Niam

NIAM

I stumbled over another loose rock, my legs shaking with exhaustion. The canyon walls towered above us, casting long shadows in the fading light. My mind raced, trying to make sense of the unexpected turn my carefully laid plans had taken.

Tharon. A Valti. He wasn’t supposed to be here. For months, I’d plotted my escape from the Temple, every detail meticulously planned. But now...

“What exactly are we heading towards?” Tharon’s deep voice broke through my thoughts. “You marked a location in that message. What’s waiting for us there?”

I turned to face him, studying the sharp angles of his face, the spots trailing down his jaw. So alien, yet oddly familiar.

“Nothing that concerns you,” I said, my voice clipped. “Remember, you’re only accompanying me until we’re out of the Canyonlands. After that, we go our separate ways.”

Tharon’s lips tightened, but he didn’t argue. Good. The last thing I needed was to get attached to someone else. Especially someone like him.

I took another step forward, my muscles screaming in protest. My body, weakened by years in the Temple, betrayed me at every turn. Frustration bubbled up inside me. I’d known this journey would be difficult, but I hadn’t anticipated just how much.

The ground shifted beneath my feet. I flailed, trying to catch my balance, but it was too late. I braced myself for impact with the hard canyon floor.

It never came.

Strong arms scooped me up, cradling me against a broad chest. I blinked, startled by the gentleness of Tharon’s grip. My heart raced, and not just from the near fall.

“I’ve got you,” Tharon murmured, his breath warm against my ear.

I stared up at him, taking in the softness in his expression. It was so at odds with everything I’d come to expect from the cold, calculating prince. A faint blush colored his cheeks as he noticed my scrutiny.

“What?” he asked, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his tone. “I’m not always a jerk, you know.”

A laugh bubbled up from my chest, surprising us both. When was the last time I’d laughed? The sound felt foreign, almost painful after so long.

“There,” Tharon said, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “That’s better. Just think of me as your personal bagart. I’ll carry you wherever you need to go.”

The levity of the moment faded as we approached a fork in the canyon. Tharon nodded towards the left path.

“My mount is that way. It would make the journey easier.”

“No. We need to go right.”

A high-pitched whir cut through the air behind us. I spun around, my heart leaping into my throat. A sleek metallic object zipped towards us, red lights blinking ominously.

“Get down!” I shouted, but Tharon was already moving.

He shoved me behind him, his broad back shielding me as a burst of energy crackled past, singeing the rock wall. The acrid smell of ozone filled my nostrils.

“What in the seven hells is that?” Tharon growled.

Before I could answer, he launched himself at the drone with inhuman speed. His powerful legs propelled him high into the air, arms outstretched. For a moment, he seemed suspended against the darkening sky. Then his hands closed around the drone.

Metal crumpled under his grip. Sparks flew as he tore it apart, landing in a crouch with the broken pieces scattered around him.

My legs wobbled, and I sank to the ground. I’d known about the drones, of course. As Oracle, I’d had access to all of the Temple’s history. But seeing this flying bit of the past in action, witnessing its destructive power firsthand... it shook me to my core.

The Temple was truly unleashing everything in its arsenal to keep me from leaving.

A shrill whistle pierced the air. Tharon’s head snapped up, alert. The ground trembled beneath us. Something large was approaching, and fast.

“We need to move,” Tharon said, hauling me to my feet. “Now.”

As if on cue, hooded figures emerged from the shadows. Temple Guards. Their firewhips crackled with energy, casting an eerie glow in the growing darkness.

“Give us the girl,” one of them demanded, voice muffled by his hood.

Tharon’s grip on my arm tightened. “I think not,” he snarled.

The air around us grew thick with tension. For a heartbeat, no one moved.

Then chaos erupted.

Tharon shoved me behind a boulder as energy blasts and firewhips lashed out. He dodged with preternatural grace, closing the distance between himself and the guards.

I watched in awe as he engaged them, his movements a blur. He disarmed one guard with a swift kick, sending the firewhip flying. Another swung a sword, but Tharon caught the blade between his palms, wrenching it away.

A thunderous roar split the air. From around the bend came a massive beast, all rippling muscle and gleaming fangs. It barreled into the fray, scattering the remaining guards.

“Come on!” Tharon shouted, already astride the creature’s back. He reached down, pulling me up behind him.

I clung to his waist as we tore through the canyon, leaving the sounds of battle behind. The wind whipped my hair, stinging my eyes. My heart thundered, equal parts terror and exhilaration.

We rode hard for what felt like hours, the landscape blurring around us. Finally, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, Tharon guided his mount into a narrow crevice. The passage opened up into a small cavern, hidden from view.

“We’ll rest here for the night,” Tharon said, sliding off the bagart’s back. He reached up to help me down, his hands lingering on my waist a moment longer than necessary.

I stumbled as my feet hit the ground, my legs wobbly from the long ride. Tharon steadied me, concern flickering across his face.

“You need to rest,” he said, guiding me to sit on a smooth boulder.

“I’m fine,” I protested, even as exhaustion threatened to overwhelm me. “We should keep moving.”

Tharon ignored me, busying himself with unpacking supplies from the bagart’s saddlebags. He spread out a thick blanket on the cave floor, then pressed a waterskin into my hands.

“Drink,” he ordered. “Then rest. We’re safe here for now.”

I wanted to argue, to push on, but my body betrayed me. My hands were unsteady as I lifted the waterskin to my lips, gulping down the cool water. Frustration bubbled up inside me. I wasn’t used to feeling this helpless, this out of control.

“This isn’t how it was supposed to go,” I muttered, more to myself than to Tharon.

He paused in his preparations, turning to face me. “What exactly was your plan?”

I sagged against a rock. “I had it all worked out. Disable the security systems, slip out undetected. I never expected...” I gestured vaguely at him.

Tharon’s lips quirked in a wry smile. “Sorry to throw your plans to the wind.”

“It’s not just that,” I said, my voice rising in frustration. “I’m used to being connected to everything, controlling it all from the inside. And now I can’t do anything. I’m worse than useless out here.”

“You’re not useless,” Tharon said firmly. He crouched down in front of me, his intense gaze holding mine. “You have me. Use me.”

I blinked, taken aback by the offer. “What?”

“You used those human women to help you before, didn’t you? Sent them out to retrieve the pieces of this thing?” He pulled the completed device from a pouch, tossed it to me. “Think of me the same way. I’m a tool at your disposal.” His voice was matter-of-fact, but something flickered in his eyes that made my pulse quicken.

I swallowed hard, acutely aware of how close he was. “It’s not that simple. You’re not just some pawn to be moved around. And besides, I need you to understand what’s really going on here.”

Tharon nodded slowly. “Then tell me. All of it.”

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. Where to even begin?