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

don't want you to make it to Katori, Kai. To create a storm so intense, the Katori must have a dozen Weathervanes, maybe more.”

“I agree. But if that is true, why did the storm stop?” Kai rubbed his sore shoulders, each one in turn.

Before Yulia could answer, Dresnor entered the cabin. He slumped down into one of the chairs secured against the wall. “You mind explaining what in Alenga’s name just happened?”

No logical explanation would satisfy his friend. Kai knew they were not permitted to tell Dresnor the truth. Plus, if he knew the Katori people fought against them, Dresnor would not let them continue. His friend had no idea what was at stake. Kai and Rayna had little time left before their fever consumed their power. They needed to complete their journey.

Yulia leaned against the desk and eyed Dresnor. “We prayed to Alenga for her mercy. Our steadfast faith saved us.”

Dresnor scoffed. “You don’t honestly expect me to believe that was Katori luck and prayer?”

Yulia turned away to gaze out the window. Dresnor looked to Kai, who only offered a shrug before slumping into a chair by Rayna to rest for the remainder of their journey.

Chapter 2

Old Friends

Their ship made landfall on the eastern shore north of Albey. Pale gray clouds dotted the dusky sky. Light rain danced on their shoulders—a natural shower, peaceful and calm. Soaked once again to the bone, Kai helped Rayna into a small rowboat. Dresnor, Drew, Redmond, and Albey climbed in beside him, and the two crewmen rowed deep into the secluded cove. Near the mouth of the Conha River, Kai pointed. “We should get out there. Find a clearing to make a suitable campsite.”

Once on shore, Kai thanked the crewmen, and they returned to the ship with the rowboat. Each Kempery-man hefted a bag of supplies. When they finally sat around a warm fire, everyone was silent. They were merely relieved to be safe on dry land.

Exhausted and caught in thought, Kai’s focus was not on point. He barely noticed the man approach them through the thicket before Smoke growled. Drew and Redmon circled the fire. Their eyes focused into the woods, swords at the ready. Kai searched the trees. The corner of his mouth curled; he knew the man that waited obscured by the darkness.

Kai stepped in front of his men. “Davi. You may approach,” he called into the early evening shadows.

Davi stepped out from the gloom. “Kai, I’m pleased to see you. May we speak, in private?” He nodded and disappeared back the way he came.

Before Dresnor could protest, Kai faced the group. “Davi is a good man. He is Katori and a friend of Haygan’s. I met him last summer. I trust him with my life. Rayna, Yulia, please come with me. Please, Philip. I need to speak to him alone. He may be able to help us find the herb Rayna needs for our cure—or know who can. Mountain Katori people are not fond of strangers. We will be back at dawn.” Kai tapped his leg, and Smoke followed.

Dresnor opened his mouth, but no words came out. He relented with a nod and stepped backward. The other men began to protest, but Dresnor held up his hand. Mouth pursed in a thin line, he approached the newly built fire that Drew stoked.

Guilt about the lie stuck in Kai’s throat as he ventured into the woods after Davi. Rayna held his hand, and Yulia brought up the rear. Behind them, he could hear voices. His Kempery-men commiserated about the storm and their seasickness, but Dresnor spoke no words. Kai felt bad excluding him, but he could not possibly explain where they were going or whom they would meet. Dresnor had already seen more than he should.

Deep into the forest, Davi waited. Gabe and Hale, two of the other Katori outcasts that Kai had met last year, stood with him. “It has been too long, Kai,” Davi extended his hand. “Good to see you and yours survived the storm.” Davi tucked a section of gray hair behind his ear. “Yulia, I am glad you were with him.”

Stunned, Kai looked over his shoulder. “You know each other?”

Yulia chuckled. “Kai, like my daughter, I know everyone. I go everywhere. Where do you think Riome gets her wanderlust?” She smiled and stepped around Kai. “Where are the others?”

“Safe,” Davi announced. “We have a makeshift camp a few miles from here. It was good you sent word. Sabastian is with us.”

Silently they tramped through the woods. Kai’s mind filled with questions. He pushed a query at Davi’s back. “Last summer, when I came to your camp, did you know who I was?”

“You mean, did I know you were a Half-Light? That you were the Prince of Diu? Or did I know you were Mariana’s son? Possibly Keegan’s son?” Davi chuckled to himself.

The details Davi knew astonished Kai.

“No, Kai,” Davi stepped over a felled tree. “Yulia came after you. She thinks the world of you, in case you didn’t know. She came with news of the Caroco ships spotted around the Mystic Islands. We all speculated Keegan had returned. I knew Keegan briefly. Sabastian said Keegan is your birth father. No offense to King Iver, but you are no Half-Light. I see you have the fever. I’ve been through it. The pain will only get worse.”

It wasn’t hard to believe the pain could get worse. The agony pounding in his chest and head left Kai feeling on edge. Every part of him hurt, but he had to keep going. His mother’s life depended on him coming into his powers. He touched Yulia’s arm. “Why are you helping us? Did Riome ask you to help us?”

A solemn wave washed over Yulia. “I— know Benmar, Keegan’s father. He is a dear friend. Riome did not ask, but she did not have to. I am here because it is the right thing to help you.”

Kai touched her arm. “Thank you, Yulia.”

Davi ducked