“Looks like you have a story to tell, my friend,” Thallax said, gesturing to a chair. Rionan pressed his hand into the small of Alianna’s back, taking the bag which contained the stone from her, as he steered her towards the seat which was offered to him. “I will see to it that you are brought food and drink. Other than this lovely female, what exactly have you found in the human realm?”
33
Sound Shields
Rionan and Alianna were brought plates of meat (which looked as though it had been roasted over a fire), accompanied by potatoes,bread, and gravy. A decent meal, Alianna supposed, for a camp that had been set up in the far reaches of a mountain range.
Rionan briefly paused halfway through their food to ask Alianna if she was able to understand the other Xanthians when they had spoken. Alianna confirmed that she could, furrowing her brow at the nature of the question. Rionan explained that they were speaking Xanthian, but the power of the bond between them may be allowing Alianna to understand their language. Most likely speak it, as well.
Alianna was shocked by this. Speaking and understanding a language that, a matter of weeks ago, she would not have believed existed.
Aside from this, they ate in silence, although Rionan’s eyes lingered on her until she had finished. Like clockwork, as Rionan set down his cutlery on his empty plate, Thallax, Ulreah, and Korva reappeared within the tent, striding through the open flaps like they had been waiting to hear the ‘clink’ of metal on porcelain.
Rionan proceeded to tell the trio about everything that had happened. He spoke of his arrival in Porthan and being taken to the hospital after Alianna found him on the beach. He told them of his power reaffirming that he needed to search the town for something. Of being drawn to Alianna, which earned him a blush from her. She kept her chin high, not wanting to seem meek in front of three Xanthian males, two of whom she knew were very powerful. Finally, he spoke of finding the stone within the museum.
It did not go unnoticed by Alianna that the entire time Rionan was talking, the eyes of the three men occasionally skimmed to the bag that had been placed by her feet. When Rionanarrived at that part of their story, all three of them looked to Alianna, and slowly turned their attention more wholly to the canvas bag which contained the stone. Rionan explained all of the memories that had returned to him: that there had been a war in Xanthia before, which was ended by a relative of a corrupt Lord ending his life and taking his power for his own. He explained that the four Xanthian Lords came together to place almost all of their power within the stone, which they had hidden away in the human lands. Finally, upon returning to Xanthia, they took their own lives so that new Xanthian Lords came to power. In doing so, their ritual was complete. The minds of all living Xanthians were wiped of any memories of the war, of their Lord’ssudden passing, and of the stone itself. Rionan explained that only when a Xanthian Lord sought out the stone not for his own personal gain, but to help his people, would his power lead him to it.
Rionan slowly nodded to Alianna, who reached down to the bag. She carefully slipped the stone free of its canvas wrapping and placed it on the table in front of them, where their dinner plates were. Ulreah and Thallax looked equally in awe of the item, while Korva took a full step backwards.
“You speak true,” Korva declared. “I can feel the power within the stone radiating through the very air we breathe.”
“A fail-safe,” Thallax commented, looking from the stone to Alianna, to Rionan. “Should such a war ever occur again. A way to turn the tide.”
“A way to turn the tide,” Rionan repeated, nodding.
“But how is it used?” Ulreah asked, his voice distant, elegant, like a winter wind swooping through trees.
“That is Korva’s job to work out,” Rionan turned his full attention to Korva. “I know you will not have your full library with you, Korva, but it is unlike you to travel without at least one case of books. Can I trust you to research this topic?”
“At once,” Korva nodded. “I shall see to it immediately, My Lord.”
“Good,” Rionan concluded. “We do not have long before word gets back to Rannirr that I have returned to Xanthian soil. The element of surprise might yet be on our side. Let’s establish how we use this, and use it as quickly as possible. Go, Korva.”
Korva nodded eagerly and swept from the tent, the canvas entryway flapping behind him as he left.
“Ali,” Rionan said softly, his attention back on her once more. He stood, and she realised that he held a sense of grace here that she had not noticed in Porthan. He scooped up the stone, taking it to a chest at the back of the tent. He opened the chest, clearing room with one hand, shuffling around maps and paperwork. Slowly, he lowered the stone inside, pushing the chest lid closed and dusting off his hands. “I need to go and speak with one of my council members. You will not be left unattended, nor will the stone. Thallax, can I trust you with this?”
Thallax nodded, striding towards the table at which Alianna still sat, and he took the seat that Rionan had previously occupied.
“With the stone or with your bonded female, you can trust me with both, My Lord.”
“None of this ‘My Lord’ business from you. But thank you. I will be back soon. Ulreah, I need you with me.”
With that, Rionan and Ulreah filed out of the tent, leaving Alianna alone with Thallax.
Alianna studied Thallax carefully as he sat with a smirk on his face. Despite his rugged appearance, his armour, and his chiselled jawline, his face was soft – kind. His eyes held a sparkle that whispered of mischief and fun. Alianna felt an overarching sense of safety and knew within her heart that she could trust this man.
“You’re wondering why he was so intense tonight, aren’t you?” Thallax asked, kicking back in his chair, setting his feet on the table and folding his arms. He wore an amused, knowing smile.
Alianna wasn’t sure if the question had been written over her face for hours, if Thallax was using his powers to ascertain her thoughts and her motivations, or if it was a combination of the two. Whatever led him to understand her confusion at Rionan’s behaviour towards Korva – Alianna nodded.
“Being soul-bound to another…has Rionan explained how it works?”
“Yes,” Alianna confirmed. “He said that when two people feel something for each other, a sacred magic of your kind recognises this, and during…certainacts, the individuals can be bound. A part of his soul lives within me, and mine within him.”
“Correct. The bond may also solidify with the next one or two repeating acts, as you call them,” Thallax offered a wink and laughed as Alianna reddened. “The soul-bond will be intense for Rionan. To be bonded to another – for Xanthians, anyway – it is overwhelming. You may not be able to feel it quite as much as he can. I haven’t heard of a Xanthian being bonded to a human before.”
“Why?” Alianna asked.
