“We rest here for the night.” Dergen said and pulled everyone to a halt. They had reached the edge of the woods and stopped in a clearing surrounded by trees. A slow flowing river ran through the centre where the horses were let off to graze. Canah forest was on the far side of the river, and Verxia woods to the rear; the sun low over the trees of the Canah making the long shadows of their branches, a dark pathway into the forest.
It had taken them all day to reach the edge of the Canah and once across the river, there would be no path to travel by.
Their company quickly unpacked saddlebags and soon had a fire started in the centre of the circle of tents. There were only a few people on the hunt other than Dergen, Kassen, Raliena and Derio. A cook had been sent with them as well as three armed guards and an additional two attendants to help pitch the tents and keep watch for attackers through the night.
“A most heartfelt goodbye between you and the King, Sa Raliena.” Dergen was stood behind Raliena while she pitched her tent after refusing help from the servants.
“I did not think you knew what that was, Dergen.” She retorted and walked away towards the river to refill her water.
Once at the river bank she washed her face and arms and thought about how even though she could heal herself of the fatigue of riding all day, she could not rid herself of the grime that came with it.
Raliena relaxed back on her hands and listened to the steady rhythm of eddies in the water, in harmony to the bird song through the trees; the tilting of their branches orchestrating the melody of rustling leaves. Her peace was interrupted when she heard footsteps behind her and saw a figure dive into the river off a rock by the water’s edge.
She held up an arm reflectively against the splash it caused and looked accusingly at the culprit.
Kassen surfaced and swam to shallower waters where he could stand chest deep. Raliena averted her eyes at him being shirtless and tried to hide her blush. Kassen grinned like a boy at her prudishness.
“It’s not like you haven’t seen me shirtless before.”
“You best be wearing something on your lower half.” Raliena replied sternly.
Kassen gave her a mischievous look. “Why don’t you join me and find out?”
“That would be highly inappropriate considering the circumstances.” They both jumped at the appearance of Dergen, who had crept up on them silently. “Raliena knows better.”
“Then I do not need you watching me.” Raliena retorted, standing up to face him.
“Clearly you do, Sa Raliena.” He said grinding his teeth.
“I meant no harm.” Kassen piped in making his way out of the water. “I have learnt of your customs.”
“Then you would do well to remember your place, General.” Dergen sneered as Kassen stepped out of the water towards him.
“As you should remember yours, Advisor.” They squared up to each other on the bank. Dergen stood just an inch taller than Kassen, but with his sculptured chest still bare, it was clear that Kassen’s meticulously defined muscles surpassed Dergen in natural strength.
“And as a higher rank than both of you!” Raliena said coming to stand next to the men, though she made less of an impression. “I order you to continue your duties and leave me to worry about how I wish to conduct myself.”
The two men continued their staring match as they replied.
“As you wish, Araman.” Dergen said bitterly, glancing at her and strolling away back to camp.
“I apologise for...” Kassen started. Raliena held her hand up to him and retrieved her water before storming away into the trees. Kassen watched her leave before returning to the camp, shoving his shirt back on his damp body and cursing Dergen for upsetting her.
A couple of hours passed and Raliena still had not returned from walking into the forest and there was now very little light to see by.
Kassen offered to go find her, the rest of their party consented, all busy eating the dinner that the cook had made. Dergen was busy in his tent and so was not present to protest.
Kassen returned to where he had seen Raliena disappear and started into the forest, keeping the river parallel. The trees began to get denser and he almost didn’t notice the Araman sitting on the ground, with her back against a tree.
She heard him approach and turned to put her finger to her lips and beckon him closer.
Kassen crouched down and half crawled towards her. “We were just starting to miss you.” He said quietly, not knowing why he was whispering.
“I could not stay and watch you and Dergen bickering over what you think is best for me.” She whispered back. “It was like you were marking your territory.”
Kassen sat next to her and lent back on the closest bit of unoccupied bark.
“Sorry,” he replied.
She shrugged and continued staring through the trees towards the river.
Kassen squinted into the dimming light; it took a while to see what Raliena was looking at. Between the trees on the other side of the river was a flash of white and silver. Kassen instinctively made to draw his sword but Raliena placed a steady hand over his and he relaxed again.
After a moment his eyes adjusted and focused on the movement. Through the trees he saw a swishing tail, stamping hooves and a horn.
“Unisayan,” he said in awe, forgetting his voice.
The horned head lifted and its ears twitched. Kassen dared not move till the creature relaxed again and bowed its head to the river, dipping its horn into the water.
“What’s it doing?” Kassen asked, once more in a hushed voice.
“Checking if the water is safe to drink. See how its horn changes colour?”
The General nodded and watched as more heads dipped to the water once the lead male had started drinking. Not all had horns on their heads but each one was pure white with silver through their glossy manes and tails. Their impatient, trudging hooves were translucent like crystal, refracting the colour of the grass they stood on and the surface of the water.
“You have seen them before?” Kassen asked.
“Not like this.” She replied. “I do not travel into the Canah.”
They stayed watching the Unisayan for a while. They seemed so much like a family of horses eating the grass around the river bank. The large male was ever watchful for danger, his nostrils flaring at the differing scents of the forest. If not for their numinous appearance, Kassen would have mistaken them for wild horses.
“Come, we must head back.” Raliena said, sliding round the tree before standing. Kassen did the same and waited till they were a good distance away before talking again.
“Were the ones without horns, ones that had been hunted?” Kassen asked delicately, knowing it was a sensitive subject for her.
“No, ones that are hunted die when they have their horns removed.” Raliena said with obvious disgust. “From what I could see, the ones with no horn were female.”
“Is it not possible to heal this Unisayan once the horn is removed? You healed me and horses before.” Kassen turned around; realising Raliena was no longer next to him. She had stopped when he had suggested healing the Unisayan.
Why had she not thought of it before? Presumably because the General would have had to know about her ability, which he now did. Raliena had spent so long hiding who she was; she had forgotten what good her powers could be used for.
“What’s wrong?” Kassen asked, concerned by her expression.
“I am ashamed at myself.” Raliena replied. “You are not the man I thought you might be. I wrongly blamed you for something beyond your command and treated you poorly for it.”
Kassen stared at her in surprise. “Well, I wasn’t expecting that.”
He stepped towards her and she lowered her gaze. When he reached her he gently tilted her chin to look at him.
“You are not
the woman I was expecting either.” Kassen spoke gently. “And you cannot imagine how grateful I am for it.”
Kassen rested Raliena against the tree behind her and held her face as he leant in to kiss her. Their lips pressed warmly together and Raliena felt it course through her veins like fire. As the kiss deepened she felt Kassen gently press his body into hers with need.
In sudden panic she pushed him gently away from her and he let go reluctantly.
“We cannot jeopardise the alliance.” She said panting.
“I understand.” Kassen replied just as breathless. “It is I who should apologise for my behaviour. It was not gentlemanly.”
“So much for bringing the gentleman out in you.” Raliena mocked with a smile.