The Ring Keeper, page 44
Zarek stood his ground. He could read the other man’s movements before he made them. He was ready for every thrust, anticipated every blow. This would not last long.
In a moment, he had knocked the weapon from Kaemar’s hand. Zarek’s sword swung in a graceful arc, slashing his opponent’s arm below the edge of his armor. Kaemar yelled in rage and clutched the wound, blood flowing from between his fingers. Zarek delivered a hard kick to the man’s knee, knocking him over. Cursing, Kaemar tried to rise, but his leg wouldn’t bear his weight.
Zarek faced him, waiting.
“You’re a dead man, Tack!” Kaemar snarled, pulling out a knife.
Zarek shook his head. How badly did the man want to die? A quick kick to his hand sent Kaemar’s weapon flying.
“Kill him!” Kaemar commanded his companions.
Zarek slammed the pommel of his sword against Kaemar’s head, causing the man to crumple. Seizing the reins of the fallen captain’s horse, Zarek leaped into the saddle and turned to confront the other three.
Not as eager to engage after Kaemar’s defeat, the three soldiers exchanged glances with each other and urged their horses forward.
“Do you really want to fight?” Zarek glared at them, his sword ready. “The king ordered me to find her, and I won’t enjoy explaining to him that things didn’t go as planned.”
They continued to advance, but by the time Zarek had crossed blades with the nearest and knocked him from his horse, the other two turned their mounts and fled.
Zarek dismounted and held the point of his sword against the man’s chest.
The soldier on the ground held up his empty hands. “Please, Captain, don’t kill me!”
Zarek paused for a long moment, turning to glance at Ana and then back to the man on the ground. “I’ll leave you alive, but only because it’s bad manners to kill you in front of the princess. Don’t follow me. If I see you again, you’re dead.”
The man’s eyes were wide with terror, and he nodded in agreement.
Zarek swiftly gathered their things and saddled their horse. He kicked dirt onto the fire and buckled his sword around his waist. After helping Ana onto Kaemar’s horse, he got on the other soldier’s mount and took up the reins of their own to lead it, leaving Kaemar and his comrade on foot.
Zarek looked at Ana. “Are you all right?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Follow me,” he said.
They rode north toward the border, not stopping until Kaemar and his friends were far behind them. Out in the open, they fought against a steady chill wind. Knowing Ana needed to rest, Zarek searched for a sheltered spot where he could see anyone trying to approach. He stopped under a rocky outcropping that would guard their backs.
Zarek got off the horse and helped Ana down, trying not to let his eyes linger on the smooth skin of her legs. She looked frozen again; her bare feet, blue.
“Sorry,” he said. “That was my fault. I shouldn’t have let him find us.”
“He p-p-probably saw the fire,” she said through her shivers.
“Maybe,” he said. “I should have been more careful.”
“W-Were you worried? There were four of them.”
Zarek shook his head. “Not for a second.”
She desperately needed warmth and rest after last night. Zarek could see how tired and cold she was. He pulled out the damp blankets. “This one is almost dry.” He gave it to her, and she wrapped it around herself gratefully.
“Thank you for protecting me,” she said, stepping nearer and putting her hand on his arm.
“Didn’t I promise I would?” he asked.
Her lips looked so soft. He shook himself mentally. No matter how much he wanted her, he had to stay in control. He forced himself to look away into the trees. “Try to get some sleep,” he said.
Ana nodded and pulled the blanket tighter. She curled up with her back against the rock. Fear lingered in her eyes as she glanced around, watching for danger.
“It’s all right to sleep,” he said, sitting beside her. “Don’t be afraid. I will keep watch.”
It only took her a moment to doze off. He gazed at her as she slept. A sudden memory came back to him from four years ago. He and Dane had teased her about being a princess, traveling in disguise. They had all laughed about it then, none of them realizing that it was actually true.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Year of Warding 42, Sarine-Ara Border
Zarek
ANA AND ZAREK RESTED. Nothing disturbed her slumber while he kept watch. By midafternoon, it was time to move on. Dark clouds were gathering, obscuring the sky.
It was possible that Kaemar would find other troops in the area and send them after him.
Zarek increased their pace. He needed to get through the Aran patrols outside the Warding before they were on alert, looking for the missing princess.
Ana and Zarek hurried on through the evening and into the night. The clouds thickened, and an icy rain began to fall. They kept ahead of the demons, but they had to cross the river again. Dawn found them soaking wet and dangerously chilled. It was unwise to build a fire, since they couldn’t afford to be found now that Aran patrols were camped nearby.
They stopped in a clearing surrounded by thick brush. The rain had finally stopped. A few things in the pack had managed not to get wet. He tossed her a shirt. “Dry off and put this on.” His breath hung in the cold air as he spoke.
Zarek was sick of being wet. He sat down, took off his sodden boots, and rubbed his feet. The soaked fabric chilled his skin, and he pulled off his armor, jacket and shirt. A glimpse of Ana changing caused him to close his eyes tightly. Creamy skin, soft curves. Given the choice, he would have looked at her forever.
He shook his head, furious with himself. No. He had to stay in control. He had to get Ana back into the Warding and then kill the rest of the Shekkar. He couldn’t let anything, or anyone, keep him from getting it done. And Ana… What kind of man would he be if he took advantage of her? He could not—
When he opened his eyes, she stood right in front of him, wearing his spare shirt. “Zarek? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” His tone sounded harsher than he intended.
She took a step back from him, hurt plain in her brown eyes. And it was his fault.
“Will you tell me?” she asked.
“No,” he said, trying not to grind his teeth.
She took another step back, then turned away.
No. He couldn’t stand to see her hurt. And if he told her the truth, she would pull away. She’d be frightened of him. She’d look at him like she’d looked at Gavin. But her brown eyes filled with pain, and he couldn’t stand that either.
He went to her, bent to one knee, and kissed her hand. “Ana, please forgive me?”
“Zarek, what’s wrong? With the ring, I could always tell what you were feeling. But not now. Now I can’t tell what’s bothering you. Have I done something to upset you? ”
“You think this is your fault?” he asked.
“I can’t imagine what else it could be. We could always talk to each other so easily, but now you’re pulling away.”
She was about as far as she could get from the truth right now.
“Tell me why.”
“Ana, I know you. Until the last few days, it’s always been easy to talk to you.”
“What’s different?” She sounded angry now.
He took a deep breath. “Ana, I…”
She gazed at him with those beautiful dark eyes, and it almost made him forget what he’d been about to say. He began again. “I was gone for a very long time. I hadn’t seen you for years. That night at Haldreth’s banquet, he walked in with you beside him, and you looked… Well, I didn’t recognize you. I never expected you to be in Ara.”
“That does not explain why it would be difficult to talk with me.”
“Ana, I’m not angry with you. I was angry with myself. Sometimes I feel out of control, and I can’t risk that, not now. I need to get you home and finish my work. No one is safe until the demons are dead. Please forgive me for being angry. It’s not your fault. It’s not—”
He put his hands on her shoulders and looked down at her. “It’s not that I don’t like your company. It’s the opposite. I enjoy it too much. How do you think it feels when I’ve been alone all these years? When you look at me, and smile at me, and touch me, I feel…”
She gazed up at him with tears welling in her eyes. “It must have been hard to be so alone, but I promised to always be your friend.”
“But I can’t just be friends like when we were younger,” he protested. “I’ve tried. When I look at you… You’re so beautiful. I want to…” Zarek shook his head. His explanation was getting worse. He clamped his jaw shut. She would be angry and want nothing more to do with him.
Instead, she smiled at him, leaving him baffled by her response. “You think I’m beautiful?”
“The most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen,” he said honestly.
She stood on her tiptoes, resting her hands on his shoulders, and kissed him. Her lips were even softer and sweeter than he’d imagined. Perfect. It was perfect, and it threatened to make him forget everything else.
“Ana…” He took a step back, breathing fast. “You can’t do that. I can’t stand it. If you do that, I’ll—”
“What?”
“I’ll kiss you back,” he warned. “I only have a certain amount of willpower, and I’ve wanted to kiss you ever since I saw you at Haldreth’s banquet.” Maybe she didn’t realize how badly he’d wanted to.
“Why didn’t you?”
“Lots of reasons,” he exclaimed. “We were friends, and you trust me. I didn’t think you felt the same. I wanted you to have choices, to decide what you want. I couldn’t stand to be like Gavin.”
“Those are the reasons you’ve kept your distance? Not because you didn’t want me?”
“Yes,” he said. “I hope you understand that—”
She kissed him again, and he stopped trying to object. He drew her close, his fingers tangled in her hair. Her arms were around his neck, holding him tightly. He’d never felt anything like her sweet mouth on his. No one else could compare.
He pulled back for a moment. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
“I’m sure,” she said firmly, kissing him again.
She felt exactly right in his arms, and he pulled her closer still. He wanted that moment to last forever, her lips moving against his, the feel of her soft curves against him. He put his mouth to the satin skin of her neck, and she gasped. The sound tugged at his heart and threatened to snap the remaining threads of his control. “We have to go…” he murmured, his lips still against her skin. He couldn’t remember where exactly… but…
Regretfully, he pulled back.
He never wanted to stop, but he still had to get her past the Warding and the Aran troops. And they had to hurry.
“We have to go,” he said sternly. But he grinned at her, and she returned the smile. He’d been wrong about how she felt, and he’d never been so happy to be wrong.
Ana
ANA AND ZAREK GATHERED THEIR GEAR. She had dressed in the uniform of an Aran soldier and tucked her long hair into her collar, mouth still warm with the memory of Zarek’s kiss. He’d been gone for so long, but she’d thought of him often during those years. He was still the same person, and she knew him well. His appearance might have changed, but inside he was the same young man who had put himself in harm’s way to keep her safe. The memory of him had remained with her, and maybe she had unconsciously measured every other man she met against him. Now she was actually with him again, and it had been all too easy to fall for him.
Zarek held up the leather armor for her.
She made a face.
He grinned and settled the armor into place. “You might not like it,” he said, “but it will keep you safe.” He slid his hands from her shoulders and stepped closer to her as he tightened the buckles.
She felt her breathing quicken. “I don’t have much experience,” she said, looking up at him. “Is this how you help all the soldiers put on their armor?”
“Raise your arms,” he growled.
She lifted her arms and wrapped them around him, and nuzzled his neck. “Is that better?” she whispered.
He stopped tugging on the buckles and kissed her. She would have stayed there in his arms, but they needed to go.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I didn’t mean to distract you.”
“Yes, you did,” Zarek protested. “I’m very sure it was intentional.”
She laughed and pulled back to do up the buckles. When they were done, she put her helmet on.
He hung a sword and a knife around her waist and an axe across her back.
“It’s too heavy,” she protested. “I can’t move.”
“Then don’t move,” he said. “You just have to ride, and they need to think you are just another soldier. Don’t speak and don’t look anyone in the eye. Here, this will help.” He removed the axe and hung it from the saddle.
Ana took a deep breath. Maybe Zarek wasn’t afraid, but she was. If the Aran soldiers knew he had betrayed the king, they’d take both of them back to him. And her father would kill them.
She had to be honest with herself. Being killed was by far the best option if her father caught them. She felt butterflies in her stomach as they gathered the rest of their things and mounted. It was time. Zarek led the extra horse.
Her worries spun around in her head as they rode. But she tried to keep her back straight and follow Zarek. He seemed relaxed in the saddle and so much more comfortable wearing the armor and weapons than she felt.
Ana could see a military camp ahead filled with Aran troops. There were so many. If she and Zarek were discovered, they wouldn’t have a chance against that many soldiers. What if Captain Kaemar had arrived ahead of them?
Zarek rode up to the checkpoint and saluted the guards. As instructed, Ana made the same gesture.
“Good morning, Captain,” the guard said politely.
“Good morning,” Zarek growled. He sounded irritated.
The guard swallowed. “Where are you going, sir?”
“The king ordered us to gather information along the border, some special project he’s planning for. I hope you have been doing your job here. Which one of your soldiers is missing his horse?” He stared hard at the guard, who swallowed again. Zarek handed him the reins.
“I will find out, Captain. Is there any assistance we can provide? Do you know where the border is?”
“Yes,” Zarek said. “This is our third assignment in this area. Just keep a sharp lookout.”
“Of course,” the man said. “Good luck, Captain. And watch out. There are enemy soldiers just on the other side of those hills.”
“They won’t even see us,” Zarek promised. Passing the guards, they rode into camp, through a cluster of tents, stacks of weapons, and groups of soldiers, maintaining an unhurried pace. No one questioned them.
At the far edge of the camp, Zarek saluted the guards as they left. The soldiers returned the gesture and watched as Ana and Zarek rode away.
When the troops were out of sight behind them, Ana’s stomach calmed. They rode for the rest of the afternoon until the shadows were long. It would be dark soon.
They came to the base of a line of rocky hills, partially covered in snow, and had to lead the horses through them. The sunset had faded from the sky, but from the tops of the hills, they could see distant lights. They were almost home.
How many times had Ana thought she would never get back there? Now her long ordeal was nearly over. She could return to her life. She could see Callonen again… She shook her head. It wasn’t nearly that simple. They still had to save Allia. And they had to stop her father and his army or there would be no peaceful city to go home to. His army was marching toward the White City, ready to attack.
They led the horses over the uneven ground in the dark hills. Ana’s knees and shins were bruised, and it was so hard to walk carrying all the extra weight, but she didn’t dare lay aside the armor. At least the effort warmed her. On they went until finally they left the hills and the ground leveled out so they could travel more easily.
Zarek turned his head, listening.
“They’re coming,” he said. They mounted their horses and rode.
She could hear the demons too, coming down through the rocks behind them. They urged their horses to greater speed. Where was the boundary? They had to be almost there.
Ana’s horse stumbled in the dark, and she was thrown. She flew through the air before she hit the ground hard. She lay there for a moment, dazed.
But she couldn’t stay here. The Shekkar were coming. She scanned the area for her horse, but didn’t see it anywhere. There was no time to search. She dragged herself to her feet and ran. Her muscles burned and her breath came in gasps, but she couldn’t stop.
The demons were near. She could hear them close behind her. She ran on in a blind panic. How long till she stumbled or couldn’t run anymore? Then they would have her, and it would be like their journey years before when the demons had caught up with them in the pass.
Keep running. She saw white spots in her vision.
The demons’ shrieks faded behind her.
Was it possible? She looked back over her shoulder and saw them clawing at the invisible wall of the Warding. They couldn’t come any closer. She sank to her knees, gasping. Where was Zarek?
He appeared in front of her a moment later, pulling his terrified horse behind him. “Ana! Are you hurt? They didn’t touch you?”
“I’m all right,” she said, still gasping for breath. She got back to her feet.
“Can you hold the horse?” he asked.
She took the reins from him and tried to soothe the terrified animal.
Zarek drew Blackbane and turned back. “Stay away from the border,” he said as he approached the demons.
