Chapter Fifteen

Alexei raised his eyes, his hands tucked inside his robes, as Bolivar glided towards him through the courtyard. The bandit king had made himself scarce the past few weeks they had been at the village. Lirael acted oblivious of it, going about her usual training with Juran as though it was natural. In point of fact, it was natural for the bandit king of the Mountainlands to be busy, but Alexei had found it a bit suspicious that it was immediately after Bolivar had bed Lirael. It not only angered him, but irritated him. He imagined Bolivar’s scruples were either very strict or very stupid. He was leaning towards the latter.

“Bolivar,” Alexei quietly spoke to the male as he started another way. He glanced at Alexei and instantly veered towards him, his expression that of utter boredom shadowed by weariness. Based on how Juran was constantly training in magic, wisdom, and physical fitness, Alexei guessed that something was happening that neither of them had told Lirael or himself. “You’re always so busy lately,” he remarked as he rose to his feet so he could look Bolivar in the eye instead of peer up at him. “I wondered if I could have a quick chat with you.”

“Quick chat,” Bolivar repeated in a mumble, his expression blank.

“I have been gone long enough and Lirael is doing very well. She is learning new things as she teaches Juran, discovering new things about her own magic as he is. I know that you have been dealing with the Mountainlands much since you returned, but wouldn’t it be...prudent...to hurry and deal with Lirael’s friend in Metropolis? I have my own things to take care of in the Snowlands, as you can imagine.”

“Mmm.”

“I was thinking that you and Lirael can come with me to the Snowlands for a quick visit and then head on to the Metropolis by yourselves.”

“Visit...”

“Yes, that’s right,” Alexei replied brightly, ignored the sudden shuttered expression of his companion’s. “Do you not think it a fine idea?” When he finally looked close enough at Bolivar, it was more than obvious that he did not think it was a fine idea. Whatever was going through his head was causing him some distress because his whole body was taut and his eyes were smoldering black coals that had Alexei wondering what had set him off. “...What is your issue, Bolivar? It would be good for Lirael to see her friends and family a last time. Just...just in case.”

“Just in case?” Bolivar snapped out in a dark voice with an accompanying look that could wither plants. If Alexei was a weaker man, he might have cringed away from him; but he did not. “I already have informed you, Alexei – ”

“And I also understand that Lirael can send you and her friend off in no time and hand herself over. If you don’t cooperate with her, nothing good will come of it. Please, just listen to me a moment, Bolivar, won’t you?” The latter gave him a thin-lipped look. “Lirael doesn’t have the same position as you. As much as I hate to admit it...It would be better if she gave herself up compared to you. Her uncle is obsessed with her and wouldn’t let her die. If she isn’t given back to him, then she’ll be put in the Tower. You’ll be killed immediately.”

“Juran’s training is doing well,” he ground out stiffly.

“Yes, but can you say that he is so prepared that he is ready to take on a whole landscape by himself?” Bolivar’s jaw tightened. “I’m just stating the facts as they are. Don’t be a fool and listen to what Lirael wants. Don’t fight her. You’ve already pushed her away.”

“I’ve done no such thing.” Bolivar knew that was a lie better than anyone. He was preparing the Mountainlands in case he was lost and had willingly pushed everyone away from him in the process, Lirael the most violently. He had stupidly allowed himself to bed her and knew that if he continued to be close to her, he would melt against his resolve and would never want to part with her. He couldn’t allow that, though. He was the bandit king and had no intention of abandoning his people or his best friend to the corruption of Metropolis.

Quietly, the older male stated, “I know why you are acting in this manner, Bolivar, and I can only tell you that your tactic is not a wise one.” Bolivar didn’t respond, gazing across him blandly without any expression in his face. Vacantly, Alexei wondered whether it was the stress of Bolivar’s emotions for Lirael or his kingly duties that were causing him so much weariness and distress. “Lirael will never give up on you, no matter how violently you push her away, no matter how much space you put between the two of you. Lirael has her heart set on you and although she knows she can never actually be with you, that won’t change her resolve.”

Bolivar never responded, nor was he given the chance. Juran and Lirael exited the courtyard, their expressions blank and polite. Lirael didn’t even look at Bolivar as they stopped in front of the two men. Both swept a bow and when they rose, Juran was smiling. “What gathering are we missing?” He questioned lightly. Alexei merely shook his head, his smile brief and a bit wan. Lirael’s gaze sharpened as she looked to her father in clear concern. Bolivar came to the rescue of the elderly sorcerer, deciding it was best that Lirael never knew of the conversation that had just taken place.

“Enough, Juran. You would not have sought me out simply to chat,” Bolivar said in a sharper voice than he intended. Lirael was picking up on the tension in both men, and although the question was raw in her eyes, she never asked it. Bolivar was thankful for that.

“Juran was the one looking for you,” she explained in a soft, emotionless tone. He stiffened slightly and looked to her. Despite his avoidance of her, he had been careful to watch her and Juran and make sure that nothing was wrong. He had also been watching for any signs of sickness in case he may have impregnated her. That would have brought up a complication he wasn’t prepared for. There were no signs that a child was coming, though, and she seemed in her usual health; that, in itself, gave him a hint of just why she was looking for him and why his successor had accompanied her. “It is time to leave the Mountainlands. I have done what I can with Juran and father has responsibilities in the Snowlands, especially Hanael Town. I can’t put this off longer than I already have.”

“ ‘This’? What are you talking about?” He demanded, hoping that she wasn’t about to confess her feelings in front of her father and Juran. He would disgrace himself into a puddle of emotions if she did.

“I’ve been meaning to ask if we can accompany father to Hanael Town. I promised my friends and family to come to them alive after I took care of Keshena.” She made a mild gesture with her hand. “They needn’t know I may not survive in Metropolis.” The bluntness in which she spoke of her life chilled Bolivar and Alexei, as well. Bolivar looked to Juran and barely needed his eyes to brush his friend’s to know that he and Lirael had spoken of this and he had agreed. Alexei had brought up the matter only moments ago, too. If he disagreed, then she would leave without him and be vulnerable. The only problem was that if he went with her, then he would be vulnerable to his own emotions.

“I can accept defeat when it’s right in front of my eyes,” Bolivar answered slowly. “We might as well start through the Mountainlands tonight, lady, so as to make good time.” Lirael smiled and inclined her head respectfully and in thanks. She looked to Juran and he offered his arm. The two of them left as they had come and as they did, irritation began to itch Bolivar in the back of his mind. Turning to Alexei, he snapped, “Since when have they been such good friends?”

“Since you ordered Lirael to train Juran,” Alexei placidly replied, as though he were speaking to a half-wit. Flinching, Bolivar snorted and then disappeared in a huff. Alexei’s mouth twitched and he mumbled to himself, “Serves you right.”

X

Marro trotted next to Kyan through the snow. After Kori made sure that Marro wasn’t bound to run from his son, he decided that some exercise for the dragon would do him well. “Ever since Lirael left, he’s been slapping his tail around in his cave making my innards rattle!” Kori had irritably proclaimed. Despite his resentment for the sorcerer, Marro felt some gratification to him for being able to get out of his den more than a few feet.

Stretching his wide jaws apart in a yawn, a vague, familiar taste glided over his tongue and the scent filled his nostrils. He paused in his steps, his pupils narrowing to slits as his senses jingled in anxiety and expectation. Kyan stopped and turned to scowl at the dragon, but Marro paid no mind for him. He was trying to put this presence together in his mind, but nothing would click. “Marro!” Kyan snapped, walking to him with a furious stride. “Would you please – ”

There was a quiet snap behind him and he stumbled over his feet from the gush of wind. Marro crouched over Kyan’s tumbled form, preparing to attack whoever had transported before them. It couldn’t possibly be coincidence. They were only some ways from Kyan’s home. They must have purposely come here. The presence was strong and this time, with so much of it winding around him with its unique magic, he knew who it was. He released himself from his crouch and bounced once over to Lirael and the two males with her.

Lirael, he purred, my favorite. She beamed and took his nose in her arms, pressing her cheek against the warm scales. Everything inside him that had stirred with restlessness and worry, calmed and eased into a lazy kitten. He breathed out warm breath that lifted her fur cloak that had a slight stench of blood. He would bet anything that it was hers that covered it. When he glanced to it, there was no crimson stain. You were hurt, I guess, little one?

“Only for awhile,” she answered with a lie that he detected immediately. He ignored that for the time being, pinning his gaze on the unfamiliar male that smelled of sands and mountains, who had a different magical output from a different land. Oh, he was a sorcerer, Marro knew as much, but not of the Snowlands.

“Marro,” Alexei greeted him, bringing his attention from the quiet, solemn male. “I see that Kori has trusted you enough to let you out of your den for a bit?”

“Only because he won’t attack me,” Kyan mumbled as he got to his feet in a disgruntled state. He pointed angrily at Lirael. “What’s your problem, sneaking up on us like that? You came too close! I was knocked into the snow, do you realize that?” Lirael released Marro and feigned an apologetic look.

“I’m sorry, Kyan, I had no idea you were there.” The glint in her eyes betrayed her words. He huffed and then grinned at her, taking her hands and squeezing them. Marro watched the foreign man and saw how his dark eyes changed from wary to jealous. Curious, he looked to Lirael and Kyan and then back to the man.

Interesting, he thought with an inward smirk as the jealousy increased as Kyan hugged Lirael hard and kissed her. He wondered just how foolish the man would feel when he realized Kyan was interested in men. It wasn’t long before Kyan’s eyes found the third party member with more than just friendly interest.

“Who is this, Lirael?” Kyan queried, moving to him and raising his hands. Eyeing him, the man raised his hands as well and they touched fingertips. “My name is Kyan,” he introduced.

“I am Bolivar,” the latter responded in a silky tone that caused Kyan to blink and Marro to narrow his eyes. Bolivar added, almost as an afterthought, “The bandit king of the Mountainlands.”

The bandit king? Marro repeated. Bolivar turned to look at him, his expression guarded. There was something about the man’s demeanor that Marro didn’t trust. It was as though he was folding shield after shield over him so that no one could see what his true person was. He had placed a mask over himself and seemed determined to keep it there. Whoever this man was and whatever he had to do with Lirael, Marro fully intended to discover. After all, Lirael was his favorite and if this bandit king meant harm to her, he would be the one to kill him before anyone else.

“Yes,” Bolivar slowly responded to his question. “That’s right.”

What is the bandit king doing in the Snowlands? Do you not have your own landscape to care for, king of the Mountainlands? His interrogation startled Kyan and he opened his mouth to protest, but Lirael shook her head at him. She knew Marro better than anyone and accepted his suspicious nature.

“I’m not in a position to answer your questions,” he said quietly without any sign of trepidation. “If I were to, I might give out information that someone does not wish to be said. You would need to speak to our lady to discover why I’m here.” Marro didn’t give a reply to that, looking to Lirael. Just as she had with Kyan, she only shook her head.

“Let us get inside,” she suggested instead. “Bolivar isn’t used to so much snow and such cold. Although the mountains have their fair share of weather, it isn’t the same as the Snowlands.” She turned without receiving a reply and trekked towards Kyan’s home. He bounded up next to her and looped his arm through hers, but said nothing. Marro was slower in his walking, staying next to the bandit king and Alexei. When they came to the house, Bolivar didn’t follow them in, but stayed outside with Marro.

“Tell me if you need anything,” was all Alexei said to him as he headed inside. When the door was closed, Marro led Bolivar from the house to his cave. He had no intention of killing the man, seeing as how he would be sorely missed in another landscape. However, he suspected that privacy would be needed with this human. As soon as Bolivar was in his warm den, he flicked his tail and raised a shield over the entrance of the cave. Bolivar didn’t even look at it, but Marro was certain he sensed it.

You will tell me everything now, Marro ordered. Bolivar’s mouth curled slightly. As a dragon, Marro discovered beauty in both men and women. There was nothing unattractive about the bandit king. His voice was soft and silky like the sands of his landscape; his face was easy to compose, smooth of emotions and dangerously beautiful; his body was lean and used to battle and the hard ways of life. He was an admirable man that Marro would be reluctant to hate. Beautiful people were always his weakness, like with all dragons.

“First tell me what that boy is to Lirael,” Bolivar retorted with a sweet tone that tasted of magic. The man knew how to entice any creature and Marro was almost persuaded to lay on his back in submission.

Kyan is a friend to her. He likes men. I would say that he would enjoy being your toy, even if he ended up hurt in the end. Marro watched as Bolivar nodded his head and relaxed a bit. What is Lirael to you, bandit king?

“She can never be anything to me,” he replied. “I made the mistake of taking her to my bed – ”

You took her last remaining bit of purity! Marro roared at him, his amber eyes flickering with the fire of his temper. Bolivar surveyed him without any hint of wishing to run from the temper. Marro calmed, sensing that he had interrupted and there was more to this than what had been said.

Continuing, Bolivar said, “Yes, I took her, but she came to me. I would never have allowed myself to go to her.” He paused, frowning as he looked around the den with all its grandness. “I’m very much in love with that woman, dragon. If our circumstances were different, I would ask her to be my wife, to be my queen. The world we find ourselves in is not an easy one, mine especially. I’m hunted in all the landscapes and if it was to get out that I had a married, Lirael would also be hunted. I don’t want that life for her. She deserves better.”

She is also being hunted.

“Not as much as I.”

Has she said that she loves you?

“Once,” Bolivar murmured, lowering his gaze to the ground. “Once, when she was unconscious after a horrible battle wound, she told me she loved me and I confessed the same feelings. When she woke, she didn’t remember any of it. I had a moment of weakness when I thought she might be dying, so I was cold when she awoke. She still doesn’t realize what I feel.” He gave a sharp look to Marro. “And I would advise that you not tell her.”

You intend on leaving her without the truth? Marro asked in a slightly irritated tone. She has never loved anyone before! Never will she love another besides you! When a sorceress such as Lirael – so powerful, but emotionally weak – loves, she loves no other!

“And do you think I have felt this way, either?” Bolivar snapped, losing his temper, letting the mask he’d thrown over him fall. “Do you think I want to leave her, never to know if she is doing well? I would throw away everything I have if only to be with her. If I had no responsibility, if my successor was prepared for his kingship, I would do just that. The only thing that keeps the Mountainlands from being raped by Metropolis and its king is me! I cannot abandon my people to be butchered, nor my best friend, my successor, to deal with that stress.”

...And what of Lirael? Marro asked in a dark tone. Bolivar merely shook his head, his anger waning.

“I have done what I can for her.”

You have not given her your love!

“If I do, neither of us will be able to let go,” Bolivar said, rubbing the back of his hand against his chin. “I have to let go of her if I intend to keep my landscape alive. Lirael, I think, understands this.” Marro lowered his head to the ground, closing his eyes for a moment. Lirael would understand that or else she would be clinging to Bolivar, needing him to be with her. The way she so willingly had herself detached from him was a way of telling Bolivar and anyone else that knew, “There are reasons we can’t be together and I accept them.”

She has always wanted someone to love as a husband, Marro told Bolivar quietly. When I first met her and searched her heart, it was her deepest desire that she was not consciously aware of. It was a powerful wish, more than anything else. She cannot even have joy in knowing that she found that someone because she will never be able to be with you.

“It has been a wish I have had, as well, but I wasn’t so naïve.” Marro opened his eyes to see that Bolivar was watching him. “If I couldn’t find the woman in the Mountainlands, I knew I could never be with her.”

You are more honorable than most kings, Bolivar, the dragon said with a rueful look in his eyes. I suppose that is a good thing, even though my dear Lirael will be hurt.

“No, Marro, you are mistaken.” Marro raised his head in puzzlement. “She has already been hurt by me.”

X

Bolivar hadn’t said a word to Lirael since they arrived in the Snowlands, but then that was expected. He had barely spoken in the Mountainlands after they made love. She knew he wasn’t ashamed, but it still hurt to not speak with him like they used to while traveling. She hated not knowing what he was thinking. When not talking with her, he spoke to Alexei, but he was even silent with her father. Ever since he disappeared with Marro, he had been deaf to anyone else and didn’t seem to care much for what was happening around him.

When, after they ate, he left to be alone, she followed him and touched his arm when the sound of chatter was faint. He glanced at her and by the lack of surprise in his face, she knew he had been aware of her presence the entire time. “Bolivar, you seem like the dead,” she murmured. “I know you don’t want to talk to me – ” His eyes turned a bit angry when she said that and his mouth became taut. “ – but that doesn’t mean you have to be rude to everyone else.” He merely stared at her with a dark expression she hadn’t seen on his face in a long time.

“I don’t think you realize,” he bit out, “what coming here is doing to me.”

“If you didn’t want to come, you should have said so, Bolivar.”

“And be mangled by your father and Juran?” He snarled. “Oh, no, I think I knew when it was a lost cause to protest!” He turned from her briefly to take a deep breath before turning back with a calmer expression. “Listen. It’s best that we not discuss this right now. Your dragon already interrogated me and I’m tired, Lirael. I’ve been working nonstop since we returned to the Mountainlands to help Juran while I was gone. If I’m being rude by not talking, it’s only because I need some sleep. Alright?”

His expression was the gentlest she had seen in months. She wanted to hug him and cry in his chest, but had resolved long ago that any physical contact would make their parting harder. So, she nodded to him and he smiled lightly. It didn’t matter that she hadn’t hugged him, because he brought his hand across her cheek in a soft, brief caress and then glided past her to return to their company. The feel of his warm fingers on her face lingered as she followed him back to the drawing room. By the look on her father’s face, he had a notion about what had happened back there.

It wasn’t until Kyan worriedly asked her, “What’s wrong?” that she realized she was crying.

End Chapter Fifteen