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Liora followed her advice. Following a quick change of clothes, she crawled into bed. She rested her head on the pillow and pulled the covers up to her chin, but the escape of sleep did not come right away. Every time she closed her eyes, images of the forgotten beach flashed before her, searing glimpses which tried to elude the grasp of her consciousness. The pure blanket of sand sloped into the endless sea, and she swore she could feel the salty breeze upon her face before it wafted through the petals of the exotic blooms at the edge of the rainforest.
Melodic strains of laughter skipped through her ears. She strove to see more, to unlock the memories buried deep under years of suppression. There were people around her—faceless, featureless people. They were blank slates upon which she had no idea what her mind should imprint. Did they look like her? Were they blessed with the same gifts as her? Did they toil for survival, or did they have the luxury of cultivating a more complex society? Were they a peaceful tribe or bloodthirsty warriors?
She exhaled and rolled over, unable to find a comfortable position in her quilted cocoon. The home from which she’d been ripped so savagely remained a mystery and generated so many unanswered questions. She didn’t know how far it was from Marindal. She didn’t know how to get there, or even if it still existed. Tirani’s words trickled back to her, and she contemplated the philosophy she had presented.
Thoughts of the future were difficult to reconcile with her struggle with the past. Marindal was not a long-term option for her, yet she was unsure of the next stepping stone in her voyage. Moving forward would be difficult without a map of where she’d been. She was afraid of finding herself lost and isolated in a vast, unfriendly universe.
Stephen’s name snuck up on her, as if whispered by an ethereal voice. She hadn’t expected to fall in love with the savior she’d sought. Something held her back from nestling in the warmth of their affection for each other. Without knowing everything about who she was, she wasn’t sure if she could give him all he deserved. She was afraid their love would be incomplete until she herself felt whole, and by then, it might be too late. Promises had been made to return him to his home. Neither had suggested whether they should travel onward together, or if their paths would diverge and they would each end up where they started. They could be alone once more, but better off for the experience.
Liora tucked her chin into her chest and ducked beneath the blanket, hiding herself in darkness. If she didn’t rest and take care of herself, much of her worrying would be for naught. Attempts to clear her mind were unsuccessful, so she settled for imagining Stephen in the bed beside her, curled around her body in shared blissful slumber.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Sunlight reflected off the cracked gray stones, weaving a path through the spongy moss which had poked up to interrupt the geometric pattern. The lack of maintenance in the unkempt courtyard didn’t bother Stephen, who focused on applying paint to his artwork in careful strokes. The rock-flanked pool neared completion on the canvas, and he dabbed at the base of the waterfall, enhancing the misty spray. He had debated including the wide-limbed tree Liora had added, but decided against it. Not only was he afraid of revealing her secrets to any potential viewers, he preferred to remember the scene as it was on the day he first saw her.
His brush froze in place over the bubbling waves as the hair on the back of his neck stood up. Sensing he was not alone, he turned around. Kai lurked in the doorway, framed in fragile curls of ivy that seemed incongruous with his menacing form. The cat-like soldier had made no noise upon his entrance, and his yellow eyes glowed from the shadows.
Stephen didn’t know what, if anything, he should say. “I, uh…I left the basket of vegetables in the kitchen as instructed,” he stammered. “And I swept and dusted on the eastern terrace.”
Kai said nothing as he crossed the uneven surface. He stood before the makeshift easel, studying the painting. “Is this your home?” he growled.
“Er…yes.” It wasn’t an outright lie, as similar scenes could have existed back in the Adirondacks of New York.
He tilted his furry head to the side, never blinking as he regarded the imaginary forest. “It is very nice. Your skill is more than I would have expected.”
“Thank you.”
Kai turned around to leave. In a flash, Stephen wondered if he could make an ally out of the stoic supervisor. “Wait!” he called after him.
“Yes?”
He searched for a plausible way to continue the conversation. “What sort of place did you come from? Before Marindal, I mean.” He squirmed under the panther’s keen scrutiny and his cheeks flushed. “I’m almost done with this piece, and I’m trying to find some more inspiration for my next one.”
“I came from nothing,” Kai said. “I lived a cruel existence in a dying world, and I was prepared to perish with it.”
“I’m sorry.”
The piercing eyes narrowed. “They saved me and brought me here. I shall serve Marindal until there is no longer breath in my body. It is the only place of importance to me.”
Stephen nodded, thinking he understood the aide’s devotion to his leader. “It was very compassionate of Lord Thirvar to spare your life.”
“Lord Thirvar was not responsible for that place’s destruction, nor was it his hand which plucked me from the verge of death.”
“I see.” Though he was curious as to which of the ruler’s underlings had thought to whisk him away, he was afraid of being perceived as intrusive, of pushing too far too soon. He searched for a route to worm his way into Kai’s confidence. “Maybe there’s an alternative…”
“Oh?” The feline folded his arms over his shirtless chest.
“Forgive me if I sound rude, but I’ve never met anyone like you before, or seen anyone who looked like you.” Stephen tried to make his upcoming request sound more appealing. “I’ve never seen you in battle, but I’m sure you must be an incredible warrior.”
His stance didn’t change, yet there was a slight relaxation of his shoulders. “And?”
“I was thinking…I mean, only if you want to, or only if you find the time…could I paint you? I know it would be a challenge, but I hope I would be able to do justice to your—”
Kai raised a large paw to cut off his ramblings. “I shall think it over.”
At least it wasn’t an outright refusal, he mused. “Thank you.”
“I will also have to check if I am needed by Lord Thirvar for any urgent duties.”
