Chapter 13

K axim descended into the courtyard of the grand palace, his landing a thunderous swoop that sent dust swirling, startling the guards from their posts.

His wings, vast and inky as the ebony night sky, beat with a force rattling the imposing structure’s windows.

The Ilkanisa’s guards surged forward at the sudden, unexpected appearance of the massive half-transmuted Katánian Gyrfalcon, blades drawn, their shouts filling the air.

Yet Kaxim remained unruffled, his towering frame and stern visage a clear warning to anyone considering approaching.

He ignored the guards milling around him, intimidated by his size, unsure what to make of him.

His imminent presence and silence were more unnerving than any roar of defiance. The sentries exchanged uncertain glances, their bravado faltering in the face of the unknown.

‘Who are you?’ one of the braver Ilkanite protectors ventured, his voice edging with curiosity and caution.

Kaxim’s lips twitched in a non-answer, his lodestone flashing a warning, and his eyes never leaving the entryway.

The Ilkanisa’s sentinels stepped back, rapiers drawn, in an uneasy standoff. Each of them was unwilling to attempt offensive action against the might of the Katánian, who towered over them.

He launched a soul flare and jerked his head in satisfaction when a response was forthcoming.

Undaunted by the growing phalanx of sentinels, he stood in the center of the courtyard, hands crossed over his bulging chest muscles.

His massive gyrfalcon wings fluttered with ominous menace in the breeze behind him, his gaze fixed on the Ilkanisa’s entrance.

Moments later, activity erupted at the top of the palace steps.

A group of figures hurried down, their robes billowing as they descended with purpose.

Leading them was Liana.

Their eyes met.

The flash of emotion in her amber, copper, and gold eyes was quick, but he caught her longing and relief.

He growled and gritted his jaw to knock back his flare of need.

Recalling the sensual soul coitus they indulged in every other night to his ongoing frustration and aggravated vexation.

Hotdamnfokkinhellandfeathers.

His fists clenched at his sides, knuckles white against his dusky skin, sending warnings to his traitorous shaft to stop it from thickening.

Hell, her very presence was a lightning bolt, electrifying his senses and stirring a desire that threatened to consume him.

He fought it, but even as he resisted, he knew deep down that he was powerless when it came to her.

Hustling in her wake was a cluster of solemn-faced official types. Their faces were a mix of curiosity and apprehension, as were the guards’ as they parted to allow their Queen through.

‘You came?’ Liana breathed as she reached him. Her voice carried the weight of her relief.

‘I’m here, aren’t I?’ he rasped, his tone short as wild emotion roiled under his chest. ‘When can we begin?’

Liana hesitated, glancing back at the group who had trailing after her. ‘I must first introduce you,’ she said. ‘The Council needs to know if having a famed Katánian general like you in our midst is safe.’

Kaxim raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. ‘A hawk among the chicks?’ he mocked, his countenance otherwise stern.

Liana didn’t smile, but the tension in her shoulders eased somewhat. ‘Come,’ she said, turning to lead him toward the gathered cluster.

He strode after her, commanding the attention of everyone in the courtyard.

The elders shifted, their eyes darting from his broad scapulae to the imposing wings that framed him.

He confronted each of their gazes with calm indifference, his expression unreadable.

Introductions were brief and formal; the elders’ questions were pointed but met with clipped, straightforward answers.

Elder Nakan stared at the towering warrior with some distrust. ‘He’s Katánian, how can we trust him? What if he’s aligned with the enemy?’

‘He isn’t. He fought them,’ Liana informed the older man. ‘He led the army against the K?str?ls along with his Kíríga , which makes him the best candidate to train me. He represents his King, and although Katánē and Ilkan now exist in an uneasy truce, we need to maintain diplomacy, trade, and resource- sharing between us to ensure peace. The K?str?l troops, a breakaway of the Katánian forces, seek to break that fragile union. With Kaxim’s help, I can stop them.’

‘How will you harness and re-purpose our Kwen?’s kríffin’s abilities?’ K’Lita asked the taciturn colossus, her eyes flicking to his formidable gyrfalcon rachís .

Liana answered for him. ‘Kaxim’s dominance as Commander-General makes him one of the most formidable warriors in Katánē. Years of leading armies have honed his tactical mind, sharp instincts, and fierce dedication to those under his command. On the battlefield, he is a relentless force, guiding his troops with precision and intention, always several steps ahead of his enemies. His swordsmanship is unmatched, and his presence in the thick of combat inspired and terrorized those who faced him. It’s this experience I plan to learn from.’

Kaxim tagged the admiration in the council’s eyes as Liana expounded his credentials. Gleaned from the memories he allowed to access via their khamana bond.

She didn’t share that Kaxim’s abilities went far beyond the physical realm.

As a magus of Kaldean descent, he was gifted with the ancient abilities of his bloodline—powers that bent the very fabric of time and dimension.

He had inherited the ability to manipulate reality, shifting dimensions and creating illusions potent enough to twist the minds of his intended.

He could fold space to travel great distances in the blink of an eye or trap an enemy in a pocket of existence where time moved at a crawl, rendering them helpless, controlling the flow of time to freeze moments or accelerate events to his advantage.

The world was malleable in his hands, a series of threads he could weave at will.

For now, he had no patience for the Council’s questions nor their reverence or fears, and he had no time to waste trying to assuage them.

When Liana finished speaking, he turned to her, and his impatience was evident.

‘We’ve no time to lose,’ he muttered, hard-edged. ‘Show me the way to the training íkhara .’

Liana served him an arched brow, but she nodded.

With a bow to the council, the pair took off.

The Ilkanisa’s staff and guards gaped in awe as he passed, their eyes wide with fear and admiration. His size, menacing aura, and sheer power astounded them.

He shrugged them all off as he followed Liana through the palace grounds.

As they walked, she explained, ‘We’ll work on the roof. It has the best open space in the Ilkanisa.’

He gave a curt jerk of his chin.

His stride was extensive, and she took two to keep up.

The tension surrounding them was palpable, and they kept their faces averted from each other with care, neither willing to explore the confusion of their soul bond.

Still, it pulsed between them, an invisible intertwining vine that staked their desire and need.

They reached the stairs leading to the roof, and Kaxim began the ascent without hesitation, his wings trailing him like a shadow.

Liana followed close behind.

Once they arrived at the rooftop, he stopped and surveyed the expanse before them. The view was breathtaking—an endless sky, the sun beginning to dip toward the horizon, casting the palace in a golden glow.

But the Sāb?r Hawk Commander didn’t linger on the scenery.

His eyes raked the roofline, sighting its flat surface and the tented pavilion at one end,

‘Good,’ he said, turning to face her. ‘This will do.’

Liana nodded, her heart racing as she studied him. There was no denying his strength, his aura.

Also, his reputation and the immense responsibility he held over Katánē’s invincible army.

That he’d made time for her and come to her aid humbled her. She realized how grateful she was that he’d honored his promise.

‘Let’s begin,’ he said, his voice a low rumble. ‘We’ve got a fokkin’ lot to get through.’

Kaxim set up the roof, placing his small carry pack in the mini k?lajan that Ja’Kan had organized on the pavilion for him.

Her attendant appeared behind the couple, her training clothes and weapons in her hand.

‘As you requested, Kwen? ,’ Ja’Kan said.

With a bow, he left the pair on the roof.

With an exhale, Liana gathered her belongings.

Kaxim strode off to unpack while she took a corner of the marquee where she shed her formal robes and slid on her training attire.

The taciturn Commander returned, and she lurched for he’d shucked his chest piece, revealing his muscled torso and sinewed corded arms.

Liana jolted at the sight of a silver chain hanging from his neck, blinking at the unusual pendant.

‘Is that -?’

He glanced down at the single scarlet and copper-burnished quill on his pectorals.

‘ Naam , your feather.’

Her face flushed. ‘Why do you have it around your collar?’

He nailed her with a biting look, his brow arched. ‘Why do we all carry lucky objects? I’m borrowing your luck, kríffin . You died and rose again; this plume is my hope that should I face death in battle, I will prevail.’

His eyes flickered with an inscrutable emotion as he spoke, and she was suspected more to it.

She shrugged. ‘Have at it. May my kemí be your salvation.’

Their eyes met in a wild clash before he jerked his chin and lunged with his sword, beginning the instruction with no preamble.

His entire body was built for war.

The sāb?r in his hand emerged as one with him, an extension of his physique, a deadly instrument he wielded with precision and grace.

His thigh muscles rippled in a symphony of strength and power.

Each action showcased the results of hard training and battle scars. His torso was like a wall, solid and impenetrable as if chiseled from stone.

His arms were tight and wound, the sinewed contours tensing and releasing with every flex.

His wings furled out behind him like billowing sails, and his face, dark, stormy, and sensual, almost drove her to her knees.

Liana’s grip tightened around the hilt of her weapon.

She shifted her stance, mimicking the movements of the legendary warrior as he demonstrated the fluid yet powerful techniques. Many were designed to strike fear into the enemy’s hearts by their rapid movement alone.

Sweat beaded upon her brow as she moved through the motions, her muscles straining to adapt to the unfamiliar patterns.

Kaxim was a relentless trainer, guiding her through each step, thrust, and parry. ‘Remember, Liana, the sword is an extension of your body, your will made manifest. Let it flow through you, guided by instinct and tempered by discipline.’

Despite her best efforts, Liana faltered, her blade clattering to the ground as she lost her balance.

Frustration welled up within her, threatening to overwhelm her newfound resolve. ‘I can’t do this,’ she muttered, her tone tinged with self-doubt. ‘I’m not a soldier, Kaxim. I’m just a woman with powers I don’t even understand.’

Kaxim’s sāb?r slowed mid-air as he aimed a narrowed, intense glare at her. ‘Don’t put yourself down like that ever again, warrior. You are more than that. You are the promise of your people, the spark that will ignite the flames of change.’

His voice grew stronger, infused with an ancient power that resonated through her very being. ‘When you falter and hesitate, I will rise within you, lending you my strength and skill.’

He was reminding her of their soul bond, and she lurched and stared at him.

A surge of hope coursed through her veins.

The doubts that had plagued her began to dissipate, replaced by a growing sense of confidence. She reached for her sword again, her fingers curling around the hilt with renewed purpose.

‘Again,’ she whispered to Kaxim, her eyes narrowing with focus. ‘Let’s try again.’

He jerked his chin in approval.

And so they continued, their spirits intertwined in a dance of steel and shadow.

With every passing moment, Liana’s movements grew more fluid, more precise, guided by the experience of a legendary warrior.

She also drew on Khiron’s presence within her. The Great Eagle’s might coursed through her blood and fast-tracked her uptake. As a result, her skills improved with almost supernatural speed, and she caught Kaxim’s curious eyes on her, questioning her rapid prowess.

Liana sensed herself growing more assertive, faster, and confident in her abilities.

The sword’s weight in her hand was no longer foreign and awkward but rather like an extension of her body, a natural part of her being.

‘You’re learning is swift,’ Kaxim remarked, prowling from the side of her as she practiced a tricky and intricate drill. ‘Your innate talent is evident, Liana. But remember, genuine mastery comes not just from skill but from understanding the heart and soul of your weapon.’

Liana paused, wiping the sweat from her brow as she met Kaxim’s gaze. ‘What do you mean?’ she asked, her curiosity piqued.

‘A sword is more than just a tool for battle,’ he explained. ‘It symbolizes honor, courage, and the unbreakable spirit within every true warrior. When you wield a blade, you are not just fighting for yourself, but for the hopes and dreams of all those who depend on you.’

Liana nodded, understanding dawning in her eyes.

She glanced down at the blade in her hand, seeing it in a new light.

This was not just a weapon but a sacred trust, a promise to her people that she would fight for them until her last breath.