Page 10 of Changelings
Mantii often lived communally, and after so many years together, it felt natural to do everything shoulder to shoulder. Tonight, though, Balar needed to be alone with his frustration and wounded pride.
Soren shot him a long look before leaving, and Balar waved him away.I’ll explain in the morning.
Immediately upon their departure, Balar’s loneliness sucked at his guts.
Sighing, he slumped onto his bed face down.
Ibás, what a mess.
He grimaced into his pillow to consider what Imogen must think of him. Balar had never imagined meeting akigaracould go so badly. Sure, there were plenty of ballads about ill-matched mates and humorous stories about badly met matches, but that wasn’t meant to happen tohim.
Not after all the waiting and planning he’d done.
In a rumbling exhale, Balar promised himself that tomorrow would be different. Tomorrow, he’d explain to his brothers and secure their help. They’d search every inch of that blasted forest. If he had to travel north and get help from Allarion, he would. He’d make the crafty fae any promise, if only he’d use his magic to help find Imogen.
That decided, Balar guzzled down the jug of water he kept near his bedside, rolled over, and commanded himself to sleep.Tomorrow, kigara. I’m coming for you.
“What are we doing here?” grumbled Diar the next morning, kicking a stick out of his way.
Planting his fists on his hips, Balar declared, “Yesterday, I woke up here to a wondrous sight. I have found akigara.”
Soren frowned. “You slept in the woods?”
“That’swhy you didn’t come home?” Akila laughed.
“Akigara,” Kiri marveled.
Pinning his ears back, Balar said, louder than the rest, “I saw her, clear as day, right where we’re standing.”
The others blinked before looking around the surrounding trees. It’d been too much to hope that she would come this same way at the same time the next day, finding her exactly where she’d found him yesterday. He’d waited as long as he could—his brothers were getting bored and mouthy, so it was time to go on the hunt.
“Then why didn’t you bring her back with you yesterday?” Diar asked.
Akila’s grin was insufferably smug. “Didn’t make a good impression on the side of the path, did you,akash-ab?Did she and the buzzards mistake you for carrion?”
If Balar’s scowl could create fire, Diar and Akila’s manes would’ve burned right off. They were trying his patience on purpose, of course, and on another day, he might’ve seen the humor in it. But not today. Not until he’d gotten hiskigarato smile at him.
“I’m told—” Balar said over their snickering “—that she keeps a cottage in these woods, but no one is sure where. We will fan out and search.”
He expected argument. He expected jokes. What he got was a considerate question from Soren.
“How will we know it’s her?”
Balar thought a moment. A strange part of him was loath to describe her, to share what little of her he had with all his brothers—but he needed their help.
“She keeps goats, a donkey, and a dog, so search for their smells. She has long brown hair, brown eyes, and a red stain upon her face.”
“A stain?” repeated Diar.
“Kurun-inanda,” said Kiri, smiling. “A goddess mark. No wonder she’s yourkigara.”
Akila blew out a breath. “Well, she must be beautiful, then.”
“And rich. Hopefully rich,” added Diar. “A real lady.”
“What she is, is mine,” said Balar. “That’s enough.”
All his brothers nodded, knowing how important akigarawas. It wasn’t just Balar who wished for a mate—rowdy Diar and laughing Akila also longed for good mates to love and spoil. Kiri was young yet, but he loved the stories of their people and was already a romantic at heart.
