“I don’t mind leaving her, Zyi. Let me get a few things and we will go,” Neph placed the kitten carefully on the bed and started to turn for the door as she grabbed his arm. He paused and looked down at her once more as she shook her head again. “Zyi, neither of us has ever been outside of Delvay. You don’t even know what you are walking into,” Neph said gently.
“A better life for me, but it’s not a life for you Neph. You belong here. You do have the warrior’s spirit. You are one of the strongest in Delvay now. In time you will be more than Father could ever hope to be,” Zyi whispered as she placed a hand on his cheek. “Keep them in balance, Neph. Father is as cold as winter and Kadan is heartless. You are the only one in this damned place with any compass ion at all. Maybe one day you will lead here, and I can come home again.”
“I will never lead Delvay, Zyi,” Neph said with a faint smile and watched as she stepped away toward the door. “How are you going to get out of here without them noticing?” Neph asked quietly.
“They are drinking downstairs aren’t they?” Zyi asked, pausing by the door.
“Aren’t they always?” Neph snorted in response.
“Then they should be sleeping by now. I added a little something extra to the mead tonight. Nothing that will hurt them of course, but they will get a very sound night’s sleep from it.” She smiled impishly and winked at him. “I will miss you so much, Neph,” Zyi said softly as she stepped out into the shadowed hall.
With a final glance around the room Neph carefully picked the kitten up once more and balanced it in the crook of his arm as he blew out the candle and headed for his own room. Delvay would be a darker place without her, but he knew in his heart it was for the best. Still, that didn’t silence the voice screaming for him to go after her, to stop her, to go with her, to do something. A lump was growing in his throat and he could feel his eyes burning with unshed tears. With a heavy sigh, he stepped into his own room and leaned back against the door. The kitten stirred in his arm and he absently ran a hand through its thick fur. For the first time in his life, he was truly alone. There was no one left in Delvay that he could confide in, or show weakness to. Zyi never judged him for emotions. “I should have gone with her,” he whispered to the cat as he sat it down carefully on the foot of his bed and began to strip out of his sweat stained clothes. Tomorrow would be a long grueling day, and it would be best to be well rested before facing it. Not that he truly believed he would sleep tonight. With a heavy sigh, he glanced back at the hallway once more. He doubted he would ever sleep soundly again, knowing she was just as alone as he was in a world that was much crueler than Delvay. The Academy might have been safe, and he could only hope that was where she was heading.
*
Morning sunlight filtered down through the trees as Neph guided his cat carefully up the steep mountain path. By tradition, the trials were held on the tallest peak of the three mountains surrounding the capital. His gaze rose to the snow covered heights ahead of him and then to his brother who rode beside him. “Are you going to say anything to me, Kadan?” he asked finally. Kadan was typically quiet, but today was extreme even for him. His brother had barely even looked in his direction since they had ridden out.
“Did you know she was running away?” Kadan asked, his voice low and filled with anger. His dark eyes locked on Neph and narrowed. “Did you help her run away?”
Neph watched him for a long moment and shook his head slowly. “I didn’t know she was going to do it, but I’m glad she did. I didn’t help her, but I would have had she asked.”
“I know she wouldn’t have left without speaking with you, Neph,” Kadan snapped.
“She said goodbye,” Neph agreed, his gaze moving once more to the mountain. Kadan would tell their father everything he said and he knew it. By the time he faced his father, however, he would be past the trial and could no longer be punished as a child.
“You should have stopped her, Neph. She is weak and has proven herself a coward by her actions,” Kadan’s voice rose and Neph turned to regard him again.
“She is our sister, Kadan. She is gentle and kind and has shown nothing but love toward us. You scorn her because she doesn’t wish to fight,” Neph said and shook his head slowly in disgust. “In my eyes, she should never have to fight, Kadan. She has two brothers that should have been more than willing to fight for her.”
“She is Delvay,” Kadan snapped, as if the words explained his anger completely.
“She was Delvay,” Neph corrected. “And Delvay didn’t understand her at all. Maybe she will find others that do,” he added hopefully. “Idiot,” Kadan growled as he pushed his cat forward into a lope. “C’mon. I’m eager to put this day behind me.”
“You and me both,” Neph agreed as he urged his cat forward. There was perhaps an hour left of riding and then the trial. He had no doubts he would pass his tests. As Zyi had said, he was one of the strongest in Delvay. His spells were perfect and his shields were stronger than anyone he had faced so far, including Kadan. With a faint smile he followed his brother in silence as they crossed through the thick pine forest surrounding the base of the mountain peak. Snow began to show on the ground and the air cooled drastically as they continued to climb, but he was used to the cold. He was Delvay and the mountains were as much a part of him as his own flesh.