Under Larak’s navigation, they retreated deeper into the stronghold of the hills and forests, until they were lost to their foes completely.
9
Rikky
R ikky?”
The boy a few feet ahead of her spun around.
“Hi, can I talk to you?”
A dark blond eyebrow gradually rose, as did the corners of his mouth, until he nodded with a perplexed grin. “Sure.” He moved forward. His gait was loose, flowing. Almost a swagger, except it was effortless and natural. Does that make it better or worse? Talea walked a short distance away, out of earshot of the other men in the forest. None of them appeared to notice, busy with their saws and axes. Rikky had left his embedded in a log.
“Have we met?” he asked as she stopped.
His village was at least twice the size of Vissler, Larak had told her. Still, she bet he already knew the answer. If she lived in his village, they certainly would have met, despite it having almost four hundred occupants. “No. I’m uh, I’m Talea. Talea Andul.”
“Nice to meet you.” He smiled. It lit up his sky-blue eyes. “That’s a pretty name. Is it Irlaish?” He extended his hand for her to shake.
She swallowed, not giving him hers. Do you have to be so darn cute? “Yeah, um, it is. Um, but about that…” She gestured vaguely to his offered hand.
His brow furrowed, as he looked down at his hand. With a sheepish shrug, he wiped it off on his shirt, and extended it again. “Sorry. Been working all day.”
“Oh, no, not…” She inwardly slapped herself. Why can’t you do this, Yhkon?! “I mean, that’s not why I…okay.” She took a deep breath. “Here, just don’t…freak out.” She tentatively slipped her fingers into his palm.
The spark of electricity brought a tingling warmth to her skin. Rikky jumped, surprise slackening his expression, but he didn’t drop her hand or retreat. Instead, he held on, watching the glow spread.
Looking back the way they’d come from to see if anyone was observing, Talea pulled her hand away. “We don’t want anyone to notice.”
He nodded hastily. “Right. But…” His grin had returned. “That’s incredible. How did you…I mean…?”
Smiling at his excitement, Talea folded her arms behind her back. “Well, it’s a long story. But there are eight of us. Myself and four of the others came looking for you, along with...” This is already getting old. She jerked her head to where the other foresters were still working. “Are you able to talk now? Do you need to go make an excuse, or something?”
His grin faded, as he averted his gaze, rubbing the nape of his neck. “Oh, yeah, well…” He looked scared. “Yeah, I could, it’s just…”
She watched him with concern. “What is it?”
“My dad,” he finally admitted. “He’ll be bloody mad if I don’t bring in a full day’s wages.”
His tone told her that bloody mad was something he really did not want his father to be. When she’d asked Larak for information about Rikky, he’d mentioned something about his father being a harsh man. How harsh? “Oh. Well, well that’s okay, he won’t have to know.” She shook her head firmly. “Some of the people I came with will be able to pay the difference.” More like, if things go well, you won’t be working at all by the time of your next payday. But that would be difficult to explain so soon.
Rikky cocked his head. It made a strand of his tousled hair fall over his forehead. What Larak had failed to mention was that Rikayis Iserwood, the sixth ward, was charming enough to make any girl blush to her ears. “Really? These sound like generous people. What benefit is it to them to pay the wages of some laborer?” He was smirking, seeming to be somewhere between impressed and skeptical.
“They are generous,” she wet her lips, “and you’re not just some laborer to us.” At the way his eyes lit up again, she had to duck her head while the heat in her cheeks dissipated. “So um, you don’t have to worry about your father. Just go tell them you’re not feeling well or something. I’ll uh, I’ll just wait over here.”
He left and returned within minutes, clearly enthusiastic for her explanation. Yhkon and Larak had suggested that, in Rikky’s case, it would be better for her to tell him as much as she could and gain his trust, before they made an entrance. So, she did her best to relay all the crazy details that had been brought to light since she’d first met the Wardens, months ago.
Rikky was a keen recipient. There were things he seemed skeptical of, but in an awed, tantalized sort of way. He became more animated the more she told him. The concept of being royalty, destined to live in the Shadow Region and lead a war, was received even more eagerly than the rest.
When she finished, there was a brief pause, before he laughed. “This is crazy. You’re not just pulling my leg?”
“As if I could just make all that up? No, I’m afraid it’s all true.”
“I don’t believe this.” He was grinning again. She couldn’t decide how to feel about that grin. Irresistible was the word that came to mind, and that could mean both good and bad things. “I mean I do. But…wow. Okay so these Wardens, and the other wards. When do I get to meet them?”
“Well, whenever. How about tonight?”
He nodded. “Dad usually heads out after supper, around six. Could you come to my haliop then? Do you know where it is?”
“I’m sure the Wardens do.” She rocked from the balls of her feet to the heels. “We’ll be there, a few of us, anyway.”
“And…” His blue eyes locked on hers. “I can really go with you guys? To get the other two and then to Calcaria, and…all of it?”
“Of course.” She smiled at him. “That’s what I just spent twenty minutes telling you, isn’t it? Though…” She broke eye contact. It was a little easier to be sensible and composed that way. “You should think about it. I mean, this is serious. And it won’t be easy. Trust me, there’s been some hiccups along the way. And this is a war we’re talking about.”
“I know.” His enthusiasm didn’t seem tempered in the least.
Alright, well, I’m gonna say “I told you so” someday. With something of a sigh, she just smiled again. “Alright, then. So, see you tonight?”
“Yeah. And, Talea…” He stepped closer, taking her hand in his. The initial flash of sparks died away when he didn’t release it, a soft aqua glow building where they touched. There was a chill on her skin but warmth within. Watching the glow gain strength, he shook his head with pleasant incredulity. “This is incredible. Thank you.”
She was beginning to think she was going to have to be the one that ended the…moment…which was a bit of a problem because she was feeling slightly too paralyzed, and too tongue-tied. But Rikky let go of her hand, gave her a final smile, and walked away.
That left her standing there, still paralyzed. What in Lamara’s kingdom…
“Um, Talea.”
Yhkon’s voice cured her paralysis. He snorted on a laugh at the way she jumped like a frightened barbsit. “You okay…?”