Island Shifters: Book 01 - An Oath of the Blood by Valerie Zambito
Authors: Valerie Zambito
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girl gaped in shock as the serpent’s open mouth began to transform into Airron Falewir’s grimace as he bodyshifted back into his Elven form. “Bloody hell, Kiernan, that hurt!”
Kiernan’s whole body collapsed in relief at the sight of him. “I hate you,” she managed to spew at him before falling back to lie on the ground.
“What?” he demanded through a mouth stained red with blood. “You are the only one who can wander around here in disguise?”
He held his hand out to her.
She grabbed it forcefully and stood. “You know I hate snakes, Airron,” she whined.
“Well known fact, Kiernan,” he said and spit blood onto the ground. “That is why my trick worked so well. Now, tell me, why are you here? Is something wrong at home?”
“What? No, nothing like that,” she responded and walked over to her sword belt, picked it up and cinched it around her waist. “I am actually surprised you have to ask, Airron. You could not have possibly believed that I would stay in Parsis and miss all the excitement?”
Airron sighed. “Kiernan, as we have told you before many times, it is not going to be exciting. We are going to be training, sleeping, and eating with the same thirty-six people day after day for two years. What is so bloody exciting about that?”
“At least, we will be together,” she retorted. “But, don’t worry. I will let the Commander know I am here just as soon as Troop 157 departs. Now, get dressed so you can return before somebody discovers you are gone and comes to investigate.”
“Don’t look!” he said with a chuckle as he quickly walked into the woods where his uniform was hanging from a tree branch.
She laughed back. “I have seen you naked more times than is healthy.”
When he emerged fully dressed, the two friends started back down the path toward camp. After a moment of silence, Kiernan glanced sideways at him and asked, “So, are you the only one who knew it was me?”
Airron shrugged. “If Beck or Rogan suspect, they have said nothing to me.”
“Idiot,” she said, under her breath.
“Who?” asked Airron, amused.
She quickly shook her head dismissively. “Nobody.” Then, just as quickly she reached out to touch his arm. “Do not tell Beck I am here, Airron, all right? I do not want him or anybody else for that matter to know until the time is right. I will just get sent home if I am found out too soon.”
“Your secret is safe with me.”
“Thank you.”
When they returned, the Legion was packing up from their short respite, anxious to complete the last leg of the journey to The Bluffs. Airron was just about to tell Kiernan to be careful, but turned to find his friend had already melted unseen into the crowd of legionnaires. Truth be told, he was glad that Kiernan was here. It felt strange not having the four of them together—five including Bajan because the Draca was undoubtedly close by. They were a unit and it was not complete with any one of them missing. It was not just the bonds of friendship that linked them so tightly, but their magic as well. Whatever innate power set them apart from other magic users just as equally joined the four of them together. It was an emotional chain as strong as one made of iron, and it pulled uncomfortably whenever one strayed too far.
Airron spotted Beck and Rogan and walked toward them. He smiled as he watched Rory getting in the way while trying to help Beck pack up his gear. “I’ve got it, Rory,” said Beck not unkindly. “Why don’t you see to your own things?” he suggested.
“All done, sir!” the fireshifter said proudly. Much to Beck’s dismay, Rory had taken to using the honorific after the Halfie encounter.
“Just Beck, Rory, just call me Beck.” Airron saw Beck roll his eyes when Rory was looking elsewhere and then looked up as Airron approached. “Where have you been?” he asked urgently. “Dismore has been looking for you. He was just about to send out a search party to find
Kiernan’s whole body collapsed in relief at the sight of him. “I hate you,” she managed to spew at him before falling back to lie on the ground.
“What?” he demanded through a mouth stained red with blood. “You are the only one who can wander around here in disguise?”
He held his hand out to her.
She grabbed it forcefully and stood. “You know I hate snakes, Airron,” she whined.
“Well known fact, Kiernan,” he said and spit blood onto the ground. “That is why my trick worked so well. Now, tell me, why are you here? Is something wrong at home?”
“What? No, nothing like that,” she responded and walked over to her sword belt, picked it up and cinched it around her waist. “I am actually surprised you have to ask, Airron. You could not have possibly believed that I would stay in Parsis and miss all the excitement?”
Airron sighed. “Kiernan, as we have told you before many times, it is not going to be exciting. We are going to be training, sleeping, and eating with the same thirty-six people day after day for two years. What is so bloody exciting about that?”
“At least, we will be together,” she retorted. “But, don’t worry. I will let the Commander know I am here just as soon as Troop 157 departs. Now, get dressed so you can return before somebody discovers you are gone and comes to investigate.”
“Don’t look!” he said with a chuckle as he quickly walked into the woods where his uniform was hanging from a tree branch.
She laughed back. “I have seen you naked more times than is healthy.”
When he emerged fully dressed, the two friends started back down the path toward camp. After a moment of silence, Kiernan glanced sideways at him and asked, “So, are you the only one who knew it was me?”
Airron shrugged. “If Beck or Rogan suspect, they have said nothing to me.”
“Idiot,” she said, under her breath.
“Who?” asked Airron, amused.
She quickly shook her head dismissively. “Nobody.” Then, just as quickly she reached out to touch his arm. “Do not tell Beck I am here, Airron, all right? I do not want him or anybody else for that matter to know until the time is right. I will just get sent home if I am found out too soon.”
“Your secret is safe with me.”
“Thank you.”
When they returned, the Legion was packing up from their short respite, anxious to complete the last leg of the journey to The Bluffs. Airron was just about to tell Kiernan to be careful, but turned to find his friend had already melted unseen into the crowd of legionnaires. Truth be told, he was glad that Kiernan was here. It felt strange not having the four of them together—five including Bajan because the Draca was undoubtedly close by. They were a unit and it was not complete with any one of them missing. It was not just the bonds of friendship that linked them so tightly, but their magic as well. Whatever innate power set them apart from other magic users just as equally joined the four of them together. It was an emotional chain as strong as one made of iron, and it pulled uncomfortably whenever one strayed too far.
Airron spotted Beck and Rogan and walked toward them. He smiled as he watched Rory getting in the way while trying to help Beck pack up his gear. “I’ve got it, Rory,” said Beck not unkindly. “Why don’t you see to your own things?” he suggested.
“All done, sir!” the fireshifter said proudly. Much to Beck’s dismay, Rory had taken to using the honorific after the Halfie encounter.
“Just Beck, Rory, just call me Beck.” Airron saw Beck roll his eyes when Rory was looking elsewhere and then looked up as Airron approached. “Where have you been?” he asked urgently. “Dismore has been looking for you. He was just about to send out a search party to find
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