Tyler's Story (Tales of Quelondain) Page 8

  Heidi gazed up at him, trying to find a clue as to what had caused the emotions that had passed over his features. Shock, pain, sadness, and what? Anger? She put a hand on his arm.

  “Come. You can buy me a drink.”

  The deep brown eyes blinked and squinted with his usual smile. Mina threw a glare in their direction before shifting. Her sister followed suit and the two lionesses bound down the hill toward the town. John cocked his head in question and Tyler nodded.

  “Go ahead, John. We’ll meet you down there.”

  “Sorry. I just haven’t shifted since yesterday and I need to run.”

  “I said go!” Tyler laughed. He looked up at the sun and noticed it had taken them much longer to get here than he’d anticipated.

  “What happens if you don’t shift?” Heidi watched as the coyote loped off after the lionesses.

  “You start to feel edgy, like you’re nervous or have too much energy.”

  “So, do you need to shift?”

  He shook his head. “No. I was shifted most of the night.”

  “You don’t need to run?”

  “I’m fine.” He laughed as Maddy leapt sideways and tackled her sister, the two of them rolling in the tall grass. John gave a playful yip and jumped over them.

  Heidi shook her head. “This is unreal.”

  “You’re doing alright?”

  “I think so. It’s a lot to wrap your head around, that’s all.”

  He smiled. “I can imagine.”

  “How did your aunt handle it?”

  “Aunt Hayden is an amazing woman. She sort of just fell into the rhythm of things once she’d crossed over. It probably helped that she was fated to my uncle.” He glanced down at her. “Some beings here dream of their mates ahead of time. We call that fated.”

  “Hmmm. I’m not sure I’d like that. You know, not being able to pick who you wanted to be with. Are you fated?”

  Tyler shook his head. “No, and I never will be. My brother was. If one twin is, the other won’t be.”

  Heidi frowned. “What happened to him?”

  He took a deep breath. “Five years ago, there was a war here. He was killed.” His jaw clenched involuntarily.

  Heidi’s throat tightened at the obvious pain he was still feeling over the loss of his brother. “I’m sorry.”

  He smiled sadly. “Not your fault.”

  She remembered the obvious hatred Mina had shown at the fact that she was human. “But it was humans that did it, right?”

  Tyler nodded. “There was a man named Braw. He was from your world. He decided shifters were evil or possessed… I’m not sure. He managed to get his hands on a staff that could separate a shifter from his or her animal.”

  Heidi’s eyes widened. “Wouldn’t that kill you?”

  “It would and for many unfortunate shifters, it did. He planned on using the staff to rid Quelondain of both Majs and Namaels.”

  “But you won.”

  “We did.”

  “What happened to Braw?”

  “He was killed and the staff was destroyed. Most humans had been following him out of fear and are now trading and interacting with the other beings of this world. There are still groups of rogues that cause problems, but they are getting fewer as the years go by.” He smiled at a tall grey haired man leaving Growlen. “Good day.”

  “And the same to you,” replied the man before shifting into a grizzly and shuffling away.

  Tyler laughed at the evident shock on Heidi’s face.

  They made their way to the pub and found the others already eating steaming bowls of stew.

  “We ordered yours,” John said between bites and gestured to the extra two bowls.

  Tyler took a chair and pushed one of the mugs toward Heidi. She took a sip.

  “Oooh, you weren’t lying. This is great!” She took a deep swallow of the sloan and followed it with a spoonful of stew, all the while gazing around the pub. Everyone here looked human, but she knew better whether her brain wanted to believe it or not. “How do you tell everybody apart? You all look the same.”

  Tyler grinned. “We have marks.” He leaned sideways and brushed the thick dark brown hair away from the back of his ear, letting her see the crescent mark all Majs were born with. “Namaels have a straight line in the same spot.”

  “And humans…”

  “Carry bows and arrows.” He started to laugh at the sceptical look on her face. “I’m serious. Shifters simply turn into their animals to hunt, yeah? Humans can’t do that and most use a bow and arrow to kill their supper.”

  She smiled and took a drink of her sloan.

  “What? I’m not lying to you.” He leaned back into his seat and gazed at her, his head cocked to the side.

  “I know. I just… I keep expecting you to start laughing then tell me I’m dreaming, or I’m a part of one of those terrible practical joke shows.”

  His gaze softened. “Sorry.”

  The corners of her mouth twitched. “Yeah, well, I suppose it is all your fault.”

  His smile widened and he took a sip of his drink. Once they were done eating, he stood and grinned. “Heidi of the other world, if you’re all done eating, let’s find the resident magic wielder.”

  She nodded and tried to calm the butterflies in her stomach, watched him put coins on the table, and followed him to the bar where he inquired about where they might find such a person.

  The man raised an eyebrow at him then gave Heidi a good look up and down. She blushed, embarrassed. Tyler growled low in his throat and put a hand on her shoulder. The bartender raised his hands and grinned.

  “You came in with three women. By the way she was looking at you, I was sure you were with the younger of the sisters. I really didn’t think this one was yours.”

  Tyler opened his mouth to tell him he was right; that Heidi wasn’t his. Of course, if he did that, then she was fair game. “You were wrong.”

  “Alright, then, the being you’re looking for goes by the name of Grent. He’ll be the third shop from the end, two streets north of here.”

  Tyler thanked him and waved to the others. “We’ll be back.”

  John nodded and the women glared.

  “I don’t think those two like me very much,” muttered Heidi as they exited the pub.

  Tyler glanced down at her. “I’m sure they like you just fine. The problem is that for some reason or another they’ve gotten it in their heads that I’m the perfect candidate for a mate.”

  “But I already have a boyfriend and they know that. There’s also the fact that hopefully I won’t be here much longer.”

  “That’s where they think you’re wrong. They don’t think you’ll be able to get home.” He saw the panic on her face and stopped so he was facing her. “Heidi, I’ll get you home. I promise.”

  “How can you be so sure?” She swallowed hard and tried to keep the tears from filling her eyes.

  More than anything he wanted to tell her that if the cross gem idea failed that he would take her to his aunt and get her home that way, but couldn’t bring himself to say it. Instead, he wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs and smiled softly.

  “Because I promised and I will.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Trust me.”

  Heidi gazed up at him, a slight frown on her face as she searched his. He seemed so sincere, so certain. She nodded. “I do.”

  He turned and led the way to the shop they were searching for. She coughed and tried to hold her breath as they walked through the door and her nostrils were assaulted by an array of smells that ranged from bitter, to sweet, to stale, to rotten.

  A short man with auburn hair streaked with grey looked up from whatever he’d been looking at behind the counter and smiled.

  “Good day to the pair of you. My name is Grent. How can I help you today?”

  Tyler nodded. “I’m looking for a cross gem.”

  Grent’s eyes widened with his obvious surprise. “Can I ask why?”
>
  “No.” Tyler’s reply was curt and Grent nodded.

  “I don’t have one here. They’re rare, you know.”

  Tyler grunted at the obvious.

  “I do, however, know of someone who might be in possession of what you seek. Her name is Brunn. She’s a Wedelven magic wielder who specializes in rare stones.”

  “Where is she?”

  Heidi glanced at Tyler, surprised at how he’d gone from such a caring and sweet man to this, a hard and seemingly uncaring character.

  “Swandern.”

  She caught the slight stiffening of his jaw at the mention of this place. He nodded. “Thank you.” He turned.

  “Wait!”

  Tyler turned back to Grent.

  “Swandern is three weeks travel at a good pace… maybe I could interest you in a displacement stone.”

  He nodded. “I’ll need it to move my entire pack.”

  “How many?” Grent was rummaging through a box he’d pulled out from under the counter.

  “Five.”

  The magic wielder hummed and hawed and finally pulled out a smooth green stone.

  Tyler took it. “How much?”

  “Five.”

  “Three.”

  “Four?”

  Tyler shook his head. “Three.”

  Grent clenched his jaw then quickly agreed when it became obvious Tyler was about to return the stone. “Fine! Three!”

  Tyler dropped the coins into the man’s hand, put the stone in his pocket, and guided Heidi out of the store. Once outside, he shook himself.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. I’m just not much of a people person, that’s all.”

  She raised an eyebrow at him. “You’re a confusing man, Tyler of Quelondain.”

  He grinned. “Not really. Come on. I want to see the looks on the others’ faces when I tell them we’re going to Swandern.”

  “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

  “I suppose it depends on your point of view. Since there may be a cross gem there, for you, it’s a good thing.”

  Mina glanced up as they walked back into the pub, her eyes taking in Tyler as he walked back to the table. Maddy and John cut their dance short and joined them.

  “Did you find one?” John looked from Tyler to Heidi, excitement clear on his face.

  Tyler shook his head and John’s whole being seemed to deflate.

  “I’m sorry, Heidi. I know how much you wanted to go home.”

  Tyler grinned. “We did, however, find out where there may be one.”

  John cocked his head to the side. “Oh?”

  “Swandern.”

  Maddy paled and Mina’s eyes turned into blue saucers on her face. John’s head straightened.

  “Are you serious?”

  Tyler nodded. “I am. I bought a displacement stone that will move us all at once so we don’t have to travel there.”

  Maddy shook her head. “We’re not coming.”

  Mina looked from her sister to Tyler. “But…”

  “No, Mina. There is no way we’re going to the Sandsea, even if it is by means of displacement. It’s sure suicide and I don’t plan on dying just yet.”

  Tyler grunted. “I think that’s being a bit extreme, don’t you?”

  Maddy raised an eyebrow at him. “Tyler, I’ll be more than happy to take on tlarrisons, jainks, or whatever else lives in these parts if the need arises, but I refuse to go up against a Zerpanay. We’re a quick meal to them and that’s it.”

  “The Sandsea is immense, Maddy. The chances of running into one are slim.”

  “Maddy…” Mina put a hand on her sister’s arm. “I want to stay with…”

  “No.” The elder of the two grabbed her pack and hooked it over her shoulder. “Get your pack, Mina. We’re heading north, not south.”

  “But…”

  “Now!”

  Tears filled Mina’s eyes and made the blue in them shimmer. She reached for her pack and looked at Tyler. His eyes widened as she stood on her tip toes, laced her fingers behind his head and pulled him down to her lips. He gently put his hands on her shoulders and eased away from the kiss. Her eyes met his, questioning whether she’d made an impact on him.

  He took a deep breath, leaned down and kissed her softly on the forehead. “Go with your sister, Mina.”

  She stiffened and jerked out of his grasp, her glare honing in on Heidi before she stalked off after Maddy. John waited until the sisters had left the pub before bursting out laughing.

  Tyler shook his head at him, noticed the bartender looking at him with raised eyebrows, and groaned to himself. By the moons, what was it with women. He ordered three drinks and they sat at their table once again.

  “So why is Maddy so against going to Swandern?” Heidi took a drink, enjoying the smooth taste of the cold ale.

  “Swandern is about two days’ travel into the Sandsea. The Sandsea is the territory south of the Majs borders. One of the reasons beings try to stay away is the Zerpanays. They’re a cousin of the dragons that stay in the Northern Regions. Ugly things. I’ve been told they look like oily feathered snakes with wings and ten pairs of legs. They use magic against their prey.” He stopped at the shock and fear on her face. He reached across the table and laid a hand over hers. “Heidi, there’s no need to worry. We’ll use the displacement stone to get to Swandern where we’ll find the Wedelven magic wielder then use the stone to come back here.”

  “It can’t get much safer than that,” agreed John, though his features seemed paler than usual. He ran a hand through his dirty blond hair. “Are we leaving now or tomorrow?”

  “Tomorrow. I’m not sure exactly where this Wedelve is and I don’t plan on wandering around in the dark. We’ll get a room here for the night and leave first thing in the morning.”

  John grinned. “I’m getting my own room. I haven’t slept in a bed in years and I’ll be damned if I’m sharing tonight.”

  Tyler laughed. “Alright. Heidi, I’ll get you a room between ours then.”

  She glanced at the bar where the bartender was once again looking at her. She leaned toward Tyler. “Do you think I could just sleep on the floor in your room?” she whispered.

  “You noticed him, did you?” Tyler frowned at the bartender who looked away. “I suppose I did tell him you were my mate and it would seem odd if we didn’t share a room. He might get some crazy idea you’re no longer off limits.” He smiled reassuringly. “I’ll take the floor.”

  They finished their drinks, booked their rooms, and followed the bartender/innkeeper to where they would be spending the night. John grinned and ordered hot water for a bath before disappearing into his room. Tyler turned from unlocking the door to his and saw the scared look on Heidi’s face as she looked at the bartender who was openly leering at her. He growled and spun, his momentum driving the slightly shorter man into the opposite wall where he pressed his dagger against the other’s neck.

  “I told you once and I won’t tell you again; she’s my mate. Mind how you look at her.” He stepped back and put his dagger away. “We’ll take some hot water as well.” Without another look at the bartender, he turned, put his arm around Heidi’s shoulders, and guided her into the room. Once inside, he locked the door.

  “God, I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m a waitress for crying out loud. It’s my job to deal with leering drunks.”

  He smiled. “No worries.” He went to the door and let the two men in who were carrying pails of hot water which they dumped into a large tub at the far end of the room. They returned five more times and Tyler thanked them when they left. He went through his pack and handed her a bar of soap.

  “Here you are. I’ll lie on the bed facing the wall.”

  Heidi blushed. “Thanks.” She watched as Tyler did exactly what he’d promised then stripped down and lay in the tub. She sighed as the hot water enveloped her. She ran the soap over herself and lathered her hair before ducking under the water to
rinse.

  “So how did you meet Blake?” Tyler asked the wall.

  “We had a computer class together our first year of college. I was having issues with a certain style of formatting and he was the one sitting beside me. I asked him for help. The next thing I knew we were going for drinks and then getting an apartment together.” Talking about Blake made the ache she’d been feeling come back full force. What would happen if Tyler was wrong and she couldn’t get home? How long would he wait for her? Did he think she’d left him?

  “You’re taking the same thing at school?”

  Heidi shook her head then realized Tyler couldn’t see her. “No. I quit. It turns out I hate computers. I’m not sure what I want to do.” She frowned. “It has to be something outdoors. I hate being inside all the time. Maybe something in forestry, or maybe parks and recreation… sorry, I’m kind of going off to myself.”

  Tyler smiled. “No worries. I know how you feel. It’s not that I don’t appreciate a decent bed when there’s one available, but we’ve been in Growlen for four hours and I can’t wait to get out of here. At least this pack is down to three now. Maybe once I get you back through the crossing I can convince John to go home and it will just be Bird and I again.”

  “How long have you been on your own?”

  “Almost five years.”

  Heidi sat up and turned to look at him. He was lying on his back, his hands behind his head, his eyes closed. “Good god! How old were you when you left home?” She expected him to smile or be smug. Instead, he frowned and his jaw tightened.

  “Thirteen. I felt Trent die, I got Jenna home, and I left.” He heard the water swirl against the tub as she got out then felt the bed shift with the weight of her sitting beside him on the bed.

  “Was Jenna your girlfriend?”

  He shook his head. “She was Trent mate.” He fought the urge to open his eyes and look at her when she was quiet. “There’s a clean tunic in my pack; the grey one. It should be long enough for you to wear as a nightshirt.”

  Heidi got off the bed and rummaged through his pack until she found the one he was talking about.

  “Ok, I’m decent.”