Chapter 21
W
hile leaving the ship, Alyse had nearly got on her knees to plead with him to keep his eyes on Azahara, even though the redhead was right beside him scolding her for completely disregarding her as being present.
He understood Alyse’s concern and nodded in agreement, assuring her that he would always keep Azahara close.
With Xol present, he felt confident that everything would be alright.
It wasn’t like they would run into a Dragon.
He would be lying to himself if he said he didn’t love watching Azahara be in awe of every new place she stepped foot in. From Celadon, when she dove down to see the reefs, to watching the bioluminescent waters of Ilkiz, when her face lit up, he found peace.
He wanted to show her the world, allow her to heal without his Magic being poured into her constantly.
She could, in time, learn to live with the horrors that Goddrick had put her through.
Maybe after everything was safe for her, he would suggest it.
He wouldn’t mind asking Alyse to sail around the world, get Kaed, Illyan, and Zhal for her, and show her the wonders beyond the realms she knew.
Never had he thought about that before, but with her, he could see that being a possibility. How soon that dream could be a reality was likely far out, but it seemed they both had plenty of time.
“I think he’s daydreaming,” Xol’s voice barely cut through the haze of his thoughts.
“I’ve called him like five times,” Azahara whispered.
“I can hit him if you would like,” He groaned.
“I can do that, too, Xol. It’s fine.”
Shaking his head, he looked down at Azahara, who was staring up at him with worry in her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he said while watching Xol roll her eyes and refocus forward. Azahara was looking between them but came to focus on him. “Did you say something?”
Azahara stepped to him, “I was just asking what else you knew about this place, and Xol commented that you had firsthand experience.”
He was going to kill her.
“How would that be possible?” He asked flatly, staring at the uncolored woman. If she didn’t watch it, he would expose exactly who—no, better yet, what she is.
Suppose that wouldn’t end very well for either of them, and the only one that would be left in the crossfire would be Azahara. She would be the only one hurt by the revelation of who they were.
Still, what a stupid thing to say, putting a target on his head like that.
Xol didn’t turn to look when she commented, “From your studies, of course.”
Azahara seemed to lower her head, thinking about something.
“We can talk about it later,” she said, surprising him and even Xol, who turned and looked at her. “I think we should focus. I’m not sure if it’s just me, but I’ve been hearing things since we came into the harbor.”
“And you are just saying something now?” Xol wasn’t necessarily angry, and to his surprise, she kept her tone down.
Remembering that raising their voice at Azahara triggered a response, he was thankful for her restraint.
They both shared hatred for the god that caused her so much torment.
Imagining anyone yelling at his girl made him sick.
Xol had her hand on the hilt of her sword.
He didn’t say anything, just looked at Azahara, who was coming to a halt.
Before them were the large gates that hadn’t opened or closed in thousands of years.
The elements had reminded the fine onyx metal of who truly had possession of the realm.
They still looked sturdy, even to this day, and it truly surprised him.
Watching her, she turned in a full circle, looking up in wonder. “It sounds like civilization is still alive, but it’s underwater. Like, they are talking to me, but the sound is muffled.”
He didn’t hear anything, and one look at Xol confirmed the same was for her. That didn’t mean Azahara wasn’t, but it made whatever it was a little too mysterious for his liking.
The sound of crackling fire was what he heard before Azahara was moving, even his eyes couldn’t capture it, she was so fast. She can use the dyspoxii?
He thought quickly, not realizing she had that ability from the gods.
The flames cascaded over him and Xol as if being redirected from nearly smacking them in the back.
It was Azahara, her body glowing like the sun itself, fighting off fire.
His sword was pulled from the sheath, just as Xol did hers. When they turned to stand beside Azahara, before them, stepping from the smoke, two figures approached.
“Looks like we have some visitors, brother,” a female voice spoke, flames bouncing between her palms. His eyes widened, and immediately he stepped between them and Azahara.
“Wait, please, we don’t want to fight you,” Jayce placed his hand onto Azahara, and she looked up at him, “It’s fine, they are—”
Before he could finish his sentence, a blast of fire was thrown at him, slapping him in the arm and sending him down to his knee.
His cloak seared and he tore at it, ripping it off completely as the flames burst and consumed it.
The fire was a mixture of blue and red, and when the blue flickered, the heat was nearly unbearable.
“Shit—Azahara!” He didn’t care about himself, but he saw the look in her eyes. “Stop!”
Her body was gone then, as if it had just disappeared, and instantly reappeared behind the girl. With a resounding smack, the fire wielder flew past Xol, crashing into a barely standing building. It instantly crumbled to pieces, flattening her under it.
“Kaen!” The boy screamed, and when Jayce turned towards them, he had water wrapping around Azahara.
Xol was rushing towards her, but he needed to get things under control before she killed them. He turned towards the wrecked building, seeing that there was rumbling underneath, he stood and rushed towards it.