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

violin players wandered about, and in one corner Kai noticed several stretched cylindrical drums being placed in a semicircle. One man rhythmically tapped them with his hands to blend with the current melody. Other instruments slowly joined to build on the tune.

Behind them, a group brought round pillows to sit around the spirit pool. They nibbled on food, sipped wine, and conversed. In another area, people set up easels and began painting the scene. Ladies meandered through the crowd passing out tiny flowers, which women placed in their hair. Kai instantly thought this reminded him of a city festival.

Rayna slipped her hand into Kai’s. “I feel overwhelmed. I want to blurt out a million thoughts, yet the words are unable to capture what my mind has shown me.”

Grateful he was not experiencing this alone, Kai cupped his hand over hers. “We should get something to eat, that may help.” He escorted her to a low table with blue round plush cushions.

Cheeses, fruits, and vegetables covered the marble table. They sat eating food and sipping some strange brown liquid. It was smooth to the taste and warmed Kai’s throat. People continued to welcome and bless them before joining in the festivities. Unsure when the string of new people would end, he was at least thankful they did not stay to chat. When they finally stopped approaching, Kai and Rayna sat quietly watching the event.

“Rayna, do you feel the thread? It pulls at my soul. We are tethered to this place.” He motioned to the Agora. “But this place is not the only one, there are two others. One in the highlands and one more near the shore. Can you feel them?”

She shook her head. “I only feel this place.”

“The one in the highlands pales in comparison to the one by the shore. It feels old and forgotten.”

“How could you possibly know…” She let the thought go and popped a grape into her mouth.

He ran his hand over the back of her hand. “I have to remember to live for now. Let go of the past and the struggles it took to get here. I am lucky to have you in my life.”

She blushed at his comment. “We are both lucky.”

Tired of sitting, Rayna stood to stretch her back. Before Kai could join her a group of girls approached, all wearing various shades of green dresses. They surrounded Rayna. “We are Kodama, little sister. Come with us!” And with that, they swept her through the crowd.

Kai was pleased to see her making friends. He stood to get a better view of where they were taking her. They fawned over her like newly found treasure. Each seemed to ask her a question and pull her this way and that. Several girls placed flowers in her hair and wrapped green silk around her body. Through the crowd, he felt someone staring at him. When he locked eyes with the man, Kai instantly recognized him.

He was one of the Guardians from the morning’s battle. Regret panged Kai’s heart. When they met in battle, the man was an eagle; in fact, Kai had sliced off his wing, or rather the man’s arm. The man approached, and a lump formed in Kai’s throat.

They locked eyes, blue on black. Kai held his breath. Gingerly the Guardian raised both hands, pressed them together, and bowed. “I see you, Kai. Welcome to Hiowind.”

Befuddled, Kai bowed back. “Thank you.” His words tumbled out in shock. “How could this be? Only earlier today, I severed your arm. Cleaved it entirely through your bicep. Sorry for that, by the way.” Kai gulped.

The man smiled and lifted the corner of his pale blue shirt sleeve. Across his upper arm, there was a pink circular scar that cut through his copper complexion.

“My name is Ari. I am proud to be a Katori Guardian. No hard feelings. Our Kodama restored my arm. It will be sore for a few days, but good as new within a week.” Ari rubbed the newly earned battle wound. “Scars are good. They remind us to learn from our mistakes. It is not my first, and I doubt it will be my last.”

“Pleased to meet you, Ari,” Kai said with relief.

Ari nodded at Kai’s clenched fist inside his pocket. “It may be rude to ask, but is it true? Your stone remained clear?” His voice was low, and he covered his mouth as if they were sharing a secret.

Talk about direct. Ari cut right to the heart of what everyone wanted to know. Kai nodded. “Yes. My crystal is completely clear.” Unsure what it meant himself, he asked in return. “What does that mean to you?”

“Well, as I am sure you know by now, each person’s stone is green, yellow, purple, red, or blue.” He pulled the necklace from his shirt. On the chain dangled a solid blue gem, irregularly shaped with smooth edges. “The darker the color, the stronger the connection, some say. Although my father’s stone, while dark blue, has a coil of white. I can’t imagine a man stronger with his Beastmaster connection.” Pride emanated in Ari’s voice and carried through to his eyes.

“I’m not sure what white means. Our gifts are usually defined by the color Alenga fills the crystal. There have only been two other people with white crystals. There was Keegan, who is—or was, rather—a Kodama healer. And there is his father, Benmar. He is more legend than man nowadays, a Beastmaster who lives secluded high up in the Katori Mountains. I have never met him. Dragons are not very welcoming these days. I chose not to be rejected by the dragon’s discriminating nature and became an eagle. But I doubt that’s what you meant. Am I right?”

Kai contemplated Ari’s expression. “I was hoping for a different answer.”

“The talk is you are Keegan’s son. One look at you, and I can see it. Having met Keegan and knowing both he and his father are the only others with a white crystal, it is easy to