by Zora Marie
“I’m right here.”
He touched her shoulder and waited for her to sit up on her own. He guided her to drape her legs over the edge of the bed. She could feel his body heat beside her.
“Keep your eyes open for me, alright?”
She cringed as her eyes burned for a moment.
“Your eyes are fine. I will have to run more tests to find out what is wrong.”
“Yalif,” Yargo’s voice sounded from the doorway behind her.
“I’ll be right back, Rogath will be right here.”
The bed moved as Yalif stood and Rog took his place. “You’ll be fine, Zelia, I promise.” He told her, leaning against her in a gentle hug.
“How can you know that, Rog?”
“I just do.” His fingers intertwined with hers, and she turned her head towards the door.
“Wizards” was the only word she could make out from Yalif and Yargo’s conversation.
“Do you think this could be the elders?” Zelia asked.
“Elders?” Rog asked, “Wait, you mean the other wizards? I thought Asenten was the only one that knew you were alive.”
Zelia opened her mouth to say something, but she stopped herself.
“What haven’t you told me?”
“I... please don’t leave me.”
He can’t find out now, he won’t understand. She laid her head on his shoulder, his hand clenched in hers. I can’t lose him, not now.
“Zelia, I need to run some scans on you.”
“Here, I’ll come with you,” Rog volunteered.
“No, you stay here Rog. Zelia, I’m going to carry you, is that alright?”
She nodded and Yalif scooped her up. His footsteps trailed down the hall and when a door closed behind them, he set her down on a hard surface.
“I need you to sleep. When you wake up, you’ll be back in bed, but I’ll be there.”
Something soft and damp wiped across her face and she fell asleep.
“Did you find anything?” Yargo’s voice drifted to her as consciousness returned.
“Nothing that should have caused her blindness.”
“But you found something?”
“She’s related to the old gods. She should be much more powerful than she claims to be.” There was a weird edge in Yalif’s voice, as if he knew that the wizards had planned to kill them, and it was a while before Yargo spoke again.
“Does anyone else know?”
“No. Why?”
“Let’s keep this between us for now and Rog certainly can’t find out about it.”
“May I run more tests? By all the laws of life, she shouldn’t exist.”
“Not yet, but soon. Let her rest. Being thrust back into the dark will weigh on her more now that the sun has risen, and her own flames can’t help her.”
“Will you stay with her, or shall I?”
“You told her you would be here, so it should be you. Take good care of her.”
The door creaked open and closed as Yargo left. The silence weighed on her, and she slipped back to sleep. In this state, she dreamed about the wizards.
“What do you mean fire and ice are the only powers she has?” one of the other wizards yelled.
“I’ve tried everything, no other powers will emerge,” Asenten replied.
“All that work to get the blood of the old gods and it doesn’t even work?” one of them grumbled.
“Perhaps we should cut our losses and kill her now? She can’t kill Yargo and Zivu with the powers she holds, much less get near Fregnar.”
“And waste everything we have done? No, we’ll find a use for her. For now, use her as you wish.”
Asenten grumbled.
“You have a problem with that?”
“No,” Asenten’s tone made it clear he wasn’t happy that they left him to take care of their disappointment.
“Yalif?” she asked as she felt the warmth of a bed rather than the chill of the cave.
“Shh. It’s okay, I’m here.”
She could feel the bed shift beside her as she opened her eyes. The world was dark, and she fought to ignore it.
“What was that you gave me?”
“Just something to put you to sleep.”
“Why didn’t you give it to me before?”
“Many have a poor reaction to it. It was too risky to give to you when you were in such a state. How do you feel?”
She started to take a deep breath and remembered the rib that had yet to be popped back in place.
“Yalif,” she clenched her teeth for a moment, “Can you pop my rib back into place for me? I think it’s been long enough.”
“Are you sure? If what you said is true, it could cause more damage than good to try too soon. Perhaps we should wait a few more days, just to be sure.”
She nodded, then tears welled up.
“Yalif, will I ever see again?”
A warm and soft hand touched hers, and she jerked away, clenching her fist.
“I wish I knew, but I will not lie to you. I have no idea if you will ever see again, though I do not think your fall caused this.”
“Why didn’t you tell Yargo that earlier?”
“You did not think your fall was the cause either, did you?”
She shook her head and gingerly rolled to her side, away from him, if he didn’t know, she wasn’t going to say. Besides, she wasn’t sure if the chanting in her head was real or just her mind playing tricks on her. The bed shifted as Yalif stood.
“There will be a guard just outside your door, just call for him if you need something.”
Soon his warmth left the spot where he had sat on the bed and the familiar cold touch of the stone called to her. She rolled from the bed, keeping one hand on the wall at all times, and slid down until she was half curled up against the cool stone wall.
Time passed, and she could hear someone speaking near the door.
“That time already?”
“Sure is. So why are we guarding the girl’s room?”
“They didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“The poor girl has lost her vision. It’s a shame really. You should have heard how Lumid described her looking at the stars with him. It sounded like they might be two peas in a pod, but now…”
“That is a shame.”
She could hear the pity in their words and the long sigh one of them let out.
“Just take good care of her and don’t forget to report to Yalif and Yargo before you leave.”
Footsteps faded, and the hallway was silent again. The pity in the guards’ tone still rang in her ears and a face floated to the surface in her memories, her lack of vision making it all the easier to picture him. She’d never forget the look one gives right before they die, but some were harder to forget than others.
“I forgive you, just do as he says, but never forget who you are.”
The man’s face was twisted in pain, but his words couldn’t have been more genuine and the sorrowful look in his eyes would never leave her.
“Evening Rogath. Come to get Zelia for dinner?”
“Yes. Zelia?”
His gliding step halted as he rounded the side of the bed, then he continued with a catch in his step.
“I’m sorry I left you.”
She shook her head and tried to pull away as his hand touched her back, but he hugged her anyway. He pulled her away from the cold wall, and she rested her cheek against his soft tunic.
“Everything alright?” the guard asked.
Rog’s chin brushed her hair as he nodded.
“You know you need to eat something. Will you please join me for dinner?”
She shook her head and pressed herself closer against him. For a moment he reminded her of Eadon, how he used to hold her on his lap and comfort her.
“Kerm, would you have the cooks bring us something to eat in here and let the others know we won’t be joining them?”
“What would you like me to have
them bring?”
Rog took a slow deep breath and pressed a hand against her head. She could feel him reaching for her thoughts and suddenly his presence was stronger, as if a door had swung open between them.
“How about some fruit? It’ll be easier to eat here.”
“I’ll be right back.”
The guard’s heavy steps faded away and left her with nothing but the beat of Rogath’s heart to hear.
“When did you eat fruit? I don’t remember you having any in the cave.”
She ignored his question, not even letting her thoughts wander to the answer as she still wasn’t ready to share everything with him.
The familiar clang of metal on stone made her jump.
“It’s alright; it’s just the food.”
Though Rog tried to hide how he struggled with her keeping things from him, it still showed in his tone.
“Here, I believe this is a favorite of yours.”
Rog placed a smooth roundish object in her hand. She rolled it in her hands for a moment, feeling how it dipped in around the stem and the three bumps at the other end. She could almost see the apple as it sat in her hand, the red skin and how the light reflected off its surface, but it was just a faded memory.
“You recognize it, don’t you?” he asked, his pitch going up the slightest bit.
She pressed it to her lips before opening her mouth to take a bite. It crunched as her teeth bit through the skin. She couldn’t help but picture herself eating apples with Alrindel as the sweet and sour flavor brought back memories.
“Thank you, Rogath.”
She took a couple more bites, then set it down.
“Full already?”
“I’m just not hungry.”
“Alright, ready to go to bed then?”
She nodded and put her hand behind her to feel for the bed, but jammed her fingers on its wood frame.
“Here, let me help.”
He took her hand and guided it to the top of the bed.
“I’ll be right back, I have to take care of the leftovers and change.”
She nodded again and crawled into the bed, hitting her knee on the frame as she went. Fregnar, she cursed to herself. After fumbling to cover herself up, she curled up on her side. Without Rogath there, she could almost hear the screams that haunted her dreams and were once her reality.
She jumped when something pulled the wad of blanket from her clenched hands.
“It’s just me.” The bed shifted as Rogath sat beside her. “Go to sleep, I’ll stay up so you can see for just a little while.”
Her hands shook as she grabbed another wad of the blanket.
“Rogath, I... I can hear their screams.”
“I know you can. I hear them too sometimes. Do you want me to go see if Yalif can give you something to help you sleep?”
She shook her head and felt for his hand. She could feel it pressing into the bed beside her.
“No, just, please stay here.”
“Alright, I’m not going anywhere, but you need to sleep.”
She felt Rogath slump over asleep before exhaustion finally took her.
Zelia woke just in time to catch herself as she fell from the bed to the cold stone floor. She shivered as she lay there, an image of an old man burned before her. He didn’t scream, his gaze held compassion, acceptance, and something that almost seemed like sorrow for leaving her there to suffer. She sat and leaned against the wall. She thought she heard Rog say something, but it was faint as if far away.
“Zelia, would you please come out with us for breakfast? I promise I won’t let you fall,” Rog said.
She shook her head and pressed herself against the wall, her arms wrapped around herself.
“Alright, I’ll have someone bring you something to eat.” His steps faded away down the hallway.
Morning came again and images continued to haunt her, but this time Rog grabbed her hand.
“I know what you’re going to say, but too bad. You’re coming to breakfast.”
He pulled her to her feet and steered her down the hall.
“Quit fighting, you’re coming to breakfast.”
With his hands on her shoulders, she gave in and let him guide her.
“Now sit down.”
She eased into her seat and he pushed her in.
“I see you coaxed her from her room,” Zivu’s voice was warm and welcoming.
“More like dragged her, but she’s here.” There was a hint of humor in Rog’s voice and he nudged her.
Zelia picked at her food as the boys told Yargo about the previous day.
“Zelia, I want you to go with Rog to magic practice today. Zivu has something she wants to teach you,” Yargo’s voice was gentle, as if he talked to a broken dove.
“Okay, Yargo,” she replied. What does she think she knows that can help me? I don’t even know why I’m blind.
“You’ll see, Mother always has a plan. Come on, let’s go,” Rog grabbed her hand and led her away, and this time she followed him with more ease.
“You’ve figured out how to hear my thoughts while we’re awake haven’t you?”
“How else am I supposed to know what you’re thinking? But it would be nice if you would quit thinking in Elvish, it’s such a complicated language.”
“Guess I’ll have to start thinking in the language of the animals since it seems to be the only one you can’t speak.”
He stopped and his footsteps spun in front of her, his hand still holding hers. “You so would, wouldn’t you?” He heaved a sigh. “Fine, I’ll stop.”
She stifled a laugh. “Yeah, right.”
“Hey! There’s that smile of yours. Come on, we’re wasting time.” He dragged her outside and down the path.
“Rog, you go practice for a while. I will have a talk with Zelia,” Zivu touched Zelia’s arm to let her know where she wanted her to go.
“I’ll be right here if you need me.” Rog squeezed her hand a little before he dropped it.
“Zelia, I want you to learn to use magic as your eyes. Now, you said you only have control over fire and ice, correct?”
She nodded.
“Let frost grow around your feet.”
She shivered and could feel the ground freezing beneath her.
“Open your senses to your magic, feel where the ice goes as it reaches out.”
Grass crunched as Zivu stepped back. Zelia could feel the ice reaching up as it came to a column.
“Can you feel it?”
Zelia nodded.
“Good. Now, try to weave between the columns.”
She passed between two of them, but gave them both a wide berth, with each column she grew closer. Her shoulder collided with a column and she could feel the ice spread as she leaned against it.
“Very good! It will take you a little time to refine and you must be careful not to freeze things you touch like that.”
She pulled the ice back as she pushed away from the column.
“I think you have a handle on this, so I am going to go see how Rogath is doing. I will be nearby if you need anything.”
“Zivu, thank you.”
“You are welcome, now go on.”
Zivu’s steps receded and left Zelia to spend the rest of the day running into things. Where ice grows up, there is an inanimate object. Where ice is reluctant to go, is either water or a person. She repeated her findings over and over to herself as she walked along the training fields.
That night she tossed and turned until she gave up on sleep and got out of bed, being careful not to disturb Rog. A chill ran up her as her feet hit the smooth surface of the stone floor. All was quiet, and she edged onto the balcony, hands held out in front of her. The smooth surface of a column brushed her arm, she froze and tried to remember how far out the ledge was. The howl of a wolf called for her to follow. I shouldn’t, but I can’t stay locked up in here forever. She ran into column after column on her way, but the nearing call of the wolf kept her going.
“And just where do you think you’re going at this hour?” a man’s voice asked as she neared the front gates.
“For a walk.”
“I don’t think so young lady. I’m not in the mood to go searching for you in the dark again.”
His voice sounded in her path and she slowed to a stop as she didn’t want to run into someone yet again.
“It shouldn’t matter what time I choose to go for a walk, it’s not like I can see either way.”
“I don’t care, back to bed.” He grabbed her and spun her around.
Her broken rib shifted, and the pain made the world spin, even after she stopped.
“Zelia?” the guard asked as she fell to her hands and knees. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to... Do you need Yalif?”
She shook her head.
“Then here, let me help you up.”
“Get away from her,” a wolf’s voice came in a snarl.
She could hear the sword on the guard’s belt loosen and she grasped a wad of his clothing.
“No, don’t. He’s a friend.”
“What!?!”
“Please don’t hurt him,” she pleaded with the guard before turning towards the wolf, “You know, I never asked for your name.”
“Lobo. You alright?”
She nodded.
“Good, let’s go for a walk.”
The guard reached to stop her, his fingers brushing her shoulder, but Lobo snarled, and the man backed away.
She ran her fingers through the course hair across Lobo’s shoulders and followed him away from the palace.
“We won’t have long before they’ll come searching for you, but I have something in mind for you to do,” said Lobo.
“What’s that?”
“I think you’ll figure it out on your own.”
She followed Lobo for a long time until the comforting voices of the trees enticed her to follow their winding paths. Their murmurs and Lobo’s body guided her through their rough and leaf-covered paths. The loud croaks of frogs and the slight trickle of water told her she was nearing the pond. Lobo stopped, and she continued despite not knowing what was in front of her.
When she came to the water’s edge something overcame her and she tapped her foot to the water’s surface. A thick layer of ice spread across the pond. She swiped her foot over the smooth surface and stepped onto it.