Arakim's Legacy(#Wattys2015)

Chapter 19

"Arakim,'' called Edum, interrupting her thoughts. 'How are we going to do this and more importantly where and when?'' he asked.

Mena watched the intense concentration on Arakim's beautiful face and wondered what he was thinking. Being able to read his mind at all times would be handy but she could only do it when his guard was down like when they were sharing sex or when he was happy and alone with her.

"I was thinking of the arena and this evening or night, and as for how?'' he turned to Adani and said, 'ke ka men gwalo wen?''

Mena couldn't help the shiver that raced through her body at the sound of Arakim's voice speaking in that foreign language with the words rolling off his tongue like music.

"Men me udo,'' answered Adani hesitantly, after a brief pause.

Mena watched the wide smile spread across Arakim's face at Adani's response and quickly looked away so as not to give herself away, only to clash eyes with Djou who smiled gently at her in perfect understanding of exactly what she was going through. She returned his smile having decided to forgive him his past behaviour.

"Kiea onuro,'' Arakim said again, pulling Mena from her thoughts.

"Ke nkoò?'' Adani said more firmly.

"What was that?'' Gnar asked, hazel eyes wide in curiosity.

"It is actually an ancient language that the monsters speak and it's our way out of the forest.'' Arakim said very pleased.

"But why speak to Adani?'' Ren asked, honey brown eyes worried, 'how did you know she would understand?''

Arakim shrugged, 'I didn't but had to check since she knows magic and most of the spells used for magic, at least used by the monsters were done in those. And I seemed to understand it without ever learning it.''

The silence after his statements was deafening.

"You really are something, aren't you?'' marvelled Gnar, wonder and caution in his eyes, an expression similar to the one in Ren's, Myra's and Djou's.

"I am really not,'' denied Arakim, smiling ruefully at Mena as if to say, it's starting. The caution, fear seen in peoples' eyes when they looked at him.

"Are you sure you are not related to Tyr?'' asked Myra, suspiciously.

Mena noticed the speculation in Talor's and Edum's eyes and didn't immediately dismiss the idea like she initially wanted to but she knew this was not the time even as Arakim laughed off the idea.

"Of course not,'' he scoffed. "What an idea. My grandfather was there during my birth, ten months after my parents formed a union.'

"If you say so,'' murmured Myra, 'but I still think you should ask somebody else other than your grandfather.''

"I will take that under advisement but I am not the only that can understand the language,'' said Arakim, 'what of Adani? Or Edum?'' startling the silent jaguar from his deep thoughts and for the first time looked flustered when everyone turned to stare at him in surprise.

"You can understand it?'' asked Talor.

Mena watched Edum nodding reluctantly but no other response.

"How?'' persisted Talor.

"I found some old texts in the library at home,'' he said shrugging, 'I found them interesting and learnt it.''

"The forest is really enchanted,'' drawled Djou, drawing everyone's attention.

"I told you,' said Gnar, looking smug and everyone laughed, relaxing the tension.