Volcanic mountains stretched
heavenward. They had traveled to an intermediate realm. One he had not seen
before, yet it held some familiarity.
Bomani rose to his feet and stared down the beach.
His destiny resided at the end of the long trail of hoof prints.
Chapter Eight
A thousand pounds of power surged beneath Siya on
the moonlit beach. Execution galloped, his long legs kicking up sand and water
behind them. He had faltered exiting the portal, but regained his rhythm.
Exhilaration flowed through her and fed power into her steed. Bonded as one at
birth, the animal would serve only one master.
The impact of the heavy hooves resonated through
Siya’s bones. Loosening the reins, she felt Execution stretch forward. The
snorts of breath from the horse matched the cadence of his strides. Veering
into the water, the salty sea sprayed around them.
Close to their destination, she tugged the reins
and pushed him into the shoulder high surf to maneuver around the jagged rocks.
The warm water penetrated her boots and cargo pants. The stallion did not
hesitate, his feet sure. As she leaned forward, his powerful hind legs thrust his
chest out of the water to climb the sandbar.
Haru, one of the four Protector gods, had remained
impartial during her hearing. He did not defend her actions, but he did not
condemn her either. She surmised he had his own secrets that would be
unfavorable if revealed. Having not spoken in over five hundred years, she was
surprised he had answered her request to meet—the very reason her weapon was
not in its sheath, but tucked close to her thigh. Besides Theris, she trusted
no one.
A white flash of energy sizzled in the night air,
announcing Haru’s arrival. Execution reared up on his back legs and clawed the
air with his front hooves. His ears lay straight back over his mane. She patted
his neck. “Easy boy. We are here to see him, not kill him.”
The horse dropped back on all fours. Siya
dismounted, sure to keep ahold of the reins. Execution was not just a name. “Haru.”
She inclined her head, not willing to take her eyes off the god to perform the
customary bow.
“Siya.” He returned the gesture but eyed her
sword. “Is that necessary?”
“That depends. Are we alone?” She scanned their
surroundings.
“Do you think I would risk having the others know
I have been in contact with you?”
“I suppose not,” she said before stowing her sword
to her back. She pulled Execution over to a large tree and tied his reins to
the thick branch. Not that it would hold him, but the command she gave him
would. “Stay put.” She turned back to the Protector god and pulled back her
hood.
Haru inhaled sharply. “The years have softened my
memories. I forgot how much you look like your mother. Absolutely beautiful.”
“Do not bother to pacify my temper with flattery.
We both know you do not prefer me or my mother, but something of more
substance.”
“Perhaps, but that does not mean I do not
appreciate true beauty, no matter the gender.” He smiled. “Why have you
summoned me?”
“Bast lied to me. You all did. Why?” She paced the
patch of black sand, her anger threatening to erupt.
“Lie?”
She stopped and glared at him. “The circumstances
behind my mother and father.”
“We did not lie.” He crossed his well-muscled arms
over his robed chest with the air of indignation.
“Bullshit,” she spat and jabbed her finger at him.
“You lied to me. Damn it, you were her best friend. Are you going to stand
there and deny it?”
Haru winced. “Where is this coming from? I do not
see you for over five centuries, and you call to accuse me of lying? Putting us
at risk?”
“Correction—you! You at risk.” The
arrogance. She regretted stowing her sword.
“What has happened?” He stepped forward, his eyes
narrowed.
“What has happened?” Siya gasped. “It does not
matter or change the fact—you lied!”
“Menthu has been in contact with you.” His mouth
dropped open,
heavenward. They had traveled to an intermediate realm. One he had not seen
before, yet it held some familiarity.
Bomani rose to his feet and stared down the beach.
His destiny resided at the end of the long trail of hoof prints.
Chapter Eight
A thousand pounds of power surged beneath Siya on
the moonlit beach. Execution galloped, his long legs kicking up sand and water
behind them. He had faltered exiting the portal, but regained his rhythm.
Exhilaration flowed through her and fed power into her steed. Bonded as one at
birth, the animal would serve only one master.
The impact of the heavy hooves resonated through
Siya’s bones. Loosening the reins, she felt Execution stretch forward. The
snorts of breath from the horse matched the cadence of his strides. Veering
into the water, the salty sea sprayed around them.
Close to their destination, she tugged the reins
and pushed him into the shoulder high surf to maneuver around the jagged rocks.
The warm water penetrated her boots and cargo pants. The stallion did not
hesitate, his feet sure. As she leaned forward, his powerful hind legs thrust his
chest out of the water to climb the sandbar.
Haru, one of the four Protector gods, had remained
impartial during her hearing. He did not defend her actions, but he did not
condemn her either. She surmised he had his own secrets that would be
unfavorable if revealed. Having not spoken in over five hundred years, she was
surprised he had answered her request to meet—the very reason her weapon was
not in its sheath, but tucked close to her thigh. Besides Theris, she trusted
no one.
A white flash of energy sizzled in the night air,
announcing Haru’s arrival. Execution reared up on his back legs and clawed the
air with his front hooves. His ears lay straight back over his mane. She patted
his neck. “Easy boy. We are here to see him, not kill him.”
The horse dropped back on all fours. Siya
dismounted, sure to keep ahold of the reins. Execution was not just a name. “Haru.”
She inclined her head, not willing to take her eyes off the god to perform the
customary bow.
“Siya.” He returned the gesture but eyed her
sword. “Is that necessary?”
“That depends. Are we alone?” She scanned their
surroundings.
“Do you think I would risk having the others know
I have been in contact with you?”
“I suppose not,” she said before stowing her sword
to her back. She pulled Execution over to a large tree and tied his reins to
the thick branch. Not that it would hold him, but the command she gave him
would. “Stay put.” She turned back to the Protector god and pulled back her
hood.
Haru inhaled sharply. “The years have softened my
memories. I forgot how much you look like your mother. Absolutely beautiful.”
“Do not bother to pacify my temper with flattery.
We both know you do not prefer me or my mother, but something of more
substance.”
“Perhaps, but that does not mean I do not
appreciate true beauty, no matter the gender.” He smiled. “Why have you
summoned me?”
“Bast lied to me. You all did. Why?” She paced the
patch of black sand, her anger threatening to erupt.
“Lie?”
She stopped and glared at him. “The circumstances
behind my mother and father.”
“We did not lie.” He crossed his well-muscled arms
over his robed chest with the air of indignation.
“Bullshit,” she spat and jabbed her finger at him.
“You lied to me. Damn it, you were her best friend. Are you going to stand
there and deny it?”
Haru winced. “Where is this coming from? I do not
see you for over five centuries, and you call to accuse me of lying? Putting us
at risk?”
“Correction—you! You at risk.” The
arrogance. She regretted stowing her sword.
“What has happened?” He stepped forward, his eyes
narrowed.
“What has happened?” Siya gasped. “It does not
matter or change the fact—you lied!”
“Menthu has been in contact with you.” His mouth
dropped open,
Similar Books
