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Adarin held An’Thaya close, worried by Callan’s words, but nodding. Of course he would take care of Tay. His eyes went hard for a moment, then softened, realizing that the other had a vested concern in Tay’s survival and well-being as well.
For the moment he focused solely on the Amazon, ignoring the by-play between father and son as he set to making Tay as comfortable as possible.
“It’s going to be all right,” he said softly.
The change of hands and the sound of voices roused An’Thaya from the deepest of sleep and she stirred in Adarin’s arms a little. Blinking blearily, still unable to see clearly out of her wounded eye; it took her a moment to focus. Something was going on, blows were being exchanged… what the hell? Emerald greens focused on the face above her, seeing blue eyes at first, then the unfamiliar visage of golden hair.
The Amazon tensed, her breathing growing rapid again, “Who? What? Where did Callan go?” Confusion kept her from going for her daggers for the moment, but she struggled weakly against the man that held her.
Adarin went cold when Tay asked her question and started to struggle. But he held on, releasing his grip slightly.
“He’s all right and close by,” he said. “I’m Adarin.” He gazed at her, and then he shifted his hold and lay her upon the ground. “Just Adarin,” he said softly. “How are you feeling?”
The Amazon was silent for a moment, curling her fingers into the dirt as she studied unfamiliar blue eyes. He is your bondmate, Agaru said gently, see… Gold threads tangled within An’Thaya’s souls ignited softly, tracing a path that connected it to the Elen King’s. He won’t hurt you.
I wasn’t overly concerned about him hurting me; Tay shot back at her body’s co-inhabitant. What is this? Pass the redhead?
“I feel like hell, and I don’t much care whether he is alright or not,” she growled, lifting her hand to hesitantly touch the wound that slashed across one eye. “What happened to me?” Anger was rearing its ugly head, frustration and fear at being in an unfamiliar situation with no memory of how she got there. There was, however, no denying the connection she had to this man she didn’t know. And there was another? Good Goddess… what had she become?
Rummaging about in her own soul she found a myriad of things that were unfamiliar, disconcerting. A small golden shard was among them and she brushed at it curiously, gasping in surprise when she was rewarded with a vision of sea-green eyes.
Galain...
Adarin sensed it all and rocked back on his heels, waiting until that magical name shot through both her mind and his.
“Yes, Galain is your husband,” he said. “You’ve been hit. We’re trying to rescue several children from Samara Mirage and you’ve been wounded.” He didn’t mention Galain’s capture and just waited. He averted his eyes and looked elsewhere. Perhaps their bond was too new, but he’d sensed a shock and something akin to revulsion over the multiple bonds. His very old soul could feel a lot of things and so he kept quiet, letting Tay’s anger and confusion meld together for the moment.
“I don’t understand,” her tone was tinged with pain, her concentration shattered by the Blackthorn brawl in progress. “Samara?” Nothing rang a bell… “Where is Galain?” That name at least struck… something. A deep sensation of love and desire… yet there was a twinge of … resentment and a great deal of pain. The combination made even less sense and Tay’s head started to pound unmercifully.
Adarin grit his teeth, determined to block out the fight behind them and he tentatively reached a hand out.
“Samara has him,” he answered. “Might I try to soothe that headache of yours?”
An’Thaya jerked back instinctively, the wariness back in the depths of her eyes. “Who the hell is Samara? What in the name of the Gods are those two doing over there? Why… why do I have a husband AND a bondmate? There are others linked in here too… and what is THAT?” She had begun to poke at the D’Riel Web, a scattering of threads that led to several people in the darkness and beyond, and great many more that seemed to end at an intangible wall. “For that matter… where did she come from?” The other presence in her head was obviously draconic, yet a part of her. It was too much all at once, millennia of changes. Memories lingered like whips of mist, clinging here and there to her mind, reminders of joy and pain that lacked proper meaning.
“Gods dammit, I’m Tay Terne, daughter of Tager Terne… not … whomever it is Callan said I was….”
Adarin pulled back away from the Amazon as soon she declared her name and identity—or at least what she thought was her name and identity.
“Well,” he said slowly. “You are Tay. Which questions do you want answered first? It seems rather obvious about those two though,” he said, jerking his head back toward Callan and Yarwin. He was half-tempted to tell her she had a husband, wife and two bondmates but he could tell An’Thaya was already dealing with a little more than her short-circuited mind could handle at the moment.
An’Thaya shifted slightly, grimacing when her head pounded all the harder, her blurry vision picking up bursts of movement as Callan and Yarwin tried to tear one another apart. Let Adarin heal you, Agaru insisted, You will be able to think clearer without the pain. The Amazon growled softly at the Crimson, but her gaze shifted to the Elen King. She was being stupid and was well aware of it. No warrior in their right mind would refuse healing in a dangerous situation. Then again, she wasn’t in her right mind, now was she? There was evidence in her soul that she was tied to this man. Was it enough to trust him?
“Never mind the questions,” she sighed, “Adarin… Adarin Alcarin… all right, you said you could heal this? Please… it might be best if you did.” The faster she was healed and could make proper sense of things… the better.
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