by Mary Akers
Alysa was staring wide-eyed at the plant, her hand covering her mouth. Trig had risen from his seat and was standing as still as a statue, frozen in shock. They remained that way for a few moments before Asher cleared his throat, breaking their trance. Alysa finally dropped her hand from her mouth and took a deep breath. She locked eyes with Elora and her lips spread into a smile.
“You make the flowers grow,” she whispered.
Chapter 14
“That was unbelievable!” Trig exclaimed, smacking his hand to his forehead as he plopped back down onto the sofa.
“It was incredible!” Alysa amended. “You’re incredible, Elora,” she gushed.
Elora chuckled self-consciously, keeping her eyes fixed on the lavender plant in her hands.
“This certainly explains the Courtyard, doesn’t it,” Alysa said, giggling as she reached out to touch the lavender blooms. “How wonderful,” she sighed.
Leaning over, she took Elora’s hand and gave it an affectionate squeeze. The simple, familiar touch brought tears to Elora’s eyes. Oh, how she would miss her. It was almost more than she could bear. She kept her face downcast to hide her emotions, but Alysa was too astute, quietly waiting until Elora could no longer avoid her. She lifted her face and Alysa caught sight of her watery eyes.
“Elora!” she gasped, moving to kneel beside her. “What’s wrong?”
Elora couldn’t speak past the lump in her throat. She blinked, letting loose a tear that left a cool trail down her hot cheek. Alysa looked up to Trig, her face worried and scared. Elora wasn’t one to cry.
“Oh Elora,” she whispered, lifting her hand to caress her cheek, wiping away the wayward tear with her thumb.
“Is this your fault?” Trig asked, jumping to his feet as he angrily glared at Asher.
Asher looked up at him briefly before returning his attention to Elora. The lines of his face were furrowed in worry and he was gripping the arms of his chair. He was clearly disturbed by seeing Elora so upset.
She looked over, locking eyes with him for a moment. He lifted his eyebrows, a simple question, looking for reassurance that she was alright.
Trig had obviously taken Asher’s dismissive behavior as affirmation of his guilt. He had begun moving towards him, ready for a fight. Elora finally found enough composure to speak.
“No!” she shouted just as Trig grabbed a fistful of Asher’s shirt and pulled him up from his chair.
She quickly handed the lavender plant to Alysa before jumping up to separate the two men. She put a calming hand on Trig, silently asking him to release Asher. Trig looked at her dubiously but reluctantly loosed his grip and took a step back.
“None of this is his fault,” she asserted, reaching up to smooth the wrinkles Trig had left in Asher’s shirt. “You could probably say he’s actually come to my rescue,” she said, looking up to lock eyes with him for only a moment before averting her gaze nervously.
“Rescue from what?” Trig demanded.
“Because I have this gift,” Elora explained, motioning toward the lavender plant, “I am valuable to some very determined, very powerful people who would seek to exploit me. Asher came to warn me and to help me avoid being taken by them.”
“How will he do that?” Alysa asked hesitantly as she placed the potted plant on the ground and rose to her feet.
“You don’t trust the Guard to protect you?” Trig asked, affronted.
“You cannot protect her from them,” Asher stated firmly, drawing all eyes to him.
“Yes, we can,” Trig argued emphatically.
“I don’t mean to insult you,” Asher placated. “But you don’t understand what you’re up against. There are many of them and they have a distinct advantage.”
“How will you protect her?” Alysa asked again, more forcefully.
Asher’s eyes darted to her for a moment, but before he could acknowledge her question, Trig drew his attention back again.
“There are more than two hundred Guardsmen in Windom, all well trained and intimately familiar with the terrain,” Trig stated, crossing his arms and widening his stance.
Asher sighed, annoyed by Trig’s bravado. He shifted, mirroring Trig’s aggressive posture.
“It would not matter if there were twice that many,” Asher replied, shrugging his shoulders.
Trig shook his head, clenching his jaw angrily.
“The Guard has taken an oath to protect all citizens of Windom with our lives, if necessary. She doesn’t need you,” he said.
“If your Guard gets between the Liana and Elora, their death would be a certainty,” Asher said with quiet intensity. “And it would be a waste.”
“You underestimate us,” Trig said, smirking.
Asher remained quiet for a moment, holding unflinching eye contact with Trig. He took a deep breath before shifting his gaze downward and locked eyes with Elora. He slowly leaned over, bringing his face close to Elora’s. Her breath caught in her throat. Her heart pounded as she was held captive, powerless to pull her eyes away from his.
“Excuse me,” he whispered as he looked down and reached his hand into the satchel at her hip.
Finally comprehending his intentions, she released the breath she’d been holding in a rush.
She moved to help him, holding the satchel open as he took hold of the Elysic cloak hidden within. His hand brushed against hers as he pulled the fabric free, leaving a warm tingling sensation in its wake. Her eyes jolted upwards and locked with his again briefly before she pulled her hands away and stepped back. He shook the cloak out in front of him, sorting out the top from the bottom.
Elora watched the faces of her friends as they tried to figure out what he was doing. She could tell by their confused expressions that they truly could not see the cloak. Asher draped the fabric over his shoulders and quickly pulled the hood up over his head.
Both Alysa and Trig gasped in shock and jumped backwards.
“Where did he go?” Alysa exclaimed, her voice strangled.
“He’s still right here,” Elora said, gesturing to Asher who was standing beside her in what appeared to them as empty space.
“You can’t fight an enemy you can’t see,” Asher said as he pulled back his hood and unfastened the cloak, revealing himself to them once again.
Trig sat down hard on the sofa behind him, his face a mixture of fear and anger.
Alysa leaned over to Elora, asking in a whisper, “You could still see him?”
Elora nodded, soberly.
Alysa fell into her seat beside Trig and reached out to grasp his hand, looking for the reassurance of something familiar and tangible.
“How?” she asked, looking up at Elora.
“I don’t even know how to start explaining it to you,” Elora said, sighing.
“These Liana, they can disappear like that?” Trig asked.
Asher was carefully tucking the cloak into a tight roll but briefly lifted his eyes to Trig and nodded.
“Fifty or so of them,” he said solemnly.
“That many?” Elora asked, turning to Asher in surprise.
She suddenly realized how little she truly knew about what she was up against and a new fear gripped her. She turned frightened eyes to Alysa, who quickly rose to her feet and put a supportive arm around her shoulders.
“How will you protect her, Asher?” Alysa asked in a tone that demanded his attention. “Fifty against one is impossible odds.”
“You can’t fight that many by yourself,” Trig said, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees as he considered the situation.
“No,” Asher acknowledged. “But I understand how they work, how they think. I can keep her safe,” Asher answered.
“You won’t be able to avoid them for long in a small town like Windom,” Trig said, shaking his head.
“No, not for mo
re than a day at the most,” Asher agreed.
“You have to leave,” Alysa said quietly.
Elora suddenly found it difficult to breath. Heat rushed to her face and her heart pounded against her chest. This was the moment she had been dreading more than any other and it was finally here. She couldn’t think, couldn’t speak. All she could do was feel. Her emotions were overwhelming and she closed her eyes against them, against the grief of her dearest friend, against the end of the beautiful life she had loved. The tears began flowing in earnest and Elora did nothing to stop them.
Alysa turned and took hold of both of Elora’s shoulders.
“I don’t want you to go,” she said, her voice thick with emotion and her chin trembling as tears flooding her eyes.
Elora nodded and stepped forward to bury her head in Alysa’s neck as a sob broke free. Alysa’s arms wrapped tightly around her. The room was quiet save their quiet weeping.
After a few moments, Trig walked over to offer comfort and share in their heart ache. He placed an arm around each girl and rested his chin on the top of Alysa’s head. Closing his eyes, he struggled to fight back tears of his own.
“Why do you trust him Elora?” Trig whispered to Elora once her crying had subsided. “How do you know he’s telling you the truth?”
“Because my parents trust him,” she answered. “Because they know him, and have known him his entire life. And they are truly terrified of the Liana.”
“Are they going with you?” Alysa asked.
Elora nodded.
“I think they are probably in even more danger than I am, actually,” she said, her voice quivering.
“When are you leaving?” Trig asked, looking over his shoulder at Asher.
He was still standing quietly on the other side of the room, his hands in his pockets and a somber expression on his face. He had respectfully given the three friends a moment of privacy to mourn, but having been invited back into the conversation he moved closer.
“Tonight,” Asher replied, eliciting a gasp from Alysa.
“The threat is that close?” Trig asked, raising his eyebrows in surprise.
“One of them is already here and has been following Elora for a couple of weeks,” Asher explained. “More will follow and likely soon.”
“Oh my God, Elora!” Alysa exclaimed, pulling her in close.
“What can we do to help?” Trig asked.
“That’s actually why we’re here,” Elora answered. “We need you to get us over the wall.”
“All of you?” Trig asked.
“The two of us and my parents,” Elora nodded.
“Can your parents climb like you?” Trig asked.
“They can climb,” Asher answered positively.
“Well, it will be difficult, but I can get you all up and over the wall,” Trig said, nodding. “Getting down the other side, however, will be awful,” he muttered with a grimace. “The surface of the exterior side of the wall is jagged and spiked. I can’t imagine anyone getting down without injury, particularly in the dark.”
Elora’s eyes widened with fear and her stomach sank. She exhaled deeply and began twisting her hands nervously, staring at the ground. This would be so much more difficult than she had anticipated. Was it worth it? Was it really so important to return to Clarendon on her own terms? Was it worth risking her life and the lives of her parents? She looked up and locked eyes with Asher who was watching her with a look of concern.
“No, Elora,” he said firmly.
Her mouth dropped open in surprise and her hands stilled.
“I know what you’re thinking and the answer is no. I won’t let you,” he said, crossing his arms defiantly.
“What if something happens to them because of me?” Elora asked. “If I just go with the Liana then no one has to get hurt.”
“You think they won’t hurt you?” Asher asked, his voice low.
“I think they need me,” she answered, her voice shaking.
“Elora, as much as they need you, they also fear you. You are a threat to their power over the Claren,” he said solemnly. “They will break you. You will end up a pawn of the Liana. And your parents will suffer all the same.”
“But what does it matter how I get there? Won’t they just capture me once I reach Clarendon anyway?” she asked despondently.
“It matters,” said Asher, stepping closer to her. “The Claren need to see their Renascent return with dignity. They need to witness your strength. They need to know your goodness. They need to see that you are willingly fulfilling the prophesy. They need to love you.”
Elora averted her eyes as he spoke. It became harder and harder for her to breathe as the pressure and responsibility pressing down upon her shoulders increased with every word from his lips. She closed her eyes, shaking her head against the incredible burden.
Asher closed the distance between them and reached out to gently grasp her upper arms. He waited for her to finally look up at him before continuing.
“And they will. They won’t be able to help themselves,” he said quietly. “The Liana would not dare touch you after that.”
He held her gaze unwaveringly. He wasn’t afraid. He wasn’t doubtful. He believed in the truth of what he had said. It was comforting. It was thrilling. She couldn’t bring herself to look away.
“You’re coming with me,” he said in a soft, firm voice.
She nodded slowly and finally found the strength to close her eyes, cutting loose from the intensity of their connection. She took a step back from him and inhaled deeply.
“What about the wall? What about the spikes and the jagged rocks?” she asked timidly.
“You’re a Claren,” he replied bluntly.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Trig interrupted.
“It means she can climb anything,” Asher answered, keeping his focus on Elora. “We just need you to get us over the wall. Can you do that?” Asher asked, turning to look at Trig.
“Yes,” Trig answered resolutely.
“Good,” Asher nodded.
“Are you planning to travel by foot after that?” Trig asked, his eyebrows raised in concern.
“I have a horse pastured near the wheat fields,” Asher answered. “And the Kerricks have horses boarded a few miles outside of the settlement.”
“Okay,” Trig nodded, thinking. “Remember the place where you first told me to propose to Alysa?” he asked Elora.
Elora nodded, managing a small smile as she locked eyes with Alysa.
“I think that would be the best place to make this happen,” he said. “It’s far away from town so it gets pretty dark, and the wheat fields are just on the other side of the wall there.”
“Sounds good,” Asher agreed.
“There’s a cow pasture not far from there with a lean-to built on one end. Do you know it?” Trig asked.
“Yeah, that’s Danny Jenkin’s property. He has a milk cow,” Elora said, nodding.
“I’ll meet you there after dark,” he said.
“Alysa should come too,” Asher interrupted.
“No. I don’t want her anywhere near any of this,” Trig replied, putting a protective arm around his bride.
“I can understand that,” Asher nodded. “But because Elora has been followed for the past two weeks, I am concerned that Alysa may be at risk. Colin would be aware of their close relationship and might seek to use her to get to Elora,” he said.
Elora looked stricken and fresh tears sprang to her eyes. She pulled away from Alysa, stepping backwards and lifting a shaking hand to cover her mouth. He was right. She’d spent countless hours with Alysa these past two weeks. She’d unknowingly put her friend in danger and the guilt burned like an ember in the pit of her stomach. She locked eyes with Alysa and the fear she saw there took her breath away.
“I’
m so sorry,” Elora whispered.
Alysa gave a slight nod, bestowing forgiveness despite the terror that had taken her heart into its vicious grip.
“You don’t leave my side,” Trig said, pulling Alysa to him.
She nodded in reply as she stared up at him with frightened eyes.
“How do I keep her safe once you’re gone?” Trig asked, his voice hoarse with fear.
“I hope that the danger will leave with us,” Asher replied.
Trig nodded but obviously found no comfort in Asher’s answer.
“So, we will see the both of you in a few hours,” Asher confirmed.
“Right,” Trig answered, nodding.
Elora stood still, staring at her two dear friends as guilt and grief vied for control of her heart. She hated to leave them, hated to involve them, hated that friendship with her had put them at such risk. They looked utterly shell-shocked. No one said a word or shifted a muscle for a few moments.
“We should be getting back, Elora,” Asher said gently, finally breaking the silence.
Neither Alysa nor Trig acknowledged their leaving, so distracted and overwhelmed by what they had learned and what had been asked of them. Elora nodded and slowly moved to follow him to the door. Before stepping through the threshold, she turned to take one last look.
“Thank you,” she said. “For everything.”
Taking hold of the handle, she pulled the door shut behind her. Closing her eyes and resting her forehead against the rough wooden panels of the door, she took a moment to calm her emotions.
“That was horrible,” she whispered.
“Actually, it went much better than I had expected,” Asher said, shrugging.
Elora stepped away from the door and began walking back towards her home as Asher fell into stride beside her.
“I know that must have been very hard,” he said, keeping his eyes on the road before them as though to give her privacy.
“The hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Elora admitted, her voice small.
“So far,” Asher replied quietly.