– T A Y A H –

I brushed my fingers over my lips with a smile. The feel of an immortal's had been upon them and it made my head spin with anticipation. She was due to dock on the continent at mid sun span. Wherever that coastal dock was it wouldn't be long before I passed on our location of the town we were camped on the horizon of.

I rolled my neck and sat up from the dusty orange sand under a rocky outcrop. John and Kaden were still sleeping and dragging in loud breaths. Yanu was in a similar state and curled up against the saddle under the shade. The sun was already burning overhead and we were at the end of our water flasks.

I stared at the sandstone town on the horizon. It was a good thing my estimation of distance was no longer than a span. Our water would not have lasted us longer.

John suddenly stretched out in the sand and knocked the smoking remains of our fire with a boot. He frowned and cleaned some charcoal off it before glancing at me with a lopsided smile. I smirked in return and gestured to the town.

"Will this fair okay?" I asked dryly.

He snorted, unbothered with waking the others and stomped over to my perch on the rocky outcrop.

"You get me a drink, Ashrive and it will do."

I chuckled and gave him a sidelong look. "We have another joining our party." I murmured, with amusement dancing in my eyes.

He watched me for a moment before giving me a dramatic sigh.

"Oh fantastic. The immortal that wants my head." He muttered.

I grinned and looked back to the distant town. "She docks on the continent this span." I noted.

He frowned beside me. "How long have you two been communicating?"

"Since we marooned on that island. Odin couldn't stop us from dreaming." I stated flatly.

"You–you can go to–dreams?"

"Valkyries can enter the dreams of mortals yes–not that I would ever go near yours–John please relax." I said, exasperated at his horrified expression. He loosened at this but stroked his beard as he thought.

"She's an immortal though?"

"We're not sure why I can do this. We're not even sure how I created a portal to the mortal realm myself when only the gods can... Yet here we are." I shrugged with a grin.

"You're the most rogue Valkyrie that God ever made." John snorted, shaking his head. "I am so pleased you were kicked out–"

I shoved him hard and he tripped on a rock and landed on Kaden. He woke with a growl and punched him on the arm. John kicked his shin and the men turned into a heap of swearing and flying limbs in moments. I sighed and glanced at Yanu who slept soundly.

If only it were so easy.

"The sooner I get myself a pallet of wool and not rock–the better." Kaden grunted, throwing John off him and rolling onto his feet. He grabbed the large axe from a rock and strapped it onto his back. John also started gathering our limited equipment and even brought along a coconut.

"You still have one of those?" I demanded with a laugh. "You could barely keep yourself aboard that boat and the fruit survived?"

John threw me a devilish look and took a dagger before stabbing a hole into it. He took a shameless slurp and attached it to his hip with a shrug. The remains of our gear went back onto the horses–which John ended up giving the last of the coconut juices and flask water to.

They flicked their ears impatiently as we loaded up and took our seats. We rode out from the shade of the rock face and down the sandy dunes towards the orange sandstone town. Yanu tiredly nodded off at my back as soon as we started off again. It went like this for many slithers. The sun wasn't at full burning power yet so we were not too scorched on the dusty road towards the tall buildings.

"Well, it looks semi-civilised." John noted from his horse behind.

I squinted up at the high towers of orange sandstone and surrounding palms. It was like the large town was carved into the desert rocks. But at least fighters and slavers did not pour out of every crevice.

"I could use an ale." Kaden grunted, coughing out some dust and checking the empty leather flask again.

"Doubtful." I told him carefully over my shoulder where Yanu slept.

"I'll find us a cask man. These weapons should fetch a fair price." John noted, glancing at the swords on his back and the double-sided axe on Kaden's back.

I snorted. "Well, you're not selling my shield that's for damn certain."

"Not even the cloak?" Kaden enquired with an innocent look.

I drew the crimson hood lower with a glare that told him enough. Yanu stirred behind me and rubbed his eyes before taking in the surroundings and suddenly seeing the orange town ahead.

"Yascalla!" He shouted excitedly before adding another bunch of foreign words.

John and Kaden exchanged a glance ahead and looked back to him.

"Well, now we know what to call it."

"And now so will Kára." I stated with a grin. "Good work, Yanu." I told him.

John made a move with his finger to cut his throat and I threw him a dirty look before laughing. 

"The immortal is joining us?" Kaden blurted, whirling in his saddle. "What of your impending doom–"

"As blunt as ever Kaden." I interrupted with a head shake. "We're saying damn the odds and meeting despite the god's wishes." I grunted, tightening my hands on the reins.

"Hah! Taking my advice after all!" He boomed, slapping his thigh and holding his head higher.

"Yes, Kaden. Every decision in my life is made through your guidance." I said dripping sarcasm.

John snickered on his saddle and silently shook his head as we took in the foreign surroundings. Yanu was still bouncing excitedly behind me as our horses slipped between traders and other horses on the hard rock path. I eyed a cart filled with the rich reds and yellows of spices. Then another reeking of dried fish.

Yanu kept saying unintelligible things until John turned in his saddle and called back to me.

"Tay, let us see if we can find a stable to sell the horses!"

I nodded to him and we cut a path through the busy streets. Many citizens covered there faces in colourful wraps from the sun. Or thin hoods. I even noticed a uniformed guard in fighting leathers and white robes with curved swords. That at least meant there was a semblance of order here.

"Stables." Kaden grunted, beside me. Nodding towards a wide array of stalls and fountain at the centre of the dusty pathways. Our horses hurried towards the sight of it and whinnied as we hopped off the saddles and pulled them to the flowing water.

I tilted my head up at the tall orange structures around us. Quite impressive designs. The stone must be stronger than our limestone.

A man shouted something in the foreign tongue with a smile. I eyed Yanu who seemed to understand him but looked to me unsure. I sighed and made a sign of coin while gesturing to the horses in the hope he would translate at least some of that to the stable owner.

The purple robed man neared us in question with a hand gesture and Yanu glanced back to the owner and spoke up. The man looked down at the boy in amusement and then assessed the three horses intently and nodded. I glanced at Yanu who seemed to shake his head and exclaim something louder, pointing at the horses again.

I started to smirk as I realised the kid was actually bartering with the owner.

But the owner said something back more sternly and Yanu shrugged, turning to me and trying to pull me away. The owner suddenly spoke up again and said something more desperately. Yanu turned back to him with a nod and reach out his little hand. They shook.

Kaden and John glanced at me and I shrugged, totally lost.

The owner called something out behind him and a young stable boy and girl rushed to gather the horses from the fountains and draw them back towards the stalls. Then the owner drew a hand into his robes and pulled out a much larger coin pouch than I had expected. He dropped it into Yanu's hands and he almost stumbled under the weight.

He grinned and turned back to me with it held upwards. I raised an eyebrow in disbelief as Kaden came over to his side and the owner disappeared back to the horses.

"Way to go kid!" He boomed a laugh and gave him a light slap on the shoulder making Yanu both fear for his life and hide in my shadow.

I shook my head and opened the pouch. I sucked in a breath and looked at the silver filling the leather bag.

"Are horses valued in this continent?" I stated, flicking a look back to the men who were similarly surprised. Then we all looked down at Yanu who clung to my leg and giggled.

"I like this kid." John announced. "We're keeping him."

I rolled my eyes. "If he does not have a family to call his own and only then."

"I would raise him better than any of–"

"John." I stated. "Let's go find lodging before you try and create a little monster."

He gave me a mock salute and turned to Kaden with an expectant look. "The tree understands me."

Kaden rolled his eyes and shoved him to the side before securing his axe better across his back. "I will teach the child how handle himself. You keep your tricks to yourself, Keavesmith."

John righted himself and gave Kaden the finger making them laugh ahead of us. I took Yanu's small hand and led us back into the shadows of the orange stone buildings. Yascalla. Now it was only a matter of time until my immortal found us.

* * * * *

Later that span we had settled down into a modest lodging with a space for relaxing and a few soft beds pushed near the walls. Yanu had already collapsed into one while Kaden snored heavily and left his arm hanging over the other. John was content to browse the few books left in a small shelf.

I took a space in the far corner with a few cushions and closed my eyes. The light cut through the thin curtains and warmed my face.

She was waiting for me of course. I smiled when I entered her dream that rocked on an empty ship deck. I glanced around the memory she held and grinned when I saw her leaning against the railing watching the water below.

"This seems familiar!" I called.

She turned quickly and smiled knowingly. Then set a hand out leisurely.

"Once upon a time I enjoyed my voyage with a certain mortal more than she knew." She told me, leaning both arms back against the ship.

I strolled closer with false curiosity. "Must have been some mortal."

"Hot headed. Quick tempered and stubborn as hell." She retorted darkly while I grinned.

"Just as you like." I quipped, leaning forward and brushing my thumb across her lip. She tilted her head at me and shrugged.

"You'll do."

I scoffed and pulled back only to watch her laugh and pull my face forward to kiss my head. Her strands of blonde hair brushed my face and I wanted to run my fingers through it.

"Now, pray tell. Where are you and your mortal buffoons?" She asked me carefully. 

"Yascalla." I said triumphantly.

"Thank the gods." She murmured, "I thought I would be tracking you by vague drawings on dirt for the next few spans."

"Yes well, Yanu seems to know it quite well. The kid had our horses sold and a bag of silver in our hands before mornings end." I chuckled.

Her eyes lightened and she gave me a pondering look. "I'm starting to grow fond of this child. Finally there is a responsible one in your group."

I laughed and shook my head. "Now you tell me. How long until you reach us?"

Her expression turned serious. "I'll take two horses and ride through the night. No longer than next morning. I'm grateful you are near the coast... the continent is very large." She sighed.

"Next morning." I breathed, relaxing into her with a smile.

She chuckled and brought her palm up to my cheek. "Did you really think I would wait once I found you again?"

"I did not know what to think for a long time." I told her quietly, opening my eyes and finding hers watching me closely. "Seeing you die... took a part of me with you. I would have done just about anything he asked of me to bring you back."

Her brows came together and she gazed down intensely. "I need you to understand that it was a plot. A planned and executed action to take you away. Nothing more. Odin cannot understand what you are to me–he will never."

I frowned. "But we can never be sure his words are not true. That the day you changed my fate and prevented my death one of us was bound to die–"

"Neither can he!" She interrupted me fiercely, securing my head in both her hands. "The fates are never decided by the gods but the actions of those on the realm. That is their curse. Infinite power with no influence over the actions of mortals. That is why Valkyries were created."

I watched her silently as she finished in a heavy breath and those silver eyes burned. Then I smiled briefly despite it.

"Valkyrie or not. Fate or not. I couldn't hide from you forever." I chuckled, and her eyes burned. "How long did I last before going back on my word and finding you in your dreams?"

"I did not think it was possible." She admitted. "When you found me that night... I was convinced it could not be you–yet Odin then told me it was. It felt like returning to life again."

"How about you don't die again." I growled playfully.

She smirked right back. "Try not to stab me again and I'll agree. You're the only one that has ever gotten close–"

I interrupted her with a kiss that felt as good as the last and many more to come. Her lips were soft on mine and her hands took the sides of my face. I breathed against her wanting nothing more than that scent for the rest of my being. It would never be enough. She smiled against me and drew my lips back to meet my eyes.

"The longer you keep me here the longer it will take to get there."

I grinned and kissed her quickly again. "Maybe I wanted to know how your trip across the seas was?"

Her expression suddenly became flat with impatience as she thought it over.

"Painful. I think a mortal Officer on that ship became far too enamoured with immortal power."

I raised an eyebrow and laughed. "Are you sure it was the power?"

She scoffed and looked at me in exasperation. "Tayah, she was lucky I did not send the winds into her and throw her from the ship–there is nothing even remotely–"

"Okay, I really wish I could have seen this." I interrupted with another loud laugh.

Kára watched me and her features softened listening to my amusement. "You have no idea. I was consistently trying to think how you would handle the situations."

"People are easy." I told her simply. "You pay them compliments and they are usually too distracted to think of anything negative in your direction. It disarms."

"That is what she did." She growled. "Compliments do no such thing!"

"Okay you are entirely a different story." I grinned. "Gods forbid a mortal paying you a compliment." I sniggered. 

She flicked my nose and I winked. Then her expression suddenly turned suspicious.

"Who are you complimenting?"

I laughed loudly again. Bracing my hand on the rail and turning to the seas.

"Enough. Go get on a horse and get back to me. That's an order immortal." I told her more soberly. "I miss you too damn much."

Her expression softened completely and she drew me close to her body in a moment. She put her hand under my chin and tilted my face up to hers. The sea winds of her dreams kissed my face and pulled up the furs around her shoulders.

"Sleep long and well, Tayah Ashrive." She murmured in promise. "When you wake I will be there."