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

Chapter 24

"Release!"

The arrows went flying towards the targets as Leyla watched.

"Katay, lift your elbow. Pachu, slow your breathing! Place arrows!"

The Hayvani translator spoke quickly and the group of kids reached for fresh arrows. Leyla watched as they prepared for the next shot, her mind wandering for the hundredth time that morning. If it weren't for the vial with the dimension goo in her room, she would have suspected if last night had all been a dream.

Raphael. Why had he come? Why didn't he try to kill her...or take her back? Instead, he had removed the bracelet and left her with the means to cross to Asch. Was he telling her to run? Her fingers clenched into fists as anger filled her. Hadn't he claimed to love her? How dare he confuse her like this. He owed her an explanation at least. An apology!

"Protector?" The Hayvani translator's question drew her back to the present. The kids were all standing in a ready position, aiming for the targets. She should aim an arrow at Raphael, Leyla thought grimly. Maybe under threat, he would actually explain what was going on in his head. Bloody Light Landers and their bloody secrets!

"Release!"

Several arrows landed on the targets with a satisfying thud. Good. They were getting better. Maybe she ought to have them shoot Raphael for her. Shifting her scabbard over her hip, she called out instructions: "Have them gather the arrows and do another round of ten before running five laps."

The Hayvani translator nodded and moved to do her bidding as she rubbed her wrist. It felt oddly empty without the eternity bracelet. Bloody Diya. Raphael had caught her off guard last night, but there was no way she was leaving Gaia without knocking him on his ass at least once. And after that was done and Kaya woke up... her fingers stilled as she stared at the ground. What then?

The sound of footsteps had her spinning around.

"Miss me?" Liam grinned.

Leyla blinked. Of course it wasn't Raphael. He was probably back in the Dome by now, plotting about Gaia only knew what...

"You look disappointed," Liam lost his smile.

The man was annoyingly perceptive. "How did you get through the gate without the lookouts noticing?"

His humour restored, Liam shrugged, "They did notice me. I guess they thought they didn't need to announce the presence of a friend."

That was even worse. Today's friend was tomorrows enemy. "If they apply personal feelings to their jobs, the camps defence will collapse."

"Alright, alright Protector. You'll reprimand them later," Liam laughed off her concern and gestured for her to follow. "For now come with me, the kids are waiting."

"The kids?" Leyla followed him, unsure what he was going on about. They walked passed a group of young men practicing with spears who all stopped to bow in her direction.

"By the way," Liam said over his shoulder. "You've done a lot in only a week. I'm not surprised, but it's still impressive."

Leyla let the compliment slide. They had only made the basic preparations and even if they had some decent fighters, without the right coordination they would be ineffective in the face of an attack. There was still some way to go before she would be satisfied.

"You look tired," she said, changing the topic. "Did you do what you needed to?"

Liam stopped suddenly and turned, "Is that concern I hear?"

He was impossible. Leyla narrowed her eyes, "I have things to do. Are you going to tell me where we are going?"

"Hah, okay, don't get mad," Liam raised his palm in defeat, then he was pointing back with his thumb. "We've arrived."

Leyla looked over his shoulder curiously. A little distance away a group of little ones were playing some kind of game. There were two kids throwing a ball, while the group of children between them tried to avoid getting hit. Hayvani, Sky...there were even Water kids in the group.

"Where'd the ball come from?"

Liam didn't respond, but his expression was proud.

Peels of laughter sounded across the camp, putting smiles on the faces of the passing adults. Leyla felt warm for the first time since last night.

"Thank you, Liam."

His brows rose at the seriousness of her tone. "If you are grateful, then don't say no."

"Say no?" She asked, but he had turned away and was calling out to the children.

"The Protector has come to play!"

The children froze, the ball dropping the ground. Then as if by magic, they all began cheering and running towards Leyla.

By Tevvuks Beard! "Wait! Wait!" She held up her hands, trying to slow them down. "I don't know how..." She looked to Liam, but the idiot had his arms folded across his chest and was watching with a huge grin.

The first child reached her and in the next moment they had her surround and were pulling on her hands.

"Come Protector!"

"This way!"

"You'll be on our team!"

Two shy looking Water children were waiting for them where the game was played. One of them, a little girl who couldn't be more than three years old, removed a yellow bom flowers from her hair.

"For luck, Protector."

Leyla took the flower, feeling dazed. "I...I really don't know how to play."

The kids shrugged their shoulders as if that was not important.

"Just do what we do," a boy with two missing front teeth said seriously.

"We'll protect you!" Two others joined in.

Before she knew it, Leyla was pulled into the fold and was running around to avoid the flying balls. Liam joined in and they both picked up two of the smallest kids to help them dodge the balls. The kids shrieked with laughter when Liam was hit and went down with exaggerated flare. Leyla found herself laughing at his antiques. "Oh is that funny? Just you wait!" Liam swore revenge, but he didn't get a chance to aim the ball at her, because Athiri chose that moment to run onto the field and nab it.

"Athiri!" The children shouted, in half laughter and half protest.

The game suddenly turned into one of chase Athiri. Leyla's cheeks were flushed from laughing as she watched Liam and the kids run in circles to catch the very pleased looking Hayvan.

"It's warm."

Leyla turned to find the Sage standing beside her, his face turned in the direction of the shrieking children.

"What is?" She asked, catching her breath.

"The sound of their laughter," The Sage smiled. Then he tipped his head towards her, "And yours."

Leyla lost her smile. She had been laughing? Yes, she had laughed. And it felt good. Was this why the children at the orphanage had always played games?

When one of the children stumbled, Liam lifted him onto his shoulders which started yet another bought of laughter. Suddenly half the kids were more interested on getting a ride on his shoulders than getting the ball.

"Liam is good at making people laugh," she said softly.

The Sage nodded, "He is a good man."

A whistle pierced the air and the warmth of the moment evaporated.