by Brindi Quinn
“No, Nyte. He’s right. We can’t. Until we know what this is, we can’t. I’m not doing this to you anymore. I refuse!” That last bit had been a little too loud. A few early morning merchants turned to look up at the balcony.
Ah! I ducked down to avoid their curious stares.
“Miss . . . Hav . . .” Nyte’s eyes drooped back shut.
“Just rest.” I reached out to stroke his cheek, but Ardette snatched my wrist.
“Nope,” he said.
I winced but nodded.
“Er, guys?” Grotts had poked his head out of the door behind us. “I dunno what’s goin’ on out here, but we’ve got a serious problem.”
“Problem?” asked Ardette, releasing my wrist. Though he raised a brow, his tone was entirely uninterested.
Uh-oh. I didn’t like the apprehensive expression on Grotts’ face.
“What sort of problem?” I asked, bracing myself.
“One ‘o the minors spotted a strange fog day before last. Said it made ‘im feel . . . sad.”
“Strange fog? You mean the mist!?”
Another Feirgh?!
Grotts shrugged. “Could be. It was on the south side ‘o the city.”
“That’s the direction of the prophecy!” I scrambled to my feet. “Day before last? Do you think Rend and Scardo got caught in it?!”
“That’s what I was thinkin’,” answered Grotts, rubbing his chin. “Either way, we’ve got no choice but to examine it. So quit yer twitterin’ and get ready!”
“Of course!” I glanced back down at the shut-eyed, still-pale Elf and felt a prick of pain in my heart. “But what about Nyte?!”
“Why, we’ll leave him of course,” said Ardette, flashing a perfect smile. “After all, we have no choice.” He was far too pleased with the thought.
I shot him a stern glare. “No!”
Still, what other choice did we have? But there’s no way I’m leaving him behind!
“I’ll carry him a ways,” offered Grotts, “but I don’ know how long I’ll be able to support such a . . . a . . . er . . .”
“Lanky individual?” chimed Ardette.
“Er- I guess.”
“Really?! Thanks Grotts!” His offer took me by surprise. What a burden it would be for him and yet . . . Trying, to convey my appreciation with everything in me, I bore my eyes into him. “Really, thank you.”
He shuffled his feet. “It’s nothin’. Now, let’s git goin’!”
~
By the time we were out of the city, Nyte had already awoken and regained some of his color, though he was still too weak to walk on his own. Upon awakening, he’d used whatever strength he had to drop from the Grotts’ arms, instead insisting on walking alongside the great man and using him as a support. An Elf’s pride wouldn’t allow him to consciously accept a favor like being carried.
“Suit yerself,” muttered Grotts. He was just as glad to be rid of the uncomfortable task as Nyte was.
“That was the most shameful thing I have ever endured,” panted Nyte, stumbling alongside. “To be carried like a babe. Still, you have my deepest gratitude, Grotts.”
“Oh? I rather enjoyed seeing you like that,” said Ardette. “It suited your nature. A weak encumbrance-”
“Can it, Ardette!” warned Kantú, flicking him with her tail, in response to which he grabbed said appendage, and burying his face, wrapped it around his neck like a scarf.
He peeked over the top at her with seductive eyes. “You were saying, my feisty little squirrel?”
“Eek! N-nothing!” she sputtered.
I rolled my eyes.
“Lecherous!” scoffed Nyte.
“Oh? Lecherous, am I? You’re one to talk. Just who was it that corrupted the Pure Heart’s innocence?”
Kantú dropped her mouth and stared at me with wide, shocked eyes.
“Eeyaah!?” I let out a squeal. “No, that’s not-”
“You dare think I would do something so vulgar!” yelled Nyte. For someone in recovery, he certainly wasn’t doing much to conserve his strength. “I assure you, she remains uncorrupted.”
Kantú eyed me suspiciously, but I waved my hands wildly in front of me to fend off any doubt.
“Is that so?” said Ardette, smoothing back his hair. “Then I guess I’ll just have to corrupt her myself-”
“Would the two ‘o you knock it off?!” growled Grotts. He gripped his hammer menacingly.
“Yeah, cut it out!” Kantú nodded and pulled her tail away from the flirty Daem. “Do you think a girl enjoys that sort of petty fighting? And over such an uncomfortable topic too!”
I gave her my unspoken thanks for saying what I couldn’t. Truthfully, it was getting to be very uncomfortable around those two. There were so many bigger things for them to be concerned with, but they insisted on provoking each other like that. It was tiring.
“You are right,” said Nyte, noticeably disgraced by the words. “I apologize.”
Ardette smiled brightly. “Best be a bit nicer, Elf, or your memory will remain sealed forever.”
“You best be a bit nicer, Ardette,” threatened Grotts “or I’ll tell ‘em Darch’s story!”
Darch’s story? Whatever it meant, it was enough to catch Ardette off-guard.
“My, my, what’s this? If I’m not mistaken you’re referring to blackmail?” For a moment, he looked panicked, but he quickly recovered a cool air. “Er, why would I care about something like that? Think you’ve got something on me, do you?” But it appeared Grotts really did have some leverage, for Ardette next said, “I suppose the gentlemanly thing to do in this type of situation would be to propose some sort of truce?” But the way he said ‘truce’ with such contempt betrayed his true loathing of the idea.
“I agree.” Nyte bowed. “You have my word-”
“Ugh. Always so formal. I get it. I get it. But be warned, you are still not allowed to touch her, and I will stop you using any force necessary if you try. Cutting off an arm or two might do the trick-”
“Ardette! Enough!” I snapped. He’s driving me crazy!
He merely flashed me a smile without looking sorry in the least for my annoyance. I growled and marched away.
I’d been under the cover of Grotts’ enormous shadow, but as I now moved from it, I realized just how bright everything was. That blinding morning sun had carried over into the day; and while it seemed brighter than normal, it wasn’t hot. Just comfortable . . . but really bright . . . almost too bright. It was a little disorienting being surrounded by so much shimmering whiteness. A cloud or two could have served to dim such brilliance, but it seemed the sky had no intention of helping us out. It was unchanging . . . and bright.
My face took on a permanent squint.
“Um, Grottsy?” said Kantú after a while, shielding her eyes. “Just how far out of town was this mist supposed to be?”
“Well, that’s the part that gets me. Guy said it was only ‘bout an hour out, but that was two days ago, and it never entered the city or anything.”
“So, it either moved away or was defeated,” said Nyte, furrowing his brow.
“Right,” said Grotts. “But, last time, the only thing that hurt it was . . .” His husky voice trailed off. Even through the brightness I saw the sideways glance he shot Ardette.
Why did they both look so wary?
The only thing that hurt it was . . .
“Us,” I finished. “I used Nyte’s power and . . . and . . .” There it was. My own words had struck a nerve within me.
His power.
That had been the first time I used it.
His spirit.
The sun’s blinding whiteness was now filling the entire sky, flooding the world in a mantle of brightness. I couldn’t see anything. Just white.
His warmth.
The brightness was inside of me now. Inside of my head. It was too bright. I was too bright.
Give me-
“His power,” I mumbled.
“Ah, ah, ah, my naughty cherry pit.”
“Huh?!” I shook my head and blinked. It wasn’t bright. Well, it was, but it wasn’t abnormally bright. Just sunny.
Ardette’s arms were around me, and he was holding me back. My hand was outstretched at Nyte, my fingertips just inches from his chest.
“What?!” I asked, startled. I hadn’t even realized what I’d been doing! I quickly pulled my hand away.
Nyte said nothing, only stared down at the retracted hand with unreadable eyes.
“Whoa, Aura, you looked kinda scary,” said Kantú. There was uncertainty in her voice.
“I’m sorry!” What’s wrong with me?!
Ardette still hadn’t removed his hold. “Why apologize?” he said softly. “After all, you’re only doing it so that I have to ‘rescue’ you, isn’t that right?”
“Psh!” I shook him off.
Nyte was still staring.
“Oy!” Grotts shook him.
“Just a little,” Nyte said longingly. “Can she not have just a little?”
“Nyte? No! What are you saying?!” I backed away from him. The temptation was way too great. He was too eager to give me that power.
“Are ya outta yer mind?!” snarled Grotts. He studied Nyte with disbelief. “Ardette, this is worse than I thought. Can’t ya do somethin’?”
“Hmph.” Ardette walked over to Nyte and stared at him for a moment, but Nyte didn’t shift his gaze from me. In fact, he took no notice of Ardette at all.
Nyte?
Ardette leaned forward and then abruptly brought his hand to Nyte’s chest, but Nyte’s hand shot up and blocked Ardette before he could reach whatever he’d been after. Whatever he’d been after? I didn’t have to wonder. It was clear. I’d just witnessed another failed attempt at removing the pendant.
“Er?” Nyte shook his head and stared down at his hand with a bewildered expression.
“Interesting,” muttered Ardette.
What in Farellah is going on?! Is that pendant causing this? But that’s not possible. It’s not even touching me. It can’t be making me crave Nyte, can it?
But we weren’t given time to discuss the matter, for at that moment, Kantú whirled around. “He’s here!” she said excitedly.
“He?” I asked.
“You’ll see,” mumbled Grotts.
The three men and Kantú looked up at the sky, so I did the same, not really understanding what we were looking for.
“Guys?” I prodded.
But then I saw it, a glittering white bird soaring through the sky.
“Huh?” I looked at Nyte. “Is that . . . ?”
He nodded.
“My pet!” squealed Kantú.
“What!? That’s your pet?” The disbelief reflected in my voice.
I’d seen it before. Nyte and I both had. It’d been there after we’d left Earthden. It was unmistakable. That bird. Surely, a creature like that wasn’t common.
But how? I didn’t get it – how she’d managed to acquire such a ‘pet’, and how her pet could have possibly been there that day. I didn’t get it at all, so the only thing I could do was observe in silent shock.
The bird circled around us a bit before turning beak-down and diving straight at Kantú. The smiling Squirrelean remained calm even though it looked like the bird would pelt into her. Indeed, it almost did, but at the last minute it slowed itself with its large walloping wings before landing lightly on her outstretched arm. The creature was just as it’d been the other time I’d seen it – nearly glowing.
“Did you find anything?” Kantú asked the bird.
She’s talking to it?!
I studied the rest of the party, but they all watched on like this was a completely ordinary and not-worth-comment occurrence. Kantú perked her ears forward, listening intently for an answer that would definitely never come.
“Uh-hu . . .” she said after a moment, nodding though the bird had uttered nothing. “Yeah? Oh!”
What the heck is she doing?!
“The feather man says the mist is gone!” she chittered.
“Feather man?!” I blurted, completely confused.
“Oh, right!” She giggled. “The feather man’s been using this manifestation. This,” – she gestured to the perching bird – “is his true after-form, the one he used before he met me!”
“Eh?” Is that really true? I guess it kind of explains the feathers, but how weird!
A deep laugh escaped Ardette.
“He’s been off scoutin’,” explained Grotts. “Lookin’ for Rend and Scardo.”
I stared at the others in wonder. They all seemed perfectly accepting of this. Even Nyte. I looked to him for a bit of elaboration or maybe a bit of normalcy.
“I was surprised in a manner similar to yours,” he said, his tone understanding, “but like the rest, I have had time to grow accustomed to what at first seemed an absurdity.”
An absurdity. That was the perfect word for it. For some reason, I felt especially uneasy around the creature. Maybe I held a special wariness for the spirit that always spoke in ominous codes and took Kantú’s body hostage at will. Or maybe I was just bitter that it had never really answered anything I asked forthright, if it bothered to answer at all. Or maybe I was still uptight about that last ‘true Judas’ comment.
The bird stared at me in a most uncomfortable manner.
Hm. No matter how weird this is, I guess we have encountered things just as strange along this journey. Plus, I really have no time to draw it out longer than necessary.
I resolved to let myself ‘grow accustomed’ as Nyte had.
“All right,” I said slowly. “Well, I don’t understand really, but you said it- er, he was scouting? Did he find Rend and Scardo? That’s more important right now.”
“Hold on a sec.” Kantú tilted her head to the side and closed her eyes. She was silent for a moment before jumping up and saying, “Oh! That’s probably it! Take us there!”
The bird lit from her arm with a few giant flaps and took off, ascending into the clear sky and reflecting the already bright sun with each push of wing.
“Well? Do share,” said Ardette with an air of disinterest. He let out a lazy sigh like the entire ordeal was bothersome for him.
“It’s great!” Kantú twitched her nose enthusiastically. “He thinks Rend and Scardo were the ones that got rid of the Feirgh!”
“So it was a Feirgh?! Is he sure?”
Kantú nodded.
Grotts scratched his eyebrow. “How’s ‘e figure they did that?”
“He thinks they managed to send it to another dimension! He’s going to take us to one of the crystal portals right now!”
“Crystal portals?” I asked.
This time I wasn’t the only one puzzled. The others also looked at her with questioning eyebrows and uneasy lips.
“Let’s go!” Kantú didn’t explain further. She just trotted off after the bird.
I stared at her fleeting back. “What?!”
“Hm,” said Ardette, shrugging. “I think in this situation it might be better not to ask. Well then, I suppose . . .” He pulled up his hood and ran off after her.
Nyte straightened up. “Grotts, I wish to walk on my own from here on. I humbly and sincerely thank you for your assistance.”
“Er, yeah, sure.” Grotts removed his bracing arm. He rolled his shoulder back, cracking a joint that had stiffened from Nyte’s weight and then turned to us. “Alrigh’ ya two, now don’t do anythin’ to let Ardette have his fun. I know ya can handle yerselves, but just give a shout if ya need help. Better it be me than ‘im. He’s got enough trouble runnin’ through that dumblebrained head right now, if ya know what I mean.” He grinned and winked before taking his beloved hammer in both arms like a sleeping damsel and shuffling off after Kantú and Ardette.
Thanks Grotts. Once again, the great man had offered a knowing, or rather, a reassurance that helped to settle my inner chaos a bit.
I turned to Nyte. His color was back, his legs steady. We’d been t
ogether all day, but being alone with him brought my nerves to life. It was all I could do to keep from running to him.
“Feeling better?” I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
Nyte smirked. “Much.”
I almost returned the smirk, but stopped, unable to let myself fully enjoy the moment in lieu of the guilt I felt. I shook my head. “There really isn’t anything I can say to properly tell you how awfully I feel.”
Nyte dropped the smirk and winced. “Please, do not say such things, Miss Havoc. The most painful thing would be for you to blame yourself for the sins I have willingly committed. Anything that has happened has been my choice.” The smirk returned. “And it has been worth it. I never thought I would hear you utter those words.”
Those words? My face grew hot.
“I . . . meant them,” I said in a small voice. Gah! Why am I so unsure of myself all of a sudden?! Even after last night.
His eyes lingered on my cheeks and they grew even hotter. I loved this feeling, this nervous, anxious, aware feeling of being alone with him, but . . . being alone was too dangerous. I was worried about what I might do – what I was capable of.
“Well,” I said, struggling to sound collected, “we’re going to get left behind if we don’t hurry.” But this time my voice was only a trifle bigger.
He nodded but didn’t remove his forest gaze.
After a moment he spoke. “Someday, I will hold you enough to make up for these times I cannot.” An immense longing flooded the green of his irises.
As if to respond on its own accord, my body shivered.
“Uh-” Say something, dummy! But I couldn’t. My tongue felt loose in my mouth, like if I tried to speak, it would roll out sickly.
Nyte shot me a grin of mischief. “Now then, try to keep up, slowpoke!”
“Keep up?” I could form at least those two words.
He winked and then sprinted away at an only slightly slower-than-normal Elf’s pace. I stared after him dumbly for a moment while my angry oxygen-deprived lungs took in a few deep, shaky breaths.
I guess he really has recovered.
“Hey! Wait for me! Show off!”
I ran after him, my feet sinking into the sand with each stride. The distance between us was good. I could pursue him if he kept running. I could breathe if he kept running.
