The Song of Blood and Bone

Chapter six

By the time night fell every bone in Alyiah’s body groaned. She laid down on the ground, even though there is a twig in her back Aliyah was still comfortable, to her the ground had never felt so good.

Hayden came by and chuckled. “I remember that look, the pure relief after your first day of training. Unfortunately for you, you still have one more task.” His words were like daggers that crushed her hope. The cold ground is Aliyah’s only ally in this cruel world.

“Leave me be, Hayden. You’re being ridiculous, my body is already maxed out,” Aliyah complained.

“You have ten minutes princess.” Hayden chuckled than went to start a fire. Fires were dangerous in the woods, but the sun wasn’t gone yet. As long as they cooked dinner before the sun slept they would be okay.

All day Aliyah was pushed to her limits, running and dodging boulders, eventually Avyil and Hayden began to throw rocks and twigs she had to dodge too. Every break they had was not a break. Aliyah worked on both offense and defense moves. However it kept her mind busy, until now. Slowly and dreadfully her mind began to wander back to Rowyn. But before it could get out of hand Aliyah got up.

“I’m ready.” Hayden and Avyil gave a look to each other, they sat next to the fire with a pot. Aliyah couldn’t figure out who had kept the food or the pot, it was essential to make food, but where the kept it was a mystery.

“You’re done for the night, come sit with us.”

“Can I speak to you, Hayden? Alone?” Aliyah asked. Avyil nodded and walked away.

Aliyah went and sat next to Hayden. She cuddled up next to him, needing to feel the same comfort he provided at the tavern. Hayden’s breath caught as she got closer, and began to breathe only enough to not pass out.

“What is it?” Hayden asked thoughtfully.

“All today I forgot, I forgot about him.” Aliyah sighed and wiped a tear away from her eyes.

“And you feel guilty? You shouldn’t, I didn’t know him, but I’m sure he’d want you to live your life. I know the guilt Aliyah, but it’s pointless. Tell me, would he want you to torture yourself like this? Would he want you to spend everyday wanting him wondering where he is?”

She stoped to think, to wonder of the possibilities of what Rowyn would say to her. As is she was possessed Aliyah began to laugh. It is a scary laugh that even sent Hayden on edge. “Do you know what he’d tell me?” Aliyah laughed harder, this time tears came from her eyes. She caught her breath and wiped the tears. “He would tell me to get my head out of my ass because I’m Aliyah. But that’s not the best part, no. He would tell me to go do what want.”

“What do you want?”

“To travel but I never left because of Rowyn.”

Aliyah laid on her side and closed her eyes, she never said those words, but wasn’t it true? She’s free. She could do whatever she wants now.

…………………

Hayden sat in the dark listening to everything around him. It was his watch that night, with wolves and other creatures on the loose they needed someone to watch. Though Avyil still sat next to him sharpening his knife.

“Do not pretend that I didn’t see that earlier.” Avyil said. Hayden knew what he was talking about, however he didn’t want to admit it because he was the one that destroyed everything.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“She’s your mate, Hayden. I saw how you looked at her and I could smell the territorial stench. When did it happen?” Avyil asked.

“I fell asleep and suddenly found myself in her dreams. Only a mating bond can do that. I’m terrified of it, Camil was my only love I can’t. I can’t Avyil. I can’t betray her.” Avyil bowed his head.

They sat in silence for a few moments until Avyil decided to talk. “No, tell her or don’t tell her Hayden, but you cannot keep doing this! You cannot keep dragging yourself through the mud. Camil died of natural causes, Hayden, you knew that would happen. Yet you decided to love her, you decided to make a life with her! Nearly three hundred years later you are still torturing yourself.

“I thought maybe finding your mate would change you but your so selfish you can’t even help her.”

“I am helping her Avyil! How am I not helping her?”

“Yes you’re helping her get her kingdom back, but thats not what I mean. You wont help her move past her love. You wont help her with what she desperately needs before she turns into you.”

Hayden looked at Aliyah, she still slept peacefully, her hair fell gently on a bunched up shirt. The fact that it is indeed Hayden shirt made his heart pound harder and he hated it. Hated the feeling that she gave him. A roar interrupted Hayden’s thoughts. His head whipped around towards the sound to be face to face with a silver haired lion. Hayden flicked his hear and smiled. The lion changed into a man with silver hair and eyes.

“Lith, my friend, its good to see you.”

Am I the only one that thinks its odd,” Aliyah asked rubbing her eyes. “That his clothes appeared when he changed? They just stayed on him?”

Everyone chuckled at her and Hayden looked towards Lith, “What are you doing here?”

“Avyil wrote to me. I’m glad to see everyone is awake we should get going. Who are you lovely?” He asked Aliyah. Hayden’s nose scrunched.

“I’m Aliyah.” Aliyah laughed. Lith c****d and eyebrow.

“What do you say, we have some fun?” Lith winked at Aliyah but Hayden growled. Lith looked at at Hayden with a confused expression behind Hayden’s shoulder Avyil shook his head violently and Lith nodded.

“I thought we were leaving. We’re still three days away.” Everyone turned her head towards her. She had already packed everything back in the bags. She walked towards them and handed Avyil and Hayden their bags. Before anyone could get up she started walking.

A snare snapped and they all ran towards Aliyah, to their surprise she wasn’t caught in it. She stood there looking at the beautiful trap laid out perfectly. In the trap was a stick that she probably used to spring the trap. Silently she stood there for a second admiring the hunters work. Without saying a word the all kept walking towards the shore.

“Where is it?” Someone yelled.

Lith looked at them and changed to a hawk. He’d scope out incase things went sideways.

The slowly walked forward towards the shouting to find an old man and a teenager. The man raised his hand to strike the kid, but Hayden stepped in.

“Hello? Sir, we’ve seemed to wander to far, we were looking for the meadow. Can you point us in the direction?”

Aliyah grabbed Hayden’s arm but kept her cool. He looked at her and offered a smile.

“I cannot help you. Now leave me alone!” The man struck the boy across the face and pulled out a knife. To Hayden’s surprise Aliyah was the first one there. She grabbed the mans wrist before he could bring the knife down. Hayden began to walk forward careful not to escalate the situation. His heart was beating rapidly, he tried to keep calm.

“You will not strike this boy.” Aliyah stated, but before Hayden could intervene the man brought the knife down on Aliyah.

In a flash of movement the man was under Hayden and Aliyah was standing with the boy. Avyil stood next to Hayden and Lith had transformed back into the silver lion.

Everyone was silent while Hayden fought the urge to slaughter the man. “What should I do with you?” Hayden asked to calmly.

“Let me go, please. Please. Just let me go.” Hayden got off of the man and looked back at Aliyah. She had a deep gash in her arm but other than that she was okay. His breathing began to slow down.

“Let’s go.” Aliyah said. The boy ran off in another direction but the man was too fragile to be able to catch him so they went back on their way.

“Lith can you fly above and look for a stream or a lake.” Lith nodded and took off. The three of them continued walking. Aliyah held her shoulder as the walked.

Eventually Lith shrieked above them. So they followed him to the lake.

Once they got there Avyil and Lith grabbed more water, but Aliyah and Hayden sat down. “Lift up your sleeve.” She did.

Hayden closed his eyes and began to hum a soft tune. Small drops of water rose from the lake, Hayden opened his eyes and the droplets fell on her arm. When she looked down all that was left was a scar.

“How?”

“I’m a healer.”

“A powerful one, most can only speed up healing but he can actually heal.” Aliyah nodded.

“Oh s**t we found a short cut.” Sure enough there was the shore.