Temple of Fyre (Island of Fyre) (7 page)

“’Tis time.” He couldn’t tell her about the priestesses in the market or the questions they had asked. Nor could he mention how they planned to search the inns. He feared the news would panic her into some foolish action.

“Do you think I’m strong enough to travel?”

“You’ll have to be. After we eat, we both should rest.”

* * *

Ria settled the haversack on her back and crept down the dark hall behind Ari. The faint light from his fyrestone did little to brighten the darkness, though the light flame was her guide. She frowned. Though she knew some of the male commoners used the white crystals, she’d been taught only priestesses could use the yellow, orange, or scarlet, stones. Had everything she’d been taught been a lie? She feared ‘twas so, but why had the priestesses denied men the use of the stones?

At the end of the passage, Ari opened a door wide enough for them to slip through. He clasped her hand and drew her across the yard to the lane. He bent his head and spoke in a low voice. “Keep to the shadows. We’ll pass taverns that remain open all night. We don’t want to encounter anyone who might remember us.”

“Why?”

“To prevent being brought before the alders as thieves.” He brushed his lips over her cheek.

Her heart thudded. She gazed into his eyes. Even in the dim light cast by torches set at intervals along the lane, she saw a hunger in his eyes that stirred urges she didn’t understand. “Ari.”

He released her. “We mustn’t tarry. Dawn will be with us soon.” He moved ahead of her down the lane. His abrupt departure puzzled her. Would she ever learn the meaning of the sensations his caresses raised?

The blue fyrestone needs two to control the flames. They must be united in body, heart and mind.

She didn’t understand that either.

During the trip to the stables, several times, she and Ari had to hide in darkened doorways to avoid stumbling drunks. When the hamlet walls loomed ahead, they entered another lane. Ria wrinkled her nose at the odor and fought not to gag.

Ari entered the third stable. He lit a lantern and hung it beside the gate of a stall. “Here we are.”

Ria stared at the burros. “They’re so small. Your feet will drag on the ground.”

He chuckled. “’Twould be a funny sight, but we don’t ride. They’re burden beasts and will carry our supplies.” He pulled on the one with the dark gray coat. “This is Ber. The lighter one is Bera.”

Ria held her hands toward the animals. She touched their shaggy coats and thought of the coursers she’d ridden before she’d left the plains. Those steeds had silken manes and flowing tales. The burro’s coats were shaggy. They had ragged manes. First one, then the other sniffed her hand.

Ari dropped pads on the beast’s backs and tied them in place. He fitted panniers over the pads. With this done, he loaded the sacks of grain and dried foodstuffs into the baskets. Once Ria saw what needed to be added, she took over. Ari rolled the tent and his blanket roll and fastened them and Ria’s blankets to Bera. He bundled the digging tools.

“How long will you be gone from Rosti?” Her question caused him to arch a brow. Until she was safely gone from Rosti and had a fyrestone, she wouldn’t tell him of her plans to find a refuge where she could master the crystal. Once she had the skills to defeat Malera, she would return and challenge the chief priestess.

“I usually remain in the hills until a ten-day or so before the solstice.”

She looked at the panniers. “Will this be enough food?”

He laughed. “Hardly. We’ll trap animals, fish and glean wild plants.” He ruffled her hair. “Wear your hat to hide your face.”

“Which gate will we use?”

“If we were going directly into the hills, we’d use the West Gate, but there’s a place I must visit. While the North Gate would be best, I don’t want to be followed. “We’ll use the East.”

Ria’s stomach knotted. They would pass the temple. What if she was recognized? A chill rolled along her skin. She grabbed a pannier to steady herself. “No.”

Ari grasped her shoulder. “Is the fever returning?”

She shook her head. “The temple lies near the East Gate. I can’t go that way.”

His grip tightened. “Malera knows you’re alive.”

She swallowed. “How do you know that?” Fear froze her thoughts. He was returning her to the temple.

“There were priestesses in the market this morning. They asked questions about anyone seeking treatment for fyrethorn poisoning.”

“Then you’re in danger, too.”

He shook his head. “I used things Jorg showed me, not what’s used here.”

“Then why must we run?”

“They plan to search the inns.”

Panic curdled inside. She wanted to run. She felt a scream building. “What can I do?”

“Dressed as my apprentice, you’ll be safe. Malera craves fyrestones and I’ve success at finding them.”

She met his gaze. What she saw gave her hope. Her heart fluttered like the wings of a hummel bird, so fast she feared ‘twould take wing. In that instant, Ari became her hero. If she could, she would give her life for him. “And fyrestones are needed to replace the ones turned to cinders when I fought Malera.”

“Then trust me. I’ll keep you safe.” He reached for the lead rope and strode from the stable.

Chapter Four

Ria pulled her sun hat low and tugged on the other burro’s rope. Dawn brightened the sky. Like a good apprentice, she walked behind Ari. Before long, they passed the North Gate. She wanted to ask him to leave by this gate, but she kept silent. He was determined to go his own way and she didn’t want to argue. As they neared the fyrethorn hedge bordering the temple grounds, Ria gulped deep breaths and tried to ignore the churning fear of being discovered.

Ari paused. “Keep your head down and plod the way a sullen boy would.”

She nodded. When they passed the lane leading to the rear of the temple buildings, her grip on the burro’s rope tightened. A pair of priestesses and their guards left the lane. They’re searching for me, she thought. Would the innkeeper know she’d been the one to share Ari’s room? Had he really thought she was a boy?

Her shoulders hunched in anticipation of a blow. If they knew her, could she escape? She and Ari paused to let the priestesses pass. When the group from the temple cast no more than a glance, Ria’s tension vanished so quickly she felt light-headed and stumbled.

Ari moved close enough to grasp her arm. “Steady now. We’re almost to the gate.”

She nodded. “I’m fine.”

When they reached the gate, a uniformed man stepped from the guardhouse. Ari tossed him a coin. The man grinned. “Leaving before Solstice Day? Why miss the celebration?”

Ari met the man’s gaze. “The chief priestess of the temple needs fyrestones. Before I left the hills, I found signs of a lode, but I needed supplies and an apprentice.”

“Why this gate? West would be better.”

“To distract a pair of thieves who have been following me. I can hide from them in the grove. I’ve no desire to share my secrets with men who try to take what they want without working.”

The guard nodded. “Makes sense. See you found your apprentice. Bit scrawny.”

“He’ll grow,”

“Good hunting.” The guard opened the gate. “May you return with baskets of crystals.”

Ari led his burro onto the barren rock-strewn ground. Ria followed. When the gate closed behind them, relief washed through her. She was free until she had a stone and returned to challenge Malera. Ria smiled. If she could find one of the fabled blue fyrestones, her victory would be assured. She glanced at her companion. Would he join her to end Malera’s reign?

The sun rose in a cloudless sky. The gray rocks and pale stones seemed to stretch forever. Beads of perspiration trickled down Ria’s face. Her head itched. She pulled off the sun hat.

Ari caught her arm. “Take care. The sun will burn.”

“I know of the sun’s power. Before I entered the temple, my skin was as brown as yours. Malera keeps the acolytes confined to the temple most of the time. We were permitted to go into the garden in the early morning or after the sun set.”

“She kept you as a prisoner?”

Ria shook her head. “As a student and her heir. I rebelled and she ordered my death. Thank you for saving me.” She met his gaze. “Whatever you ask of me, I will do.”

* * *

Ari frowned. The adoration in Ria’s gaze wasn’t what he wanted from her. He wanted her to desire him and to surrender to a mutual need. He wanted to explore every inch of her body and have her do the same to his. The hero worship he saw in the depths of her green eyes could be mistaken by her for something deeper. ‘Twas not what he desired. A physical union was his goal. ‘Twould be enough.

“What do you want?” she asked.

“In time, you’ll know.” His loins tightened. His rod pulsed. He pushed raw desire aside. Until the need was mutual, he would wait. He wanted what flowed between them to be as hot as the flames contained in the fyrestones.

They angled north and west from where they’d left Rosti. Though the way he’d chosen added distance to their journey, following their trail would be difficult. Not that he expected the chief priestess to trace them until after Solstice Day. By then, their trail would be cold.

The sun moved toward the horizon. At regular intervals, they stopped to drink water and eat fruit and meat saved from the previous day’s meals at the inn.

Ria dropped to her knees. “I can go no further. Too tired. Too weak.”

“You must. Night will come soon and the lopestas will slither from the rocks. We have no wood for a fire. Get up. The grove isn’t far.”

“Can’t.” She sprawled on her belly.

Ari scooped her into his arms and draped her over Bera’s back. After gathering both ropes, he strode forward. Another day of rest would have seen her stronger, but he hadn’t been willing to risk discovery by the priestesses.

As the sky darkened, he heard the skittering sound of the night creatures. The moon edged into the sky. Just as they reached the edge of the grove, he heard the click of the lopesta’s pincers. He turned his head. The creature scuttled toward Bera. The burro squealed and bolted for the grass. Ari and Ber raced after the other burden beast. Ria’s body bounced and Ari feared she would fall. Though he wanted to face the lopesta, he knew he had no chance of surviving an encounter. Fire was the only way to destroy them.

When they reached the trees, Ari saw the lopesta settle at the edge of the grass. The creature balanced on its tail and the large claws opened and closed. The sight sent chills along his spine. The stone beneath his tunic pulsed. He thought about using the crystal against the lopesta but knew the flames he called from the fyrestone weren’t powerful enough. He lifted a rock that lay on the grass and threw it at the creature. The lopesta fell from its perch and slithered away. Ari laughed. He had no idea why the creatures couldn’t enter the grove, but he thanked the fates for the escape.

He led the burros through the brush and trees searching for a campsite. The beasts pulled ahead and he had to trot to keep up with them. They entered a clearing where a spring flowed into a stone basin. Ari lifted Ria from Bera and placed her on the ground beneath a walnuss tree.

Ria stirred. “Ari.”

He touched her head. “We’re in the grove. How do you feel?”

“Tired, and you?”

“Hungry.” For food. For you. He nearly spoke of his growing desire to feel her beneath him, to thrust inside and ride her to fulfillment. Even exhaustion hadn’t dampened his need to delve into her depths.

“Did you carry me here?”

He shook his head. “I loaded you on Bera. We reached the grove with a lopesta nipping at Bera’s hooves.” He rose. “I must tend to the burros and build a fire. Just rest.”

“Why didn’t you leave me in the waste?”

He brought her hand to his lips. “I couldn’t do that any more than I could have left you in Rosti.

* * *

Ria pushed her aching body into a sitting position. If they’d been at the inn, she could have soaked in the tub. She should help Ari, but when she tried to stand, she could rise no farther than her knees. She sank back, closed her eyes and drifted. Ari’s return startled her. He handed her a mug of cold water and placed a bowl of plump dates on the ground. She bit into one and savored the sweetness.

Ari sat beside her and fished out a date. “I wish we could have waited another day.”

She sipped the water. “We had to leave. If we stayed, Malera would have found me. She would have punished you for helping me.” Just thinking about the chief priestess made Ria’s stomach knot. “Since she knows I’m alive, she’ll seek me through the flames.”

“If she finds you, can she hurt you?”

“Now that she has a fyrestone and I have none, she can use the flames against me.”