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

On their walk back to the cave, Kai felt a strange barrier around the waterfall. Delicate, but there. “The barrier, who created it? Who maintains it?”

“Alenga. This is her, or rather was, her place. When she walked among us, her home was there. You see the tree? How it is splayed open?”

He studied the split tree. It had a thick trunk and was overgrown with new life, but it was not near as tall as the trees people used today. “I see it. What happened?”

“Before my time. I only know it was hers. As was the cave next to our Agora. She created all the sacred pools. We built great structures to celebrate Alenga. The Katori people started here in the highlands. The barrier ebbs and flows to hide its location from any that come near. Can’t say I understand, I am just thankful the place goes unnoticed.”

“Have you ever brought anyone else here?”

A smile pulled at Ryker’s eyes. “You mean besides your mother?”

Kai gulped. What was their story? “You cared for her.”

Ryker grunted as he shouldered open the stone entrance. “I did. But then your father, Keegan, came and took her away. She was missing for over five years before we had news that she had married the Diu King. Your stepfather, Iver, stole her a second time. When I lost her a third time to the sea, I wanted to die, but Simone would not let me. I came back here hoping for a vision of how to find her.”

Speechless, Kai helped Ryker clean and cook their fish. He watched smoke trail up from their small fire. It weaved upward to the ceiling and slipped through a crack as if sucked out. What could he say? This man was in love with his mother. Could he use him to help find her? Would that be wrong?

“What do you now about Keegan?”

A snarl curled Ryker’s mouth. “I never liked the man. He’s an arrogant, power-hungry bully, but many found him charming. His ideas about more freedom for our people challenged the wrong people. While he came from a prominent family, his ideas went against tradition.” Ryker paused, his face darkening. “And I hate him for taking Mariana away.”

“My father, Iver, told me he found my mother washed up on a beach after her ship crashed. I always wondered how true that was. I cannot imagine what it would have been like to have someone hunt you, or to fear someone so much you were afraid to return home.”

The contemplation on Ryker’s face and his clenched jaw made Kai feel bad. Hearing about his mother had to be difficult. It was certainly hard to talk about her. “I want to find my mother. If you and Haygan are right, she is in the ocean as a manta ray. I can only hope it is not too late to turn her back.”

“Manta rays migrate near the Mystic Islands each autumn. They feed and mate before they migrate back south. I am not sure of the exact location, but someone knows.” Jubilation tickled the corners of Ryker’s eyes. He tossed Kai a hunk of fish. With renewed spirit, they ate and pondered their next move.

“I want to come with you,” Kai interrupted Ryker’s thoughts.

Unfazed, he swallowed. “Certainly. I will make the arrangements. We will need a ship. Not a skimmer. I hate those shallow bottom boats. They are great for navigating between the Mystic Islands, but they are terrible on the open sea. We should take Yulia. She is the best Weathervane I know—someone I trust. We will bring Mariana here after.”

“What about Lucca?”

“No.” Ryker’s clipped tone startled Kai.

“You are not fond of Lucca, I take it.”

“I am not. I blame your grandfather. Blame him for all of this. He favored Keegan over me. Keegan came from a Hiowind family, but I was Matoku-born. He judged me unworthy—a highlander. Lucca made the wrong choice. Though Mariana cared for me, she obliged her father. He sent me to find Haygan in Milnos. While I was away, Keegan pursued her. When I returned, a year later, they were both gone.”

The pressure of the past pushed a sigh from Ryker. Kai felt sad for him. His mother’s life was so complicated. How could one person have so many secrets?

“I didn’t realize there was any social structure here. Why should it matter what tribe you are from?”

“Normally it doesn’t, but parents think they know what is best. Lucca certainly thought Keegan was the better choice.”

Tired of talking about Lucca, Kai shifted things. “How can we help my mother?” he finally asked.

“She has been a beast for years.” Ryker rubbed his stubbly chin. “She won’t be thinking clearly. This place,” he motioned to the pool, “it can restore her mind. I know it.”

Kai nodded, hoping Ryker was right. He didn’t know what else to say.

Ryker put out the fire and cleaned up the stone fireplace. “Get some sleep. I will wake you in a few hours. I want to be through the maze before dawn.”

Still overwhelmed by this new information, Kai unfolded his bedroll. Smoke lay near the wall behind him. Somewhere between excited and exhausted, he closed his eyes. He struggled to quiet his mind. The stone floor pressed on his shoulder, and he felt the room swell with power. In a haze, he saw Ryker’s sleeping form. He reclosed his eyes.

◆◆◆

His mind slipped into a wild sleep. Crackles popped in his mind. Snaps of images struck his subconscious. The wind blew against his face. High above Baden Lake, he soared. His vision became clear, and a silver dragon flew in front of him, its massive wings gliding on the wind.

Snap—pop. Alenga’s cavern burst with energy and light. His mother’s frail body lay floating in the pool. Her cuts and wounds beamed with light. Her muscle mass returned. Her thin, patchy hair regrew across her scalp.

A whirlwind of light flashed. Kai felt pulled through time. His father’s bedchamber morphed into being. He sat beside his father,