Page 10 of Secrets of the Lore Keepers
“We’ll find out together,” she agreed. “But only after a night of sleep.”
Chapter Six
In the morning,as curious as I was about the ancient goddess, I recalled how I’d left things with Kian, the irritatingly handsome elven prince. Bouncing out of bed, I threw together a quick breakfast for him and snatched up the neatly folded clothes that Maraini had left on the table. They tumbled out of my too-quick fingers and I dumped them into the basket on top of the food. So, the clothes would be wrinkled. There was only so much I could do.
The sun was higher than I expected, the late night causing me to sleep longer than intended. The two cows were probably bellowing in discontent at not being milked first thing. And they’d probably woken up Kian, who needed his healing sleep. Guiltily, I crept into the barn and headed for his stall, blushing as I recalled we had to find another place for him. He couldn’t keep sleeping in the stall like some animal. I peered over the door and saw a strange contraption hanging between two posts. It had a rope at both ends and a piece of cloth hung suspended over the hay. I narrowed my eyes, attempting to figure out what it was, until I noticed the stall was empty. Again. Where was he?
Stepping back, I peered down to the mare’s stall and then walked up to it. He wasn’t in there, but the mare was eating a bag of oats. Had Maraini gotten up and done my chores for me? But it wouldn’t be like her. And there was no noise from the cows. I made my way to their stalls and almost tripped over pails of milk.
Kian! He must have done my morning chores. Heat flamed my cheeks as I marched out of the barn and immediately spotted him. He was by the well, stripped to his pants and splashing water over his body. It was odd to see a man bathe, and for a moment I lost my wits and stared at him, acutely aware of how beautiful his body looked in the daylight. I admired the tight muscles of his stomach, cutting to a deep v that disappeared inside his pants. His arms were muscular, and yet he had a slender grace to his movements. He truly was a wood elf. Drawn by an invisible lure, I pushed aside my unease and made my way toward him.
“Kian?” I called, so he would know I wasn’t attempting to sneak up on him.
He was patting his face dry with his shirt and once again I was stung with how poor the hospitality from myself and my sister was.
“Rae,” he returned the greeting, “good morn to you.”
I liked how my name rolled off his lips and how he forwent the typical mannerisms of the day. It dispelled some of the tension between us. “Look,” I said, in a haste to get out my apology. How could I have been angry with him? “I’m sorry for the way I reacted last night. It’s not often someone comes here and shares a truth that is unbearable to hear.”
He held up a hand, placed it over his heart, and bowed his head. “I am sorry as well; I don’t know why I said those things. No matter the truth to them.”
I sighed and smiled at him. He smiled back and a comfortable silence stretched between us, one I was unused to. “I brought you fresh clothes,” I handed him the bundle, realizing how jumbled they appeared because of my flustered ways. “I can bring you soap, and you can take a proper bath if you wish.”
His eyes crinkled. “Nay, this is fine.” He shook out the shirt and held it up to him.
For just a moment, I was sorry as his bare skin disappeared. I twisted my fingers, at a loss for words. “How is your wound?”
Kian nodded as he dressed and I perched the basket of food by the well. “Better. Much better, thank you.”
“You did my morning chores,” I rebuked him quietly.
He leveled his gaze at me as he shook out his jerkin, but did not put it on. He looked rather handsome standing there, the neck of the shirt open while his pants fit tightly around his waist. “I did. Last night I heard you and your sister chanting in the moonlight. Confirms my suspicions, you are witches.”
I shook my head, a smile playing around my lips. “Nay, you are mistaken, although I understand why your thoughts lean that way. Witches have magic, like the Sisters of the Light. It is true, we use spells and such, but none of our spells contain magic, they are all remedies wrought by nature. People often forgot that nature has healing properties, and if you understand how to use the right combinations, it often feels like magic. As for the chants, well, words and the intent behind them are powerful. I’ve always believed in the truth and power of words, but aside from knowledge, my sister and I possess none of the magic that witches do. We are Lore Keepers.”
I could not miss the way his eyes lit up as I finished speaking, as though a spark of recognition reached his mind. It faded quickly, lost in a swirl of confusion as he lifted a finger.
“Yes, Lore Keepers.” He touched the back of his head. “Lore Keepers,” he said again, his brow furrowing. “There must be a reason I am here. It was urgent. . .but. . .” he trailed off; his eyes boring into mine as though I could bring the memories racing back with a wave of my fingers.
“Urgent?” I asked, a flutter of fear beating in my breast. It wasn’t often that we received visitors, but if he meant to come here and share an omen with us, we had to know.
My eyes flickered toward the house. “Come with me.” I trusted the warning in my gut. “Maraini is searching for a memory potion, perhaps we can help.”
“What of the farm work?” he asked, taking a step toward me.
I smiled up at him. “I believe your memories are more important. The land can wait.”
As it always did. Enchanted by his presence instead of moving hastily, I fell in step with him.
* * *
“Maraini.”I burst through the door, suddenly aware of how chaotic the inside of the house looked.
The thud of rapid footsteps sounded above us, and a moment later, Maraini came down the stairs, a stack of books in her arms. Her eyes widened as the sight of Kian in the house, but she gave him a quick smile. I’d invited a strange man into our home without thinking twice about it. How much did I truly know about the Kian, Prince of the Wood Elves? “You’re here about the ancient goddess, aren’t you?” Maraini sighed.
I wasn’t watching him, but the odd tone in Kian’s voice made me study his face. “Ancient goddess?” he whispered, brow furrowed as though he were trying hard to recall what was so important.
The potency of the moment swept over me, and my fingers tingled with a sudden need to return the memories to this man before the sun went down. I had the sensation it was of the utmost importance. The words of Sasha the seer kept ringing back.A storm is coming. And with the storm will come a change. Make sure your heart is open.
