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

Chapter 4

"Hey! Wait!" The Rider caught up with her a few yards from the village. He left his horse standing before walking to stand in front of her. Leyla had noticed it before, but his horse was very well trained.

"Seriously, I understand you're not much for conversation, but what's with the disappearing without so much as a goodbye?" He was standing in front of her now, his grin belying the complaint in his words. Leyla looked away, trying to find the patience to converse with this man who she had fought beside for the second time in one day. Her head. Her nerves. Everything was just such a mess...

"Damn it!" The Rider's eyes were suddenly wide and he raised his hand towards her shoulder, then seemed to think better of it. "Are you, perhaps, mute? Bloody Diya boy, I didn't even think...sorry."

Mute? Leyla held back her surprise and just watched as the regret on the Rider's face gave way once more to a smile. How did this guy find so much to be happy about?

"Alright, that won't make a difference. Your fighting skills are unparalleled and I can tell you have a problem with Bone Eaters," he glanced at the sword on her hip reminding Leyla that both her blade and her clothes were still stained with blood. "So, I'll make you an offer. Follow me. If you become my person, I'll provide you with food, shelter...everything you need. And, I promise you'll get to kill plenty of those bastards along the way."

Hearing his words Leyla realised just how she must have appeared to him: a blood thirsty killer bent on revenge. Her fingers curled into fists as the shame from earlier filled her heart. No. She was not like that. She might not know exactly who she was, but she would not allow obsession to destroy her mind. 

Stepping around the Rider, Leyla began walking away. She wanted to leave the ugly version of herself behind. 

"That's a No then?" He called after her. She didn't slow her step. A moment later, the Rider caught up to her on horseback and cut her path. She glared up at him, making him laugh.

"Now, now." He tossed something towards her and Leyla caught it instinctively. The small copper coin had been carved with a single tree and was strung on a long black string. "My name is Liam. If you ever change your mind, take that to a Sky village and hand it to their village head. They'll find a way to reach me." 

She hadn't pegged him for a member of the Sky tribe. He didn't have to clothes, nor the markings on the neck that the Sky people had... What did it matter where he was from? Leyla gathered the string in her fist in order to throw the token back, but Liam kicked his horse into motion before she could. He was riding south. Was he going after more Bone Eaters? 

Strange man. Leyla looked down at the necklace once more, then sighed and pulled it over her head. Despite not knowing anything about Liam, they had fought together and she had seen his behaviour towards the villagers; it felt wrong to throw away the belongings of someone who saved innocents. If she ever came across a Sky village, she would leave the necklace there for Liam to retrieve. But for now, she was heading north.

Away from the Bone Eaters. 

Away from the fighting.

Michael. Mother. Father. Raphael.

Now that she no longer had anger to protect her, a heavy sadness was seeping into her chest with each breath. She put one foot in front of the other and straightened her shoulders. 

Move, Leyla. Just keep moving.