Rayna's Sacrifice (The Katori Chronicles Book 3) by A. Lombardo (intellectual books to read .TXT) 📗

“It is an old forgotten term. A label given to people said to perform unexplained acts. In stories, they are usually wicked creatures. A rare few were good. Nothing for you to worry about.” Dresnor closed his eyes to rest.

With the air cleared between them, they settled in for the night.

Chapter 6

Relentless Guardians

Come dawn, Kai awoke, stiff but feeling somewhat better. He scanned the campsite; Rayna slept to his right, Smoke and the wild wolves sat within the tree line, and Dresnor stood in the shadows. “I am surprised you’re still here,” Kai rose, holding his weary head.

“I was about to leave without saying goodbye.” Dresnor turned to face Kai. “I made a real mess of things last night, sneaking up on you. When my blade scraped the stone, and you fell, I knew it was a mistake.” Disappointment and shame warped Dresnor’s face. “I just thought if I could keep my distance, I could follow you the entire way, with no one the wiser. I’d know you were safe, and you’d feel you’d made it on your own.”

Kai approached his friend. “After everything we’ve been through, you know I can take care of myself. You trained me well, Philip.”

“I did, but it is my duty to protect you. I could never forgive myself if something happened.”

“We will be fine. Trust me. Now go home, Dresnor. For real this time.” Kai shook his friend’s hand and he watched him slip out of camp with barely a sound.

Next to the faded fire sat his boots. They looked wet. Amongst the trees, he noticed a taut line with his damp clothes blowing in the morning breeze.

Sweat dripped down Kai’s temple. Still consumed with fever, he knew they had little time left. He raked his knuckles across the short stubble along his chin. They had rested enough, and now they needed to get going. He got dressed and tugged at Rayna. “Time to get up.”

She rolled over, her sweaty hair stuck to her face. Her clothes were drenched in sweat. She opened her weary eyes and sat up. “Good morning. Where is Dresnor?”

“He left. We are on our own now.”

“I washed the oils from your clothes, boots, and the outside of your pack last night. They should be safe now,” she assured him.

“Thank you, by the way, for saving my life.”

She blushed. “If you had not asked me to research the plant, I would not have known what to do.”

“No, not the plant and the cold water. You—you healed me. I felt your magic wash over me. My airway was closing, and you saved me.”

Overwhelmed, Rayna hugged him, and Kai held her close. “We should get going.” He let her step back. “I think we’re getting close.”

◆◆◆

It was a pleasant morning. Birds were chirping, and golden sunlit rays trickled through the trees. Rayna collected their belongings while Kai dowsed the fire and collected water from the stream to refill their canteens. They broke camp and went up the rolling slope to the east. It wasn’t long before they heard the roaring waterfall. The sound was loud and clear. Smoke and the other wolves spread out around the path.

Kai and Rayna entered the clearing of the third waterfall. A veil of water poured over the cliffs from above. From where they stood, they could not even see the top. Billowing mist floated on the air above the plunge pool. Astonished by the staggering height, Kai pointed. “Look at how tall it is. What, maybe two hundred feet? I can’t even see the top through all this vapor.”

Thrilled they had finally made it, Rayna giggled with delight. “We did it! Now what?”

Above them swooped three oversized eagles. Four black shuks bounded from stone to stone to cross the plunge pool, their black fur shimmering in the sunlight. Their silver eyes reflected the light. Kai and Rayna stepped away from the horse-sized creatures back towards the tree line. Smoke growled in response. The alpha and his pack surged to the front, ears angled slightly back. They bared their teeth and snarled. The shuk growled and barked in return.

“Beastmaster Guardians,” Kai pulled Rayna behind him.

“How do you know?” Rayna asked, staying close to him.

“A feeling. I have communicated with Haygan and Sabastian in beast form. There is wisdom in their eyes and a strong feeling of power. It tickles my spine and pricks at my senses. Must be a Beastmaster thing, I am not sure.”

Downstream came two leopards, and a black bear came bounding in their direction.

Rayna dropped her pack, then turned and ran. Kai chased after her. Her speed was intense as she dodged swaying trees, leaped rocks, and climbed a low embankment. As the ground evened out, she increased her speed. Rayna was fast for a Katori, but Kai was faster. He was right behind her and closing in fast.

“Rayna, stop, please!” He grabbed her arm and jerked.

They rolled into a heap and crashed into a cluster of ferns.

“We cannot run away,” Kai heaved.

“I’m done fighting.” Rayna’s tears ran down her face. “Let’s go home. This means more to the elders than it does to me. My parents abandoned me—why should I care who they are or why they left? I don’t need the Katori powers.” She sobbed louder.

Before Kai could console her, the Guardians were on top of them. They’d stalked them from the falls. Kai and Rayna were surrounded. Kai dumped his backpack and pulled his sword from his hip. Smoke and the other wolves formed a circle around the couple.

One shuk edged ahead, bumping into the others. Kai looked up into the shuk’s large eyes; he had never noticed the various shades of silver around their black pupils. Some were bright and reflective, while others were muted gray. Standing this close, he could feel the heat of the animal’s breath on his face. It was a massive creature, bigger than the others. Face to face