Out of the Mountain Page 2

  “What quest? What magic?” I yelled in disbelief. They had never mentioned wards or magic before this. Why were these “Shades,” as Master Tatsu had called them, coming for me? Surely this was some kind of sick joke.

  “You must understand, child, you will not be without protection. They will not find you if you leave now before the ward on your magic completely falls. You must make it safely to your destination before then, or you will shine like a beacon to your enemies when it does,” Master Tatsu said. I was so confused. They were throwing too much new information at me to process.

  “What destination? What enemies?” I cried. I was getting nowhere with them.

  “For now we must confer and plan, and you must rest, Vivienne.”

  I tried to object, but the monks entered meditative states, and I knew I wasn’t getting answers. I had wasted more than enough of my life as a child trying to force answers from them, and I knew when to leave well enough alone. That didn’t stop me from hurrying back and trying to reenter the scroll room.

  “Of course.” I sighed when the door wouldn’t allow me entrance. It was worth a try.

  I paced the floor of my small room for a long time, thinking of what was to come and of everything I was about to leave behind. I had been segregated from the people of Velia as of late, but not completely separated. I had acquaintances and people I would consider friends from my childhood. Master Liung sought out one woman in particular when I went through the first stages of puberty. Kenja Patel had five daughters of her own and had taken to me kindly, explaining all I needed to know about womanhood. I would be eternally grateful to that woman, because there were just some things even the all-knowing monks of the mountain weren’t capable of explaining.

  Kenja’s youngest daughter, Tori, was only a few months older than me, and we became fast friends. I sought her out every time the monks brought me to town, and the bond we grew was genuine. However, as I grew older and they saw male attention finding me more often, they began keeping me more separate. The girls my age were only interested in talking about the boys, and the boys were only interested in talking to the girls. Tori was particularly boy-crazy, and I was convinced I was above such silliness, but the more I fought in teenage rebellion the tighter their reins became, and I learned quickly to follow the rules. The monks were good men, but strict. At almost twenty, I was more than ready for my first taste of real freedom. I just wasn’t sure I wanted that freedom to be marred by the fear that was currently churning in my gut.

  ***

  The weeks before my birthday passed quickly as we made plans for my departure. The word of my imminent exit spread as the monks tried to gather my necessities, and the people of Velia threw me a going-away party that brought tears to my eyes. I was reunited with childhood friends if only for a night, and as I said farewell to the people, I knew I was doing the right thing by leaving. Kenja was going to be a grandmother; her oldest daughter was with child, and they were ecstatic. My stomach dropped when I saw who the father was: the very same man who had been in the clutches of the Shade in the monks’ premonition. I congratulated them, and when Tori made me promise to keep in touch, I felt the first tinges of loss in my heart. I had to ensure their safety. The future I had seen would not be the one that came to be.

  The monks didn’t give me much information, even though I was relentless in asking for it. They had sent word, and I was to have a guide retrieve me and take me somewhere safe. They would not tell me specifics of my destination, for whatever reason, and believe me, the monks always had their reasons. I was both excited and afraid, the emotions warring in my head constantly.

  ***

  The week of my birthday I was packed and dressed in my new, sturdier clothes as the monks escorted me through the valley before dawn. I wore thick, rough-hewn pants and boots in a shade of brown that matched the dirt under my feet. My shirt was a pale green, a thin material that might as well have been a tunic. The monks had made these clothes themselves, a gift for my journey. Although not at all stylish, I treasured them even more for it.

  “The ward around you will not break before your birthday, so fear not. You will make it to safety well before then as long as you stick to your path. Do not stray, Vivienne. It is important that you get there in time.” Master Liung smiled kindly to take the edge off his warning. I was going to miss him. I would miss them all, really.

  “When will I see you again?” I asked sadly.

  “All will be revealed in time,” he joked, and I cracked a smile. The monks’ token answer for any question that they weren’t allowed to answer. That was one thing I wasn’t going to miss at all.

  Each of the monks bid me farewell, and Master Tatsu gave me my pack, which was filled with supplies, and instructions to climb past the next mountain and find a safe place to wait. Whoever the monks contacted was sending a man named Rowan to lead me to my destination. I felt as if I was in some kind of nonsensical dream. I had spent my entire life sheltered and hidden away, and now they were going to send me off on my own to traipse through unknown territory? I had not spent a single night outside of their mountain, and now they expected me to climb one on my own. It was ludicrous. When Master Liung was the only one left, I allowed myself to cry. I saw tears in his eyes as well and pulled him into a hug.

  “I still can’t believe any of this is really happening.”

  “If there was any other way, we would have found it.”

  “Thanks for everything, Master Liung.”

  “Thank you as well, Vivienne. You do not understand the treasure you were to us,” he replied, slipping something into my hand.

  “What is this?” I asked, sniffling and taking a closer look. It was a dragon coin the size of my thumbnail, attached to a thin leather cord. I could feel the power radiating off it.

  “A necklace,” he said wryly as I slipped it on. This was odd, and I knew it was more than that. The monks didn’t give material gifts without purpose.

  “What is it really?” I asked suspiciously.

  “It is a favor. If you are ever in dire need of help, put the coin under your tongue and say my name. I will hear your call. It will come at great cost, so please use it wisely,” he said seriously, and I had no doubt it was true.

  “Thank you, Master Liung,” I said again, and he patted my back and turned me to face the mountain.

  “Now you must begin your journey, and time is of the essence. I have seen much, and though you may doubt your own strength, I have no such reservations,” he said solemnly as he turned and walked away. I squared my shoulders and then took my first steps toward the unknown.

  ***

  I climbed until it was too dark to see, finally thankful for all the conditioning Master Tatsu had put me through. My endurance was high, and I kept a quick pace, only allowing my mind to focus on what was directly in front of me. One foot in front of the other and repeat. The rocky mountain was a fierce opponent that required all of my attention to keep myself on my feet. I had slipped and fallen on the rocks more than once as I climbed, and my knees were aching from the uneven impacts.

  When it was near dusk I happened upon a small cave. It was shallow and seemed safe enough, so I decided to stop for the night. I doubted I would find a better place to rest than this. I dropped my pack at the opening and set to clearing a spot for myself in the small space. When darkness finally fell I ate a small meal from my pack and gazed up at the stars. As always I was enchanted by their beauty, and I breathed a little easier. It was a comforting thought to me that no matter where I was, the stars that looked down on me and the constellations I sought would be the same. Sure, there might be changes in their visibility and position as the months rolled by, but when I found them again, it was like looking at an old friend. Reliable, that’s what the stars were. I laid on my back, using my pack as a pillow, and rested uneasily until daylight found me again.

  I groaned loudly as I stretched in an attempt to get some of the kinks out of my back. I was exhausted already from l
ittle sleep, but I knew I had no choice but to continue on. My stomach growled angrily at me even as I munched on the granola from my pack. I was used to eating much more than this in the mornings.

  “Spoiled brat,” I hissed at it before finishing my food and gathering my pack. I had never been truly alone before this trip, and it was daunting. I was also frustrated and a little anxious to finally reach my guide, Rowan, and hopefully get some straight answers. I really pushed myself to keep going throughout the day. I again stuck to focusing only on the obstacles directly in my path, which helped to keep me from sighing when I glanced up at the rest of the climb I had yet to make. I stumbled, drenched in sweat, legs and feet aching, when I finally reached the peak of the mountain. I bent over, heaving in deep breaths before I stood and let my eyes sweep over the sight ahead of me.

  A loud gasp escaped, cutting through the silence I had spent the day in. I had never seen such beauty. Land was stretched out as far as I could see: trees, rivers, rolling hills. Living in the mountains and valley, I had never realized how much space there really was. I mean, logically I knew . . . but knowing something in theory and knowing something by experience made all the difference. I had never seen this far in any direction before. My knees felt weak, and I slid to sit on the rocks at my feet as I continued to take in the view. Slowly, reality set in, and I began to panic. I had been going on pure adrenaline and excitement to this point. But looking out in front of me, I was overwhelmed. How would anyone ever be able to find me out there? I took deep breaths as I tried to keep calm and remind myself that the masters had sent me on this journey, and they would be certain that no harm would come to me. They would have seen, and they would be sure that someone would come for me.

  I stood back up, dusted myself off, and took in the view awhile longer before I began the trip down the other side of the mountain. Determination settled into my bones, and I descended with speed, entering the state of mind Master Tatsu had taught me during training. I made it most of the way down before dark fell. The night was clear of clouds, and the stars were shining bright, complementing the waxing moon. I decided to continue my trek down the mountain and find somewhere to rest in the forest that was ahead.

  All my knowledge of the outside world had come from books. I had never set foot in a forest, and I wondered what it would be like to be under the cover of trees. Surely wildlife would abound. My experience with animals was limited to livestock and the occasional pet owned by the citizens of Velia. My mind reeled with the possibilities. There was so much to be seen. So far, though, all I was seeing was a lot of rocks and every once in a while a few random trees.

  I traveled most of the night, and when I finally made it to the bottom of the mountain, I yipped loudly with pleasure. It echoed in the distance, and I winced, realizing that probably wasn’t my smartest move. When I heard a twig snap, I twisted toward the sound. I caught a glimpse of what I thought were bright-yellow eyes reflected in the moonlight, but within a blink they were gone. I stood perfectly still, eyes scanning the forest for so long that my body ached from the tension. Finally, satisfied that I was alone, I walked back against the foot of the mountain and leaned my back against the rocks. My body sighed in relief, and exhaustion pulled at me hard. I kept my eyes on the trees, but eventually I dozed off.

  CHAPTER TWO

  When I woke it was daylight, and it hurt to breathe. Every muscle in my body was sore. I had thought that the descent had been much easier, but clearly my body disagreed. I winced as I tried to stretch out some of the pains. I looked out into the trees and felt discouraged. There was a long range of forest ahead, and I could have come down at any point of the mountain. I put my head in my hands, tugging at the tangled strands of hair that were still damp from sweat. I focused on wrapping the dark strands into a braid, concentrating on the repetition to keep me from panicking. How long should I wait here? Should I go in search of my guide?

  A throat cleared loudly to my right, and I jumped and squealed in the most embarrassing way. My head bounced off the rock behind me as I turned quickly toward the sound. I grabbed my head, grimacing as I shook off the dizziness, and took in the sight that was now in front of me.

  Tall, tawny-haired, and gorgeous, dressed in head-to-toe black with lean but hard muscle as far as the eye could see. His skin was tan, and he had blond scruff on his jaw that somehow managed to make him look even more alluring. His eyes were bright and intelligent, the lightest shade of brown I had ever seen. Like two drops of honey glistening in the sunlight. I realized I was practically drooling and tried to pick my jaw up off the ground.

  “Um, hi?” I said rather intelligently, still rubbing the back of my head.

  “Hello.” His voice was deep and rumbly. The sound of it was almost a physical thing, trying to pull me in closer. I swayed on my feet and shook my head to clear it. I needed to pull it together.

  “Hello,” I finally replied, and immediately wanted to bang my head against the rock again. Instead I finished the braid and secured it as he raised an eyebrow. He looked me over, and I tried to breathe evenly.

  “My name is Rowan. I have been sent to collect you,” he said quickly. He had a reserved air about him. He seemed cautious as his eyes met mine, brow furrowed.

  “Vivienne,” I replied, reaching my hand out to him a little too enthusiastically. He eyed it for a moment before he reached his out as well. When our hands touched, I felt a jolt of electricity and jumped, pulling my hand back. His eyes flashed to mine, and I saw recollection there. Did he know me?

  “Vinnie?” he whispered blinking rapidly, his hand still extended toward me.

  “Vivienne,” I replied, and watched him visibly collect himself before he turned and began walking into the forest, leaving me confused in his wake.

  “Follow me,” he rumbled, and I hurried to gather my things and catch up.

  He was quite a bit taller than me. I would guess he was at least six and a half feet. My skin was as pale as snow in comparison to his golden tan. It almost seemed as if we were the physical representations of winter and summer; we couldn’t have looked more different.

  I quickly realized that I had never truly been concerned about my appearance until this moment. Sure, I had straightened myself up in the mornings, but I was rarely concerned with the state of myself beyond that point. I was riddled with insecure thoughts, and I wondered how he saw me . . . I was sure I was dirty and messy. The clothes I had treasured just yesterday now seemed embarrassing and ratty next to his pristine uniform of black.

  I grumbled to myself before I laughed at how ridiculous I was being over this man I didn’t know. This was exactly the silliness I had made fun of the girls in Velia for. Who cared what he thought of me? I barely knew him! What was getting into me? All these feelings were confusing and new.

  When he turned to look at me, I realized I had laughed out loud.

  “Do you find something amusing?” he asked drily, and I frowned.

  “Not particularly,” I grumbled, and his brow furrowed before he turned to continue his journey. I hurried to keep up with his long stride. He seemed to know exactly where he was going, and he was in an awfully big hurry to get there. I sighed loudly, and when he didn’t pay any attention to me, I grew angry with myself. Here I was in the middle of a beautiful forest. Trees in full bloom, birds singing, moss lining the ground, and all I could stare at was the line of Rowan’s back and the way his neck looked strong and thick beneath his mane of tawny hair.

  “Do you require rest?” he asked, coming to a stop and facing me after my fifth sigh. The tone of his voice was impatient. I didn’t like it.

  “No, I require an explanation,” I said, narrowing my eyes.

  “I owe you no explanation. I was to retrieve and deliver you safely. That is what I intend to do,” he replied sharply as he turned and continued his trek through the never-ending forest.

  “Is it too much to ask for a little conversation?” I muttered mostly to myself as I tried to keep pace with his strid
e. My eyes caught sight of the line of his long legs again as he moved, and I could tell they were just as toned as the rest of him . . . Ugh, there I went again! I released another sigh, and his back flinched in agitation. I grinned.

  ***

  We continued through the forest all day, and I could have sworn we were going in circles, but Rowan’s determined steps never faltered. He neatly dodged every attempt at pulling him into conversation I made, and eventually I tried to ignore him as well. It was a lot harder than I would like to admit. My feet were past the ache and finally starting to feel numb when we reached a stream, and he stopped. I admired the quick-flowing water as it cut a path through the trees, as determined to reach its destination as my guide.

  “Are we resting here for the night?” I asked, looking around for some form of shelter as I dropped my pack to the ground.

  “No, we are to eat, and then I will continue to lead you to our destination. It is best not to sleep in the forest,” he said as he pulled food out of his pack and handed me some bread and cheese. My stomach growled loudly, and I flinched at the cramp there.

  “If you required sustenance, why did you not say so?” Rowan glared at my stomach like he had taken offense personally.

  “I was trying to keep up with you. I didn’t really have time to think about food,” I snapped, taking a bite of the bread to keep my mouth from running. The monks had never been able to teach me to control my quick temper, though they never stopped trying. I had a feeling it was going to get me in trouble out here where people would argue back.

  “I am not all-knowing. If you cannot keep up with my pace, you must tell me. If you are hungry, you must tell me. If you are tired and need rest, you must tell me,” he scolded me. My temper flared, but I bit into the bread and turned away.

  This guy was even weirder and more formal than the monks. When was I going to be around normal people like the ones in Velia? If it wasn’t for my interactions with them throughout my life, who knew what I would be like by this point. Probably just like him, formal and stiff. There was no lifetime where I would pretend I could have ever turned out like the monks; it just wasn’t in me.