The Tears of Elios

by Crista McHugh

  The sun hung low in the western sky. Patches of snow dotted the landscape, growing thicker and broader near the mountain peaks to the south and east. Flickers of movement moved between the hills, and he wondered if they should proceed into the Cove and introduce themselves to the local inhabitants. All his life, he’d heard tales of the short creatures that inhabited the Cove with statures like dwarves, faces like humans, and ears like elves. He’d never come this far west until now, and he debated on whether or not to satisfy his curiosity about these creatures tonight or to wait until some other time.

  He turned to Kira. “You can get off the horse now.”

  Kira lifted her head and noticed their surroundings. Her jaw dropped as her eyes soaked in the sunset-illuminated landscape. Her awe faded, though, when his horse whinnied and reminded her that she was still in the saddle. She dismounted with the awkwardness of a toddler taking its first steps. Her legs buckled beneath her as soon as they touched solid land, and she collapsed into a little heap of rags on the ground. A grunt escaped her lips when she struggled back to a standing position, but she didn’t complain. Very unusual for human female in his experience.

  “Do you have an injury that needs to be healed?” he asked as he led the horses to one of the scarce trees along the rim of the Cove. Although elvan horses could run all day, they still needed food and rest. He poured some oats into their feeding bags.

  “I'll be all right, once I get used to riding.” She limped to a nearby rock and stretched her legs when she sat on it, rubbing her thighs.

  “You've truly never ridden a horse before?”

  The sun dipped behind the distant mountains, and a cool breeze swept in from the south. She pulled her cloak closer and shivered. “No, there was never a need for horses in the city. Besides, I'm terrified of them.” She still avoided looking in his direction as she spoke.

  “Why is that?”

  “When I was a child, I saw a woman trampled to death by one. I've avoided them ever since.” She turned her head in his direction and focused on his boots. “Can I gather wood for a fire?”

  “I don't see why not.”

  She stood and said something incoherent, resulting in a flash of blue from her fingers. An assortment of dry branches flew toward her from every direction, forming a conical mound at her feet. When she had summoned enough wood, a flame ignited from the center of the mound and spread throughout the branches.

  She squatted and stoked the fire with the leftover branch. “I'm not completely useless, you see.”

  Galen dragged the heel of his boot in the dirt, drawing a circle around them. “I never said you were.”

  “But you must have thought it.”

  He couldn’t deny that the thought had crossed his mind once or twice throughout the day. He unfastened his sword from his belt and placed it beside the saddlebags on the ground before replying, “It's been a long day. I'm sure you must be tired.”

  She sighed, accepting the fact he was changing the subject. “Where are we, exactly?”

  “Those are the Silver Mountains, and the valley below is known as the Great Cove. To the west are the Singed Mountains, and beyond them are the Goblin Realms.” He sat across the fire from her in time to notice her eyes widen.

  “Goblins?” The color drained from her face.

  “Don't worry. We're not going past the mountains.” He reached into his saddlebags and pulled out a few strips of dried meat and a block of a white bread-like substance. He tossed a chunk of it across the fire to her, followed by the dried meat. “Eat,” he ordered before retrieving his own meal.

  She nibbled at the bread and wrinkled her nose. “What is this?”

  “Journey bread. It's not very appetizing, but a few bites will fill you up.”

  “Because it sits in your stomach like a rock?” She offered him a weak smile, revealing that she still had a sense of humor after the long day. Perhaps she wouldn’t be as big of a burden as he first expected.

  He smiled back as he nodded. “Yes, but we’ll only dine on it for a few days.”

  “What are we doing on this journey?” Kira pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her head on them.

  “We're going to retrieve an object.” He watched for her response, trying to assess how much she knew about their mission, trying to see if she revealed any hint of betraying him, but she showed only mild interest.

  “What kind of object?”

  “I will let you know later.”

  “Why did you want me to come along? I'm obviously just making things more difficult for you.”

  Difficult was putting it mildly. “You might be of use to me.”

  She doodled in the sand as she talked to him. “I thought it was because you didn't trust me and didn't want to leave me unguarded at the camp.” She raised her eyes in accusation.

  He’d played this game long enough. He crossed the fire and knelt in front of her, grabbing her chin and forcing her face to stay directly in front of his. “Look at me.” She continued to glance to the side and tried to turn her head away from him. “I said look at me!”

  Her whole body jerked at the forcefulness of his command, and he realized too late that he’d frightened her. When she finally met his gaze, her large brown eyes filled with terror. He took advantage of the moment, though, and searched their dark depths for any sign of guile, any thoughts of betrayal, any knowledge of evil deeds. But he found nothing more than fear and innocence just before the silver haze began to cloud his vision once again.

  His pulse jumped, and he grew unsteady on his feet, leaning closer to her as his mind imagined what kind of secrets her mouth would yield. It was only when she looked away that his senses returned to normal.

  He released her chin and took a step back. “What kind of witch are you?”

  Her brow furrowed. “I don't understand…” Her voice trailed off as she resumed her sand art.

  Galen closed his eyes and remembered the way the silver fog rolled in from the edges of his vision, hindering his examination of her mind. Her response only added to his frustration. She either truly didn’t know what he was referring to, or she was trying to hide the fact that she had cast some sort of spell over him. “Why won't you look me in the eye?”

  She paused from carving the series of spiraling circles into the ground and lifted her eyes. The dancing firelight reflected in them, and her cheeks flushed. “Because Master Tyrrus told me not to stare.”

  The knots in his shoulders began to unwind. “And why would you stare at me?”

  “Because I'd never seen an elf until I arrived in the camp, and you—well, that is, you're—” She chewed her bottom lip.

  “—an elf,” he supplied for her. Was it truly as simple as that? All his suspicions were based on nothing more than naïve girl trying not to offend a member of a foreign race. He would’ve laughed had she not appeared so embarrassed by it all. “So you avoided looking at me because you were afraid you would be staring?”

  She nodded. “I probably sound even more like a silly girl to you.” She pulled her cloak closer around her.

  He unfolded his bedroll and stretched out by his saddlebags, finally able to relax. Her awkward confession left no doubt in his mind about her honesty. “You're a human,” he replied with a shrug and began loosening the ties of his leather jerkin.

  She gave him a half smile as she watched him through this thick veil of her lashes. “I can take the first watch, if you'd like.”

  “No need to do that.” A curtain of blue rose from the circle he drew in the ground around them, rising over their heads to form a domed tent. She watched with wide eyes and an open mouth, and for a brief second, he was envious that the world still held some wonder for her. The blue curtain faded, allowing the stars overhead to peek through. “So long as we stay in the circle, nothing will bother us.”

  Her smile widened as she slid off the rock and moved closer to the fire. She held her hands out in front of the flames. “I'll sleep better knowing that. You'l
l have to teach me that spell someday.”

  She would learn it quickly, if his observations were correct. “Perhaps I will.” Using his saddlebags as a pillow, he tried to find a comfortable position on the hard ground. “Go to sleep now.”

  He closed his eyes, but he still felt her watching him.

  The stars had moved halfway across the sky, and the fire had gone cold when a cry awoke him. The air smelled of approaching rain, confirmed by the rolling clouds to the east. He heard nothing and had almost convinced himself that he was dreaming when he heard her cry out again.

  Kira rolled onto her back with the moan, her eyes clenched tight. “No,” she whined and batted at some invisible object above her. “No, stop.” Her shouts became louder as her movements grew more frantic. She thrashed in her sleep, ripping her cloak as it became tangled in her arms and legs. “Leave me alone. Go away!”

  He caught her arms, surprised at the strength her thin body possessed. She whimpered, still prisoner of her dream. “Kira, it's just a nightmare,” he whispered.

  Her movements became more wild, building to a crescendo that ended with her sitting up with a scream that echoed off the silent mountains. Her eyes were open, but she stared past him. Her panting slowed, and her body became less rigid as she realized the nightmare had ended. Only then did she become aware that he was kneeling beside her.

  “I'm sorry. I—I didn't mean to wake you. It's just that the dream…” She shuddered, the fear still haunting her eyes. “It was so horrible.”

  An elvan woman would never act this way, wearing her emotions on her face for everyone to see. Yet he found himself reaching his arms around her shaking frame and pulling her close to him. Her hot breath felt as though it was blistering his skin as he stroked her hair.

  “I'm sorry,” she repeated. “I saw the Azekborn chasing someone, and—”

  He shoved her away, keeping his hands on her shoulders. “You were dreaming about the Azekborn?” She nodded. “How do you even know what the Azekborn look like? You're just a human.”

  “They came after us—Master Tyrrus and me. They found where we were in Dromore and were about to catch us when we came through the gate.”

  His mind kept telling him that this is all nonsense. Why would the Azekborn come after a human? But when he looked into her eyes, he knew she was telling the truth. And her tale held some plausibility to it, considering the mission of the men that Tyrrus helping. If Anilayus knew about the gate, then there was a chance he knew where the camp was. “Why didn't Tyrrus tell me that it was the Azekborn that found you?”

  “I thought he did. Why wouldn’t he tell you? They were horrible—the most terrifying creatures I could imagine, and I can't seem to be free of them.” She closed her eyes and leaned back on her hands. “It was like I was seeing things through their eyes. I don't know any other way to explain it.”

  He struggled to make sense of it all. “Why would you be dreaming about the Azekborn?”

  She shrugged. “I see things in my dreams. Sometimes they’re things that have happened. Sometimes they’re things that are happening or will happen. I never know. This was the second time I dreamed about the Azekborn, though. The first time was the night we left Dromore.”

  “And what were they doing?”

  “Fighting off a pack of wolves.” She looked up at him. “I know it sounds crazy, but that's what I saw. My visions usually make sense once I sort out what I'm seeing.”

  “And these visions—are they a part of your gift?”

  “Yes, but I wish they weren't. I hate the things I see sometimes.”

  “They're just dreams. They can't hurt you.”

  “I tell myself that, but it still doesn't stop me from waking up screaming.” She pulled her knees up to her chest and rocked back and forth as she sat. “Go back to sleep, Galen. I'm sorry I woke you.”

  “What about you? You need to sleep, too.”

  “No, I can't sleep anymore tonight.”

  The unexpected urge to shelter her filled him. Normally, he would have been disgusted by her display of emotions, but he realized he was pushing her to do things she had never done before, asking her to face her fears. Have I grown so old that I have forgotten what it felt like to be in her position?

  He enveloped her in his arms, leading her down to the ground with him. “I'll protect you, Kira. Sleep now.”

  She snuggled closer to him, burying her icy hands between them. He pulled his cloak closer around them and waited for her breathing to slow and her body to grow still. She sighed in her sleep, and he strangely found himself enjoying the warmth of her body pressed against his.

  CHAPTER 9

  A cold drop splashed on Kira’s nose, followed by a second one on her cheek. Unwilling to leave the comfort of sleep, she pulled her cloak over the side of her face exposed to the wetness. A ring of warmth encircled her and pulled her closer to the soft, pounding lullaby that sounded in her ear. She inhaled the smell of old leather and sighed. Although she didn’t know the causes of these sensations, she relished them while she could.

  “Kira,” a voice hummed through the darkness. The gentle vibrations traveled through her body and resisted the jostling that followed it.

  “Kira,” the voice repeated, this time less soothing than before. Her cloak peeled away, exposing her skin to the icy dampness. She clung tighter to the hard warmth underneath her as the shoving became more severe.

  “Kira!” the voice shouted at her this time.

  She reluctantly opened her eyes and studied the etched grains of the leather in front of her. A wall of force then collided with her left shoulder, knocking her backwards and leaving her body open to the assault of the falling rain.

  “Kira, are you awake?” Galen leaned over her. The rain streamed down his golden hair, and his blue eyes flickered across her face. By the Goddess, she could stare at him all day, despite the weather. He frowned when he stood, and she wondered what she’d done to disappoint him now. “You do realize that you're lying in the mud?”

  She bolted up and sent the rivers of ooze trickling down her neck and back. She brushed the mud from her short hair. Brown muck covered her hands—brown like her hair and eyes. She was a mud creature, rooted to the earth, whereas Galen was a creature of the heavens, embodying the sun and sky. She frowned and shook her hands. The rain fell harder, and she lifted her face to allow it to be washed clean.

  Her attention turned to his leather jerkin. Memories from the night before flooded into her mind. He’d taken her into his arms to console her. He was the warmth she had been clinging to so desperately. And although she enjoyed lying in his arms, her cheeks burned when she realized that he had to pry her loose from him. She mumbled an apology as she passed him, taking one of the saddlebags with her.

  He paused from buckling his sword to his belt and watched her. He was suspicious of her motives again, no doubt. She threw the bag over the horse’s back and turned to retrieve the other saddlebag, still aware of his scrutiny.

  “Have you thought about getting new clothes?” he asked and resumed fastening his sword.

  “Why do I need new clothes? These don't have any big holes in them. Besides, I'm better dressed than some of the people in the camp. At least I have shoes.”

  He leaned on his horse’s back, not moving, and she feared she’d said something wrong. He then began securing the saddle. “I meant, have you thought about wearing a dress?”

  His question caught her off guard. “I don't know how to wear a dress.”

  “Perhaps you should think about it now that you are out of Elgeus.” He mounted his horse and looked down at her. “Or at least consider growing your hair out.”

  She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to smooth out the spiky ends. “I'll think about it, although I'm sure my hair would become a tangled mess if I grew it out.” Not to mention, she wouldn’t know what to do with long hair. “How did you know that I was a girl?”

  His pauses were starting to irritate her. It was
as though he was taking his time forming a response so as not to insult her. Every inch of her was subject to his censure, it seemed. “Perhaps it is because I see things most humans don't.”

  Her cloak grew heavy from the rain, and she stared at her horse. She hoped he wouldn’t expect her to ride as fast they did yesterday. “I, um, might need some help mounting my horse.”

  He held out his hand to her. “No, you'll be riding with me again today. We don't have the time to allow you to ride at a pace that doesn't terrify you.”

  Shame seared her skin so that she no longer felt the icy rain. She took his hand, and he lifted her up into the saddle behind him as if she weighed next to nothing, even though she felt like her shoes were made of lead. Not only was she wet and muddy and dressed like a boy, but she was also causing him more problems than he intended. “I don't mean to be a burden,” she mumbled.

  He urged his horse forward. “You're not a burden—yet.”

  The swiftness of the horse surprised her. The rolling hills of the Cove became a blur. The rain drops disappeared into a haze, indiscernible due to the speed at which they moved. She leaned against him, comforted by the feeling of his back in front of her, and tried to hold onto something while they rode. Her hand settled on the corded muscles of his thigh, feeling them tighten and relax with the horse’s stride, and lingered there until he cleared his throat. She snapped her hand back to wrap around his waist instead.

  His hand tightened around hers. “I have you,” she heard him say. It served as a balm for her anxiety, and her shoulders loosened. Leaning further against him, her body began to move in harmony with him and the horse.

  “Were we riding this fast yesterday?”

  “Yes, elvan horses are faster than your human ones. Didn't you notice?”

  She shook her head. “I kept my eyes closed most of the time.”

  The distant rumble of laughter sounded from his chest. “I thought you had fallen asleep.”