Father Liam, who gave the sermons at their convent’s sanctum, had once lectured on how eyes can say a lot. When someone was innocent, it showed in their eyes. The same went for the guilty, who might display a lack of light or life in their eyes. If Father Liam’s message was true, Dorhen might be safe to speak with. She needed to be sure he could be trusted to walk her home without pulling some trick or attacking her once they got to the forest.
Eventually, she caught herself humming her favorite hymn, already forgetting her self-consciousness about the elf’s eyes. She couldn’t worry about his eyes as much as she worried about Kemp walking into the hospital, or the way his eyes had probed her this morning on her way to work. In fact, she no longer worried about him because an invisible guardian watched over her now.
At the end of the day, she hung up her apron, put her stern expression back on, and walked out the large double doors. She traversed the streets as if she were alone, mouth clamped shut, eyes locked forward in a prideful way. She wouldn’t look at the ground to see if an extra pair of footprints stamped themselves beside or behind her, even when curiosity nagged her to do so.
As soon as she reached the quieter outskirts of Tintilly, she asked, “Are you there?”
A soft, deep voice answered back, “Yes,” practically at her shoulder.
“I think it’s safe to have our conversation now. Where did you come from?”
His disembodied voice responded eagerly, “I was born in Norr. These days I don’t have a home. I walk around the Lightlands.”
“Why don’t you have a home?”
“Because Arius Medallus tells me to walk. He tells me where to walk, when to rest, and when to start walking again.”
“Who is Arius Medallus?”
“He’s like a father. I’ve known him since childhood.”
“Where is Arius now?”
“His name is Arius Medallus, you have to say it like that.” Dorhen’s tone softened. “I don’t know where he goes when he leaves me. I don’t know where he is now.”
Reflexively, Kalea checked her side, forgetting she’d only find thin air. She inspected the road again to make sure they wouldn’t encounter any people who’d hear her talking to nothing. The Sisters of Sorrow got enough unfair assessment from laypeople. She didn’t need to strengthen their belief about the vestals being a bunch of “loony” girls.
“So why does he tell you to walk? And why don’t you have a home? Can’t you live in Norr?”
“No,” Dorhen said. “I’m forbidden to return to Norr. Arius Medallus warns me how humans can harm, so I can’t stay in any human place either.”
“Well, he’s right, basically. Elves are outlawed here because of an old war. They still don’t like elves. And yet here you are.”
“You think I’m not smart.”
“Yes, in a way.” She tightened her jaw. Perhaps she shouldn’t have said that, but it had come out too fast. “I mean, you saw what happened when they caught you stealing. If I hadn’t been there, you could be dead.”
“I’m glad I did it.”
Kalea stopped walking. Dorhen appeared beside her, his eyes fixed on her. He stood about half a head taller than she. His straight brown hair hung heavy despite the gentle breeze, framing his face, which showed no sign anywhere of a five o’clock shadow. His fingers lingered on the blue hood inside his ordinary brown one. He dropped his hands to the sides. His stare was too much.
“Be invisible again.” Kalea walked on. They weren’t out of town yet. Footsteps pattered to catch up to her. When she glanced back, he had disappeared again. “Now I want to know why you’re still here. I remember clearly that on the day we met, you said you weren’t supposed to be seen and you were leaving the area. You haven’t.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Why?”
“Because of you.”
Her cheeks warmed up again. She stroked a lock of hair lying on her shoulder to cover any indication of her embarrassment. “What’s so special about me?” She batted her eyes and turned her face away from the sound of his resonant voice.
“I don’t know… I couldn’t get you off my mind after first meeting you. I tried. I walked a good ten miles away. I came back. And I’m glad I did—I found you again in town when you…when that man…”
Kalea sighed. “Look. I helped you out at first, and you helped me in return. Can’t we call it even? Don’t you have to move on because of Arius Med—Med…”
“Medallus… Your words make sense, Kalea. They were my words, too. But look, here I am. I’m worried about you. What if that man attacks you again?”
“I don’t know. I’ll have to tell my superiors about him. But when I tell them, they’ll also know about you. Kemp will tell everyone about you even if they don’t squeeze it out of me. You have to leave this area and forget about me.”
“I can’t.”
Kalea sighed again, and her hands balled into fists at her sides. “You are not smart.”
“I know I’m not.”
“So… What? You’re going to follow me around forever?” She yelled the question, and then remembered to keep quiet.
They drew near to Tintilly’s west-side entrance. The town, though growing in size, didn’t have a wall surrounding it like the larger cities near the borders. The sleepy town sat nestled in a rural area, close to other small towns in the heart of the Lightlands. They had been established during a long peaceful period which hadn’t warranted any walls. But times would soon change. The famine would cause a rise in hunger, leading to anxiety, leading to desperation, and on to crime, both organized and chaotic. New bandit gangs would form, and these little towns would need more security. The roads between them would become even more dangerous than they were now.
“I can walk you to the hospital and back. I won’t let anyone bother you.”
“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard all day. They’d catch you eventually.”
He grunted softly, and her words echoed in her head like a rake against a stone wall. Her comment was reflexive. It might be the perfect time for a personal guardian, as long as he was honest and genuine.
“Okay, listen. I can’t make you leave this town. If you must follow me, do it without being seen. And if you get caught, we don’t know each other. I can point a finger at you as easily as I can at Kemp.”
“Of course.” He stayed quiet as they walked through the gate, past the town watchmen.
The road wound up and around the rolling hills and into the towering pine forest on the horizon. A long way into the field, Kalea said, “I have more questions before we get to the convent.”
“Yes.” He appeared beside her, attentive as ever.
“I’m going to be blunt.” She shifted her eyes to him. He practically walked sideways to keep his attention on her. “Is there anything you expect from me?”
“No.”
“So you won’t talk to me?”
“Not if you don’t want me to.”
“All right. Anything else?”
“Like what?” he asked.
“Like for instance… You’re not going to try to seduce me? Or attack me like Kemp did?”
Dorhen’s face went long, his mouth opening and his eyebrows rising. “No, I would never…!” His eyebrows turned downward. “You think I would…?” Kalea looked away and opened her hands wide. “I told you, you don’t even have to talk to me.”
“You’ve made it hard not to talk to you already.”
“Well, I’ll stop, starting now.”
“Not until I’m done asking you questions.”
From then on, Dorhen walked with his eyes forward and his mouth tight. The bridge of his nose stood out strong, the tip pointing forward as if to say wherever he was going, he meant it.
“Isn’t there a girl-elf you have back home?”
“I don’t have a home. And I don’t know any other elves.” He said it without looking at her.
Kalea’s shoulders deflated. “Sorry I asked. But
I had to. When you’re a woman, you have to worry about who is nice and who’s not. Especially when you’re at the fertile age and unmarried. Especially again if you want to be inducted into the Sisters of Sorrow.” Kalea frowned and shook her head, watching the path winding into the trees ahead. “Wicked men like Kemp think the best way to get their pleasure is with a virgin. They’ll take any chance they can find to deflower one.”
“What is that?” His voice lost its strong edge. He slid his eyes toward her but didn’t keep them there.
“What’s what?”
“The Sisters of Sorrow.”
The tension building at the back of her neck at the thought of having to explain to him what a virgin was vanished. “It’s a religious faction for women who aren’t good for marriage because they’re mentally ill. Our parents put us in the convent to give us the best life possible for our unique situations. Once I’m a full sister, I can have a lot of privileges and do a lot of good for the community.”
“What is mentally ill?”
“It has a lot of variations. Basically, it has to do with a person’s mind being unhealthy. I’m called mentally ill because from a young age, I used to get distracted by the water. I could see faces in it.”
Her throat closed up. She’d never been sensitive about her problem before, but a new hurt sparked, possibly because the problem had recently returned. She thought she’d been cured. It might prove to be a greater problem than previously expected. “I’ve always seen these faces. It’s one face, I mean. Actually, it changes, but I know it’s the same person. If it can be considered a person. I used to get so mesmerized. It made me feel safe.”
Dorhen grabbed her arm and put himself in front of her, forcing her to meet his eyes. The shock filled her core with a turbulence she couldn’t quite place. His strong hand gripping her arm sent a jolt of carnal excitement through her abdomen.
“Kalea.”
Gaping, she slapped his hand away. “Don’t grab me! Don’t touch me!” she yelled, not caring if anyone heard her now.
He raised his hands by his head as she turned away and rubbed her arm, willing the tingles to leave her core. That must’ve been elven magic. With the use of magic, he did mean to seduce her! If not today, eventually he would. He’d keep feeding magic into her until she believed the idea was hers. That little taste of it was strong. Good thing she hadn’t gotten locked into his eyes when it happened.
“Leave me alone!” She took off at a run.
“Kalea, wait!” He ran after her. “I’m sorry! I didn’t know!”
Her heart pounded in her ears. She whimpered as she sprinted, frantic not to let him grab her again. Once in the forest, she huffed as the path inclined up a gentle hill.
“Help!” she cried.
His voice echoed behind her, “Please stop!”
She didn’t. When the path leveled off, she ran on against all exhaustion until her lungs struggled to fill. She grabbed a tree beside the path and used it to stay on her feet as well as propel herself to the next tree. At the area where the ground sloped into a valley beside the path, her foot slipped on the pine needles and she tumbled down.
Dorhen gasped from the road above. “I’m coming, don’t move!”
She rolled a long way, and by chance didn’t hit any trees. When she slowed to a smooth stop at the bottom, her breaths came short and weak and her vision darkened. She fell asleep. Her eyelids fluttered open again to a soft breeze fanning against her. The orange sky beamed behind the treetops.
A distant man’s voice, not Dorhen’s, called from above, “Kalea!”
She couldn’t call back in her heavy daze. At least she could breathe again.
“Oh no.” Dorhen’s voice resonated beside her. Strong hands scooped her up, and her head flopped against a warm chest. A warm, masculine scent tantalized her nose, and his long hair tickled across her face as they moved. They traveled upward at a dizzying pace. Kalea reached her hand around his neck for stability.
“Don’t worry,” he said softly over her face. “I’ll get you home. I know where it is now.” Kalea closed her eyes and endured the movement, inhaling his scent.
When she opened her eyes again, she was curled up at the gate of the convent. The sun had set completely and Dorhen had disappeared with it, replaced by Father Liam standing over her. He carried her all the way to her bed in the dorm.
She awakened to the bright sun beaming through the windows.
“Good morning,” came Father Liam’s voice. He sat on the floor beside her mattress.
“Father? Where is everyone?”
He twisted around to survey the large dorm room full of empty, made beds.
“Oh, they’re all at their afternoon prayers about now.”
Kalea stirred, and he placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t get up so fast.”
“Why did I sleep so long? I have things to—”
“Not today, child. You had another fright last night. I assume you got lost again and panicked, though you did make your way back when you collapsed at the gate. I don’t think you were there long before I found you. Kalea.”
Still a bit dizzy, she eased back onto her pillow. “Yes?”
“I told them you won’t go to the hospital anymore. Twice getting lost is too much. And we’re all too busy to send you girls in groups or escort you.”
“That’s probably better. I’ll miss it, though.”
“I know.”
“Maybe I can go again after a while.”
Father Liam smiled. “We’ll talk about it.” He stood. “Stay in bed today.”
“I can’t.” Kalea worked back up to her elbows. “I have to do the laundry. Sister Gani can’t do it all herself.”
“I’ll let you sort it out with her. But listen, Kalea.” She paused in her struggle to regard him. “Go slow. Sister Scupley said you were dehydrated and hungry. So stay here. We’ll get some food and water in you before you try anything else.” He pointed at the pitcher and cup beside her bed.
“Yes, Father.” He turned for the door. “Wait, Father.”
Words she wanted to say whirled around in her head and aligned to come out: Kemp attacked me the other day. An elf attacked me last night, and now he’s following me. He won’t leave me alone. He cast a spell on me.
“What do you need, Kalea?”
Her hand still hovered in the air from when she called him. “I…” …have many feelings about the elf, and I don’t know why. His name is Dorhen. I can’t get his name out of my head. “Um. I don’t think…” …I can be a vestal. “I don’t think I can get up. I think I’ll stay in bed today.”
Father Liam’s smile broadened. “It’s recommended. I’ll get you some soup.”
Kalea’s pounding heart drowned out the sound of his footsteps. She began to sweat with the onset of nausea. It was merely dehydration. She hadn’t gotten many drinks of water yesterday while she worked at the hospital. Her hands shook. She pushed herself up on one hand to drink from the full cup of water left for her. She lay back down while the ceiling spun above her.
Every time she closed her eyes, Dorhen’s turquoise stare flashed in the darkness. Why couldn’t she tell Father Liam about Dorhen, especially after he had grabbed and cast his spell on her? Nonetheless, her problem appeared to be solved: she didn’t have to go to the hospital anymore. But how long would the spell last?
She opened her eyes to let the bright, spinning ceiling flood her vision and wash away the image of Dorhen’s face. It didn’t work. His smell rushed back to her memory to make things worse. She’d have to tell Father Liam about him soon, or the elf would never go away. He had said it himself: I can walk you to the hospital and back. I won’t let anyone bother you.
“But why?” she murmured aloud. She was a novice Sister of Sorrow. She couldn’t love him back, if that’s what he wanted, love spell or no love spell. Lying flat, she put her hands to her aching heart. She sat up again. Doing work should help her focus, or this sickness would kill her.
&n
bsp; After eating the lentil soup Father Liam had brought, she staggered out of bed, dressed, and staggered outside despite the novice and elder vestals’ protests. Some good vigorous work would fight the spell. She splashed her face with some cold water from the wash tub. It helped a little to energize her.
“Kalea. Stand back and lemme—”
Kalea pushed Sister Gani’s hand away as the old vestal attempted to take one of the garments soaking in her tub. “Please, Sister, I need to do this. Why don’t you go rest?”
The old woman stood, wringing her hands. “Someone’s gotta watch you, girl.”
Kalea forced a smile. “I’m fine. Look at me. I’m just glad I didn’t have to go to the hospital today. I missed washing.”
Sister Gani’s baggy old eyes narrowed as she turned to study Kalea. “All right. Well, shout if you feel ill again.”
“Yes, ma’am. I know they’ll hear me from the kitchen.”
Sister Gani hobbled away, wiping her hands on her apron. Kalea could finish the last load and hang all of it up to dry, which Sister Gani couldn’t do so well with her frail body.
At least this peaceful work gave her plenty of time to think. She could talk herself into telling Father Liam about Dorhen. There weren’t many ways she could think to get rid of him herself. She could scream at him, but he was so persistent about staying around, screaming might not work. Whatever screaming she had done yesterday hadn’t worked. No other choice beyond telling her superiors presented itself.
It didn’t take long to finish the washing and move on to the hanging. She stopped to rest every few moments; all the bending and standing did no good for her dizziness. A few more sheets and she’d be done. Supper wasn’t far off, and she didn’t want to be late for getting more food into her stomach, as little as it would be.
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