He’d known that Avery would be devastated over not returning to Earth. But this? This was pure grief. He hadn’t expected the anguish that had overtaken her. More so, he never thought that her anguish would hurt him so much. His essence twisted uneasily. His heart pounded in his chest and he wanted to wrap his arms around this little woman and protect her from all the pains of this world.
She wasn’t his to protect. He had no right to, knowing what he would do to her in the coming months. This woman was not violent. She wasn’t made to be a killer, but her natural instincts would need to be suppressed. She was his only hope for a successful end to this decades-long conflict. Soon she would hate him for what he’d make her do.
Knowing that, he pulled away from her. He opened that strange bag of hers and pulled out her bedroll. He helped her into the sleeping bag, as she’d called it, then left the shelter.
The orange and pink hues of sunset filtered through the purple and clear crystals of the mountain. He needed this fresh air and cleansing light. He needed to separate himself from Avery’s magic and regain his own composure. How had Kyla not felt what lurked within that little woman?
His sensitive sight noted his scouts before they made it up the crest of the mountain. Garnel led a group of a dozen warriors. There was no way in the Abyss he’d let others see Avery looking so vulnerable.
Savine met Garnel below the summit of Quartz Mountain. Garnel’s wine-red hair was braided in intricate designs with beads woven throughout his braids. Kyla must have made Garnel sit still long enough to tame his wild mane.
Savine placed his hand on Garnel’s shoulder, and Garnel did the same to him, gripping each other in greeting.
“Did the human go through the portal?” Garnel asked, getting straight to the point.
“She didn’t. Just as I suspected.”
“Do you think it’s because she’s still weak from her injuries?”
“No, she has a job to do here. She’s strong enough to travel, and we may as well not waste any more time in the Middens. She’ll bring an end to that bastard Jasper. Or, she’ll die trying,” Savine said. The words tasted gritty in his mouth, like he only half believed what he was willing to put this girl through.
“Damn you to the Abyss. You are a cruel man. Too much time leading this rebellion,” Garnel said as he shook his head.
“Look, this will hardly be the worst thing I’ve done in my life. Didn’t my father raise me to be a cold, cruel bastard? I’ll get what I want in the end.”
Garnel nodded. If anyone knew what he’d suffered to turn him into this kind of man, it was Garnel. He’d been there, suffering through it all with him. Or at least cleaning up the blood from the wounds inflicted by his father.
“So where is our little savior, then?” Garnel asked.
“Resting. She was upset about staying in Aeritis.” Savine glanced up the mountain toward the small temple bathed in alpenglow. She hadn’t made a sound since he left her side.
“Was that her making those howling sounds? The scouts were looking for a cave beast, just to be sure.”
“She is not in a good place right now. As she smacked me around, I could feel her magic and my essence reacting to it. She’s going to be a powerhouse once we figure out how to hone her magic.”
Garnel squinted at Savine, his expression a mix of surprise and doubt. “Kyla told me you thought so, although she couldn’t feel anything. I guess we will see soon enough. Magic would make killing the king easier.”
“Look, I think it would be best if she isn’t around anyone tonight. I’ll sleep outside the temple and bring her back to the encampment tomorrow morning. You keep a lookout for any scouts tonight and keep us protected,” Savine said as he turned back toward the peak.
“We’ve got your back. Always,” Garnel said as he gripped Savine’s shoulder in a goodbye.
Savine climbed back to the summit of Quartz Mountain and peeked into the temple. Avery appeared to sleep in the sleeping bag. Good, she would need that rest before hiking down the mountain tomorrow morning.
He ate a simple dinner of jerky and agaso bread before choosing a rock to rest on for the night. The bitter cold of the high elevation cut at Savine’s skin. He wore his fighting leathers, and they gave him some coverage, but did not insulate him from the cold. He would spend a restless night devising a plan for keeping Avery alive. Tomorrow, he planned to share it with his council. Together, they would keep this human alive. Keep Avery alive, only to use her to take out their greatest enemy.
Chapter twelve
Savine
At first light, Savine checked on Avery. She was curled into a tiny ball inside her sleeping bag. He could hardly see her in there, but for the lump in the middle of the bag.
“Avery, we must go,” Savine said, his tone harsher than he needed to be. Avery didn’t respond. He reached down and patted Avery on her back. “It’s time to leave.” She rolled over to his voice and looked up at him. Her golden hair was wildly knotted about her face and head. Her eyes were puffy and her nose was red. She looked so vulnerable and human.
“We must leave before any threats can reach us here. We will be safe back at the encampment,” Savine said with more urgency. Avery rolled her back to him without a word.
“Avery! If we do not leave, you will be killed. There are folk who are hunting you as we speak! Do you want to die?”
Avery didn’t respond for a long time. Finally she said without turning to Savine, “I am already dead. Everyone I know and love thinks I’m dead, and I can’t go home.”
