Cursed

by Casey Odell

  “Claire, look at me!”

  Her eyes flew open, breaking free of the fiery vision that racked her mind. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she gazed into the pair of light blue eyes that hovered inches from hers. Farron kneeled above her, his hands gripping her face.

  “This is not your town. These are not your people.” His voice was firm but remained calm, bringing her back to the present.

  Claire gripped his wrists and closed her eyes. Her breath was shaky and uneven. She knew this wasn’t her town or her people, but that fact didn’t stop the memories from invading her mind. She’d lost it. The sight had shaken her to her core, broke down the defense that surrounded her sanity. She took another deep breath; her heart still pounded in her chest.

  “I’m alright now,” she replied weakly and opened her eyes again. “Thank you.” She pried his hands away from her face, suddenly aware of his closeness.

  Aeron rushed down the alley, with Bren following close behind.

  “What happened here?” Aeron looked down at her with a worried look on his face.

  She looked away from them, ashamed she had let them see her in such a state and tried to rise to her feet, but her legs wouldn’t cooperate with her yet. Farron gripped her shoulder to help, but she brushed his hand away.

  “I can do it,” she snapped. He looked somewhat hurt, his eyes filled with worry. That was something new and almost shocking in itself. But she didn’t want his pity or his help at the moment. If she accepted any of it, she would lose it again. She pushed with her legs and used her hands to crawl her way up the wall until she was standing.

  Aeron peered around the corner and then back to her, his eyes wide with shock. “Get her out of here.”

  “This way, Miss Claire.” Bren offered her his hand.

  She took a deep breath. There was no avoiding it. She took his hand and let him pull her back down the alley and away from the gruesome scene. She leaned heavily on his arm as she walked; her legs were still a little unsteady.

  “I’m sorry you have to see me like this.” She tried to smile and her voice came out shaken.

  “I understand, Miss Claire.” He patted her hand on his arm. “Not everyone can handle these types of situations.”

  He didn’t know the half of it. A thought suddenly occurred to her and the muscles in her shoulders tensed up again. “Say, General,” she began carefully. “Why hasn’t Lendon done anything about these attacks?” She stopped and gripped onto his shirt, her eyes pleading. “Surely you can do something about it? You’re a General, for goodness sake!”

  Bren’s eyes grew wide and he gripped her wrist to pry her hand from his shirt. “My lady, calm down.” His face and voice grew solemn again. “I don’t have any more control over this situation than you do. These remote towns are not under our rule or our protection.”

  “So too bad, is what you’re saying?”

  “Unfortunately, it’s not my decision. I only follow orders. My unit lacks the power and the resources to go around trying to protect every small village in the region. However unfortunate the situation is, it’s the harsh reality. Besides, by the time we would have heard about the attack, it would have been too late anyway.”

  He was right, she shouldn’t hold him responsible. Or anyone from Lendon, for that matter. “I’m sorry.” She let go of his arm and looked down at the ground. “I shouldn’t have blamed you.”

  Bren put a hand to her chin and gently lifted her face up. He gazed down at her and gave her a reassuring smile. The look was full of pity. “I will try everything in my power, however, to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

  She closed her eyes to keep the tears from falling. “Thank you.”

  “Let’s keep moving.” Farron strode up. His face was an unreadable mask. He walked past them without another word, his eyes scanning the town for any threats.

  “Let’s get going, Miss Claire.” Bren waited for her.

  “I’ll be right behind you.”

  He put a hand on her shoulder, giving it a squeeze before turning to follow the elf.

  Aeron appeared at her side, as silent as the other elf. How did they do that?

  “Don’t worry, I didn’t give anything away,” she mumbled and looked up at him.

  Aeron snaked an arm around her shoulder and started to lead her through the town after the other two. “I know.”

  She was getting tired of the pity party. “I’m fine, I promise. I just had a momentary lapse in confidence.” She straightened her back. “There’s nothing I can do for this town now.” She looked up to fight the tears growing in her eyes. “Say something funny.”

  “Like what, my lady?”

  “Anything.”

  “The General suspects you are having an affair with Farron.”

  Claire choked. It was the last thing she expected. “What?”

  “Is that not funny?” He looked down at her with an eyebrow raised.

  She looked up at the elf in question, cold as ever as he led the way. The laughter bubbled up inside of her and swelled out into a rich laugh. It was rather amusing. He seemed so distant most of the time, closed off, or arrogant. She couldn’t imagine wanting to have an affair with him. It was a shame, though, because he really wasn’t quite bad to look at.

  “In all seriousness, it would look rather suspicious to an outsider,” he said. “It might be best to keep your distance from him for the time being. You are a married woman-- albeit an unhappily married woman-- but married nonetheless.”

  “That won’t be hard to do.” She shrugged. “Thank you. For lightening the mood, that is.” She wanted to forget about what she had seen.

  They walked in silence for a while down a dirt path once used as a road, leaving the village behind them. She wished that she had never stumbled upon it. Ignorance is bliss sometimes. She could feel the tears gather in her eyes once again as images of her mother crept into her consciousness. She needed another distraction, and quick.

  She looked up at Aeron, who’d been strangely quiet next to her. “So,” she began, searching for a subject. He waited. She knew he still pitied her. There was no way he’d have remained this quiet otherwise. Her cheeks flushed as the question spilled out of her mouth: “You and the General talk about me?”

  “His questions are incessant,” he revealed. “It is the other reason I try to keep him away from you.”

  Claire’s eyes widened as she glanced up at the General, who walked several paces in front of them. He hadn’t spoken a word to her since they left the small village.

  Maybe he was shaken by it as well.

  Aeron covered his face with his hands. “I cannot have another man steal mon lainí away.”

  Claire couldn’t help but smile.

  “Do you like him?” Aeron’s question caught her off guard.

  “Um, well,” she stammered and took a deep breath. “He’s like a prince.” She gazed up at Bren. “Sure, I like him, but I’ve only just met him.”

  “And what about the other one?”

  Claire laughed and took Aeron’s arm. “I’d be more willing to have an affair with you than the Ice Prince.”

  Aeron looked at her, slightly amused. “I may hold you to your word on that, my lady.”

  Claire laughed again. She was sure he would. Calm settled over her. Laughter may not always be the best medicine, but it sure helped.

  “Why do you think that village was attacked?” she asked.

  “I do not know, my lady.”

  She glanced around into the forest. There had been no signs of any army like the man in Lendon had told them about. Maybe he really was crazy. It was hard to believe a man they had followed down a back alley and then ran away at the slightest disturbance. Perhaps he was delusional, or wanted to take advantage of a girl in a time of weakness. It wouldn’t be hard to guess what they were looking for, seeing as how she’d asked people all through the city about the attacks.

  Claire sighed. She was still no closer to solving the mystery. S
he hadn’t found any clues in that village. Only a skeleton of a town and the charred remains of some of its inhabitants. And a new memory to add to her mountain of horrific events. She’d seen enough to last her a lifetime.

  “Do you need to rest, my lady?” Aeron changed the subject. He didn’t have any more answers than she did.

  “No, I’ll be fine. I just want to get as far away from here as I can.”

  “Understood, my lady.”

  Aeron patted her hand and they walked in silence down the lonely dirt road. No villagers would travel down this path again, and she hoped they never would so they wouldn’t have to witness the gruesome remnants of the tiny town.

  She thought of silly things to keep her mind busy. Wondered how many trees really did make up the forest. Perhaps she should start counting again, making it her life goal to count every last tree in the forest and mark them with a knife as she went. It would certainly give her something to do after their journey was over. Although, it could drive her mad. The children would cry about the crazy old lady of the forest, legends would be created about her, folk songs sung, tales written.

  Yeah, that seemed like a good plan to her.

  12

  “You will be twenty one.” Claire muttered as she dug her blade into a tree to carve the number into the bark.

  She’d escaped into the forest while Aeron and Bren set up camp. Farron offered to scout the area as usual. They had left the small dirt path of a road late in the afternoon to set up camp away from potential passerby and prying eyes.

  Tired and emotionally drained, she didn’t have the heart or the energy to tell Aeron she didn’t want to practice. Instead, she counted the trees and carved numbers into their trunks. The simple silly task helped keep her mind busy and the tears at bay. She didn’t want to have another breakdown like the one she had earlier in the day. She had moved past that, or at least she thought she had.

  On to the next tree.

  “And you will be twenty two.” She brought her blade up to the tree to begin the carving process. She put her weight into it with both hands gripping the handle.

  “What are you doing?”

  Claire’s heart jumped out of her chest. The dagger slipped on the trunk and flew out of her hands. She knew who it was without even turning to look. She collapsed against the tree, her arms hugging the trunk, and she leaned her forehead against the rough bark. Farron’s bad habit was seriously detrimental to her health; her heart just couldn’t take it anymore.

  She glanced over her shoulder at the elf. “Why do you do that?”

  He simply shrugged his shoulders, crossed his arms and waited silently for an answer to his question.

  Claire waited for her pulse to calm before she collected her dagger off the ground. “Just getting a head start.”

  He raised an eyebrow and the start of his cocky grin tugged at the corner of his mouth as he glanced at the carving behind her.

  The words caught in her throat as she began to tell him about her plan. She didn’t know whether or not she should tell him. It could only lead to disaster. “Never mind.” The idea suddenly seemed too silly. After wiping the blade on her pants, she sheathed it.

  “I want to show you something.” He held his hand out to her.

  She hesitated and thought of the words Aeron had told her earlier in the day. It would be better if she said no. Her eyes narrowed as she studied his face. “This isn’t revenge for me trying to sneak up on you earlier, is it?”

  He looked up, considering the thought. “I had not really thought of that, but thank you for reminding me.” He looked back down to her, amusement clear on his face. His hand hovered in the air in front of her.

  Hesitantly, Claire took it, curiosity getting the better of her. He wouldn’t do anything to her, right? He took off as soon as her hand touched his, quickly winding his way through the trees.

  “Where are we going?” she asked, her legs struggled to keep up.

  “You’ll see.”

  The tree line abruptly stopped before a bluff that stretched up and out in both directions. Sparse plants clung to the boulders in a futile attempt at life. It was a sudden rocky gash in the endless sea of trees. Farron stopped before the steep outcropping looming up before them and Claire snatched her hand away from him.

  “Oh no.” She shook her head and held her hands up in front of her in protest. “I’m not bored enough to climb that thing.”

  “It’s not so bad down there.” He pointed to the right.

  Boulders from a previous landslide piled up along the side of the bluff, making the incline less steep. It still looked unsafe.

  “I think I’ll pass.” She turned to head back into the forest. Heights weren’t her favorite thing, as she’d recently discovered.

  “Is the almighty Claire afraid of heights?”

  She stopped in her tracks, tensing. She turned around to find that smirk again, an arrogant mask meant to bait her. She knew this trick, but she couldn’t help but retaliate, to prove him wrong.

  “I’m not afraid to conquer my fears.” She glared up at him before she spun on her heel and marched to where the rocks spread out onto the ground. She stripped off the purple over-shirt, down to the sleeveless black one. Her eyes traced up the rockslide and her pulse began to race once more, her nerves standing on edge. She undid her belt and laid her dagger and wooden sword next to her shirt on the ground. Didn’t need those anyway. She took a deep breath and concentrated on the slope in front of her. She could do this.

  Farron stood off to the side, watching her.

  “What?” Claire snapped.

  He shrugged. “Just waiting for the conquering to begin.”

  Anger drove her feet forward up the rocks. She stepped carefully on the boulders, steadying herself with her hands as the slope grew steeper. His attitude was insufferable at times. Whatever it was had better be worth it. Although, erasing that smug look from his face would give her far more satisfaction than anything else would at the moment.

  After several moments, the top of the bluff fell within reach. Almost there. She refused to look down to see if the elf had at least decided to accompany her on this little adventure. If this was all a ruse, he’d be sorry he’d ever even met her. She set her foot on top of a stone jutting out to brace for the last push to the top. Her hands found a rock on the edge higher up and gripped it tight. She took a deep breath. Just a little bit more. She pulled herself up with her arms and stepped onto the rock. Not strong enough to hold her weight, it gave out from under her foot. Claire gasped, her hands starting to slip from the ledge above as her feet struggled to find purchase.

  A hand pushed against the center of her back to steady her enough for her to find a foothold. She breathed a sigh of relief and closed her eyes for a moment to gather strength.

  “Having troubles, my lady?” Farron asked.

  She wouldn’t look at him for fear of seeing the ground behind her. “I’m fine.”

  She could hear the elf climb up beside her as he passed by and hopped up over the edge to the top.

  “Come on.”

  Claire glanced up. Farron leaned past the edge with a hand outstretched.

  “I can do it.” She remained motionless.

  “You don’t need to die to prove me wrong.” He grabbed her wrist and pulled her up.

  She snatched her arm away when her feet felt solid enough beneath her and brushed herself off. “I could have done it, you know,” she snapped. She looked up and froze. “This is what you wanted to show me?”

  A field stretched out beneath them, filled with tall golden grass. Trees edged the other side of the great expanse. Peaceful and somewhat pretty, but not worth the torture. She collapsed to the ground and stretched her legs out in front of her. The other edge of the outcropping dropped steeply by her feet. Well, she might as well enjoy it while she was up there. The thought of the climb back down seemed even less appealing than the climb up.

  “Although I appreciate your thought, and
the fact that I’ve seen enough trees to last me a lifetime, I must say I am underwhelmed.” She closed her eyes, breathed in the cool air, and leaned back on her hands. The excitement slowly seeped from her body, leaving a trail of tense, tired muscles in its wake.

  “Watch.” Farron picked up a stone and tossed it out into the field below where it disappeared in the grass. Ripples spread out in rings around where it landed, like water.

  Claire shook her head. Wait, ripples? She must have been delusional from the climb. She leaned forward, rising to her hands and knees to peer over the edge of the cliff. It looked like a normal field. She glanced back at the elf, her brow furrowed in confusion.

  “Do that again.”

  Farron picked up another stone and threw it into the field. She carefully tracked the stone with her eyes, focusing on the little black dot. It landed in the field and ripples radiated out across the grass in its wake. Gaping, she leaned over the ledge to try and get a closer look. What was going on here?

  Farron’s hand clamped down on her shoulder. “Careful, my lady,” he said in a firm voice.

  “Sorry.” She leaned back and propped herself up on her knees. “Can I try?”

  “Knock yourself out.” Farron shrugged and sat down on a boulder nearby.

  Claire picked up a pebble and heaved it as hard as she could into the tall grass. Again, she marveled at the waves it caused. “What is that?”

  “It is a curse.”

  Her attention snapped to the elf. “A curse?”

  “Yes.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

  Waiting for him to elaborate, she pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. She felt uneasy after hearing it was some sort of curse. However, it did pique her interest.

  “There was a battle here between the elves and the humans during the Great War, and the magic mingled with the souls of the dead.” He glanced at her with an evil grin. “It’s a trap to fool travelers and all who enter.”