Page 166 of The Ranger
“Are you okay?” Maida asked. “Do you, um, need to feed your heart?”
“I do.” She took another breath. “Vale and I can accompany you as far as the lane that goes into the canyon.”
Maida nodded. Makama explained to her yesterday how Muirarans fed their hearts with different things. For Makama, it was swimming and of course being with Vale. Markhel had yet to tell her what his heart needed, let alone what happens when his heart joined with hers. Then it would feed off two different things. It was confusing and when she brought it up to Markhel later, he was pulled away by Duncan, who was becoming more fascinated with his future brother-in-law by the day.
They’d fed the stock, Maida trailing behind the two men for a time before she decided to experiment and learned that so long as she could keep Markhel in sight, she was fine. Neither wanted to see what would happen if they were separated by any more distance than that.
“You should take Duncan to town with you,” Makama suggested. “Maybe your father too.”
“And me.”
Maida smiled as she turned around. “Sure Grandpa.”
“I’ll tell Major while you grab Duncan. Is this the first time your…” he sighed. “Beau is treating you to something special from the mercantile?”
She blushed all over again. “Yes.”
Grandpa smiled. “Then I’ll do what I can to make it special too.”
Maida saw the sincerity in his eyes. “Really, Grandpa?”
“Really.” He hugged her, then went to find her father.
“See?” Makama said. “They’re warming up to Markhel.”
“Finally.” Maida gave her a parting smile then went to find Duncan, then Markhel, and tell them they should get going.
When she did find them, she and Markhel volunteered to hitch up the wagon while the others continued working on the barn.
They caught the horses, then took them to the wagon. Maida couldn’t take her eyes off her future husband as he worked. That is, until her curiosity kicked in. “What does your heart feed on?”
He popped up from the other side of the horse, a surprised look on his face.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” she asked.
He looked around, as if to make sure they were alone. Had he been dreading the question? “Maida.” He came around the horse and joined her. “I have been wanting to tell you.”
“I know, it’s why I’m asking now.” She smiled.
Markhel swallowed. “My heart… feeds on… expending power.”
Her eyes narrowed in confusion. “What does that mean?”
He drew in a breath, then let it out. “I must fight.”
Her eyebrows shot to the sky. “Fight?”
He drew closer. “I must fight others. I… must exact justice for the king.”
Her face screwed up in confusion. “But… fighting…”
He stood to his full height. “My heart, little one, feeds on battle. Be that with one person or many. My power must go somewhere.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “Or it will feed on me.”
Her jaw dropped. “What?!”
He gave her a sage nod. “There is another of my kind, a Time Master, who’s heart has similar needs. His name is Simon Kells. He is a warlord whose heart feeds off strategizing in battle. Mine, feeds off the battle itself.”
She gaped at him. “But that’s… barbaric.”