Wizard of Elements

by Calista Lambrechts

  We ducked for incoming arrows whilst trying to keep our balance on the rooftops. At least I was right and the hunters seemed to slow down. I couldn’t help but smile all the way through. Terrowin seemed incredibly fast and dashed across the unstable roofs with unimaginable speed and agility.

  I, on the other hand, needed to focus on keeping my balance and keeping up with that numbskull. Too bad I focused on it a little bit too much as for a fist came out of nowhere and hit me on my cheek. I lost balance and slipped off the roof, but caught the edge with the bit of my luck I had left, watching as bits of pale red tiles crashed down to the cold streets below. I’m not lying if I say that it did quite a number on my dislocated shoulder.

  The bounty hunter neared the edge and loomed over me, but made a regrettable mistake in the making as I grabbed him by the ankle the soon as he came close enough. I lent him all the strength I had left and pulled. His feet left the ground and he was sent taking a fall.

  As I intently focused on the arts of do-not-let-go-and-fall, a hand came down at me from above and helped me up. You guessed it. It’s Terri!

  In the far distance up in front of us, I could see our progress as we approached the city walls. The excitement caused me to pick up the pace.

  Bits of gravel skidded from the roofs as we ran across them, no doubt disturbing these underneath. I ducked for oncoming arrows and picked up the pace. The hunters were close behind, but, like the usual, I came up with a brilliant plan.

  “Jump!” I cried.

  “The height is too great to jump from!”

  “Trust me!”

  “But-” “Shut up and follow my lead!” I couldn’t hear another word escaping Terrowin’s mouth and immediately leaped off the roof. Unwillingly, Terrowin followed my actions from behind.

  Together we fell to the cold, solid streets with flailing arms, although the rooftops were quite far from the ground now that I think about it, despite Terrowin mentioning it before.

  The hunters quickly approached and knelt on the edge of the unstable roof, looking down in hope to catch a sight of us, but saw nothing. Trust me, I don’t even want to explain how enraged they were. The one smacked the other over the head. The man winced, rubbed his head, but didn’t react except for one hateful glare. All together they raced forward and climbed down on a nearby construction sight, continuing the search for their walking prize.

  Aka yours truly.

  ***

  “Get out, you idiot!” said the haystack in the wooden cart to the other haystack.

  “Alright, alright, I’m going!” Slowly the hay began to stir and a tall young guy emerged and climbed out onto the cold stone streets.

  “Coast is clear.” The hay stirred one last time.

  “This better be the last time you drag me into these things,” Terrowin chided.

  I escaped the clutches of the hay and landed on the streets, dusting myself off.

  “I can’t make any promises.” With a smile, I pulled Terrowin along by the arm and together we raced down the street, sneaking past the guards and escaping through the large gates.

  CHAPTER 37

  GREETINGS TO THE DEVIL

  CARLAYLIN

  The sun was a glorious bright, lancing down to kiss the earth. A gentle breeze rustled at the treetops.

  The forest was peaceful as Terrowin and I made our way back to the tower on foot. I must say that I quite enjoyed it. It gave me a sense of adventure and tranquillity for a change. We laughed and celebrated the way back, enjoying each other’s company. We’ve been walking for quite some time now, about a few days, camping each night. We only had a few miles to go before reaching Murray’s tower.

  Terrowin kept himself neutral, but I, on the other hand, was completely hyperactive, just wanting to run around and go mad. I raced all around Terrowin and jumped with joy, laughing all the way. “This is great!” Playfully I fell to the ground, but came upright instantly thereafter, hugging my legs tightly.

  “I love you!” Terrowin’s expression turned into that of shock.

  “I… uh… err… um-”

  “Not you, idiot! My legs!” He tried to cover with a nervous laugh, absentmindedly scratching the back of his head.

  “I have never been better. Don’t you ever leave me like that again!” To think I was talking to my legs all this time… yep, I was my normal self once again. I guess all the drama, pain and sorrow really got to me, but there’s nothing more like getting chased by mercenaries that cheers one’s spirit. To be able to run around without the slightest bit of pain really got my hopes up high.

  I soon managed to calm down and turned my speed into a normal walking pace alongside Terrowin. I gave a scheming smile and elbow bumped him to the side, he returned but a chuckle. “That was fun,” I said. “Yeah, you said it about fifty times now, for the past few days… and I have been counting.” I snorted and folded my arms.

  “Hey.” Terrowin turned to face me as we continued to walk through the forest. “Thanks for coming back for me and perhaps I might be sorry for punching you in the jaw, maybe.”

  “It’s nothing.” Nervously, I shot my gaze up to the sky.

  “I might have enjoyed it, just so you know.”

  “Now that’s something.”

  “What? Who wouldn’t?” I threw in a shrug as a cherry to top the very poorly baked cake.

  “Well, by the days I’m having I guess all would relish getting a turn,” he kidded. I warmly punched him on the shoulder.

  “That’s the spirit,” I replied, “Though I guess Borin would be first in line.”

  “I see you made his acquaintance.”

  “More than acquaintances, my dear annoying human.” Terrowin gave a loud miserable sigh, rolling his eyes.

  “Please don’t do this to me.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh.

  All was well and silent until someone decided to mention the past.

  “Do you… have an idea to why those guards tried to kill me up there back at the arena?”

  I took a deep breath before responding most unwillingly, not to mention guiltily. I gave a nervous laugh, actually making things worst. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Most normal people would keep it a secret, shrug it off and say they haven’t an idea, but me, on the other hand… Let’s just say I have a fetish for speaking my mind these days, which isn’t exactly always the greatest.

  “I might have made a deal with Du Perron.” Terrowin froze in his tracks and turned to face me directly. I stopped, turned around on my heels and tried not to avert my gaze.

  I gulped as I searched for the right moment to answer his questioning gaze, since I knew I had to tell him sooner or later.

  “A deal that would rise me to the final rank to face my final challenge as soon as possible. If I ought to win, Du Perron would’ve awarded me with the artefact, but we all know how that worked out.”

  “And if you lost...?” And with that Terrowin crossed his arms and focused his gaze intently on me. I could tell that his question was placed on purpose. He was already long suspecting me, and most probably already knew the answer. I think he only wanted the words to come out of my own mouth.

  Dammit.

  “I would be dead and Du Perron could have your head, kill you in that matter.” Terrowin stared at me with an expression that made me feel quite remorseful, but he soon shook it away, even though it so obviously still bit at him.

  “No, matter that – too late for regrets, eh?” I raised an eyebrow in query.

  “You’re taking this surprisingly well.” Terrowin started walking on.

  “You may not know this, but I’m fighting off all the urges I have to strangle you at the moment.” I gave a nervous chuckle.

  “G-Good job,” I stuttered.

  ***

  We walked and talked for about an hour or more, slowly coming across a clearing. The clearing was of green grass. The clearing was surrounded by the forest – giant trees
that still roofed the clear blue warm skies. Spears of sun pierced through the branches and leaves and gently caressed the forest floor at our feet.

  It was quite peaceful, but it was a moment short lasted as an arrow was sent darting through the air, whistling and slicing through mid-air before it shot into Terrowin’s shoulder. He grunted through gritted teeth and he lost his footing, falling to a crouch then easing himself up onto his knees.

  “Terrowin!” I gasped and my immediately started scanning my surroundings, alerted in full. I caught sight of a few approaching soldiers appearing from the horizon. They road their horses at full speed. No assassin, no Morrowburg guards, no Suntaria guards, no Governor Du Perron, the witch, the necromancer, Olaf or the bounty hunters. Wow, looking at that list, I’ve been pretty busy these past few days... correction: months. Instead, I could only make out what seemed to be Haylian, maybe Haylian, soldiers on horses approaching from afar.

  I swallowed and my heart started hammering at my chest.

  I felt pretty exposed to the next attack.

  “By Tarauntis! Are you okay?”

  “What does it look like?!” He bit the pain in between his teeth as he clutched at his arm, trying to pull the arrow out of the terrible gash as the blood stained his sleeve and ran down his arm.

  “Well it looks pretty bad.”

  Before Terrowin could scold, I took up action myself, veered to his side and grabbed the arrow and pulled it out, though it only seemed to worsen the pain, letting Terrowin give a quick yelp. He grasped his wounded shoulder.

  “Get out of here!” he shouted.

  “Hey! That’s no way to treat someone who’s only trying to help!”

  “No! They’ll get you if you stay. Please, get away while you still can!” It was true that I was hesitant, switching between the thoughts of escaping and staying.

  “You should really work on the way you put things, you know that?”

  “Just go!”

  I guessed winning time wasn’t an option. My eyes glinted with grief. I wasn’t ready to lose him again. I wasn’t ready to let him go again. I was torn. I had no intention on going, but all the same, he was right, and from experience I learned that staying and getting caught only worsened the chance for us both to get out of this thing alive and well.

  I wanted to help Terrowin with his wound, but I knew that it would be impossible.

  “No, I’m not leaving you!” Terrowin grabbed my arm with his free hand and held it in a firm grip, mostly the pain squeezing me if you ask me.

  “Please,” pleaded.

  How could I say no to those pleading eyes?

  “Dammit, Terrowin!” I looked around and saw the dark figures closer than ever before.

  “I promise I’ll come back for you!”

  “Go!” I bit down on my lower lip, knowing there was nothing I could do. Fighting one massive enemy is way different than being outnumbered. I sighed and ran away with little choice at the matter, though instead of escaping into the deeper forest, I hid myself behind a tree close enough to eavesdrop, yet far enough to remain unnoticed.

  I imagined that Terrowin would’ve jumped up and run away with me, but he didn’t.

  It was almost as though he needed to stay.

  The soldiers on horses rapidly approached, but the two main soldiers halted the attack in front of Terrowin. Guards acted fast and dismounted their horses and grabbed him by the arms, reassuring themselves that he wouldn’t escape. He didn’t even seem to fight back. I noted the two main soldiers out in front to be Thomason and Cassius… Cassius.

  An urge wanted me to run up to him, but I had to fight it back.

  Cassius looked shock by Terrowin’s wounded arm and shot a look of disbelieve at Thomason, his mouth slightly agape.

  “What the hell was that for?!”

  “Sorry, may I call it a misfire? It was supposed to be a warning shot.”

  Cassius heaved a heavy sigh, shaking his head buried in the palm of his one hand.

  “Note that you shall be the one to explain this, not me.”

  “Whatever your decision, Cassius.” The two looked down at Terrowin as they sat perched on their grand horses. Terrowin was still fighting his own battle against the webbing anguish. Yet, he seemed to have no trouble showing the anger and hatred he felt towards the men. He’s kind of handsome like that if you ask me… ahem.

  “Boy, you’re coming with us! You have disobeyed your father once too many, you worthless wretch!”

  Cassius’ expression turned livid.

  “Shut it, Thomason!” Thomason raised an eyebrow, but remained silent, rather focusing his gaze on Terrowin in the most loathing of ways. I managed to catch sight of Thomason’s eyes – dark emerald green. I was bewildered, shaken even.

  Could he be that guy at the… no, it can’t be… but, yet… could it?

  “Call him by his name, he is no wretch!” Cassius chided through snarled lips.

  He leaned forward, meeting Terrowin face to face.

  His expression turned into pity.

  “Your father has been worried sick about you, Terrowin. I cannot begin to explain his concern. Please, return home without our need to use violence and or force.” He raised his soft gaze to look at his small legion of soldiers, ordering, “Guards!”

  The guards let him go, but he dropped to the ground. Perhaps his wounded arm had made him weak, but I could see that it wasn’t the case. He had been given a chance to return home by his own will, or even escape if needed be. This was his chance to run away, but he didn’t take any action and instead he stayed, scowling at the two, even though I could see that he had a somewhat more of a softer spot in his heart for Cassius, and Cassius only. Cassius dropped his gaze in grief.

  Thomason, on the other hand, didn’t care much about this and gave a sadistic laugh, but it subsided shortly after.

  “Typical. Don’t say you didn’t have a chance, boy. Guards, teach him the lesson he is in need to learn!” One of the obedient guards instantly took action and kicked Terrowin in the gut. Terrowin winced and doubled over, gasping for air and coughing.

  “Again!” The guard kicked him again, letting Terrowin cough agonisingly. He fell flat to the forest floor, curled up into a helpless little ball, groaning with pain. I felt my mouth dry up as my grip on the tree trunk only tightened. I couldn’t stand watching.

  “Again!”

  “No, stop!” Cassius demanded furiously, the guard obeying. He shot an enraged look at Thomason.

  “You are a monster, Thomason! You want him dead before he reaches his father?”

  “To be honest, I don’t really concern myself about these things.”

  He withdrew a dagger and studied it from up close. Cassius looked utterly bewildered.

  “What?”

  “You think I care about whether this boy gets home safely or not, whether commander Rowan gets his wishes or not?”

  “What are you saying?” Thomason continued to study the dagger, playing with it in his hands as if it were nothing more than a toy – his toy.

  “Thomason!”

  For the first, Terrowin’s expression turned into something close to fear and apprehension.

  “Trust me. When I get the chance I won’t hesitate to stab that fool in the back. Literally. Brendwin deserves the favour of this war.” From then on I knew Thomason was a traitor all along, secretly planning the demise of Terrowin and his whole family. This was a plot.

  Thomason aimed the dagger at Cassius.

  “Thomason?”

  “At least I know exactly where to start, my dear old naïve friend.”

  Without any second thoughts, he threw the dagger and it pierced his chest.

  Cassius motionlessly sat on his horse, staggered as he kept an empty gaze on Thomason, almost saying: How could you?

  My heart skipped a beat.

  N-No…

  Gradually, Cassius’ tired eyes trailed down to the dagger stuc
k in his chest. It was the wrong day to not wear any armour.

  He choked on some blood and with knitted eyebrows, limply fell sideward and off his horse, hitting the ground. Pain hit me from the inside, letting my heart shatter and my lips to quaver as I kept in the shallow tears that so forced their way up my tightening throat. I hid in deeper behind the tree, hard to subside the racing of my heart and the ache in my bones.

  Dad…

  “Thomason, you bastard!” Terrowin yelled, obviously shaken and wide-eyed.

  Thomason merely looked at Terrowin with detest, ordering, “Get him onto my horse and let us be off to Hayley.” He looked into Terrowin’s eyes one last time.

  “I still need to win your father’s trust.”

  “Go to hell,” Terrowin muttered, with a shaky breath.

  The guards seemed to be all in on the conspiracy matter and forced Terrowin on to the back of Thomason’s horse and bound his hands with a thick piece rope. A guard hit Cassius’ horse on its hind leg and the horse neighed, racing off – free.

  All together they took their departure, taking Terrowin as their prisoner.

  No sooner did my feet shoot forward and I darted across the clearing, racing to Cassius’ side who was left to die a painful, merciless and cold death on the forest floor. My eyes glistened and straying drops of tears streamed down my cheeks.

  “Cassius!” I called in distress before falling on my knees beside him. He was still alive, but not for much longer…

  I could hear him breathing heavily. I could see his tired eyes, his pale face and hear his nasty coughs as a trickle of blood ran down the corner of his mouth.

  It was clear he was having a hard time to stay conscious, to cope with the agonising sting of agony.

  “W-What are-”

  “What’s your daughter’s name?!” I interrupted. Even though dying, Cassius still looked bemused at my sudden appearance. He didn’t reply as he struggled to find his words.

  “Answer me!” I cried, my hands met with an involuntary tremble – mostly with the fear of him dying, leaving me without the knowledge of the known truth and a father…