Life Beyond the Temple

by Nikolai Joslin

  I hesitantly reached out and touched her shoulder. “What is it?”

  “He was dead,” she choked out, tears starting to fall more freely.

  “We’re chasing after a necromancer,” I whispered back. “That’s what they do.”

  She let a few more choked sobs escape and finally managed to say, “My brother was dead.”

  I felt my stomach grow cold as I realized what happened. Her brother had been the corpse. Her brother would have tried to kill us. He killed her brother because he knew about her family. He was sending a message to us. He killed Regan’s brother because he could.

  “He did a stupid thing,” I growled, rage filling me and causing my hands to curl into fists, making them shake.

  “What do you mean?” She looked up at me, her eyes red from tears.

  “You loved your brother. Now you have a reason to make him pay. He hurt you. And now I have a reason to kill him.” I was furious. Regan was the only person I had now, and he did this to her. I will make him regret this. His days were numbered. I would kill him for this.

  I let go of her, and she crawled the few feet to her brother and held his singed body in her arms.

  I suddenly felt Ston’s presence beside me, and I cringed. I had forgotten he was even there. “Where were you in that?” I snapped, hating that he hadn’t stepped in. I knew it wouldn’t have changed anything, but what if it had?

  “It looked like your fight.” He shrugged.

  “Why didn’t you help?”

  “You could handle it. Regan is your lover; you needed to protect her that time. I was not going to save you when you did not need saving.”

  “She’s not my lover,” I snapped. “She’s my protector. My friend.” Was she my friend? We barely knew each other, but I trusted her. I felt like we were friends.

  “I’m sorry; she just seemed very… protective of you. You seem to have a chemistry.”

  “She’s the knight sent to protect me. It’s her job,” I growled. “If there is a next time you’re around, do something,” I snarled and stalked off into the woods.

  I had probably gone too far away from the others, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want to be around him, and I couldn’t be around her, so I just kept walking.

  After about thirty minutes of walking, I sat on a fallen log and fumed for about ten more minutes before I heard a yapping sound. I stiffened. It sounded like a dog or wolf pup. Or a cinderwolf.

  I slowly stood up and looked to where the sound had come from and took a step toward it. I had to know. I had to know that it was just my imagination.

  I pulled away some branches from a bush and fell backward when I saw dark red eyes looking back at me. My heart pounded, fear crawling through me.

  A cinderwolf? Here? There were no volcanoes anywhere around here.

  Perhaps it didn’t need one. Perhaps the children’s stories about them being born in hell were true. Maybe it wasn’t volcanoes which spawned them, but hell itself.

  There it was, stepping through the bush and padding up to me.

  It was big. It was probably up to my midthigh, which meant it was only about three months old if the old diagrams and myths were true. It was black with a couple of red streaks and had eyes that glowed like fire. It kept taking steps toward me, its giant paws pressing into the ground with long black claws digging deep into the earth.

  It was soon standing over me, and I could feel its hot breath hitting my face and it opened its mouth, showing sharp white teeth.

  “Casey!” Regan shouted, and I turned my head back to see her skidding to a stop, her gun in hand, pointed at the wolf.

  “Don’t.” My voice caught in my throat. “Don’t hurt him.”

  “What do you mean? He’s going to hurt you, Casey.” Regan wasn’t looking at me but the wolf.

  “She’s right. Cinderwolves are dangerous creatures; they won’t hesitate to tear you apart if they find you a threat.” Ston slowly reached up and lowered Regan’s gun. “I suggest we turn around slowly and leave. I don’t even know what one is doing here. His pack must close behind, he’s young.” He was watching the wolf warily.

  “Don’t hurt him. He’s alone.” I knew it was true. I knew because the Old Ones had sent him to me. They had sent my spirit animal to help protect me.

  The wolf growled as Ston took a step closer and stood over me protectively.

  “Shh,” I said quietly and crawled out from under him. “Regan, put the gun away. Please.” The pistol was still in her hands, despite Ston’s warning.

  “He’s your spirit animal, isn’t he?” Ston said as the realization hit him.

  “Yes,” I whispered. I was standing away from the wolf. I hadn’t touched him. I didn’t think I was ready for that yet. Cinderwolves were dangerous, unpredictable, and I wasn’t sure if he really was my spirit animal. It was just a hunch.

  Regan slowly slid her gun back into its holster but kept a close eye on the wolf pacing behind me. “He needs a name.”

  “Cinder,” Ston suggested.

  “You can’t name him Cinder,” I growled.

  “Sure you can,” he argued.

  “Let’s debate it some more when we set up a camp. It’s getting late.”

  I like it. A voice that wasn’t my own echoed in my head, and I stumbled back, shocked at the sound, and whipped around to see the wolf sitting on his haunches letting out a large yawn, his tongue lolling out of his mouth. When he was done he looked up at me and thumped his tail once or twice. I just stood there, looking at him, and he cocked his head back at me. What?

  Chapter 5

  “WHAT’S WRONG?” Regan must have noticed I had been staring at Cinder for about three minutes and hadn’t moved.

  “It talked,” I whispered, not taking my eyes off of the wolf.

  “No it didn’t. What are you talking about?” Regan set down a couple of the sticks she had gathered and walked up to me. I felt her hand on my shoulder, but I didn’t look up at her.

  “It said it liked the name Cinder.”

  “Told you it was a good name.” Ston didn’t seem bothered by any of this.

  “That’s not the point! It talked!” I yelled.

  “You said it was your spirit animal. You have a connection to it.” Ston shrugged.

  “It spoke.” Was I the only one who was getting this? Martun had never mentioned anything about his spirit animal talking.

  “Case, take a breath. My commander told me that sometimes the connection with the spirit animal is strong enough for communication. It’s an old magic. It’s mostly died out, but occasionally it happens.” Regan forced me to look at her, and I saw those green eyes with the brown rim around the pupil. It was called something, but I couldn’t remember what. I had read it somewhere, but the name escaped me. I felt myself calm down, though. Those eyes kept me grounded.

  “Okay,” I said quietly and then looked back to Cinder who was panting and looking back and forth between us.

  Is she your mate? That voice came from in my head. Cinder stood up and padded over to Regan, sniffing her.

  “No!” I shouted. What was it with everyone telling me Regan and I were together today?

  Regan blinked in surprise. “What the hell was that?”

  “He asked me a question,” I mumbled and stepped away from her.

  Cinder sat down beside Regan, and she lowered a hand hesitantly to the top of his head and scratched him between his ears. He leaned into her and had what looked like a goofy grin on his face. I like her. Make her your mate. She is good. What did a three-month-old pup know about mates?

  “You just like that she pets you,” I grumbled, and Regan laughed. Cinder barked a response and licked Regan’s hand before walking back to me and sitting beside me.

  “What does he say?” Regan was watching Cinder with an amused smile.

  “Nothing,” I mumbled, looking down at him.

  He looked up at me, his tongue hanging out of his mouth. Ask her to be your mate. I don’t like the male one, b
ut she is nice. Tell her I like her. I didn’t know what to make of him. He was so… strange. Young.

  I sighed and looked back at Regan. “He likes you.”

  She chuckled. “I like him too.”

  Cinder let out a happy-sounding bark, and I just rolled my eyes. “Come on, we should set up camp and get some sleep.”

  “Alright, you’ve got a point. It’s getting late,” Regan admitted and then looked at Ston. “You’re going to help out if you plan to stay with us.”

  He shrugged and said, “Alright.”

  THE CAMP consisted of two stick huts, one larger than the other for Regan, Cinder, and me, and a small one for Ston. Regan didn’t trust him enough to let him sleep with us, whether or not we had Cinder in there. I didn’t mind. I was still curious, but I could tell he was truly indifferent about what happened to us—the whole thing with Regan’s brother proved that—and I wasn’t sure I liked that about him.

  Night had fallen, and the four of us were seated around a warm fire, Regan on one side of me and Cinder on the other. I felt like I was being caged in for protection. Regan would sometimes reach around behind me and rub Cinder, and he would sometimes sit behind me to make it easier for her to reach. I would sometimes pet him too, but I was still a little freaked out by the whole thing. Meeting a dark elf seemed like fun, but a cinderwolf was different. Especially one that talked to me.

  Ston and Regan were talking about something, and I could feel Cinder’s hot breath on the back of my neck. My eyes grew heavy, and I finally let out a yawn I had been bottling up because I knew what would happen next.

  “Come on, Casey, we should get some sleep,” Regan said as she stood up and held her hand out to me. I frowned but listened and took her hand. She pulled me up and was just about to let go when Cinder bumped into me from behind, effectively pushing me against Regan.

  I blushed furiously and hoped it would just look like the fire reflecting on my face. I pulled away from her and stumbled slightly, but like always, Regan was there to catch me with a playful smirk crossing her lips. “S-sorry,” I mumbled. Ston and Cinder had called her my lover and mate, and Cinder hadn’t shut up about it, so naturally I was thinking about that with her this close to me.

  “It’s fine. You’re pretty clumsy, aren’t you?” Her eyes gleamed with amusement.

  “A little.” I looked down at my feet and let some of my hair fall in my face, hoping she wouldn’t notice how red my cheeks were.

  She reached out and tucked my hair behind my ear, causing my heart to beat a little faster. “Don’t worry about it,” she said and stepped away from me. “Think you can make it on your own?”

  I didn’t say anything, just nodded and followed her to our little makeshift shelter.

  You’re welcome. Cinder sounded triumphant and raced ahead of Regan and me to take up as much room as he could, forcing the two of us to sleep next to each other.

  Manipulative bastard, I thought as I ducked down to go inside.

  I heard that. Cinder’s deep voice sounded in my head as he yawned and stretched out a little more.

  I glared over at Cinder, and when I turned back, I saw Regan lying on her back with her hands clasped behind her head. She was giving me a strange look that I couldn’t quite figure out. Curiosity maybe? No, that wasn’t quite right.

  I sighed heavily and lay down between Cinder and Regan. I decided to roll over and face Cinder instead of lying on my back or facing Regan, because I wondered what I would think about if I did.

  Cinder got up and padded over to me so he could be closer. I felt heat radiating off him and reached out to brush along his side. He gave me what looked like a grin, but was actually just his normal face.

  I was starting to doze off when it came to me.

  Central heterochromia.

  That was what that strange brown rim around her pupil was called.

  Central heterochromia.

  WHEN I woke the next morning, I was surrounded by warmth. Eyes closed and still mostly asleep, I pressed myself into one of the sources of warmth.

  I finally forced my eyes open and looked around. In front of me was a large, black, impossibly furry cinderwolf, who quietly snored, but that wasn’t what caught my attention. Behind me, pressed against me, with her arms wrapped around my waist, was a sleeping Regan. She mumbled something I couldn’t understand as I stirred, and I immediately stopped. I didn’t feel right waking her up. She always fell asleep after me and woke before me. She deserved some sleep. So I just stayed in her arms. I relaxed into her again and felt my eyes drifting shut once more when I felt her nuzzle the back of my neck and breathe out heavily, causing me to shiver for some strange reason.

  I was a few seconds from sleep when I thought I heard her whisper “Casey” in her sleep and felt her pull me a little closer.

  But I couldn’t be sure because I fell asleep again too quickly.

  THIS TIME I woke alone. I sat up, rubbed my eyes, and looked around, but Cinder and Regan were already gone. I sighed and stood up to search through the backpack Regan had bought me to keep my clothes in. I pulled out a random shirt and a pair of jeans, and I walked outside of the little shelter.

  Regan was throwing a stick for Cinder, who seemed to be enjoying himself, and Ston was making breakfast. I smiled a little and disappeared into the trees so I could change in relative privacy. There was probably a squirrel watching, but at least it wasn’t Regan or Ston.

  When I came back, I dropped my clothes into the bag and walked over to Ston. “What’s for breakfast?”

  “I found a couple rabbits. I’m going to cook them up. Your hound already ate three.” Ston cast a dirty look over at Cinder, and I felt slightly offended.

  “He’s not a hound. He’s a cinderwolf,” I said. “Better watch out. One day he’ll be as big as you.” With that I turned on my heel to go see Regan and Cinder.

  “Hey there, sleepyhead,” Regan said with a large smile as she threw the stick deep into the trees for Cinder to bound after it.

  I think Cinder really helped keep Regan’s mind off her family. I was glad for that. I hated the look she got when she thought of her brother who had died. I knew she still had at least one more brother, but that didn’t change the fact one of her family members died. A brother she was close to. Cinder seemed to make her happy, though. I guess he did have his uses.

  “Hey.” I smiled at her and watched Cinder retreat into the woods.

  Regan put a hand on my back and guided me back to the fire. “Did you sleep well?” she asked as we sat down.

  “I did actually. It was warm.” I thought about how I woke up in her arms and felt a ghost of a smile touch my lips.

  “You should’ve been—you had Cinder. The wolf is like a space heater.” She laughed, and I noticed she didn’t mention how she had woken up, no doubt wrapped around me.

  “How did you sleep?” I asked.

  “Fine. Better than I have in a while. I guess the ground felt a lot like my bed back at the Temple,” she said jokingly.

  Ston came forward with two rabbits on sticks and handed one to each of us. “Eat quickly so we can get back on the road. Regan wouldn’t let me wake you up, so now we’re behind,” he growled and walked off.

  “You didn’t let him wake me up?” I asked as I looked at the rabbit. Was I just supposed to bite into it, or did I tear off pieces like the leg and eat that? The slit in its belly told me that at least its organs had been removed, so that worry was off my list at least.

  She looked over at me and said, “You looked comfortable. I wasn’t going to let him wake you up when you looked so relaxed. It may be the last time you get a full night’s sleep in a long while.” She tore off one of the legs and bit into it, so I copied her and didn’t say anything.

  Cinder came trotting out to us with a stick hanging out of his mouth and his chin held high. He dropped it in front of Regan, and she rubbed him between the ears. I tossed him one of the legs from my rabbit, and I watched him swallow the thing whole. I won
dered if he even chewed it.

  When we were done, we picked up our bags, and Ston knocked over the shelters we had built. “Let’s go,” he said and started walking off into the forest with Regan, Cinder, and me trailing behind him.

  Cinder was up ahead with Ston, leaving Regan and me to follow. Ston and Cinder weren’t fond of each other, but Cinder wanted to see everything there was to see. I don’t think it hurt that it seemed to irritate Ston a little, Cinder liked doing that. Cinder, being a puppy, was easily distracted by things as simple as leaves falling or the sound of a bird in the distance. He would fall behind or wander off and then realize that he was alone and would need to catch up with Ston, tripping over his paws that were three sizes too big.

  Regan and I were just out of earshot, but we were close enough to see Ston as we followed him on the worn path. She still twitched at every sound and seemed to be cautious of everything that moved, but she was less distracted today, which meant I could actually talk to her.

  “How did you like the Temple?” I asked after a while.

  She laughed harshly and said, “It’s different for knights than for the mages. It’s physical training every day, patrols—sometimes we went to town to pick up supplies—marksman training, hand to hand, and just about anything else the higher-up knights could think of. We sometimes have drills in the middle of the night to make sure we are ready for a possible attack. It’s not fun most of the time, but every now and then they give us a day off. Most of the knights go back to the mainland, but when I had my days off, I’d go up to the library. There’s a lot out there I never knew about.”

  I frowned and thought back to all the days I’d spent in that library. I thought I remembered a time when I walked in and saw a knight, black cargo pants and a loose white shirt with short dark hair, sitting in the corner in one of the fat armchairs we had. In fact, she had taken my spot that day. That’s why I remembered it. She had been sitting in the chair I usually sat in because it had the best light that came through the window behind it.