The Delta's Daughter Chapter 218

MORGAN

I pursed my swollen lips watching Hunji hurriedly leave the room. He had been staring off into space. At first, I thought he was looking at me and that I was the cause of his arousal, but it seemed his mind was somewhere else and instead of looking at me – he was looking through me.

“Is he always this grumpy?” I asked Tristan who chuckled.

“He has always been serious. We met nine years ago; he stayed in Andora for about a year until he left. Haven’t seen him since… well until yesterday. I can say, however, that the man I met those many years ago was a good man. Smart too. You mentioned Mint earlier, he once mentioned he was from the mountains of Mint, or at least that is where he had come from. Hard to say really. He never was forthcoming about himself, but I did manage to pick up little pieces and here and there.”

Interesting. I thought.

“What about you Tristan? Are you from here?” The day had been long, and my body was exhausted and even so, my mind was too excited to even fathom sleep. So much had happened in one day and I was eager to learn more about these two men who had pulled me from prison.

“I am. My family came here many centuries ago and made Andora their home. The ScarClaw Leap, Clowder, Clan – whatever you want to call us – are a long bloodline of record keepers. Historians if you may.

“Really?” I perked up with this information.

“Yep, we have been recording the history of Andora since it was founded. We even have ancient scrolls that relate to Apsu and Tiamat.” He said proudly with his back straightening.

I could he was very proud of his family and their heritage. I wondered… “Do you have any records on the history of the witches of Andora?” I asked hopefully. “Particularly the Morrigan?” My mother had not told me much about our history, but she once mentioned that we were tied to the Morrigan line. Anything I could learn was welcomed.

Tristan furrowed his brows in thought “I’m not sure but I can certainly take a look.” He offered.

“That would be great, thank you so much.” I stood ready to say goodnight and retreat to the room he had given me when he stopped me.

“Morgan…” He said taking my hand in his gently “I am glad I got to meet you. Tomorrow, you start the next leg of your journey. If there is one thing, I do know about Hunji, it’s that he is a man of honor. You can trust him. I do.” He slipped a jar into my hand, and I looked down at it puzzled. “For your...” He waved his hand over his face “face… It will help the bruising and speed up the recovery by days.”

I nodded my head at him in agreeance “Thank you and I will keep what you said in mind.”

*****

Once I had retired to my room, sleep evaded me. I spent most of the night balled up and cowered in a corner of the bed. The echoes of the dead whisper in my ear. Murmured thoughts of souls long since passed. I felt exposed in a strange room. Strange, how for so long I had wished for freedom, wished to see the outside world – for an adventure like the ones I had read about.

So now that I am free and in one day my life has taken a drastic turn, thrown me into a whirlwind of an adventure – It scared the shit out of me.

Ever since I had the vision yesterday, I knew I had to go to Mint. My visions were seldom wrong – even if I didn’t understand them all the time. It felt like a calling and Kian – Hunji was part of it. I would need to figure out a way to convince him to take me there, delaying our trip to the first continent. I truly wanted to see my brother. The last of my family. Finnegan had done everything to keep me safe. Even put himself in harm’s way on the nights Orion would lapse into a fit of rage. Orion’s rage had always been there but after killing my mother his temper was even shorter. Sometimes I felt bad for his mistress, Shayna, who occasionally would visit me. I didn’t care for her too much, but she was never mean. In fact, I’m pretty sure it was her who had ultimately convinced my father to move me from the dirty dark dungeon.

If it weren’t for Shayna and Finn reminding my father that I would lose my connection to the dead, He would have had me married off. One night he even tried to command my own brother to mate with me! Thank the gods Finn was able to resist his command. After that night, I didn’t see Finn very much. When I did, there was always a vacant sad look in his eyes. Long gone was the strong Alpha brother I knew.

I desperately wanted to be reunited with him, I truly do. I sigh out loud because as much as I want nothing more than to be with Finn, I know I have a duty to follow through on my visions. What kind of a witch who was given special gifts would I be if I turned away from my own truth and fate? I know my mother would be disappointed in me to waste a gift from the gods.

I heard the voices of several people talking as I descended the stairs. Then, one voice, in particular, stood out from the rest. Leaping down the few remaining steps I skidded to a halt at the doorway to the kitchen. “Gregorio!” I shouted with glee.

His body swiveled around to face me; his gigantic smile lit up his face “petite sorcière!!” He called out my nickname, meaning little witch in his native tongue.

He held his arms wide open; jumping into them I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my head against him. His familiarity was comforting, and I began to cry. Yet again.

“Shh, shush now, little one. It’s okay.” He whispered against my head, one arm holding me tight and the other stroking my hair. “You are safe now.”

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but she is not quite safe yet,” Tristan said from the other side of the room.

I lifted my head away from Gregorio and cast my eyes around the room. Unraveling my arms and standing on my own two feet I cast a glance at Hunji. His face gave away nothing as leaned against the wooden countertop, arms folded.

I ignored Tristan’s remark and focused back on Gregorio. “I’m so sorry – Margarita – she…”

“I know, and my beast mourns his companion. As long as you are safe; her soul will be happy, and she will be received by the gods. That is all she wanted for you little one.” He took my hands in his and peered down at me, his deep hazel eyes holding a mixture of sorrow and relief. “She never told you, but she was a childhood friend of your mother’s. The best of friends. When I told her about you, we posed as husband and wife so she could watch over you. She insisted.”

A strangled sob left my throat at the thought of all that had been hidden from me, just so Margarita could watch over me in my mother’s absence. I knew she loved me. I just didn’t realize how much until this moment. A lump forged in my throat, and I swallowed it down painfully. How many more people I love would die for me?

“Hey, hey, don’t think like that.” Gregorio lifted my chin so I could look at him. “There is a whole world out there for you. Margarita did not die in vain and do not ever think any of this is your fault.”

“Okay.” I gave a slight nod. Trying to find the confidence I knew I should have. But it was so hard. I never thought of myself as a weak person, in this moment though I felt that’s all I was.

“We are wasting time if you want to go to Mint.” My head snapped up to Hunji, his words surprised me.

“What? We are – you’re going to take me to Mint?” I asked shocked and confused.

Hunji grunted unfolding his arms and taking a seat at the small kitchen table. Tristan and his maid brought over dishes filled with meats fruits and eggs, setting them on the table.

“We eat, then we leave. We have a train to catch.” I looked at Hunji, eyes wide and mouth slack. “Hurry up, we don’t have all day. The train leaves in 2 hours.”

Hunji’s less-than-cheerful mood rolled off me. I was too excited about going on a train. I had always dreamt of going across the country by train. Or a boat, or even a car!

We talked while we ate. Mostly Gregorio and Tristan talked. Hunji sat quietly eating. Stealing glances around the table every so often or only speaking when spoken to. Tristan had sent out an errand boy last night to find Gregorio and had also picked up a couple of train tickets for Hunji and me. I was disappointed that Gregorio would not be accompanying us, but Hunji said we could move faster just the two of us. We still had to get me out of the city undetected by King Panja’s soldiers.

After eating we had about thirty minutes to spare before the carriage would take us to the station where we would board the train and then spend five days riding it to the outskirts of Mint. From there we would have to find transportation through the mountains.

Wow! Was all I could think. Twenty-three years old and I was finally going to get to experience some of my dreams. I never thought it would happen. I truly thought I would spend the entirety of my life stuck in a stuffy room. I closed my eyes, centering myself and letting reality set in. I could either wallow in self-pity and sadness or I could take the bull by the horns and go forth with a positive outlook. I chose the latter and opened my eyes with new determination.

Apsu had sent me Hunji, and Tiamat had given me freedom. My visions were guidance from the gods, and I would follow where they led me. Wherever that might be.

“Come Morgan, I have something to show you,” Tristan said. I followed him to the library where he led me over to one of the tables. “You asked about the Morrigan line, this book was all I had, not much but something.” He tapped his hand on a red leather-bound book that looked old. Next to it was a rolled scroll. “This,” He said picking up the scroll “Is the oldest record I have of the first settlers in Andora, predating my kin.”

I picked up the scroll unrolled it and let my eyes scan it for several minutes, the text was ancient and hard to read, not all of it was in Angorian. I absorbed the information on it, committing it to memory. “Thank you,” I said handing it back to him, then opening the book, “May I?” I gestured to the chair.

“Of course,” he replied stepping back so I could sit.

I turned to the first page, my eyes flitting over the text as I half read, half scanned. I flipped the pages one by one until I had gone through the whole book. And closed it with a sigh.

“Did you not want to read anything?” Tristan asked me puzzled.

I smiled at him, feeling my lip crack a little as I did “I did.” I saw the confusion on his face and giggled “I have a photographic memory. I can recall information at any time just by looking at it. Kind of like pulling out a photograph to look at whenever you want to. I retain facts and conversations and recall them easily.”

His mouth formed an ‘O’ as he processed the information.

“But it’s nothing like holding a book in your hand and getting lost in an adventure or romance novel.” I joked.

“Oh, I have a few books if you want to pick some out and take them with you. For the journey.”

“Really? That would be great!” I clapped my hands together in excitement about what new tales I could delve into.

I ended up picking out three books. One was about a treasure hunt, the second was a collection of romance stories from around the realm based on Alpha’s finding their mates, and the third was based on historical figures and their relationships to their gods.

All too soon it was time for us to leave.

I was disappointed that Gregorio or Tristan was not coming with us, it was easy to converse with Tristan, he made me feel comfortable. And Gregorio… I had known him for half my life. He and Margarita had become the closest people to me. They were family, so saying goodbye to him was heart-wrenching. He promised that we would see each other again but I knew deep down we would not. I had already seen his future, grateful that he would die an old man but sad that he would no longer have his companion. So, I hugged him a little tighter before Kian – Hunji and I stepped into the awaiting carriage.

The ride was silent. I was dying to ask Hunji a million, and one questions but every time I stole a glance at him his eyes were trained on the window. Watching. I opened my mouth but closed it again. He was so unapproachable, and his dominating presence scared me a little. That and I didn’t want to keep pissing him off.

“Shit,” Hunji growled when the carriage came to an abrupt stop.

“What? What’s wrong?” I suddenly became nervous when I saw the perplexed look on his face.

“Soldiers,” he said sticking his head out the window a little to observe. “They set a checkpoint up ahead.”

“What do we do?” I asked concerned and worried. I didn’t want them to get a hold of me and take me.

He picked up our bags, we only had one backpack each and his swords, saying we needed to travel light. “Let’s go. Stay close to me, we can take the back alleys.”

Slipping out of the carriage, he immediately hauled me to a side street and began walking with hurried steps. I had to almost jog to keep up with him. I wanted to yell at him to slow down but I also knew we needed to move fast. I think he forgot that I was human and had been locked away my whole life and that didn’t leave me much room for exercising never mind the fact that I wasn’t used to running.

We were just about to turn a corner when Hunji pushed me back. Pulling me by my arm he switched directions. I could see the complexity of vexation on his face as he quickened his pace, dragging me behind him.

I stumbled as a face flashed before my eyes and the feeling of dread accompanied the visual “Run!” I whispered in fear, knowing he would hear me. He whirled around, brows furrowed as he looked at me. “I think we need to run,” I said gulping down the dreadful feeling that engulfed me.

“Hey, you! Stop!” A loud growling voice boomed out through the back alley.

I watched Hunji freeze and slowly turn around to face the voice that had him stiffen. If I could describe the look on his face, I would say it was the look of a man vexed. The raw wrath and mixture of outrage had him visibly shaking.

I looked between my wolfman and the man who shouted at us, who was approaching us quickly. “Kian?” He growled out, you – you should be dead.” I heard him speak with disbelief even though he was still some distance away. The man’s face was twisted in irritation and did not look at all happy seeing Hunji. And he called him Kian.

The next thing I knew, I was hoisted off my feet and Hunji was running at inhuman speed through the streets. The sounds of the man shouting for us to stop were echoing through the narrow streets, then came a long howl, making my skin prickle with fear.

“What’s happening? I saw that man right before he shouted.” I breathlessly asked as Hunji held me by my waist, jostling me as he ran and whipped the breath out of my lungs. I caught a glimpse of our surroundings and could see the train station ahead of us.

Hunji stopped running and placed me back on my feet. I may not have been the one running but I was sure short of breath. It had knocked the wind right out of me. Of course, he who was running with not only me in one arm, but two bags and a pair of swords didn’t look in the slightest bit affected. Not a bead of sweat nor a hint of labored breathing.