Only a Glow

by Nichelle Rae

  I backed away, spun around while sheathing my sword, and quickly made my way as far from the party as I could manage—away from the hateful eyes, away from everything—with Rabryn right at my side.

  We sat silently in the dark woods above The Pitt, Rabryn’s hand clasping mine. I gazed into the deep shadows of the forest, lost in my own thoughts: thoughts of escape, thoughts of my father, my travels, even my mother.

  At long last, Rabryn spoke. “It’s my fault,” he said softly. “I shouldn’t have...”

  I squeezed his hand to silence him. “No one is to blame for that.”

  He was silent a moment and then was the first to speak again. “Thank you.”

  I looked at him confused. “For what?”

  “Protecting me the way you did.”

  I laughed without mirth. “Oh yes! You were in so much danger,” I droned sarcastically.

  “You didn’t know I wasn’t in real danger,” he countered softly, “yet you still stepped in to fight for my life.”

  I smiled at him then looked out into the woods again. “I will always fight for your life.”

  As we sat together in silence, suddenly we heard the footsteps.

  My entire body tensed up at the unexpected sound. No one ever came up here. I felt Rabryn go rigid as well.

  I strained to listen and realized that the sound wasn’t coming from the direction of The Pitt; it was coming toward us from the direction of the outside! A ripple of shock went through me and I shuttered from an icy chill.

  “Rabryn, don’t make any sudden moves but stand up slowly.” I said it so softly I wondered if he heard me at all. He nodded his understanding, and we stood up, not daring to crinkle a single leaf. I stared hard into the blackness of the forest for a moment, unable to see anything. Who or what could possibly be coming at us from the outside of all places? It wasn’t every day, or even every few years, that guests came to The Pitt from beyond the woods.

  “What is it?” Rabryn whispered to me.

  I responded by bringing my finger to my lips and continuing to search the darkness. Moments passed, and ever so slowly the sound drew nearer, snapping sticks and crunching leaves with every heavy step. Whatever it was it wasn’t making any real effort to remain silent. I rested my hand on the hilt of my sword, tensing my body and my senses to full awareness, getting battle ready. My eyes strained into the blackness to see something, anything.

  Finally, I could detect a shadow in the moonlight, staggering forward, not too far ahead. The shadow was hunched over and seemed to be breathing heavily in a struggle to stay alive. The body teetered for a moment, and then a shoulder rested hard against a tree trunk. It held itself there for a moment as Rabryn and I watched, unsure of what to do. My nerves were on end as the head tilted up and the figure stared at us for a long moment. Suddenly, the entire shadow fell forward to the ground with a dull thud.

  Rabryn and I looked at each other, then rushed over to the fallen figure. Rabryn was the first on his knees at the stranger’s side. He was face down on the ground, seemingly near death. I felt an uncanny worry for this person. By the moonlight that the canopy allowed, I saw that this person had numerous bruises and cuts on his exposed arms and on the back of his neck. His shirt and pants were torn to shreds with random bloodstains beginning at his back and continuing all the way down to his calves: whip lashes, and a good beating with a club.

  “Roll him over,” I instructed.

  Rabryn pushed and I pulled, rolling the stranger onto his injured back. His breathing was shallow and heavily labored, revealing that he was at least alive. The slivers of pale moonlight that managed to penetrate the dense treetops didn’t give us much to work with, but as I ran my hands up and down his body feeling for weapons and broken bones, I repeatedly ran into the warm, sticky wetness of his blood.

  Fresh wounds, not even a day old. I glanced around the woods. What thing could be so violent as to cause this type of massive damage, and this close to The Pitt? We were more than a week away from any civilization! Why were these wounds fresh?

  “We can’t help him here,” Rabryn said. “We have to get him back to the house.” He paused and kept a steady gaze on me. “How do we do that?”

  I looked back at him, as clueless as he was. “I guess we have no choice but to carry him.”

  “That’s great, for the person who doesn’t carry him,” Rabryn said dryly.

  I flashed a smile despite the situation, and that’s when I felt the gentle touch of fingertips on my cheek. I jumped with a start and snapped my eyes down to look at the stranger. A thin ray of moonlight lay across his eyes that were just barely opened into slits. The look in them was so strange; I’d never seen it before. Before I could read them, the eyes closed abruptly and the hand fell limply to the ground. Rabryn and I would have thought him dead, but the sound of his breathing deflated that concern.

  “Let’s both lift him. Together we can carry him,” I said, still feeling the tingle of the fingertips on my cheek.

  Rabryn nodded and slipped both of his arms under the stranger’s. I picked up his legs and we began our journey to the house. We carefully carried the unconscious man down, down the steep grasses to the plane. We kept ourselves hidden in the shadows all the way home to avoid attention. The man grew increasingly heavier as we walked, which was expected. Sweat was trickling down our brows and backs by the time we entered the front door.

  “Couch!” I barked, very ready to put him down.

  “You don’t need to tell me twice,” Rabryn said with a grunt. I would have smiled had my face not been so strained from the effort of carrying the man. We laid him on the large couch and fixed him to comfort.

  “Basin of water and a cloth,” I ordered as I took my cloak off and covered the man. Without question, Rabryn was in the kitchen. “No lights!” I called after him.

  I wanted to keep all the main lights off so no one would think we were doing anything evil or strange. We’d be asleep now had we not stumbled upon this discovery. I didn’t want to draw attention to another “wild walker.”

  I kneeled in front of the man and thought about all the random spots of blood on his body. Unfortunately, I knew I’d need at least a little light to mend them all. I went to the mantle above the fireplace. We kept nothing up there except paintings and an oil lamp. I was groping for the lamp when I heard a strange noise behind me. I paused my search to listen, but all I heard was the sounds of Rabryn getting water. I went on searching for the lamp.

  As I felt the handle, the sound came again. It was like a strained, whispering voice coming from the stranger. I grabbed hold of the lamp and looked toward the couch.

  “Azrel,” it came again.

  I almost dropped the oil lamp. Had he said my name, or were my ears deceiving me?

  “Azrel,” it came more clearly.

  He had indeed said my name! I gazed with wide eyes at the shadow lying on my couch. How did this person know my name? I slowly walked over and gingerly lowered myself to sit atop the short table.

  “Do I…know you?” I asked in a breath, uncertain with myself for asking what should have been a ridiculous question.

  I saw the shadow of his head bob up and down in a slow nod. My heart pounded and I started shaking. How? How could this outsider know me? I pulled the lamp onto my lap and frantically lit it. Pale light reached into the dark shadows of the night and revealed the stranger to me. As the light brightened, it seemed to reach back to illuminate the very shadows of my past. I started to shake, and even brought my hand to my mouth to hold back a scream. I felt the burning of tears behind my eyelids as I looked at his face. Was this really happening? Was I really seeing this?

  His face was pale and bloodstained and some parts swelled up, but it was unmistakable. His high, well-defined cheekbones and his sharp jaw. His thin, shapely lips and the unreal periwinkle eyes that were like a window to his soul, all framed by raven black hair.

  “Ortheldo?” I breathed in disbelief.

  His lips c
urved up into a weak smile. “Hi, Azrel.”

  He was alive! Barely, but he hadn’t perished that snowy day on the river! He was actually here, with me! I practically threw the lamp aside. I fell to my knees in front of the couch, cupping his face into my hands, touching him, feeling him. My eyes washed up and down his beautiful eyes, his nose, and his lips. I was actually seeing him again; I was looking at him with my eyes. My dear friend that I had missed like mad for the past nine years.

  My friend! I had a friend in this hateful world! I had someone that I grew up with, someone I cared greatly for and that cared about me. Someone that took me away from the recent nine years and brought me back to the good times when my father was alive.

  My fingers gently caressed his cheeks and went up into his soft hair. I gently touched him everywhere, making sure I wasn’t dreaming. I was afraid if I touched him too roughly he’d disappear and all this would have been just a wonderful dream. I was so overwhelmed with joy to see him that I couldn’t speak. My friend, my only partner as a girl, was here with me again.

  Rabryn broke the silence when he cleared his throat. I hadn’t noticed him come in. He had a sheepish grin on his face. “I take it you know him?”

  I laughed and willed my joyous tears to not spill forth. “Yes, I do! Rabryn, this is my friend Ortheldo.” Rabryn’s eyes widened as he looked down at him. “Ortheldo, this is my brother, Rabryn.” Ortheldo nodded weakly in greeting.

  I suddenly felt wet, gooey warmth under my hand that rested on his chest. I picked it up to see blood. My eyes went wide. I was so caught up with the emotions of seeing him that I’d forgotten he was badly hurt.

  “Oh, Gods!” I exclaimed, and jumped into action. I pulled my sleeves up and tied my hair up into a messy knot to keep it out of my way as I worked. I brought the short table closer to the couch so I could easily tend to whatever wounds he had. “Just lay still, Ortheldo,” I said softly. “I’ll take care of you.”

  It took more than two hours to dress all the small cuts all over his body. When I finished, I was about to ask him the hundreds of questions aching to get out, but the sound of his steady breathing stopped me. I stared at him as the lamp cast a soft glow upon his sleeping face, giving him such a youthful glow. He was twenty-six now, but what I saw was the ten-year-old boy who, from out of nowhere, had attacked me so long ago. After that day on the river I’d had so many questions about what could have happened to him, and I often wondered if I could ever find him if I tried. All those questions could go away now.

  I ran my fingers through his hair and smiled down at him. After a moment, I stood and reached for the blanket draped over the back of the couch and covered him. I sighed fondly. I couldn’t wait until I’d be able to speak with him.

  I felt a comforting arm encircle my shoulders, and Rabryn rested his head against mine. “Come on, you need to rest. He’ll sleep through tonight and probably all through tomorrow.” We both chuckled. “It’s time for us to sleep. It’s been an exhausting day.”

  The memory of everyone laughing at me returned, but it didn’t hurt nearly as much as it had earlier. While Rabryn guided me up the stairs, I cast a gaze over the railing down at Ortheldo below and smiled.

  I awoke to the most beautiful morning I’d seen since arriving in The Pitt. The sun was warm and bright, and the birds were singing. The smile from last night was still on my face as I laid in bed and gazed out the window. A soft, warm breeze blew in, caressing my face and swirling small strands of my hair up into a merry dance. I sighed in contentment then finally threw my blanket off and walked toward the bathing room down the hall. I lit the fire under the tub to start heating it and went to the hand pump to fill it. It took forever, but eventually it was full. Feeling the water, I decided it needed a little longer to heat to my liking.

  I returned to my room to pick out my clothes. I chose a silk outfit that was much fancier than what I’d usually wear, but this wasn’t a usual day. The smile was still on my face as I pulled out the silky white pants, sky-blue tunic, and a white lace sash that my mother had given me. I grabbed my sword, its belt, and the nicest pair of black boots I owned.

  I went into the bathing room again. After making sure the water was warm enough, I extinguishing the fire and stripped off my nightclothes. I slowly lowered myself into the soothing hot water and laid back, closing my eyes.

  I was enjoying my bath immensely when there was a knock on the door. I sighed. “Yes?” I said, picking up my head against its will.

  Rabryn pushed open the door and poked his head in. He was already clean and dressed and looked like he’d been awake for hours. “Beldorn is downstairs. He said he needs to speak with you immediately about last night and our visitor.”

  I let out an exasperated sigh and rested my head on the edge of the tub again. So much for enjoying my bath. I loved the old man, but he had horrible timing.

  “Alright,” I said, clearly annoyed. “I’ll be down shortly.” I heard Rabryn close the door.

  Last night. The memory of everyone in The Pitt pointing and laughing at me should have upset me, but it didn’t. I was too overjoyed with the arrival of our “visitor” to care.

  I quickly washed my hair and skin with the vials Isadith had given me so long ago. Though I emptied them out every time I bathed, I always came back to find them full again. They smelled as sweet as ever and always refreshed me and made me feel ready for anything. But even Salynn magic couldn’t compete with the hatred for me here. The renewed feeling I got from the smell of the liquids quickly diminished as a day of scorn wore on and on. I often wondered if it was the strong feelings of self-worth I got from using the liquids that kept me sane all the years here.

  I dried myself off and quickly dressed, humming a merry tune as I slipped my sword in the belt and made my way downstairs. I gazed over the railing at Ortheldo. He was still asleep. If it were possible, he seemed even more handsome in the light of the sun, despite the visible cuts and bruises. Beldorn was sitting in the chair across from the short table, opposite where Ortheldo slept, and Rabryn sat on the short table facing the Wizard.

  “Good morning,” I said cheerfully as I bounced off the bottom step and walked to Ortheldo. I barely heard their responses as I gazed down at Ortheldo’s face. Bending over him, I smiled as I brushed my hand over his forehead and ran my fingers through his dirty black hair. I sighed, and for a moment I wished he’d open his gorgeous periwinkle eyes just so I could see them.

  Beldorn cleared his throat to get my attention. I turned back to him and flushed crimson when I saw both watching me. “Sorry,” I muttered, pulling Ortheldo’s blanket to his chin and taking a seat next to Rabryn on the short table. “Now, what is so important that you had to interrupt my bath, Old Man?” I teased.

  “You are in good spirits despite last night’s events,” Beldorn said.

  I smiled and shrugged. “There was more to last night than being humiliated.” I gestured back to Ortheldo. “Look who’s sleeping on my couch.”

  “I can see,” he replied with a smile. “That is actually one of the two things I wanted to speak to you about. But first I wished to apologize for making the image of a Gorkor appear to attack your brother.”

  “There’s no need, Beldorn. Everything turned out wonderful. What do you need to tell me about Ortheldo?”

  “What you want to know about Ortheldo would be best told by him when he wakes. What I need to speak with you about is what Ortheldo was baring here.”

  Tension suddenly hung in the air like an invisible fog. I didn’t like Beldorn’s tone. Confusion and more dread slithered through my soul like a snake, a snake I was all too familiar with; the last time it appeared was just before my father handed me the sword and died. My stomach sank at the thought that this perfect day was about to go very ill.

  “Okay,” I said my eyebrows drawing together. “What was Ortheldo baring here?”

  Without a word, Rabryn reached into the pocket of his gray pants and pulled out what seemed to be a necklace.
It was a simple chain of white metal, but my attention was diverted to the single gem dangling from it.

  It was a white jewel that resembled the white diamonds on the hilt of my sword, but wasn’t quite the same. This jewel was perfectly round and a little larger than a small marble. But the most distinct oddity was the soft orange glow emitting from deep inside it.

  Rabryn held it out to me, and I gently took it from him. “What in Casdanarus is this?” I asked in awe.

  “I plucked it out of the stream near where we found Ortheldo,” Rabryn said. “The orange glow made it rather noticeable.”

  “How long have you been awake?” I asked half teasingly, trying to salvage what could still turn out to be a good day.

  He smiled in reply. “A little while.”

  “It was good fortune that Rabryn found it,” Beldorn went on. “My guess is whatever evil did this damage to Ortheldo, did so because he had this necklace, and they wanted it.”

  “How do you know Ortheldo had it?” I asked.

  “I don’t. These are just guesses.”

  I lightly clasped the gem. To my surprise, it seemed to pulsate with warmth, as if life was churning inside of it. “Wow,” I managed after finding my voice. “Why was it in the stream, though?”

  “Beldorn and I guess Ortheldo chucked it in the river to hide it,” Rabryn said, “in case whatever was pursuing him managed to kill him.”

  My heart twisted suddenly. “So, someone wanted this necklace bad enough to kill for it?” I could have lost Ortheldo again, for good this time. And what was evil doing lurking around here, of all places? And why had Ortheldo brought the necklace here?

  Beldorn looked at me, his blue eyes holding a solemn look. “Someone or something,” he said, the edge of his voice sharp enough to cut steel.