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

Chapter 20

The morning went by in a blur. The Warriors headed south while Leyla and Liam retrieved their horses and crossed the valley. Once they reached the river, Liam found the flower they were after with ease and before the sun had reached past the peak of the Three Sisters, they were on their way back.

The return journey was mostly quiet for which Leyla was grateful. For long stretches of time, she couldn't get the image of Alec's receding back out of her head. The red hues of dawn setting his blond hair on fire, he had turned to look a last time in their direction with an expression she couldn't place.

What was he thinking in that moment? She had no idea, but Leyla hoped that one day soon that sadness would disappear form his blue gaze.

"We are almost there," Liam slowed his horse and drew up beside her. Then he was untying the pouch that contained the flower from his bridle and handing it to her.

"Are you going somewhere?" She asked, wondering if that was the reason why he had been so quiet thus far.

Liam rubbed the back of his neck and nodded. "Yeah. I've delayed it for too long. But, I'll be back..." he reached out to lightly pull on her reins and get her steed to stop.

"Is there something else?" She frowned at the gesture.

"Don't get hurt," Liam said seriously. "Don't get hurt and don't leave."

Leyla pushed his head off her reins, confused by the strange way he was behaving.

"You're looking at me like I've lost my mind," Liam laughed. Then he tipped his head back, taking in the sky between the tall trees around them. "I felt dumb even saying the words, so its not like I don't understand why you'd think so...it's just this bloody timing..."

Leyla frowned, trying to understand what he was saying. Liam had helped her more times that she could count...one might even suggest that they were friends of sorts, so if he needed help... "Are you in some kind of trouble?"

His green gaze returned to her then, so serious that for a moment she thought he had to be in dire straights. And then, the bastard burst out laughing!

"Hahaha!"

Bloody Diya. "You really have lost your mind," Leyla muttered.

"Yes," the idiot agreed, his eyes twinkling with their usual humour. "Yes, on both accounts. I am in trouble and I have lost my mind."  His laughter calmed and the smile that was now on his face felt oddly sad. "I'll be back, Protector."

Leyla nodded, then kicked her horse back into motion. Even though she was a bit worried about Liam, he was not the kind that would get himself hurt and she had medicine to bring back to the camp.

"Miss me!" Liam called out from behind her.

Idiot.

Leyla looked to her left, making sure Ahtiri was following, then rode the last ten minutes to camp.

"The Protector is here!" The joyful shout came from Tai as he rushed between the Hayvani tents to reach her side. A quick look round and Leyla saw several unfamiliar faces amongst the bowing Hayvani. What in Gaia?

Jumping form the horse, she passed the reins to Tai and tapped her leg for Athiri to move closer to her side. "I see new faces."

"Yes, Protector, they arrived this morning in droves," Tai rushed to explain. "They seem to be lone settlers from the east. The Sage is caring for the wounded amongst them."

Leyla looked around, trying to judge just how many people had come in, but it was hard to tell. She nodded towards her horse, "Take care of him, he is tired."

"Yes, Protector!" The boy rushed to do her bidding as she made her way to the medical tent.

She found the Sage surrounded by a long line of people with minor wounds.

"Protector! Thank Gaia you are here!" Waru looked up from where he was making medicine. "Please, tell him to take a rest, he will not listen to reason!"

The would be patients back up as she approached, their fearful eyes on Athiri who kept pace at her side. Even the man who was being treated by the Sage, scampered away until a wide circle had formed around them.

"What's going on here?" She asked, keeping her voice low. More new comers were starting to gather behind the ring of patients. There were more of them than she had thought, perhaps fifty in all; grown men and women without recognisable tribal markings.

"You're scaring my patients, Protector," the Sage complained, but the smile on his lips said he was pleased by her presence.

"Sage-" she began, only to be cut off with a wave of his hand.

"Their homes were destroyed by Bone Eaters and they heard of this safe space. They've come to seek shelter, I know you will not deny them."

"What shelter!? This is a temporary camp!" Leyla said, aggravated. Did the Sage really think she could keep this many people safe should they get attacked? How could she...

"Lieutenant?"

Leyla froze at the name, then turned to find two tall people pushing through the circle.

"Peter? Anna?" Tia's parents came to stand before her, their expressions as incredulous as her own.

"Lieutenant?" Anna repeated, her gaze going from Leyla's disguise to Athiri beside her.

Leyla was trying to decide what to say when Tai burst into the circle, panic written across his face: "Protector! The kids - the kids just told me Malia hasn't returned." Tai's chest heaved as he looked at her in distress. "She went down to the river hours ago!"

Timsa. The word hung in the air, unspoken. Then Leyla began to run.