Page 11 of Married By Wind
I glanced at the bank where my parents sat as though they didn’t have a care in the world and then to the rocks above the cave where no one was watching for an attack. “What did you do to my parents and my tribe?”
Vinn put a hand over his heart, trying his best to look wounded. “You underestimate me. I know the hearts and minds of your people. Most want to hear my story and know where I’ve been all this time, and they wanted a reason to laugh again. When the weight of the world crushes you, don’t you want a night of celebration? A reason to escape? It helps you forget instead of wallow in your fears and grief. Our union is such a night. Come, Ulika, marry me, dance around the fire, forget about the future, and enjoy the moment.”
As he spoke, he took my hands in his, squeezing them gently. Under the starlight, it was easy to smile up at him, my heart fluttering with hope. I shouldn’t fall for his magnetic smile or the spell of his charm again, but I wanted to. Just for tonight, I’d forget about impossibility and, as he said, enjoy the moment, before we went into the desert and everything changed.
Tomorrow, when the sun came up, I’d remember that Vinn was the god of wind, he’d left me once, and he’d do so again. But he was here, right now, and my heart surged under the weight of his attentions. My nod was all he needed, and he pulled me toward the fire.
13
Vinn
Imarried Ulika, daughter of sand, that evening. The voices of her tribe lifted in song and laughter, making my spirits light. Ignoring the warnings that rang within my soul, I focused only on that moment and the fact that I was no longer alone. She was beautiful, dressed in white, with a gold circlet woven into her hair. The pain of parting was gone, and when she smiled at me, I thought I’d drown within her soulful brown eyes. Perhaps gods weren’t meant to be alone, without the love and respect and worship of mortals.
Earlier, I’d been sitting on the bank with my feet in the water, watching the silver fish nip my toes. Her papa had stormed toward me, furious at me for leaving, then returning to take advantage of his daughter’s innocence.
The truth flowed naturally from my lips. I’d left because I wasn’t able to give her what she wanted, but I’d returned because of the sand devils. I admitted that I cared about her, and spoke of the future. Not the hopeless future of Ulika and me, but the future of the tribe. If her papa misunderstood, that was his fault.
Safety and security were most important, and with the sand devils gone, they’d have freedom once again. I spoke of Ulika’s passion for painting and Anat’s bright spirit, how neither of them should be trapped in a cave. Freedom was most important, and their spirits would thrive once I had cleansed the desert. I told him he was the leader of the tribe and had to protect it. The people were weary and disheartened, but a celebration would boost their spirits.
He’d warred within himself but had eventually conceded I was right and given me his blessing.
Jadda spoke the words of the wedding ceremony, wishing us a long life (I already had that), blessings (I’d ensure Ulika was wealthy), and many, many children. I banished the brevity of three months from my mind, recalling my advice to Ulika to enjoy the here and now. We feasted and drank and danced.
When the velvet shadows of night fell, a chill descended, making the warmth of the fire particularly enchanting. I attempted to hold Ulika in my arms, but she squirmed away, gyrating to the beat of the drum. The people of the desert did not dance in slow and seductive movements like the fae. They danced as though their very lives depended on it, a breathless, demanding dance, legs kicking, hips shaking, hands and arms briefly intertwining.
Ulika laughed as she danced, and her lightheartedness was so enchanting I was tempted to kiss her. My pulse throbbed with yearning, for the wall of distance between us was gone and this might be the only time she might accept me as her husband. My heart thudded in my chest, an unusual sensation, and wind stroked my hair.
I didn’t notice it the first time, but the second time, I stilled. A sulfuric undertone hung in the air, and the wind blew steadily stronger. I caught Ulika’s arm. “Quick, to the caves.”
The joy on her face died in an instant, and she spun around before whirling back to me. “Tell the musicians. I’ll warn the others.”
She dashed off, pulling people aside and whispering in their ears. Impressed by her calmness, I hesitated, but when the strength of the winds returned, I moved.
Moments later, a horn sounded, and the tribe surged toward the caves. The music changed from merriment into a thump of drums, a warning rolling through the camp. My moment to save Ulika’s tribe and vanquish the sand devils had come, but all too soon.
The wind roared, hurling sand at me. I closed my eyes, reaching for the magic that was locked within. I could not let the tribe see the sand devils defeat me. Wind alone would not stop them, so I stepped into the river and pulled the waters to me. They came with a roar and wail, but the goddess of the river yanked back, chiding me against stealing her waters.
I had forgotten she dwelled there and promised to return every drop that had been taken. I’d speak to the rain and ask it to replenish her waters. She relented, and I turned back to the shore. Flames from the fire licked the air as though nothing was wrong, but the horizon was black with streaks of violet lightning. The wind howled as a cloud rose out of the desert, a vortex thundering down upon the tribe.
Readying myself, I watched, surprised as I made out red eyes, pointed horns, and a jagged shadow. A deep voice bellowed, and suddenly I understood why the tribe called them sand devils. These were not natural creatures but things made of shadows and darkness, coming to take what they desired. Not tonight. I pulled the strings of my magic and hurled myself toward it.
14
Ulika
“Where’s Vinn?” Anat asked as we huddled together in the cave.
The walls shook as the storm outside wailed. A baby cried, and I squeezed my eyes shut. The howling made me want to cover my ears and scream and scream until it stopped. But I didn’t have the excuse of being a child. Instead, I tugged Anat closer, my lips trembling as I spoke. “He’s seen the sand devils before. He’ll know what to do.”
I only prayed my words were true.
“I’m glad he returned,” Anat whispered back, her words just barely audible over the roar of the wind. “You were really sad, and now he’s going to make you really happy.”
A tear leaked down my cheek, but I did not brush it away, for Anat would notice my movements. Instead, resting my head against hers, I nodded. She didn’t know it was only for three months, and I hated to consider how I would explain myself when I returned. Alone. He was the god of wind, and we had no future together. The wedding ceremony had only made a flutter of hope burn within, a flame I needed to extinguish now. Vinn was only playing a part, but if I wasn’t careful, I’d believe that he cared for me after all. Had I been wrong about his indifference toward me?
The windstorm continued, hushing us into silence as we waited in the dark. Vinn was out there, facing the monsters while I cowered inside, helpless. An irritating thought wormed into my mind. What if he defeated the sand devils tonight, lifted the curse, and broke the bond? My fingers trembled as I recalled leaving the cursed lamp in my parents’ tent, where it was likely getting buried by sand. It was probably for the best. The lamp should be melted down, destroyed, so that no one could use it again.
We waited for an indeterminable amount of time until the wind stopped and the terrors of the night morphed into a peaceful silence. Gray light filtered into the cave, displaying shadows and hunched forms. I blinked against the darkness and kept my face pointed toward the entrance, willing Vinn to appear.
