Chapter 4: The Brown Boots - How the Stars Fall

The woman ushered her into a change room, handing her some undergarments, with the promise of returning with a gown. Nova looked the lacy white items over and struggled for a moment to work out where to wear them. It was a struggle trying to work out where her legs went and where her arms went. At one point, Nova was certain she’d put the bottom half of the undergarments on her head. After a few minutes of fussing, she managed to get them on—in the right places.

“May I come in?” the woman called lightly.

“Oh yes, please do.”

The woman slipped into the small curtained room and hung a simple gown from a hook on the wall. It was light teal and made from a plain fabric that was soft to the touch. Taking it from the hanger, the woman scrunched it in her hands and placed it over Nova’s head. After Nova put her arm in the sleeves, the woman turned her around to button up the back of the dress. It gathered around her slender waist and hugged her upper body. Long sleeves encased her arms and instantly made her feel warmer.

Nova smiled at her reflection in the mirror as she smoothed down the skirt of her gown. This was a much better fit than that silly piece of cloth Dante or Finnian had dressed her in, although she was grateful they’d at least put something on her.

“There, all done. Are the undergarments to your liking as well?”

Nova nodded. “Yes, thank you.”

Despite his gruff exterior, Ryker had been rather gentle with her, so why was she afraid to go back out to him? He’d warned her not to do anything she might regret, but finally being alone made her question even for a moment if she might try to escape somehow.

The woman opened the changing room curtain and stepped out of the way. Nova allowed the idea of trying to escape to play in her mind for only a moment. If she told the woman the predicament she was in, could she even trust the woman would help her? If she did, maybe she could find refuge somewhere in the village.

However, she was a star. A foreign being in a foreign place. There was no proof she could trust anyone at this point.

Maybe being with Ryker was safer than travelling on her own. He was certainly less offensive than the twins.

She offered the woman a smile and made her way to the front of the store.

Nova cleared her throat and Ryker looked up, his russet eyes dragging themselves over her figure. He was close enough for Nova to see the flecks of dark brown and gold in his irises. Yet they held no light.

“Is this alright?”

Ryker rose from the settee and ran a hand through his inky waves before turning to face the woman who now stood behind the counter. “She will also need some boots. Let me know what I owe.”

Warmth rose in her chest. He’d looked at her like the dress pleased him, but he’d ignored her question. Clearly, he was not even remotely interested in what she wore. What did she care, anyway?

He moved to the counter to pay the woman, while Nova took a moment to glance around at all the pretty items in the store. It looked like it was fun to be a human woman. There were so many pretty dresses and colours to choose from. Fabrics in shades of the oceans, forests, barren lands and flower meadows she’d witnessed from the heavens.

Two young girls entered the store. Nova watched as the girls laughed together, holding up gowns and twirling them around, their smiles wide and carefree. The colours seemed to dance around them, a whirlwind of silks and lace, like petals caught in the wind.

Returning to her side, Ryker held a pair of shoes in his hands. “Sit here and put these on.”

Nova glared at him for a moment before she sat down on the settee. Ryker folded his arms across his chest and watched her intently, which made her feel . . . Well, she didn’t know what it made her feel. Being human was hard. The best she could describe it was—a wave of heat washing over her, while her heart raced. Whatever that emotion was, she was feeling it.

With one boot in hand, Nova tried to place it on her foot. Her heel caught on the back of the opening, making it hard for her to push her foot into the boot. It was no use. She didn’t know how to put shoes on, especially ones with strings attached.

Ryker must have sensed that she did not know what she was doing, because he sighed and crouched down. After slipping on one boot, he then attempted the second one.

“Ouch,” Nova winced with discomfort.

“What is it?”

With a scowl on her face, Nova pointed to her ankle. “This foot here hurts.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Ryker asked.

Nova shrugged. “Why? Is it important?”

Ryker smirked. “I guess not if you aren’t complaining.”

Nova rolled her eyes. Just because she didn’t complain didn’t mean it wasn’t painful. She returned her gaze to Ryker’s hands. They fiddled with the laces, brushing ever so lightly against the tender skin on her ankles. His touch was soft as feathers, yet the heat of it seared against her skin like a burning weight. He finished and stood, so she followed.

She waved as Ryker bid the lady goodbye, and the pair left the store. He moved with such silence and fluency, unlike the Twins who seemed to fumble over themselves and make a lot of noise. Regardless of the circumstances, she’d rather be with him right now than those other two brutes.

With his back to her, Nova couldn’t help but notice just how well the clothing he wore fit his bulking frame. Arms the size of small tree trunks, broad shoulders that boasted well toned muscle covered by a layer of skin the colour of deep golden sunsets and hands large enough to engulf hers. He towered over her, but she didn’t feel intimidated by him. More than anything, Nova was intrigued.

It had only been a few days since she’d arrived in Emberfell, but already there were so many differences that she’d seen. The climate was one of those differences. She didn’t need to bother about temperature before, but here, as soon as the sun began its descent, the absence of its warmth on her body was certainly felt.

Nova’s eyes grew wide at all the stalls, offering fruits and vegetables, wishing she could stop and view them all closer. There were too many to choose from.

They passed by a stall full to the brim of wooden buckets filled with an array of freshly cut flowers. Nova tried not to let her mouth hang open as her eyes dragged over every blossom. She couldn’t name many of them, but one in particular drew her in. It was huge compared to the other blooms. Bright yellow petals, a thick green stalk, and in the centre was a colossal amount of black seeds. It reminded Nova of the eldest sister in the heavens—the sun.

She ran a finger along the yellow petals, a grin forming on her face. She wanted to scoop the entire bucket full into her arms and take them wherever she went—a reminder of what this part of the world could offer.

Ryker glanced over his shoulder, motioning her to move along, so Nova bid the flower stall farewell and kept walking down the bustling streets.

She passed the spice stall next. It was a riot of colours and aromas, with burlap sacks overflowing with vibrant powders and dried herbs. Among them, an unfamiliar object stood out—a jar of long, dark pods exuding a deep, rich fragrance that mingled with the sharper spices around it.

Nova stopped and bent forward to inhale it. The scent was soothing, like a soft breeze on a warm day, cutting through the sharper notes of the other displayed spices.

It was so familiar, as if she’d smelled it before.

Her gaze flicked to her captor’s back as he stopped a few feet ahead. Ryker turned to face her. “We need a few supplies . . .”

“What is this?” Nova asked, pointing to the jar.

“That’s vanilla.”

“Do you put it on your body?”

Ryker shrugged. “I suppose it can be used for both its taste and its aroma.”

Nova nodded and took the opportunity to reach for a peach as Ryker spoke with the stallholder. Its pale orange skin was fuzzy in her hand as she lifted it to her nose. She took a deep breath in. The most delicious scent filled her senses, and her stomach growled in response. Another delightful aroma.

“Are you going to pay for that?” a voice touched her ears.

As she looked up, she encountered the face of a young boy.

“I’m sorry . . . I.”

“Here.” Ryker’s smooth voice answered as he handed the boy a small silver coin.

Nova’s brow furrowed as they paid for the item and moved away from the cart. Ryker took her hand and pulled her aside, his voice low and brusque. “We can’t touch food if we don’t plan on buying it.”

The feel of his warm hand on hers again sent shivers up her spine and made her body feel instantly tingly. Warmth spread to her cheeks as she locked eyes with the handsome, brown-eyed man before her.

“I was only going to smell it.” Nova threw at him.

Ryker released her hand and gripped her upper arm once again, guiding her through the crowds.“Just don’t touch anything.”

With a huff, Nova shoved the food into her dress pocket. “If it bothers you so much, I’ll pay you back.”

“How? Did you happen to find a coin in that old blanket they wrapped you in?”

Nova ignored him, turning away to look at the sights. He truly was so pleasant to deal with.

With a shove, Ryker guided them through the busy crowds, stopping at a few stalls along the way. She watched as he purchased some bread—hopefully better than what the twins fed her—and a small selection of fruits.

Once he seemed satisfied with his purchases, Ryker steered her back towards the stables. Her ankle throbbed, but she refused to let it show. Gritting her teeth, Nova marched beside Ryker. They retrieved Charlie from where they’d hitched him and left the busy village behind—not before he bound her hands again.

Nova sighed at the peacefulness that the forest offered. She leant against Ryker’s chest, allowing his muscular frame to support her. “All of that movement and noise is quite tiring.”

“It can be,” Ryker replied, his voice vibrating through her body.

He was quiet as they travelled back to the main road. “So Ryker, do you have a last name?”

“Thornbrooke,” he murmured.

“What does Ryker Thornbrooke do?”

He paused. A beat too long. “I’m a bounty hunter.”

She waited for him to continue, but no more words followed. “What kind of things do you hunt?”

The masculine wall behind her shifted in the saddle, and Nova welcomed his warmth as their bodies brushed together.

“People.” Ryker murmured.

“Why would you want to do that?”

“Pays good money.”

Nova stiffened. “How much is the king paying you to hunt me down?”

Ryker shifted in the saddle. “Not enough.”

Why did it feel like the atmosphere just became colder? Maybe it was the hunter’s confession that he was being paid to bring her to the king. The thought alone sent a chill down her spine.

Nova wrapped her arms around her body to retain some heat. Being as close as she was to Ryker’s chest certainly helped. They’d be riding for a while now and the sky was darkening. Nova tipped her head towards the heavens . . . towards home.

Her sisters were appearing, shining their sweet faces upon the duo. A pang pulled on her chest, a ball of pressure sat in her throat and tears welled in her eyes. Nova wondered how they all were and whether they could see her here in this part of the world. Would she ever see them again? Could a fallen star go home? If she ever made it back to Ara, she would tell them everything she’d learnt and experienced on this foreign planet.

Sister Tierra would laugh at the twins and how ridiculous they were, while Sister Soleil would want to know all about the pretty dresses and trinkets that women wore. A small tear escaped, making its way down her cold cheek. It had been so long since she’d seen her family.

Nova brushed it away with the flick of her wrist. Reaching for a low-hanging branch, she plucked a few leaves to distract herself. Her fingers tightened around the velvet green foliage, crushing it in her palm. As her fingers peeled back one by one to reveal the leaves, a scent spilled forth.

It smelt like Ryker.

“What kind of tree is this?” Nova asked, pointing to the branches above them.

Ryker followed her gaze. “A cypress.”

Nova looked back down at the crushed leaves in her hand. So this was the other layer of that familiar scent, blending with the sweetness of vanilla. His scent was like the forest after a warm day—earthy, rich, and alive.

“It’s getting dark. We need to make camp for the night.” Ryker spoke, his voice pulling Nova from her thoughts.

She simply nodded—too exhausted to ask questions. She needed the moon to regenerate the blood that coursed through her veins. That’s how it worked back home in Ara, anyway. Surely it could do the same here? Without its beams, she felt weak and tired.

Ryker steered Charlie deeper into the forest towards a small clearing nestled amongst tall trees and pulled the glossy black horse to a stop. He slid to the ground and reached for Nova. Warm hands encircled her waist, and she drew a breath in. Holding his upper arms, he helped her to the ground, neither one breaking eye contact.

How did someone so beautiful become so cold?

“Sit over there.” Ryker said as he let go of her waist and pointed towards a fallen log covered in a thin layer of moss.

“Yes sir,” Nova answered.

Ryker didn’t seem to be amused by her tone, so she scowled at his back and moved to sit on the log. She settled onto the rough bark, watching him intently as he worked. It wasn’t long before he’d created some sort of fabric enclosure, which Nova could only presume was for sleeping in. Not even the twins had offered her that.

When Ryker was done, he worked on creating a fire—this she was familiar with. Large sticks, small sticks and a handful of leaves, plus a pair of rocks that Ryker struck against themselves, creating a small orange spark. His movements were fluid and efficient, every action carried out with the ease of someone who had done this a thousand times before.

“Do you need any help?” Nova offered.

Ryker glanced up from the fire and shook his head. “No. I don’t need you injuring yourself further.”

“Who said I would?”

Ryker didn’t answer.

“Are you always this pleasant?”

Ryker caught her gaze over the crackling flames. “Usually I’m worse.”

Nova lifted a brow. “Special treatment for me, then?”

“No . . . you’ve just got me on a good day.”

With a huff, Nova rolled her eyes and twisted to face further into the forest. As she looked at her surroundings, she swore she heard Ryker chuckle.

The sky was darkening at a rapid rate, and Nova was grateful for the fire. Darkness didn’t scare her—well, not in Ara, but here in Emberfell, it was different. Who knows what lurked in the shadows?

“Are there . . . creatures out there?”

“Many.”

She swivelled back around to face Ryker. “Ones that might try and eat us?”

He shrugged. “Possibly.”

Great. Just great. How was she supposed to sleep now?

“Tell me about them.”

“Wild boars, mountain cats, Galanthors, Lycan.”

Nova flicked her eyes to the darkness beyond their small camp.“Should we be concerned?”

Ryker glanced around. “I’m sure we’ll be fine.” His voice filled her with little confidence.

Nova may not know everything about this world, but she’d heard enough to know she needed to sleep with one eye open. She didn’t want to become a meal to one of them.

Nova glanced across at her captor again just as he turned from retrieving food from one of the saddlebags. Ryker’s eyes met hers, and before she could control herself, Nova beamed her celestial essence towards him.

Well, she hadn’t even tried to do that. In Ara, glowing was to a star like breathing was to a human. Perhaps now that she’d adjusted to her surroundings, her new body was ready to let her powers manifest.

Her skin glowed with a pale blue light, illuminating a small boundary around her. Nova felt warmth creep up her chest, into her throat, spilling over her cheeks. One glance from him caused her body to react in a way that even she had no control over. Nova dropped her gaze and focused on the bindings around her hands.

Leaves crunched underfoot as Ryker approached the log.

“Here.” Ryker offered her a rounded piece of wood. Nova reached for the bowl but didn’t look up. Only a few items in the dish seemed familiar, apple and bread, though a few others did not. “What are these?”

Ryker stood by the fire. “Cheese and dried meat. That one is an acquired taste, but try it.”

“Do you think you could remove these ropes so that I can use my hands?”

Ryker hesitated. “Do you promise to stay put?”

“Where am I going to go at this time of night?” she answered with a quizzical brow.

Ryker shrugged as he took the bowl from her hands again before he undid the rope. “Don’t make me regret this.”

Nova offered him a satirical smile. “I wouldn’t dare.”

He rose and left her side, but only for a moment. He returned to sit near her with his own plate of food. Nova rubbed her wrists, feeling the tender skin beneath her fingertips before she pulled the peach Ryker had bought her from her dress pocket. She held it up and looked at him. “Can I eat this now too?”

He threw her a sideways glance. “The peach? Go for it.”

There were too many items to choose from, so Nova tried the peach first. Placing it to her lips, she bit into its flesh. Juices ran down her chin and onto her skirt. Nova looked wide eyed at the peach in her hand. “That is the most delicious thing I have ever eaten.”

Ryker didn’t smile, but reached for something from his trouser pocket. “Normally, we try to keep the juices inside our mouths,” he said as he handed her a small cloth.

Nova wiped her mouth before placing the peach back onto her plate. “Sorry, this is all very new to me.”

“Do you eat where you come from?”

Nova nodded. “Only one thing—and I would hardly call it food.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a starfruit.”

Ryker’s russet eyes flicked down to her mouth, then back up to her. “What does starfruit do for a star?”

“Helps us glow, regenerate. It’s not like your fruits here.”

“How is it different?”

Nova fiddled with her hands. “Well, for starters, the moon grows the starfruits in an orchard of cosmic magic trees. Whereas the sun helps yours grow here.”

“I didn’t think you would know much about Earth.”

“Does that bother you?”

Ryker placed his plate on the forest floor and draped an arm over one risen knee, leaning back on his other hand as he stared off into the fire. “What you do is of no consequence to me.”

Nova returned her attention to her dish of fruit. “I’m quickly realising that.”

The surrounding forest was dark and quiet, with only the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant call of a night bird breaking the silence.

“Are you still in pain?” Ryker murmured.

His inky hair caught the golden glow of the firelight, his eyes also reflecting the light. Nova watched as he stared into the flames. He turned to look at her when she didn’t respond.

“Your ankle . . .”

“Only when I walk.”

Ryker nodded and turned his attention back to the fire. “Once we reach the king, he will have a healer look at it.”

A healer . . . there was a small chance Nova could heal it herself. But the thought of Ryker knowing she might have powers kept her curiosity at bay. Only when she was alone would she test her abilities.

Nova stared into the flames, hypnotised by the way they crackled and snapped. Maybe things here on Earth weren’t going to be as fun as she imagined from the heavens that it would be. People were after her and the pain in one’s body was actually painful. Maybe life with this king in his castle would be better. Perhaps she would be able to lie down on something soft or even soak her body in a pool of warm water.

Nova could only hope.

Still, something tugged at the edges of her thoughts. She didn’t know these humans—at least, not truly. What if the king wasn’t the beacon of hope she imagined? What if neither he nor Ryker were people she should trust to have power over her?

Despite Ryker’s kindness with food and clothing. Perhaps she should seek her own way out of the mess she was in.

They ate the rest of their food in silence. Once they’d finished, Ryker collected the plates and brushed off the crumbs before putting them back into a bag.

“You should sleep,” he motioned his head towards the shelter under the trees.

“What about you?”

“The tent only holds one person, so I will keep watch.” Ryker said. “Don’t think about sneaking away.”

Looking over at the tent and then back to Ryker, Nova stood with shaking legs. “You’ve been quite clear on that.”

Nova moved towards the tent but stopped before turning to face Ryker with a smirk on her face. “I’m not sure why anyone would try to run away from your sunny disposition.”

Ryker’s gaze stayed on her face. “Stick around long enough and you’ll find out.”

With a last glance over at his figure, Nova disappeared into the tent, closing the flap behind her. Sinking down to the thin but soft mattress, she sighed as the weight of all the travelling eased from her body. She knew it wouldn’t be long before sleep would claim her.

Tomorrow she would decide what to do—now that her hands were free. If the opportunity arose, Nova might just leave, sore ankle or not.

The weight of her aching body sank into the thin mattress and warm brown eyes were the last thing that filled her mind before darkness took hold.