Chapter 39 Fire

Kyan
UTTERLY DISORIENTED I walk to the stables. I don't understand why my father would consider Lud a potential husband for Lyza. Is my father losing his mind? I'm not sure my mother knows about it, I know she can never agree to it. I also know Lyza will be heartbroken when she hears the news but there is very little she can do about it. I doubt I can do anything either.
This will be the second time she would cry in the last few days. The first time, I caused it. I don't regret it though, I believe that the guard was taking advantage of Lyza. I'll stand by what I did anytime but this; Lysia's marriage to Lud is unacceptable. Lud seems like someone who is very shrewd and sly. I don't trust him. And he has had two wives already, his previous marriages always end in a messy divorce. He is not an eligible man for my sister, Lyza deserves much more.
"Are you okay?" Isla narrows her eyes at me, studying my face. She seems to have a strong interest in my countenances. I catch her staring at me sometime like she is trying to dig me open strata by strata.
"Um... I'm fine," I stutter. My heart does what it has never done before — a little somersault in my chest. How does this Kintilese have so much influence on me.
"Are you sure? You looked like you were thinking hard about something." She takes a step closer, clasps her hands at her back and twirls in semicircles. She looks so innocent, almost child-like as she does this.
I can't help chuckling but it is suppressed so it's a low hum. "I'm sure."
"Thanks for the flowers. I was very surprised," she tells me perkily.
"I'm glad you liked them. Why were you surprised?" She is wearing another outfit from Lyza, a red kaftan and trousers. She looks beautiful in red, I bite my tongue to prevent the compliment from slipping out. I don't want to seem too desperate or needy, besides I barely know her enough to throw compliments carelessly.
"I wasn't expecting them. They add a lovely fragrance to my room, they most have been cut this morning because they were so fresh!" She says with a soft smile.
Though I want to stand in front of the stables and talk with Isla, I promised her that I'll teach her to ride. And I want to get us started before noon.
"We should go inside, don't you think?" I reach for her hand and my fingers brush against the bracelet.
She nods stiffly and we go inside the stable. The groom bows lowly to us but I don't take notice of him because Isla is twisting one of the charms of the bracelet with the most nervous expression I've seen on a person.
"Are you all right?" She bites down on her lower lip and shakes her head. I hold my breath," what's wrong?"
"It's just," she lets out a laboured breath, "you didn't tell me these were emeralds."She holds one of the charms between her index finger and thumb.
My brows jolts up in astonishment. That is what she was making big fuss about? I can't believe women.
"It's sentimental value is much more than it's monetary worth." I rise her hand to my face and watch her squirm. Do I make her uncomfortable? But why would she be uncomfortable with me? "This," I run a finger down the gold links, "was my great grandmother's."
Her eyes widen, she tries to free her hand from my grip but I only tighten it, not strong enough to hurt her but strong enough to keep her hand in mine.
"I don't deserve it," she says with eyes downcast.
"It belongs to you now, Isla. My mother gave it to me so I would present it to my wife when it's time." I keep my eyes on her face steadily. She senses this and refuses to lift her gaze from the ground.
In a tiny almost inaudible voice she says, "I'm not your wife."
"Yet," I add and I drop her hand. "You are not my wife yet," I correct her.
She rubs her wrist and my heart cringes at the thought of hurting her. "I didn't... Hurt you, did I?" Guilt surges through me and flows freely in my veins.
She shakes her head. "You didn't."
"You have never called me by my name," I blurt. She frowns as if she is trying to decipher my words. "You don't use my name, why?"
She blinks. Then blinks again. She remains so quiet I don't think she is going to answer me. The groom and the caretaker are doing a good job of ignoring us possibly bored of our little drama.
"Kyan." It's a soft whisper. I like the way her lips part as she pronounces my name. I suddenly have this foreign urge to press my lips against hers. To kiss her and taste her.
I can't help grinning. "You see? It doesn't hurt to say it, does it?"
"It doesn't," she smiles back.
"I'll like you to use my name more often, Isla. Okay?"
She surprises me by wiggling her eyebrows at me. I throw my head back and let the laughter course through me. Her giggling chimes with my laughter. I feel so relieved to laugh after such a long time. My worries and concerns about the combined ceremony and the terrible match for my sister evaporates into the thick air.
"So," she drawls a bit, "you are going to teach me to ride, right?" Her enthusiasm is contagious and I'm grinning like a drunk.
"It's so obvious isn't it?"
"Very."
"Oh, well." I grab her arm by her elbow and lead her to the pens.
The groom saddles Lady Gin-Gin and leads her out by the reins. Behind him, I lead Fire out. We walk into the orchard until we find a clearing. The groom bows and leaves.
"I'm nervous, Kyan." Isla stands a safe distance away from the horses. Bored, Lady Gin-Gin begins to graze at the short blades of grass.
"There is nothing to be nervous about,"I tell her. Fire snorts and whips his tail through the air, "see? He agrees with me," I say gesturing to Fire.
Isla giggles but retains her distance.
"Come on Isla, you wanted to learn how to ride right? Now you have an opportunity and you are just going to let Lady Gin-Gin down?"I try to be as encouraging and as playful as I can. I don't want Isla to be uneasy.
She titters as she takes a small step closer to lady Gin-Gin. "Who named these horses?"
"Who do you think?" I wiggle my brows at her imitating what she did just a few minutes ago.
She smiles. "I only have one guess. I hope I'm right."
"I won't know unless you tell me who your guess is."
"You?" She cocks her head to one side.
I laugh. "Wrong!" And I laugh again as her expression becomes confused. "Lyza did."
"But Lyza doesn't like horses," she argues furrowing her brows and pouting.
"She used to. Let me tell you secret," I walk to her, lean down and whisper into her ear, "she used to crazy about horses even more than I am but one day, she got thrown off Lady Butterscotch's back and she broke a rib. Since then, she has never even visited the stables."
Isla's face droops. "That's awful! How long ago was that?"
"Six years ago," I reply without missing a beat.
Isla remains quiet staring off into space. I can tell she is deep in thought. I'll give anything to be in her head right now. Most times, I wonder about her; how was her life before the raid? Who exactly was she? Who are her family? Did she have a match back at Kintil, a fiance perhaps? I feel terrible that my father commanded the raid that snatched her away from her home for selfish reasons.
"We should get started," I say. The sun is now high up in the blue sky. Noon. It's not hot like in the Torrid but pleasantly warm.
She allows me to lift her up from the ground, she isn't hard to lift considering she doesn't have much flesh on her. Was it the raid that took such a toll on her? I place her on the mare and she grabs on to me with a titter and wide eyes.
"I'm scared of heights!" She shrieks.
"That can't be. You flew in the cyclone, didn't you?" I watch closely for her reaction but she only shrugs.
"That was different. I was in total control, Kyan." I savour the melody of her voice as she says my name.
"Well this time you don't have complete control... Yet. You would just have to trust Lady Gin-Gin and I, ok?" I almost sound like a father trying to calm a delirious toddler.
She nibbles on her lip then finally gives me a nod. "All right."
I mount Fire. With him, I don't need a saddle and bridle. Our connection runs deep, one of companions and not just horse and rider.
Lady Gin-Gin sneezes and neighs excitingly. Fire snorts and whips his bushy tail. I can feel the excitement too. "Isla, nudge Lady's stomach gently so she will trot. Nudge just once."
Isla does as I say and with a proud snort, Lady Gin-Gin begins to trot and whips her tail as she moves. I get Fire to walk next to her, my fingers are entangled in his long bushy mane.
"That's great. Are you enjoying it?" I look over at Isla.
Her lips are pursed in a thin line and her forehead is furrowed showing that she is in deep thought.
"What's going through your mind?" I blurt.
She sniggles softly, "why don't you watch and find out?"
Before I can open my mouth and ask what she is talking about, she gets Lady Gin-Gin to start cantering. My heart leaps and Fire canters to catch up with her.
"What are you doing?" I can't help barking at her. What is she thinking? If she makes the wrong move and Lady throws her off she will be severely hurt. She has never handled reins before and she wants to begin by steering herself into danger? "Isla," my voice is harsh and a bit angry but I can't help feeling angry, if anything happens to her I'll feel awful knowing that it is my fault, "let me handle the reins." I lean closer and make to grab the reins from her.
Then, Isla does something that scares and stuns me at the same time. Hollering loudly, she leans forward on Lady gripping the reins and tugs at it making Lady gallop off at elusive speed.
I sit stunned with my mouth hanging open.
Her thoughts move the Earth. And she moves my world.
Her hair is billowing behind her as she rides off like a goddess. Quickly collecting myself, I ride after her urging Fire to go faster and faster.