Songbird Read online

  Bran still marveled at the effects of the water. With nothing else to eat or drink, he was surprised at how healthy and satisfied he felt. Not only that, but he knew he was stronger. Curious, he decided to test his body and managed to crank out a few hundred push-ups and sit-ups without breaking a sweat. His muscles were actually bulging. He was toned before, but nothing like this.

  Bran could hardly fault Korban for wanting the water. If there was a way to save the grove, it had to be done. Bran felt a sweeping desire to take as much water as he could when he left the grove. Just for him. He could imagine the benefits to everything he did, especially in his line of work.

  The possibilities were endless. A lot of people could be helped by just a small amount. It could be the cure for an illness, and perhaps even stop death in its tracks. People would pay any price for something like that, and it could make him filthy rich.

  As that thought percolated in his mind, Bran took a deep breath and pushed it away. Thoughts of money and power like that never brought about any good. Deep down, he knew the water wasn’t meant to be used that way, but it was easy to get caught up in the allure of it all, and it certainly made sense that someone like Korban wouldn’t have second thoughts about exploiting it.

  With a sigh, he turned his thoughts to Jax and Clare, and hoped they had made it out of the city in one piece. The king would pay a lot to have Clare back, and he didn’t want anything to happen to her. Hopefully Jax could make it back inside and would be waiting at the inn for his return.

  The fact that soldiers followed them to the cabin bothered him as well, although if he thought about it, what Teya said made sense. If the kundar released some sort of magic when he took it off, it could have alerted a search party nearby if someone was using sym and felt it. He just didn’t know. At least he didn’t have to worry about being followed to the grove. The Destroyer would see to that.

  Daylight waned as he neared the last of the pipes, and he was surprised that he’d managed to check the entire perimeter. Up ahead, three of the pipe stands were down, so he dismounted and ambled toward them, leaving his horse to munch on the grass.

  As he picked one of them up, a slight chill settled over him. Then he realized that he couldn’t hear the pipes. The sudden silence shocked Bran into action. With enhanced speed from the grove water, Bran got the first one up, then the second, before the mist broke through. It surrounded him as he reached for the third, and his strength ebbed.

  It was like wading through mud to lift the pipes from the ground, and with no breeze to make them whistle, he put them to his lips and blew. The tones broke through the mist around him, giving him a moment’s respite. He used that time to take a deep breath and blow harder.

  The mist withdrew further from his immediate vicinity, but without the backup of the other pipes, it waited like a coiled snake to strike. He kept blowing, and within minutes, began to feel light-headed. If a breeze didn’t come soon, he was going to black out.

  As his vision narrowed, a stiff breeze ruffled his hair and a chorus of pipes broke through the silence. The mist flinched away, as if in pain, then vanished into the waste, leaving Bran out of breath, but alive. With the notes singing from the pipes, Bran sat back on his heels and caught his breath.

  As his heart settled down, he pulled out his waterbag and took a long drink. Instantly refreshed, he turned his attention to the pipe stands and pushed them solidly into the ground so the wind couldn’t blow them over again.

  He shuddered to think that the wind and pipes were the only things that held the Destroyer back. It seemed such a tenuous hold and he knew time was running out. With the last rays of the sun fading into the horizon, he took a quick look into the wasteland, then headed back to the grove.

  Teya waited for him at the edge of the trees. She wore a shimmering blue gown that seemed to be covered with starlight and his breath caught. Her beauty astounded him, scattering his thoughts to the wind, and he stopped to stare, speechless in her presence. She seemed more exotic than ever, almost like she didn’t belong to this world.

  “Come,” Teya said, breaking the spell. “Tonight my grandmother and I sing to strengthen the grove against the Destroyer. Tomorrow we will leave.”

  As she took his hand she smiled up at him and Bran’s breath hitched at the sheer beauty she radiated. In a daze, he walked beside her through the trees and into the cottage.

  “Grandmother and I have prepared some things for you.” She motioned toward some clothes lying on a chair. “Please do us the honor of wearing them tonight.” Before he could say anything she continued. “I also have another request.” She paused, a bit unsure of herself, and Bran wondered what he was getting into.

  “We need you to help us with the song. It’s not much, but if you could add your lower tones to ours, the outcome will be much stronger.”

  “What?” Nothing could have surprised him more. “I have no magic, and my voice is barely passable compared to you and your grandmother. How do you know if I can even sing? I am sure there is nothing you could possibly gain from adding me.”

  “Oh, but there is. You underestimate yourself. Your speaking voice has a wonderful resonance, and I’m sure your singing voice does as well. There’s not much you need to do, just hum the low tones that match ours. If it gets too hard, you can stop.”

  This was ridiculous. She made it sound so easy, but what if he sang the wrong notes? Wouldn’t that ruin what they were doing? What if he made it worse? She didn’t know what she was asking. He was on the point of refusal when Leona joined them.

  “It is not so much your voice we need, as your participation,” she added. “These groves are sustained by life and living beings. Three of us would be better than two, and the fact that you are a man is even more important. I would not ask if it would do you any harm.”

  What could he say to that? “All right, I’ll try.”

  “Thank you,” Teya said, touching his arm gently. “It will be great.”

  Looking deep into her sapphire eyes, he almost believed her. “I’ll be back.”

  “We’ll wait for you at the tree.”

  He nodded and grabbed the clothes, then walked into the spare room to change.

  Teya had a profound effect on him and he wasn’t sure he liked it. Time with her grandmother had changed her. She didn’t seem as young or innocent now. In fact, she seemed more alluring and confident than ever, and it was hard for him to hold back his attraction to her.

  He nimbly stripped off his clothes, and washed up using the basin of water and soap left for him. After a quick scrub, he toweled off. Then pulled on the black trousers and white shirt Teya had left him. The soft clothing fit him surprisingly well. Once he’d slipped on his boots, he picked up the black jacket.

  The design was different from anything he’d ever seen before, with a high collar at the neck and buttoning up the front. Longer than what he normally wore, it hit him just above the knees. The sleeves were the perfect length for his long arms, surprising him with how well everything fit.

  He supposed these clothes were some of the remnants left behind when the Kalorians fled. Even though they weren’t his, he felt comfortable in them, and more self-assured. He stood a little taller and more confident about his participation. He smiled, knowing that even if he couldn’t keep up with the singing, at least he looked good.

  Twilight turned to darkness and Bran followed Leona’s soft lights back to the meadow. Tonight the woods were hushed and seemed to hold an air of wistful expectancy. Teya and Leona softly conversed beside the tree, but broke apart when Bran approached. He smiled at Teya’s quick intake of breath, and Leona’s appreciative nod. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.

  “What do you want me to do?” he asked.

  “It is a simple ceremony,” Leona said. “If you can let the music be your guide, you will lose yourself in the song, and the notes will follow. Just open your heart. Are you ready?”

  Bran nodded, even though he knew he was woeful
ly unprepared for this moment, but in an odd way, he also looked forward to it. The last time he’d heard Teya sing was still etched in his memory as one of the most extraordinary moments in his life, and his heart yearned to hear that sweet voice again.

  Leona directed them to the other side of the tree. Here, a white stone pedestal rose from the ground with a large bowl balanced on top. Clear water filled the white bowl, so still that he could see his reflection inside.

  They took their positions around the bowl and Leona spoke. “Join hands.”

  Teya smiled encouragingly when she took his hand, and he couldn’t help smiling in return. Leona began a simple tune, with her voice light as the wind. Soon, Teya joined her, turning the simple melody into harmony so beautiful that chills ran down his spine. As their voices rose and fell, the notes seemed to twine around him, lifting him to a dreamlike state.

  Yet in this state, he felt more real and alive than he’d ever felt in his life. A fresh breeze caressed his skin, filling his nostrils with the scent of new cut grass and spring rain. He breathed deeply and his chest swelled, buoyed by the strength in the air. The grove began to thrum with a pulse of its own, and every leaf and blade of grass shimmered to the beat of newfound life.

  Without thought, he began to sing, and his voice found a place in the song that anchored the melody, holding the ethereal notes firmly to the earth. All at once, the water began to rise from the bowl in a fine mist. It swirled in a never-ending funnel higher and higher above the meadow. Soon a cloudy haze overshadowed the entire grove. It hung suspended by a pure sweet note from Teya that held every living thing in thrall. As the tension mounted, Bran could not fathom how she could hold the note so long.

  Then Leona’s voice faded out and Bran was caught up in an intricate harmonic dance with Teya. His added strength changed the tempo and mingled with hers in a dance of creation. Soon they merged in an intimate caress. The rhythm intensified, leaving him bare and defenseless. In the magic of the moment he lost himself in this celebration of life itself.

  The music trailed out to one last clear note from Teya. Then it ended. The mist hanging above them coalesced and fell to the earth as dewdrops from heaven. Each drop echoed the music like a tinkling chime and filled the grove with a resonance of light. It was as if the grove itself held the power of the sun.

  A wholeness encompassed Bran and he radiated the light. His senses seemed on fire with broader depth and understanding, as though he had never used them before. It was as if he had transcended humanity and become something more.

  He glimpsed a place beyond the grove of shining light and towering cathedrals. The streets seemed paved in gold and the buildings sparkled like diamonds. This place of indescribable beauty and brightness seemed more than he could endure.

  Reflexively pulling back, the light faded, and awareness of his surroundings pulled him into consciousness. Visions of grandeur became a star-studded night sky, and he realized he was lying on his back. He slowly sat up and found Teya next to him, staring wide-eyed into the heavens.

  “Teya.” She didn’t respond. He clutched her hands and grew alarmed at how cold they were. “Teya?” He pulled her into his arms and with a hand on her cold cheek, searched her eyes, willing them to come into focus. Gradually, they lost that far-off look and she seemed to see him for the first time.

  “Bran,” she said, breathing his name like a prayer.

  He smiled with relief, wanting more from this intimate moment. Unable to resist his desires, he leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. Soft and welcoming, she opened to him and he kissed her thoroughly, finding a flame to match his own. Her arms twined around his neck and he couldn’t seem to get enough of her. He deepened the kiss and his body responded with deep passion. His blood pulsed with a thundering rhythm that could not be denied.

  Teya pulled away, leaving him breathless and unfulfilled. With guilt and bewilderment, she looked over her shoulder. He followed her gaze and found Leona leaning against the tree, watching them with widened eyes. At her obvious intrusion, she ducked her head and left.

  A faint blush spread over Teya’s smooth skin and she smiled apologetically before slipping out from under him. “Sorry,” she said, panting. “I’m...we should...I need a drink of water...would you like some?” She didn’t wait for him to answer and fled his presence, leaving him with a hollow ache in his groin.

  With a deep groan, Bran tried to get himself under control. After a few minutes, his harsh breathing settled down, and he sat up. A moment later, he got to his feet and stepped around the tree to find Leona sitting at the table, and Teya filling a pitcher with water.

  “Please. Come to the table,” Leona said, catching his gaze. “I have a few things I need to tell you.”

  Teya dutifully filled the goblets with water and Bran took his time to sit down. He was thirsty, but that was secondary to his real desire. He was so consumed with wanting Teya that he could hardly think straight. With trembling hands, he somehow managed to lift the goblet to his lips and take a swallow.

  “Drink up. After the ceremony, you don’t realize how much you need it,” Leona said, taking a long drink of water herself.

  Following her example, Bran drank deeply. The water satisfied the hunger that had been drained by the ritual. It strengthened him, but did nothing to cool his passion. He closed his eyes in concentration, and felt a portion of sanity return. Once his heart settled into a normal rhythm, he opened his eyes. What the hell was that?

  “Tomorrow, you will leave here,” Leona said. “I have taught Teya the basics. That will have to be enough, as there is no time for more. Our singing has strengthened the grove for a little longer at least. You did surprisingly well for an outlander, Bran. Are you sure you don’t have some Kalorian blood in you?”

  Bran shrugged, but his voice was strained. “Not that I know of.”

  “You can see why we needed you. The song of life is only half filled without male participation because it is also a song of creation, hence the need for both a man and a woman. Your efforts made a dramatic difference to our success. The outcome will be felt for days and perhaps weeks to come. It has also affected both of you.”

  That was an understatement. If he had wanted Teya before, it was nothing compared to how he felt now. How could he acknowledge this attraction and not fulfill his desires? Something extraordinary had happened during the ceremony. Something he had no words to explain or ever felt before. As he searched within himself, he knew it was more than a connection with Teya. He felt changed somehow. What had Leona and Teya done to him?

  “I have prepared a few things for you to take,” Leona said. She pulled a small set of pipes from her pocket and handed them to Bran. “This will protect you from the Destroyer when you cross back. I meant to send them with you today when you checked on the perimeter, but I forgot. I trust all went well?”

  “Yes.” He could hardly remember his close call, and didn’t see the need to tell her what had happened at this point.

  “Good. All that remains is for you to find our people and bring them back. I will keep the grove safe as long as I can, but I fear I am fading. Tonight proved it to me. I saw the White City and it was no longer a vision, it was real, and it called to me. It was difficult to return here. Next time, I might not be able to.”

  “What is the White City?” Bran asked, trying to focus. Is that what he’d glimpsed?

  “It is our true home. When my work here is done, I will return there. You must understand. Kalorians are not quite human. Come, let’s get you back to the cottage.”

  Bran sighed, suddenly tired and sleepy. She took his arm and led him away. He followed in a daze, listening to her but unable to comprehend everything she said. She led him to his bed and helped him remove his jacket and boots. As she continued, her voice seemed to echo around him.

  “Tonight, you will sleep peacefully. Tomorrow, I will send you with as much water as I can. Drink it for extra strength and it will protect you. If you find Korban
, it would be best if you killed him. Now, go to sleep and rest peacefully.”

  Bran didn’t remember lying down, only that the soft pillow cushioned his head and a sweet melody filled his senses. He tried to think. Wasn’t there a question? It was too hard to remember. He fought the haze that settled over him but his body was filled with a languor he couldn’t resist and, after a brief struggle, he quit trying.

  Chapter 4

  Bran woke to the sound of chirping birds and dappled sunlight on his face. He sat up to clear his head. He didn’t remember lying down on the bed or much of anything after the ceremony. Except for the jacket and his boots, he still wore the clothes Leona had given him from the night before. His pack and regular clothes sat beside him, freshly cleaned and ready to wear.

  With a huff and a nagging sense of irritation, he quickly changed into them. He tried to remember how he got to the cottage, but the events of last night seemed more like a dream, and he couldn’t explain it with words. He felt suspiciously out of control, mostly because he knew that Leona had used her magic to make him sleep. What if it wasn’t the first time she’d done it? That thought bothered him even more.

  He gathered all of his things together and left the clothes from Leona behind. Even if he was meant to keep them, he didn’t have room in his bags. To his relief, he found Teya at the table, filling two goblets with water.

  Dressed in traveling clothes he hadn’t seen before, she took his breath away. With a simple pale blue shirt covered by a black tunic, and black pants tucked into her boots and a belt around her waist, he found her more alluring than ever. The shirt even managed to make her sapphire eyes seem bluer and gave her dark hair a glossy sheen.

  She smiled shyly at him and his heart skipped a beat. Magic or not, he couldn’t deny his strong attraction to her, and was glad that at least he remembered kissing her. With a quick greeting, she finished pouring their water.