Solis by Kat Ross

Author:Kat Ross [Ross, Kat]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780999048139
Publisher: Acorn
Published: 2018-02-19T05:00:00+00:00

15

Njala

“You’re up to something,” Victor said. “There’s no point in denying it. Mithre heard you talking.”

Culach shook his head wearily. “I’m not up to anything. But my dear great-great-grandmother appears to be under the delusion that….” He trailed off. “You won’t believe me anyway.”

“Let’s give it a try,” said the other Danai—the one called Mithre, who had taken him from Gerda’s chamber.

Culach was silent for a long moment. He could smell the ghost of his father in this room. Stale sweat and the sharp tang of iron. No one had told him Eirik was dead. He just knew.

Petur claimed you were a different man before Ygraine died, but I wouldn’t know about that. You were a cold bastard to me and Neblis and I won’t mourn you now.

Culach said, “Have you ever heard of the Avas Vatras?”

“The what?”

“They were a fourth clan of daēvas.”

Victor laughed.

“They lived a thousand years ago and they could work fire.”

“Do go on.”

Culach decided to leave his own dreams out of it. Victor already found him ridiculous enough. “They got into a feud with the Danai and burned the Great Forest, but they didn’t stop there. The Vatras destroyed the human cities too, and then they came for us. The holdfasts were made of timber then. We lost everything. Finally, the three clans came together against them. They sent emissaries to the Vatras’ capital, seeking peace. The Vatra king tried to murder them. But three daēvas had powers the Vatras didn’t know about. Gerda calls them talismans. They obliterated the Vatra city and drove them into the desert of Solis. I’ve heard there’s a line of storms west of the mortal cities that never goes away. They call it the Gale. But it’s not natural. The daēvas made it so the Vatras could never return.”

“That’s quite a story,” Victor said, a smirk in his voice.

“I’m not done yet. Gerda seems to think they aren’t dead. Not all of them anyway.”

“And?”

“That’s it. She could be right, or she could be out of her mind. In my opinion, it’s probably the second.”

“I did hear them say the word Vatras,” Mithre said thoughtfully. “He might be telling the truth. Perhaps we should send word to Tethys.”

Victor made a sound of disgust. “Children’s tales. I’ve never heard of these creatures. And I trust those two about as much as I trust the abbadax. Less even.”

“Are the mounts still here?” Culach asked. Gerda’s bargain had given him an idea.

“Why?”

“Because I would offer you a trade. If you let me visit Mina, I’ll show you how to tame them.”

Culach sensed Victor’s ears perking up.

“That would be useful,” he said grudgingly.

“I’ve raised most of them from hatchlings. They know my scent.”

“Do you care for her so much?” Victor asked in a wondering tone.

“I don’t make the offer lightly. The thought of Danai touching our mounts….” Culach’s jaw tightened. “But I’m willing if you give me assurances that she’s being treated well.”

“The day I fly out from the stables is the day you’ll visit Mina,” Victor said.

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