Only a Glow

by Nichelle Rae

  I sucked in air and opened my eyes. The huge snake face was directly in front of mine, making me jerk back in shock. Then I looked down at my shoulders to see a beautiful white satin robe resting on them. I looked back at the snake eyes. Unable to hold them in my gaze, I looked down again, slipping my arms into the robe and clutching it closed with my fists.

  “Thank you,” I managed in a breathless voice. I attempted to look at the face again.

  “I am Norka, Misssstress. You have nothing to fear from me.”

  “Why are you calling me Mistress and kneeling before me? That isn’t necessary, Norka.” I was stunned at how my voice sounded, so proper and confident. I didn’t even think about those words before I spoke them.

  “My Missstresss, the blue dragon Laroevith ssaid I must kneel in your wake and addressss you properly. The Light Sprite Biktin, my Massster, sssaid there was no need.” The long split of the mouth seemed to curve up in a smile. “I decided to do as my Missstress wanted ssso in casse sshe was right, I wouldn’t lose my head.” It leaned toward me and seemed to give me a meaningful look. “My neck isss too easy a target.” I laughed at the truth of that.

  Over the sound of the waterfall, I heard the distant commotion. Two pairs of feet ran madly toward me. “Ortheldo and Rabryn,” I whispered, looking over Norka’s shoulder toward the woods.

  “What did you sssay, Misssstress?”

  I smiled as I stood up, tying the robe closed. “Please, no more of this Mistress nonsense. My name is Azrel.”

  Norka didn’t move from the squat position and looked up at me, “A pleasure, Azrel.”

  “Oh, don’t say that yet.” I knew that Ortheldo and Rabryn were coming toward us, armed, and with no pleasantries in mind. I bent and took Norka’s manly hands into mine. Norka was male I finally realized. I let him rise to his feet.

  Ortheldo and Rabryn burst out of the trees, both breathless, with bows held taut and a thirst for blood in their eyes. When they saw Norka, who didn’t flinch, they faltered in amazement. Ortheldo’s clothes were rumpled and crooked and he was still barefoot. Sweat dripped heavily off their faces, Ortheldo’s more than Rabryn’s.

  Though his gaze was wide and his voice a whisper, Ortheldo tried to remain undaunted. “Azrel, get away from it.” Rabryn looked too stunned to blink, never mind release the arrow.

  “Lower your weapons,” I said softly, still standing behind Norka. “This is Norka, and he’s only here to help. This is my brother, Rabryn, and my friend, Ortheldo.”

  “Did he hurt you?” Rabryn asked, finally finding his voice.

  I pulled the corners of my mouth inward and put my hands on my hips, making my eyes dance with amusement. “Do you think he’d be alive if he had? He only surprised me. That's why I screamed.” Rabryn softened a little but didn’t lower his weapon.

  Ortheldo held Norka with a hard glare, not softening a bit. “What do you want?”

  “I only wisssh to help the Missstress.”

  “Why do you want to help?”

  Norka seemed to falter on that question and suddenly I saw a fire in his yellow eyes that outmatch Ortheldo’s. It didn’t look like he wanted to hurt Ortheldo; instead, it seemed like a fire aimed inward, as if Norka was angry with himself. Regardless, it was clear Norka didn’t like the question and he wasn’t going to answer.

  “Ortheldo, Rabryn, please go on back to camp and start packing up the horses.”

  “Already done,” Rabryn said. He wasn’t holding his weapon as high, but he still had an arrow notched.

  “Well, go anyway. I need to finish my bath.”

  “I will not leave you alone,” Ortheldo said firmly.

  “No need to worry, Ssssir Ortheldo. I’ll be with her,” Norka offered gently.

  Ortheldo’s eyes narrowed evilly at him. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

  “Ortheldo,” I said gently and walked passed Norka toward him. “Go back to camp. I’ll be fine.” I looked at him smugly. “I’m a grown woman. You can’t babysit me.”

  Ortheldo let out a breath and tensed up in annoyance. “This is different.” I could see in his eyes he was trying to keep his temper in check.

  “How so?” I prodded.

  Big mistake.

  “It just is!” He cried and glared at me. “Why do you have to be so damn headstrong? Why can’t you once, just once, accept the protection offered to you?”

  I was stunned. Why was he suddenly coming out with this kind of argument, and so ferociously?

  “Because I don’t need it,” I said a bit perplexed.

  He growled in frustration and pulled at his hair for a second. “Fine! I’ll go back to camp and continue to be completely useless!” His face was twisted in hate and he pointed a menacing finger at Norka. “But know this, Snake! If you harm her in anyway, you will beg to die before I’m done with you!” He turned and stormed through the trees toward camp.

  Rabryn watched after him a moment then back at me. “What was that about?”

  I looked after Ortheldo with wide eyes. “I have no idea.” After a moment, I nodded my chin toward the trees. “Go with him Rabryn. I’ll be fine.”

  He gave a little nod and finally freed the arrow from his string. With a last glance at Norka, he went into the trees.

  I took in a deep breath and blew it out, then turned to Norka. He was sitting with his back to me on the far edge of the rock. His legs dangled over the side. His long neck allowed him to crane his head back and look at me. “I’ll keep my back turned while you bathe, Missstress.”

  I forced a smile. “I told you, there is no need to call me Mistress. Azrel is fine.”

  He simply nodded and turned away, but not before I thought I caught a flash of sadness in the yellow eyes. I ignored it as I dropped the white robe onto the ground and got under the waterfall.

  “So where are you from, Norka?” I asked as I reached for the first vial of Isadith’s that Ortheldo had brought to me. I watched as Norka’s head seemed to sink in a shameful way.

  “I am from Fayithjen Forresssst,” he replied quietly.

  I almost dropped the vial. Of course he was! How could I have forgotten? All Fayithjens were half human, half creature. More importantly, they were harmless.

  “Ah, Fayithjen,” I said, recovering from my stupidity of being suspicious of him. “That’s a lovely land.”

  Norka’s head turned slightly toward me, his eyes staying down. “You’ve sssseen it?”

  I nodded as I poured the purple liquid into my hand. “I visited there once, a long time ago.” I smiled as the smell of the Salynn liquid invaded my nostrils then put it in my hair. “Maybe you remember having two visitors about eight years ago? Me and a Wizard?” I only half noticed that Norka’s head dropped even lower. I suddenly froze and looked hard at his back. “Fayithjen is so far east, though! What are you doing here? How did you even find us?”

  Norka was silent for a long time. After a while I decided he wasn’t going to answer and glanced at my sword to make sure it was still easily accessible. I rinsed out the purple liquid, picked up the vial of dark pink liquid and put the contents in my hair. The sweet smell invigorated me. I took the last vial of orange liquid and poured it into the lavender cloth to begin washing my skin.

  “Those liquids sssmell lovely, Azrel,” Norka said as I rinsed myself off.

  I smiled at his back. “A Salynn from Galad Kas gave them to me.”

  Norka nodded. “Sssalynn gifts are usually very sssspecial.”

  His voice was far away and distant. Something deeply troubled him. I had a lot of questions I wanted to ask, but I figured it’d be best to bide my time. Better to establish trust between us first.

  I stepped out of the waterfall. “Especially when one offers the gift of friendship,” I said as I wrapped the large blue cloth around my body.

  Norka’s head turned slightly back to me again. I went to him and squatted beside him, and we stared at each other for a moment. His eyes went large as I gently placed my hand on top o
f his. He looked down at our exchange as if to make sure I was really touching him in such a gentle way. He raised his head slowly and he looked deep in my eyes.

  “Friendship is a gift I would like to give to you, if you let me,” I said. “But I can’t befriend someone I don’t know, or worse yet, who won’t let me get to know them.”

  “But I hardly know you and I ssstill wish to befriend you.”

  I looked down for a minute and saw that his hand was carefully holding mine. I smiled to myself and looked up. “Unfortunately, your eagerness to befriend me, especially when I bear something of great value, makes me suspicious of you.” I started to place my hand on his shoulder, but before I even touched him he flinched and cowered back as if I were going to strike him. My heart bled suddenly for him. I wondered what had happened to him make him so sad and frightened. I paused with my hand still in the air before I slowly rested it on his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Realizing I wasn’t going to hurt him, he looked into my eyes again.

  “If your true intent is to help, and not harm me or my companions, then we must establish a trust between each other,” I said. “If you open up to me and tell me about yourself, I won’t find it so difficult to befriend you.” I paused and looked into his snake eyes. “Will you tell me about yourself at all?”

  He seemed to smile. “We should get on the road first.”

  I smiled. “Fair enough. It’s a long road, and we’ll have plenty of time to talk.”

  Norka nodded, and we both stood. For the first time, I realized I was just shorter than his shoulders. Before I could become intimidated, I began to gather my things. I paused at the deep red cloth that Ortheldo had wrapped around his waist. I sighed as I picked it up, wondering if he really was angry with me. I would have to talk to him.

  I threw on my sky-blue tunic, white pants, and my boots. It was the same outfit I was wearing when I’d left The Pitt, but I had been too tired when I set out for my bath to think of grabbing anything, including a new set of clothes.

  With Norka in tow, I made my way through the woods toward the camp. The boys were brushing their horses as we approached. I went to Forfirith and packed away my cloths and my vials, then stepped up to Ortheldo. He refused to look at me as I stood beside him. My eyes narrowed into slits and I held out the deep red cloth he’d worn, pressing it against his chest, waiting for an explanation of his outburst. His face softened as he took it. I crossed my arms over my chest and waited for him to speak.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, draping the cloth over the saddle. He rested both his arms on top of it, one hand clasping in the other. “Azrel, I didn’t mean to react the way I did. It’s just,” he finally looked at me, “when I heard you scream, it felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest.” He looked down at the saddle again. “I felt so helpless standing so far below, unable to do anything for you.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “I wanted to die when I heard you scream.” His voice cracked with emotion, making my face soften.

  He turned away from Urylia and faced me. “Azrel, I can’t lose you again. I can’t!” He looked down again. “I was scared for you, and then you acted as if nothing had happened, like it was no big deal. I just lost it.” He sighed. “I didn’t mean to take anything out on you. That was just me letting out the fear I felt at the thought that you could be hurt, or I might lose you.” He looked at me. “Can you forgive me?”

  I smiled and wrapped my arms around him. “Of course, I can.” He sighed heavily and took me in his arms, burying his face in the crook of my neck.

  I never wanted to let him go.

  The sudden realization that I never wanted him to leave my arms caught me off guard. Why was I feeling these things for him? What did it mean? But I didn’t care right now, and I held him tighter. I found myself bringing my hand up and gently clutching the hair behind his head. His soft, warm breath on my neck sent shivers down my spine.

  I never wanted to move. I felt so safe and secure in his arms. Safe—that was a feeling I wasn’t used to, but I liked it. Heat tingled all over my skin and made my heart race faster as I enjoyed the closeness between us. I held him tighter and turned my face into his neck.

  Without warning I snapped to my senses. What was I doing? I pulled away and stepped back, fiddling with my fingers as I tried to calm myself and push the feelings away. My breathing had become a bit more rapid. I had to stare at his chest to push away the urge to touch him again.

  After a few breaths, I calmed down and I let my eyes travel up to his face. “I’m sorry.”

  “For what?” he asked. “I’ve never enjoyed any single moment in my life more than that.”

  I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t want to call him a liar, though I believed he was one. No, he couldn’t feel what I felt, whatever that was. I wasn’t that lucky. I was evil; nothing good came from me, and he knew it. He wouldn’t have such feelings for an evil creature. He was probably frightened, if anything. Thankfully he changed the subject.

  “You smell amazing! What is that?”

  I smiled and regained my self-control. “The vials you brought me were a gift from a Salynn friend, Isadith of Galad Kas.”

  He smirked. “I’ll have to remember to thank her for such gifts.”

  I laughed and turned away. “Come on, let’s go.” I heard Ortheldo mount as I went to Forfirith. As I passed my brother, I caught a glimpse of impish amusement in his eyes as he brushed Eleclya. I rolled my eyes and walked past him giving his shoulder a shove. “Shut up,” I said. He laughed in response.

  Forfirith stood proud and tall and nudged me with his nose when I stood in front of him. I smiled and pet his cheek. “Hey, boy, I need to ask you a favor. We have someone new traveling with us. Would you mind letting him ride on you?”

  “There isss no need, Azrel,” Norka’s voice said. I turned and saw him mounted on his own steed of a beautiful red color with a red mane to match. He smiled proudly. “Thisss is Red Wing.”

  My eyebrows went up as my eyes went wide. “Wow! She is beautiful.” Forfirith nudged my cheek hard, as if he understood my words and didn’t like what he heard. I looked at him and smiled, placing my hands affectionately on his cheeks. “I said she was beautiful. That doesn’t mean I don’t think you are, too.” Forfirith whickered a response.

  I liked to pretend he could understand me. Though we hadn’t known each other long, we had a great understanding. I smiled and pressed my forehead against his face, then mounted him. The wind was a little chilly, so I grabbed my cloak from my pack and put it on. Rabryn and Ortheldo had done the same.

  I looked back at Norka. “Do you know where we are going?”

  “Rockssssheloc?”

  My eyebrows dropped. “How could you possibly know that?”

  He ignored my question. “I will ride behind to keep an eye out.”

  “But how will we talk and establish trust if you ride behind?”

  “The road isss long. We have plenty of time.”

  I felt one of my brows go up. “Okay,” I said. I was a bit more suspicious now. I didn’t like having my back to him. The boys and I turned our horses and began a light canter abreast the grass clearing, me in the center, Ortheldo on my right, Rabryn my left.

  I glanced back at Norka. What did he think he was guarding us from? Nothing should be between us and The Pitt. Then again, Feariters shouldn’t have been this far west.

  “I don’t trust him,” Ortheldo said to me.

  I watched Norka for another moment, then turned my eyes forward. “I’m beginning to question my trust, as well.”

  “What is he?” Rabryn asked hesitantly, again feeling foolish for having questions.

  “He’s a Fayithjen.” I replied, keeping my eyes in front of me.

  “A Fayithjen,” Ortheldo muttered. “What’s he doing so far west?”

  I absentmindedly reached into my pocket to be sure the necklace was still there. I’d left it in there when I bathed in hopes that nothing evil would suspect it in a pile of c
lothes near a cliff side.

  “I don’t know,” I shook my head. “My best guess would be he felt the presence of the necklace and followed it here.”

  Ortheldo studied me a moment. “Well, I’m glad to see you’re not letting his kind manner blind you to that possibility.”

  I smiled at him. “Do you think I’m so witless that I would let a simple word such as ‘Mistress’ blind me to dangers?”

  He returned my smile. “I suppose not.”

  “What’s a Fayithjen?” Rabryn asked cautiously, again feeling inferior.

  I smiled at him encouragingly, letting him know I didn’t think he was foolish for asking questions. I wanted him to ask questions. The more he knew, the more prepared he would be out here in the world. “Fayithjens are creatures like Norka, half human, half animal. They live in Fayithjen Forest, which is far to the east. They are peaceful people. They’ve been to war once, a small war a long time ago, but they were victorious.

  “Though they are half human, they have the qualities like the incredible strength, or the intelligence of the animal that makes up their other half. For example, their ruler, Queen Sauryavia, is half owl. That makes her wise and noble, thus giving her great qualities for a leader.”

  Rabryn stared at me with wide eyes. “I didn’t know there were such creatures!” Ortheldo and I laughed, making Rabryn redden.

  “No, no,” Ortheldo said, “We’re not laughing at you. You need to ask questions. It’s just that there are much stranger creatures than Fayithjens, and your reaction to them should be enjoyable. As I told you last night, it’s not all bad out here.”

  Just most of it, I wanted to say. But I held my tongue.

  “And I’ll enjoy learning about it and sharing it with you both,” Rabryn said with a smile.

  “Alright, master travel guide,” I said to Ortheldo. “How far is it to the mouth of Crox Path?”