Only a few moments passed before Blayde entered the clearing with Nigel, his arm draped around Blayde’s neck for support. Nigel sat on a nearby stump and carefully straightened his leg out, the pain barely evident on his face.
A tingling sensation crawled up her arms and her senses were suddenly muted as three Royals appeared in the clearing. The tallest of the three nodded at Brenna, then surrendered his bounty for the day to the women. The others followed suit, then all three turned to acknowledge Nigel.
Brenna joined them and from what Kira could hear, was explaining why Nigel no longer had the ability to communicate with his mind. They all seemed sorrowful, one patting Nigel on the back while whispering something to him.
The women continued to empty the items into the baskets and spread them out for everyone to see. Blayde cupped his hands together and blew into them. A deep, hollow sound filled the air.
The trees seemed to come alive—creaking and swaying as men, women and children appeared from all directions. Some jumped down from lower branches, while others slid down vines or swung from whips. Kira counted as each new person arrived and within seconds, the clearing filled with the entire population of Lairdor—all twenty-nine of them staring with curious eyes. She wrapped her arms around herself.
Brenna jumped up on a large, flat boulder near the log table. She raised a hand and everyone fell silent and turned their attention to her. “All right, everyone. First of all, I want to thank today’s collectors. They’ve returned with an abundance of food for us today.”
Several cheers rang out as the three Royals were patted on the back and praised. Kira was the only one who clapped, earning several glances in her direction. She stuck her hands in her pockets so she wouldn’t be tempted to do that again.
“Next,” Brenna continued. “I would like to welcome home, Nigel. He’s been on a long journey and has returned with an injury, but he is well on his way to mending.”
More cheers followed and a few of the children went to Nigel and hugged him before sitting on the ground at his feet. Nigel smiled and seemed to enjoy the extra attention.
“And finally, we have a visitor.” Brenna’s eyes met Kira’s. “Kira, could you join me, please?”
Kira had backed far enough away from the crowd that she now stood furthest away from Brenna. Everyone turned to look at her, then a path was cleared as they moved to give her room to go to the front. What she wanted to do was disappear like the Royals could, but that wasn’t an option for her. Instead, she lifted her chin and tried not to trip while she walked the short distance to where Brenna stood. Without warning, Brenna pulled her up on the rock with her and wrapped an arm around her waist to hold her there.
“This is Kira. She is Nigel’s friend and will be staying with us now. I want each of you to make her feel welcome. She’ll need to learn our ways, so be patient and help her along as best you can.” She gave Kira a squeeze.
The taller Royal who had appeared in the clearing earlier stepped forward. “We have heard rumors about the prince of Xantara returning with his sister and another woman with your name. Would you be Prince Octavion’s Kira?”
“Yes, she is,” Brenna answered for her. The group gasped in unison, then began whispering to each other. “She seeks refuge here and Nigel and I welcome her with open arms.”
“Xantara has offered a price for her return,” a woman from the back said. “Everyone will be looking for her. How do you suggest we keep Lairdor a secret if she is among us?”
“The same way we have always kept our location a secret. We all have a past we would rather forget and we accept that of each other. Kira is no different.” Brenna motioned to the baskets lined up on the table. “It is rare that we are blessed with such a bounteous take. Perhaps we should divvy up the food before nightfall. We can always discuss this further on the morrow.”
More murmuring followed while Brenna jumped off the rock and pulled Kira with her. “You shouldn’t worry about them. They will learn to accept you. It is rare that we take new members into our family and they are concerned you will reveal our location or do something to jeopardize our safety.”
“I won’t.” She’d learned her lesson there. All the mistakes she’d made while with Octavion and Lydia that almost got them killed was enough to scare her straight. No more taking stupid chances or trusting people who ultimately meant to do her harm. If this was to be a fresh start for her, a new family, then she’d do everything she could to fit in and learn their ways. No way would she ever be responsible for hurting anyone else, especially those she loved.
“I know. That is one reason I want Blayde to work with you. He may be a little hard to get used to, but he knows everything about this place and how to survive. He can teach you a lot about protecting yourself, and help you find and embrace your gift.” She led Kira to the end of the line that had formed, introducing her to a few of the Lairdor residents along the way. Most welcomed her and said kind words, but there was one woman, and the tallest of the Royals, who made an obvious effort to avoid her. Whenever their eyes met with Kira’s they’d quickly look away, then whisper together.
Kira turned to Brenna. “I have a feeling those two will be a little harder to win over.”
Brenna smiled. “Do not worry about Zin and Aleese. They are somewhat new themselves and have yet to grasp the meaning of family. They have barely started trusting us, so it makes sense that it will take them some time to trust you. Blayde knows their spirits and is convinced they are good people, they just let their fear lead them instead of their hearts.”
“What do you mean ‘Blayde knows their spirits?’” Kira searched the clearing and found him crouched in front of Nigel, handing him a basket with fruit and a chunk of bread. Nigel placed a hand on the side of his face and Kira knew he was thanking him.
“Blayde has an unusual gift—the only one of its kind, as far as we know. He can see spirits.”
Kira’s attention suddenly shifted back to Brenna and she had to check to make sure her mouth wasn’t hanging open. “You mean he sees . . .” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Dead people?”
Brenna laughed softly. “No. Those spirits who pass on live in Lor. He actually sees the spirits of the living. He explains it like there is an aura that gathers around each person. Sometimes it is barely a mist, but other times he can see so much detail that he can read their souls. He
knows
us—truly knows us as we are, not as we pretend to be.”
“Oh, wow.” Kira glanced back in Nigel’s direction, but found Blayde no longer there, and she didn’t see him anywhere else in the clearing. “Where did he go?”
“He is on sentry duty tonight—on the north side. As soon as I get you settled in your pod, I will take the south end.”
She wanted to ask her what
pod
meant, but they’d finally reached the table and Brenna was taking great care in explaining how they distribute the day’s take. The three women consider the age, size and duties of each person when dividing it up. Kira’s portion consisted of three fruits, one of which looked like Kostai, the banana type fruit Ussay had introduced her to, and a torn section of bread the size of her fist.
It was up to each person to ration the food so that it lasted until the following evening when more would be provided for them. They hoped. Because they relied on others for their food and the availability of it, not to mention the risk of being caught, there would be nights and days when they would have nothing to eat.
Once everyone had their portions, they gathered in small groups and sat in circles, eating. Kira and Brenna joined Nigel. Kira decided to eat the Kostai and half of the bread, then save the rest for the next day. The longer they sat there, the more comfortable she felt. Several children wandered over to meet her, as did the three women who divvied up the food. The oldest one, Lessa, noticed the long gash in one of Kira’s pant legs and offered to show her how to mend it. Kira accepted and they made plans to meet the next day.
It didn’t take long for a chill to settle on the forest and one by one everyone left the clearing. Blayde showed up for a split second and disappeared with Nigel right before a loud whistle echoed through the trees.
“You’ll need to learn the different signals and how to make them. That one means it’s time to take to the trees. It’s the only place we’re safe from the Jraks at night.
“The trees?” Kira wasn’t looking forward to that. “I have issues with climbing.”
Brenna’s brow furrowed and it was the first time Kira hadn’t seen a genuine smile on her face and in her eyes. “You will have to overcome your fears here. If you are unable to climb, you will die.”
Kira swallowed hard. “So I’ve been told.”
A few moments later, Kira stood at the base of a massive black pine staring up at its tangled branches. They’d only walked a few feet from the edge of the clearing, but it was like someone had pulled a heavy curtain over an open window. Darkness engulfed them except for a few thin streaks of evening light that rained down like sparkling threads of gold.
Leafless vines curled and twisted around the trunks of several nearby trees until they met the lowest branches where they drifted back down to the ground like weeping willow branches. Several of the ivies puddled on the ground and were covered with rust colored moss, while others drifted back and forth in the cool breeze.
Brenna grabbed hold of a thick green vine and gave it a swift yank. “This will be the way up to your pod. Nigel thought you’d prefer sleeping in his rather than Zerek’s so he’s moved his things. Like I said before, you will have to learn to climb alone. Jraks are not the only threat to our safety and if you cannot be hidden within seconds you will not only be putting your life in jeopardy, but the life of someone who may feel the need to help you.”
“I understand,” Kira said, taking the vine in her hand and testing it much like Brenna had.
A high-pitched whistle rang out in the distance and Brenna tensed. “That is Blayde letting us know he has sighted a pack of Jraks. I will take you up tonight, but starting tomorrow you will be on your own.” She wrapped her arm around Kira’s waist. “Ready?”
Kira clung to her and closed her eyes. “Yes.”
An instant later they stood on a rather wide branch, so wide Kira had to look down to be sure they weren’t still standing on the ground. It didn’t seem possible for their branches to be nearly as wide as their trunk, but they were. And most of the bottom branches were the same distance from the ground and stretched out past the neighboring trees, thus making a virtual floor of them. It explained the lack of activity in the clearing when she arrived. The people of Lairdor obviously did more than sleep up here. They
lived
in the trees.
“Do you have your balance?” Brenna asked before letting go.
Kira nodded. “This place is amazing. No wonder you don’t have tents or structures on the ground.”
“It took a little getting used to, and when we’re forced to move, it takes a long time to rebuild the pods and find a section of trees to support our activity, but we love it here.” Brenna walked a few steps down the length of the branch and stopped to grab something at her feet. As she stood, a whole intertwined section of twigs and vines came with her, opening what she referred to as a pod. It reminded Kira of an almond shell or some kind of alien spaceship—oval, but wide at one end and narrow at the other. She used a long, ornately carved stick to hold up the lid.
“This is yours now. You can keep your things here. No one will bother them.” She pointed to the far end of the pod where a few items lay next to her quiver and bow. “Blayde brought your things up and made sure you had a full water vessel. It also looks like he has left you an extra blanket. If you close the pod you should remain warm and quite comfortable.”
Brenna offered her hand to help Kira step down into her pod. It felt like climbing into a giant bird’s nest.
“Thanks for all your help,” Kira said as she lowered herself to sit and place her food items with her other things.
Brenna smiled. “I am late for my sentry duty, so I must go, but if you have any questions, Nigel is not far away.” She pointed to a partially open pod a few feet away. She couldn’t see inside, but guessed Nigel was resting there and she knew she’d not wake him for anything.
“I’m sure I’ll be fine here, but what about Mahli, my cub?”
“She is with Nigel. Apparently she has a gift, were you aware of that?”
Kira’s thoughts wandered to when she first met Toran and how he’d taken Altaria’s pain away. “No, but it wouldn’t surprise me. What can she do?”
“She’s very young, so hasn’t developed it fully, but Blayde can see it in her spirit. She’s able to ease pain. I thought she could help Nigel, even if only a little.”
Kira smiled. “I’m glad she has that gift, and I don’t mind if she stays with Nigel.” In fact, it brought her great joy to think of Toran and that she might have the same kind of bond with Mahli.
“Very well, then. I will see you at first light.” Brenna smiled, then disappeared.
Kira spent the next few minutes adjusting her pelts and blankets so she’d be comfortable. She watched the activity of the others as they jumped from one branch to the other, opened and closed their pods and finally settled in for the night. Jaya was just on the other side of Nigel and waved good night before she sealed herself up inside her little cocoon.
Kira carefully removed the stick and lowered the lid to her pod. It was a good thing she wasn’t claustrophobic because it made her feel like she was being closed up in a coffin. As the night grew eerily quiet, she found herself thinking of the loved ones she’d left behind and the pain she’d caused them. Octavion was looking for her, she knew that. Regardless of how much others may try to convince him of her death, he’d not give up. Rumors of his generous reward for her return were proof of that.
She brushed her thumb across the Crystor. In the past two days it had gotten so tight, it had begun to cut into her skin. The only thing keeping it from bleeding and causing her pain was the constant healing as it dug deeper and deeper into her flesh. There were also tiny red lines snaking out from either side of it. She didn’t sense her blood had been poisoned, so it had to be something else. She wondered if that meant something had happened to Lydia or Altaria or maybe their connection was stronger than ever. As much as she wanted to know, she wasn’t going to lower her resistance to find out. She couldn’t risk being discovered alive. It wasn’t worth putting them all in danger again.