Dedicated to Moonlight1001 for her votes and comments. ^-^

11.

Marked

“Nayichi?” Iari repeated.

His ser nodded. “What do you know of them? Have you ever encountered one?”

The young man shrugged. “I ‘ave seen them from afar but never talked to one. I know common knowledge about them. What clan they belong to depends on their crystal shapes and that’s ‘ow you can also tell ‘ow ‘ostile they are.”

His ser returned her gaze straight ahead, eyes narrowed in thought.

Reth pursed his lips. He had heard his ser and Iari’s short conversation as he walked a few paces behind them. He wanted to speak up and say he knew about the Nayichi too. In fact, he knew more than Iari had told her. Reth could tell which Nayichi belonged to what clan on sight. He could determine their form of magick from the gems on their stomach. He could even acknowledge when it was safe to touch their crystals.

Such information and more had been provided to him while he was in the Instituo. It was only natural a Rhokin would understand the ways of magick in all its known forms.  

Reth’s eyes darted at Iari. He knew of the boy as well. The flow of magick was strong through him; Reth could feel it. It exhibited a strong current, but he noticed it had slowed to a warm, calming drift when Iari had been explaining his healing ways to Reth.

He smiled as he recalled the difference between a frost lotus and frost moss. Though they both appeared similar at first glance, the green leaves on a lotus were more curled and usually dotted with faint yellow smudges. A sense of pride filled him when he had accurately pointed out the difference when Iari presented him the green plant at the side of the road. His ser had told him not to fail her, and he wasn’t planning on doing so.

He eyes flickered back to his ser. He saw she still had the troubled look on her face, probably still pondering on the Nayichi. Reth decided not to say anything about it after all. She had not asked him the questions about the Nayichi. She had a reason not to, for sure. It would probably bother her if he started to spew out all her knew about the creatures. Still, he held on to the longing that she would ask.

His thoughts drifted to the night before. Reth had woken up to darkness but it wasn’t too dim he couldn’t see his ser wasn’t present. He sat up only to notice the body next to him. It was his ser. She was curled up next to him in her sleep. Reth stared at her for a few seconds before allowing the lull of sleep to take him.

Something strange had woken him up again. This time, he knew for sure his ser was gone, but he figured she had left to relieve herself. He still felt tensed, sitting up alone in the night’s gloom. His eyebrows perked up when the dimness spat her out. She walked back with her head down, sword hand gripping her sheathed blade’s hilt. Without glancing at him, she settled back on the ground to sleep, but Reth noticed she never released her hold on her sword.

It must have been during those two moments that my ser had encountered the Nayichi. Why did she not wake me?

“I sensed the Nayichi from last night as well,” Calera said, interrupting his thoughts.

Reth turned to the other silver eyed. Her words were few yet she always seemed to find the desire to utter them to him. Reth knew her ser disliked Lycin but was unsure how she felt about Calera. He looked back at his ser. She was further up ahead, having fallen in step with Ser Aldermeck and Deneck. Reth and the female silver eyed now trailed behind everyone.

“It woke me too,” she said. Her voice was quite beautiful, but he liked his ser’s better.

“Are you allowed to speak to me?” he asked her. Reth remembered the first day of his arrival when Lycin had struck her. Despite the display, Reth knew better than to interfere with a silver eyed and his ser.

Calera blinked. “Yes.”

Reth caught her eyes on him, and she lowered her head. That was the third time she had done so. He didn’t understand her coyness.

“You do not like my ser,” she spoke.

Reth stared at the top of her head, noting the gloss on her dark hair. “Do you not like my ser?” he asked her.

She faced him and it was the first time he noticed how hollow her eyes and cheeks were. “My ser likes your ser,” she said.

Reth frowned.

Calera did not speak for the rest of the day, but her words stayed with him. Even when Iari had bound up to him with his lessons of potions, herbs, and other aspects in the way of healing, Reth’s mind replayed Calera’s voice. He was successful in naming off the herbs Iari placed in his palms though, and the fact he did so in Sianna’s presence filled him with pride.

When night fell upon them and they set camp, Ser Aldermeck allowed the building of a fire. They were close enough to Caister for her to feel comfortable to allow one, she announced.

“So we should reach it in the morning?” Iari asked.

Ser Aldermeck nodded as she handed him his share of bread and cheese. “Within half a day we will be able to once more eat meat and drink ale.”

Sianna gave a longing sigh. “I wouldn’t mind some of that right now.”

Lycin grinned but said nothing. Reth had noticed he hadn’t spoken since yesterday afternoon. Another thought crossed his mind. How had Calera secured his permission to speak if he hadn’t spoken himself?

She would dare not disobey her ser.

Sianna came up to Reth and handed him three slices of cheese on a single piece of bread. She sat next to him. The heel of the bread bowled her own cheese slices. She plucked one out and chewed on it as she watched the fire. Reth watched the flames dance on her hair, lightening it to the color of honey. He turned back to his food and found himself wishing it was soup.

“Lycin, your hometown is Caister, is it not?” Aldermeck asked.

Lycin looked at her and then at Sianna. He raised his eyebrow at her. Sianna rolled her eyes.

“Damn it, Lycin. You know you are allowed to speak,” she said.

“It was an order, Leitnant,” he answered her. “You said so yourself.”

Aldermeck scoffed. “I am your Leitnant as well or have you forgotten? When I ask you a question, you answer.”

“It can be a little confusing whose orders I should follow.” He shrugged.

“Stop being an ass, Lycin,” Sianna said and ate another piece of cheese.

He sighed. “We are almost to Caister.”

“We are already aware of that.”

“House Gabard awaits you.” Aldermeck smirked.

Lycin’s eyes narrowed. “Indeed it does.”

House Gabard? Reth thought.

His ser seemed just as lost. “Your House is in Caister?”

“Yes, they are the lords of that region. My father thought not part of the Guard is active in its activities. He is usually in the know of what commences in Caister’s region and in our own Gwyn Valley. Or at least what used to be our own.”

Reth thought he heard sadness in his voice. It was still difficult to pinpoint exact emotions in people, but he was sure of the sorrow he spotted.   

“He and Dux Suller have been friends for as long as the Dux has been residing there,” Lycin said. “I am the youngest of four. It was easier for me to simply join the Guard.”

His ser grinned. “So that is how you received your Rhokin then.”

Lycin shrugged but smiled nonetheless. “My father is very…eccentric. Do not let his actions surprise you. It is how he is.”

Reth saw Iari shift in his seat. His green eyes flickered between everyone by the campfire and the ground.

“Iari?” Deneck asked.

Reth perked up. He was glad his silver eyed friend had noticed the boy’s odd quirk too.

Iari flinched. “Sers, what will become of me once we reach Caister?”

Lycin laughed and patted the boy on his back. “You shall be given a reward. You saved my leg and possibly my life. My father shall be very grateful.”

“No,” Aldermeck snapped. “We will not tell your father or anyone else anything about Iari’s magick until the Dux has heard of it first. Did you hear that, Iari? Do not mention your abilities to anyone.”

He nodded. “I usually don’t, ser.”

Aldermeck said something else but Reth didn’t hear. A tap on his shoulder drew his attention away. Reth looked up to see Deneck’s standing figure.  

“Reth, shall you accompany me?” he asked.

The Rhokin gave his ser a glimpse. Lately he had been doing things on his own, without her orders. Maybe he was doing too much of that? She, however, wasn’t looking at him but nibbling on the heel of her bread. Reth stood up, figuring it would be alright. After all, his ser had left him alone with Deneck before.

Deneck smiled at him and led him away from the camp until the fire was as small as a hand when seen in the distance.

“Reth,” he said, “I’m sorry for taking you so far from camp, but I have to ensure our isolation. What I’m about to tell you must not be repeated to anyone. Not even Ser Rayoss.”

Reth stiffened.

“These orders come from Ser Aldermeck. True, Ser Rayoss is a Leitnant same as my ser, but she is still technically in training and has not fully stepped up to her position. Ser Aldermeck still outranks her and you. You cannot disobey her orders nor, as Ser Aldermeck’s Rhokin, can you disobey mine. Do you understand, Reth?”

He caught Deneck’s silver eyes in his own. He knew he spoke the truth; order and subordination within the ranks was one of the first things instilled in all the Rhokins in the Instituo. No matter how much his ser insisted Reth tell her about this conversation, Reth would remain silent. However, once she fully became a Leitnant he could reply to her demands.

“Yes, ser,” Reth told Deneck.

The other silver eyed shook his head. “Don’t think ill of this, Reth. We are trying to keep Sianna safe. I sensed the Nayichi’s essence on her. It was strong, almost as if the creature did it on purpose. I’m sure Calera felt its essence on Sianna as well.”

“She did. She told me.”

Deneck was surprised. “She spoke to you, did she? I ordered her not to speak of it this morning. I now worry Lycin may know of the Nayichi as well.” He ran a hand through his dark locks. “Ser Aldermeck doesn’t know if the Nayichi was aware of the rest of the company, but it seems likely it was.”

Reth stayed silent, staring at Deneck.

He sighed and placed a heavy hand on Reth’s shoulder and squeezed. “Keep watch on Sianna, Reth. Keep her safe. You as well as I and Calera know the essence we sensed from Sianna is the Nayichi’s mark, displayed full and proud for all to see, not hidden as they usually are. That means it will return to her at some later point in time. You are not to tell her she has been marked. Simply watch over her, Reth. That is what Ser Aldermeck asks.”

He lifted his chin. “I am capable of keeping my ser safe without being asked to do so.”

Deneck grinned.

When the two walked back to the campfire, Iari and Lycin had settled in for sleep. Reth caught Ser Aldermeck’s stare from across the flames. The light sparked her blue eyes to look like ice, and Reth realized Ser Aldermeck cared for his ser in ways others did not or probably never would. He saw Deneck sit by her side, and the two talked in hushed voices.

Reth found a dry area to stretch out on for sleep. His ser was sitting several arm lengths away from him. Her brown eyes seemed nervous as they stared into the darkness kept at bay by the fire. He observed her as she fingered her hilt. Even when everyone else had succumbed to sleep, Reth was still staring at her. She, however, hadn’t given him a glance.

“Ser?” Reth willed himself to speak. Though his voice was quiet, his ser flinched.

“What, Reth?” she snapped at him.

He found himself at a loss for words, recalling Deneck’s orders. She turned away from him and his silence.

“Ser?” He tried again.

She threw her head back and sighed. “What is it now, Reth?”

His voice didn’t fail him this time. “If you are feeling troubled, ser. I can watch over you while you sleep.”

She scowled. “I’m fine, Reth.”

“You seem nervous, ser.”

“Just be quiet and go to sleep. Do as I say.”

Reth couldn’t deny her. “Yes, ser.”