Read The Guardians of the Forest: Book Two Page 48

CHAPTER 59

  TRIBUTE

  Back and forth, back and forth…

  Eyes closed, Kiethara allowed this rhythm to take over her mind and body. She was lying in her hammock, her body completely limp. Everything except her big toe, which pushed against the rough bark to keep the rocking in pace. Her torso remained still except for the ups and downs of her chest that were in tune with her breathing. Her arms spilled over the sides of her hammock, fingers grazing the grass beneath it.

  Back and forth…

  Her waist long hair draped over the edges of the white fabric. It swished to the same rhythm her hammock moved to.

  Back and forth…

  Above her, the sky rumbled quietly. She squeezed her eyes shut tighter, her teeth coming together with an audible snap. Focus on the rhythm, she told herself. She could not afford to lose control.

  Back and forth…

  Kiethara let nothing fill her head except for the act of rocking. The small part of her flesh that pushed against the tree to keep her hammock moving, the feeling of her fingers rubbing lightly against the tall blades, the swish of her hair, the rhythm of her breathing…she focused on all of that and nothing else. She became numb to the world around her.

  That was all she wanted. For the past few hours, she had done nothing but lay here and rock. Kiethara tuned out anything and everything that was not a necessity, for it was the only way to be in control. Sometimes she slipped, like before when the thunder rumbled; however, as long as she kept herself in check, her crystals remained dark and the sky remained silent.

  That was what was important. Keeping her power in check, her magic inside her. Breath in, breath out.

  Back and forth.

  Her focus was not perfect, though; stray thoughts would slip under her guard here and there. How long could she keep this up? At some moments, she was painfully aware of the time crawling by. Eventually, her duty would call. She was the one with the greatest responsibility out of the entire population. There was no way she would be allowed to lie here and rock forever.

  But this mindless rocking, the endless rhythm…it was her fragile peace that she had created. The slightest thing shattered it, but still, it kept her calm. It was all she wanted at the moment.

  Or better yet, to fall asleep. If only she could will herself into that blissful state! To be completely senseless to the reality around her would be nothing but a blessing. Getting lost in a dream or a nightmare did not sound like such a horrible thing, either. At least it would distract her from…well, this.

  Also, she knew if she fell asleep, she would be able to talk to Tinya.

  Kiethara almost laughed. The voice in her head had turned out to be the most comforting thing out there, the most understanding. Perhaps that was because Kiethara understood her now. It was not fair to call her the voice anymore. She could not pretend any longer. Tinya wasn’t just another part of her unconscious mind. She was a real being, a real guardian. Tinya was giving her power away just so she could help her!

  That thought sickened Kiethara. She did not want a child dying for her—if you could call it that. No matter what she was doing or what it was considered, it took the same amount of courage and sincerity that diving in front of a blade required. It wasn’t right.

  On the other hand, this half-life that Tinya was clinging to wasn’t right either. Kiethara did not like the idea of lingering between two worlds. Of course, she understood why Aaron had. The forest would be gone if he had not stayed! But as for her, she knew that as soon as she died physically, she would use her magic and pass on as quickly as possible.

  The sooner to see Aaron.

  A tear slipped from her eye and, above her, the sky rumbled uneasily. Get in control! She clenched her teeth angrily. Lightening flashed. Focus!

  Back and forth, back and forth…

  Kiethara squeezed her eyes shut, as though the added pressure would make her slip into unconsciousness. After Navadar had left, she had slept all night, completely absorbed in the conversation in her head. There was no way she would be tired after only a couple of hours of being awake. And a couple of hours was being generous; with the sky so dark, she could not tell how much time was passing. It was most likely only early morning

  Aaron had been wrong, though. She did not control the weather at all. Her emotions did. She could not grasp the clouds and sweep them out of the sky. She could not make the gray turn to white and bring the sun out from hiding. She needed more training.

  And there was no one here to help her with that.

  A sob broke from her lips as she threw herself out of her hammock. She could not take this anymore! She could not just lie here! Her fragile peace was broken beyond repair and there was nothing she could do. She wanted to fight! She wanted to defend! Anger built in her chest, and she let out a cry of rage.

  There was a wave of heat, a blinding flash, and then it was all muffled by a blanket of blackness.