Luminary (Faylinn Book 3), page 6
My fingers itched at her wrist. I wanted to take her hand in mine again, just to feel her securely there, but it would make everything worse.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
I felt her inhale before she faintly replied, “I think so.”
“Calliope—” I began.
The bough trembled beneath us, and I realized I had completely lost awareness of our surroundings. I saw Declan before she did and immediately wanted to punch him for taking this moment away from me.
Shaking my head to clear away the memory, I picked up my pace, my heart racing faster. Springing from tree to tree, I continued my search. I needed to feel her in my arms again. I needed to know she was safe.
Chapter Eight
SAKARI
Calliope opened her bedroom door, and, although it was barely the crack of dawn her eyes were bright and ready, a little too eager for learning how to kill.
“You’re clearly ready.”
“Well, don’t sound so enthused.” She frowned. “We’re not going to a fallen fae ceremony.”
I blinked. “Forgive me. Teaching someone defense tactics—knowing why I have to teach them—doesn’t exactly give me pleasure.”
I was well aware of the fact that my father was about to bring war to Faylinn. There was no way to stop it, but I didn’t want to alarm Calliope. The last thing I wanted was for her to take any part in it. I agreed with her that if something out of our control were to arise, she needed to know what to do, but it didn’t mean I had to like it. I could only hope nothing would happen that required her to use any of what I was about to teach her.
“You must not be a morning person,” she mused. I didn’t quite understand, so she continued. “Someone who doesn’t like mornings.”
“Who wouldn’t like mornings? It’s the start of a new day. Sunrises are beautiful, though I prefer watching the sun set.”
She thoughtfully peered forward, with a small rise of her lips as we walked. “My best friend, Cameron, is not a morning person. You have to give him at least an hour after he wakes up before he’s even ready for conversation. Don’t bother trying. All you’ll get are grunts.” Talking about her friend brightened Calliope’s face, but as soon as she finished, she lowered her eyes to the floor and didn’t say another word.
Cameron must be the other friend Magnolia always mentioned. Calliope was very fond of him. And the fact that she told him about who she was… she trusted him with her life. I yearned for her to trust me like that.
When we breached the tree line on the north side of the meadow she asked, “Where are we going?”
“Far enough in so no one will bother us. And far enough so you don’t accidentally send an arrow into someone you don’t mean to.”
Calliope looked as if she wouldn’t have minded letting an arrow fly into another Rymidonian, but I tried not to let that deter me from teaching her how to defend herself. This was the right thing to do. I tried to convince myself of that as we trekked farther in and farther away from everyone else.
“So, you’re going to teach me how to shoot a bow and arrow?”
“If you somehow make your way into the middle of any commotion, I don’t want you in hand-to-hand combat. No one should be able to get close enough to touch you.”
Calliope snorted. “Commotion? That’s all, huh?”
“Yes. Commotion.”
“And what if I run out of arrows?” she countered.
“Find more or hide.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m not hiding. Teach me how to use a dagger or something.”
“First things first. Bow and arrow, then I’ll teach you something else if we have time.”
“If we have time? How long is this going to take?”
“You think I’m going to show you archery once and you’ll pick it up just like that? It’s so much more than simply aiming and shooting. Wind plays a factor, and the stillness of your body—”
“When is this going to happen? When is your dad going to destroy the Waking Oak?”
I blinked at her directness. “He hasn’t made me aware of his plans,” I answered honestly.
“What if there isn’t enough time to teach me before it happens?”
“I didn’t say you wouldn’t be able to pick up on the basics today. I’ll make sure you’re prepared, but having you master several weapons won’t be possible.”
“Archery just seems like a difficult skill to learn if I only have a limited amount of time.”
“It won’t be as hard as you think if you focus. Your vision is more clear and precise now that you’re fae. So, you should have better aim. You have strength on your side, as well, so you’ll be able to pull back on the tighter strings, which will come in handy. And you’re more agile, so you’ll be able to move swiftly when necessary. I don’t think picking up on it will be a problem.”
“You think I’ll be able to mostly pick up on it by the end of today?” she asked wryly, but part hopeful.
“I’m a good teacher.” I smiled. She didn’t look too sure. “Okay,” I lowered my voice. When I moved closer, she leaned away. I could tell I was going to have to ease Calliope into this. She shook her head and eyed the ground, battling with herself. On an exhale, she stepped toward me, giving in.
I pulled out a piece of leather to strap on her forearm. “Are you better with your right or left hand?”
“I write with my right hand, if that’s what you mean.”
“Okay, then give me your left arm.”
“What’s that?” she asked as she lifted her arm to me.
“It’ll help protect your arm. You don’t want to flinch simply because you’re trying to avoid hitting your arm on release,” I said, securing the leather around her forearm. “The guard will protect you.”
“I still don’t see why this is the weapon you chose.”
I ignored her grumbling. “We’re going to focus on form first, okay?”
She nodded with an agitated sigh.
I guardedly shifted behind her and placed the bow in her hands. She felt so delicate in my arms, but I knew better than to think of her as weak. At any moment she could turn around and punch me, so I attempted to be respectful. As I instructed her on how to hold the bow, she nodded her understanding.
I placed the arrow in the bow. “Don’t grip the bow. It’s not going to fall out of your hand. The pressure of the draw will keep it there, so just let it rest. If you grip the bow, your arrow won’t be pointing where you think it is. The bow will start to point in the direction that the pressure of your hand points.” She loosened her fingers a fraction. “There you go,” I said gently, as if she were a scared animal.
Her back remained rigid against me. The tension inside of her was going to make this a lot more difficult. But I couldn’t think of how to ease her discomfort. She didn’t trust me enough yet to let her guard down.
“Okay, now draw the arrow back. We’re going to aim for that tree with the gnarly knot,” I said, pointing her in the right direction. “You see it?”
She nodded and released the arrow. It barely soared fifteen feet before it landed in the dirt nowhere near the tree.
This might take a little longer than I anticipated.
“Don’t be afraid of the string. Pull it tighter. You have the strength.”
“I don’t want to snap it,” she retorted.
I chuckled. “You won’t. It’s kind of meant to be pulled.”
With narrowed eyes, she pursed her lips. She wasn’t amused.
I gave her another arrow. “Relax your bow arm a little. It should be straight, but not tense. That’s better.”
I came up behind her once more. The wind picked up, and her flowery scent assaulted me. Taking a few deep breaths, I tried to focus on the task at hand and not on how good she smelled. It only tormented me more, knowing she wasn’t really mine yet.
“Keep your eye on the target. Feel for the wind. If the wind is blowing from the right, you’ll need to aim a little more to the right since the arrow will fly to the left a bit.” Calliope remained quiet. “Does that make sense? Do you feel it?”
She nodded against my chest.
“And be sure to exhale on release. If you inhale, it causes movement. You must always be as still as possible to hit your target.” Her bow arm repositioned. “Don’t bend your elbow… keep it straight. There you go, but be sure to keep your elbow facing out, though. Just like that.”
She pulled away and scowled. “You honestly think I’m going to remember all of these things in all the commotion? Can’t you just teach me how to use a dagger?”
“You think that would be easier?” I scoffed. “It’s not. And it will leave more opportunity for injury. I’m not willing to risk that. If you do this enough times, it will become a part of you. We can practice every day if it makes you feel better.”
She wasn’t appeased, but she continued without argument.
The next arrow landed in the dirt ten feet in front of the trunk. “You still need a little more force. Don’t be afraid to pull the string tighter.”
Though she used more pull, the angle was wrong. The following arrow soared past the tree.
“Well, that was better. Just try to aim for the tree next time.”
“Thanks, Sherlock,” she griped.
“Who’s Sherlock?”
“A detective.”
“A what?”
“How is sarcasm so lost on you?” she muttered.
“Your sarcasm won’t help you learn how to shoot this arrow any straighter or farther.”
I was becoming very familiar with her scowl. I wanted to laugh, but I knew that would only make matters worse. This time I helped her pull the string back, so she could see how tight it should feel in her hand. With my help we hit our target, square in the center.
“Okay, now I’m going to step back and let you do it on your own.”
Calliope rolled her shoulders back and stretched her neck from side to side, trying to loosen up. It took about twenty more tries and a lot more advice and instruction, but she finally hit the knot all by herself. It wasn’t a perfect shot, but it was close enough.
“Ha! I did it!” She punched the air and jumped.
“Good. Now, let’s talk about what your targets will be and the best place to strike. Because you won’t be aiming for tree trunks when the time comes.”
Her face drew serious.
“The torso is obviously the biggest target on a body, but the rib cage and sternum are harder to pierce. You’ll need more force. So, if you’re a long shot away, try to aim for the neck.”
She winced and recoiled. “I don’t want to kill anybody.”
“You wanted me to teach you how to defend yourself, did you not?”
She nodded.
“So, if it is your life or theirs, what are you going to choose?” I asked seriously.
With her jaw clenched, she murmured, “Mine.”
“And if it’s the life of someone you love or someone else, what are you going to choose?”
Calliope’s eyes turned to stone, but she didn’t reply.
“Someone has a dagger to Kai’s throat…” I painted a picture, knowing it would make a point. “The knife point has pierced the skin. Blood is dripping down. You’re there, watching as his life expectancy slowly seeps right through your fingers. What are you going to do?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Protect Kai,” she declared steadily, no hint of hesitation. It was exactly what she needed.
“Okay then.”
Calliope shut her mouth and gritted her teeth, letting me resume. Her expression had so much to say, and I didn’t understand any of it, but I continued.
“Close range will offer you more force, but you’ll need a tighter string. It’ll be harder for you to pull, but it’ll equip you with enough force for impacting the torso. As a beginner you’ll want a bigger target. The neck won’t be easy to hit. Though, that would be more lethal.”
The more I talked, the higher the flames built in her eyes. I’d never dismissed her anger before, but this felt different. She was ready.
“Do you want to try a few more times before we go to lunch?”
“Yes,” she said resolutely.
“All right.” I stepped back after handing her an arrow.
Calliope inhaled and lifted the bow, standing with more confidence, as if she’d been doing this her whole life. She was becoming a natural. Inhaling and exhaling a couple times, she focused on the trunk. On the next exhale she released the arrow, and with perfect precision she nailed the knot.
I clapped and jogged over to the tree to tug the arrow from the trunk. When I turned to congratulate her, I stopped. Calliope wasn’t fumbling with the next arrow. Her expression changed from uncertainty to determination. She held the bow and arrow poised.
Right at me.
Chapter Nine
CALLIOPE
Do not accept defeat. Fight, Calliope.
I would.
My body ignited like a cannon ready to fire, the fury building and overflowing. I could no longer control it. Lifting the bow with another arrow, my arm positioned as Sakari taught, I set my sights on my target.
When Sakari turned, his eyes widened ever so slightly, but he tried to remain calm.
“I could shoot you right now,” I said through my clenched teeth. “What a wrench that would put in your father’s plans.”
Sakari flinched, but recovered quickly. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed before meeting my eyes with firmness. “You won’t shoot me.”
“Won’t I? Killing you right now could give me the perfect escape. We’re in the middle of Faylinn. No one to witness.” I could end him and make my escape.
“Killing me would solve nothing.”
Tilting my head to one side, I said, “Somehow I feel like it would solve a lot.”
“He would just have you bond with Skye instead.”
“Skye is with Lia.” And I could be long gone before that thought would even form.
“And you think that’s a viable defense?” Sakari lifted an eyebrow, his eyes snickering at me. Not like he was mocking me, but as if he was annoyed with my stupidity. “Why do you think they haven’t bonded yet? Do you really think my father hasn’t thought this through? He’s keeping his options open.”
“And what if you both die? I have no qualms with putting an arrow through Skye’s chest. It would give me no greater pleasure.” Where is this coming from?
Sakari looked at me as if I was letting my blonde show, and it clicked. “Who do you think would be the next in line after that?”
“Your father would honestly bond with me?” I scoffed. “Right.”
“You say that as if it’s a shock to you. It would be a means to an end. He doesn’t merely have one plan, Calliope. He will get his way. Mark my words. No matter what you do, he will always be one step ahead. Trust me.”
I repositioned my hand on the bow, holding it tighter, stretching the string back. All I’d have to do is let go. “Not if I have anything to say about it.” I could go. I could find Kai. We would find a solution together.
Sakari stepped closer, more plainly in view, giving me the perfect angle to send an arrow straight through his heart. “You really want to shoot me? Get it over with already. I hate the anticipation. I’d rather it end quickly.”
My fingers dug into the bow, the string pressing into my skin as I gripped it. I could do it. I could run. Search for Kai. Or somehow try to contact the other kingdoms. I would find a way. Anything would be better than being locked back in my bedroom to wait for the day of our bonding. Though it was only a few days away, I couldn’t handle being cooped up in there for one more second.
Sakari stared at me, unafraid to die. “Well?” His eyes gave nothing away as he waited.
Angry tears stabbed the backs of my eyes, and a lump formed in my throat. It could all be over in one fell swoop. Send the arrow flying. Just do it!
Sakari stood unblinking. He didn’t say another word, only stared and waited. Either he was calling my bluff, or he really was ready to end it all.
“Why aren’t you stopping me?” I grit my teeth tighter, sucking back the tears.
“Because I’m trying to understand you. This isn’t you. For you to be willing to kill me, you must really believe this is the only solution.”
“Don’t act like you know me.” I gulped back a cry. “You don’t.”
“If you really think ending my life will solve everything—that the kingdoms will be able to live in peace, that my father will let this all go—do it. I’ll be the sacrifice. If my death means the end of it all, I’m willing to die.” He breathed. “For you.”
My fingernails dug into my palms the tighter I held the bow. The angel and the devil were in a death match on my shoulders. There was no apparent winner.
“Do it,” Sakari whispered with the devil.
“If you kill him, who will Adair take it out on?” said the angel.
“Now,” said the devil.
It didn’t matter. I released the string and let the arrow fly. With shaking hands I dropped the bow to my side, fell to my knees, and sobbed.
He wasn’t the one I wanted to kill, not really. If anyone was to die, it was going to be Adair. I wanted Adair annihilated. I wanted him to die a fiery, painful death. One with no mercy. He would see everything gradually taken away from him.
The touch of Sakari’s hand on my back was unexpected, but not unwelcome. He knelt beside me and whispered, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” For what, I didn’t know. I was the one trying to kill him. But the softness in his voice proved to me he understood. He knew me better than I thought.
And I hated it.
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