Page 40 of A Warrior's Heart

Shar chuckled and faced ahead.

The early morning air was warm and heating even more as the sun rose higher in the sky. Sweat gathered at the back of my neck and my leather armor radiated heat. We’d been walking for close to two hours, but the rocky incline of the mountain had slowed our progress as we’d had to tread carefully.

And then we came to a cave.

I held up a hand to stop the advance of the men behind me. A waterfall rushed off the side of the mountain to the left, and in the grass outside the cave entrance there was what looked to be an herb garden, flowers, and animal tracks that led to a small enclosure with goats and chickens.

Troy stepped toward the animals, and I grabbed his arm to stop him, shaking my head when our eyes met.

“I understand your caution,” a male voice said from the cave. A young man with hair so pale it almost looked white stepped out into the sun. He wore a white chiton that was draped over one shoulder and fell to his bare feet, no shirt beneath it. “Though, there is no need. No harm will come from me, I assure you.”

“Are you the seer called Phantos?” I asked, keeping a hand on the hilt of my blade.

“I am.” Phantos bowed his head in greeting. His pale blond hair fell past his ears and hung in his face. “Welcome to my home. I’ve been expecting you.”

Not letting my guard down so easily, I instructed the others to stay in place while I stepped forward. “I am called Malik. We’ve come to seek your guidance.”

“All in good time,” Phantos said, motioning to the cave. “Come inside. Take a reprieve from the sun’s harsh rays and fill your bellies.”

My gut instinct had very rarely steered me wrong. And right then, I felt like we could trust Phantos. Why else would the king send us to him?

I nodded before following him inside the cave. Steps sounded behind me as the men in my party followed.

The instant shift from hot, muggy air to the coolness of the cave had me expelling a satisfied breath. It wasn’t nearly as dark inside as it had looked on the outside. Sconces were lit on the walls, and the décor, though simplistic, made it feel like a true home rather than a dank cave where dark magic was performed.

“Please,” Phantos said, motioning to the cushions on the floor. “Make yourselves comfortable while I prepare you something to eat.”

That close to him, I finally saw his eyes through the wisps of his pale bangs. They were light blue, almost gray.

“You were expecting us?” I asked.

Phantos turned his face toward me. He seemed even younger than I had previously thought. There were no hard lines on his brow and his skin looked like fine porcelain. “Yes.” His mouth pressed into a grim line. “I saw much more than your arrival, Malik, warrior of Avalontis. But first, you and your men must rest. Answers will come to light when it’s time.”

He walked through an open archway. I looked inside to see pans hanging from a wooden beam overhead, along with dried herbs, clay vases, and a large cooking pot. Vegetables were on a wooden platter in various stages of being chopped, as if we’d arrived amid him cooking.

I spotted a knife on the table and put a hand to my dagger on impulse.

Phantos stopped walking and turned his head to the side, his profile to me. “Relax, warrior. You are safe here. You have my word.”

“Forgive me,” I said, lowering my hand. When I returned to the others, I noticed one missing amongst them. “Where’s Shar?”

“Outside,” Ervin answered. “We thought it best for one of us to guard the entrance. You never know what trickery a seer can possess.”

“Phantos is unlike any seer I’ve ever met,” Alek said, standing behind Lorcan. The prince sat in front of him on one of the cushions. “During my travels on the Crimson Night, Kellan visited many seers and all of them had decayed flesh, black eyes, and scratchy voices.”

“Remember what Fletcher said?” Troy cuddled against Lorcan’s side. The trek up the mountain had worn him out. “Seers who dwell in mountains do so to be closer to the gods. Perhaps that’s the difference. One is of darkness and the other of light.”

“Regardless, we must not let our guard down,” Ervin said, keeping his eyes on the archway leading to where Phantos cooked. “In times of war, any man can become an enemy.”

Ervin had said very little to me ever since the day on the ship when he challenged my command. However, in the instances when our gazes had met, he nodded in a sign of respect. Perhaps his pride prevented him from issuing an apology, or maybe he was only being civil out of respect for the prince.

A short while later, Phantos came through the archway carrying a pot of steaming food. He placed it on the table near the cushions and walked over to a shelf against the wall and grabbed wooden bowls.

“I hope meat and vegetable stew is to your liking,” he said, filling one bowl before handing it to Lorcan.

“We’re honored to share this meal with you,” Lorcan said.

I tensed as the prince brought the food to his lips.