Once a nixir was disarmed, they were at a severe disadvantage, even if they were the same size as the Jotaha. The chanu zayul made certain of that. The importance of silent weapons could not be overstated. The loud burst of nixir weapons brought the others of their group to their aid, but the whisper of a dart or the silent slash of a dagger dispatched them quickly and quietly, keeping the others unaware of the hunter’s presence.
All of the jotahs did well, but one stood out among them. He nearly managed to get the drop on Jotaha himself, only failing because of Jotaha’s enhanced senses and agility. Jotah Rin would be the first to approach the nest of the zayul in the hopes that the chanu zayul would choose him.
After the trial was called and the champion named, Jotaha and the others watched him make his way down the sacred tunnel to the nest. The other jotahs would be disappointed if Jotah Rin was chosen by the chanu zayul, but they understood that only one could go forward to take the title of Guardian of the Dark Paths. Most of the others would move on to become sentils.
For his sake, Jotaha was relieved to see the champion jotah returning from the sacred tunnel, his scales alit with the blessing of the chanu zayul as he knelt at Jotaha’s feet and spoke his oath to guard the urvaka and protect the world from the nixir invaders—even if it meant sacrificing his own life. No longer bearing the nest name Kalanost, Jotah Rin became Jotaha, and Jotaha became Jotahan.
It was a powerful moment and life-altering for Jotahan. No longer would he be the Guardian of the Dark Paths. His role now would be to train the sentils and future jotahs for their duties. He would also be able to begin trying for nestlings as soon as he and Sarah completed the sata-drahi’at and entered their seclusion.
There was still so much to do, even as the new Jotaha packed his belongings and set out on his first journey to the urvaka, which relieved all of the Jotahans. Given the latest incursions of the twisted nixirs, they couldn’t leave the urvaka unprotected for much longer.
His chanu zayul would be fully matured soon, though he wasn’t sure exactly how long he had left before they withdrew their tendrils and began the process of leaving his body. He would know when it was time for him to travel back to the sacred nest here in the skilev, the one linked directly to the urvaka through passageways only the zayul themselves could travel.
Sarah’s chanu zayul would also be leaving her soon, and she worried that she would lose the ability to understand his language when that happened. He didn’t think that would be the case, and had reassured her that, usually, if the chanu zayul put knowledge in the mind of their host, that knowledge remained, even after they withdrew their tendrils.
Even if she couldn’t understand him at first, he would not let that stand in their way. He would find a way to communicate with her again. He would even learn her complicated nixir language if he had to. He would do whatever it took to make sure that his drahi felt like this was her home, and that she could be happy here.
Despite the celebratory atmosphere among the Jotahans after they saw the newest Jotaha off, he could not be as joyful as those around him. Seta Zul’s priest was not recovering from whatever illness plagued him, and Jotahan was beginning to grow concerned about his health. As frustrated as he was that this meant another delay of their sata-drahi’at, he was now more worried about Priest Zan Cyall than about the change in his own plans.
It wasn’t unusual for a yan-kanat adult to grow ill from time to time, and in most cases, they recovered after several cycles. It was rare for any illness to extend for a prolonged period of time once they passed the very vulnerable nestling stage of life. When it did, it was not a good sign. It usually meant the yan-kanat wasn’t strong enough to survive.
Priest Zan Cyall had been hale and hearty when Jotahan and Sarah had met with him the last time for their final counseling. He was only in the middle of his life, and should not be weak enough to succumb to an illness that caused him nausea and vomiting and other complications that left him bound to his rooms and unable to entertain anyone but his healers.
The healers had done all they could for him. The usual treatment for such maladies was plenty of fluids and comforting teas to replace what he lost through his illness, and bedrest to give his body time to heal itself. There wasn’t much else to do but wait.
Jotahan tried to set aside his concern for Zan Cyall and focus instead on breaking the news to Sarah that their bonding would be delayed yet again. He knew she would disappointed, but nowhere near as much as he was. Not only was it agony to be in her presence and not be able to make love to her, but he also wanted to bind her to him as quickly as possible and hopefully fill her womb with a nestling. Not only would he be overjoyed to have nestlings of his own—which had always been a lifelong goal for him—but he hoped bearing his offspring would further her loyalty and commitment to him.
She had sworn to submit to him, but she had done so out of the mistaken fear that he might leave her. He hadn’t meant to scare her like that. He never wanted her to doubt his commitment to her again. He would be more careful about speaking out of anger and jealousy in the future. There were simply some things he must learn to tolerate from his nixir female. Her defiance of her expected role was one of them. He could be patient and guide her, and he could also compromise. They would make this work.
He knew it had not been easy for Sarah to let go of her nixir child, and she had only done so because she could not provide a good home for the nestling. He would give her nestlings the best home, and Sarah would never need to say goodbye to them and grieve for their loss.
Unless they passed on into the Inferno, as far too many nestlings did before they could grow strong enough to leave the safety of the nest.
He wouldn’t think about that happening. He never wanted to think about that happening. It wouldn’t happen to him and Sarah, because her nixir blood would make their nestlings resilient.
“Has passing on the title already stripped you of your hunting senses,” a familiar voice said from right behind Jotahan.
He spun around to see Kevos standing close to him, watching him with a mocking tilt to his lips.
“I could have slid a knife between your ribs as you stood there cloud gazing, completely unaware of my approach.”
He had been deep in thought. So much so that he’d barely noticed where his feet had carried him after leaving the training grounds. They were in the apothecary pavilion, next to the training grounds and arena, where he’d stopped at the waist high railing to stare out at the crashing waves of the ocean that bordered one side of the skilev.
“You are too honorable for such an attack, Kevos.”
Kevos huffed in amusement, shaking his head. “At least now you believe that. I still think you are making a serious mistake you will forever regret, but I would never allow an empty-headed female—least of all Ane-ata—to speak my concerns for me.”
“Ane-ata has been avoiding her usual circle since that incident. Farona has mentioned that she doesn’t like the crowd your female has fallen into lately.” The growing anti-nixir antagonism among a small group of younger yan-kanat had concerned Farona enough to speak of it to him.
Kevos pulled a face. “She’s not my female. I have no idea why people keep insisting otherwise. I barely speak to her, and have been actively avoiding her since our last ‘discussion’ in the arena.”