by B. W. Catt
“Elin?! Sebial?!” Denias called out. “Where are you both?!”
Elin let out a small grunt as he jumped up, looking towards the top of the cliff. He ran a hand through his hair before reaching down to help Sebial up. “It seems our time together has been interrupted.”
“It seems so. You need to dress quickly.” Sebial’s eyes focused on his bare chest.
He smirked. “I will, not yet. Denias is a couple hundred feet away.”
Elin leaned down and kissed Sebial. She wrapped her arms around his neck. He gently pulled her hair, Sebial moaned. He smiled. “I wish to hear more of that, but that will have to wait.”
Elin picked up his garments and sat on the ground.
“If Denias asks, just say you were dressing my wounds.”
“What wounds?”
He pointed to his back. “These wounds. I have another one,” Elin winked. “But that will have to wait.”
Sebial walked around and looked at his back. She gasped. “Why? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Elin looked back at her. “I had another wound to address first. It hurt more than anything once I saw you were ok.” He blushed. “I didn’t know how to react. The pain in my back disappeared, but my heart yearned for you. It ached from the thought of you being hurt or gone forever.” Elin reached up and grabbed her hand. “Sebial, I have been alive for centuries. You are the first to make me feel this way.”
“Elin, you are the first to make me feel something as well. I cannot compare my time to centuries, though.” Sebial released his hand and began to heal his wounds. “I was beyond embarrassed when Rose took our clothing. As much as I wanted to look, I couldn’t help but think you wouldn’t see me the same way. It frustrated me.”
Elin laughed. Sebial stopped healing his wounds. “Why is that funny?”
“I felt the same way.” He laughed harder. “I already must fear Woldiniar, but I feared your rejection more than anything. A princess with an elven guard. I am nothing. That is why I am placed far from the kingdom. I figured you would see me as nothing as well.”
She jabbed her thumb into his gash. Elin groaned. “I see you, Elin. Just like this pain you feel is real, so are my feelings for you.”
“There you both are!” Denias called down to them. They looked up.
Sebial sat behind Elin, her hand glowing a bright blue against the deep red gash on his shoulder.
“I needed to discuss something with Sebial, and I wanted her to heal my wounds without being near the necromancer. If he said anything, she might have injured me instead of healing.”
Denias chuckled. He raised an eyebrow. “I see.”
Elin glared. “What do you need, Denias? Shouldn’t you be watching our necromancer and Woldiniar?”
“Ahh, that is why I am here. Woldiniar is, uhm, watching him. He seems quite angry at the scrawny fellow. Sebial should go calm him down.”
“Me? Calm him? What a joke! Nothing calms him. He will just get angrier because I undid his binding spell.”
Sebial looked back at Elin's shoulder. His wound continued to close.
“She will be there momentarily,” Elin stated as he rotated his shoulder, wincing in pain.
“Okay, okay.” Denias waved a hand at them. “I will do my best to calm that warlock in the meantime but hurry up. I would hate to see him kill you.”
Elin chuckled. He yelled to Denias. “He wouldn't kill me for having her heal my wounds.”
Denias yelled back, his tone sarcastic. “If that is what you wish to call it, then so be it.”
Elin stood up. Sebial closed her hand, allowing the magic to dissipate. She looked up at him. He turned around, looking down at her. His face looked distraught. He brushed her hair back, pausing to look at her silver hair against his dirty blood covered hands.
Sebial placed her hand over his. “What is wrong, Elin?”
He let out a sigh and smiled gently. “You, you are beautiful. Yet, I am disgusting. I am not worth your affection. We should cease this before we get hurt. Or before,” he let out a nervous laugh. “your teacher rips me to shreds.”
Sebial stood up. She placed her hands on his chest. “Elin, do not worry about Woldiniar. As for your looks, they are perfect.” She rubbed her hands down his chest. “What we have may not last. Not because of you, though, but because of my curse.”
She walked away from him. “I refuse to become a slave to this curse. I wish for it to end with me. In doing so, that means I am prepared to die.” Sebial looked back at Elin. “I want you to know, what we have, will not last. There will come a day, I will leave. I wish you to know there will never be a ‘forever’ with us.”
Elin walked over to her. He grabbed her arms. “Sebial, for now, this will be our forever. Either of us could die, we are blessed with long lives but cursed with mortality. Until our dying breath, know this, you will always be my one love.”
Tears began to slowly fall down Sebial’s face. “My heartfelt uncontrollable warmth when I saw you. When we were in the other realm, I knew I wanted you even more.” She looked down. “Our love will never see the light. Can you truly be accepting of such love? Can that even be called love?”
Elin smiled. “I am an elven guard of the realms. I live in the shadows. It makes sense our love will live there as well.” He rubbed his hand along her face, wiping the tears away. “Remember Sebial, even though you wish to end The Flames curse, that goddess wishes for your happiness as well.”
He reached down and grabbed his cape. “Now, we should return to them, but before we do.”
He swung the cape, causing it to wrap around Sebial. He grabbed the other end, capturing her and pulling her close. She laughed and looked up at him, his green eyes glistening. He raised the cape over their heads as he leaned in close to Sebial. “In the shadows, our love will live.”
Four
Woldiniar was bawled up, crying out in pain. Denias sat on the necromancer, who continued to cry, despite running out of tears.
“Woldiniar!” Sebial cried out to him. She kneeled beside him. “I am here. Are you ok?”
He reached up and grabbed her, yanking her down. Woldiniar patted Sebial’s head. “Why did you leave me? Am I not a good enough teacher?!”
Sebial pushed him away. “I see you are just being dramatic.”
Sebial walked away. “Wait! I need you, Sebi!”
She paused. She stormed back over to him. Woldiniar smiled eagerly. She placed a foot on his hand and slowly applied pressure. “Sebial, stop that. It hurts!” Woldiniar cried out like a child.
“Do not call me Sebi!”
“Sebi? That’s a cute nickname.” Elin walked over to them.
“It is not cute, and it is not my nickname.” She stepped harder on Woldiniar’s hand before digging her heel in and walking off towards Elin. “You will do best to remember that, elf.”
Woldiniar laughed while holding his hand. “It seems I worried too much. Sebial has no interests in you.”
Elin stormed off. Denias laughed to himself. Sebial approached them, drawing her sword. “Move Denias, this creature and I have unfinished business.”
Denias looked at Elin. He nodded. Denias moved.
“You harmed those innocent people and claimed innocence. Any creature with a brain could sense that book is evil. Welcome to your judgement necromancer.”
Sebial raised her sword. In one quick slash, she sliced her magic binds, holding the man.
“I will kill you, but not like that. You will die in front of those people below. Walk!”
Sebial held the tip of the sword to his neck, allowing it to pierce.
Denias whispered to Elin in elven. “It seems you fell for a vicious beast. She will never be tamed.”
“I love challenges Denias, this is just another challenge, one I shall enjoy until the end,” Elin smirked.
“You have fallen deep, my friend. I hope your desire will not end in death.”
“You worry too much. I am not oblivious to my own life.”
Denias looked over at Sebial, who was forcing the man into the ravine. “She is deadly, Elin. I know you can sense the malice. Her beauty hides all of the poison. Even her aura is beautiful, its rays of purples and blues.”
“Enough. I know the risks, and so does she. I will stay with her. No matter how many she slays, I have slain more. My life is no better than hers.”
Denias placed his hand on Elin’s shoulder. “You are right. We have done far worse these last few centuries. I just worry for you, friend.”
Denias’ mind wandered to their last attack by order of the elven king. A gate appeared in an impoverished human village to the south. They had to kill everyone there in order to protect the entrance. Denias shuddered, remembering the children crying out for mercy as the realm guards, as Elin mercilessly stabbed them.
“Denias, let us go.” Elin walked ahead. Denias looked around, gaining his bearings as he followed Elin into the ravine.
He looked to see Sebial holding the man by his hair. Her blade pressed firmly against his neck. “Who wishes vengeance on him? I will give you vengeance if you wish it!”
“Don’t do this,” Elin spoke beneath his breath while watching Sebial. “Do not put his blood on them when it is you who will be the executioner.”
The people below began to yell, their words encouraging his death.
A voice cried out, “Do not kill him!”
The group went silent. A little boy stepped forward. He looked up at Sebial. “Do not kill him,” he began to shiver. “in front of us. I do not wish to witness another death.”
“I understand, child. Death is painful, yet one more death will not change your feelings. These deaths will haunt you. Whether I kill him in front of you or not, you now know his face. You will regret remembering him alive.” Sebial took a deep breath. “In honor of your memories, I claim this life, and I take responsibility. His blood is on my blade, on my hands. This will be my burden to fate! Not your own!”
The boy began to cry as he watched Sebial pull the blade along the necromancer’s neck. She released her grip on his head. He collapsed, choking as his blood filled his airway.
Elin stood frozen, staring at Sebial as her body went limp. He watched as she fell forward, her sword digging into the ground. She rested her forehead against the pommel. She cried aloud, her tears falling onto the necromancer’s blood-covered neck.
“I did your will, my Flame. I punished according to Pasuria’s rule. I wonder if your will is the righteous way.”
Elin rushed down to Sebial. She looked up at him. “Sebial, let us leave.”
She nodded. Elin cradled her in his arms. He headed up the ravine. He called out to the people below.
“Her deed for you is done. LEAVE!” Elin looked over to Denias. “Retrieve her sword.”
Five
Woldiniar shook his head at Sebial. “Such a fool. Killing someone on display, her constitution is weak. She is not made for that.”
Elin looked at Woldiniar and Denias. “I will carry this stubborn princess for now. Given, she feels heavier than she looks.”
Sebial squirmed. Slowly opening her eyes, she looked up at Elin and whispered. “I will remember those words.”
Elin smiled.
“This day just cannot go normal. My student didn’t listen. Those undead as well. Everything is ruining my plans!”
“Woldiniar, stop this. I have been listening to you complain about every little thing for nearly a year. No wonder Sebial ran off!”
“Denias!” Elin stopped walking. “Do not be so harsh. I only know some of what you both went through. Saying things about him and Sebial will only make our journey further unbearable.”
Woldiniar stuck his tongue out at Denias before catching up to Elin. “I like you, half-elf. You are more respectful than another elf we know.” Woldiniar grabbed tightly onto Elin’s shoulder, causing him to wince and grip Sebial tighter. He looked over, their eyes locking in a fierce battle.
Woldiniar smiled, releasing Elin. “Good, you know you are only good until your worth is gone. Sebial will never be yours. Remember that as I allow you to hold her. That will be it, though, Elin.”
Elin bit his lip. That is what you think. Sebial will always be held by me and me alone. It matters not who you think you are to her. She will only be mine.
Surrounded by shade from the trees, they listened as the branches swayed above. Elin let out an exhausted sigh. “We have been walking for some time. I believe my arms need a rest, and the ground is softer here.”
“Let us journey further.” Denias gestured to Elin to keep going. “Delandero is just beyond this forest. We will be there before your arms go numb.”
“Easy for you to say. You are carrying her sword. I am carrying her.”
“I will cut out your tongue if you continue to complain about my students' weight. She is precious, unlike you half-elf.”
“Stop calling me half-elf. Your nothing but a half-changed wolf with that mangy appearance.”
Elin stopped walking. He gently lay Sebial on the ground. He charged at Woldiniar. Denias jumped between them. Woldiniar laughed.
“Move, Denias. Let him try.” Woldiniar said with a beaming smile.
Denias looked between the two of them, unsure how to stop what they wanted to do.
“Move like this old repulsive warlock asked, Denias.” Elin’s voice was sharp and cold. His green eyes filled with black specs.
Denias shook from Elin’s words and backed away.
Elin charged at Woldiniar. He threw a punch, hitting Woldiniar in the cheek. Woldiniar remained firm and laughed. “A man hits crueler. An elf would put their magic behind it. Yet a half-elf can’t even hit me stronger than a weak woman.”
Woldiniar placed one foot in front, he pulled his fist back. “My turn, elf.” Woldiniar leaned in, swinging his fist, hitting Elin in the face. Elin flew across the ground, landing over ten feet away. He gripped his cheek.
“You are weak!” Elin stood up. His legs wobbled as he staggered towards Woldiniar. Blood ran down his cheek.
“I am weak?! Half-elf, lean your place. I only used the strength of a purebred. Something you wouldn’t understand.”
Denias hurried to Sebial. He gently shook her arm, “You need to wake up. If you truly care about these men, then you must wake up and stop them.”
Sebial grunted. Her eyes moved about before locking with Denias’. “What is this noise?”
“Elin and Woldiniar. They are fighting over you, Sebial.”
Her eyes flashed a dark blue. “over me?”
She stood up. Her body was quickly engulfed in blue flames. “Where is my sword, Denias?”
Denias pulled the sword from his belt. “Here, Sebial.”
“Thank you. Now please step back. This is meant for them, not you.”
Sebial walked closer to them. She watched as the two continued to punch each other. Each blow causing blood to fly. She shook her head. Sebial put the tip of her blade in the ground. Resting her hand on the pommel, her magic wrapped around the sword. She looked to Elin and Woldiniar, “RELEASE!”
Blue flames bolted from her blade along the ground, the bolts shot up from the ground beneath their feet, shooting them into the air, burn marks remained where they once stood. Elin landed on the hard dirt. Woldiniar slammed into a tree before slumping against it.
Sebial sheathed her sword. Her magic disappeared, her armor tuned back into a flowing dress.
She smiled and walked over to Denias. “We will camp here tonight. Could you please make us a cover? It doesn’t need to cover them. If they wake, they can join us.”
“You are one terrifying young woman Sebial. I admire you for stopping them. I would have been dragged into it.”
Sebial laughed. “If Woldiniar didn’t release my power, I wouldn’t have been able to stop them.”
Denias placed his hands on an exposed tree root. He began to chant in elven. The trees cracked and bent as they moved closer to each other. The bra
nches bent down while roots raised up, intertwining with each other to create a wall in between the trunks. Denias stood up and dusted off his hands. He looked back at Sebial. This will do. These lands aren’t dangerous. There is no need to be off the ground.
Six
“What do you call this?” Sebial spoke with a mouth full of bread in her mouth.
Denias laughed at the pieces of food that fell from her mouth. “For a princess, you do not have much etiquette. This bread is made by the bakers in Delandero castle.”
He reached and grabbed another piece of wood, throwing it into the fire.
“You and Woldiniar mentioned you were there during our time in the caves. Will be staying in the castle upon our return there?”
“Yes, we will be. The castle is under repair, but most are viewable. The king and his people look forward to meeting the infamous princess Woldiniar has spoken of.”
Sebial’s eyes widened in shock. Denias chuckled. “Do not worry, they do not know your royal. They just know you as his precious little student.”
“Do not make fun, Denias. I will not be able to show my face to them knowing he made me out to be some little girl.”
“Do not worry. They know you are older than a small child.” Denias broke a small piece of bread off of his loaf and ate it. “Given, do you mind I ask how old are you?”
“If what you say about Elin and I disappearing for nearly a year, then I turned twenty while gone. I was born on the first day of an early winter. That year the frost came suddenly. The crimsonellas never had the chance to wilt. Blue ice held the dark blood roses frozen through the winter. The kingdom said I was a cursed child for bringing winter before they could harvest the final crops. They resented me. Mother said it was the prettiest winter. She said the royal gardens look enchanted. According to Woldiniar, she would carry me around the garden and sing me lullabies. She refused to stay indoors that winter. That caused more hatred towards me by the people.”
“Why? It was her choice?” Denias was now scarfing down his loaf, no longer taking small bites as he listened to Sebial’s story.