"The Obsidian Phoenix Chapters 16-20" by Ann Baker

CHAPTER 16

 

 

 

Arridor had taught Jerrik well.  With decades of training, he was close to mastery already.  Five short years passed and his training was finished.  Dannik was an apt student and fifteen years would pass as he mastered his bow.  It was a record and Arridor would have been impressed.  Jerrik opted not to train with the sword, wanting to focus all his attention on the bow.  He practiced every day.  There would always be time later.  I was the only student left in this rock and I was determined to master my blade. 

Since we were focused only on sword training Dannik upped training time to nine hours a day.  I was no longer Master Crimson to the newfound marksman.

“Good morning, Crimson.”

“Master Dannik,” I said with a bow.

I removed my armor as Dannik stretched out.  He always demanded training without armor.  He said that a person in fear for her life would make fewer mistakes.  I did fear for my life with his sword at my throat.  His curved blade had sliced my flesh more than once but he was no stranger to the edge of my blade either. 

Lately our training sessions had become a spectator event.  A few friends of Jerrik and mine would come watch me get my ass kicked.  I have never beat Dannik in a sparring session.

“Are you ready?”  Dannik asked.

“Yes, are you ready?”

“No limits,” he said

“What?  You’ve got to be kidding me,” I exclaimed.

“You’re ready Crimson.  Use your fire, I have my magic, it’ll be something worth watching.”

“You’re sure about this?”  I asked

“Well, I’ve never been cut with your blade while it was in flames but I remember how much you hurt after you fell on it, so I’m a little apprehensive.  I’m sure I’ll prevail though.”  He was teasing me on purpose.

“Oh really?”
“  Yes.” 

“I hate magic, try not to get me too angry.  I can’t be held accountable for bursting into flames and you losing your pants.”  He was fireproof.  I knew he didn’t fear my flames.

I bowed to the master and he did the same.

I pulled my sword and let it blaze.  I would have to contain the fire to my sword.  My tunic was not flameproof and I was not wearing my armor.

Dannik pulled his sword and came at me without hesitation.  He slashed at me and I parried with my sword. 

Dannik’s clothing isn’t fireproof either, I thought to myself.  I could use that to my advantage.

  I threw a fireball at his chest and his tunic was gone in a second.  He put it out with his magic and ripped the remains from his chest.

“Nice abs Dannik,” I said, parrying another blow and thrusting another fireball toward his chest.  I threw a third fireball and pushed him back before he could get his footing.  I used their momentum to knock him off balance.

The room became dark.  I backed off quietly.  My eyesight had improved over the past fifteen years but Dannik was using magical darkness and it was hard to see.  I could see the glint of his sword from the fireball in my hand.  I absorbed the fireball, knowing it was a beacon for him.  I used my other senses to fight.  I felt the movement of his body through the air.  The displacement of air around him.  Dannik swung his blade down on me, I dodged and elbowed him with my sword arm while turning and swinging my blade. 

Dannik was fast.  He was already recovered from his loss of balance and our swords met.  The flames crept up his blade.  We were deadlocked.  Dannik threw me off and backed away as the light returned to the room. 

His sword was engulfed in my fire.

“You better put that out,” I smiled.

He wiped the blade across his bare arm.

Intimidating, I thought to myself.  Enough with the defensive, I thought as I rushed him. 

In a flurry of blows, we fought.  We were both wearing down.  This would be a test of endurance and wills.  I knocked him down with a move he had taught me, and put my foot on his sword arm.  I couldn’t believe I had bested him. 

I was about to declare my victory when my feet came out from under me.

“Dannik, you have too many magic tricks up your sleeve,” I grunted as I lay on the floor. 
“Actually, thanks to you I don’t have any sleeves.” 

My sword arm was pinned to the ground.  I threw a fireball at him with my free hand and thrust with my sword as he let go of my arm.  He dodged the fireball and came down on me two handed and with all his strength. 

My sword found a target through his perfect abs and his found mine.  I laid there impaled to the stone floor with the dragon on my blade up to the hilt.

I took small breaths and tried to speak.

“Dannik…I…I…can’t move.”  I had never seen Dannik in real pain before.  He handled it well.

“Damnit Crimson…the fire.” 

I took in the fire from my sword.  The pain almost prevented me from quenching my blade.

“I…can’t move either.”
“  Use your magic…dragon!”  I clenched my jaw.

“I can’t…concentrate.” 

His blood was running up my arm.  I was grateful that it was not acid like some dragons blood.

“Focus…”  I tried to concentrate.

I gathered what was left of my will and slipped halfway into Shadow.  I took my sword and left Dannik’s. 

Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to choose to leave the sword behind.  I was fine-tuning my Shadow skills.

 I saw Dannik fall to the floor and roll out of the way.  I rolled to the side and came back to the Prime.  Dannik was already on his feet and trying to pull his blade from the stone but I was up before his blade was free.  He held his abdomen with his left hand just as I did.  

“You’re leaking out the other side too you know,” he said, pointing at my back.

“Not as much as you are, shall we see who passes out first or call it a draw?”  I asked

“Draw, Crimson.”  He put up his hand.  We fell to our knees and held onto each other.  I knew I would be alright, I’d had worse, but I didn’t know how Dannik would handle such a deep wound.

I motioned for Jerrik to approach; he had been on the edge of his seat but knew not to interfere until asked.

“I can’t believe you two.  Why do you do this to yourselves?”

“For Alyssanna and Arridor,” I said letting go of Dannik.

I lay back on the cold stone floor.  The bleeding had slowed.  My healing was becoming more rapid.  My eyesight and night vision had improved.  I was feeling more powerful and my flame was hotter.  Something was changing.  

Jerrik tried carrying me to my room, but it was a considerable distance and mostly at an incline.

“Jerrik put me down.”

“No.”

He trudged slowly the rest of the way and plopped me down on my bed. 

“Damnit!”  I yelled, as pain surged through my body.

“Serves you right for trying to kill yourself.”

He left the lamps off and started cleaning my wounds in the dark. 

“You don’t have to be my nursemaid.  I can do it myself.”

He didn’t speak but I could see him well.  I wasn’t sure if he knew how much my eyesight had improved.

“How long has it been since we shared a bed?”  I said touching his hand on my stomach.

“Fifteen years, you know that.”

I knew, but such a blunt question would bring his feelings to the fore.  I needed to know how he felt about me. 

“I love you Crimson.  You’re my best friend.”  He sighed.  “We agreed never to take that path again.”

He pulled his hand away but I grabbed it and didn’t let go.

“I didn’t ask you to sleep with me; I’ve been run through once today already.”

“You have a brutal sense of humor.”  He tried being mad at me but couldn’t.

“I’m going to have to take your tunic off,” he said.

“Go ahead; you’ve seen it all already.”  He helped me take off my tunic and I looked in his eyes.  There were no romantic feelings, just love and concern.

“I love you too Jerrik.”  I winced as he helped me turn over.

“Did you learn anything from this wound?”

“I sure did.  I learned that being stuck to the floor like a bug is not fun.  I learned that Dannik has a nice set of abs for an old dragon and he considers me an equal now.”

“Is that good?”

“Very good.  My training is almost complete.”

“Anything else?”

“I learned how much my best friend really loves me.”  I reached over and touched the lamp with my fire.

“Don’t bother; I know you can see in the dark.  I think I can read you as well as you read me.”

“I’m glad.”  I really was.

“It’s strange though, your eyesight changing like it has been and your wounds healing faster.  Fifteen years ago this wound would have put you down for a week or more.”

“I can’t explain it either, but I’m not complaining.” 

He put a bandage on my abdomen, picked up my hand, and moved it to the wound.  “Hold it for a few minutes.  The bleeding has almost stopped.” 

“I’ll be back to look in on you soon.  I’m going to check on Dannik.”

“Tell him I got the point of his lesson.”  I tried not to laugh.

“Brutal.”  I heard him laugh out in the hall.

 

I was up the next day and went down to visit the old dragon.  He was in a good mood despite his injury.

“How are you feeling?”  I asked.

“The wound was clean and cauterized thanks to your cursed fire.  Do you know how much that damned blade burns?”

“Unfortunately yes.”

“Whoever made that thing had no mercy or compassion.”

“You forget the fire comes from me, the blade only channels it.”  The comment hurt a bit.  “And we don’t usually fight those who deserve mercy or compassion.  I have no moral issues with using it.  Although I would be willing to train with a more ‘merciful’ blade if you wish.”

“No, no, it would throw your training off by months.  Stick with that, it is part of you as much as your hair and eyes, and I did not mean to imply you were lacking compassion.  Mercy maybe but not compassion.”

“If I felt mercy for someone I wouldn’t be fighting them now would I?  Except for you, of course.”

“You’ve become hard.  It’s time you did something with your life.  Your training will be over soon.”  His blunt comment stung but it was true.

“I know.  Now that you mention it, Jerrik and I were thinking about going to the city below for a week or so to scout scour the people for information.”

“You know there hasn’t been any activity for fifteen years.”  He looked worried.

“Yes, but I feel something…something calling me.  When we return you and I should intensify our training.”

“It’s already fairly intense don’t you think?”

“Yesterday was, but you’ve been holding back.  I think it’s time you let me have it.”

“I tried, if that had been a real battle, you would have won.  I would have bled out while you sat back in your Shadow licking your wounds.”

His comment angered me.  “If you were my enemy Dannik, you would have never bled out.  I wouldn’t have let you live long enough.  I would never cower in the Shadow.”

“I didn’t mean it like that Sweetheart.”  He took my hand and squeezed it.

I closed my eyes to hold back the tears.  I refused to cry.

“That’s what my father used to call me.”

“I’m sorry child; I didn’t mean to open old wounds.”

I shook my head.  “It’s alright, really.  You will never replace my father, but you have become something else to me.  You are the next best thing to having him back.  I’ve come to love you and respect your direction and guidance.”  I got down on my knees next to the bed.

“I’ve never had children but you’re my daughter in every sense of the word, except I didn’t give you life.  I don’t mind taking second place in your heart after Arridor.  He raised you to become the woman you are today.  The one I love deeply.”

I lifted the sheet and looked at his wound. 

“We show our love in strange ways, don’t we?” he asked.

“I’ve never been ran through before and I hope I never will be again,” I said.

“We agree then.  It’s not the way we want to go.” 

“Yes,” I said.

He became more serious.  “How do you want to go Crimson?”

“I don’t.”

“We all go eventually.  It may take hundreds or thousands of years for some but we all have a definite finish to our lives.”

“I would be satisfied to die avenged.”

“Never knowing true love?”

“I don’t think there’s anyone out there for me Dannik.  It’s a reality I have to face.”

He shook his head in disagreement but didn’t argue.

“What about you Dannik?  How do you want to go?” 

“I can’t say.  I only know that I don’t wish to leave this place till I see your life fulfilled, until you’re happy again.”

“You just might live forever then.”

He took a deep breath and winced from the pain.  “Go on your trip, we’ll resume training when you get back.”

I kissed his cheek and left him to rest.

 

I found Jerrik in my room.

“How’s Dannik doing?”

“He’ll survive.  It will take a few weeks before he’s in pre battle mode.  Are you coming down the mountain?”

“Yes, someone has to keep you in line and patch your wounds,” he said, trying not to laugh too hard.

“Come on Jerrik.”  I put my arm around him.  “Let’s go get some good old human ale.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 17

 

 

 

It took four days to hike down the west side of the mountain.  Summertime was more pleasant for traveling and Jerrik didn’t need furs.  The city came into view at the foot of the mountain.

“Crimson do you see that?”  He said pointing to the city in the distance.

“I can’t believe we’ve been in the Red Mountains for fifteen years and never traveled outside of the peaks.”

“It’s another day to the city,” Jerrik said.

“Where did Kalan and Bolgar go?”  I asked.  The two dwarves had traveled down the mountain with us but disappeared soon after we reached the bottom.

“They didn’t want to wait.  They’ll be a full day ahead of us.  We can find them in the city later.”

“They just wanted a little alone time I think.”

“I noticed that too,” he said, sitting on a nearby boulder.  He seemed to be feeling down.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just miss being close to someone.  I’m not sure I’ll be returning to the mountain with you.  I need to move on Crimson.  I need something I can’t get up there.”  He pointed up to the peak.  “I need to find someone who will love me and who I can love in return.”

“I can understand that.”

“Can you?  You don’t even believe in true love.  Companionship yes, you are a wonderful friend, but to find the one that will fill that gaping hole in your heart, no… you don’t believe or understand.”

“You’re angry with me?  Angry for my disbelief in a fairy tale?”

“Yes I think I am angry with you.  I think I had actually started to believe you.  You tell me that you have no faith in true love but crave physical companionship.  We have restrained that physical closeness for fifteen years because of your fear that I will fall in love with you.  Does that make sense?  I’m not angry with you for not being my lover, but if there’s no such thing as true love, why are you afraid that someone might fall for you?”

I was shocked at his outburst.  “How long have you held that in?”  I asked

“Fifteen years.”  He looked away.

“So in the end, I hurt you anyway,”   I said sitting on the ground. 

“No, you were right, but so wrong at the same time.”
“  You’re speaking like an elder mage, make sense Jerrik.”

“You were right about denying a physical relationship with me.”

“How was I wrong?”

“I could have loved you truly and with all my heart.  I know you aren’t my soul partner, but my heart could have been filled.  Most people never find their soul partner, they just live and love who they are with.” 

He was angry and I was speechless.

He continued his speech.  “You may feel that true love is beyond your grasp, but I want to keep that dream within reach.  I know you’re wrong because the alternative is that there is nobody out there to love me.”

“Please forgive me.  I didn’t realize I’d hurt you.”  I lay back on the grass and covered my eyes.  I couldn’t believe I had become so calloused.

“Don’t, Crimson, please.”  He knelt next to me and pulled my hands away from my face.

“How could I do this to you?  You’re my best friend.  I love you so much yet never saw your pain.  Why would you hide this from me for so long?”  I should have been able to see it in his eyes.  He had hidden it deep.

“I put it away for your sake.  I love you and wouldn’t want to burden you with my struggles.  Your heart still aches deeply; I would never want to add to that.”

“You’ve never been a burden to me.  You’re all that kept me sane when I lost my family.  I couldn’t have survived without you.”

“You did the same for me.”

 I knew I had to let go.  “You’re right; it’s time to move on.  I’ll miss you though.”

“I’ll miss you too.”

I stood and walked behind Jerrik, removed my necklace and put it over his head.

“No, Crimson.”

“Yes, it will mean a lot to me if you would have this, and you should know something.”

“What?”

“When we first came to the mountains my heart was broken and empty.  You can’t fill a broken glass.  No amount of love poured into my heart could have remained.  Then you started to love me and your friendship repaired the walls of my heart.  It may still be empty Jerrik, but I believe in the possibility that it could be filled one day.  You made my heart capable of loving again.” 

He stood and held the pendant in his hand.  The two silver hearts intertwined, one holding the other.

“Your heart holds mine.  It is a fitting symbol of our relationship.”

He put the necklace inside of his tunic.  “I’ll keep it close to my heart.”  He hugged me.  “We’re still bound with the blood vow.  If you ever need me, I’ll find you and stand by your side,” he said.

He kissed me softly on the lips.  “Lets go, I don’t want to wait.”  He was excited about starting a new life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 18

 

 

 

Tymolin was a large trading hub for the west side of the red mountains.  We walked into the city at dusk.  The nightlife was just starting to pick up.

“What should we do first?”  I asked.

“I think we should find a tavern and a very large bottle of Elven wine,” Jerrik said.

“You know I can’t drink Elven wine.”

“Oh, yeah, I guess you’ll have to settle for the human variety.  I hear it’s not bad.”

Elven wine would put me down before I finished my second glass.  It’s an elf thing.

“You go on ahead, I’ll catch up.”

“Are you sure?”

I nodded and watched him walk away with a spring in his step.  I took a deep breath.  He was finally ready to be free.  He could have left a long time ago but he stayed for me. 

I booked two rooms at the local inn, dropped off my pack, and wandered the street wondering what I would do with myself.  I still had a lich to hunt down and kill and I knew Jerrik would not be coming with me.  He meant too much to me.  I could not watch as the Dark One destroyed him too.

 

Loud music filled my ears.  Beautiful yet full of sorrow; someone sang a funeral dirge.  The sound drew me in and pressed on my soul.  I felt a need to find the source of the funeral song.

 I walked the streets listening as the music got louder.  I came to what looked like a hospital.  Death hung in the air like a thick fog.  I entered the doors and the music trailed off.  I looked around but there was nobody near.  I stood by the door not wanting to be where I wasn’t wanted.  Wails of grief filled the air now in place of the beautifully haunting funeral song. 

A single figure walked toward me through the halls of white marble.  She wore well-fit, full plate armor and carried a giant battle-axe on her back.  Clad in white, she was of a class all her own, a High Elf.  Her long golden hair flowed behind her like a wedding veil.  As she approached, her steel gray eyes met mine with little regard for what I might see.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“I heard music, I was drawn---

“There’s no music here,” she cut me off.

“You’re wrong, but I can understand why you couldn’t hear it.”  Sometimes music took on a life of its own and the High Elves were not known for their love of the musical arts.

I could tell she was insulted but kept her comments to herself.

“Anything else?”

“I wish to inquire about any recent deaths you might have had.”

“You are tactless, aren’t you?” she asked without tact herself.

“Yes, but I ask for an important reason.  I seek out the one who killed my family.”

“And why do you think the nature of our patients’ deaths will help you?” 

“The one I seek will leave certain evidence.  His kills leave a signature.”

“What exactly would that be?”  She was the calmest person I had ever met.  I had insulted her and she still insisted on speaking with me.

“This is a battle hospital; I doubt any of our casualties will lead you to the murderer of your family.  I’m sorry.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.  He wiped out my entire village in just a few hours.  A well armed village.  Where is this battle?”

“Who are you again?”

“I never mentioned who I was and neither did you.” 

“Please come to my office.  We can talk further.”  She turned and walked away.

We stepped into a nearby office and I sat down.  The room was similar to the halls and to her raiment, all white.  The halls resonated with music again and I closed my eyes.  She remained standing nearby.

“Is everything alright?” she asked.

“Yes, it’s the music, it makes my heart ache.”  The music pulled at my old wounds. 

“There is no music.”  She looked at me as if I were insane.

“Never mind.”  I tried not to listen.

“My name is Siralla Dearborn; I own this hospital and all the surrounding land.”

I sat back in the cushioned chair.  Finally, a chair made of something other that stone.

“I’m Crimson; I’m from the east of the mountains.  So, where is this battle?”

“Well met Crimson.”  She walked around to her desk but didn’t sit.  “The battle is about five hundred miles south of here.”

“You’re teleporting the casualties here then?” 

She contemplated her next question, ignoring the one I had asked her.  She was impressive and intimidating but I was not easily intimidated.  It was easy to see that she was younger than I was by a few years.  I had lived with the elves long enough to tell.

“Would you like to have a glass of Elven wine?” she asked.

“Do I look like an elf?  If my race eludes you just ask.”  She was fishing for answers and did not trust me.

“You’re a hothead aren’t you?”

“You have no idea.”

“Alright then, what exactly are you Crimson?  You don’t appear to be completely human.”

“I was raised by the elves in the White Forest.”

“That didn’t answer my question now did it?”

“No.”  I wasn’t going to give in.

“This is going to be a test of wills then?” she took her battle-axe off and put it in a corner.

I shook my head.  “No.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I want the Dark One impaled on my sword.  I want the bastard lich to feel my fire burn his dark soul until he explodes into a million tiny little pieces.”  I’m sure my face was turning red.

“When did he kill your family?” she asked quietly.

“Fifteen years ago.”

“You really hold onto your sense of vengeance don’t you?”

I gave her a look that would have caused a weak willed person to turn and run.

She was pacing the room.  Her eyes didn’t give away her intentions but the pacing was giving her away.  She was torn and was not sure about me but she scared me a little.  A minute later, another High Elf entered the room. 

He was tall enough that I had to look up, almost seven feet tall.  Where do they grow them this big, I wondered.

 His armor resembled red glass and was emblazoned with a yellow sun.  His sword was of the same red glass with a yellow hilt and pommel. 

“Crimson this is Avery Strongarm, Avery this is Crimson, she’s from the East.”

“Well met Crimson.”  I looked at him and back at her.  The look was obvious. 

“Avery.”  I greeted him as he sat in the chair next to mine.

“Why are you here, Crimson?” he asked.

I was about to answer as Siralla held her hand up to cut me off.  I let her speak.

“She’s come to deal with the Dark One.”

He raised his brow.  “We’ve been chasing him around the globe for a decade.  He can hide very well.  We don’t even know how he eludes us so easily but we are always left fighting his undead minions.  What makes you think you can deal with him?”

I was getting impatient.  “I know how he does it.  Just tell me where he is and I’ll take care of him.”  I tried to be calm.

“It’s not that easy; we haven’t sighted him in three months,” Siralla said.

“You should know before you rush off to kill yourself, the time drakes have told him that he would be destroyed by a certain one.  Honestly I’m not one to believe in their half truths, but they’ve allegedly seen his death.”  Avery sat back and waited for me to speak.

“I know their stories,” I said with contempt.

“Finally, Avery, someone in this land who doesn’t believe they’re prophets.”  She raised her hands in a gesture of relief.

“They’re meddlesome busybodies and I’ve a bone to pick with them.  They are the reason he penetrated the White Forest to begin with.  They led him to us with their damned prophecies.”

“The White Forest?”  He looked at Siralla and then down at my sword.

“Don’t even think about it elf.”  I said putting my hand on my obsidian blade.

He laughed.  “Why did that sound like an insult?”

My blade was sheathed but the bow would have given me away immediately.  They had obviously heard the stories.

“Who are you?”  Siralla asked again.

I stood and bowed.  “I am Master Crimson Steele, daughter of Arridor Steele of the White Forest.”  Avery stood and they both returned my bow.

“She’s just a child Siralla.  How could it be her?”  Avery said.

“I’m older than she is.”  I pointed at Siralla.

“What skills do you possess that could possibly aid in our fight?” he asked

“I am a bow master, a marksman and almost a master with my blade.  I do have other skills as well.”

“You mentioned your fire earlier.  You’re a mage then?”  Siralla asked

“Definitely not, I have no magic.”  I did not feel the need to explain further.

“Do you have armor?”  Avery looked me up and down assessing my fragility.

“Yes.”

“Where’s your bow?” he asked

“At home.”

“In the White Forest?”

“No, in the Red Mountains.”

“Are you being sarcastic?”  He sat up straighter in his seat.  I could tell he was enjoying our exchange.

“No.”

“You live with the dwarves?”

“Sort of but…no.”

He laughed.  “You’re confusing me.”

“You’re asking too many questions.”

“One more question then?”

“One,” I agreed

“How do you plan on killing the lich?”

I pulled my sword and laid it across my arm.  They mumbled something to each other. 

“I’m sure yours are just as impressive,” I said to Avery and Siralla.  The dwarves would love to see her axe.

“That is the blade of the Obsidian Phoenix,” Avery said to Siralla.

“I know what it is.”  For the first time since I met her she seemed a little anxious.

“May we have a moment to talk?” she asked, politely.

I walked out of the room without answering her and considered my possible allies.  They were High Elves.  I was never impressed with their attitudes as a people.  They were arrogant and vain, but these two seemed different.  I reclined on a bench in the hall and closed my eyes.  The funeral dirge had begun once again.  I sighed at the sorrow contained in the dark melody.

“Who the hell are you?” someone said.

  I opened my eyes.  A woman stood before me with a bow strapped to her back and a broadsword at her side.  She was not like Avery and Siralla.  She was human and wore her long black hair in a braid.  Her eyes were dark and full of malice.

I am so underdressed, I thought to myself as I did a quick inspection of her gear.  She wore strange green scale armor and the bow at her back was of well-worn dark wood.  There was a single arrow in her quiver and the sword at her side was from Shadow.  I recognized the sword from the people who dwelled there.  The blade she carried was forged with hatred and malevolence and I think she knew what she had at her side.

“Are you going to answer me?” she asked.

I stood and faced her.  I tried to intimidate her but didn’t seem to get anywhere.  She was shorter than me by a few inches and looked up at me without looking me in the eyes.

Siralla walked through the doors and interrupted our one sided conversation.

“Good, I see you two have met.” 

“No, apparently she’s a mute,” said the dark archer.

“Miranda, this is Crimson Steele of the White Forest, daughter of Arridor Steele,” Siralla formally introduced me.

Miranda backed up and glared at me.  “She’s not an elf.  I thought Crimson Steele was an elf.”

I was tired of being spoken of as if I were not in the room.  “I don’t see how you all think you know me, but I’m at a disadvantage.  Who are you?”  I pointed at the three of them.

“We’re just a group of adventurers, companions with a cause.  Currently we seek the one you call the Dark One,” Avery said.

I folded my arms.  “I have other names for him.”

Avery smiled.  “I bet you do.” 

Miranda rolled her eyes.  “Can we get on with whatever you called me for?” 

“Come in, we need to talk to both of you.”  Siralla led the way.

“Crimson, we’ll accept your offer of aid with a few conditions,” she said.

“I’m listening.”

Avery spoke, “First go back and finish your training.  Second, take this with you.”  He held up a ring.  “You can teleport with this two times a day, but only to places you know.  When we call you, come to us here and we’ll travel to our next destination.”

“I agree to your terms.”

“One more thing,” Avery said.

“There always is,” Miranda said, laughing. 

“Take Miranda with you.  She’ll let you know when the time is right.”

She looked at Avery with venom in her eyes.

“What makes you think I would agree to this?” she said.

“It’s the only way Miranda.  She carries the blade.”  Miranda looked to sword at my side and rolled her eyes.

“And how did she come across this blade?  For all we know she took it from its true owner while she slept.”

I put my hand on my sword.  “Don’t tempt me to demonstrate my skills.”  I wondered if she would die by my sword some day.  I was angry at the doubt in her voice.  “I earned my bow and blade, not like you, taking a blade that you know nothing about from a place that you violated with your presence,” I said, speaking of Shadow and the blade she wrought from it.

“You little---”

“Stop!”  Siralla interrupted.

“These two are so much alike.  Maybe we should just let them go at it?”  Avery laughed.

“We have nothing in common,” Miranda said.

“She will master her blade shortly and she’s a bow master already, a marksman at that.  She is also familiar with the origins of that blade you carry.  She hasn’t taken her eye off of it since you approached her.”  Avery was very observant.

“You’re all just too much.”  I turned to Miranda.  “You’ll come with me if you want.  If not, well no big loss.”  I looked at the two High Elves.  “You two.”  I pointed at them.  “You love each other, that’s nice.”  I was being sarcastic.  They were lovesick for one another.  “Do yourselves a favor, either walk away now or jump in with both feet.  Don’t waste your time thinking about it.”  I rolled my eyes as I walked past Miranda.  She would be a thorn in my side.

“I’ll be at the inn on the southeast side of town,” I said walking out on the three companions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 19

 

 

 

I checked a few taverns before I found Jerrik.  He sat at a table with two human men and a busty redhead.  I was still angry from my encounter with Miranda as I stormed in.

I pulled a chair out and plopped down across from Jerrik and between the two men.  The woman moved closer to Jerrik.  One of the men pushed his ale toward me and I drank it without taking a breath.

“You need to talk?”  Jerrik asked, pushing the woman away.

“No,” I said, putting my hand up.

The second man pushed his ale my way and I took it.  Ale did not affect me as it affected most people but I would let them think it was working.  I was thirsty and they didn’t concern me.  I drank the second ale as quickly as the first.

Jerrik looked amused and pushed me a third.  I drank it more slowly.

“Did you get yourself a room?”  I asked.

“Not yet.”

“Good.  I purchased one for you for the night.  Go to the inn at the southeast of town, it’s under your name.  I might have to leave earlier than expected.” 

I felt a hand on my thigh. 

“Is anything wrong?”  Jerrik asked.

I put my hand on top of the man’s hand and gave him a little spark of my fire.  He stood and left the tavern quickly.  I wondered if he would go see Siralla.  The second man moved his chair closer.

“Nothing’s wrong, I just need to get back to my training.”  We spoke as if the others weren’t there.  They didn’t seem to care.

A hush came over the crowd in the tavern.  I knew someone noteworthy had entered the room.  Even I didn’t hush the crowd like that.  Jerrik had a look of wonder on his face.

“Crimson,” he said, as I closed my eyes.

“Have a seat Avery and meet my good friend Jerrik.”

Avery nodded.  “Well met, Jerrik.”

“Avery.”  Jerrik nodded.  “You sure make friends fast.”  He smiled and kicked me under the table.

“We’ve met recently and had a pleasant conversation,” I said

Avery seemed to understand from my lack of description about our encounter that I wanted him to remain silent about it.

“So, Jerrik what do you do?”

Jerrik shrugged.  “I don’t know how to answer that.”  He looked at me.

“Jerrik is a bow master.  He is currently seeking meaning to his life.”

Avery nodded in understanding.  “Aren’t we all Jerrik?  Who was your teacher?”

Jerrik pointed at me.  “You’re sitting next to her.”

Avery raised an eyebrow as he turned to look at me.  “You’re quite a mystery aren’t you Crimson?”

I drank down my third ale.  “Yes, and I plan on keeping it that way.”  I kicked Jerrik.

“Crimson, quit kicking me,” Jerrik said.  He was not going to play my game.

“Maybe one day we’ll adventure together,” Avery said, changing the subject.

“I think I’m going to wander the land for awhile.  Maybe we’ll meet again someday, Avery.”

The man next to me stood and walked away.  He must have felt outclassed. 

I felt a hand on my thigh again and instinctively reached down and touched it with fire.  Avery moved his hand quickly and I looked down to see the ring on my lap.

“I’m sorry Avery,” I whispered.

“I’ll be alright, Siralla will heal it,” He said in my head.”

“You can hear my thoughts?”  I replied.

“Yes.” 

I was angry.  “Stay out of my head Avery.”

“I’ll never do it again, Crimson.  Unless invited first, I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“Do you two want to get a room or something, you’re making me uncomfortable.”

“Jerrik, Avery is just an acquaintance.  Mind your manners,” I said.

Avery stood.  “Master Jerrik, it was nice meeting you.”  He bowed.

“You won’t stay for a drink?”  Jerrik asked.

“No, I have other commitments.  Crimson, I’ll see you later.”  He put his hand on my shoulder.

“Sure,” I said as he walked away.

“You’re too much woman for him you know,” Jerrik said.  The woman who almost sat in his lap looked at him, insulted.

“I wasn’t too much for you?” 

He laughed.  “Oh yes.  You were way too much.”  The woman got up and walked away.

“I’m going to my room Jerrik.  I’ll see you in the morning.”  I tried to stand but someone put their hand on my shoulder and pushed me down.

“Are you going to introduce me to your handsome friend, Crimson?”

“Jerrik, this is Master Miranda, Miranda this is Master Jerrik.”  He stood and made a slight bow.  I used the formalities hoping she would treat him better than she had treated me.

“Master Jerrik?  Who was your teacher?  Not many master the bow.  It’s one thing to be good, yet another altogether to master your skill.  Even another to teach.”

I looked at Jerrik.  He knew I did not want people to be talking about me.  I did not enjoy the attention.

“You sit next to my teacher, Miranda.”  He pushed a glass of Elven wine her way.  He was getting desperate.

 She reached over and took my fourth ale and Jerrik called for more.

She pretended to be nice.  “You didn’t tell me you taught,” she said in a smooth voice.

“I didn’t tell you anything about myself, now did I?”  I stood.

“I’ll see you two later.”  Miranda tried to get up but this time I held her down.

“Hurt him and I will kill you with my bare hands,” I whispered to her. 

I winked at Jerrik and left the two to chat.

 

Back at my room, I lay down and found myself fast asleep.  My nightmares began and I bathed in the sorrow and hate they brought.  I welcomed the nightmare and renewed my rage and thirst for justice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 20

 

 

 

I was awakened by a faint knock.

“Who’s there?”  I did not want to get up.

“Who do you think?  Are you alone in there?”  Jerrik yelled from the other side.

“No.”  I got up and opened the door.

“You have your own room Jerrik.”  I went back to bed and pulled the covers up.

He came over and sat next to me. 

“I thought you weren’t alone.”

“I have my nightmares to keep me company.” 

He knew I was telling the truth.  He shared my nightmares of the atrocities we witnessed in the White Forest. 

“I wanted to say goodbye.  I know you’ll probably try to sneak out early and it’ll be a long while before I see you again.”

Maybe never, I thought to myself.

He brushed my hair away from my eyes.

Concern showed in his eyes.  “Do you know what you’re doing?” he asked.

I reached out and touched the heart necklace that shown through his tunic.

“Yes.  I’ll see you again.  I just have things I need to do first.”

He nodded.

I smiled.  “Did she go back to your room with you?”

“She’s there waiting for me.”

I tried to push him off the bed.  “Why are you here then?  Go, be with her.  Maybe you can loosen her up a bit; she’s wound way too tight.” 

“She reminds me of you.” 

I pretended not to hear what he said. 

“Jerrik take care of yourself, please, and stay warm.  I love you.”  I put my palm on his heart.

“I love you too.  Do me one favor?”

“Anything, Jerrik.”

“Learn to smile again, to love someone with your whole heart, and to laugh.”

“The next time we meet maybe we’ll have cause for joy.”  I sat up and hugged him.  I would miss him deeply.  He kissed me softly on the lips.  A kiss of friendship and love.

“Goodbye Crimson.”
“  Goodbye Jerrik.”