Warrior's Soul (Book 3 of The Warrior Chronicles)

Chapter 12

She woke to the light touch on her shoulder.

The sky had just begun to colour and the nip of dawn hung in the air. How? Leyla blinked, trying to clear the heaviness in her head.

"Sorry for waking you," the Sage said from her left. "I just need to check your wound."

Leyla lifted her head off of the warmth she had been sleeping on and was about to speak when her fingertips brushed against soft fur. Fur? She turned her head quickly to find a softly snoring Hayvan curled up behind her. Had she been using the beast as a pillow?

"Protector?" The Sage whispered, drawing her attention in his direction once more. He was sitting beside her, a green poultice inside the bowl in his hand.

How could she have slept this deeply, leaving herself defenceless...no, she had trained herself never to do this since her orphanage days! "You." She turned back to the Sage with narrowed eyes. "What was in the medicine you applied?" No matter how low her volume, the accusation was clear in her tone.

The Sage did not look the least contrite as he reached for her arm. "You hadn't slept in days."

He couldn't be serious! Her mind ran through the dozens of things that could have happened while she was unconscious. "How were you planning to save the villagers if Bone Eaters attacked?"

"I made no plans," the Sage removed her bandages gently, his voice annoyingly calm. Leyla blocked his hand as he brought the medicine forward.

"I thought you cared for peoples lives!" she hissed. 

"I do." The man tipped his head to the side as if considering, then he sighed. "I was caring for your life, Protector. After losing all that blood, do you honestly think you could recover without proper sleep?"

"Yes," Leyla replied without hesitation. While she admitted that the wound had left her drained, she knew from experience that an hour or so of sleep would have gotten her through.

"Of all the obstinate, thick headed..." the Sage ended his muttering, then lifted the bowl once more, "Just let me put this on, it will help sooth the pain, nothing more."

"No need," Leyla said quickly. Medicine was scarce and the pain in her shoulder was nothing more than a dull throb which would serve to keep her awake.

Finally looking annoyed, the Sage started binding her wound, "How can a responsible person like you, have such blatant disregard for their own wellbeing?"

Responsible person? Leyla's gaze drifted past the stiff movements of the Sage to where Kaya lay unconscious. Was it responsibility she felt towards the girl? Did that even make sense? How could a fugitive like her be responsible for anyone?

The Light soldiers must be looking for her. Had they been given the command to kill her or bring her back? Did he give the order himself? Her mind was wandering in a direction she did not want it to go when the Sage spoke: "You..." Having finished tying her bindings he was checking her pulse. "You are almost healed." His tone held surprise, then he was releasing her wrist with a smile. "Perhaps you could have healed without the sleep after all. I apologise for my meddling, Protector."

He was sorry? The unexpected apology made Leyla feel churlish. After all, the Sage had been trying to help her... "Thank you for saving for Kaya. You are an excellent Healer."

"Hah!" A laugh escaped the Sage's lips before he could stop himself. The sound wasn't loud enough to wake the sleeping humans, but the Hayvan raised its head, its ears moving from side to side. Then, seeing Leyla, it stretched its back, yawned and pushed its nose into her side.

"Is the Hayvan awake?" The Sage asked quietly.

"You are not wary?" Leyla's brows rose in question as she stroked the big cat behind the ears. The animal really had no aggression towards them, did the Sage feel it too?

He reached an open palm towards the Hayvan. The beast sniffed at it a few times then allowed him to pet it once before it was turning its head towards the forest, its ears back. Instantly alert, Leyla got to her feet and grabbed her sword from the ground.

"Protector?" The Sage's voice was concerned.

"Shh," she told him to keep quiet, listening to the surrounding silence. Her senses were still not clear of the medicine so it was difficult to pin point where the sound was coming from, but there was definite movement. Bloody Diya, they were defenceless! If this was an attack, the only way to survive was to run.

"Wake everyone and move them riverside. Be ready to run." She didn't wait for the Sage to agree and moved towards the area where the trees grew thicker, the Hayvan padding by her side. Her eyes on the shadows beyond the trees, she held her sword at the ready.

Behind her the camp woke to the Sages hurried instructions. Then the moving shadows in the distance began to grow clearer. One, two, three... Leyla's eyes widened as the number of bodies  in her vision grew. 

Tanned skin, blue tattoos, hair in multiple braids; she didn't recognise the tribespeople who walked towards them in the dozens. What in Gaya was going on? Tightening her fingers around the handle of her sword she scanned the strangers and spotted several hatchets, long knives and bows, but none of the weapons were drawn. Had they not spotted their camp? 

As her confusion grew, a rider appeared amongst the moving crowd and drove his steed ahead of them in her direction. The horse looked familiar and the rider... Liam?

"I should have known it was you!" Liam pulled up in front of her, his ever amused eyes widening as he took in the Hayvan who had placed its head under her left hand. The beast regarded the horse, then its rider with a steady gaze. "How can it be..." Liam's voice was awed as he looked back at Leyla. "It will not attack?"

She felt the calmness of the animal beside her and shook her head, no. The Hayvan would not attack, but what of the tribes people coming towards them? They had slowed their approach, their blue-painted eyes moving from her to the Hayvan and back. There were several dozen of them in view now and if they broke into a run, it would only take moments for them to reach camp... 

"Will they attack?"

Liam's foot almost caught as he jumped down from his horse. Then he was righting himself, eyes wide with surprise. "You're not mute?"

She raised her brows with impatience prompting him to laugh. "Alright, alright! No need to worry, they are peaceful."

Tension drained from her shoulders at his words. She barely knew the man in front of her, but having seen him risk his life to save innocents, she trusted his judgement on this. 

Having adjusted the sword at his hip, Liam took a step towards her.

"ROAR!" The Hayvan pawed the air, then moved even closer to her side. Leyla stroked its head instinctively, trying to calm its momentary agitation while Liam stopped moving and held his palms up in a gesture of peace.

The tribes people too looked shocked at the sound. Then suddenly they were falling to their knees . One by one, they raised their elbows and covered their eyes with tattooed fingers: "Haaaay Vaaaa Niiii! Vaaaa Naaaa Niii!"

Leyla blinked and looked to Liam who despite his wariness, gave her one of his crooked smiles and translated: "Hail the Hayvan! Hail the Chosen One."