part0012

I awoke to the sun peering through the curtains. Although tired from a less than restful night’s sleep, the new day was greatly welcomed. Sitting up with a yawn and stretch, I looked about the room. Raikidan slept soundly on the floor, his dragon-like snores an indication he slept better than me. I didn’t feel like waking him yet, in case he chose to play twenty-questions this early, but it would be good for me to get ready for the day. Maka’shi would be expecting us to leave before noon.

Sliding off the bed, I maneuvered around his head and squeezed between his shoulders and the wall. I did my best not to touch him, but he shifted slightly, and I miscalculated my next step. Before I could catch myself, I landed on him. Raikidan stirred and slowly lifted his head. Yawning, he looked at me and tilted his head in confusion.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you.” I looked over at the vanity. “I’m just trying to get over there.”

He yawned again, giving me a good look at his razor-sharp teeth, and then moved away to give me the room I needed. Making it to the vanity, I went about brushing my hair until someone knocked on the door.

“Laz, it’s me,” came Valene’s voice on the other side. “I have some clothes for the two of you, and Daren is almost done making breakfast.”

I glanced at Raikidan to find him shifting to his human form. As I made my way over to the door, I pointed at his discarded clothes and he let out a long drawn out sigh. I shook my head and didn’t open the door until he had pants on.

Valene greeted me with a bright smile, her eyes sparkling. “Good morning.”

“Morning to you too.”

She held up a bundle of clothes. “These are for you and”—she looked past me—“Raikidan.”

I noticed the desire in her eyes. Even after my talk with her, it’d take her a bit to let him go. What is he doing now? I turned to find Raikidan lying on the bed on his back, one arm over his eyes while the other hanging off the bed. He’d chosen to only wear his pants. I… guess I could see why she’s acting that way…

I looked back at her, taking the offered clothes. “Thank you. I appreciate not having to wear the same set of clothes back-to-back for once.”

Valene’s eyes lingered on Raikidan before she looked up at me. “Don’t mention it. By the way, on my way over here, I heard Shva’sika had returned early this morning. After breakfast you’ll be able to see her. Unless you want me to run to her house and invite her over.”

I held up a hand. “No need. I’m sure she’s tired from her journey. I’ll let her rest before bothering her.”

Valene stared at me, her eyes giving away her want to argue about the last part of my comment, but she nodded instead and excused herself. I shut the door behind me and noticed Raikidan didn’t move. Perplexed, I walked over to the bed and towered over him.

He peeked under his arm. “Stay there. You’re blocking out the sun.”

I rolled my eyes as I scoffed and dropped his clothes on his face. “Drama queen.”

He lifted the clothes off his face as I walked toward the bathroom. “Drama what?”

I didn’t answer him as I shut the door behind me, so I could change in peace.

Light from the mid-morning sun filtered through the trees on the northbound road. After a pleasant breakfast, Raikidan and I headed out to track down Shva’sika. In theory she’d be home, but she could have gone to one other place. Please be home…

Raikidan remained quiet while walking. He watched me with great intensity, but it was as if he could see my nerves going AWOL. I did my best to hide it, but after finding out what happened to Xye, I didn’t want to face Shva’sika. I didn’t have a right.

I veered us off the main road onto a smaller path leading into the forest. The well-traversed dirt changed to cobblestone and soon we found ourselves in a clearing. A large elvish-style house with an angular roof and elegant accents sat in the center. Before us was a stone patio leading to the deck of the front of the house. To the north and south sides of the house, balconies with lattice railings wound their way around the building; and to the south rear side of the house, a large glass greenhouse could be seen.

The two of us walked up the wide stone steps of the deck and approached the tall mahogany doors of the house. My balled-up hand hovered over the wooden surface, my nerves hesitating my knocking. You have to do this, Eira.

I took a controlled breath and knocked three times. Silence. I knocked again. Silence. I contemplated knocking again to be sure, but I knew it wouldn’t make a difference. “She’s not here. We’ll have to go back into town to—”

Quick muffled footsteps came from inside the house, and then a female voice. “One minute! I’m coming.”

Raikidan and I glanced at each other and then waited. The hurried steps came closer and then the door unlocked. It swung open, revealing an alluring elven woman, appearing to be no older than thirty-five, and stood taller than Raikidan by two or three inches. She had porcelain skin, captivating crystal-blue eyes, and beautiful long dark blue hair that was tied together in areas with large beads and cloth wraps.

Painted above her brow was a V-shaped line of blue dots that went from one large one in the center to smaller ones on the ends. Laid on top of the dots was a gold circlet with a crystal pendant hanging from the center. She had a beautifully crafted torc around her neck, and her body was adorned by a violet dress with long flowing sleeves and a cloth belt.

She hadn’t changed much—well, at all, really. “Shva’sika…”

The elven woman’s eyes went wide. “Laz?”

I tried to say something to her, but my mind blanked. Nothing I could say would make things right. They wouldn’t bring Xye back.

Shva’sika’s eyes welled up with tears. “You’re alive!”

My body stiffened as she threw her arms around me and sobbed into my shoulder. This was not what I had expected to happen. Maybe some blaming, some yelling, or maybe even some name calling, but not a hug.

“I’m so relieved. I thought I’d never see you again.”

“I… I don’t understand. Why aren’t you screaming at me?”

Shva’sika pulled away, her brow knitted, and her cheeks still stained with tears. “Why would I do that?”

My lips slipped into a frown. “I… heard about what happened to Xye.”

I jumped back when she started laughing. Raikidan and I gave each other confused glances.

Shva’sika got herself under control and wiped away her tears, careful not to ruin her makeup any more than she already had. “I’m sorry, that response wasn’t one you’d expect, I know. As much as I miss my dear brother, he was an idiot. You told him not to follow you, and he did anyway. You’re not to blame for his choices.”

“But had I not—”

Shva’sika flicked her hand dismissively. “I will have none of that. You are not to blame for what happened. I don’t care what Maka’shi thinks. You’d been with us for years without incident and then that attack happened? No one can make me believe you were at fault for that. You were just a convenient scape goat.”

My shoulders slouched. I didn’t understand this behavior. Of all people, she should hate me for what happened. I’m the reason she lost what immediate family she had left.

My elven friend waved us in. “Now, come inside. It’s rude of me to make you linger in the doorway. My parents, may their souls rest, would question my upbringing.”

The two of us entered, finding ourselves in a spacious living room with a fireplace and large windows to invite the sun. To the north side of the house was the open kitchen and some glass doors for the north balcony. To the south, another pair of glass doors led to the other balcony. A large spiral staircase led to the upstairs, and behind that a hallway led to the backside of the house. While elvish in design and decoration, it had a more modern feel to it, especially compared to the outside.

Shva’sika faced me. “I have to guess, your visit here wasn’t just so you could apologize for something you didn’t do, yes?”

I nodded. “I returned here to grab a few things before heading back to Dalatrend.”

“I thought that might be the case. I do have the items you seek. I’ll go get them. Make yourself at home.”

She sashayed her way into the back of the house, leaving Raikidan and me to wait. Raikidan chose to sit down on a couch and I wandered around until I made it to the fireplace. Fancy ornaments covered the mantle, along with four framed photographs. One pictured Shva’sika and me, along with a young man who had his arm around my shoulder. Xye… I picked it up to look at it.

He was a handsome young man, looking no older than twenty-five, although I knew he was a little more than a century old. His long blue-silver hair, light skin, and green eyes showed his kind demeanor. Garbed in traditional elvish robes, he stood an inch or two taller than Shva’sika, which I’d come to learn over time that was an unusual height for a half-elf.

My thumb slid over my smiling face, memories of my time here flashing through my mind. They were nice memories, but painful, too. My reception upon first arriving here all those years ago hadn’t been warm, but I hadn’t expected it to be. I didn’t even want to stay, but Shva’sika insisted. Others warmed up to me in time, and this place had become a sanctuary for me. I’d thought I had finally found a place to belong—a place that could teach me what happiness was.

My thumb slid over Xye’s face. I’m sorry…

“He meant a lot to you, didn’t he?”

I turned myself to look at Raikidan. He sat on the couch, watching me with great intensity.

I placed the picture back up on the mantle. “Not as much as he would have liked, but yes.”

He lifted an eyebrow with interest. “Care to elaborate?”

I sat down on another couch and leaned back, staring at the ceiling. “He wanted me to marry him.”

Raikidan snorted. “You’re not the mating type, from what I’ve gathered.”

I chuckled. His choice of words was odd and primitive, but they didn’t bother me. I was actually more comfortable with those words than the ones I had chosen. “That’s what I told him, but he was persistent. He told me he’d keep trying to get me to say yes, even if it killed him, and he got just that.”

“You can’t blame yourself for his death.”

I looked at him. “Yes, I can.”

Raikidan came over and sat next to me. I leaned forward and clasped my hands together. “Things were going fine here. No problems and no fighting. It was peaceful. If my memory wasn’t as good as it is, I probably would have forgotten why I ended up here in the first place.”

My hands tensed. “Then one day, out of the blue, a company of Hunters attacked the village. They were after me. I had planned on drawing them away without anyone getting involved, but many insisted on helping. Xye was part of that group.” I let out a deep sigh. “I told him to stay back. He was a healer, not a fighter.” I shook my head. “I can blame myself for what happened all I want, because it’s the truth. Had I not been here, none of that would have happened.”

“The elf woman is right.” Raikidan leaned forward. “Even if the attack is your fault, her brother made his choice. You are not responsible for the choices of others.”

I stared at the floor, unable to agree with him.

Shva’sika returned a few moments later, in her hand three items of importance to me. I got to my feet and walked over to her. She handed me a leather corded necklace with a wolf’s tooth wrapped into it. I wrapped the leather around my neck three times and tied it together in three knots near the tooth.

Shva’sika handed me an earring next, a sapphire stud with a silver chain connecting to a golden bell. Three feathers and a red ribbon were attached to the top of the bell. As the bell dangled from the chain and moved when I accepted the earring from Shva’sika, it made no sound. Concentrating, I gave it a swift flick and a lovely ring echoed from the metal ball. Lightness came to my body and mind, and I had to resist the urge to sit.

I spun around when something heavy hit the floor to find Raikidan on his ass. Apparently while I’d been inspecting my items, he’d gotten off the couch.

Raikidan stared at me with wide, confused eyes, and I bit my lip. “What the hell just happened?”

I couldn’t hold back and sputtered out a laugh. Shva’sika rested her fingers on her lips as she giggled away.

“What did you do?” Raikidan repeated.

I continued to laugh, bending over and resting my hands on my legs for support. “I can’t… I can’t believe that worked on you.”

He continued to sit there. “Why can’t I get back up?”

I held out a finger as I tried to get myself under control. Taking a few quick breaths, I straightened up and then concentrated before flicking the bell again. This time, a different sound rang from the metal.

Raikidan looked at his hands, his eyes wide as if surprised by his returned strength, and then got up to his feet. “What did you do?”

I attached the earring stud to my ear in a hole I’d left empty earlier this morning. “Sorry about that. I had no idea that frequency would affect you. It’s never affected anyone before, so I thought it was safe to test and make sure the bell still worked.”

“That doesn’t explain to me what you did,” he said, crossing his arms.

“It’s a special tool designed to soothe. The soothing effect depends on the frequency I create and who is around to hear it. So far, I’ve only been able to get it to work consistently on two of my comrades, Ryoko and Rylan, and people like them. It’s helpful when they’re getting out of hand, I can make them… uh, well… sit.”

Shva’sika sputtered out a laugh, understanding my snarky meaning. Raikidan looked confused, even though I had told him about Ryoko a bit, but he’d understand soon enough when he met them. Hopefully he’ll get to meet them.

“Well, don’t do that to me again,” he said. “I didn’t like it.”

I grinned. “No promises.”

Shva’sika shook her head. “You’re terrible. But I suppose I’m even more so for giving this back to you.”

She held out a wicked-looking dagger, its hilt made of dark metal and gold accents, and its blade curved and jagged. I accepted my last item of importance, and tested the diamond coated blade’s sharpness, careful not to cut myself. I sliced it through the air a few times and noted it wasn’t the same as when I left it.

“One of the blacksmiths in town tried to improve it,” Shva’sika said. “I tried to warn him of its unusual nature, but he insisted he knew how to work it. He claims it should be lighter to wield.”

I nodded. “It is.” I then concentrated and thought about wielding a broadsword. The dagger warped and before everyone’s very eyes, it transformed into a claymore. I thought of a pike, then a sickle, a bow, and then the original shaped dagger again, the weapon transforming each time.

“Transition feels a bit slow, but I could be imagining it due to my perceived thought of him meddling.”

Raikidan stared at the weapon. “What the hell is that? What are these items you have? Some sort of ancient magic artifacts? Is that necklace special, too, in some way?”

I chuckled. “No, the necklace is just a necklace. And these items aren’t magic relics. At least the dagger isn’t.” I thought about holding two daggers, and the weapon distorted, allowing me to pull it apart. I spun the two blades in my hands. “It was made for me, and he refused to reveal his secret.” Because Ryder is a brat. “The bell was a gift, and I’m not sure where she got it from, so it’s possible it’s a magic relic.”

“I’ve always suspected it was,” Shva’sika said. “It may be small, but historical texts say even the smallest of arcane magic was strong. And really, if it can get even a dragon to calm down, how could it not be?”

I stared at her with wide eyes.

She grinned. “What? Did you really not expect me to figure it out? Honestly, Laz, you’re better than that.”

My brow furrowed. “But… but how?”

She shook her head. “Well, for one, why would you of all people bring an ordinary human to Dalatrend, a city known for how much it loves to keep the old slave ways?”

“I also have met a dragon before, on my pilgrimage. Once you meet one, it’s easier to spot them when you cross paths with another.”

“And you never told me?”

She shrugged. “I didn’t see a need to. It was never relevant information.”

Shva’sika looked to Raikidan. “Me knowing isn’t an issue, right?”

Raikidan shook his head. “No.”

She smiled. “Good, though Maka’shi won’t be pleased if she finds out. Not because of your race, but because of your ability to disguise yourself.” She looked at me. “I hope you understand that, Laz.”

“She’s already been made aware,” Raikidan said. Shva’sika’s brow rose at his words. “Daren, I guess his name is, caught me testing out the nu-human form after seeing this one.”

My elven friend chuckled. “You’re lucky it was him. He’s a good man and will take your secret to the grave.”

“I know.” His response surprised me. I didn’t think he’d trust anyone, even someone as nice as Daren.

Shva’sika focused on me. “Now, if that is all, I’m going to go place flowers on my brother’s grave. I would like it if you came with me.”

A lump formed in my throat and I nodded, bringing the dagger back to its original single form and slipping it into a sheath strapped to my thigh. She nodded back and went into the kitchen, picking up a bouquet of flowers I hadn’t noticed before. She must have been getting it ready when I showed up.

Shva’sika linked arms with me and the three of us set off for the village graveyard.

Shva’sika chatted on and on, acting as if nothing had changed between us. It made me uneasy. I struggled to understand how she couldn’t blame me, or if she had at some point forgiven me.

Her grip on my arm tightened. “What’s bothering you?”

I shook my head. “It’s nothing.”

Shva’sika tilted her head down and gave me a stern look. “Don’t lie to me.”

I looked away. “I… just don’t understand how you can be around me after what happened.”

Her grip on me tightened. “Even if I did blame you, which I don’t, it’s because I would have forgiven you. That’s what family does.”

Family? After all this time, and what happened, she still saw us as such? We weren’t biological family of course, but she had seen me as such quite early on, due to a connection we shared that led me to this place without me realizing it.

“And as family, I must say, you’re far too thin.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t start. Daren is on my case too. It’s not like I have any control of that. Food isn’t easy to come by when you’re running for your life. I was always grateful to have the time to eat even a bug or some type of mushroom.”

Raikidan’s face scrunched. “You ate insects?”

“Yeah, it’s not that strange.”

Shva’sika laughed. “Yes, it is, dear.”

I held my hands out to Raikidan. “I doubt it is for him. I’ve seen lizards eat insects. Even if it was only as a baby dragon.” I glanced at Raikidan. “I highly doubt a small dragon could do well taking down even a rodent.”

Raikidan looked elsewhere. “It’s not that hard.”

I noticed the red tint to his cheeks. “Yeah, sure.”

“Well, I’ve never eaten bugs. That’s just gross.”

I shrugged. “Some aren’t that bad. Even if they were gross, it was better than nothing.”

The three of us stopped walking when we came to a large, intricately designed iron gate with two hanging lanterns emitting a blue light. Beyond this, gravestones of various styles and ages were aligned in rows. A statue of a tall woman with long hair stood on the far side of the graveyard, surrounded by tended flowers, shrubbery, and ornately carved stones.

The woman wore ancient swordsman attire I had only seen in books, and was adorned in magnificent jewelry. Several katanas—curved, single-edged bladed swords with squared guards and long hilts—were tied to her hips, and in her hand, she carried a bamboo pole with a lantern attached to the end. By her side sat a magnificent wolf carrying a matching lantern in its mouth. Goddess of spirits, Arcadia, and her faithful helper, Maiyun.

Shva’sika pulled me into the graveyard, my mind desperate to fight her, but my body followed. I looked back at Raikidan when I noticed his footsteps missing from my hearing, to find him remaining outside. He watched us, but showed no signs of following. I let it be. Dealing with the dead or being near a place like this wasn’t something everyone was capable of, and his reasons for staying out were his own.

I followed Shva’sika to a stone structure ornately decorated in an elvish flair. Above the door to the building, carved into the stone, was the symbol of the Lightshine family. Shva’sika’s family’s mausoleum. Shva’sika pushed open the heavy door and led me down long winding steps lit by sconces on the wall. The smell of herbs, death, and decay bothered my nose, but I followed nonetheless.

The stairs led to a single room, several sarcophagi filling it. Each sarcophagus had ornate Elvish script around the base and a sculpture adorning the lids. Shva’sika handed me the bouquet of flowers and went about clearing out old flowers left in vases and moved them to other vases filled with ash. I stayed out of the way when I could. She may call me family, but that didn’t make me official family, so I had no right to assist in the care of the family crypt, unless specifically asked. Had I accepted Xye’s proposal, this would be quite different. But he was foolish to think I’d be capable of reciprocating such luscious feelings. Love… what a joke.

Shva’sika faced me when she’d finished cleaning. “If you could place a bundle of flowers in each vase for me, while I prep herbs, I’d appreciate it.”

I nodded, and went about the task requested. Once done, I was asked to help place herbs in the ash-filled vases as well as add them into a few special sconces. Shva’sika pointed to the ash-filled vases and I complied with her unspoken request. Using my fire control ability, I pulled a small ember from a sconce, binding the chaotic element to my will, and then lit the herbs and dead flowers from Shva’sika’s previous visit. A strong aroma filled the air, masking the smell of decomposition to those with less sensitive senses of smell. For me, it just bothered my nose even more.

Shva’sika knelt down in front of her brother’s sarcophagus and glanced at me for only a moment before closing her eyes. Her breath slowed and then after a moment her eyes flew open. They glowed with a blue-white light. A lump formed in my throat. I couldn’t go that far. I couldn’t face Xye after what happened. But I could pay my respects.

Kneeling down, I bowed my head and prayed to the gods for his soul to rest.

“Don’t blame yourself,” a masculine voice whispered.

My prayer stopped. Xye? It couldn’t be him. After what I did, there was no way he’d come to me briefly to say that. I went back to praying.

When I finished, I waited for Shva’sika to finish her walk on the spiritual plane. The longer I waited, the more my nerves begged me to leave, but I was stronger than that.

What I guessed to be thirty minutes passed before my elven friend returned to the living plane. She peered at me with soft eyes, and I looked back at her with a silent “time to go?” expression. I didn’t hide how uncomfortable this place made me feel, and she nodded.

Linking arms with me, the two of us left, rejoining with Raikidan, who hadn’t moved. He didn’t ask questions and fell in behind us as we headed back for the village.

The silence didn’t last long, as Shva’sika went back to chatting; catching me up on events I’d missed in the village during my absence. That is, until a shrill scream pierced the air.