Chapter 17

When Naomi next opened her eyes, it was to find Yula hovering over her. “What happened?”

“You fainted.”

“Oh, I need to stop doing that.” Naomi heaved herself into a sitting position. She had been put in a bed. A candle flickered on the night table. The room was large and filled with dark wood furniture. Over the hearth, a shield and a pair of swords hung. Naomi realized that she had been placed in Tavik’s room. No one had known to not do that. Naomi felt she was someplace she wasn't supposed to be. She was trespassing on a dead man’s sanctum.

“Would you like something to drink?”

Naomi nodded, and Yula turned to pour her some water. “Have the soldiers returned?”

Naomi saw Yula’s back stiffen. “They have.”

“And Tavik?”

Yula turned back around and handed Naomi a cup. Her mouth was set in a grim line. No verbal answer needed. Naomi sipped the water while keeping a close eye on Yula. “What happens now?” Naomi asked.

“Tavik will return.”

“Victor came back without him,” Naomi said.

“Yes, but we must have hope.”

"But if he doesn't return..."

"Do not worry about that."

"Yes, but what could happen?"

"We must have hope."

Naomi set the cup down and laid back against the headboard. She already hoped for so many things: a way home, a unicorn, an escape. She wasn’t sure if she had room to hope for Tavik as well. Yula helped her prepare for bed and exited with a gentle call for sweet dreams.

Naomi slipped into unconscious hoping she did have pleasant dreams to distract her from all the badness that had been her life for the past couple of days, and she did dream. She was out in a meadow in the moonlight, but it was not the moon that was the brightest thing out but something racing toward her. Naomi watched with disbelief as a unicorn galloped at her. It was beautiful. The horn glowed golden, and its mane and coat shimmered like snow on a bright day. Its hooves thundered as it pounded the earth coming toward her. Naomi reached out her arms to grab it, knowing the unicorn was her salvation. She strained to catch the unicorn as it ran past, but her fingers did not even graze its flank. The unicorn wheeled around and began racing back toward her. Naomi tried to catch hold of the unicorn again, but it slipped by her a second time. Naomi felt desperation. She had to catch the unicorn. The magical beast turned again and ran at her, and Naomi missed again. They played this game several more times before the unicorn got tired and did not turn around again but continued to gallop away. Naomi screamed for it to come back, but the unicorn grew steadily smaller. Naomi sat up in bed with a gasp. Her arms were reaching out as her desperate action carried over to the waking world.

“Naomi?”

She jumped and looked for the source of the voice. The room was dark, but she could make out the shape of a man, and she knew the voice.

“I thought you were dead,” Naomi said.

Tavik let out a low chuckle. “Sorry to disappoint you.”

Naomi frowned but brushed off his comment. “Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine.”

Naomi could not tell if he had the mask on but decided not to ask. “But Victor came back all cut up. How did you get away from the Umbreks?”

“I didn’t. I killed them.”

“Oh.”

Naomi looked away feeling uncomfortable. She didn’t know how to react. Violence had never been a part of her life. Sure, she had fought and ran from the Umbreks, but she had not killed any of them. This was all part of Tavik’s life. With a start, Naomi remembered she was in Tavik’s bed and that he probably wanted it back. She moved to get up.

“What are you doing?”

“Getting up. You should rest.”

“Don’t bother. I will sleep elsewhere.”

“But this is your room,” she protested. She heard Tavik sigh.

“I’m tired, Naomi. I don’t want to argue.”

“Then stop arguing and do what I say,” Naomi said with a mixture of frustration and humor. She climbed off the bed and folded the blankets back.

“Naomi,” Tavik said in a warning tone.

“You slept in a chair last night. You rode all day and fought Umbreks. You need to rest in a proper bed tonight."

“Where will you sleep?” he asked.

Naomi had been avoiding that question because really she had no idea. She didn’t know where Yula’s room was, or else she would go and bunk with her. Naomi hunched her shoulders. “If you’ll sleep in the bed, you can tie me to a chair.”

“What were you dreaming about?”

Naomi was startled by the complete change of subject. She’d forgotten the dream. She wasn’t sure if telling him the truth was wise, but she couldn’t think of a lie. “I was dreaming about unicorns.”

“It didn't seem to be a pleasant dream.”

“I was trying to catch one and couldn’t.”

Tavik walked over to the bed and sat. Naomi could tell by the shape of his head that he had the helm still on. He kicked off his boots and dropped his belt. “You might as well sleep here as well.”

“What about my own room?”

Tavik’s shoulders slouched. “I will see to it tomorrow.” Naomi realized she was being a little prudish. Tavik was tired. She could see that by how slowly he moved. Anyway, she could sleep above the covers and scream like a banshee if he did anything. She walked around to the other side of the bed. She watched Tavik lay his head back without removing the helm.

“You’re going to sleep in that thing?”

“Yes,” Tavik replied without inflection. Naomi scrunched her eyebrows together at that but didn't comment. She slipped under the top blanket, leaving the rest underneath her. She did not think she would get back to sleep, but she was wrong.

Continue to Chapter 18