The Arrival (Birthright Trilogy #1) (38 page)

'What did Elena want to speak to you four about?'

Elena had taken the women aside straight after dinner.

'The training we’ll be starting the day after tomorrow,' I frowned. 'It sounds like a boot camp.'

Alek laughed at the odd expression.

'Boot camp?'

I leaned back, smiling at him and he ducked his head to press a kiss to my lips.

Mmmm.
Nicely distracted, it took me a moment to remember what we were talking about.

'Boot camp!' I exclaimed making Alek chuckle. 'It’s, it’s a full on training camp, with essentially no free time that will completely tire you out.'

'Sounds like fun,' he suggested in a teasing tone.

'Oh yes.' I remarked dryly, 'can’t wait.'

I explained the general idea of the training. We would train with Elena until lunch. She would teach to raise our ‘energy’ and use it, if we were gifted as she hoped. She’d asked if we would train the General Guard, and teach them our fighting method. So that was it, practically every day for a month.

Fun.
But as I kept reminding myself, it’d take my mind off certain depressing thoughts.

'What’s so special about your fighting method?'

Alek shifted Cat so she lay on her side against him, her head tucked under his chin.

'We use our opponent’s weight and strength against them. It means someone as little as Sian can take on someone your size.'

Alek looked down at her in surprise.

'Really? Wow, that’d be something to see. I think I’ll come to watch that.'

After he saw Cat to her room, Alek headed to Elena’s chamber on the third floor. The Sorceress was deep in a conversation with Yakov when he arrived, so he waited in the doorway.

Noticing him, she smiled.

'Alek. Come on in.'

When he was seated he turned to her.

'Ellie, why can’t the girls go home?'

Yakov looked surprised and Elena arched an eyebrow at him.

'Cat told you?'

'I noticed she’d been crying and asked her why. Surely if they got here by their own devices they’d be able to get home again?'

He forced away the feeling of loss that swelled at the thought of Cat leaving.

Yakov gave him a penetrating look.

'I wouldn’t think you’d want her to leave.'

Alek looked at his hands, avoiding the older mans gaze.

'I want her to be happy.'

Elena frowned and pressed her lips flat as she regarded Alek. In an apologetic tone she said, 'Alek, I'm sorry. I can’t send them home and the girls cannot reverse the spell. It’s not possible.'

'Spell?' Yakov and Alek looked at her in surprise.

'Yes. They’re here because of a spell they cast. It can’t be reversed and they essentially asked for this,' Elena said sternly.

'I understand it’s distressing to watch them mourn their old life, but they will get used to this one. They are meant to be here.'

He didn’t know what to think now. It almost made him feel foolish for coming.

Looks like one of those, be careful what you wish for moments, perhaps I shouldn’t feel so bad for Cat.
Thanking Elena he went to leave but stopped at the door when a thought occurred to him.

'Ellie. What was the spell for?'

She gave him an indecipherable look.

'To locate their soul mates.'

Loi woke before the others the next morning and rolled onto her back. Rain buffeted the windows.

That sounds really heavy, she thought, and rolled onto her side to peek out the window. Sure enough rain hit the courtyard and the clouds overhead were thick.

Might as well get up and have a shower, at least I don’t have to wait for anyone else and she hunted for her slippers. Tiptoeing through the room, she was astonished to see they had an overstayer. Audrey and Nnelg were curled up together on the dog’s generous bed.

So cute. Wish I had a camera to capture it.
She smothered a giggle as she slipped into the bathroom.

Awhile later she was sprawled on her bed, fussing over Lucky while the others sorted themselves out. Nnelg and Audrey had played up as soon as everyone woke so were banished from the room, and that just left little Lucky all by herself, not that she seemed to mind. She was on her back with her paws outstretched as Loi gently rubbed her tummy and the cat alternated between curling one forepaw in and then the next. It was very cute.

'Aw.'

Kassie’s voice came from behind her and she turned to find her gazing down at Lucky.

'I’m so glad she seems to have settled in well, especially with the lack of time I’ve had for her.' Kassie said guiltily and Loi reached out to give her a one armed hug.

A whining at the door let everyone know Audrey waited for them and they hurried after the dog to the Great Hall for breakfast. Afterward, Elena summoned them to the library for a quick reminder of the plan.

'Today will be your final free day for sometime, so do enjoy it,' she urged them all at the end of her speech.

They headed for the Solar, following Audrey who seemed to know where they were going.

Either that or we’ll end up in the kitchen, Loi thought in amusement. As they walked she realized Cat wore a dark blue dress. That was unusual, Cat hardly ever wore dresses. Then she spied Cat’s high boots underneath and smirked.

I’ll bet she has her pants on too. Cat doesn’t like the ‘exposed’ factor of dresses.

'Aww Kitty Cat, don’t you look pretty,' she teased.

Cat flushed red and gave a defensive shrug.

'I like it. And anyway, I have my pants and boots on underneath.'

When they reached the Solar, Sabyn and Rumal lounged on chairs and the others looked over a map. They glanced up at the girls’ footsteps.

'We’re off to visit the town are we?'

Loi started. She hadn’t noticed Citaan in the corner of the room. The gold eyed woman smiled at them and indicated the window highlighting the heavy rain.

'It’ll stop within the hour, why don’t we take horses?' Citaan addressed Gredel who nodded. The men led the way to the stables.

Alek had given me an oddly cool greeting when we arrived, and now he marched ahead of us all. Sian bumped into my arm and I turned to look at her.

'S’up?' She arched an eyebrow.

Feeling anxiety twist my stomach I shrugged.

'Dunno.'

When we reached the stables the grooms helped set us up with a horse each, and the whole time we were there, which must have been close to an hour, Alek avoided me.

What the hell? Had I said something?
I racked my brains for any possible faux pas I might of made, as we rode the horses out toward the inner gate. He rode out in front, talking to Gredel. Citaan hung back, riding beside me. I answered her questions as well as I could, but this had really thrown me. He was so affectionate yesterday.

What's going on?

Sian watched as Cat distractedly replied to Citaan, her eyes fixed on Alek’s back. It was weird, out of the four of them Cat had seemed to be in the tightest friendship so far.

I wonder why Alek’s doing this?

Maybe Elena or Yakov thought it was inappropriate?

That must be it.

She felt a sense of relief. Of course it is, I’ll explain to Cat later. He is the Crown Prince after all.

Kassie kept shifting in her saddle, the trot was so uncomfortable. Her horse, Phenner, was h-u-g-e in comparison to her, but with such pretty markings, almost like Lucky. She reached, trying to stroke his neck.

Ugh, darn this bouncing, she thought, scowling.

Rumal, riding alongside Kassie, could see she looked uncomfortable.

'Are you okay?'

She jolted away with the trot instead of rising to it. Rumal was surprised. The other girls were fine.

'Have you ridden before?'

'A a a a little,' Kassie managed to squeeze out through the bouncing.

Rumal let out a sharp whistle and the others halted, pulling their horses around, 'I’m taking Kassie back for a pillion saddle. Ride on ahead, we’ll catch you up.'

The girls looked concerned, but Kassie nodded to them, so they turned their horses, following Gredel and Alek out.

Citaan is a good horsewoman, Sian thought, watching the blue haired woman beside them.

She looks like she’s part of the horse.
Another twinge of envy ran through her. The men too, rode with a nonchalant air of expertise.

'Do you ride often?' Sian turned to Daron who smiled at her.

'Yes. We don’t bother the griffons for short trips, and I enjoy riding. It makes a change to being in the air.'

We reached the outer gate and waited as guards opened it. A clattering of hooves behind us announced Rumal and Kassie’s arrival. Kass looked much happier seated behind Rumal, her arms around his waist.

Audrey stood beside my horse sniffing her legs curiously. While I had had plenty of horse riding experience on Earth, I'd never taken her with me before, so the horses were a novelty. At least she wasn’t yelling at them. I kept a firm eye on her. Audi was a breed of farm dog so she wasn’t inclined to hunt animals, but she did like to "herd" them which could make for interesting results in a situation like this. Though the horses hadn’t even blinked at her or Nnelg’s presence.

I’d decided, for the moment, to ignore Alek’s weird attitude. I wasn't going to let it ruin my day, there would be time after dinner to have a chat.

The ride to the town was pleasant and Loi loved it. She hadn’t been horse riding in years, not since she moved to New Zealand. In Scotland, her family had owned horses and she’d been riding since she was four. She was the best rider out of the girls though Cat was close on her heels. It was so nice to be away from the castle and feeling nearly normal. Sabyn rode beside her, appearing lost in his thoughts. Loi took the opportunity to study him, yet again, without seeming rude. He was a striking man with his glacial blue eyes and dark blond hair pulled into its customary plait. She watched in amusement as his lips moved, eyes lost in thought.