the wooden handle tightly. He looked to Aiva, his smile widening to see her staring down at the object in confusion. She had never been on a boat of this style before. Though she had seen men row the smaller vessels across the lakes, she’d never been required to partake in the effort. “It won’t bite,” he grinned, leaning across her lap to place the oar in Aiva’s hand. “Just follow the motion of the others and you’ll do fine.”

The boat moved with a jerk, nearly sending Aiva tumbling backward. Uttae called out to the men in a series of grunts, his long legs lifting him easily into the skiff while the others went to work pushing them further into the water. Aiva was impressed with how quickly she picked up the technique with the oar. On occasion she felt herself lag behind, their rhythm disrupted until she managed to regain the motion.

There was little time to think about anything throughout the trip. Sweat dripped from her brow, the only reprieve coming in the form of a cool sea breeze wafting off the deep water. Her eyes drifted periodically to Callum where he sat at her side, staring straight ahead, deep in concentration, easily keeping pace with the other men. Every push and pull of his arms flexed the muscles in his back and shoulders, adding to the already clear definition of his chest. She couldn’t help admiring his strength. Even after the injuries he sustained, his body held its tone. It distracted her, creating a strange desire to reach out and touch him.

Shaking her head she felt her cheeks flush with warmth. A click of her oar crashing into that of the man behind her and Callum alerted her to the fact that she had unknowingly stopped moving. The soldier grunted irritably, saying something in a harsh line of noises from his native language. Embarrassed, she quickly forced her arms into motion, finding her way back into the rhythm. Callum looked her over curiously, chuckling quietly to himself as he focused his attention on the water once again.

When the outline of the islands appeared ahead it was all Aiva could do to keep from crying out from joy. They had made it. After all their trials and tribulations they were finally there. Only one last journey stood between them and the mainland of Luquarr. She didn’t care how difficult that trip was, as long as they made it. She longed to see Edric’s face again. To wrap her arms around her father and calm his poor heart with the fact that she remained alive.

Uttae guided the boat to the docks, tying it off with expert ease. Passersby cast confused glances their way, stepping further from the water, uneasy at the arrival of a group such as theirs. Aiva couldn’t imagine Tunir had many reasons to send their people to the trade islands. She laughed silently to think what it must look like to the locals. Uttae and his men were an intimidating sight. She couldn’t blame the islanders for being uncomfortable.

The men were ordered to remain in the boat while Uttae climbed onto the dock, helping Aiva to her feet and onto the dry wood of the port. She watched Callum lift himself out of the water to stand at her side. Although he attempted to hide his pain, she noticed the grimace that crossed his face, favoring his left side slightly. Aiva knew he would never admit the exertion had aggravated his still-healing wounds. He made it easy to forget that he suffered at all. She scolded herself for having forgotten his condition. If she had been thinking clearly upon their departure, she would have argued against his participation in rowing with the others. Callum needed to rest. It was too dangerous to risk exacerbating his injuries now.

“This is as far as we take you,” Uttae stated. He casually observed the area, a smirk visible on his lips to see the way the people avoided them. “I think we are making the locals uneasy enough.”

“Words cannot express how grateful we are for everything you have done,” Aiva gazed at Uttae, saddened to think this would be their final farewell. They owed this man their lives. Had it not been for him, they would have surely perished in the jungle that first day. She wished there was something she could do to make him realize how much it meant to her. Uncaring about appearances, she stepped forward, rising onto her tiptoes, her arms wrapping around Uttae’s shoulders in a tight embrace. He looked surprised at first, a laugh escaping him in a soft breath of air, regaining his composure. Lightly he patted her on the back, his dark eyes sparkling blithely.

“You will be missed,” he nodded, stepping toward the boat with a sharp nod in Callum’s direction. “You take care of her, Prince. We look forward to having you as our guests again someday. You owe me a hunt.”

Callum’s face softened, forcing the grimace away. “I won’t forget, General.”

As Uttae turned to board the longboat, he brushed past Callum, Aiva’s eyes barely taking note of an exchange between them, a small pouch passed from his hand into Callum’s. Without another word he stepped into the water, taking his position at the head to begin calling orders to the men. Callum and Aiva stood on the dock, waving to Uttae while he untied the boat, maneuvering it toward Tunir. They remained there, staring into the distance until Uttae and the others were nothing more than a mere speck in the horizon. Their joy mingled with disappointment to say goodbye to their friend, though Aiva didn’t want to let it slow them down. There was much to be done.

“Have you been to these islands before?” she asked, pulling Callum from his thoughts. He looked distracted, blinking to bring Aiva into focus, silent for a moment as if trying to register what Aiva asked.

“The Luquarrian islands?” he mumbled. “No. I visited the mainland during my service in Siscal. We never had need to travel this far into the Vai’ld Sea. These islands are nothing but trade ports between Mialan and the mainland of Luquarr. Pirates frequent these ports for rest on their journey, but they don’t linger long. It’s best not to fraternize with the traders they intend to rob on the waters.”

She swept the area with her gaze. It looked the closest to normal that anything had since leaving Carpaen. The people were of mixed heritages, some human, some Mialan, while others were strange hybrids between races she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Proportionally they were as she expected. Nothing unusual like the Feh Noq or Syet. On these shores they would blend in with the rest. Title and rank meant nothing to these people. They wouldn’t care who her parents were or why she was there. For once there would be no need for political negotiations.

Slipping the pouch into his pocket Callum gently took Aiva’s hand, eyes alert, scanning the area for which direction they should go. She trusted his judgment when it came to exploration of a foreign city. Callum had more experience being away from home and how to conduct himself amidst the common folk of smaller villages. Though Aiva felt knowledgeable in how to handle the upper classes, she had very little experience in how to talk to anyone else.

A clothier shop caught Callum’s attention at the corner of the main street, dresses hung from the windows to draw customers inside. He paid little attention to the items Aiva collected, only giving an occasional suggestion to make sure she had a pair of sturdy boots and something easy enough to maneuver in if they found themselves forced to fight. The prices were lower than she anticipated. Guilt hung over her at every article she picked up, adding to those already waiting at the counter for purchase. She deserved a little pampering after everything she’d been through, and she knew Callum wouldn’t tell her no.