Sky Stitcher, page 14
I gasped as he lunged toward me to scoop me into his arms. With a rush of gushing wind, he bolted upward toward the sky, wings spread wide.
Chapter 16
Rashii
The first signs of dawn shimmered against the gilded domes of Rashii’s palace, reflecting the light of the rising sun as if the burnished tops of the towers had become their own luminous stars guiding our journey. Drab gray still lingered in the air over the vibrant backdrop of pink and gold brushstrokes, but the last evidence of night scattered as the sun crested behind the tallest pinnacle. The ends of Prisha’s rifts reached toward the city like groping fingers stretching for something just out of reach, but the sky above Rashii remained largely untouched by her destruction.
Rue’s arms wrapped firmly around me, and I had finally relaxed enough to marvel at the rush of flight, the tiny dunes, the winding web of streets bursting with color in preparation for A’i Halajan. From a distance, the ceremonial art of lining the streets with designs of sawdust and spice for the coming parades coated the city with vibrant splashes of color. Vast patches of moonflowers mingled with the rarest blossoms that only grew where the land was more forgiving, their delicate petals carefully arranged to form patterns.
Somehow along our flight, my chin found its way to rest upon Rue’s shoulder, and my eyes admired the effortless sails of his wings catching the air as we soared. Startled by the realization, I erected my spine and chastised myself for the lapse of judgment. But still, his arms looped firmly around my middle, and my legs wrapped around his hips...the unavoidable closeness of his body pressed against mine quickly undid any semblance of calm I had previously mustered.
“Your heart is racing,” he whispered in my ear, his voice soothing yet complex like spiced tea. “Are you all right? Am I hurting you?” He ran a calloused hand down my arm and wrapped his fingers around my hand, turning it over to inspect the worst of my gashes. The wounds no longer bothered me. The salve had worked some unexpected miracle. But the way he ran his hand against my arm had me imagining how they would feel on other parts of my body.
I flushed and pulled as far away as I could, berating myself for even considering such a thing, but doing so meant I had to squeeze my thighs tighter around his hips to keep from falling. That was a mistake. He moved his other hand, bracing it against my back, and met my gaze with a raised brow.
“I’m fine. I am just...not accustomed to flying.”
A humming sound emerged from his throat, but he graciously kept his mouth closed and thoughts private. I used the silence to beg my heart rate to slow to an acceptable, unaffected level. One that did not imply he had any sort of impact on my vitals.
It didn’t work.
My stomach leaped with a concerning lurch as Rue’s wings caught the air, spreading wide and angling to drop us toward the ground in a dramatic descent. “Sun’s up. It’ll be safest to approach by land. People aren’t always accommodating of unknown creatures with shadowed wings in these parts.” And for good reason. I shouldn’t be accommodating of him either—what would they say if they discovered Rue’s origins? They’d call me a traitor. They’d kill us.
But the briefest touch of his lips against my temple as he whispered the words into my ears sent a cascade of chills down my spine that made me push aside my concerns for later. I nodded in agreement, making an effort to mask how fully aware I was of the lack of space between our bodies.
We landed in a valley nestled between the dunes, and I quickly untangled myself from his arms, brushing my tunic as though I could brush away every inappropriate desire and sensation our proximity had inspired. He stared at me for a moment, his eyes darkening dangerously with a smoky, enticing haze.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, uncomfortable beneath all of his staring. You are staring right back at him, I scolded myself and ripped away from his mesmerizing pull.
“Right. Let’s go,” I said to break the moment, and I marched away, climbing up the steep incline of the shimmering dune and cursing the sand for all its attempts to swallow my steps. I could not put distance between us fast enough.
“Rashii is that way, Zara,” Rue called out from behind me.
Right. I froze, mid-climb, with one foot buried in the dune at an odd angle, then gave up and slid backward. In all of my rush to distance myself from Rue, I hadn’t considered direction. The correct direction was simply away.
Rue observed me, raising that persistently infuriating brow as I regained my footing and marched across the dune toward the other end of the valley.
“You know it would be easier if we—”
“Fly,” I responded. “Yes. We know. But we have already established that would be unwise for—reasons. So...”
A haunting whinny emerged behind me, and I snapped my attention back to Rue. “Actually, I was going to say ride,” he said smugly. He stood beside his monstrous night mare, holding its reins in his hand as it tossed about a trailing mane of onyx ink.
I angled my head, searching hopefully for a second mare, despite knowing there wouldn’t be another. “There is only one,” I complained.
“We only need one.”
Oh good Halah, why? I pulled a sharp breath through my nose and noticed that my shoulders had risen to somewhere around my temples. Relax. You can do this. The horse leveled its harrowing gaze upon me. No, I can’t. “Can’t you at least make it look a bit more…realistic? Less…‘shadow monster from the In Between?’”
The mare chuffed in offense. Rue rolled his eyes and patted the horse’s nose, holding it between his hands to kiss it with affection. “Don’t listen to her, Chaya. You’re perfect.” But he pushed up his sleeves and traced a hand along the horse’s frame. Shadows danced along its torso, formed by individual pieces mashed together at sharp angles to create the illusion of a mare. He smoothed the jagged, irregular shadows into a glistening obsidian coat. “Better?”
“Two horses would be better.” I folded my arms across my chest.
“Two horses would take extra time and energy.”
“And this, of all times, is when you decide you don’t mind sharing? I swear I will die of…” What exactly? Feeling him close to me? “I will die of…discomfort.”
“Well, that’ll spare me the effort of deciding whether or not to kill you, at least.”
“Oh good Halah, are you still going on about that? I thought we’d moved past it.”
“That was before you insulted my horse. But there’s still time to think on it. It would be imprudent to do so now…but there’s always tomorrow.”
My lips pursed together when I glared at him. His insufferable grin made me want to kick him. Or see if I could banish it by pressing my lips to his. Venom and hell, Zara. What is wrong with your brain? It is time to find the Eldress.
“Well, apologies to your horse. We should go.”
“Her name is Chaya.”
I cleared my throat. “Fine. This is fine. Apologies to Chaya. Let’s find the Stitcher.” And the first thing I will do is ask her what to do about this mess I’ve created so I can focus on what matters. Like sealing away Prisha and her monsters forever. All of her monsters. My heart twinged at the words like a little traitor, forming an agenda of its own that I did not agree with nor approve of.
If I focused on the sandstone walls and the way the sun danced in the burnished copper gates, I did not have to notice the way Rue’s legs wrapped along the outside of my thighs or the way feelings of warmth confused my senses, making my heart flutter like a thousand sand wings.
The city walls stretched like reassuring arms wrapped around the glittering city within, weathered by time but boasting of power. The tops of the walls were carved with intricate reliefs, depictions of the first goddesses and the fall of Prisha, scattered with the stars and the moon and all the wonders of the heavens. I studied them with forced intrigue, but even they were not enough to distract me. Oh Halah, why is his arm brushing against mine again? How many times must he adjust his grip on the reins? I squirmed, and I knew he must be smirking behind me. I could feel it. He was always smirking.
When we approached the main gates, the blazing copper panels swung outward, revealing a tight formation of city guards, helmets gleaming beneath the morning sun and arrows notched. I was, frankly, quite sick of arrows.
A lump of a cry wedged its way into my throat when their aim swiveled toward my chest, and my heart hammered about in tumultuous leaps. The guard at the front of their formation stepped forward and assessed me for a palpably tense moment, then relaxed his sharp glare into a wide-eyed expression of recognition when I pulled back my scarf, revealing my white blonde hair and moonsilk skin. Only the Daughters had such fair complexions. He lowered his arrow and waved off the others. My chest deflated as air slipped laboriously through the tension of my pursed lips.
The lead guard marched toward me, crossing his arm over his body to place a clenched fist against his heart. “Daughter of Halah, thank the goddess you are okay. We heard what happened to your Sisters. May Halah guide them.” My spine stiffened when he tucked his chin and touched an armored knee against the cobbled sandstone.
I watched him uncomfortably, wishing he hadn’t gone through all the effort to kneel before me. I was certainly nobody to kneel before. If he knew who I was and what I’d accomplished as a supposedly revered Daughter of Halah, he would have opted to release that arrow into my windpipe instead.
I also wished he would hurry up and finish his ridiculous pleasantries so we could move on to discussing the more important matters burning on my tongue, demanding to be voiced. If he had heard about the guryas, did he know anything about where the Daughters had gone? Had Rali and the Eldress made it back safely? Was she going to be all right? Could I see her? I moved to slip down from the horse to put myself on the same level as the man to speed up his process, but Rue placed a hand discreetly upon my thigh, warning me to stop.
When the guard raised himself from his wholly unnecessary display of reverence, his attention turned to Rue, then frosted with mistrust. “And who is your companion, Daughter of Halah?”
“Zara,” I corrected, then realized he had asked for Rue’s name and not mine. “I am Zara. He is Rue, Guardian of Daughters. He accompanied me to ensure my safe travel to Rashii. We followed behind Rali and his men. He should be expecting us.”
“I see...” he said with contemplative slowness, assessing Rue with uncertainty, “I did not realize the Daughters hired guards for protection, but with the whispers of war between Khazdra and Rashii, the unrest between Daughters and Riders, the increase in…monsters, I suppose it is warranted.” His eyes narrowed upon the crusted gashes along my arms. “But he has done a poor job of it, has he not? You’re hurt.”
I pulled the sleeves of my tunic toward my wrists. “We ran into some crawlers. But we won.” Obviously. What an understatement, but the truth was harder to explain. And certainly more dangerous.
“Rali did not inform us of your companion, and I am not so certain I like the looks of him. You may speak frankly with us, for we will always protect you. Say the word, Daughter of Halah, and we will turn this man into a pincushion of arrows if he has dared to harm just one hair on your head.”
Rue’s fingers clenched into a fist on top of my thigh, bunching together the light fabric in his grip.
Good Halah, could you try to appear less menacing, Rue? It won’t help your case.
Tension swelled among the guards, and I noticed the reversal of their relaxed holds on their bows as they eyed Rue suspiciously, itching for an excuse to use them. “Truly. I am fine. He is… fine. I’m just tired.” The weight of the past several days voiced itself in my heavy exhale. This would be easier if Rali were here. “Where is Rali? I’m sure he can sort this all out,” I said, scanning their ranks for any sign of the handsome guard with the freckled jade eyes and tousled hair, but he did not appear among them.
I turned my attention back to the leader, whose eyes blinked rapidly, as though he had not anticipated the question and hoped to find himself in different circumstances when he opened his eyes again. Once he recovered, he assumed a professional yet caring demeanor. “Rali is not on duty, but we will inform him of your arrival. You must be exhausted from your travels,” he responded. “Let me escort you to your room, and I will have Rali sent to meet you there.”
My room? The idea of a room with walls and ceilings made my insides twist with uncertainty. I had never had a room of my own before...only the guryas, the dunes, and the vast open sky. The Daughters did not stay in traditional dwellings. Without open air and access to earth and sky, the Daughters couldn’t reach Halah. Not that I was keen to reach Halah anyway. But still...I’d be more comfortable if—
“That would be appreciated,” Rue responded on my behalf, cutting off my stream of worries.
The guard bowed his head, then parted from us with a turn on his heel, approaching one of his men. He quietly relayed orders to the guard, who nodded with understanding, then moved toward us with a smile. “If it pleases you, Daughter of Halah, follow me. You’ll be staying up at the palace.”
At the palace? I nearly choked on my own tongue. The guard eyed Rue suspiciously and spoke to him, “I apologize, but as we were not informed of your arrival, we have not arranged accommodations for you. The inns are likely filled this close to the festival, but I’m sure you may find space in a brothel or the outskirts of the city. Many travelers stay in tents.”
I’d rather stay in the tents...
“I will be fine,” Rue responded with a confidence I didn’t share. “But I will accompany Zara until she is safely in her room.”
The guard nodded, then mounted a chestnut stallion. Its gleaming coat complimented the rich golden brown hues of the city, colors that reminded me of warm tea with goat milk. And home…meals with my Sisters and laughter over sipped tea until we became so hysterical we splashed the brew onto the floor cushions. At least, it reminded me of home in the days before the Eldress grew too sick and the Daughters became too desperate. Before war lingered on the edge of everyone’s mind, creeping at the verge of consciousness like a venomous spider that paralyzes its victims. I frowned, chest tightening.
As we passed through the streets, children played, darting after balls and giggling. Parents scooped them into their arms when we approached, scolding them to be still and modeling the proper sign of respect for the Daughters. The stillness unnerved me—watching laughter and play, and the vibrancy of life pause as we passed to show respect to...me. Respect I wasn’t sure I’d ever deserve. With all of their eyes on me, my spine stiffened and my body stilled, suddenly all too aware of the attention, understanding the source of their reverence.
These people—they saw the Daughters as a symbol of strength, the descendants of their goddess, the ones who’d keep them safe and someday liberate them from Prisha’s curse. The Eldress had kept Prisha at bay for ages, sparing the city from her wrath, but now, with the Eldress dying, who would stop her? Who would fulfill the prophecy they whispered in prayer? Who would end the coming war?
Would I really be able to take the Eldress’s place? I clenched my jaw, staring grimly at the crowd. They trusted us to protect them.
When they looked at me, they didn’t see the worst of Halah’s Daughters. They didn’t see my failures or doubts. They saw security. Hope.
The heaviness of my responsibility fell like a sack of rocks in the pit of my stomach, turning my legs to lead until I was certain the cobblestone streets would collapse under the weight of it all and swallow me whole. What if I failed them? What if I never managed to mold my magic into the way of Daughters to bring them the security they deserved? These people needed a real Stitcher, a capable one, and without the Eldress to guide me…I wasn’t sure I was strong enough to become who they needed me to be. Would they still revere me—still stop in the streets and show their respects—if they truly knew me? Could I be enough?
The room that Rali had reserved for me was luxurious. There was no other word for it. The air carried faint traces of florals billowing past cream-colored gauzy curtains. Those hung beside the great, vaulted arches overlooking the main courtyard. When they danced in the breeze, they revealed glimpses of a shimmering pool below, like a long, rectangular turquoise pendant that might have hung around any of the Daughters’ necks. Baskets overflowed with flowers, hanging from the open arches, the splashes of fuchsia and violet florals spilling lazily along their woven sides. A plush bed topped with deep purple throws sat beneath a curtained arch. A large, circular mandala hung over the bed, intricately carved and gilded so that it shimmered like the rising sun.
The guard chuckled behind me, and I snapped my attention back to him. He smiled with a trace of amusement, gesturing toward the open arches with a nod of his chin. “Rali insisted you’d be most comfortable in a courtyard room with open air. He said it was the way of Daughters. Will this be all right?”
Will this be all right? Inside, I laughed with disbelief, but externally, I forbade my eyebrows from rising in surprise and forced myself into composure. “Yes. This is…lovely.” How did Rali acquire such beautiful accommodations for me?
He dipped his chin in a bow and turned to Rue. “I assume you can find your own way to suitable lodging?”
Rue smiled cordially in return and nodded his assent in a way that suggested he was on his best behavior, but I knew he’d devour the man for breakfast if he so much as looked at him the wrong way.
When the guard slipped from the room, I turned to him, twisting my hands awkwardly before speaking. “You don’t have to go. You can stay here,” I said, gesturing toward the divan and armchair positioned in the corner. A serving tray set with delicate tea cups and sparkling sugars sat on the table between them. “There’s plenty of space.” I did not require a bed, a divan, and an armchair to sleep, after all.
