His blank face was devoid of any emotion, his green cold eyes, the eyes of a predator, were taking me in. "Don't run, Callida, I'll catch you", his smooth but manly voice warned.
Callida is a human girl living in the harsh world of Desa. Destiny has...
Finally, after one night outside in the cold, trying to sleep near an open fire, we were back on our track. The Islendigur, who were still with us, lightened up the mood. I liked them very much because they sang, made jokes and were really helpful. This was the reason why they got along so well with Ronan. They shared the same good charecteristics.
Being outside in the cold was hard for us Daonnachd. The creatures amongst us had no problems, they were tough, enduring the weather. Again, we Daonnachd were the fragile ones. And the Islendigur, who were an advanced version of humans, coped better with the weather than us Daonnachd. Ai and I really suffered. Gaisgeil took me literally under his wing, and Ronan Ai. We slept engulfed in their arms, relishing their warm bodies.
Ai's sisters stayed at the Immaniters'. Although the reputation of their people was bad, we understood, that it was only because of Gurvan and his goons. I found amongst the Immaniter very decent and honourable people. We befriended one family in special. Ai's sisters played with their children and the parents were very amiable and loving. They kept the girls under their care during our journey. The girls were happy with the decision because they got the experience of living in a big family.
I turned around in my saddle to watch out for Conor. After Gaisgeil and Ronan appeared in the cave that night, he slowly withdrew from me. These days he disappeared fully from our view. He went his own ways, only talking to us, when necessary. Conor must have felt my stare because his eyes rose to meet mine. He smiled like nothing mattered. Strange! He covered up the fact that we had become estranged. Slowly I turned around again. Why did he...
"Stop!", the booming voice of Gaisgeil interrupted my train of thoughts. Several "whoooas", were heard before everything abruptly came to a halt. We all watched each other clueless, only the creatures amongst us pricked up their ears, focussing with their eyes on something we humans couldn't see.
I watched, how Yrina, Gaisgeil, Conor and Ronan grabbed their weappons. I searched in my saddlebag for something ...there it was ...my binoculars. They were a present of my grandfather. He was very proud when he found them. They were rarely seen these days. I looked through the instrument and recognized in the distance what the others saw with their naked eyes, what made them sense a danger.
I saw a gigantic wolf...an Anthropophagos. A wolf, that was big enough to hunt us humans and not flee from us. I froze.
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Proud and stoic he stood over a rocky ledge, as if the lands belonged to him. The snowy forests were his territory, while we were only the intruders. He was watching us with a calm expression, no fear to be seen. Next to him followed other impressive wolves, but he was the biggest.
My eyes widened as I saw a woman appear amongst the wolves. This was ...unbelievable. In one hand she hold a long sword, with her other she was caressing the fur of the biggest wolf, who liked her touch.
Gaisgeil cursed lowly. Yrina watched him suspiciously.
"Do you know this woman?", she asked openly.
Gaisgeil nodded carefully.
My friend huffed, lowering her weappons as she observed that strange woman. "Tell me, Mylord, is there still a woman in Desa, you didn't fuck?", she hissed disgusted.
A growl escaped my destined's throat. "You better watch your mouth! You are only still breathing because you are my destined's friend."
Yrina stiffened. "Try me...", she provoked him. My eyes widened. Oh, Yrina, you headstrong woman.
Gaisgeil neared her with his horse. Before the two could get in serious trouble, I intervened.
"Please, don't fight, I think we have enough problems right now than your egos."
I focussed on my destined. "Who is this woman and is she a threat?"
Untouched by my question, Gaisgeil and Yrina fought their battle farther with their eyes, no one ready to submit.
Finally Yrina gave in. She lowered her head, which left Gaisgeil with a self-confident smirk.
I rolled my eyes on them. Creatures always fought for suprimacy. ALWAYS. Okay, not ALL. Ronan was a pleasant exception. He was tough but didn't brag about it, he wasn't a show off. He didn't feel the need to dominate others. And he didn't believe, that being nice and friendly was a weakness. I really liked that about him.
Gaisgeil's smirk soon turned into a frown.
He searched my face. "That woman is Ceallach, the daughter of Nefaria's baillif, Keallach."
He rubbed his chin, clearly uncomfortable. "She is ...special."
My eyebrows rose into my hair. "Special? In which way? Because she runs with wolves?" I played dumb because I had a bad feeling, I knew, where this was heading.
My destined watched with a sudden interest the reins he hold in his hands. My bad feeling grew.
"Spit it out, Gaisgeil. I think I know, what you don't want to speak out loud."
His eyes shot to me, guilt written on his face. I averted my gaze angrily. Theos, everything led to him being a womanizer and player. Everywhere I turned, I saw the women of his past threatening our future. But I wasn't angry at the women, I was angry at my destined. Why couldn't he be a decent man, who kept it in his pants?
" Callida", his quiet voice called out to me. I shook my head denying his plead.
"No, Callida, you have to listen to me." I sighed, turning back to his pleading voice, that asked for understanding.
"Talk", I ordered with a challenging voice.
Gaisgeil pressed his lips together, lowering his head, avoiding my eyes. "My father and Keallach had an agreement."
His eyes snapped to mine suddenly. He trailed my face to catch my mood.
"I should make Ceallach my Prota. Until you came, I lived with the belief, that if the time was right and Ceallach of age, we would take this step", he exhaled defeated.
"My father was excited to have her as my future Prota. She was everything he searched for in a Prota: she is powerful, cold-blooded, fierce, with a strong will to reign", his hoarse voice explained.
My mind took turns. "Did she want to be your Prota? And you? Did you want her?"
My heart clenched, when I saw him turn away, avoiding the answer.
