To Seduce An Assassin (The Omaja Series Book 2) Page 23

  Yavi ran toward the steps and grabbed up one of his swords. He pulled Graciella with him to the side of the sanctuary, ducking with her behind a pillar.

  “Get on my back.” He turned and crouched down so she could climb on. She wrapped her legs and arms tightly around him just in time for him to straighten and fend off Terijin’s lunging attack with his sword. He sliced Terijin’s throat and shoved his flailing body to the ground.

  In front of the steps, Uman had scooped up the emperor’s ruby as well as Yavi’s other sword. He slipped the ruby around his neck, then wielded the sword with both hands, crouching to face off with Yavi. Yavi brandished his other scimitar, ready to defend himself and Graciella with it.

  “Yavi, watch out!” Graciella cried in his ear, tapping his left shoulder and pointing.

  He turned to see Terijin staggering toward them, grinning, dark blood pouring from the fresh wound in his neck.

  “Brother, let’s go!” Yajna shouted from across the room. “They can’t be killed!”

  Yavi hurled his scimitar straight forward, toward Uman’s chest. It pierced his armor and knocked Uman back, toppling the stone altar with the impact of his body. Yavi leapt to the right to dodge Terijin and sprinted toward the exit with Graciella in tow.

  “Uman has the ruby!” he shouted at his brother on the way.

  “I don’t care!” Yajna yelled, motioning him to keep coming. “Let’s get out of here!” Yajna slung his bow on his back, grabbed Jiandra’s hand, and turned to dash up the stairs.

  Yavi followed. Graciella was light as a feather on his back, and he didn’t want to risk setting her down and letting one of those creatures put their filthy hands—or teeth—on her again.

  They ran down the long hallway to the entrance, threw open the door, and were greeted by three more Vyrkune hurrying down the steps. Yavi backed out of the way to let Yajna aim his arrows, piercing all three of the creatures and knocking them down.

  Yavi leapt over the bodies and dashed up the stairs, emerging from the half-broken door at the top. Outside the tower, he heard the guttural cries of yet more Vyrkune running across the field toward the underground fortress.

  “Quick, this way!” Yavi whispered, motioning his brother and Jiandra to follow him around to the shadows on the far side of the tower.

  The four of them huddled against the outer wall, breathing hard, listening. The Vyrkune rushed into the tower and down the stairs, apparently not having seen them.

  “Let’s go,” Yavi whispered. He carried Graciella in the direction of the trees across the road where he’d left Sikar.

  A Vyrkune stepped out from the archway, sniffing the air in front of Yavi. “I thought I smelled flessshhh,” it muttered thickly.

  An arrow sank into the creature’s neck, and it staggered and fell.

  Yavi ran with Graciella, and his brother and Jiandra followed. They ducked into the darkness of the woods, where Yavi made a soft sound to call Sikar. The horse tossed his head to show Yavi where he was, and Yavi headed in that direction. Near Sikar, he set Graciella down, then gently lifted her bloodied hair out of the way for Jiandra’s inspection. Graciella winced, stifling a sob. Her earlobe was half-torn off, barely hanging. Yavi fought the urge to charge back in there and rip Terijin apart with his bare hands.

  The Omaja stone glowed in Jiandra’s left palm. She hid its light under her cloak and placed her right hand over the mutilated ear. Seconds later, when she removed her hand, the ear was restored to one piece. Tears of relief ran down Graciella’s cheeks, and Yavi caressed her jaw gratefully.

  “Where else are you hurt, sister?” Jiandra whispered.

  Yavi answered for her. “Terijin clawed her arm, here.” He pulled Graciella’s ripped, bloody sleeve aside to reveal the wound.

  Jiandra placed her hand over the angry claw wounds, healing them as well. “Anything else, sweet girl?”

  Graciella shook her head. “No, I don’t think so,” she whispered. “But I’m scared. Let’s go soon!”

  “Yavi, do you need healing first?” Jiandra asked.

  “No. Let’s get out of here.” Yavi glanced over his shoulder. “Where are your horses?”

  “In the woods there, not far.” Yajna pointed south. “But where should we go, brother? They will look for us at the palace. We’ll need to gather our forces before we go back there.”

  “What good will forces do against creatures that can’t be killed?” Yavi swore under his breath. “Let’s head northwest, to the monastery. Volkan will know what to do.”

  Yajna nodded, grasping Jiandra’s hand. “We’ll try to follow your route, but if we can’t catch up with you, we’ll meet you at the monastery. Godspeed, brother.”

  Yavi grabbed his brother’s wrist in a handshake, then removed his cloak and placed it around Graciella’s shoulders. He mounted Sikar, reaching down to pull her up behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist as he guided the horse through the darkened woods, heading north. He wanted to go around the far side of Faril before heading west, to put as much distance as he could between their scent and the Vyrkune army gathering at the tower.

  §

  Graciella clung nervously to Yavi’s strong waist as they galloped along a forest road that was little more than a trail, shivering in the chilly night air despite wearing his cloak. They rode hard for what seemed like hours before Yavi eventually stopped to rest Sikar. He halted the horse in the cover of the trees, then reached up to grasp her waist and set her on her feet. He took her hand and pulled her with him as he led the horse to a creek nearby.

  While Sikar drank, Yavi crouched to tear a strip of fabric from the hem of Graciella’s ruined skirt. He soaked it in the creek, then made her face him, lifting her hair out of the way so he could clean the blood from her ear and neck with the cold, wet rag. “Are you all right, Sheir-zin?” he asked as he worked.

  She nodded and drew his cloak tighter around her torso, shivering as she peered gratefully up at his face in the moonlight. “I can’t believe you gave up the emperor’s ruby…for me.”

  He wiped the dried blood off her arm, then stroked her cheek. “What good is that ruby to me without you, Graciella?”

  She gazed up at his exotic silvery eyes, loving him more than ever. “But does this mean you aren’t emperor now?”

  “I don’t know, and I don’t care.”

  “You don’t?”

  “I never asked to rule Nandala. The Black Armies hailed us as emperors when we killed Thakur, but neither Yajna nor I were fighting him so we could gain power for ourselves. We just wanted to help Nandala be free from his tyranny.” He rubbed the pad of his thumb gently around the corner of her mouth. “For my part, I could be happy as a peasant farmer living in a little cottage with you for the rest of my days.”

  Graciella swallowed, staring up at his handsome face.

  “When I got back to your room earlier tonight to find you gone, I went crazy, Sheir-zin.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t use the sword techniques you’ve been teaching me. When Uman and Terijin broke my door down, I just stood there gaping at them like a fool.”

  “How could you be expected to fight off two Vyrkune by yourself, my love? If I had known what we were dealing with, I would have stayed there to protect you.” He leaned down to press a soft kiss to her lips, caressing her waist. “Sweet, beautiful Graciella. Thank Tejeshwar I found you in time.”

  She pressed herself closer to him. “How are we going to kill those things?”

  “I don’t know.” He tightened his embrace, cradling her head against his chest. “But I will not let them near you again, even if I have to keep killing them over and over throughout eternity.”

  “Gods forbid.”

  He kissed the top of her hair. “Volkan will know what to do. I’m sure of it.”

  Graciella pictured the old monk’s kind face. “I am looking forward to seeing him again. I felt so drawn to him when we were at the monastery. This is probably silly of me, but I wanted him to be my
grandfather.”

  “He was drawn to you as well.”

  “He said I would bring hope to Nandala, but I think all I’ve brought to this land is trouble.”

  “No,” Yavi protested, stroking her hair. “He meant me. You’ve brought hope to me, Graciella.”

  She looked up at him. “I have?”

  He touched her cheek. “I feel alive again, free. I’ve been like a dead man for six years, a prisoner in that palace. I had resigned myself to isolation and bitterness.”

  She slipped a hand around his neck and pulled him down, stretching up to kiss his lips. “That wasn’t your fate, Yavi. You deserve love and happiness.”

  He chuckled. “I don’t know if I deserve it or not. But I know I love you. And whatever happens, if we have to flee Nandala and live in a cottage somewhere in the forests of Villeleia, I hope you will still love me and stay by my side.”

  She blinked up at him. That almost sounded like a marriage proposal, but she wasn’t sure if he meant it as such.

  “Would you, Graciella? Would you still love me if I were poor and humble?”

  “I fell in love with you long before you were emperor. I don’t care about your title, or lack of one.”

  He kissed her, his mouth warm as he savored her lips for a long moment.

  She smiled when he pulled back. “And as far as wealth, you’re already the poorest emperor I have ever heard of.”

  “That’s true. My own sister-in-law has to slave in my kitchen.”

  “I’m a farm girl. I’m not accustomed to wealth. I hope you never get too rich to let me work in the kitchen if I want to.”

  He kissed her lips again, then murmured against them, “We’ll see about that.” He suddenly stiffened and broke off the kiss, pulling her with him behind a tree. He hugged her back against his chest and peered out toward the road.

  “What is it?” she whispered.

  He placed his hand gently over her mouth. “Shh. Someone’s coming.”

  Fifteen

  Graciella heard nothing, but stood frozen and holding her breath, waiting. Finally, she heard something too—the sound of hoof beats coming up the road.

  Yavi strained to see through the branches of the trees. “It’s my brother.”

  Graciella followed him out into the moonlight on the side of the road, and Yajna and Jiandra slowed their horses to a halt. They dismounted, and Yavi motioned them to lead their horses through the trees to where Sikar was grazing on frozen reeds by the creek.

  While the horses drank, Jiandra grasped Graciella’s hands. “How are you, my dear?”

  “Fine, sister.”

  “She’s exhausted,” Yavi said, sliding an arm around her shoulders. “But we can’t rest long until we reach the monastery.”

  Graciella leaned against him for warmth. “How much farther is it?”

  “Three or four more hours,” he answered. “It will be dawn by the time we arrive.”

  Yajna placed a hand on Jiandra’s belly and kissed her cheek. “How are you holding up with the long ride, Lahdli?”

  “Tired, but not too tired to make the rest of the journey.”

  Yavi spoke up. “We’ll be well-rewarded when we get there. The monastery has hot mineral pools carved into the side of the mountain near the bunkhouses. The warriors soak their tired muscles there after a long day of training.”

  “We used them during our mystic training for the Black Armies,” Yajna added. “We’ll ask if we can have use of them when we arrive.”

  Graciella perked up. “I’ve never soaked in a hot spring.”

  “I haven’t been in one either since I left Villeleia,” Jiandra said. “The one in the crystal caves on the border with Nandala is the only one I’ve ever visited.”

  Graciella frowned. “When were you at the crystal caves?”

  “When I went looking for Solange’s assassin.” Jiandra grinned up at Yajna. “Someone told me that was his hideout.”

  He grimaced. “Don’t remind me.”

  “I’m sorry, sweet husband.” Jiandra tiptoed up and kissed his cheek. “Don’t worry—he turned out to be the good guy.”

  Yavi glanced over his shoulder. “When the horses have rested a few more minutes, we should get moving again. We’ll take it at a little slower pace so we don’t tire them out before we arrive.”

  “Agreed,” Yajna said.

  §

  Graciella awoke with a start when she felt Yavi move to dismount. He reached up to lift her off Sikar’s back and set her on her unsteady feet.

  She held onto his forearms for support, peering sleepily at the stone pillars of the monastery in the early light of the dawn. Relief washed over her. “We’re here.”

  Yajna and Jiandra dismounted behind her, and two monks hurried down the stone steps to greet them. They bowed to the twins and took their horses’ reins. Yavi said something to the monks in Nandalan, then grasped Graciella’s hand to lead her up the stairs. They passed through the courtyard and entered the main sanctuary, where a small group of monks knelt to say their morning prayers in time to the soft, intermittent chiming of bells.

  A monk rose to greet them, bowing. Yavi spoke to him in Nandalan, and he nodded, motioning them to follow him through an archway to the right.

  Graciella walked along beside Yavi, grateful for his warm hand holding hers for support. They descended a staircase that led to a beautiful enclosed garden surrounded by stone walls that were covered with ivy and other types of vines. There were stepping stones leading through the vegetation to an archway in a wall, and when they ducked through it Graciella saw three luminous pools carved into the multi-layered rock of the mountain, separated by dividing walls for privacy. Vegetation grew all around each pool and lush vines covered the stones surrounding the area.

  Yajna and Jiandra chose the first pool from the entrance, and Yavi said something to the monk, who nodded and left.

  “He’s bringing some towels and robes,” Yavi told Graciella in a hushed tone as he led her to the pool at the far end.

  She gazed down at the still water, at the misty steam rising off its surface. “It looks inviting,” she whispered, untying his cloak from around her neck.

  He helped her remove the cloak, then folded it for her and laid it on the stones nearby. “These pools work miracles on tired muscles and ease the mind as well. Go ahead and get in—I’ll wait for Eliv outside by the archway.”

  “But—don’t you want to soak?”

  “Yes, but I’ll wait until you’re done.”

  “You could join me,” she suggested.

  He smiled. “I would love that, but Yajna and I need to speak with Master Volkan first. Go ahead and soak, Sheir-zin. I’ll go wait for Eliv to return, and then I’ll bring you a towel and a robe.”

  After he left, Graciella sat on a low wooden bench near the pool and tugged off her boots. She stood to pull her ruined dress over her head, then stripped off her petticoat and chemise. She stepped close to the pool’s edge and dipped a toe into the blissfully steamy water, then climbed down the steps to sink into it up to her neck.

  She felt around her bedraggled coiffure for any remaining pins that might have survived the evening’s ordeal, carefully collected them in her palm, washed them, and placed them on a rock near the side of the pool where she could find them later. She leaned her head back to rinse her hair, smiling at the heavenly feeling of the warm mineral water gently buffeting her naked body.

  Soon Yavi’s voice came from around the corner. “I have some supplies for you, Sheir-zin.”

  She grinned, stretching her arms out to float them along the pool’s surface. “Well, bring them in.”

  He came around the wall and placed a stack of linens on a large, flat rock near the pool’s edge, setting a cake of soap and a comb on top.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to join me? The water’s wonderful.” She rose up slightly to reveal the upper swell of her breasts above the water.

  He glanced down at her chest. Then back up a
t her face, swallowing. “I’ll be back in a moment. After we’ve met with Volkan.” He turned to go, calling out to Yajna to join him.

  Graciella sighed and reached for the soap, lathering it up to wash her hair while he was gone.

  §

  Yavi and his brother bowed deeply as the elder monk entered the room. “Master Volkan,” they greeted him in unison.

  “Mahajin,” Volkan replied. “You have ill news for me.”

  “Yes, Master.” Yavi’s jaw tightened. “A son of Thakur has emerged to challenge the throne. His name is Uman, and he’s Vyrkune.”

  Volkan’s eyebrows rose. “Vyrkune?”

  “He’s raising an army of other Vyrkune to fight us,” Yajna added. “We can’t kill them with sword or arrow. Yavi had to give Uman the emperor’s ruby in order to free Jiandra’s sister from their clutches.”

  Volkan frowned. “This challenger took young Graciella captive?”

  “Yes.” Yavi’s heart twisted at the memory of seeing her helpless in their grasp. “But we got her back safely.”

  Volkan shot him a fierce look. “You must protect her, Yavi.”

  “I will protect her with my life, Master. Always.”

  The monk patted his shoulder. “Do that, my son, and Tejeshwar might smile on you with the gift of her love.”

  Yavi swallowed. “A precious gift that would be, Master.”

  “Precious to him who already loves her with all his heart.”

  “Do I have your blessing, Master?” Yavi asked hopefully.

  Volkan studied his face. “How does the girl feel about you, Yavi? Have you had any indication?”

  Yavi thought about her making his favorite Nandalan dishes, sneaking into his room to spy on him, and lacing his cake with Tongkat Ali to weaken his almost-nonexistent defenses against her beauty. “I believe she feels the same way as I do, Master.”

  The monk held his gaze. “She has told you as much, hasn’t she?”