Keeper's Fate (Silver Ones Curse Book 2)

by B. W. Catt

  Elin reached out to Sebial, pulling her into his embrace. He smiled. “I am glad you are ok. Thank you for setting my soul free.”

  Sebial looked up at him and smiled. “I would do it again.”

  He brushed her hair back, looking into her eyes, he smiled. “I would do the same again if it meant staring into those mesmerizing eyes of yours once more.”

  Elin quickly closed the gap, his lips met Sebial’s. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

  “AHEM! Shall we go?” Rose smiled at them.

  They quickly released each other. Their cheeks flushed red. “I, I am sorry you had to see that,” Sebial spoke while stepping away from Elin.

  Rose let out a small laugh, “Oh, to be young and in love. I have my bubble bath to thank for that steamy display.”

  Elin glared at Rose. “Enough, Rose. Are you not worried about him escaping and destroying this land now that it is saved?”

  Rose looked around. She shrugged her shoulders. “Not really. It won't fall apart that fast. He enjoys the land. It destroyed itself. He didn’t do it.”

  Rose snapped her fingers, causing Elin and Sebial to enter a bubble. “Now, leave this place.”

  Rose pushed the bubble; it went towards the sludge covered sky.

  Sebial yelled out to Rose. “Thank you for everything. I promise I will find a way without causing more harm.”

  Rose nodded.

  Twenty

  Four months later

  “Wake up!” Woldiniar yelled at them.

  Elin and Sebial opened their eyes. They were lying in the forest.

  “Where are we?” Sebial asked Woldiniar.

  “In the woods on the other side of the mountain,” Denias said while sitting above them on a branch.

  Elin and Sebial stood up, looking around confused.

  Woldiniar grabbed Sebial, hugging her tightly.

  “You have been gone a long time, my dear student.”

  Sebial tilted her head confused. “I have?”

  “What do you mean, ‘I have’?” Woldiniar released her, glaring at her and Elin. “It has nearly been a year!”

  Elin and Sebial’s faces turned white. We were just with Rose. He glanced over at Sebial, her face shocked from the news. Does she remember? It doesn’t matter. I do not wish for Woldiniar to find out we kissed. He will kill me. Elin huffed. He stepped forward. “There is no way!” Elin shouted. “We were just in the cave. I was searching for Sebial. She had gone missing!”

  Sebial watched Elin closely. He winked at her.

  Woldiniar looked at Sebial. “What do you remember?”

  Sebial jumped, her focus now on them. “I remember being in a dark part of the cave trying to find everyone after I was separated. I was stuck in some form of sludge, and that’s it.”

  Elin smiled at Sebial’s words.

  “I see.” Woldiniar rubbed his beard. “Well, it seems you both stumbled somewhere you weren’t supposed to. We searched the cave for months, slaughtering the orcs that remained with no luck. We decided to search the surrounding areas but couldn’t find you both, until today.”

  Denias hopped down from the tree in front of them. “I just happened to spot you both from up there.”

  He pointed to the cliff above the trees.

  “We are still within the territory of the mountains. You both were not here this morning, though. I have many scouting spots.”

  Sebial and Elin looked at each other with confusion.

  “I do not know what happened to us, but we should continue on,” Elin spoke to them.

  “Good, I agree, but first, let us return to camp and pack up our supplies. Much has happened in your absence.” Denias spoke as he walked ahead.

  Sebial nodded. They quietly followed Woldiniar and Denias towards the camp.

  They came to an open clearing in the woods. Their tents sat above a small stream in the trees.

  Sebial looked at Elin, she felt her cheeks heat. He glanced at her before she could look away, giving her a cordial smile. Sebial quickly climbed the ladder into the camp.

  It seems he does not remember our time there. Rose said I would lose my memory, but it seems I can remember everything, maybe my curses magic is stronger than the vile she gave me.

  Denias was inside packing his belongings. He looked up at her and smiled. “I am glad you returned. Woldiniar was a nightmare in your absence.”

  He looked at the drape covering the entrance of the tent behind her and sighed.

  “What did he do?” Sebial walked closer to him with concern in her eyes.

  “Well, for starters, he stated how much he was going to kill both you and Elin if anything happened between the two of you.”

  Sebial’s cheeks turned red as she thought back. Denias’ eyebrow raised up. “What did you two do?”

  Sebial stepped back. “Nothing happened between us, I promise. I would never-” she shook her head “Could never be with an elf or anyone else. My fate is sealed.”

  Denias smirked. “I see.” His tone showed how little he believed her words.

  Sebial looked at him, her voice sterner. “What else did he say? What else did he do?”

  Denias took a long breath in for a moment, thinking how we would respond. “He, he ran into an old friend, and that friend is now missing after their interchange. He also,”

  Denias stopped to think about the kingdom Woldiniar ruined.

  “He also what?” Sebial knelt near Denias, picking up a small pouch, she stared at it before handing it to him. His gaze returned to her and placed it in his bag.

  He looked at her, his eyes locked with hers. Sebial could see the fear of what happened in his eyes.

  “Who did he kill?”

  “He didn’t. He,” He stared at the drape over the entrance. “I will let Woldiniar tell you when he is ready. Too many things have happened, and we have stayed here for too long. We need to finish packing and continue on. It is not safe here.”

  Denias stood up, holding his bag in his hand. Sebial nodded and both headed out of the makeshift cabin.

  Denias turned back to the tree holding the cabin. Placing his hand on the tree, his hand began to glow a bright green. The green light slowly wrapped its way around the tree to the home they had made, causing it to go back into the tree; leaves falling as it went. The light slowly faded back into his hand before he stepped away. He turned to face the others.

  Sebial stared up at the tree admiring how Denias could transform such a simple tree into a massive cabin and then back again with just one hand.

  “Are you okay Sebial?” Woldiniar asked as he placed his hand on her shoulder.

  She jumped and looked back at him. “Yes, I was just thinking how Denias made that look so simple, yet I cannot even control my own powers.”

  She grabbed her bracelet and slowly turned it on her wrist, gazing at the faded symbols. She let out a small sigh and looked back to Woldiniar. “I know I have to control this. I cannot be weak any longer.”

  The three of them laughed at Sebial’s words. Elin huffed, “Weak is something you are not.” He glanced down at his trembling hands. I remember our time in the other realm. You and Hweniolus. Elin balled his fists. “You just need to focus your mind more and you will have control over it.”

  Elin smiled as he walked towards Denias, who was nodding in agreement.

  Woldiniar loudly clapped his hands together to get their attention. “We head west. There is a kingdom over there we must head to.”

  Denias’ eyes grew dark as he thought about the place Woldiniar spoke of.

  How could he speak about that place as if nothing had just recently happened there? How he killed their king and caused mass chaos. He looked towards Woldiniar, who was smiling happily talking to Sebial. Just who is he? He values Sebial, but not other beings it seems.

  Denias’ concentration was broken. He glared over at Elin, who was yelling his name.

  “About time you paid attention to me.” Elin smiled. �
�You looked as though the dark embers of The Flame’s anger were going to envelop Woldiniar.”

  Elin got closer. He whispered elven tongue. “What happened in my absence?”

  Denias responded back in the same tongue. “Nothing that can be changed nor mattered anymore. Just stay close to Sebial. She seems to be a great key to controlling all.”

  Elin looked up at Sebial and back over at Denias. He nodded and then walked ahead.

  Through winding trees and boulders, they continued into a large ravine. The air was lighter but still warm as the breeze from deeper in blew through. Sebial pulled her hair out of her face, quickly braiding it to keep it from flying all over.

  The trees slowly became sparser as they reached a more rocky front. Elin stopped to look up. The path above seemed more stable than the broken rocks they were currently on.

  “Should we seek higher ground?” Elin asked Woldiniar and Denias.

  They stopped walking to look at him. “No, we will continue on this path a little longer. It is not as bad as it seems,” Denias responded.

  Elin hesitatingly nodded and continued to follow behind them. Looking around, unsure of their judgment as he watched the rocks above slightly move from the wind howling through. He looked at Sebial walking ahead of the rest as she gracefully climbed the rocks with ease.

  I won’t let you get hurt. I promise I will keep you from losing control again.

  His hands tightened into fists, as he followed them. Looking over his shoulder periodically to see if anyone might be on their trail.

  Screams from ahead drew them out of their conversation about the last few months Sebial and Elin had missed.

  Elin darted ahead of Sebial, Woldiniar, and Denias, jumping on the sides of the cliffs to get a better vantage of what was ahead.

  “Wait, Elin!” Sebial yelled out to him as she chased after him.

  Woldiniar grabbed her arm, causing her to fall to the ground.

  “Stay, my dear student.” Woldiniar released her arm before letting out a short whistle, almost a whisper. Vines shot up from the ground, wrapping around Sebial’s legs and arms.

  Sebial squirmed, trying to break free. Woldiniar chuckled. “Let me go! He needs me too!”

  Woldiniar looked down at her before walking away. He waved his arm in the air, wishing her farewell before he and Denias disappeared into the distance.

  To be continued