The Liberian

Chapter 64

“Right at the start of the war in the Crystal Caverns, he hit a really dark point. I tried to get to him, and he pushed me away. We had a fight, and we both said things we regretted.” She looked pained. “I was proud, I was hurt, and I walked away. I know he needed me—needed someone—more than ever, and I withdrew.” Arel’s attention was back on Halle, the haze of the past lifting for a moment. “I promised then that I’d never abandon someone in need, if I had the chance again. I’d never ignore a friend because of the foolish things pain could make them do.”

Halle quickly realized Arel was speaking about her.

“After that, for many years, things were awkward and cold between us.” Arel was back to her story. “But time heals all wounds, and we found our friendship again. It’ll never be what it was, but what we had created a strong foundation. He knows he can trust me implicitly, and I can trust him.”

Silence filled the air as Halle digested Arel’s story. It made her feel heavy, and it put her stomach in a knot. She felt sorrow for her friend; joy, excitement, and a touch of jealousy. She felt like a child when she wondered what it was like to kiss the prince and kept her questions at bay.

“So that’s why you’re my mentor.” Halle saw it with a new light.

“Yes. During your Awakening, Derek was obsessive with worry over you. We had to practically remove him by force. He wanted to screen everyone who was allowed to even see you, more or less touch you. Because Victor kept pushing him away, he appointed me to the task. He asked a favor. Of course, now I know why he was frantic. If you’re Bonded.”

Halle twisted her blankets between her fingers. It was not the first time she’d been told he called in favors for her. Halle tilted her head. “The Bond?”

“You know how a Bond is made,” Arel said delicately. “You are both a part of each other. There are records of people going mad because they lost their Bonded. Some theorize that, depending on the depth of the Bond, should one die the other will as well.”

Halle sat upright, resting her forehead in her palm. It was self-preservation for him. “He’s keeping me safe because if he doesn’t—”

“He’s keeping you safe because he wants to keep you safe,” Arel interrupted.

Halle looked over at the other woman, who was now also sitting. Arel wrapped an arm around her friend’s shoulders, pulling Halle back, and engulfing Halle in her warm safety.

Arel’s voice was sad and sincere. “Derek’s been through a good deal, much of which he’s never even imparted to me. But I’ve seen the edges of the darkness he shoulders. I don’t think he worries for his sanity or his mortality. He doesn’t want you to die because he’s afraid that it would mean he’d have to live without you.” Arel stroked the top of Halle’s head.

“Listen close. I’ve known him for twelve years. And a good many of those were spent, dare I say it, as his best friend. I know Derek—the good and bad.” Arel sighed. “I don’t want to say anything he hasn’t said himself. But he cares for you, Halle. In a way that I’ve never seen him really care for anyone before.”

Halle pressed her eyes closed, imagining she was back in the palace. “Thank you for telling me all this, Arel.”

“Sweet Halle, you know I will always be here for you.” Arel squeezed her tightly, and Halle slept peacefully for the first time in what seemed like years.

THE NEXT MORNING Derek kept his promise and rode at her side. They talked the day away, almost exclusively with each other. He asked about her life in the East, her farm, her family. Halle probed him for magical knowledge that she had no other way of learning. The man was practically a walking library.

There were no remnants of tensions between her, Finch, and Arel either. Finch had caught on quickly that whatever oddities had been going on were resolved, and the Southerner had enough sense not to linger. Armed with her friends at her side and secure in the knowledge of the stability of her and Derek’s relationship, Halle ignored Ledia throughout training—much to the other woman’s frustration.

Halle used her Channeling liberally, to the surprise of everyone but Derek. Finch and Arel were expectedly encouraging. Ledia was obviously perturbed and avoided her for the next three days.

Halle was amazed at how easily control came following those first few days of Channeling without hesitation or fear. Supported by her friends and Derek, Halle found herself finally relishing her magic. The wind slipped easily between her fingers, heeding her will, and Halle was quickly surpassing the basic introductions to magic Derek had given her months ago. Magic, she was discovering, was like poetry. Once you understood the logic, the meter, the rhyme behind it, you could embellish upon it and make it your own.On the third night, she was setting up Arel’s and her tent with just her magic alone. That was the first time Halle felt eyes on her for her sorcery, eyes that weren’t daunting or scared. The Black Legion began to pay attention to their Windwalker once more, not for the Night of Fire and Wind, but for the daily feats she was beginning to be able to perform. It was a sanity-supporting confidence-booster for Halle.

She was in such a high place with it all that when Derek paired her with Ledia during training—at the other woman’s request—Halle didn’t even blink. She accepted the other woman’s presence opposite her. If it was an actual competition for Derek’s attention, it was one Halle was winning. The crown prince had rode at her side without stop, and tomorrow they would practice Projection again.

Derek had been intent on working toward more hand-to-hand combat, and Halle was happy to oblige. The Northern-looking woman needed to be knocked off her high horse and tonight was Halle’s night, Halle assured herself. She’d been feeling stronger with every passing week, less sore, more capable.

“You sure you want to do this, Yarl?” Ledia smirked, her eyes darting toward Derek.

“It’s just practice, right?” Halle sunk into her preferred fighting stance, one arm up and the other at chest-height.

“Oh, of course.” Ledia balled her right hand into a fist, clasping her left overtop.

Halle clenched her hands into fists and welcomed her magic as well. “Your mark, or mine?”

“Mine—don’t want you cheating.” Ledia laced her voice with sarcasm, but Halle knew it was a thin veil for sincerity, and her eye twitched.

Ledia moved, and Halle instantly went on the offensive.

The dark-skinned woman dodged and ducked ably. She narrowly avoided Halle’s hooks and jabs. But Halle’s punches were missing by a narrower margin than she would’ve expected.

Halle took a breath and focused. She began to feel the ripples in the currents of air as the other woman’s muscles tensed and pulsed before she threw a punch or kick. Halle’s body knew before her eyes could see. Halle’s heart began to race. She could do this: she could fight.

A pulse began to fill Halle’s ears, and she allowed herself to rely on instinct. Halle moved like the wind, fast and precise. Her hands swung in exact arcs, hitting their target almost every time. The constant offense had Ledia beginning to panic, and panic made the other woman sloppy. Halle heard nothing other than the heartbeat.

Ledia threw a fist at Halle’s face; knowing it was coming, Halle dodged at the last second. She clamped her hand around Ledia’s wrist and savored the look of pure shock as her foot kicked the other woman’s feet from beneath her. Ledia fell to her knees, and Halle reached for the woman’s face with her free hand, clamping it over Ledia’s mouth.

The dark-haired woman’s eyes went wide with terror.

“That’s enough,” Derek barked from their right. “Halle, let her go.”

The heartbeat in Halle’s ears began to fade: it was almost like coming out of a trance. As if seeing the other woman for the first time, Halle quickly pulled her hand away, staring at the appendage that had found a mind of its own.

“What in the Mother’s name was that?” Ledia sprang to her feet.

“Just a spar,” Halle said curtly. She wasn’t about to let shock give Ledia leeway to ignore the fact that she’d been outperformed. “A spar you were bested in.”

“Right,” Ledia mumbled, her eyes swung to Derek. “Bested by an awfully familiar fighting style.”

“I think that’s enough for the night.” Derek’s tone was clear: he didn’t want any further discussion on it.

“Why?” Ledia took a step forward. “So you can continue to train her in secret?” Was that hurt in the other woman’s voice? “What do you do those nights you call her to your tent?”

“That is not your concern.” Halle had never heard Derek so sharp with Ledia.

“It is, because you are my—”

“Just go, Ledia.” Derek pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh.

He was her what? Halle wanted to scream the question, but she was barely finding enough air to breathe through the whole exchange.

“Fine, Derek. If you want to train her in secret, go right ahead. But don’t think your favor heaped upon the undeserving lowborn will go unnoticed or unquestioned.” Ledia was at the insults again, and Halle wished they would dull just a little more instead of still feeling like daggers to her gut.

“All of you, go back,” Derek commanded as Ledia stormed away.

“Derek,” Halle said softly as Finch and Arel got a few steps ahead.

“Where did you learn how to do that?” The prince stared down the bridge of his nose at her.

“Where else could I learn?” She didn’t understand why she was being given his displeasure. “You, Ledia, Arel, Finch, Major Reale, you know everyone who’s ever taught me.”

“The way you moved. None of them could have taught you that.” He was somber.

“Well, I have a good teacher.” Halle attempted a smile that she quickly abandoned.

Derek’s eyes were dark with a tempest of emotion, none of which good. “It was more than that, Halle,” he pressed.

“I don’t know what else you think I’ve done.” She took a step away, crossing her arms. “If you remember, my life hasn’t been mine for the past few weeks. I’m owned by the crown, my prince.”

“Is that it? You’re just owned by the crown? There is nothing more?” Derek shortened the gap between them with two steps.

“What else more would there be?” Why else would she be headed to war?

His eyes widened by a fraction, and Halle realized that they weren’t talking about her presence in the military or combat. Derek stormed past her, his shoulder hitting hers lightly.

“Derek, you know that wasn’t what I meant,” she called after him.

He froze and looked back at her. Was that appreciation on his face? Was he impressed that she recognized the subtle shifts in their conversation?

The moment was fleeting, and he left her without another word.