The Ring Keeper, page 43
“Will we reach the Warding in time?”
Zarek nodded. “This way is only a little longer. If anything happens to me, just follow the river.”
By afternoon, Ana caught herself nodding in the saddle. They stopped in the shelter of a grove of trees. Zarek offered his hand to help her down, and she took it gratefully. She was so stiff and tired from riding that she leaned on him until she sat down, removing her sword and resting her back against a tree trunk. Her injuries ached, and she was exhausted.
Zarek unsaddled the horses, rubbed them down, and tethered them where they could reach grass and water. He brought his saddlebags, took off his helmet, and sat beside her, then handed her a couple of biscuits.
“Good, aren’t they?” he asked sarcastically as he chewed.
“I’m grateful to have them,” she said honestly.
He took a long look at her, then nodded slowly. “I guess you would be after being locked up. It’s nothing compared to the king’s table, though. He has many faults, but he serves excellent food.”
“That’s true,” she admitted. She remembered dining with her father, sitting so carefully, weighing each word before she said it, wearing some ridiculously ornate gown and a crown on her head. It was such a relief to get away. She never wanted to see him again. “I’d rather eat hard bread with you,” she said truthfully, looking up at Zarek.
His expression softened visibly. When he smiled, it changed his entire face and he looked more like the Zarek she remembered.
“I missed you so much,” she said. “When we didn’t hear anything, I worried you were dead. It’s been so long. Were you all right?”
His smile faded. “It has been a long time. And I’ve been alone. There was no one to talk to and no safe way to send messages. Every moment, I pretended to be someone else, and I couldn’t let them catch me. I got used to lying all the time and tried to stay focused on my job.”
She had only been in Hakvere for a few months. He’d been there for years. How had he done it, alone and friendless? “It must have been awful,” she said, leaning against him. “All this time.”
He put his arm around her. “It was hard,” he admitted. “But I’m fine.”
“You did this to protect us.”
“I promised long ago that I would keep you safe.” He took a deep breath. “Ana…” He rubbed his hand over his face. “I’m sorry Haldreth took you. I would never have left you in Sarine unless I believed you were safe. Callonen swore to guard you. I never thought they’d be able to take you from the Warding.”
“And I promised you I’d never leave it. Gavin tricked me,” she admitted. “I was a fool…”
“He was your… friend?” he asked. “I’m sure he acted differently. A sincere, courteous, generous man.”
“Yes. But it was all an act. Even Callonen didn’t suspect. He was a member of the Emperor’s Guard.”
“What?” Zarek exclaimed. “How did he manage that? Callonen knows everything about everybody. How did Gavin fool him? And you? You can tell what other people are feeling.”
“Not anymore,” she said, sadly. “Not without the ring. But even then, I didn’t feel anything bad from him. I’ve never failed to sense someone’s feelings before, and I guess I didn’t realize it was possible. In Hakvere, I overheard Gavin talking to the king about a stone that would shield his true intentions from me. I assume it did the same for the Warding. The whole time, I never realized. But I did know I didn’t want to see him anymore. I intended to tell him. Toren was with me. Callonen had assigned him to guard me, and he was always very careful. Someone came into the inn saying our old friend Rosie had been injured. I had to help her. If I didn’t, she would have been gone in a few moments. So I healed her. I don’t know what happened after that, but Toren was guarding me, and I think Gavin must have killed him. Otherwise, Toren would have stopped him from taking me.” She felt Zarek pull her close.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know Toren well, but Emperor Callonen always spoke highly of him.”
“He didn’t deserve to die because of me.” Ana wiped her eyes.
“It wasn’t your fault. Haldreth caused this. The whole plan must have taken years of preparation. He knows exactly how the magic works. He must have found something that would shield him from the Warding. And he must have taught Gavin how,” Zarek shook his head. “I shouldn’t be surprised they had the same idea I did. But I never thought they could get to you.”
She could hear the caring in his words, and she knew without a doubt that he could never harm her. Even if he looked dangerous or angry, he was still Zarek. The last traces of her fear disappeared, and she trusted him fully.
“You rescued me from Hakvere,” she said, tears welling in her eyes. “I thought I was going to die in there.”
Ana and Zarek continued to follow the river upstream as it ran smoothly through the hills. The weather was cold enough to freeze the shallows, but the sky remained clear. With food and blankets, they were much more comfortable now.
That night, they were walking together, leading their horses. Ana reached out and laced her fingers through his. He didn’t object or try to pull away. His hand felt big and rough and warm in hers.
Suddenly, Zarek froze, listening. The demons were coming.
“Get up.” Zarek boosted her into the saddle. “Take this.” He handed her one of the wizard’s daggers. “Ride out into the water.”
Ana fastened the weapon to her belt and nudged the horse into the stream. The water was calm, but still fast flowing, deep in the middle, and icy cold. She felt grateful to the horse for standing in the water, so she didn’t have to.
Zarek drew Blackbane and stood on the bank, waiting for the Shekkar. Ana saw the black shapes running along the river, shrieking in anticipation. His horse bolted in panic, and Ana felt her own mount shift fearfully. She patted the animal’s neck, trying to calm it.
Were there too many demons for Zarek? She saw the sword flash, but it was too dark to see anything else clearly. He stood with his back to the river, and as they pressed their attack, he retreated a step into the water.
Some of the demons rushed toward Ana. They stopped at the bank, but the horse shied away from them. Despite her efforts to calm the animal, it plunged into the deeper part of the river. Freezing water soaked her legs, taking her breath away. “Stop! Go back!” She tried to turn the horse, but the Shekkar were still behind her, and despite her direction, the animal plunged even deeper. Her mount was swimming now, but found its feet on the opposite side and climbed up the bank.
A demon shrieked right in front of them. The horse reared in panic, throwing Ana back into the water. She went under, and the current pushed her hard. She tried to swim, but the armor was too heavy. Ana felt the bottom and managed to find her footing enough to push herself into shallower water. As she struggled toward the bank, a black shape, dark against the starry sky, loomed above her.
Ana staggered back, stopping waist deep in the water. The demon paced back and forth. It hissed at her and tried to reach her, but it couldn’t. Instead, they stood there, facing each other. Ana took a few steps upstream, but she couldn’t fight against the strong current for long. The horse had disappeared, and so had Zarek. She heard nothing but the rush of water and the insane voice of the demon.
The force of the current pushed her downstream. She stumbled and lost her footing on the slippery rocks.
The river took her, tossing her in all directions, sending pain shooting from her injured ribs and bruising her as she hit rocks. As she washed up against a clump of debris that had built up midstream, she clung to some branches. Her body felt numb. She dragged herself farther out of the water.
The demon kept pace with her on the bank. It stood just a short way off, hissing and trying to reach her.
Her head rested against the wet branches. Time seemed to stop. The demon waited on the shore, while Ana hung on to the mass of limbs. The river flowed by, and she grew colder every moment.
Everything seemed to be happening from a great distance. She fought to keep her eyes open, but she was so sleepy and her eyelids felt like lead.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
Year of Warding 42, Sarine-Ara Border
Ana
“ANA!” ZAREK’S FOOTSTEPS SPLASHED through the water toward her.
She heard his voice and blinked, seeing dawn light the sky. The demon on the bank had disappeared, and Zarek struggled to reach her.
“Ana?”
She could feel him pulling her toward the bank and out of the water. Her limbs were frozen. She couldn’t move. When he released her, she collapsed. The sound of the river seemed faint and far away. Her eyes closed.
Strong arms lifted her. Everything seemed confused and distant. She smelled wood smoke, then blinked to see a fire burning. Shaking, she reached out gratefully for the warmth.
They were in a little sheltered hollow beside a large boulder. Zarek finished adding wood to the blaze and turned to her. He knelt beside her to unbuckle her helmet and armor. Pulling off her sodden boots, he tried to rub some life into her frozen feet.
He must have found her horse, for it stood nearby, without its saddle. She didn’t see the second animal anywhere. Zarek went to the saddlebags, pulled everything out, and spread it to dry on the rocks. He found a shirt that was damp, but not soaked, and held it near the flames. “This is the driest,” he said, his breath showing in the chill air. “You need to get those wet clothes off.”
She wasn’t sure she could get her arms and legs to work, but her water-logged clothes were so cold. He tossed her the shirt and politely turned his back. She managed to pull off the wet tunic and pants and put it on. “Th-Thanks,” she said through her shivers.
Zarek spread her wet clothes out with everything else. The warmth of the fire felt delicious, and she huddled close to it, warming her hands and feet and trying to dry her hair.
Sitting here, shivering by the fire, reminded Ana of their earlier journey. The routine felt familiar. Fleeing from demons seemed to guarantee being constantly wet.
Zarek set his weapons aside and unbuckled his armor, removing it, then peeled off his wet shirt. It had been so long since Ana had traveled with him, and she hadn’t seen his bare chest since before that terrible night in the mountains years ago, when the demons had attacked them.
He’d filled out considerably since then. She hadn’t meant to watch him, but after a glimpse of his muscled torso, she couldn’t make herself look away.
Zarek hung the wet shirt on the brush and turned around. Her eyes fell on the scars on his shoulder and arm, and the long one across his chest. Her throat tightened, and her stomach clenched.
She drew in a shocked breath, and for a moment, she was back on the mountain, staring down in horror at his slashed and bloody form. The memory of the pain they had shared as she healed him was still sharp, even after all this time.
He heard the gasp and knelt beside her. “What is it?”
“Sorry.” She shook her head to clear away the memory.
He sat down next to her and put his arm around her. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry,” she repeated, huddling close to him. “I’ve never seen the scar before. When I did”—she touched his chest with her fingertips—“I was back there, looking down at your body. There was no way you could survive it, no way you could live. I thought I was watching you die, and I won’t ever forget that.”
“Me neither,” he said, holding her close. “You saved my life. I’m not sure anyone else understands what that night was like. So much fear and pain. You’re the only one who knows.”
She nestled closer to him. “I’m so glad you’re safe. We believed you were dead. I’d given up hope… I’m sure Mirithel will be so relieved to have you come home. We have missed you so much!”
“I missed you too,” he whispered. “Is everyone all right back in Sarine? My mother, Callonen, all our friends?”
“Yes,” she replied. “But Mirithel might still be mad at you…”
He laughed. “She’s been mad at me every day since I was seven.”
Ana could feel the warmth of his breath by her ear, and her cheek lay against his chest. She grew suddenly very conscious of his arm around her, the sensation of his skin against hers. It had never felt anything like this when they’d been together before, even though they had become very close through all the danger and trouble they’d shared. They’d spent every moment together during their journey. She’d come to know all his moods. He had protected her and helped her. They had laughed and cried together.
Ana still knew him well. But being with him felt so different now. She’d never felt such a magnetic attraction to anyone before. She wanted to reach out and touch him, to feel his smooth skin and hard muscles under her fingers, and in return, to feel the touch of his hands on her body. She had never felt like this when she was with Gavin.
“It will be all right, Ana. Soon, we’ll be home safe again, and everything will be all right.”
His fingertips brushed her cheek. “Rest if you can,” he whispered. “We had a long night. Sleep for a little while.”
Ana didn’t want to sleep. She wanted to enjoy the way it felt when he held her. But exhaustion took over, and her eyes closed.
Zarek
ZAREK COULD FEEL HER RELAX against him as she dozed off. She still shivered, but she grew slowly warmer. Last night, he’d been frantic when the horse had thrown her into the river. Ana had caught herself on a pile of debris, so at least she wouldn’t drown. But the night was freezing, and the water, icy. Another demon had died last night. As soon as dawn broke and the rest of them had vanished, Zarek had gone to her rescue.
Now she was here, safe for the moment. He brushed a few silken strands of honey-colored hair away from her face. Moving carefully so he didn’t disturb her, he tossed a few more pieces of wood on the fire.
In many ways, Ana was exactly the same as he remembered—delicate features and beautiful brown eyes framed by heavy lashes. She’d always been brave and pigheaded, and her bright smile was the same, showing a dimple on one side.
How had he never noticed before how lovely she was? Or the softness of her skin under his fingers? Had her lips always been that enchanting shade of pink? The desire to pull her closer and kiss her was new. He longed to discover if her mouth was as sweet as he imagined.
That night at the banquet back in Ara, Zarek hadn’t recognized her on Haldreth’s arm. He’d seen only a stunning young woman in a daring gown. Every man in the room had been staring at her. And every rational thought had left Zarek’s head. He’d never seen anyone so beautiful. Then they’d announced the arrival of Princess Cirana of Ara and he’d realized who she was. He’d been furious that they had managed to take her outside the Warding when he thought she was safe.
Now he held her in his arms, her skin against his. It had been so long since Zarek had been close to anyone. During all his time in Ara, he’d been on his guard constantly. Even moments of friendship had been very rare.
Having her so close made him long for something that went far beyond friendship. Years ago, they had promised to be friends forever. There was no reason now to believe she felt any different toward him. But he couldn’t help feeling differently toward her. Her touch awakened new feelings in him. When she gazed up at him, he wanted desperately to wrap her in his arms, to hold her close, and never let her go.
But that was crazy. This was Ana. She’d been his best friend. She looked up to him, trusted him. He could not take advantage of her like that. Especially not after what she’d just been through with Gavin.
Zarek brushed his fingertips along her neck. Her skin felt as smooth as silk.
He forced himself to keep his hands still. She sighed in her sleep and nestled closer to him, one hand resting on his chest.
She was driving him crazy.
The sound of hooves pounded loud and near, and Zarek cursed himself for allowing Ana to distract him so badly. “Captain Tack,” a lazy voice drawled.
Zarek looked up to see a big, black-armored man on a horse. Three other soldiers flanked him. The man dismounted and came over to them, sitting on a rock by the fire.
“Captain Kaemar,” Zarek said, nodding.
Ana woke with a little gasp as she heard him speak.
Kaemar grinned. “This is a pretty picture. Such a touching scene. Instead of leading your men into battle, I find you here, giving aid to a lady in distress.” Kaemar’s eyes followed the lines of Ana’s bare legs. “She is lovely.” He stared at Zarek and smiled coldly. “I’ve never seen you out of uniform before. And for a woman? For the princess? The king will skin you alive if he finds you with his daughter! He has plans for her, and none of them include you.”
“I haven’t done anything to dishonor the princess. The king ordered me to find her. It’s not my fault I succeeded before anyone else,” Zarek said. He could feel Ana’s arms tighten around him. She was afraid.
Captain Kaemar looked her over again. “Give her to me. I’ll take her back and split the reward with you.”
Zarek pretended to deliberate. “A fair offer,” he said. “But what if you forget I found her first and take all the credit yourself?”
“Would I do that, Tack?” Kaemar smiled. His voice had an edge to it now. “You’d better give her to me. I have three men with me, and you are alone.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
“Don’t be a fool, Tack.” Kaemar gripped his weapon.
Zarek seized his own sword, stood up, and drew it. He pulled Ana to her feet beside him. They had their backs to the boulder. “Ride on, Kaemar,” he said coldly. “I will guard the princess myself.”
Kaemar drew his own blade. “I don’t have a problem with killing you before I take her.”
Zarek grinned and held his sword ready.
The other soldiers hung back, watching. He had seen Kaemar fight many times, and the man was average at best. Zarek would never allow him to take Ana.
Kaemar attacked with a yell. Their blades crashed together. Zarek ducked under Kaemar’s blow and threw his shoulder into the other man, knocking him off balance so he stumbled awkwardly. Furious, Kaemar straightened up and attacked again.
