Warrior's Soul (Book 3 of The Warrior Chronicles)

Chapter 19

The sun withdrew from the day, leaving a frosty darkness, but Leyla did not feel the cold. She wasn't sure if it was the fire or the blue gazes that wouldn't leave her, but it felt hot under her hood. Athiri lifted his chin from his paws and lay his head on her lap, snorting with satisfaction when she stroked his ears.

"And there it was!" Liam's voice reached her from the direction of the wagon where the Warriors had made a second fire for Alec and his closest men. A burst of laughter followed, making her wonder about Liam's identity once again. Not only was he not in the slightest bit intimidated by the Warrior King and his entourage, he had them all laughing within hours of making their acquaintance.

Leyla only knew one other person who could deal with people with such ease. Someone who could walk into an entirely new world and not feel out of place. She gave Athiri a last pat, then rotated her shoulders in an attempt to push thoughts of Raphael from her mind.

Suddenly, a piece of bread was thrust into her line of vision, surprising her into looking up. Liam raised his brows at her startled look, then shoved the food into her hand and sat beside her.

"I see the Warriors are keeping their distance," he said, looking around the bonfire. There was a good four-body's worth of empty space on either side of them while the other side of the circle was packed. "I guess they find Athiri intimidating. Of course, if they got to know you just a little, they'd realise you're far scarier than the Hayvan."

Leyla raised a brow at Liam's grin. Was he serious? He was sitting in the middle of a Warrior camp with a Hayvan and a woman pretending to be a mute boy... did he not realise they could be ousted as liars at any given moment and killed without further thought? And yet here he was making jokes...she really couldn't figure out what he was thinking.

"I'm just trying to get you to relax," he sighed as if he could read her mind. Then stretching his legs in front of him, he crossed his feet with a look of perfect ease. "Don't let the Warriors intimidate you, they aren't infallible like people think."

That was true enough, but did he have experience with Warriors to think so? Seeing her interest, the corner of Liam's lips curled up, then he was leaning towards her to whisper: "Want to know some gossip? The Warrior King just deposed his Queen!"

Leyla blinked. Mira was no longer queen? No...that couldn't be. Could it?

"Surprising right?" Liam shook his head, leaning back again. "Who knows what happened, but it's a first for Warriors. Even the Kings closest men seem concerned."

Wolf and the others were concerned? About what? Leyla wanted Liam to continue explaining, but the contrary man chose that moment to go silent. She tugged at his arm and the twinkle in his eyes when he turned her way told her he was doing it on purpose. Her eyes narrowed.

"Who knew you were such a gossip monger?" He asked, innocently.

The absolute ass! Leyla curled her fingers into a fist which made him burst out with laughter. Then he was holding up his hands and lowering his voice, "Alright, alright. I'll tell you. The Warriors are worried that the King might ask for a divorce next." Liam stopped, to look around, making sure they were not being overheard, before he continued, "It might not seem like a big deal to us, but for a Warrior that would mean breaking an oath which is frowned upon."

That was putting it lightly. A Warriors word was his bond.

More than anything, it was that code of honour that defined a Warrior; that made him who he was.

Alec had deposed Mira for the good of his people, but divorcing her went against everything he was. He would't do it. He couldn't.

Not without giving up being King Alec of the Warriors.

Sadness filled her at his predicament. Despite everything that passed between them, Leyla believed Alec was a good man. It was a cruel fate that one mistake had bound him forever to a vicious woman like Mira.

"What's wrong?" Liam asked, suddenly serious.

Leyla shook her head, then stroked the sleeping Athiri's head. The feline's purr vibrated through her, pushing the heaviness out of her heart.

"Anyway," Liam grabbed the stick lying near his right hand and began poking the ground. His eyes travelled round the camp, over Warriors who were immersed in their own conversations as they ate bread and cleaned their weapons. "You were right about the Warriors hunting Bone Eaters. King Alec is actively seeking them out and it's a good thing, believe me. Shik's forces have grown at a worrying speed. They are attacking in larger groups and with more frequency. Thankfully, there are less of them in the north."

But if they weren't stopped, then soon enough the north would be over run just like the other areas...and then what would happen to the camp? Leyla's jaw clenched as she thought of the people who were waiting for their return. Kaya, the Sage, Malia, Tai, Waru, the children... the Hayvani who believed she was a spirit, the women who had stayed up all night making her clothes...if she left them to their own devices, how long would they survive?

"Your Highness!"
"Your Highness!"

The cacophony of voices from across the fire, alerted them to Alec's approach. Leyla watched as he motioned for the Warriors to sit back down, the firelight playing across his easy smile.

Tevvuk's Beard, why was he coming over?

"Your Highness?" Liam's voice held a question as he began to stand.

"Don't get up," Alec stopped him half way, but his eyes were on Leyla. From under the shadow of her hood, she watched as his gaze drifted over her clothing to the Hayvan lying her lap. Then he threw a blanket beside her. "Use that to warm yourself, boy."

Leyla picked up the material, seeing that it was not a blanket after all, but his cloak.

"No need to be shy," Liam slapped her on the back, making her realise that she was staring at the material instead of doing as she was told. Feeling awkward, she pulled the cloak around her shoulders and was instantly surrounded by Alec's familiar scent; sweet and spicy like the silver flowers in the Aquafarms.

"Thank you, your Highness," Liam spoke for her. "The boy will sleep comfortably thanks to you."

Alec didn't respond. Instead, he continued to stare at Leyla for another long moment, before he ran a hand through his hair and turned away. Firelight cast shadows over the black circle on his neck. "Till we part ways at dawn, you are under my protection. Be at ease and rest well."

Leyla watched the Warrior King walk back to his men, knowing that she would not get a wink of sleep.