Tonight, he would pet her to sleep, covered in his furs, with a fire to warm her through the darkest hours. He would guard her rest while he made coverings for her soft feet.
A gasp, a bright ray of sunlight, and a strange otherworldly heat flushed his skin when they turned the final corner to the overlook. Calavia rushed away from him and toward the ledge as his face lifted to the sky.
It has been too long.
He loved the way the sun felt on his skin. He found a comforting, almost tangible bliss when a ray of light pierced through the mist.I missed this.Astegur opened his eyes to find Calavia doing the same, her arms stretched out low at her sides. Her long, dark hair fluttered around her small frame, offsetting the pale glow of her skin. His mouth watered as glee filled his hearts. It constricted his throat, being privy to such beauty, being able to witness Calavia experience another first.
The clouds shifted overhead as he took in the sight, and the rays of light vanished. Calavia whined and lowered to her knees, her face still tilted toward the sky. He dropped down beside her.
“Will it come back?” she asked, her voice filled with sorrow and awe.
“Yes.”
They sat in silence as the sun came and went, the glows of yellows and golds, hazy as it bled through the mist that had traveled to cover the peaks of the world. And the sun did come back, now and again, to brighten their eyes, and warm them again, but it never lasted. It never stayed. But those glimpses meant more to Calavia than he ever expected.
Tears sprang to her eyes each time the brilliant glow returned. They sat there waiting for it all day.
But as the day began to fade and the large orb of the moon rose to pierce the gloom and take down the sun, Calavia finally spoke.
“My mother got to see the sun every day of her life before the labyrinth wall moved.”
“There are storms and clouds in the sky as well. She may have not seen the sun every day,” he said.
“Yes, but there was always a possibility that the sky would clear.”
Astegur grunted. “That possibility exists today.”
Calavia twisted to look at him. “You mean right here? On this very peak? Do you think there are taller mountains that rise above the clouds?”
“I mean humans. Humans expel the curse. One day, my brothers will all have mates, and they will have children, and this peak will be vanquished of the curse.”
“Is that your goal? To return the light?”
“It is one of our goals.” He caught a strand of her hair when her head lowered. “But not our main one.”
She canted her head away from him, catching his eyes again with hooded lids. She swept her hand across the view. “You plan to conquer the land.”
“From here to the sacrificial zone straight across. Days to the east. We plan to be the ruling tribe of this land and control the sacrifices given here.”
“Much like the centaurs south along Enios coast.”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“You will need an army for that.”
“Or just the deaths of a few key tribal leaders and warchiefs.”
“No, you will need an army.” She rose to her feet, placing her hand on his shoulder to help balance herself.
He joined her and pulled her cape tightly closed around her shoulders, retying its strings. “Perhaps you are right.”
“I may not be able to give you the sons you seek—”
“Calavia,” Astegur growled.
“Let me finish.” She pulled out of his grip and began to descend the mountain.
He stalked behind her.
