Gaia's Secret (24 page)

“In a stream—when Sonya and I went to fill
the canteens. Any idea what these markings mean?”

His forehead creased in concentration. “None.
I was trying to make sense of them, but they’re of a kind I’ve
never seen before. By the way—” he glanced up at me “—how in the
world did you kill that barghest?”

I’d almost forgotten what I’d done last
night, with this dagger. It had sailed, end over end, straight for
the barghest’s skull and landed with the skill and precision of an
expert. And I was no expert. At least not with knives.

“I have no idea. I was just as surprised as
you were when it hit.”

Alex looked thoughtful a moment, then back
into my eyes. “Well, I guess I’m glad we didn’t meet those
hellhounds any sooner, or you might have let it kill me.”

I laughed. “Oh, come on. I was mad at you. I
didn’t want you to die.”

He raised a doubtful brow and I laughed
harder. When my laughter faded, nature’s voice was the only one
left speaking.

Three years. How do you pick right up from
where you left after that amount of time passed? Especially when
time had taken that someone to another world, trained him as a
fighter, and shown him how to use magic. Not to mention, turned him
into the most attractive man I’d ever seen. Time hadn’t been so
generous with me.

I felt his eyes on me then, studying,
watching. He was apprehensive just as I was. Old habits. The way we
communicated. The closeness we had shared. They’d worked with such
ease before, but time had rusted the joints, making them creak as
we tried to operate them again. We had to start over. Build new
habits and new communication, and we had to assemble the parts from
scratch. I wasn’t sure I knew how to do that.

“Strange, isn’t it?” Alex said.

“What’s strange?”

“Starting over after how well we knew each
other.”

Alex. Always perceptive, always accurate, and
it was always irritating.

“You can obviously still read me just as
well.” I smiled.

He smiled back. “Maybe we can start with you
filling me in on your past three years.”

Well, this conversation could be devastating
to my reputation. “Do you want to be bored to death? I don’t have
anything exciting to share—except the past week, but you’ve been
around for that. I say we start with you.”

He held my gaze a moment, then looked towards
the bubbling river. “All right.” He took a deep breath.

I waited, suddenly impatient to hear
everything about him.

“My past three years have been…challenging.
When I came to this world, it was to attend the Academia.” Alex was
quiet a moment. “My life has been consumed by that ever since.
Training to fight and use magic, learning all about this world: the
powers within it, the creatures that live here. I just finished my
training a couple weeks ago.”

I was jealous. His life sounded incredible.
“So what will you do now?”

He looked sideways at me. “Now I’m here with
you. After that…I’m not sure. As an Aegis, I’m expected to serve
someone of power, much like my dad’s always watched over you and
Alaric.”

Birds sang and glided overheard like darts of
bright pink and orange and blue.

“Do you have anyone in mind? Not that I’d
know who they are.”

Alex raked a hand through his hair as he
stared at the river. “My dad wants me to accept the role as Aegis
for Lord Tosca. He’s been requesting me since I started
training.”

“Who’s he?”

“He presides over Alioth, the territory
farthest from Valdon.”

I didn’t know exactly how far “farthest”
meant, but I did know I didn’t like it. Not after finally getting
my friend back. “I can’t imagine your mom being okay with you
moving to the place farthest from her.”

“She’s not. But it is a highly coveted
position. The people of Alioth face many enemies. They’re attacked
from their northern border—the Icelands—and since they produce most
of our food, they tend to see the bulk of raiders. The king takes
great interest in Alioth, and it would place me in direct
communication with him, making it possible to gain position, which
my dad sees as a unique opportunity for me. My mom understands that
as well. It would be an incredible chance to make a name for
myself.”

I studied the set of his strong jaw, the
disquiet in his eyes. No, it was more than that. I felt his
disquiet. “But you don’t care about making a name for
yourself.”

He was thoughtful as he watched the river.
“Enough about this.” He looked back into my eyes. “Tell me about
you.”

The way he was looking at me, the way he
seemed to sift through my soul, made me nervous and uncomfortable.
I didn’t want to share my uneventful life with him; he who had
trained to fight, had probably made all sorts of interesting
friends, and was being sought after by powerful people in this
magical world.

Who was I?

The farm girl who didn’t even live on a
farm.

“Really, I don’t want to bore you with
that.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Nothing about you has
ever been boring.” He grinned, showing off his perfectly straight,
white teeth.

Stop looking like that!

“Right.” I smiled, feeling my cheeks flush.
“I might have believed that
before
you went off to another
world like the hero in some fantasy.”

“Oh, come on. I’m no hero.”

“I saw you fight—protecting me. People write
stories about men like you, not about me. You tell me which is more
interesting.”

“If you saw what I see, you’d never say
that.” The warmth in his green eyes held me captive.

“Well, good morning!” It was Sonya.

She and Cicero were standing side by side
along the opposite bank; Sonya was smiling, Cicero was frowning.
And there weren’t any horses.

“No luck?” Alex shouted.

“None. I couldn’t even find tracks,” Cicero
said. “They’re probably halfway home now, with our things.”

Alex stood. “You’re sure you know where
you’re going?”

“I’ve got the compass and the village can’t
be far. Either way, we’re not going back.”

“Of course we aren’t,” Alex mumbled.

“And,” Cicero continued, “since we’re so
close it would be ludicrous not to visit them and see if they’ve
heard or seen anything out of the ordinary.”

“Because a barghest attack is completely
ordinary,” Alex mumbled again, his frustration surging. He still
wanted to turn around and go back the way we had come. Anywhere but
farther into this forest.

“Well, are you coming or are you going to
wait for the barghests to return?” Cicero asked.

The sun had warmed my leathers so effectively
that the cool water felt refreshing during our short swim to the
other bank. The water stung Alex’s wound and pulsed through me as
we swam. I kept my eyes on him—making sure his wounded arm worked
and he didn’t tire. By all appearances he showed no weakness, only
strength.

No one said another word about the barghest
attack. I knew Alex was still upset about it, and I could tell
Cicero and Sonya were unsettled, but they wouldn’t say it. Like
speaking about it might mean it was real, and Cicero, at least,
didn’t want to believe it was real. Not in this perfectly safe
forest.

We walked on, around the trees, picking
through vines. There were no signs of the horses. I hoped Alex was
right. I’d hate my last memory of Calyx to be him running for his
life away from those monsters. On occasion I glanced at Cicero to
see if I could sense any doubt or hesitation, but he showed nothing
but the determination of a leader.

Until he stopped and held a finger to his
lips.

Alex walked to his dad’s side, staring off in
the same direction and I began to notice the scent of wood smoke. I
couldn’t see anything, but I could smell something burning.

Cicero motioned for us to follow him.

He led us forward, his movements quiet,
calculating. Soon we were standing at the edge of a small cliff,
peering into a narrow green valley. Wooden buildings were scattered
throughout: small homes, large buildings, and a few barns. Some had
fences, some didn’t. Smoke streamed from stone chimneys, dispersing
into the thin blanket of fog nestled into the valley, casting
everything with a milky tinge. A wide stream cut through the middle
and a single stone bridge joined both halves of the small village.
Beyond all of that was more forest and mountains.

People were visible, tending to fields, or
walking along dirt paths, or chopping wood. By the looks of the few
I saw, they appeared to be a rough bunch.

But something about the whole thing was
strange to me. I couldn’t explain it. Something just felt…off.

“Any idea where he’d be?” Sonya
whispered.

Cicero shook his head, eyes darting between
the wooden buildings below. I could feel his uneasiness, which made
mine worse. “We’ll find someone that knows,” he said. “Wait here.
Give us one hour.”

Sonya nodded, glancing back at me.

“Alex?” Cicero looked back at his son.

Alex nodded as he adjusted his sword, and I
suddenly realized their plan. “Why aren’t we all going?” I
asked.

“You’re staying here with me,” Sonya
said.

My uneasiness began transforming into
outright fear. “No. If that village isn’t safe enough for all of
us, then—“

“Wait.”

It was Alex. His eyes narrowed as he stared
at the valley below. I saw what caught his attention. Guards. There
were three of them exiting one of the larger buildings. I was
overcome with the Del Contes’ worry.

“Lord Vega’s?” Sonya asked.

“Not sure.” Alex’s jaw tensed.

“Who’s Lord Vega?” I asked.

“His territory is near here,” Sonya
whispered.

“Let’s get out of here.” Alex started backing
away.

“Get down!” Cicero hissed, and shoved me to
the ground, Sonya flat beside me.

Alex froze.

The three men stood in a pack, all facing
different directions, studying the landscape. One of the men had
stepped ahead of his companions, his movements like a warrior on
the prowl, all the while staring in our direction. Even from here I
could see the dark shadows beneath his eyes and the scruff on his
neck and face.

Fear spread through me as cold fingers
touched upon my consciousness. I knew who those men were.

“The men from the inn,” Alex said, and I felt
his anger. “I told you we should’ve turned around.”

Cicero glanced back at Alex, then his
wife.

Alex began scooting back, tugging on me to
follow him. “We need to get out of here before they see us.”

The man below motioned for his companions to
join him, all of them now staring at the spot where we lay hidden.
In unison, they drew their swords and began walking towards our
cliff.

“Looks like they already have,” Cicero
mumbled, gripping the sword handle at his waist. He and Alex
exchanged a weighted glance, and then both looked at me.

I knew what was coming. They were going to
tell me to run and hide myself, and there was no way I’d agree to
that.

And Alex noticed. “Daria.” He placed a hand
on my arm. “Please, you need to—“

Something rustled in the trees behind us.
Right as I peered over my shoulder, a black bird shot out of the
leaves and flew straight for the valley below. It reminded me of a
crow, but it was the size of a vulture. I felt the surprise of the
Del Contes as it soared and finally landed on a solitary wooden
post just a few yards from where the men stood. The bird cawed, an
eerie, lonely sound in the fog.

For a moment the guards stood there, glancing
at the bird, then back at the spot where we lay. After what seemed
like an eternity, the leader re-sheathed his sword and motioned for
the men to follow him, and they disappeared back into the house.
The black bird cawed again, extended its giant, black wings, and
disappeared into the forest.

All the Del Contes turned and looked at
me.

“What just happened?” I asked.

A gust of wind barreled through the forest
and the fog below grew thicker, the world unusually quiet.

“Never mind,” Cicero said and glanced at
Alex. “Looks like you got your wish. Best pray that wound doesn’t
spread before we get help.”

W
e didn’t see the
guards again. Still, the Del Contes walked with one hand on a
weapon and their eyes never stopped searching the forest. And that
feeling, the one that makes you think someone’s watching you? It
nagged at me like a dripping faucet, but every time I looked, I saw
nothing but shadows.

The trees were also starting to get on my
nerves. Maybe I was going crazy but it seemed like they were alive.
Not in the way normal trees are “alive”, but in the
get-out-of-my-forest sort of way. I could’ve sworn a few branches
conveniently swung into my path as I passed. I’d be walking,
minding my own business, then all of a sudden—
smack
.

After a few hours of getting sideswiped by
the trees—well, me getting sideswiped—our horses returned. The
moment started out with a fright, but when we realized the strange
rustling and crunching sounds were the result of moving horse
hooves, relief presided over all else.

Poor Calyx. He was still so shaken and upset.
It took me about two hours to calm him, and after that, all I felt
was his regret. “It’s all right,” I had told him. “I’m glad you ran
away. They would have killed you.”

That seemed to make him feel better, at least
for a little while.

The trees didn’t attack me again after that.
I didn’t know if it was because of the horses or because of
something—or someone—else. Every time the trail allowed it, Alex
rode beside me.

We spent the entire afternoon reminiscing and
laughing. Alex reminded me of one particular day—I had been five
and he had been seven—when he had decided to give me a haircut. Dad
had never able to bring himself to cut my long dark hair. That day,
my hair had been in one long braid, so Alex’s job had been quite
simple. One snip of the scissors, and my braid had vanished. Alex
had been so pleased with his handiwork, but my dad hadn’t seemed to
share his enthusiasm. He had promptly accused Alex of turning his
only daughter into a boy. I laughed so hard at the memory I earned
myself a funny look from Cicero. Actually, he looked a little
irritated, though I didn’t know why.