The Aspect: The Cessation's Harbinger

by Ajax Lygan

  “We can’t stay even if we wanted to. We’re running out of food, and from the looks of it, you’ve already drank all the wine.”

  “We’ll be fine,” Riika said waving her hand in the air.

  “Riika, it’s been three days. Please don’t do this. I don’t have the energy to fight you.”

  “Then don’t. I can’t leave here knowing he could come back.”

  “You heard Viktor yesterday say they had destroyed the remaining mirrors. All of the portals are closed. If he’s going to come back, it’s not going to be here.”

  “You don’t know that!” Riika yelled, jumping to her feet. “Saïgra said that she’s connected to him, that if she’s still here then he’s alive. If he’s still alive, he’s fighting to make his way back to us.”

  “And he will make his way back to us!” Ella shouted back. “We just can’t sit around wasting away while we wait for him.” Ella took a step toward Riika placing her hand on her crossed arms. “Please…I don’t want to lose you too.” Riika’s lip trembled as she turned her back toward Ella. Ella’s chest caved as she sobbed into her hands.

  The sounds of cracking wood filled the surrounding air as Saïgra exited her tree-form. She wrapped her arms around Ella and pulled her into her chest as she looked over at the she-orc. Saïgra couldn’t hear Riika’s sobs, but the subtle jerks in her back showed that she was in just as much pain as Ella. She transformed her free arm into a coil of vines and wrapped it around Riika to pull the three of them into an embrace. They stood there releasing their sorrows with heartfelt cries of torment. After they began to calm with the sounds of the nearby shore, Riika apologized.

  “I am sorry for pulling away,” she said sniffling. “I love you both so much. I just…I miss him already.”

  “We all do,” Saïgra said softly. “He’s the reason I am standing with you both. Without his love, I would have ended up like Queen Maileath and the rest of the Firegrove. And even though he means so much to us, we still have to remember that we have each other.”

  “I can’t do this again, not without you both,” Ella said looking at the gold and red eyes before her.

  Riika leaned down and kissed Ella on the head. “You won’t have to. I’ll always be here for you.” The three stood there holding each other in their arms. A sound of nearby hoofbeats and rolling wagon wheels brought their attention to Bram and the boys, who had prepared transportation for them. Riika turned and slowly led Ella and Saïgra toward the wagons. “So, if we’re leaving, where do you both want to go?”

  “What are our options?” Saïgra asked.

  “Queen Alyndra offered us to stay with her in Ashwreath.” Ella stated.

  “Royal accommodations would be nice.” Riika said.

  “We could also go back to Meadow’s Crest.”

  “Eh, now that I am thinking about it, I’ve had enough of that area.”

  “I agree,” Saïgra said looking down at the ground. “I don’t think I want to go to the west coast if we don’t have to.”

  “Well, our two closest options are to ride north toward Verve or head west to Ungroth’s Path,” Ella said.

  “We can stay with Chieftainess Wildfang if we want to visit,” said Riika.

  “You around a bunch of orcs? I never thought I’d see the day.”

  “They are growing on me a bit,” Riika smirked.

  “How about this,” Saïgra interjected. “Let’s head west with no destination or intentions. Let’s just see where life takes us.”

  “I would say I love that, but given current company, I’m not sure how good of an idea that is.” Riika grunted as Ella and Saïgra playfully elbowed her in the side.

  “Well, I am all for that idea,” Ella said leaning around Riika’s frame and rubbing Saïgra’s arm along Riika’s back.

  The three smiled as Riika bent down and kissed her two companions on the top of their heads before climbing into the driver’s seat of their wagon. They each turned to look at the place of their lover’s departure one last time before setting off, holding onto the hope of his eventual return.

  Thank you!

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