Blood Knot

Chapter Ten

Chapter 10

Avoca took Spirit again. Just as Leif had predicted, the ever present clouds had dispersed for the day, revealing one sun that shone its weak rays over the glistening city. She carefully made her way up the impossible steep slope. Mirabelle was not going to be happy with her. Avoca found herself smirking at the thought. When she got back last time, her father had been pacing the throne room with an angry looking Professor Lhoris seated at the table. Her father had been glad to see her, had even greeted her thankfully. Lhoris had blustered and fumed at her. As if she knew Avoca had returned, Mirabelle had glided into the room at that point. 'Oh, you're back.'

'Where have you been?' Lord Chetwick said, worried. Avoca smiled mischievously. 'I was just taking a ride up into the moors, on a lovely horse that went by the name, hmm, what was it? Oh yes: Spirit.'

Mirabelle had all but screeched at her.

Avoca rode to the top of the hill where she was to meet Leif, and felt like a fairy atop a silvery white unicorn, gazing at the world that lay below her. Avoca laughed at herself, knowing as ethereal as she might be, she would never be leaning towards the celestial side of supernatural. No, her friends were more deadly. The second sun was rising now. Constance, they called it, back in Erarini. That was because it stayed in the North-west, all year round. Avoca also knew it was dangerous to some nocturnal creatures. The first sun was already high in the sky. It was named Saiphe. Saiphe circled the world, bringing heat to whichever part of the four continents it was nearest. Compared to what she was used to, Avoca considered Jarathia very cold as Saiphe sun was at the furthest point possible; in the south west. She shivered despite the dry sky and trotted on, trying to work up some heat.

This time, she was listening out for it, and heard the stream before she saw it. Tied to a tree was another horse, this time brown. She got closer and saw it was wearing saddlebags and had white patches around its eyes. She looked around for its owner but couldn't see anyone. Cautiously, Avoca dismounted. She had brought her elvish short sword this time. It wasn't to show off... it was just in case she needed to defend herself. She tied Spirit to the same leaning tree as last time, and waded across the stream. Avoca took a seat on the same rock and leaned back. She closed her eyes, listening to the sounds of nature, and anything that didn't belong. Birds sang in their sweet little voices, and she could even hear as they took off from the branches over the gurgling of the bright stream. Their gentle flapping of wings was above her, and she heard the horses shuffle, small twigs snapping beneath their hooves. The tree trunks creaked meditatively as the swayed in the soft breeze. Leaves brushed up against one another. The gentle wind sailed past her ears, sighing in the solace.

'Arrgh!' A male voice yelled directly in front of her and a colossal splash snapped her eyes open. Before taking anything in, Avoca had drawn her sword and held her dagger in the other hand.

Leif was in the stream, doubled over in laughter. Avoca swore. He just laughed even more.

'How in the realms of flaming inferno did you manage to get there so quietly?' Avoca said, shock colouring her voice. When Leif had recovered from his laughing fit, he shrugged. 'I'm sneaky,' he said. This time Avoca couldn't help but join in with his laughter.

Leif sloshed his way out of the water. He wasn't wearing a shirt again. Avoca had to admire the way his muscles defined his stomach, and the smooth skin disappeared in a tantalising V under his trousers. Now that her attention had been drawn to them, Avoca noticed that his trousers had been cut short about mid-way up his thighs, revealing a lot of powerful leg muscles beneath. What's more, the thin material was wet through, and clung to his flesh, revealing everything underneath.