Chapter 29 #2
Erich shook his head. “Even if I had full control over the change, I doubt I’d have the strength. One transformation depletes most of my strength.”
She nodded thoughtfully, then turned to Fritz. “How did you get here so fast?” Liane asked Fritz and the oracle.
“It was the elf.” The oracle nodded toward him. “He took me through some dark doorway, and all of a sudden, we were here.”
“Could you do it again, bring me close to the water’s edge?” she asked, her gaze suddenly intensely upon Fritz.
Fritz was never flustered, but he looked flustered in that moment, stammering his reply. “I’m afraid I can’t provide much help. The shadow travel drains me, I won’t be able to use it for a while.”
Erich had figured as much. He himself felt drained from his partial dragon transformation. The more he used the power, the more he felt limp and weak afterward.
“Fritz and I will search for a path together while you and the oracle wait for the others,” Erich said.
Liane’s eyebrows rose to her hairline as if she were considering protesting.
“It’s for your safety,” Erich assured her before she could voice any complaints.
“Besides, I have sage wisdom to impart, remember?” the oracle said.
Liane seemed assuaged, and they parted ways.
It hurt him to walk away from her; the dragon, who’d been quiet, grew restless with every step he took.
But this was a feeling he’d have to learn to live with.
While she’d forget him, he knew he’d never forget her.
He and Fritz walked along together in silence, and Fritz, who normally had an easygoing nature, seemed on edge.
His head was on a swivel as he surveyed their surroundings.
He spotted lanterns of their encampment off in the distance and tracks in the grass where they’d patrolled.
They crouched down in the bushes to wait for a patrol to come by.
They’d need to ambush them to clear a way to the pool, and even after that, time wouldn’t be on their side.
Erich sat poised, waiting for the sound of horse hooves.
“You flew, huh?” Fritz looked at him sidelong. “You’re embracing your dragon more. That’s good.”
A flush burned across Erich’s face. He wasn’t sure how good that was, considering how close he’d come to losing control. He’d killed many people in the temple, and had he not gotten control when he did, he might have hurt Liane too.
He grunted to end the conversation there.
They waited a few moments longer, until he heard the soft patter of horse hooves.
A single guard trotted by holding up a lantern to the shadows.
He was young, perhaps a recruit, not expecting something to be lingering in the shadows.
Erich lunged for him and pulled him from his horse.
The animal nearly bolted, but Fritz grabbed its reins as Erich knocked the guard unconscious before tying him and his horse to the tree.
He had enough blood on his hands, and without Liane’s life in imminent danger, he didn’t feel compelled to kill again.
“Liane doesn’t seem to mind the dragon part of you either,” Fritz said, picking up the thread of their conversation, as they made their way back to Liane and the oracle.
“Is there a point to this?” Erich asked.
“Mostly a distraction. I’ve had a bad feeling since we left the temple. Like a dark shroud is gathering, though I cannot see where it comes from.”
Erich didn’t like the sound of that. But without a concrete threat to prepare for, he decided to push forward. “Who knows? We just need to focus on getting Liane into the water and the sword out of her back, and once we’re out of Neolyra, we can go our separate ways.”
Fritz stopped short. “What are you talking about?”
Erich turned to him. “My role is finished. I helped you get her out of the temple. The oracle will guide her through the transformation, or whatever would happen in the water. What else is there for me to do?”
“Getting her and the sword free of the temple is just the beginning. You have a destiny to fulfill to protect her. Didn’t you hear the oracle? She called you her shield.”
Erich faced him. “She isn’t safe with me, Fritz. If anything, I’m putting her in danger. I’m losing to the curse; I was a dragon for three days straight, and now it comes out whenever it likes. Once this is done, it’s better if I go.”
“What do you mean ‘go’?” Liane’s voice sliced through him. Erich froze; he hadn’t heard her approach, but now he felt as if the air had been taken from his lungs. This wasn’t how he wanted her to find out. Not right before she was meant to step into the water.
Erich turned to see Liane standing beside the oracle. They must have heard him and Fritz coming, and he’d just been too absorbed to notice.
Erich fumbled to find the right words. He’d hoped to address this more tactfully. But it seemed the universe wanted to make a fool of him instead. Maybe it was better to just get it over with.
“Liane, you’re destined for great things. I’m just a monster. I can’t be your shield. I’ll only hurt you,” Erich said.
“So, you’ve fucked me and you’re running away again? I shouldn’t be surprised. This is what you do, isn’t it?” she asked, hands planted on her hips.
He had no rebuttal because it was true. He kept everyone at arm’s length—Liane, Fritz, his uncle. No one he got close to was safe. And he did it for them, but Liane didn’t understand that.
“You could have been honest with me. We didn’t make any promises to one another. Instead, you were going to slink away like a bandit in the night. And that’s what hurts most. But I should have expected that from you.” She shook her head before stomping off.
He could only watch her walk away and feel like an absolute fool for it. But it was for the best, he told himself. She was better off without him.