Approaching the bed, I offered to help Daciana with the tunic. While she pulled it over his head, I raised his arms up gently to go through the sleeves. Once it was on him, Daciana bent down and picked up something. Before I could debate on how to tell Alaire about the vision and Emeria’s proposal, Daciana revealed a cane.
“He’ll have to walk with this until we can be certain that his leg has healed completely,” Daciana explained.
“Here, give me that,” Alaire said, attempting to snatch the cane from Daciana.
She handed it to him, and then he slowly pushed each leg to the edge of the bed. Though I offered to help him, Alaire waved my hand away and continued until his legs were hanging over the edge. With his left shoulder, he tightened his grip around the cane and placed it in front of him. As soon as he stood, his legs wobbled. Taking another step, Alaire lost his balance, and his body began to descend.
Quickly, I grabbed him before he fell on the floor face-first. With my hands around him, I could feel his heartbeat quickening.
“Get out…,” he panted.
No one moved. I saw Grefin and Emeria standing at the doorway, frozen in place.
In a louder voice, Alaire shouted, “Get out!”
His words echoed in the room. It was the loudest I had ever heard him speak. His face was red, and he pushed me away with his hand. He stood again with the cane, lifting his injured foot up as he took the first step.
Daciana sighed, but she exited the room with Grefin and Emeria trailing behind her. I as alone in the room with Alaire, but he barely paid any attention to me.
Taking another step, Alaire extended his free hand to grab onto anything nearby. There was nothing; he was no closer from the doorway than he had been before.
Cautiously, I offered my body for him to lean on. Our eyes met, and then he nodded at me. I wrapped my arm around his back and walked slowly with his as he limped toward the door. It was a slow process, and each time I glanced up at his face he was grimacing at the path in front of him.
“You don’t have to stay,” Alaire said as he took another step.
“I want to,” I answered.
Then he advanced, seemingly more confident each time he moved closer to the hallway. Since it seemed safe to assume he was more familiar with his pacing, I released him from my hold and stepped back. He limped over to the door, and once his hand gripped onto the doorframe he turned his head to grin at me.
I walked behind him to be certain that if he did have any conflicts, I could help him. In a matter of minutes, Alaire was limping alongside the walls of the hallway.
“The visions we spoke about… I think I had one earlier about Dyanna,” I said, feeling chills as I spoke.
Alaire did not stop but instead continued forward.
Glancing back at me momentarily, he asked, “Oh, now you believe in visions?”
I groaned. “How could it have been a vision? Dyanna is dead; her body is buried under dirt now. In the vision she was alive, talking to a man I’ve never seen before, speaking a language she’s never learned.”
Despite the statement, Alaire continued onward like nothing could change his mood. All I wanted was some kind of feedback, even if it was as simple as him telling me I was losing my sanity.
At his silence, I remarked, “Won’t you say anything?”
Suddenly he stopped and turned around, though he was leading me closer to the two large doors at the end of the hallway.
“It’s frightening, is it not? One second you’re fine, the next second you see images in your head like they’re real. I don’t know why I would be chosen as a foreseer, but if I am one then so be it. Vision or not, whatever you are seeing is probably important,” Alaire said.
I returned a blank look, blinking as I waited for something more.
Instead Alaire returned to his journey, turning around, and hobbled toward the pair of doors. I followed behind, though his words struck me like a stack of bricks. He would willingly accept the possibility of himself being a foreseer, and I couldn’t understand what logic he saw in that. The White magicians wouldn’t have been sloppy enough to leave foreseers with Dark magic alive.
My thoughts were soon interrupted with the sound of doors opening. I looked ahead of me, and saw that a servant had appeared and pulled open the doors for Alaire. Alaire whispered something in the servant’s ear, but when I caught up to where he was the servant was gone.
Alaire tilted his head, gesturing that I step inside first.
Abiding by his suggestion, I was amazed at everything around me. It was no ordinary room, but rather a ballroom where one might hold grand dances and gatherings. As I made my way across the long room, my sandals clicked against the clean wooden floor. The entire room was either mirrored or covered in gold. Overwhelmed, I gathered my dress together and approached one of the mirrors. Elegant gold designs surrounded its frame.
I turned around, grinning from ear to ear.
Alaire laughed, “What’s gotten into you?”
“I’ve never been in a ballroom before. This place… it’s beautiful,” I said, holding my hands out and spinning in a circle.
“And you are beautiful, as well,” Alaire agreed.
Standing still once more, I said, “I thank you, but I can’t say I’m accustomed to the comment. Dyanna was always the pretty one. Even as a young child, she had the boys chasing after her without doing anything at all.”
“Am I to believe you’re the ugly sister?” he snickered.
I shrugged and began twirling my dress. I felt young and a bit childish, but I didn’t care at that moment while I had my freedom.
Alaire’s voice broke through my concentration. “Dance with me, Celestria?”
“What?” I choked. I froze, wondering if I had heard him correctly. Was it some twisted joke? He couldn’t dance in his condition; it could harm his leg.
“Come on,” he reasoned, “it won’t kill you.”
“Oh really? Is that a promise?” I asked, biting down hard enough on my tongue to taste a drip of blood in my mouth. Wincing, I tried to think of any excuse for why I could not dance with him.
Holding out his hand, he said, “Yes, so unless you can’t dance, there is no reason for you to reject me.”
“I can think of several reasons. I should be preparing for my trip to Belsgar, and more importantly, I can see the pain in your eyes when you walk. Dancing isn’t going to be any more pleasurable,” I stated.
“Dance with me as if tonight is our last night,” Alaire said, still offering his hand to me.
I took a step closer to him.
“What would make you say that?”
Alaire smirked, “It’s the only way I can convince you to say yes.”
Finally, I surrendered. I casually accepted his hand, grasping onto it, and then suddenly something occurred. I couldn’t explain it or feel it, but I could see it all with my eyes. The images flashed rapidly through my mind.
There was a wedding, I was holding a newborn baby, and then his voice murmured as he read a story to a young girl. An image of a grave appeared, and then we were running for our lives.
“Celestria…”
Shaking my head, I grasped tighter onto his hand. He dropped the cane onto the floor, sounding off a loud boom, and I shuddered at the noise. I closed my eyes as he wrapped his arms around my waist and swayed slowly back and forth.
“What just happened?” Alaire asked.
I propped my head against his good shoulder. It wasn’t like the times before where I saw everything clearly; the images had been scattered and jumpy. I didn’t want to think of what any of them could have meant. Furthermore, I knew I could not tell Alaire about what I had seen. No matter how much faith I put in him, if I told him about the images he would have a theory. I was sick of theories; all I wanted was a peace of mind.
I whispered to Alaire, “It’s nothing, just hold me.”
He pulled me closer to him and said nothing.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Between Pain and Pleasure
The pair of doors creaked; I opened my eyes and Grefin was striding toward us. As he approached, his hands formed into fists. I glanced up at Alaire, but he did not look the least bit surprised. Instead, he let go of me and bent down for his cane.
When I looked over at Grefin, he had stopped a few feet away from me and stood with his hand held out. He began chanting, and every muscle in my body tensed.
Turning to Alaire, I asked, “What is this? Is he performing a spell?”
He leaned on his cane, refusing to make eye contact.
All he said was, “Forgive me, Celestria. If you truly plan on challenging Aldemund, you must be prepared. I saw the way you fought him; he would have killed you, and I can’t risk that happening again.”
My legs trembled. I thought back to when Alaire whispered something to the servant, and suddenly I understood. This was the way he planned on “showing” me my strength. It was cruel, and I felt betrayed like a dog without an owner. While Grefin may be saving Alaire’s life, that didn’t mean I trusted him enough not to end my own. A battle meant that someone would have to die for the other to be victorious.
“I won’t do this!” I shouted, throwing my arms up in the air.
Grefin only continued to chant.
Looking up at me, Alaire said, “Esmour spent his entire life running after Aldemund. Nearly forty years, and never once was he able to kill the fiend. Don’t you think with all the information, the manpower, and the dedication he should have been successful?”
I gazed over at Grefin, who had both of his hands directed toward me.
“Alaire, I can’t do this. I could die, and I’m not ready to die yet,” I whispered, though I was certain he hadn’t heard me.
“We were meant to live for so much more than war and violence. I believe we are alive to make a life of our own, and no war should have control over that. I’m asking this of you because I want you to have a chance at an ordinary life again. Grefin won’t kill you; I can still use my magic if need be,” he replied.
I swallowed my saliva and held back the objections ringing in my head. Alaire might not be quick enough to perform a spell. All the same, I couldn’t bear to admit how terrified I was. Grefin had more experience than I did, and if Alaire and he gave up after hours of battle, he must be a strong fighter.
There was a clang that interrupted my doubts, and then I glanced down to see a dagger lying beside Alaire’s feet. Using his free hand, Alaire whispered a spell and the dagger rose into his hand.
“There,” Grefin said at last, “no more worries. Alaire will throw the dagger at me if I try to kill you. Now I have other matters to attend to, so let’s get this over with.”
I stared at his hands and nodded, fully aware that there was no further objections I could state.
Rubbing my sweaty palms together, I whispered a spell. Before I was finished, a blinding light entered the room. Quickly, I finished the spell and directed it toward where I had last seen Grefin. Black smoke covered the light, and then the ballroom became extremely dark. Suddenly there was a yellow spark from the corner of the room, and then something hit me. I fell backwards, wincing as my body hit the floor.
Though I felt lightheaded, I stood up again. There were yellow lights moving around the room, appearing to look like claws. They moved toward me, threatening to scratch me at any opportunity, but I dodged them. Speaking another spell, I soon saw a purple light beaming up toward the ceiling. As it came down, I directed it with my hands to hit where I could see Grefin. I heard him gasp, and thus I assumed the battle was over. Just as I began walking toward where I knew Alaire to be, something grabbed my neck. I fell to my knees, choking as I tried to pull it off of me. When I looked down I saw it was a bright, yellow rope.
The energy in my body slowed down, my heartbeat slower, and for some reason I couldn’t think of a spell. The words were on the tip of my tongue, but when I tried to open my mouth I found that I was helpless. The rope was constraining my lungs, and if I moved they would burst. One wrong move, and I’d be dead.
Alaire spoke up at last. “That’s enough, Grefin.”
The rope released from my neck, and the ballroom returned to normal. The darkness, the yellow lights—all of it disappeared. Grefin was bent over with his hands on his knees, panting. He bowed his head at me, and then he made his way to the doors.
Stepping toward me, Alaire said, “Strength is something you’ll feel, not a state of mind. Remember that.”
He suggested that we leave as well, though his determination to exit the room so soon gave me the impression he was planning something.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Outside,” he said calmly as he continued limping toward the door.
“Shouldn’t we ask Daciana?”
When I reached the door and stood beside him, I snickered at Daciana’s appearance. Her glance lowered to my neck , and I could only imagine the damage Grefin had done.
“Oh, no,” she said, turning her attention to Alaire, “I’ve seen that look before. What devious plans do you have? And you’re not going anywhere with a blade in your hand!”
She snatched Grefin’s dagger from his hand.
Alaire flashed his smile and replied, “I would like to walk outside.”
She tapped her foot, as if waiting for him to reveal something more. When he remained silent with a grin on his face, she faced me.
“If he goes outside, he’s your responsibility. If anything happens to him, the fault falls on you. No running, don’t go too far, and remember to return before it’s late,” Daciana said.
Then, placing her hot hands against my neck she said, “This will help heal your injury.”
I didn’t feel anything happen, but once she backed away, I rubbed my neck and could feel that the swelling had decreased.
I stared at her in disbelief, but when I turned to Alaire he was already ahead of me. I caught up to him, and then he pointed to a door further down the hallway. I ran to it, holding it open as he hobbled his way to where I was and stepped outside.
A second later, I walked out and shut the door behind me. Alaire barely spoke a word; his eyes were focused on the world around him. I wrapped my arm around his, and we walked together in silence through the city.
The trees were in full blossom, and the birds sat in their nests, singing their love songs to one another. A bold, white sparrow flew above us and landed on top of a store roof. Children jumped and skipped alongside the street with one another. Some of them smiled at us; others were too deeply involved in a game of some sort.
As we entered into the marketplace, an older man approached Alaire. I clung tightly to his arm, having no idea whom this man could be.
The man held up a scarf to my face and exclaimed, “Ah, a scarf for the beautiful lady on a windy day?”
Alaire reached into his trouser pocket, discovering a coin. The pants were new, but I recalled Daciana changing him into the new clothes Grefin brought for him.
Handing the coin to the man, Alaire took the scarf and wrapped it around my neck loosely. I fixed its position so that it would not fall, and then we carried on our way. It wasn’t a “windy day” as the merchant had said, but there was a breeze blowing through the streets.
Finally being alone with Alaire, I asked, “What happened this morning?”
He raised his brow at me, but said nothing.
Determined, I pushed further and said, “Something happened between you and I. Did it not?”
“And what do you think it meant?” Alaire responded.
I let go of his arm, staring at him in bewilderment. I just wanted to hear him admit it, or say something to clarify the reasons for why he refused to allow me to leave his side that morning.
“As far as I know, nothing has occurred. This morning… Well, what happened this morning got out of control. I should have never—”
Interrupting, I sighed, “I wanted answers… I wanted to know what went
on in your head.”
“You always want answers,” Alaire laughed, though I could not hide the frown on my face.
“Alaire, I…”
He touched my lips with his index finger and then dropped his hand.
I waited, not understanding his actions. Alaire stared into my eyes, and then his glance lowered to my lips. My heart beat like a hummingbird as emotions raced through my entire body. He pulled me in and leaned down. Wordlessly, he kissed the side of my cheek, and I closed my eyes at the touch of his soft lips.
As Alaire backed away, he smiled at me like he never had before, as if for just that moment I could be his world and he could be mine. As his gaze returned to my lips and his head lowered once more, there was the sound of children. I jumped as they ran past us, chasing after a barking puppy.
Then, without hesitation, his lips pressed against mine. I was unable to stop myself from kissing him back. For the first time, I had no desire to push away from him as I had in the past. The way he kept his full attention on me was astonishing, and though he said nothing, it was his silence that meant the most to me. When our lips parted, I smiled at him, and he wrapped his arms around my waist. Now he didn’t look away from me, and I too found it difficult.
Blushing, I buried my head in his tunic and giggled. I felt like a young girl falling for her first suitor. It did not matter that we were in the middle of the street where anyone could see us. I barely paid any attention to the locals walking past. Once I raised my head our eyes met, and all I desired was to melt into his arms. He was warm, his skin was soft, and he didn’t seem to be in any pain.
He whispered something, but at first I did not hear. He pressed his lips closer to my ear and spoke again.
“If I were to die tonight, I can say I’ve kissed the most beautiful woman,” he laughed under his breath.
I smirked and glanced down, desperately wishing to conceal the color in my cheeks.
“That’s all you will say?”
“No, but I’m not dead so the rest can wait,” Alaire responded with a grin. He truly seemed happier than I had ever seen him before.
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