“She didn’t even close the door,” Nyx points out before doing it with a spell. Turning back to the others, the half-elf is surprised to see Delvin looks a little pale. “What’s wrong? Something from Selenia or about your family?”
“We request that Delvin Cunningham speak with us before he leaves. It is urgent and in his best interest,” the warrior reads before the magical message dissipates. He can feel his fingers tingle at the touch of magic, a curious effect caused by his fount powers trying to decipher the foreign energy. “Kevin and Cyril want to talk to me. I’ve already had this conversation with both of your mothers and Casandra. Think you could face this one for me?”
“I dealt with all of them at once yesterday, so it’s your turn,” the channeler replies with a smile. She gives the warrior a deep kiss on the lips before slipping out of the ensuing embrace that she knows is a delay tactic. “Sorry, dear, but I can’t save you every time. But you know where to find me if the big bad adults are too mean. Good luck.”
“Is that really how you want to play this?”
“Yes. What are you going to do about it?”
“I know where your ticklish spots are and have the power to make them extra sensitive.”
Nyx sticks her tongue out at the warrior and refuses to budge, forcing him to trudge toward the doors. Delvin stops and hurries back to the table where he snatches the last bottle of alcohol from Timoran, which he hopes can be used to bribe Kevin into a pleasant mood. Summoning his enchanted shield to his arm, the former mercenary waves to his companions and heads off to face what he hopes is a friendly conversation.
*****
“Thank you for all of your help,” Phelan says while he adjusts a backpack full of his belongings. The blue-haired Feykin accepts a final hug from Sari and uses the seawater to shake the hands of Timoran and Luke. “It is a shame that the others are too busy to see me off, but I understand. All of you are under a lot of pressure. Again, I’m truly sorry that the spark never reappeared for us, Sari. Please know that I tried and think you’re an amazing woman. I’m sure whoever claims your heart will be the happiest man in the world. Good luck to all of you and I hope we meet again.”
“Take care of yourself too,” Sari whispers, releasing the young man. No longer feeling the passion that had possessed them only months ago, the gypsy finds it disturbingly easy to step away. “Thank you for helping me sort through my feelings, Phelan. Know that you can always stay at my temple or call on me if you’re in trouble. In fact, I will be very upset if you forget to stay in contact. Send a wave or a current my way from time to time.”
Phelan chuckles and gives the champion a final hug before his new employer shouts for him to get on the ship. Within seconds, the Feykin has gone up the gangplank and disappeared below deck to store his things. Sari takes a seat on a nearby barrel to watch the trading vessel pull away from the dock, her eyes searching for any view of Phelan. She catches him in the rigging for a brief moment before he is called back down. Since the young man is part river nymph, his powers are weak on the ocean, but it will not be long before the ship turns into the L’dandrin River. There he will earn his pay and the crew’s respect, both of which Sari hopes will help him feel like he has a home. With the wind billowing out the sails and the tide in its favor, the vessel quickly moves along the coast and vanishes into the distance.
“You know, we could have gone with them to Rodillen,” Luke mentions while he watches a trio of griffin riders pass overhead. He feels a shiver run along his spine and some feathers sprout around his neck, which he scratches at until they go away. “Never mind what I said. You’re right that it would have been awkward. Not that you’re in love with him, but it still hurts a bit and you need time away.”
“And here we thought Dariana was the telepath,” Sari wryly mutters. She smiles and moves some hair out of Luke’s face, her touch slightly rough. “We should gather those supplies if we want to leave on time. With Fizzle keeping an eye on Delvin and the others finding a ship, we have to make sure the champions don’t starve out there. Be rather embarrassing for such great heroes to die because they didn’t pack enough snacks. Not that we need to get much since it’s only a quick trip down the river.”
“Then I can handle it and you two can relax,” Timoran offers, slapping both of his friends on the back. He laughs at how Luke nearly falls into the water while Sari does not move an inch, the gypsy still cringing in pain. “I wish to send a message to my wife, so the privacy would be appreciated. Lady Willow has already recommended someone who can help and time is of the essence. The location is on the other side of the marketplace, which means I can do the shopping on my way back here. Enjoy yourselves, my friends, since we never know when we can relax again.”
Luke opens his mouth to argue with the barbarian, but a spray of seawater causes him to hack and cough. By the time the half-elf recovers, Timoran has pushed his way to the middle of the bustling crowd of sailors and merchants. Not wanting to come off as a jerk, the warrior takes a seat next to Sari and patiently waits for her to talk. It is an awkward silence even though the pair have put most of their past behind them. Even with everything that has happened, there remains an undeniable spark that they constantly keep in check out of fear of reviving old, destructive habits. It gets easier every day, but being left alone with each other still holds a level of tension that may never disappear.
“You are the only one who seems to cheer me up when I’m feeling heartbroken. Makes me wonder if I’m an emotional masochist,” Sari says, her hands weaving in the air. She tries to create a few statues out of the ocean, each one collapsing due to the movements of the nearby ships. “I mean, Nyx is fun to be with and we have serious conversations. I just don’t feel like putting my problems on her head. You on the other hand always know the right thing to say when I’m in pain. This must be what people mean when they break up and want to remain friends. Not that it has been smooth sailing entirely, but we’ve definitely been worse. How do you think we’re doing, Mr. Callindor?”
“I think we need to cut loose and make some mischief,” Luke replies as golden fur sprouts from his body. The beginnings of wings appear from his back and he is already leaning forward in preparation of having four legs. “Jump on and let’s see what we can do. It’s been a really long time since the two of us relaxed and had fun together.”
“At least the silly, harmless type of fun.”
“Exactly.”
“Fine, but don’t go near Nyx or we’ll get scolded later.”
Within seconds, Luke has transformed into the griffin and flexes her wings to enjoy the ocean breeze. Several sailors stare at the unexpected change even though it has become common knowledge that the forest tracker can transform into the elegant beast. Taking some time to enjoy the attention, the animal rears back and unleashes a roaring screech. A chorus of replies echoes throughout Gaia with many of the local griffins recognizing the call. Hunkering down and purring, the powerful beast patiently waits for Sari to get on her back. The moment the gypsy pats her friend’s flank, her steed bursts into the sky and instinctively avoids the ships out of fear of getting tangled in the riggings. A single flap of her wings is enough to send the pair hurtling away from the city and gliding over the ocean.
Staying within sight of the shore, the griffin spins and flips to stretch her muscles. In reality, it has only been a few days since Luke last released her, but it feels like an eternity to the noble beast. She stays closer to the clouds than the water unless a group of sea elves catches her eye or there is a wave that she wishes to run her talons through. A splash causes her to wheel around and dive for the water, stopping a few feet away from the surface. Sensing the target of her mount’s curiosity, Sari taps the griffin on the head and points to where a small spout of water is barely visible. The pair drift a little higher before racing ahead and soaring above a large form that is either a small whale or a large shark. Its skin shimmers to match the rippling sunlight, which makes the animal difficult to see
beyond its wavy silhouette. Unable to draw the mysterious animal out of the depths, the griffin is about to leave when the gypsy leaps into the ocean.
A few minutes pass before Sari reappears, her hand grasping the smooth edge of a spotted dorsal fin. She coaxes the whale shark to swim near the surface where the griffin can get a clear look at the rare beast. Another water spout appears to their right and they stop to let a pod of dolphins cross their path, the playful animals being what originally drew the champions to the area. Not wanting to disturb the large fish or expose it to danger, Sari dives off the whale shark and launches herself back onto the griffin. She waits for the distorted form to swim out of sight before casually creating whirlpools and waterspouts. Sweat trickles down the gypsy’s forehead as she struggles to avoid hurting the local fauna, the display being good practice for when she has to fight with her powers. The griffin decides to make things more difficult by abruptly rolling and flipping, both motions having little effect on the young woman’s concentration. One violent loop rattles Sari’s stomach enough to make her feel queasy, so she gestures for her friend to stop and bring them back to shore.
“That wasn’t funny,” she groans as they soar to the top of Gaia’s solitary mountain. Several griffins are lounging on the cliffs, so it takes time for the champions to find a place to land. “I think my immovability tried to leave my stomach in one place, but the rest of my body moved with you. All I know for sure is that I’m tasting my breakfast again. When you said that you wanted to cause mischief, I didn’t think it would be on me.”
“Sorry about that,” Luke says after he returns to his true form. Rummaging in his pockets, he hands a ginger tablet to Sari and takes a seat near the bones of an elk. “That’s my last one, but I think I’ll be fine on this trip. Pike has this ability to handle sudden movements and disorientation since snake fiends enjoy burrowing into unstable earth. Using that should get rid of my seasickness . . . or cause me to be very flexible when throwing up.”
“I’m so glad we don’t share a bed anymore because that sounds disgusting,” the gypsy replies while trying to swallow the tablet. Not liking the strong taste of ginger, she takes a long gulp of fae water to get it down. “We’re making progress. I felt only half as bad as I normally do when I say stuff like that. Though it might be the nausea.”
“Let’s not get into this topic, Sari, because I know it’ll only upset us,” the half-elf requests as he waves to a large griffin. The black-winged beast calls out to the forest tracker before heading for the far side of the city. “The two of us have to stop bringing up the past and think about the future. It’s the only way for us to fix our friendship and I think we’re doing great considering you were trying to kill me four months ago. Not your fault, but I do believe it sets a very low standard. So we can only get better.”
“Your optimism is admirable and accepted.”
“Then maybe you can do me a favor.”
“I can jump off this mountain and not get hurt, so be nice.”
Suddenly unsure of what he is about to say, Luke stretches his arms and makes himself more comfortable on the stone. He puts his feet up on the elk’s skull, the bone bleached white by the sun and showing tiny marks from hungry beaks. The half-elf rubs the rubies in his sabers’ pommels until Sari catches his wrists and kneels next to him. A friendly smile is on her face even though she has locked his arms with a vise-like grip.
“I’ve been thinking of the final battle and how I might not get out alive,” Luke admits when the gypsy releases him. Instead of moving away, he touches her cheek and does his best to put on a charming grin. “Honestly, I believe I’m the most likely one to die. The rest of you are either stronger, smarter, or more resilient than me. I’m fast and unpredictable, but that just puts me in danger more often. Anyway, Kira doesn’t have anyone except me and I know my death would be hard on her. Not even sure why this popped up in my head, but it’s out now. I’m sorry if this is uncomfortable or insulting, but I don’t know who else to turn to. The others-”
Sari places a cool finger to the half-elf’s lips and leans in close to give him a kiss on the forehead. “Out of all your friends, I’d understand her pain the most. Not only because we were together, but it would be like when I lost my clan. Just spit out that you want me to take care of Kira in the case of your foolish demise. Well, she and I are gradually becoming friends and she has that fancy peacock room. Not to mention elephants, Gnomish plumbing, and other things that I can enjoy while we mourn your loss.”
“You seem so heartbroken.”
“Oh, I will be, which is why I’ll need all those things to cheer me up.”
Luke cannot hold back his laughter at the sight of Sari’s innocent smirk. Quicker than she can react, he playful pinches her nose and jumps away from her half-hearted retaliation. The ledge is not big enough for them to leap about like carefree children, so the slip of Luke’s foot scares them enough to end their fun. With the others handling the tedious preparations, the pair enjoy the view of Gaia and the griffins that patrol the skies.
2
The walls, floor, and ceiling shimmer with magic that blocks all noise from disturbing the exhausted pair. Several wooden boards have been merged to the door, preventing anyone from getting inside without the use of force. Nyx and Delvin remain curled in bed where she idly runs her finger along the bird-shaped brand on the warrior’s chest. They do their best to ignore the scattered belongings and messy beds of their friends, who have been forced to share crudely made bunkbeds. With limited space on the merchant ship, all of the champions have been put in one room and the lack of privacy has caused the couple to become very irritable. It is not that they dislike spending time with their companions, but the situation has made Nyx and Delvin feel like the parents of unruly children. After only a day, the pair cannot even take solace from the idea that this is practice for when they have kids of their own.
With a groan, Nyx rolls out of bed to hunt through the litter for a waterskin. Her crimson gown remains wrapped around her calves so it does not drag on the rough floor and get caught on a loose board like the night before. All she can find is a ceramic jug that is filled with a strong-smelling juice, which the captain swears will help Luke’s bout of violent seasickness. So far the powerful concoction has done nothing more than make her little brother’s breath smell even worse. Tossing the container onto the forest tracker’s pillow, Nyx sighs and heads back to where Delvin is falling asleep. She spots a waterskin underneath the wooden bed frame, which is bolted to the floor. The half-elf crawls far enough to grab the leathery strap and starts to back out when an alarming tug on the top of her nightgown causes her to stop. Stretching her arm and cursing, she is unable to reach far enough to unhook herself from whatever her clothes are caught on.
“You’re stuck, right?” Delvin asks from on top of the bed. He slides to the floor and peeks underneath to see what his fiancée is trapped by. “When your fathers told me to protect you, I don’t think they meant from stuff like this. Can’t you melt the nail?”
“Magic feels like it would be overkill and I didn’t ask for help,” Nyx replies while shifting in an attempt to free her gown. Weaving through the open porthole, a cool breeze on her legs causes the channeler to blush. “Please tell me that my bottom half isn’t exposed. If it is then don’t look.”
“Yes because we haven’t changed in front of each other before,” the warrior teases before reaching out to unhook Nyx’s gown. To put her mind at ease, he moves a finger from the gown to the exposed part of her leg. “As you can see, it stops a little above your knee, so you haven’t mooned me or anything. Since we’re wide awake, do you want to continue talking about the plans?”
Still gripping the waterskin, Nyx crawls into the open and takes a seat on the edge of their bed. Patting the area behind her, she waits for Delvin to stretch out before leaning back with her head against his stomach. Having the warrior pinned between herself and the wall, the half-elf takes a long drink of water and sighs
in contentment. Her mood sours slightly when she sees the mess on the floor, so she creates a wave of force that tosses everything onto all of the beds that sit across the room. Satisfied with her blunt method of cleaning, Nyx takes her time moving until she is in Delvin’s arms. She frowns at the sound of him trying not to choke on her hair, which has grown to the middle of her back and regained a natural sheen that she has not seen since before she became an adventurer. Turning around, she comes nose to nose with her fiancée and cannot resist stealing a little kiss.
“Don’t you think it’s too early to plan such a thing?” Nyx whispers in an attempt to keep her voice as low as possible. With a flick of her finger, she causes the light blanket to roll up to their necks. “I mean, we still have the last temple and who knows what else will happen. Feels like a waste of time to make such big plans and have them destroyed.”
“But the Baron could show up right after we purify the Spirit Well,” Delvin insists while the half-elf runs her thumb around his stubble. He tries to sit up only to find that their covers are magically locked in place. “Timoran and I have already made a few basic tactics that we’ve shared with everyone. Sari and Luke are more interested in playing it by ear, but that seems to work best for them. Dariana is being elusive, but says she’ll work with whatever the rest of us agree on, which makes sense given her telepathy. On the other hand, the two of us really need to come up with something. Our abilities and lives are intertwined, which means we have to be on the same page.”
“Aren’t you being overly dramatic?”
“Aren’t you being a little too relaxed?”
“Let’s not fight about this like we are about the rings.”
“Still think the contest is a disaster and we should just buy them together.”
The Spirit Well Page 4
