Rise (The Order of the Krigers #1)(65)

“No.”

“You have my word. I will maintain an appropriate relationship with Kaia. You are my best friend, and I would never do anything to jeopardize that.”

I lined up three rocks in a row, wondering why I didn’t have any say in this conversation. After all, it was about me.

“I’m sorry,” Vidar said. “I just want to make sure we do everything right. If that means I have to marry Kaia, so be it.”

His words were like a kick to my stomach.

“Since Grei Heks said the two of you are destined to be together, then it must happen.”

“I think I know why,” Vidar admitted. “Morlet is in love with Kaia.” Anders didn’t respond. “She is the key to defeating him. If we can use those feelings against him, it might give us the advantage we need.”

“I must be missing something,” Anders said, his voice low and deadly. “Why would Morlet be in love with her? He captured her, tortured her, and nearly killed her.”

“Trust me when I say he loves her.”

“Did Grei Heks really say you and Kaia are destined to be together? Or did you make that up so you could use her against him?”

“Grei Heks told me I’m destined to be with her. It must be because of Morlet’s feelings for her.”

His reasoning didn’t make any sense to me, but Anders wasn’t questioning it. There was a long pause. I stood, about to enter when Anders spoke. “He can’t possibly love her.”

“I assure you, he does. And we will exploit that weakness.”

Making noise so they’d hear me and stop talking, I walked into the cave, pretending I hadn’t heard a word of their conversation.

***

It felt as if a feather lightly brushed against my arms. I rolled over, hoping the sensation would go away. My head started to pound. Was it too much to ask for a few hours of sleep?

“Something wrong?” Vidar mumbled from the other side of the dying fire.

“No.”

He peered over at me. “Morlet is trying to find you, isn’t he?” I nodded. “Come closer to the medallion.”

I couldn’t face Morlet right now. Usually, being in the same vicinity as the medallion was enough to protect me. Morlet must be using a tremendous amount of his magic to attempt to contact me. I placed my bedroll a couple feet away from Vidar. His hand shot out, and he pulled it right next to him.

“Vidar,” I started to protest.

“Humor me,” he replied. “I won’t be able to sleep worrying about that monster trying to reach you. I don’t want him anywhere near you—not even in a dream.”

Anders was sound asleep. Lying down, I pulled the blankets over me and closed my eyes, thankful the closer proximity to the medallion was already working.

Vidar slid his arm around my torso, and I stiffened. “Humor me,” he mumbled again, drifting back to sleep.

After a few minutes, I lifted his arm off me and scooted a couple of feet away, not wanting Anders to get the wrong idea when he woke up.

***

Anders ducked behind a large boulder. “Okay,” he yelled. “Pick up your weapon.”

The beautiful bo staff rested on the ground waiting for me to use it. However, I didn’t want to accidentally hurt someone. My father’s words came back to me: Fear—although real and valid—can only hold you back. Take all your fears and insecurities and lock them away. Focus on your strengths. You can, and you will, do this. All you have to do is believe. Taking a deep breath, I picked it up and radiated calmness just as Anders had instructed.

“Are you okay?” he asked from behind the boulder.

“Yes.”

“Good. Now go through your forms.”

Pretending it was the stick I’d been practicing with, I started moving it, surprised at how strong and solid it was.

“Set anything on fire?” Anders hollered.

“Not yet.” I twisted the bo staff over my head, brought it down, spun it on the side of me, and then crossed it over my body. “Why don’t you come out from behind there?”

“I’ll stay here for a little bit longer. Just keep running through your forms.”

I rolled my eyes, but did as he said, knowing he was right. I crossed the weapon over my head and brought it down to a shoulder strike. When I finished the last form, Anders was standing right in front of me.

“Impressive,” he said, folding his arms across his chest. “Now it’s time to use your power.”

Taking a deep breath, I waited for him to tell me what to do. He didn’t say anything. “Well?”

“Well what?”

“How do I use my power without killing you or setting a tree on fire?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Didn’t he want me to radiate calmness? Because right now, I wanted to punch him. “You don’t know?” I said, taking a step toward him.

He raised his hands. “Take it easy.” His eyes darted from me to my bo staff. “All I’m saying is that you need to do what you’ve been doing with your hands, except with the weapon. I think.”

“If you don’t know how to use its magic, then why are you even here?”

“Moral support.” He smiled wryly.

I shook my head in disbelief. “How about I use you as a target?”