Resounding Echo

by Michelle Louring

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  The man holding him let out a furious growl and raised his fist to punch him. However, the movement caused him to release Alassane with the other hand and before he knew it, Alassane was behind him and kicked his legs out from under him. The man fell to the ground, his bulky frame hitting the floor heavily and causing him to slam his head into the wood.

  The action quickly caused others to join in the fight. Soon, fists were flying through the air and tables and chairs were being knocked over. Men were falling over each other to get to Alassane who somehow managed to keep out of reach.

  Selissa sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation. Normally, she was the person who started brawls. She didn’t usually break them up, but it seemed like she had no choice this time.

  She tried to reason with the men closest to her, but no one seemed to have time to stop and listen to her. After several failed attempts, she got fed up.

  “Everybody shut up!” She yelled at the top of her lungs and finally got a reaction. People stopped moving and turned to stare wide-eyed at her.

  “Better.” She said when she got their attention. “Now get out!”

  One of the men stepped closer to her and sneered at her. He was not that much taller than her, but about twice as wide and he tried to use that to intimidate her. She was not impressed.

  “This is none of your business, woman.” He said condescending. “Maybe you should stop interfering.”

  Selissa’s eyes flared. He had no idea who he was dealing with.

  “It is my business.” She said coolly. “If anyone is going to beat up that man, it’s going to be me.”

  He let out a scornful laugh and grabbed her chin roughly. He had barely touched her, before a hand shot forward and grabbed his wrist in a death-grip.

  “Don’t touch her.” A cold voice said. She turned to look at Ardeth, who was looking at the man with a murderous look in his eyes.

  “And what are you going to do about it, pretty boy?” The man laughed, but she didn’t miss the nervous tinge to it.

  Ardeth stepped closer to him, still holding his wrist tightly. He was far taller than him, and the man swallowed nervously when he towered over him.

  “What I’m going to do about it?” Ardeth asked softly, deadly calm. Bones shot out from everywhere on his arms and torso like great white spikes. The man’s eyes widened in fear and shock at the sight.

  “You still want to fight me?” Ardeth asked smirking. The man immediately let go of her and started scrambling away. Ardeth let go of his wrist and allowed him to flee the room.

  He looked around the room, where people were watching slack-jawed in shock.

  “Anyone else have something they want to say?” He asked softly. His question seemed to jolt them into action and they were suddenly in a hurry to get out. Ardeth grinned pleased at the reaction.

  “You okay?” He asked Selissa and looked her over.

  “Yeah, I’m fine.” She said. She turned around, looking at Alassane, who was watching them warily.

  “Well, this is a surprise…” He said slowly. “As always, it’s some interesting company you ke—“

  He didn’t get to finish his sentence because in that moment Selissa punched him in the face with enough force to knock him to the ground. She looked down at him while rubbing her knuckles.

  “That felt a lot better than it should have…” She said to herself. She heard Ardeth chuckle behind her, but chose to ignore him. She stepped closer to where Alassane was lying on the floor and frowned down at him.

  “Get up.” She said, her voice slightly harsher than she intended. “I need your help.”

  42

  “My help?” Alassane asked as he stood. He was rubbing his face where a big, purple bruise had already started appearing. “You didn’t want it before.”

  Selissa scowled at him. “Don’t get me wrong. I still want nothing to do with you.” She said. “You are nothing more than a lying low-life and I would like nothing more than to never have to deal with you again. Unfortunately, things don’t go my way.”

  Alassane watched her calmly, despite her harsh words. “What do you want from me?”

  She lowered her eyes. “They have Calen.” She said.

  She watched realization dawn on his face. “Your priest friend?” He asked slowly, trying to place the name. She nodded and led a hand to the pendant she had taken to wearing around her neck.

  “I’m going to free him. And I need your help with that.” She said, leaving no place for him to refuse.

  “You’re going to do exactly what they want you to do?” He asked incredulously. “They want you to come to them!”

  “Don’t you think I know that?” She asked angrily. She knew very well that she would have to play by their rules, but she didn’t have a choice.

  “Do you still not realize the consequences, if they catch you?” He asked seriously. “If they complete the ritual, we won’t be able to stop them.”

  “Then come along and make sure they don’t.” She said calmly.

  “You’re really going to do this…” He said.

  “Yes. And you’re coming with me.” She knew he wouldn’t refuse. Protecting Cadeyrn’s host was the only thing that mattered to him, and he knew she knew that.

  He looked into her eyes and saw the determination there. With a resigned sigh, he nodded.

  ℓ

  They had left the inn hurriedly, before the townspeople returned with reinforcements. Alassane had followed them without protests, but that didn’t stop him from shooting dirty looks at Ardeth.

  “Do you mind explaining to me how you ended up with the demon spawn here?” He asked. Ardeth sent him a mocking grin.

  “What’s wrong?” He asked scornfully. “Don’t like the fact that you have been replaced?”

  Alassane scoffed. “Didn’t you try to kill her?” He shot back. “Hardly the best company.”

  “And you’re better?” Ardeth’s grin was showing too many teeth. “I think being with me beats traveling around with a dead guy.”

  Alassane opened his mouth to retort, but Selissa had had enough.

  “For the love of Shi’Laran, shut up!” She yelled. They both stopped and looked at her surprised.

  “Stop acting like children!” She said frustrated. Their constant bickering and male egos were driving her insane. “If you want to beat each other up, go ahead. I don’t care. Just stop it!”

  They both looked like they were going to protest, but she shot them a look that had even them shutting up. They kept glaring at each other, but followed her in silence.

  She closed her eyes and felt for the Devourer’s presence. It was still where she had left it, and she called it to her through the magic link. It might have fulfilled its purpose and tracked down Alassane, but it might still be useful. Besides, it was bound to her, and it was kind of nice to have someone who obeyed her every command. It was tempting to try the spell on the two brooding men behind her, but she figured that might count as power abuse.

  “How far is there to Ilyan’s mansion?” She asked Ardeth. He visibly brightened at her talking to him again. She rolled her eyes and resisted the urge to smack him, when he shot Alassane a triumphant look.

  “We should be able to get there in less than a day.” He said.

  She nodded silently. In her opinion that wasn’t fast enough, but it would have to do. She would give anything to know if Calen was alright.

  Her anxiety must have shown on her face, because Ardeth looked at her in that uncertain way he always did, when things got too emotional.

  “Hey…” He said softly. He reached for her hand and squeezed her fingers hesitantly. “I admit I don’t understand why it is so important for you to save this guy. In my opinion, he would probably be better off dead.”

  He looked at her with an intensity that almost made her stop dead in her tracks.

  “But since it is important to you, we will get him out alive. I promise you t
his.”

  She looked at him in surprise. It was the first time Ardeth had cared about anyone’s life, even if it was only for her sake. And the fact that he cared because she cared made some unfamiliar emotion spread in her chest and she wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. She settled for sending him a confused smile.

  “I really don’t understand you, Ardeth.” She said gently. “But thank you.”

  He led her hand to his lips and gently kissed her knuckles. “My pleasure.” He said with a playful smirk before dropping her hand.

  She laughed at him, trying to ignore how cold her hand felt after he let it go. She had almost completely forgotten about Alassane, when he cleared his throat.

  “And what exactly is the plan, when we arrive?” He asked, sending them both a look that clearly said that they better stop whatever they were doing. Selissa bit her lip in embarrassment, but willed herself not to blush.

  “Get in, get the priest and get out.” Ardeth said as if it was the simplest thing in the world. Alassane scoffed in disdain.

  “So you’re just going to barge in? Why not just jump off a cliff, if you’re so willing to die?” He said sarcastically.

  Ardeth let a few bones shoot out from his fingers and watched them thoughtfully. “I can make a shield over my skin with my bones… I’m not sure jumping out from a cliff would actually kill me.”

  Selissa tried not to laugh at Alassane’s expression. They had to be the oddest group that had ever come into existence. “What Ardeth is trying to say is that we don’t have a plan.”

  “Well, that is comforting.” Alassane said, sarcasm lacing his every word.