Page 51 of Legacy of the Heirs
“I wonder if the others will gain their halves as easily,” Sadira pondered.
“Perhaps not, especially if they remain in their initial hiding place.” Caellum replied, and silence returned. Soren felt like an odd piece as she watched the two gravitate towards one another, their arms always touching. They had built familiarity and trust. Soren looked away to where her wolves patrolled the open expanse.Feelings are a weakness.She had no time for relationships or friendships with a throne to take. Soren had felt out of place for as long as she could remember. Why should that change now?
“There are some things I wish to gather from my rooms before we leave,” Sadira declared, leaning into Caellum. She looped her arm through his, and he looked down at her with an emotionSoren had always yearned for from the Lord of Night.Pride.
“I will meet you at the dock before sunset,” Soren confirmed. When the two passed her, there was no mistaking the caution in Sadira’s eyes as she glanced back over her shoulder. Soren kept her expression blank until the two disappeared from sight. Whistling a command, her wolves returned from their patrol, with Seiko leading the group. He set a slow pace while Varna took the rear and scanned their surroundings.
Soren leaned against the tree and slid until hitting the cold dirt. She pulled a dagger from her side and hacked off a piece of wood from the nearest root before. Resting her forearms on her knees, she began carving at it. The wolves settled around Soren, who huffed as Baelyn and Tapesh curled either side of her like warm blankets against the wind.
“Is this for your benefit? Or mine?” she asked. Tapesh glanced sideways at her and sighed. Octavia and Serene huddled in front of her shins but were more intent on cuddling one another than Soren. Nevertheless, she appreciated the warmth the barrier of her wolves provided. Varna assumed her usual spot off to the side, sitting and watching as Seiko padded over and mirrored her stance. Soren smiled at the contrast; white and grey, largest and smallest.
She closed her eyes while her hands worked; she focused on the mess of shadows that made up the Lord of Night in the hope he would appear. He did not. He had meant it when he said she would not see him for a while. It was not uncommon. Many times over the years, he had announced his departure before reappearing weeks later, leaving Soren in a state of anticipation, awaiting his next visit. Soren had hoped this spot under the tree might prompt his appearance. She recalled the day the wolves had come to her—the same dayhehad first entered her mind. She had been thirteen and wild, dashing through the tangled maze of roots and hanging branches. Soren heard the collective howl of wolves, but instead of feeling scared, she was intrigued and changed her course to find the source. It was as though the wolves waited for her—apack to take her in. All six stood in a row, watching and whining as they wished to step forward, but Varna kept them in check. Only when the leader approached and sniffed Soren did the other five bound over, fighting to lick her arms. The tree held those memories for her, of the times she fell asleep under the setting sun, only to awake in her dreams and find him. “Hello, little bird,” were the lord’s first words.
Soren’s mouth twitched at the memory, but when she opened her eyes, she accepted defeat and inspected the carved bird in her hands. Seiko whined, turning his head to stare intently at her.
“You will never leave me, will you?” Soren asked. Seiko padded over, clambering over the other four until he could rest his head on her knee. Her mouth twitched again.
Everyone always leaves.
Chapter Thirty-One
Nyzaia
“Thirteen.”
“Twenty.”
“Two,” Rafik chimed in.
“He’s been with more than two women!” Issam exclaimed, his voice bouncing off the high sandstone walls as the group rode through the canyons in a line, with Nyzaia in the middle.
“Look at those eyes; there is no way only two women have fallen for his smoulder!” Jabir, who estimated twenty, shouted at Rafik.
“So, you think his eyes aresmouldering?” Rafik called back, grinning.
“That’s, uh—no. I—”
Nyzaia shook her head and glanced sideways at Farid, whose expression was unreadable as he stared straight ahead.He is in her spot,she realised, and her smile faltered.
“Come on, Farid! Put us out of our misery. Am I taking Rafik’s gold for his poor bet of two?” Issam nudged Farid from atop his horse beside him, who jostled slightly and glanced at Nyzaia with widened eyes, pleading for help.
“None of you were right,” he relented.
“Who was closest?” Jabir asked, dropping the horse’s reins and opening his water pouch.
“Rafik,” Farid said in a clipped tone.
“Ha! I knew it wouldn’t be many. Farid oozes respect, you idiots,” laughed Rafik.
“So how many?” Jabir asked before takinga swig of water. Nyzaia looked at Farid, unable to deny her intrigue, though she wished they would change the topic; poor Farid had been berated since leaving Nefere Valley. The other men appeared more interested in Farid and showed him more respect since he had defended Nyzaia from Tajana. Farid glanced at Jabir, who still guzzled water under the heat of the sun.
“One.”
Jabir sputtered, spitting water as he choked. Issam slapped him on the back.
“Only one?” Issam exclaimed, and Farid nodded.
“Was she the love of your life?” Rafik asked. “Did you declare she was the only one for you?” Rafik continued with a dramatic gesture of his arm. Nyzaia rolled her eyes.
