Only a Glow

by Nichelle Rae

  I smiled. “Thank you, my friend.” Ortheldo and Rabryn relaxed as well.

  Norka grinned as he straightened himself up and his mood became brighter than I’d ever seen it. I considered his eyes, and for the first time I saw a sliver of hope in them. “I’m glad you’re back, White Warrior,” he said.

  I smiled uncomfortably and stepped away from him. There was no way I could be responsible for the sliver of hope in his eyes. I was a useless White Warrior. I hadn’t done anything special like my father had. I never even used my magic. Norka stared at me for a few more moments until I became squeamish and started looking around for something, anything, to do.

  “Well!” Norka finally said, brightly. “Are there any warriors among usss who are hungry?” he asked in a cheery tone.

  “Well, we just had supper,” I began, “but if —”

  “Supper?” Ortheldo interrupted. “You call bread, cheese, and dry fruit a supper?” He grinned absurdly, and we all laughed. “Come on,” he said, clapping Norka on the upper arm. “Let’s go hunting for some meat.” They all gathered the hunting supplies from the horses.

  “Coming, Azrel?” Rabryn asked.

  I shook my head and rolled my shoulders back. “No, thanks. Norka can use my bow. I think I’m going to stay here and work my aching muscles. I’ll have a fire ready when you get back.” They came toward me, my brother kissing my cheek, Ortheldo kissing my forehead, and Norka stopping in front of me.

  “I am honored to be using your bow.”

  I smiled and tried not to look as uncomfortable as I felt. “Kill something big with it.”

  “I will try.”

  They headed toward the hill on the other side of the road, which had good growth for hunting. I went to Forfirith and pulled out some light leather gloves Beldorn had packed. I took out my Salynn blade, cut the fingers off the gloves, and put them on. Then I bent down and cut off ends of my pants to free my legs. I also cut the sleeves off my tunic and tossed them aside.

  Suddenly, I heard a whistle behind me as I was putting my hair up into a knot. I spun around just in time to see Norka lower his fingers from his mouth. Rabryn and Ortheldo were doubled over in hysterics!

  I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Jerks,” I muttered, looking at Forfirith. He made a noise like a soft chuckle.

  “Azrel!” Ortheldo called. I turned to face them with my hands on my hips. “Have I told you lately what an amazing pair of legs you have?”

  “Oh, Gods! Get out of here!” I cried, turning away—hopefully before he saw the grin on my face and the blush in my cheeks.

  “Look! She’s turning red!” Ortheldo cried out, and all of them went on laughing.

  I finally turned toward them with a smile. “Shut up and go get me some food!” I called and laughed quietly as they turned and headed up the hill still laughing. I turned back to Forfirith. “Stupid men,” I shook my head. He made another laughing noise. “Alright, boy, how about you and the girls go for a little frolic so I can work the pain from my muscles.”

  I unhitched his saddle and took off his reins and tack, then slapped his bottom. He ran off. I found Red Wing grazing with Eleclya and Urylia.

  “Hey, ladies,” I said as I rounded them up. Horses were so beautiful, and these horses seemed to be more intelligent than average, which made them more fun. I unhitched all three. “Go for a run with Forfirith.” I slapped their bottoms, and they ran off to join my horse. I sighed and put my hands on my hips as I looked around the clearing. “Well, off we go,” and I started for a run down the river.

  …248.

  …249.

  …250.

  With a growl, I pushed myself back to my feet after doing push-ups and slapped my hands together to knock off the dirt. I felt sweat dripping down every inch of my skin—my face, my back, my stomach, my legs, my arms, everywhere. I blew out a breath and wiped my brow with the back of my hand and tried to catch my breath.

  “Whoa!” Ortheldo suddenly cried out. I turned to see him and the other two coming toward me from the foot of the hill, all of them with a kill slung over their backs. “Lords of Light, Azrel, you’re showing an awful lot of tantalizing skin today.”

  “Are you complaining?” Norka asked. They all started laughing again.

  Ortheldo’s eyes locked on mine. “Not at all,” he said and grinned at me as he passed.

  I smiled and shook my head in disbelief while they all set down their game. I looked at the “fire” I’d started for them when I had taken a short break; it was barely a pile of embers now. I twisted my mouth to the side in annoyance.

  “Great fire, sis.” Rabryn said flatly as he crouched near it.

  I smiled. “Hey, I did all the hard stuff. You just have to fan it.” He chuckled as I looked at the other two. “How was hunting?”

  “Great!” Ortheldo replied. “Norka has something to tell you, too.”

  I looked at Norka. “He does?”

  He looked down shyly. “I killed mine myssself.”

  I grinned widely. “I knew you could do it!”

  He beamed a smile, then he looked me up and down with his brows drawn. “Have you been working out thisss whole time?”

  “Are you kidding?” Ortheldo said as he sat on the ground, plucking the feathers from his pheasant kill. “Just smell her and you won't have to ask.”

  They burst into laughter again. I bit my bottom lip trying not to smile, but it came anyway. I walked to him and playfully cuffed him upside his head. “Shut up!” He grinned up at me and winked. I gathered bathing needs and a set of clothes from my packs. “I’ll be back,” I said and headed around the river bend.

  I pulled my shorts off and tossed them aside, then practically had to peel my shirt off. I tossed it away as well, then yanked the band from my hair, letting out the knot. I shivered as drops of cold sweat fell onto the back of my legs.

  “Ugh! Could I be anymore disgusting?” I asked myself aloud. I stepped into the water and waded to the deepest pool, which came up only to my thighs. I sunk down low until my head was submerged and let the cold, clean water wash the grime away. I had to constantly knead the bed of the creek with my toes, as if the solid ground might wash away under me if I didn’t.

  I surfaced with a loud sigh and ran my hands over my wet hair. It felt so good to be clean, and my muscles didn’t hurt as much. After washing myself with Isadith’s liquids, I felt like I could touch the sky! I felt so good about my intense two-hour workout. It had been a long time since I was that active. I felt stronger already.

  The sky had already turned a dark grayish blue, so I dipped under the water for my final rinse and headed for shore. I dried myself off completely and started pulling on my clothes: brown pants and a tan shirt with the three buttons undone at the top. I picked up my dirty shorts with two fingers and reached into the pocket, touching the edges as little as possible, and pulled out the necklace. I shoved it into my clean pocket, then strapped on my belt and tossed my shreds of clothing into the river because there was no salvaging them.

  Norka was already eating his kill while the other two cooked their prizes over the fire on a spit they’d built. The smell of the warm meat made my stomach growl embarrassingly loud. I went straight to my packs and put everything where it belonged and pulled out a comb, running it through my stringy wet hair. It was more tangled than I was used to; even the Salynn liquids couldn’t defeat this nest. Bringing a large piece over my shoulder, I tried to work the comb through it as I made my way toward the others. I deeply inhaled the aroma of the cooking meat as I sat on the ground next to Ortheldo.

  “It’s almost done,” Rabryn said.

  I looked at the stubborn tangle that wouldn’t comb out. “You guys got this ready fast.”

  “That battle burned off the next four meat meals I’ll eat,” Ortheldo said, making us all chuckle. “I wanted this one done as soon as possible.”

  I was getting frustrated with my hair. I held up the piece I was working on and gritted my teeth in annoyan
ce as I frantically tried to comb through the mess. For the love of Heaven’s Light, it wouldn't come out!

  “Having difficulties?” Ortheldo asked.

  “You think?” I replied, not taking my eyes from my work. He smiled, then got to his knees and moved behind me. I looked at him over my shoulder. “What are you doing?”

  “Give me the comb,” he said and reached for it, assuming I’d hand it right over.

  I pulled it away from his outstretched hand. “No.”

  He froze and looked at me confused. “I’ll help you.” He reached for it again.

  “No,” I said, pulling it farther away.

  His brows dropped. “Azrel, let me see it.” He was trying to sound serious as he reached for the comb again.

  I dropped my elbow to the ground keeping it out of his reach. “Why should I?” I was trying not to smile.

  “Because I said so.” He leaned over me to try and get it.

  I squirmed away from him and got to my feet, clutching the comb. “And what makes you think I’m just going to do what you tell me?”

  He also rose to his feet. “Azrel,” he said in a tone of warning, though his eyes were dancing with playful mischief.

  “No,” I said again and took a step back. Suddenly the comb was snatched out of my hand! I spun around and saw Norka throw it over my head to Ortheldo. I turned back in time to see Ortheldo catch it in both hands.

  “Ha, ha!” he taunted.

  I laughed and ran after him. He didn’t even try to run. I threw myself at him, reaching for the comb, but he held it above his head. As I fought to get it, we both ended up tumbling to the ground.

  “Oh, no! No!” he cried as we fell, both of us laughing.

  Rabryn and Norka were in hysterics as they watched us wrestle each other for the comb. I had the advantage because I was on top of him. I almost had it back, too, until Ortheldo suddenly freed his powerful legs out from under me and wrapped them around my stomach, crossing his ankles behind my back. He pushed me to the side until I was lying on the ground, then he rolled on top of me.

  I tried to continue to fight him for the comb, but I was laughing so hard I couldn’t keep a grip on it. He finally pulled it out of my hands and wagged it arrogantly at me. “I win. You have to let me comb your hair now."

  I chuckled. “Fine.” We shared a warm smile, and then he got off me and held out his hand to help me up. I let him pull me to my feet, and we made our way toward the fire again. The feeling of having fun for a moment was such a warm sensation. Now that Rabryn knew what I was and didn’t hate me, I really couldn’t describe the feeling. I felt lighter and happier, and I could breathe easier without this thing between us.

  Ortheldo kneeled behind me and began the seemingly impossible task of combing through my hair. It wasn’t very painful. Or maybe it was but I just didn't notice. I may have been too busy shuddering every time Ortheldo's fingers grazed the back of my neck.

  “Are you cold?” he asked me once.

  “No, I'm fine,” I replied, turning red.

  Norka finished his meal, discarding the remains and lay back onto the ground with a sigh.

  I smiled. “Feels good eating your own kill, doesn’t it?”

  “Indeed, it does,” he replied, making us all laugh.

  “Ours is done,” Rabryn announced.

  “Okay, just let me finish Azrel’s hair.”

  Rabryn nodded as he reached to his side, producing plates and dinnerware, and began serving up the food.

  Ortheldo finally managed to get the comb through the rat’s nest. I thought he was finished, but then he suddenly placed his hand under my chin and lifted my face skyward.

  My brows dropped. “What are you doing now?” I felt small tugs and pulls of separate pieces of hair.

  “I've never seen your hair in a braid before. I think you’d look gorgeous. Not that you aren’t gorgeous all the time.”

  I laughed, “You’re insane.”

  “Ah, that may be so, my dear, but I'm still lovable.”

  I giggled stupidly. “That you are, my friend. That you are.”

  He suddenly froze in his work, and after a moment he began braiding again. When he was done, his face appeared next to mine and he was beaming a smile.

  I ran my hands over it. “How do I look?” I said, striking various poses, which made them all laugh. I really didn’t care how I looked, I just liked making fun of those who did.

  Ortheldo sat in his place at my side and took the plate of food Rabryn offered him. “You look gorgeous, just like I knew you would.”

  I smiled. “Alright, gentlemen, let’s eat and then make camp. I want to leave early tomorrow to make up for lost time. Beldorn will have a fit if we’re late.” They all nodded their agreement. As we sat around the fire talking and laughing together, I was feeling better than I’d ever felt before. I hoped it would last…but somehow, I doubted it would.

  We rode all day and even for a couple of hours into the night to make up for lost time. After we’d ridden for a few hours with only moonlight to guide us, we stopped to rest at the foot of the Mongerst Mountains. I was glad we made it here tonight because the plant I needed thrived in shady areas, usually under the shade of a rock. The flatlands behind us didn’t yield much shade.

  Everyone started making camp. Rabryn and Norka were talking about magic—Rabryn’s Salynn magic, to be exact—as they dug at the ground making a ditch for the fire. Ortheldo was setting up sleeping mats as I made my way toward a nice rocky area. I pawed around the ground near some boulders, feeling for the fuzzy texture of the Viiweth plant.

  “Ah-ha,” I said when I felt it. I plucked it from the ground and went back to the group.

  I sat down next to the fire pit as Norka was placing the last piece of wood on it to complete the teepee. “Try it,” he said as Rabryn threw some dry leaves in the middle. My brother glanced nervously at Norka then back at the fire pit.

  “What are you going to try?” I asked.

  “I’m going to try and light the fire with my magic.”

  Sympathy washed over my face. “You don’t know how to use your magic.”

  “Norka’s been trying to teach me.”

  “I don’t know how ssssuccessful I’ve been though. I think it takes a Sssalynn to teach another Ssalynn to use his magic.”

  I opened my mouth to speak, but Rabryn beat me to it. “There’s no harm in trying.”

  I pressed my lips together and sighed. “Okay, go ahead.”

  He smiled and then held his palm up toward the fire pit. I saw his eyes glaze over and take on a deep look of concentration. I waited with my heart pounding. My brother, able to wield magic? My brother? That thought was as exciting as it was terrifying.

  He stayed frozen that way for a long time before he finally let out a heavy sigh. “I can’t do it.”

  “Magic comesss with time, my friend,” Norka comforted. “You will find your niche, but I really think it takesss a member of your kin to teach you. I’m ssorry I can’t do more to help.”

  Rabryn smiled and pat the snake’s broad shoulder. “It’s not your fault. You’re trying. Thank you for that.”

  I bit my lip, not wanting to do what I was about to do. I didn’t want him feeling foolish, but I had to. I touched my fingertip to a dry leaf in the middle of the teepee and muttered Beldorn’s spell. A yellow and orange flame ignited at my fingertip and caught the leaf on fire. Soon a full fire was ablaze.

  I glanced up at Rabryn who, surprisingly, smiled at me. “Don’t show me up or anything, Azrel.”

  I gave him a small smile. “I’m sorry. It’s just a simple spell Beldorn taught me. Anyone can use it. I’ll teach it to you if you want.”

  His shook his head. “No, thanks. I’d rather learn to use my magic.”

  I nodded my understanding, and Norka and Rabryn continued talking softly together. I vaguely listened as I pulled the leaves and purple flower petals from the Viiweth plant’s stem and put them into the bowl that I’d retrieved fr
om Forfirith’s pack. When only the stem was left, I put the bowl on top of the teepee of logs, cooking it over the fire.

  “Rabryn, lie back and lift up your tunic, please,” I instructed, keeping my eyes on the bowl. He hesitated, and I could imagine the look he was giving me, but he did as I asked. “Ortheldo could you hand me…” before I finished my sentence, he held out the small cup of cold water I needed. I smiled up at him and took it. “Thank you.”

  When the contents of the bowl started smoking, I dipped my fingers in the cup of water and flicked the excess into the bowl. It steamed and sizzled, and I watched as the once solid structure of the leaves and petals broke apart and melted away into a fine powdery substance. I took the naked stem and began stirring the powder. After a moment, I split the pile in half. I pinched out one half, trying not to burn myself, and sprinkled it into the cup of water. I stirred that around with the stem as well and handed it to Rabryn.

  “Drink this,” I said, not taking my eyes from the bowl.

  “What’s this for?”

  “It’s to help your horrendous bruise.”

  He smelled the water then looked up at me skeptically. “How’s it taste?”

  “It doesn't matter. Just drink it.”

  I pinched out the rest of the powder from the bowl and sprinkled that into my opposite palm. Rabryn didn’t question anymore and downed the water in a gulp. His face twisted in disgust at the bitter taste. “Yummy,” he said sarcastically and set the cup down.

  I went over to him and studied the massive bruise that began at the lower left side of his stomach and wound around to his back. I rested my palm on his skin and began rubbing the powder slowly around in circular motions over the huge mark. Soon the bruise faded under my touch.

  Rabryn gasped as it completely disappeared before his eyes. “What the…”

  I smiled triumphantly when I took my hand away and nothing was left of the bruise. “Better?”

  He looked up at me with wide eyes. “That couldn’t have been a simple plant!”

  “You’d be surprised what simple plants can do,” Ortheldo said as he crouched down next to me and handed me a cup of water.