The Crimson Claymore

by Craig A. Price Jr.

  The door cracked opened, and a beautiful brunette kheshlar wearing white robes entered the room. She stalked up to Searon and gazed at him with sparkling silver-emerald eyes. Concern masked her face as she sat at a stool next to him and felt his forehead with her palm. Her skin was different than the other kheshlars; it was a pale green instead of blue.

  "How are you feeling?" she asked.

  Entranced. Mesmerized. He began to wonder for a moment if he was dead, and this was the paradise realm of the creator.

  "A bit…dizzy,” he confessed.

  "That is to be expected.” She came up to the bed and sat next to him as she checked his bandages.

  He watched her carefully as she inspected his wounds. Most were minor, but dried blood scarred most of his arms and face with a few on his chest. Her eyes wandered across his half-naked body for any other wounds she might have missed.

  "What is your name?" Searon asked.

  "Anaela,” she shared, slightly smiling.

  She unraveled the bandage from his head and cringed as the cloth fell. Her fingers moved to his chest where she pulled the cloth off next to expose black-and-purple bruises. He looked down and shook his head as he saw what shape he was in. Anaela ran her fingers over his chest, and he sucked in his breath to mask the pain. She pushed with her fingers at certain spots on his flesh that nearly had him wailing in pain. Her hands abruptly shot back, and she bit her lip as she looked down at him with concern.

  "Don't stop," Searon whispered.

  Her touch had felt divine against his bare skin, and he craved it despite the intense pain that it caused; it was worth having her soft skin upon him. He began to wonder what it would be like to have her hands travel the distance of his body, but he quickly shook his head to dismiss the notion.

  She grinned as she secured his wounds back in bandages, careful not to hurt him. His eyes held hers in a long moment that seemed frozen by time. Her grin turned to a halfhearted smile as she studied him. It no longer appeared as if she were studying his wounds, but his appearance overall. He remembered doing the same the first he saw the kheshlars and wondered if this woman had ever seen a human. Her eyes lingered on his muscles, and her cheeks reddened before she turned away.

  "You need to keep these bandages on for another week," Anaela blurted toward the empty glass of water.

  "How long have I been out?" Searon rubbed his eyes with a yawn.

  "Five days.”

  Five days of no memories. He shivered as he thought about it. He wondered if she had been there taking care of him for the past several days. Soon, his mind wandered to his companions, and he wondered if everybody was all right. Shivers drenched his body with chill bumps to match.

  "Wow,” he whispered.

  He gazed around and noticed crushed herbs and vials of colorful liquids on a desk at the far side of the room and gaped. There were so many potions and herbal remedies, some of which he recognized from when Starlyn had him picking plants and flowers with her for healing Andron. His attention shifted back to the kheshlar, who studied him carefully. Her ears were rounder than the other kheshlars but still had a sharp tip, and her eyebrows weren’t as silver as other kheshlars.

  "Are you a healer?"

  "More so than other kheshlars. I cannot explain it, but I somehow know more about the plants. They call to me and tell me how to use them. Your injuries...I did not think they could be healed, but Starlyn was insistent that I cure you."

  "Starlyn, she is well?"

  "Yes. It was she who brought you aid. She asked me to help, and I am here. But now I must leave."

  She stalked to the door with a hand on its handle before turning back to Searon with a long face and pursed lips. Her breathing slowed but deepened, and she bit her lip. Searon shifted to sit up as he admired her beauty.

  "Don't go,” he pleaded.

  His mind clouded in a mist of pain, confusion, and happiness. He didn't understand the emotions, but for the first time his internal time clock no longer ticked. No longer did he remember how many days and hours it had been since his wife and child had been slaughtered. He mourned for them terribly, but they did not dominate his thoughts anymore. A great pressure that always kept his mind compressed felt lifted from him, like a burden that he could barely handle had been given to another. The memory of his wife and son would be treasured forever, but the sorrow and constant grief seemed to flow out of him, and made him a free man. He didn't understand it but felt without a doubt that they were connected with this woman before him. Whether it was her healing remedies or something deeper, he was unsure.

  She blushed. "You have a visitor who wishes to see you."

  Her heart pounded through her chest, and she clenched her fists as she touched the door handle. She dared not turn around to face Searon, but he needed no confirmation from her with his excellent hearing and close attention to detail. He smiled as she left.

  The door opened almost instantly after she disappeared, with Karceoles striding in. He paused, turning back as if studying something peculiar before entering the room. His zylek held stiff in his hand as he steadied his walking with it until he could sit at the stool next to Searon's bed.

  Karceoles frowned as he looked at Searon from head to toe. "You look like two draeyks were playing lizard in the loop with you."

  "Lizard in the loop?" Searon asked.

  "Like monkey in the middle, except if the middle lizard catches you, you get eaten."

  Searon grinned despite himself. "I'm a bit dizzy, but it's getting better."

  "That's good,” Karceoles said.

  "How about you?"

  He studied the wizard, who seemed to be in a lot better shape than Searon. No external damage appeared on his skin from bruises or frostbite. A lot better than it could have been had he been chopped into a thousand chunks of ice over the battlefield. The thought of losing the wizard surprisingly terrified Searon. He knew it would be peaceful at first without the massive amount of sarcasm and recklessness, but overall the wizard had been helpful. Even if some of his ideas were stupid, they did always work.

  "I am doing well, now that the frostbite went away,” Karceoles admitted.

  "Ah...frostbite...good times. So tell me, how do you like your payback?" Searon smirked.

  "Ha, ha. I left you relatively healthy when I froze you. It is not quite the same."

  "And yet I feel so much better knowing that you have gone through the preservation process."

  Searon attempted to rise, but his strength failed him, and he caved back into the pillow behind his head. Karceoles rose and attempted to aid him, but after a moment’s consideration Searon shook his head.

  "No, I need to build my own strength."

  "There is a celebration tonight, if you feel like attending," Karceoles encouraged.

  "That sounds better than being trapped in this bloody room all day," Searon chuckled.

  Karceoles strolled to the armoire and opened the doors carefully to display clothes ranging from robes to cotton shirts to brown breeches to and light leather armor.

  "That kheshlar that was in here, Anaela, she is very beautiful," Searon admitted.

  "Do not get any ideas, Searon; you do realize that she is way out of your league. Now I may have a chance, but you aren't even in the same realm of my awesomeness,” Karceoles grinned.

  "Now, we'll just have to see about that, won't we?" Searon smirked, finally getting to his feet and limping over to the wardrobe to peruse.

  * * *

  Later that night, Searon strode into the commotion in a long-sleeve shirt and dark-red vest. Everywhere around him were kheshlars drinking wine and men drinking ale. A collection of kheshlars played lovely music with a quartet of string instruments, some of which Searon recognized. He made small talk with a few of the kheshlars and humans as he walked around and let everybody know that he was feeling better. His leg was still bothering him from the fall, but it hardly showed with a slight limp as he enjoyed the celebration.

  Anaela st
ood alone near the orchestra, swaying back and forth to the beat of the instruments. She wore a dark-green dress cut low on her lower back just above her hips where her soft skin was exposed before it traveled all the way down to her sandals. Her straight hair hung just below her shoulders, tied at the top with a green ribbon. Most kheshlars kept their hair longer, but Searon liked hers, as it was not too long or too short.

  He walked up to her as she turned to face him and blushed. Her features seemed to light up, highlighting her freckles that were adorable upon her innocent face. The same feeling overcame him as the last he'd been in her presence, and he didn't understand it. He'd never felt nervous around someone, and now it seemed his heart raced at a pace to match a sprinting horse. It seemed he was finally able to accept that Victoria was gone, and he could never be with her again until after death, if the creator chose to be nice to him. He'd never considered looking for another, but now that Anaela stood in front of him, he became entranced by her beauty and character.

  He barely knew the kheshlar and didn't know why his feelings about her were so strong. All that he knew was that he hoped to get to know her better. She seemed innocent, sincere, polite, friendly, and intelligent. The most intoxicating part about her, though, was her smile. That was odd for Searon, as he usually noticed lips or hair first, and although he did notice her soft glittery lips and perfectly straight hair, her smile was what entranced him. He shook his head in an attempt to dismiss such thoughts.

  "Hello, guest of honor,” she smiled.

  "May I have this dance?" Searon held his hand out.

  Her face reddened, and she stepped back. She seemed to ponder the thought of dancing with him and blushed even deeper before a shiver traveled up her. Her gaze left his, and she looked at the ground, biting her lip.

  "I shouldn't,” she paused. "Nobody else is dancing."

  "Let us be the first," Searon smirked.

  He knew that she was interested, but scared, and he wasn't sure if it was because she was embarrassed or worried about what the other kheshlars would think. She was still mysterious to him and differed from all the other kheshlars with darker hue and shorter ears. He hoped he could bring her out of her shell and learn more about her.

  "I do not know,” she protested.

  "I'm the guest of honor, correct?"

  "Correct."

  "If that is so…then I should be granted a request."

  "True."

  "I request that I have this dance, with you,” he smirked.

  "All right, but only one,” she said, defeated.

  He reached for her right hand and placed his other on the small of her back. Her body shivered with chill bumps as he brought her close enough to smell the melon scent of her hair. At first, he began slow, leading her through the rhythm of notes with grace, but he picked up the pace by spinning her and twirling her around him. The kheshlars with instruments seemed so thrilled by the display of dancing to their music that they began to step up the pace. Soon, more and more people, both men and kheshlars alike, came over toward the orchestra to dance. Many smiled and cheered for Searon and Anaela, disbelief in their eyes at his skill.

  A magical feeling came across Searon as he danced with her. Together, they held such perfect form, and felt like they'd been dancing partners for centuries. Both seemed to know what the other would do next. He studied her face as they danced and was pleased to see her relaxed and loose. Her face lit up in red heat, and she giggled as they moved from left to right, front to back. No longer was her face serious as if afraid to get involved with a troublemaker named fun. Searon smiled as he realized that it was the most pleasure he'd had in a very long time. The war wasn't on his mind; he did not contemplate what to do next, but ceased in the moment. Passion overwhelmed him. How long had it been since he gave into passion? For once, he lived in the moment, and he loved it.

  Anaela's eyes closed as the song neared its end. Searon brought her in close until her head rested upon his shoulder, where they held each other until the melody faded. She continued to hum the tune under her breath, and he continued to sway her with the beat she chose for several long moments before leading her away from the crowd, still holding her hand.

  Another song began as they left, and nobody bothered to pay them any heed as they walked through some bushes to stand before a lone fountain. He led her a bit farther into the clearing, where the moon shone brightly in the sky, before helping her down on the ground. Together, they lay on their backs and stared up at the stars.

  They talked for what seemed like hours about nothing. Small things they learned about each other, and yet neither of them dug too personally into the other's life. He noticed her beauty intensify with the light cast from the stars and moon. A yearning to kiss her filled his heart that he dared not act on.

  He wondered if she struggled with the same thoughts. Both of them had gone silent, and their faces were only inches apart. Her eyes appeared downcast, as if staring at his lips. He couldn't help but stare at hers that only seemed to sparkle more under the stars. She shifted closer, and he responded, making their lips only slivers apart.

  Her body tensed, and she flushed a deeper scarlet than she had before. She pulled away and swiftly got to her feet to take a few steps back. Searon stood up with her too quickly for her to escape. He gently stroked the hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. His touch made her suck in a deep breath and freeze. Her heart raced, he could hear it, and he could feel it. He stepped closer, lips only breaths away from her. She abruptly fell back, dodging the gentle touch of his lips as they leaned for her.

  "I should go.” Anaela bit her bottom lip with an intake of breath.

  "Do you want to?" Searon asked.

  "It doesn't matter; I need to," Anaela whispered.

  "Please don't," Searon begged.

  "I'm sorry." Anaela stalked off into the night.

  Chapter 45

  Starlyn sat on the front porch of her cabin and watched the sunrise. Hummingbirds flew all around her, sucking nectar from flowers; she smiled and held out a finger. One bird looked at her sideways, only inches from her face, before it settled down on her outstretched hand. Not many people could calm animals like her. Even many kheshlars couldn't keep a busy hummingbird still for long, but Starlyn had learned from her friend Anaela. Wood kheshlars seemed much more a part of nature than high kheshlars. She wished she knew more, but as far as anybody knew, Anaela was the only one.

  The air was calm and her surroundings clear. Peace. If anything, Sudegam represented peace. Although she was just outside the gates of the city at her cabin, she was still close enough to enjoy the serenity that surrounded the city. She realized how guarded the kheshlars were from the outside world. The king didn't let them stray to the human territories or to any common foes. He seemed to keep his people contained and oblivious to anything outside their own realm. Starlyn wished everything were simple again, without threat, and only stillness. Yet she wondered how boring such a life would seem now.

  She looked up as the scarlet humming bird leaped from her finger and fluttered into the air while her dearest friend approached wearing a white dress. A pearl necklace hung around Anaela's neck, and a single azalea was tangled in her hair. Starlyn still remembered the day she found Anaela: alone, bloody, and scared surrounded by the mangled corpses of her brethren. She had been the only survivor of her race. At least, that was what everybody believed. Her memories were lost prior to waking up and seeing Starlyn, and her company that stalked the draeyks searching for her sister. That had been a long time ago, and ever since the two had remained close.

  "Anaela, what brings you here?"

  "Does one need a reason to visit an old friend?"

  "Yes, one does."

  "Very well…it's about your charming friend Searon," Anaela admitted.

  Starlyn could hear the way she rolled his name off her tongue. A clear compassion, yet fear shook the wood kheshlar's speech. She coughed before looking away and turning scarlet.

>   "Do you like him?" Starlyn raised an eyebrow.

  She knew her friend well and could see the interest in the woman, but Anaela remained so caught up in the rules of the high kheshlars. Starlyn didn't blame the woman since she remained under study after arriving as the only wood kheshlar seen in hundreds of years; the last one seen since their falling out with the high kheshlars. She looked into Anaela's eyes and saw that they didn't look at her, but through her, swirling in galaxies of memories and passion.

  "It does not matter whether I do or not. We are kheshlars. It cannot be. In time, he will pass from this world to his creator as the mother continues to give me life until time itself stops."

  "What if things were different? If we could choose...haven't you ever wondered?" Starlyn asked. Memories of her own swirled through her mind, of times spent with Noraes.

  "Every day…what is your fascination with the human?" Anaela asked.

  For a long time, Starlyn had wondered what it would be like to be with a human. She pursued Searon for a short time, intrigued by him since he was the first she had ever seen. Yet she soon realized he was too damaged for her, and his interest wasn't there. Elsargast had forbidden any such activity, and yet there had been no logical reason for it. It seemed only foolish because humans had such short lives. Still, it should be a choice.

  "It's not him, it's...nothing," Starlyn paused. "Searon is a good friend to me; he's saved me, and I care about what happens to him as much as I care about what happens to you."

  "He is a good man," Anaela smiled. "Handsome and charming too, but things cannot change. I need him to stay away from me."