Tyler's Story (Tales of Quelondain) (11 page)

“It can’t get much safer than that,” agreed John,
though his features seemed paler than usual. He ran a hand through
his dirty blond hair. “Are we leaving now or tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow. I’m not sure exactly where this Wedelve is
and I don’t plan on wandering around in the dark. We’ll get a room
here for the night and leave first thing in the morning.”

John grinned. “I’m getting my own room. I haven’t
slept in a bed in years and I’ll be damned if I’m sharing
tonight.”

Tyler laughed. “Alright. Heidi, I’ll get you a room
between ours then.”

She glanced at the bar where the bartender was once
again looking at her. She leaned toward Tyler. “Do you think I
could just sleep on the floor in your room?” she whispered.

“You noticed him, did you?” Tyler frowned at the
bartender who looked away. “I suppose I did tell him you were my
mate and it would seem odd if we didn’t share a room. He might get
some crazy idea you’re no longer off limits.” He smiled
reassuringly. “I’ll take the floor.”

They finished their drinks, booked their rooms, and
followed the bartender/innkeeper to where they would be spending
the night. John grinned and ordered hot water for a bath before
disappearing into his room. Tyler turned from unlocking the door to
his and saw the scared look on Heidi’s face as she looked at the
bartender who was openly leering at her. He growled and spun, his
momentum driving the slightly shorter man into the opposite wall
where he pressed his dagger against the other’s neck.

“I told you once and I won’t tell you again; she’s my
mate. Mind how you look at her.” He stepped back and put his dagger
away. “We’ll take some hot water as well.” Without another look at
the bartender, he turned, put his arm around Heidi’s shoulders, and
guided her into the room. Once inside, he locked the door.

“God, I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.
I’m a waitress for crying out loud. It’s my job to deal with
leering drunks.”

He smiled. “No worries.” He went to the door and let
the two men in who were carrying pails of hot water which they
dumped into a large tub at the far end of the room. They returned
five more times and Tyler thanked them when they left. He went
through his pack and handed her a bar of soap.

“Here you are. I’ll lie on the bed facing the
wall.”

Heidi blushed. “Thanks.” She watched as Tyler did
exactly what he’d promised then stripped down and lay in the tub.
She sighed as the hot water enveloped her. She ran the soap over
herself and lathered her hair before ducking under the water to
rinse.

“So how did you meet Blake?” Tyler asked the
wall.

“We had a computer class together our first year of
college. I was having issues with a certain style of formatting and
he was the one sitting beside me. I asked him for help. The next
thing I knew we were going for drinks and then getting an apartment
together.” Talking about Blake made the ache she’d been feeling
come back full force. What would happen if Tyler was wrong and she
couldn’t get home? How long would he wait for her? Did he think
she’d left him?

“You’re taking the same thing at school?”

Heidi shook her head then realized Tyler couldn’t see
her. “No. I quit. It turns out I hate computers. I’m not sure what
I want to do.” She frowned. “It has to be something outdoors. I
hate being inside all the time. Maybe something in forestry, or
maybe parks and recreation… sorry, I’m kind of going off to
myself.”

Tyler smiled. “No worries. I know how you feel. It’s
not that I don’t appreciate a decent bed when there’s one
available, but we’ve been in Growlen for four hours and I can’t
wait to get out of here. At least this pack is down to three now.
Maybe once I get you back through the crossing I can convince John
to go home and it will just be Bird and I again.”

“How long have you been on your own?”

“Almost five years.”

Heidi sat up and turned to look at him. He was lying
on his back, his hands behind his head, his eyes closed. “Good god!
How old were you when you left home?” She expected him to smile or
be smug. Instead, he frowned and his jaw tightened.

“Thirteen. I felt Trent die, I got Jenna home, and I
left.” He heard the water swirl against the tub as she got out then
felt the bed shift with the weight of her sitting beside him on the
bed.

“Was Jenna your girlfriend?”

He shook his head. “She was Trent mate.” He fought
the urge to open his eyes and look at her when she was quiet.
“There’s a clean tunic in my pack; the grey one. It should be long
enough for you to wear as a nightshirt.”

Heidi got off the bed and rummaged through his pack
until she found the one he was talking about.

“Ok, I’m decent.”

Tyler sat up and blinked at the sight of her standing
by the window, the long sleeved tunic hanging almost to her knees.
She looked up and out the window, awe plain on her features. She
looked at him and back outside.

“That just floors me.”

He made his way to her side and looked out as well.
“What’s that?”

“The moons. There are two of them here.”

Tyler gazed at the two moons, the smaller one
slightly hidden behind the big one, both of them full tonight. He
smiled at her yawn.

“Get some sleep.”

Heidi turned and leaned back against the window then
looked up at him. “I still don’t quite understand why you insist on
helping me, but thank you.”

He smiled and made his way to the chair by the
fireplace. “If you wake up and I’m not here, don’t worry. There’s
something I need to do. It won’t take me long.”

She nodded and got into bed. She was somewhere
between awake and asleep when she heard the door open and close.
The next thing she was seeing was Tyler’s deep brown eyes flashing
angrily in her dream as he held his dagger to the innkeeper’s
throat. There was something dangerous about him, she thought to
herself with a shiver as she drifted back to sleep.

Chapter Four

Tyler ordered three breakfasts of eggs, fruit, and
bread from the waitress and took a sip of his water. He smiled at
the memory of Heidi waking to find the dagger he’d gone out to buy
her while she slept. It had been like she couldn’t make up her mind
to be fascinated, scared, or pleased. He’d placed it in its dark
brown scabbard on top of her folded clothes on the chair next to
the bed. The silver hilt with gold vines running over it had stood
out beautifully against the blue of her tunic.

As if she’d known he’d been thinking of her, she
appeared in the doorway, her dark hair pulled back into a ponytail,
her new dagger strapped to her hip. He pushed the chair next to his
away from the table with his foot and smiled as she sat down.

“Tyler, I’ve been thinking about it, and I don’t
think I can accept this dagger.” She frowned as his grin widened.
“Why is that funny?”

“Because I’m not taking it back, it’s yours. Think of
it as a souvenir if you will.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “A souvenir from where?
What am I going to tell Blake when he asks me where I got it
from?”

“Tell him it was a gift from a friend.”

“He’s going to wonder where I was while I was gone.
God, I hope he doesn’t think I left him. What in the world am I
supposed to tell him?”

“You could tell him your friend gave you the dagger
after he found you up a tree trying to avoid a tiny meat eating
mammoth and a little blue person with wings. Oh, and don’t forget
to mention that this was after he turned into a wolf in front of
you.”

Heidi smirked. “Are you sure this isn’t just a dream
or a joke?”

John chuckled as he sat down. “Well, to some women,
Tyler seems to be a dream.”

Tyler rolled his eyes and Heidi laughed. She
remembered her dream as his deep brown eyes met hers. She tried to
hide the shiver that ran through her, the memory of the anger and
pure power she’d witnessed making her stomach flip.

He looked at her questioningly and was about to ask
if she was alright when the waitress returned with their meals.

“Alright, then,” he said and took a bite of his eggs.
“Here’s how a displacement stone works. We’ll all have to hold
hands and think of Swandern. If everything goes well, we’ll simply
be transported there.”

Heidi took a sip of her coffee. “But I’ve never been
there. How can I think of it?”

“Just thinking the name is enough. I haven’t been
there either. John?”

John raised an eyebrow, his hazel eyes full of the
amusement he felt. “Oh, for sure! I used to travel there at least
three times a year.” He rolled his eyes. “By the moons, Tyler, I’d
have been dead long before you met me if I’d ever entered the
Sandsea.”

Tyler grinned. “I was just asking.”

John grunted. “Ask a stupid question and I’ll give
you a stupid answer.”

Heidi giggled at the two of them. Once their plates
had been cleared and their drinks were gone, they made their way
outside and out of town.

He pulled the displacement stone from his pocket and
Bird chirped. He saw a picture of her in his pack.

“You want to come along?”

She bobbed her head and flew into the open pocket of
his bag.

“Alright, but be sure to think Swandern just in case
it doesn’t carry over to you.” He looked at Heidi and John.
“Remember, just think Swandern.”

John nodded.

“Would it work just to think of home?” Heidi’s voice
was full of hope.

“Sorry.” Tyler took her hand and John reached for the
other. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way.”

“Is it going to hurt?”

John shook his head. “I’ve heard it’s like falling
off the edge of a cliff. One second you’re on the ground and then
the next it’s gone.”

Heidi took a deep breath. “Ok. Swandern.”

Tyler smiled as she repeated the word over and over
under her breath. John grinned and closed his eyes. Tyler felt the
heat from the displacement stone warm his hand, travel up his arm
and quickly spread over his entire body. John’s hand jerked in his
as it crossed over to him and Heidi gasped at the feel of it. One
second, he could feel the dirt under the soles of his boots and the
next, true to John’s description, he felt as though he’d jumped off
the edge of a cliff. His heart jumped into his throat and he was
vaguely aware of Heidi screaming his name. Just as quickly as it
had started, he felt solid ground under him once again, though the
heavy feeling in his chest remained. He opened his eyes at John’s
chuckle and relaxed.

“Heidi, I can’t breathe. Could you loosen your grip a
bit?” He wrapped his arms loosely around her and waited for her to
relax. He could feel her tears soaking into his tunic, could feel
her shaking against him. He rested his chin on the top of her head.
“Heidi,” he whispered softly. “It’s alright. We’re here; it’s
done.” He felt her take a few deep breaths.

“Never again, do you understand?” Heidi’s voice was a
shaky whisper.

He tightened his arms around her. “Never again, I
promise.” She relaxed and leaned into him giving a small shake of
her head.

“That was the worst feeling ever.” She took another
deep breath.

John started to laugh and Tyler glared at him.

“What? She’s right, no? That was horrible!”

Tyler grunted. “It won’t become my favourite thing to
do any time soon,” he agreed.

She looked up at him. “You didn’t like it?”

He gave her a lopsided grin. “Have you met anybody
who likes falling off of a cliff?” He was rewarded with a small
smile that disappeared behind her arm as she finally let go of him
to wipe her face dry.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to squish you. I started to
feel like I was falling and…” Heidi stopped short and blushed.
“Never mind.” She looked around and frowned. “Are you sure we’re
here?”

The three of them gazed at the rocky desert they
stood in.

“I knew Swandern was a deserted village, but I didn’t
think it had been totally destroyed.” John frowned. “Well, wherever
we are, it’s not my fault. I thought Swandern and nothing
else.”

“That goes double for me.” Tyler took a deep breath.
Bird, who had flown off once they’d arrived, made her way back and
settled on his shoulder. Tyler and John looked in the direction
she’d just come from. “Alright, let’s go see if you’re right.”

It took a nerve racking ten minutes to reach the cave
the bluebird had found and once there, none of them were entirely
sure how to proceed. After arguing about the best strategy to enter
the cave without being killed by whatever was inside, Tyler finally
held up a hand and everyone stopped talking.

“I’ll go in first with Bird. If it’s safe, she’ll
come get you. If something happens to me, she’ll let you know.” His
attention focused on John. “If something happens, you get Heidi out
of here, understand?”

John nodded, though it was obvious he didn’t like the
plan. “Stay safe.”

Tyler turned and stopped short at the feel of Heidi’s
hand on his back.

“Tyler…” She frowned, unsure what it was she wanted
to say. He smiled and kissed her forehead then shifted and trotted
in. She squatted and stayed with her hands over her mouth, her eyes
trying to adjust to the darkness he’d disappeared into.

“He’ll be fine,” John tried to reassure her, though
he wiped his hands nervously on his pants. “When it comes to
fighting and that type of thing, Tyler is… well, unbelievable.”

She thought back to the speed with which he’d drawn
his dagger and pinned the bartender to the wall, how he’d managed
four of the five guards on his own. Again, she shivered with
uneasiness at what she’d seen in his eyes.

“Do you think he’s dangerous?” She glanced back and
saw John nod.

“Deadly.” He smiled at the shock on her face. “Not to
us, Heidi. Tyler’s a good man. If push comes to shove, however, I
have a feeling he doesn’t lose very often.”