Blood & Ink (Ink Born Book 2) Read online

  Keirn’s spirit fox had jumped into Keirn’s shoulder bag. If you looked closely, you could make out a white ear and pair of amber eyes watching everything that went by. Keirn walked in a quick military fashion, entirely at odds with his usual elegant gait. We wove our way through the morning commuters heading towards the closest airdock. Keirn’s ears were pinned to his head, his hands thrust down into his pockets. I struggled to keep pace with him. The crowd parting before his intense glare made life a little easier. I’d never seen him so uptight or aggressive before. We’d been in fights, side-by-side against a group of fellow drunks, but he had been grinning and enjoying every second.

  The airdock was only a couple of blocks away from us. I was surprised to see that Keirn led us past the small bustling crowd at the base of the rose-coloured building of the commercial line. He walked down a narrow alley where the wild magic lazily clung to the edges of the red rooves, sunning itself in the increasingly golden light. The alley opened out into a tidy courtyard where a group of knowledge merchants were laughing and drinking cups of steaming coffee. The knowledge merchants allowed some people to travel with them, but the cost was ten times that of the commercial flights.

  “Fein was kind enough to book the trip,” Keirn said stiffly.

  The merchants turned to face us with welcoming grins. Unlike the commercial line, they didn’t wear matching uniforms, they wore practical clothing that suited their tastes. The only unifying aspect was the icy blue and white feather pinned to their lapel. I felt myself tense as we approached them. As their name suggests, the knowledge merchants deal in the knowledge. That was a concept I wasn’t particularly comfortable with. They would use anything they heard or saw to their advantage and, if possible, make a tidy profit. The merchants were a branch of the air elementals. As with the other elementals, air had been split into two halves. The pure elementals, who were often light fluffy people, and the merchants, who were far sharper and potentially more dangerous.

  A man who looked to be a little older than Keirn and I strode up to us and thrust his hand out to Keirn.

  “You must be Keirn, we’re glad to have you. I’m Ryan. I’ll be watching over you in this journey.” He pointed to a short red-headed man in his fifties. “That’s the captain, and the rest of them won’t be bothering you,” he said, the grin never leaving his face.

  Ryan turned his attention to me. I shook his hand with a firmer-than-necessary grip. It was a little petty, but they put me on edge. If one of them found out I was an ink magician, I was screwed.

  “You must be Dacian, a tattoo magician?” Ryan asked.

  I smiled tightly.

  “I think Keirn would like to get this journey over with,” I said.

  The other merchants were watching us closely. Ryan tensed a little, his grin twisted, but he caught himself.

  “Of course. We’ll get you settled in and be on our way.”

  I placed my bag on the cobblestones and prepared for the ascension to the ship. I hated this part. Ryan was joined by a blonde woman with steely grey eyes and thin lips that didn’t quite cover the points of her canines. I guessed that she was the product of a Sidhe-shifter pairing. The fae did like screwing around, and that sometimes led to some interesting people. Ryan and the woman held their hands out at hip height, palms up, and smiled. Their eyes positively danced as the air cushions formed under our feet and the bags and we began to rise up to the platform jutting out from the slender building next to us. I resisted the urge to ball my hands and relaxed as hard as I could. I despised the feeling of floating. I’d much rather keep my feet firmly on the ground.

  Keirn brushed his fingertips over the palm of my hand, startling me. My tension ebbed away at his touch. I was doing this for him.

  Thirteen

  The knowledge merchants were charming, as they’re prone to being. They loosen people’s tongues with little to no effort. We were escorted to a small and comfortable room at the end of the cabin area. The large windows gave a stunning view over the city, and I had no doubt the views would only improve once we took off.

  “You’re going to visit your clan, aren’t you, Keirn?” Ryan enquired.

  I smiled tightly and sat close to Keirn.

  “Yes, he is,” I said.

  Ryan sat opposite us. He crossed one leg over the other and stretched his arms along the back of the seat. He was making it very clear that he wasn’t intimidated. We were in his domain. I put my arm around Keirn’s shoulders without thinking. The knowledge merchant wasn’t a threat, not really, but I would protect my friend. Keirn leaned into me, his eyes never leaving the window.

  “Tell me, Dacian, what’s it like being a tattoo magician?”

  I shrugged and tried to relax as the airship began to take off. I hated the feeling of rising. I could pretend I was in a train or something equally earth-bound once we were in the air, but the taking off wasn’t that simple. The motion was smooth, just enough force to press me gently back into my seat and nothing more.

  “It’s much like any other form of magician, I’m sure,” I said once the ship had levelled out.

  “Not a fan of flying?” Ryan asked, the hint of mocking clearly within his words.

  “It’s not as natural to me as it is to an air elemental,” I said.

  “Shame, you struck me as the type to enjoy freedom,” he pushed.

  The city passed beneath us, a collection of red rooves and spires. Wild magic flitted below us, a cursory display of blues and golds before it returned to a sunny spot on the rooves. It was going to be much colder in Norway, where Keirn’s clan lived. I pulled Keirn a little closer to me without meaning to. The thought of that cold made the motion reflexive. The knowledge merchant was watching every small movement and no doubt making mental notes. Let him watch. We weren’t doing anything wrong, and it was well known we were good friends.

  Keirn didn’t say a word as we watched the landscape below us. The countryside was coated in snow, a thick blanket of white with patches of black trees scattered throughout. Ryan continued to pay more attention to us than the view out of the window, and I ignored him. He was there to try and gain information, a nice tip on top of their no doubt extortionate fee, and to make sure we didn’t go looking for information of our own.

  “What did you do to be put on babysitting duty?” I asked him with a smile.

  I’d grown tired of his watching. It had been making my skin crawl for what felt like an eternity.

  “I chose this role. It’s easy, and it’s been a while since I met a snow elf,” he said with his own smile.

  An older man with short-cropped hair brought in a large pot of coffee complete with three cups. He glanced at Ryan, whose mouth tightened and hands curled slightly. Neither said anything. It seemed they had been hoping to gain more information than we’d given. I wondered if they had something specific they were after.

  The older man left without a word. Ryan lifted his right hand a little and used his air magic to lift the pot and pour the coffee. Now he was just showing off. I’d heard that the more refined movements were difficult to master. He floated the cups over to Keirn and me, with the third going to him. I inclined my chin in thanks.

  “There are rumours of an ink magician in the city,” Ryan said idly.

  And there it was. The information they’d been looking for. Keirn tensed against me, but kept his gaze out the window.

  I drank my coffee, which was rich and dark, and carefully put it down before I said, “I’m sure there are rumours about the gods walking the streets and how the wild magic will lead you to gold if you ask it nicely, too.”

  Ryan smirked. “Do you not think ink magicians exist, Dacian?”

  I pricked at the emphasis he placed on my name, trying to focus me.

  I gave a shrug. “No one’s ever met one.”

  “Are you sure?”

  I laughed at him, a hearty laugh that openly mocked his question.

  “I have no interest in chasing myths,” I said.

  “You must be quite special, to be Fein’s personal tattoo artist,” he said.

  The bastard didn’t know when to quit.

  I gave him another shrug. “I haven’t tattooed Fein, so I wouldn’t say I’m his personal artist.”

  He rolled his jaw and took another drink of his coffee. I turned slightly away from him and finished my own coffee. The little shit was determined, I had to give him that. I wondered if we could take the train or some other transport method home.

  Fortunately, the journey wasn’t too long, no more than a couple of hours rather than the half day the commercial route would have taken us. Keirn’s clan travelled throughout northern Norway, but had settled at the northernmost tip for the time being. Ryan had made a comment about how we must have been special to have Fein pay for us to go to the middle of nowhere. I ignored him. Keirn’s ears had pinned to his head, but he said nothing.

  We stepped out into the snow without further comments from the air elementals. They lifted off the moment we had stepped away from the ship. They must have had better-paying business elsewhere.

  “Home sweet home,” I said to Keirn.

  He growled, more to himself than anything, and shouldered his bag.

  “The clan is close,” he said.

  With that, he led me towards the rocky rise before us. He walked with a stiff-legged determination. Gone was the graceful elf I’d spent so much time with. I hoped it wasn’t a permanent transition. I knew that family meant a lot to Keirn. I realised that I couldn’t face losing him. I fought to catch up with him and nudged him with my shoulder.

  “I’m here for you. Every step of the way,” I said.

  “Thank you, Dacian, that means more than I can express,” he said quietly.

  The clan became visible
as we crested the rise. My throat went tight as I looked around the collection of tents. I had no idea what I’d gotten myself into.

  Fourteen

  The clan blended into the landscape beautifully. The tents were made of white and cream fabrics. I struggled to pick out the edges of some of them. The elves themselves all had the same pale skin and white-haired complexion that Keirn did. They all wore snow colours. I stood out in my black clothing, not that Keirn did much better in his pale greys.

  “So, er... can I get a crash course in etiquette?” I asked Keirn.

  He laughed.

  “Don’t make eye contact unless you intend on starting a fight or screwing someone. My clan is very tactile, but do not touch someone unless they touch you first. Try not to hit on anyone,” he said.

  “Hey! I’m not that much of a flirt.”

  He raised an eyebrow at me and said nothing.

  A tall older male elf approached us. He looked to be in his mid to late thirties; he could easily have been over two hundred. His long white hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail that fell down his back. I kept my eyes down and waited for Keirn to handle the situation.

  “Keirn. I trust the journey was smooth?” the older elf asked.

  “Yes, Father, thank you. I’d like to see Killian.”

  Keirn’s father gave a short nod, turned on his heel, and strode across the snow towards a large tent with a silver ribbon at its peak.

  “You’re here just in time. His connection to the life network is slipping. We do not believe he will be connected for more than two days,” Keirn’s father said.

  The older elf stood to one side of the entrance to the large tent and made a sweeping gesture with his arm. I had no idea what I was supposed to do. Keirn took my hand and led me into the tent. The inside of the tent was large and spacious. Walls split the space into three main sections that I could discern.

  “You and your... friend, will be sleeping here,” Keirn’s father gestured at the doorway on our left.

  Keirn nodded and proceeded into the heart of the tent, his fingers gripping mine tight. Keirn’s grip tightened further when he saw the frail young man on the bed in the middle of the main space. Pale blue fire flickered in strategic points around the open space. The young man was dressed in pure white with silver ribbons woven into his long hair. He struggled to push himself into a sitting position when he saw Keirn. Keirn’s fox, which I had completely forgotten was with us, wriggled out of Keirn’s bag and jumped onto the young elf’s bed. He planted his front paws on the elf’s shoulders and licked his face thoroughly, causing the elf to laugh and dig his fingers into the fox’s thick fur.

  “I missed you, too,” the elf said with a laugh.

  Keirn pulled me over to the man.

  “Oh, Killian,” he gasped.

  The younger elf put on a brave smile and threw his arms around Keirn. The fox managed to free itself before it got squashed and curled up in the younger elf’s lap.

  “It’s so good to see you, brother,” Killian said in wheezing tones.

  Keirn let go of my hand and stroked his brother’s face and hair.

  I looked down and wondered if perhaps I should try and slip away. It seemed like such a personal moment.

  “You must be Dacian,” Killian said to me.

  His smile lit up his face. There was so much life in that smile. He held his hand out to me. I glanced at Keirn. Was I ok to take his hand?

  Keirn placed my hand in Killian’s and wrapped his own around ours. Killian’s grip was weak. I was as gentle as I could be without trying to cause offence.

  “I’m so glad Keirn has you to look after him,” Killian said.

  I smiled. “It’s more Keirn looking after me.”

  “Keirn, we’ll begin the preparations at sundown,” a crisp feminine voice said.

  I turned to see a short, lithe older woman with pitch black hair and golden-green eyes. She wore pale silvers, marking her in further contrast to the elves.

  “Faren,” Keirn said sharply.

  She looked pointedly between Keirn and me.

  “Dacian, this is our clan Cait Sidhe. Faren, this is Dacian,” Keirn said in clipped tones.

  Faren looked me up and down and gave a derisive snort.

  “I’ll see you in an hour, Keirn,” she said before she left.

  Keirn wrapped his arms around his brother and held him tight.

  “I’m not ready,” Keirn whispered.

  “I am, brother. I’m ready for the next step, and I’ll have you to help me,” Killian said. The smile never left his face.

  I admired the strength of the young elf. He wiped away Keirn’s tears with his thumb.

  “We will always be brothers,” Killian said softly.

  Keirn closed his eyes and took a steadying breath. I placed my hand on his back and hoped I wasn’t intruding. I wanted to remind him he wasn’t doing this alone.

  “I need to prepare,” Keirn said softly.

  “What do you need me to do?” I asked.

  “Stay with me. You’re my strength through this, Dacian. Please.”

  I pulled Keirn to me and kissed his forehead. “Whatever you need.”

  Killian squeezed my hand and mouthed, ‘thank you.’ He settled back down into the bed and rubbed behind the fox’s ears with a smile on his face that the fox matched.

  Keirn took my hand once more and led me to the room that had been designated as ours. It was sparse, but perfectly comfortable. I was beginning to feel too warm in all of my layers. The blue fires were placed around the edge of the room. I noted the magic woven into the fabrics of the tent itself and the pale-coloured blankets that covered the bed.

  Keirn began pulling white clothes out of his bag with his back to me.

  “Touch is very important to elves, even more so in my clan. We reinforce the bonds between each other, within the clan, through touch. Every touch adds a spark to our joint life network. When a new bond is formed, a new node is formed on the network. Together we’re stronger,” he swallowed down his tears and began undressing, his back still to me. “I felt as though I had lost you when you were with Isa. I couldn’t touch you anymore,” he said in barely more than a whisper.

  I ran my hand up his back and pulled him to my chest.

  “You’ll never lose me, old friend.” I kissed his temple. “Never,” I said.

  He slowly caressed my jawline with his thumb.

  “I felt so selfish to be a little glad Isa broke up with you. I finally had you back,” he said, tears glinting in the corners of his eyes.

  I wrapped my hand around his. “You won’t lose me, old friend. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

  He gave me a faint smile. “Thank you.”

  Fifteen

  Keirn’s ceremonial garb was very simple and, unsurprisingly, very white. I helped him tie his hair back and bind three white feathers into the knot. He took every opportunity to touch me, and I reciprocated as best as I could. I wanted nothing more than to ease away the stress that tightened his muscles and creased his face.

  I held his face in my hands and said, “I have no idea what you’re about to do, but I know Killian loves you. We have complete faith in you.”

  Keirn smiled. It almost reached his eyes.

  “Thank you, Dacian.”

  He rolled his jaw and sighed softly.

  “My role as spirit walker means that I balance the network.” He refused to look at me, instead turning to stare into the pale blue flames. “It is a great honour. Spirit walkers are rare, but in a clan of this size, it’s not a necessity. There are enough nodes and older members that the network is maintained without my help. I... I will cleanse the fragments that remain of Killian’s node and gently remove all threads that bind him to the rest of the clan. He will remain bound to me, as the spirit walker, until he is ready to pass. At that time, Faren will guide him to the other side,” Keirn said quietly.