Vulture (5 page)

5 - Memories of Avristar

Kaliel woke up later, a warm sticky feeling in her mouth. She dug in a breath and let it out slowly. Krishani lay beside her, the room cast in eerie darkness. She gingerly pushed the blankets off her new form. It was harder to move; aches began in her elbows and spread up and down the length of her arms. Her legs felt bruised, that was familiar, but they were stiffer. She inched to the edge of the cot and felt for the candle. There was nothing but a stone that didn’t feel like flint beside it. She frowned and wondered how they lit candles. She glanced at Krishani. Even though she couldn’t see him in the dark she could feel every bit of him pulsing next to her. It was a comforting feeling, knowing he was within arms’ reach.

She didn’t want to wake him; he looked so wasted the night before. She sighed and went to rummage around for the dress she had been wearing. It was a little heavier than the dresses she was used to. There was a chill in the dank room and she wasn’t about to go lurking around naked. Her hands ran along the coarse material and she pulled it up to her chest, it was still wet. She sighed and rocked back on the bed. She was about to lay down again when she thought of something. Pulling the black dress up, she bunched it at the edge of the bed. If this was his room, he should have a spare tunic around somewhere. The idea of wearing his clothing might give the servants the wrong idea, but she didn’t care what they thought. She pawed through the dark, trying to find anything she could wear. Her hands followed the floor, pushing armor and chainmail out of the way. In the corner she found a rucksack. She undid the draw strings, pulling out a dagger and flint stone which she placed next to the candle. She drew the bag out of the corner and brought it to the edge of the bed. There were tools, picks and hammers, things they would need if they weren’t planning on being housed at Castle Tavesin. She sighed again and glanced at Krishani. His breathing was steady, his chest rising and falling. She gulped, stifling the tears gathering in her eyes. She didn’t realize how much she really missed him. She didn’t even know how much she had hurt him. He seemed stronger than she remembered.

Her hands curled around something familiar. At first it was just fabric but when she pulled it out she knew exactly what it was. It was a little musty and creased but she didn’t care. She fit the green dress over her head and tied the strings behind her chest, it fit.

He must have gone to Nandaro and taken her things with him before he left. She took a deep breath at the thought of Mallorn. She missed him too, and Desaunius and Atara but she didn’t know when she would see them again. The conversation with Grimand interrupted her thoughts, she desperately wanted to go home, even if he said she couldn’t.

Krishani stirred and she flinched. She couldn’t tell if his eyes had opened but when he groaned she remembered the stone and the darkness. She picked it up and swiftly scratched it against the wall, hoping to create a spark to light the candle. There was a low familiar chuckle from behind her. “It doesn’t work like that here.”

Kaliel sighed and put the stone down, gaping at him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize—” she broke off as Krishani sat and rubbed his hands together, producing a spark. Trickles of light spilled into the room and when she could finally see his face he looked speechless. She went to say something but he pulled her into him kissing her with the same ferocity as on the battlefield. She let him explore her lips for a moment too long and then broke away, her eyes meeting his, memorizing every part of their blue and green wonder. They were the same eyes she had always known.

“You found the dress,” he began.

She smiled sheepishly her cheeks turning pink. She gestured towards the rucksack. “It was with the rest of your things.”

Krishani gave her an all knowing smile and reached past her, bringing the pack on the bed. He shifted and moved the blankets out of the way as he reached in. She didn’t know what he was looking for until he produced a little wooden box and the leather journal. Her eyes widened as he slid it into her hands. “I took these too.”

Kaliel didn’t have any words. She didn’t even realize there were tears streaming down her cheeks until Krishani brushed them away with his fingers. She lifted the lid, seeing the familiar birthstone with its milky white translucency. “I can’t believe you kept them.”

Krishani wound a lock of her hair behind her ear. They weren’t elongated anymore, only slightly sharp at the edges. “They were important to you, I had to keep them.”

She took the birthstone in her hands. It was cool, the way it had always been. She closed her eyes and flooded the stone with energy. On the inside she felt the rocking and swaying as though she was embedded in the soil at the bottom of the lake. When she opened her eyes to peek at it, it was covered in a violet aura. She breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced at Krishani who was staring at her with admiration. It was like he was used to the birthstone turning violet. “I never showed you what it did.”

Krishani smirked. “I’ve seen your eyes turn that color more than once.”

“Really?”

“The first time I kissed you, while you were wearing that green dress.” He pushed the sleeve up and turned her arm over, his lips brushing the skin on her inner forearm. She shivered at the gesture and pulled her sleeve down. She remembered the moment too, in the cave behind the waterfall. She cupped the stone in her left hand and shifted her weight on the bed so that her legs were folded beside her instead of under her. She put the stone back in the box and closed the lid. Looking at the crystal and journal caused a deep ache in her chest as she thought of home and what Grimand had said. Krishani couldn’t return to Avristar. She was too afraid to ask anyone why. It was better having moments like this with him. She held it in her lap, avoiding the journal because of the sketches in it. She didn’t have to open it to know about the prophecy in those pages; she didn’t want to know what it meant.

“At least I have something to remind me of home,” she said, unsure how to bridge the subject.

Krishani dropped his gaze. She hadn’t noticed it before, but the blanket covered his right arm. She tried to ignore it as she pushed off the cot and stood in the tiny room. Her head swelled with dizziness as she put her hands to her stomach and noticed her limbs quivering. She frowned at the reaction; it was an unusual feeling and turned to face Krishani. “I think I’m hungry.”

Krishani gave her a funny look. “There was food in the main hall, but the tables were almost empty when I came in.”

“I think I had a piece of bread.” She sunk onto the edge of the bed and grabbed her temples. Krishani rubbed her back.

“Come then. I’ll get dressed and we’ll go find the servants.” He stood, hunched over and pulled out a long sleeved tunic from somewhere in the room. It was almost colorless like the rest of the clothes the villagers wore. He slid his right hand into hers. She frowned but didn’t protest as he pushed the door open and ushered her into the hallway.

It was louder in the corridors. Krishani held her hand in an iron grip, strength she’d never seen him exert. She felt his pulse through his palm, and her heartbeat matched his. They reached the archway to the main hall and passed it. It was different during the day. People conglomerated in the hall, celebrating, eating. She wondered if the humans ever stopped eating. It had to be well past midday. She sidled up to Krishani as he pulled her towards the drab wooden table and began picking at what was left. He came up with a bun that seemed unscathed and a piece of chicken that looked inedible. “Here, you won’t find much better,” Krishani said.

She took a deep breath, preparing herself for the taste and sunk her teeth into the bun. It tasted hard and chewy. She took a few bites to satisfy her stomach and even tried the chicken, but the bitter taste made her gag and she had to force herself to swallow. He watched her with idle fascination and she groaned. “You have to watch me eat?”

He shrugged and turned back to the humans chattering on. The elvens and feorns were gone. He glanced at her. “I used to watch you do a lot of things you know.”

She raised an eyebrow and stifled a giggle. A second later it escaped her lips and once she started, she couldn’t stop. Her body shook with the sound. Krishani didn’t join. He stared at her with a perplexed look on his face like this was the most unnatural thing she could be doing. She took a few deep breaths and tried to stop, putting the bun on the edge of the table to wipe her watery eyes. She coughed and tried to clear her throat. “I was thinking about Samhain, and focus training.”

Krishani grinned. “Oh, you mean the hundreds of potatoes you and Melianna had yourselves in fits of giggles over? Yes, you watched me all day and you didn’t bother to peel a single potato.”

She pressed her lips together to stop herself from laughing. “Hernadette wouldn’t let us, remember?”

Krishani let out a reserved laugh. “I remember. She was quite the cook.”

“So were you. Why didn’t you tell Elwen?” She wanted to know what it was with Elwen. He didn’t seem like the kind of ancestor she would want. It was hard to believe Krishani was related to Elwen at all, that this village was his home. It seemed foreign compared to the way they had grown up together.

He raked a hand through his hair, shaking the long black locks in every direction. “I didn’t stay here long enough.”

She picked up the bread at the urge of her rumbling stomach and took another bite. A least it satisfied the body despite its repugnant taste. Krishani watched as some of the other villagers trekked into the hall with flutes, small guitars and drums. Pux pounded blithely on a drum as they gathered in a corner of the room, the joyous tune wafting through the air, picking up speed and twisting into the rafters. A few of the villagers began a jig. It wasn’t the same as the dances on Avristar. The villagers hooked arms and skipped around each other. A whoop came from the crowd as women curtsied and men gathered them up, continuing the dance.

Kaliel’s eyes lit up and before Krishani could protest she pulled him to the dance floor. Pux caught sight of her and she waved him over. The three of them got lost in the dance. Kaliel passed through the men, skipping around them, keeping her eyes on Krishani as the music swelled and faded. The bards didn’t stop, their swan songs changing melody and rhythm as they played throughout the afternoon.

Kaliel laughed when one of the men grabbed her by the waist, lifted her into the air, spun around and set her down again. She turned to find Krishani behind her with a warning expression on his face. He stared at her like she was fragile and wrapped his arms around her, spinning in circles with only her, leading her around the dance floor. She meant to dance with the villagers, but he kept her against him, unwilling to let go.

She sighed when the bards struck up a slow tune and the dancers paired off, moving in slower circles. “Why didn’t you stay?” she asked, resuming their conversation.

He stiffened but kept moving. “You know what I had to do.” His tone was low, like when he talked about sparring matches, only the meaning behind it was different. He had faced something much more dangerous than a sparring match.

Her eyes widened. “You mean Crestaos?” Her voice came out hoarse.

Krishani spun her carefully under his arm and pulled her back. “Yes,” he said, his tone unbecoming.

She stopped. Her feet didn’t want to move. She didn’t know how to feel. Dread kicked its heels up, frothing her in heat. “You faced him yourself?”

He hung his head and glanced at the floor. She went to pull out of his embrace when he took her hands and pressed them against his chest, her elbows digging into his stomach. His eyes blazed and she drew a shaky breath.

“I won.” His tone was harsh.

She averted her gaze as Pux approached. Krishani let her go. “You’re feeling better?” she asked, her entire focus on Pux. She couldn’t handle Krishani when he acted like he was a battering ram and she was nothing but a helpless sheep.

“Would you care to dance?” Pux made a grand gesture of bowing and extending his hand to her. She giggled and took it, getting lost in the crowd. She glanced behind her as she rounded the edge of the dance floor. Krishani leaned against one of the stone pillars, his arms crossed. He glared at everyone that wasn’t her. A pang of guilt crept into her bones. She let go of the man she was dancing with, wending through the people until she was next to him. Pux took off again, being his usual silly self. She wondered if the sky would be green when she went outside. “Pux is lively,” she commented, digging her toe into the carpet.

Krishani didn’t lower his gaze or uncross his arms as he scowled at someone across the room. She followed his gaze but couldn’t comprehend who he was angry with. “Pux is foolish,” Krishani said. Her heart dropped. “But he’s happy you’re back.”

“I was wondering when we would get to welcome you back,” Shimma said, appearing from the crowd. She snaked around one last big oaf and lingered beside Krishani. Kaliel watched her like a hawk, her expression turning to stone.

“Why are you here?” she asked accusingly.

Shimma looked at Krishani. “It’s definitely Kaliel.”

Krishani didn’t move, but he stopped scowling. He took a deep breath, his expression weary. “Shimma was rather helpful after I left Avristar.”

Shimma blushed. “Yes well, I only stitched you up. You caused all the trouble yourself.” She didn’t wait for a response, but her eyes met Kaliel’s before she crossed the room. Kaliel noticed both Kuruny and Kazza at the dining table and felt dizzy. Nausea swept into her, both at the sight of the witches and at what Shimma had said.

“She had to heal you? From what? Krishani, why are they here?”

Krishani pulled her into the fold of his arms. She didn’t struggle against his grip but she was unnerved. His mouth dropped to her ear, his lips skimming the tip.

“They helped me find the other Flames and face Crestaos. They’re not my enemies anymore,” he whispered.

Kaliel blinked, thinking about what he said about the other Flames. She gripped him tighter, distress pulling her muscles taut. She didn’t care what they had done for Krishani, to her they would always be her enemies. “Come, let’s dance,” she said, trying to distract herself from the tension surrounding them.