Chapter twelve
Chapter twelve
When you’re immortal, time has no presence.
It’s a monotonous gift that most of my kind took for granted.
This last month, I had felt the effect of time for the first time in my existence.
The need for it to pass by more quickly was unbearable.
All this suffering was because I wanted to see Darce again.
I could barely get my head around the apprehension I felt for our next meeting.
The need to see him was there, but the fear that it might be the last time was stronger.
In such a short time, Darce had somehow burrowed into my mind.
He’d awoken a part of me that I was wary of.
A deep, maddening power was growing within me each passing day.
Whether it was Noxlin trickery or not, I was already succumbing to the force.
That both excited and terrified me. If Darce was going to be my downfall, it appeared that I might give my life willingly one day if these.
..feelings continued to develop. It was safe to say, being around me was a little difficult for the last month.
Noor believed my low mood was to do with my father.
That was only partly the case. He’d hardly said a single word since my return.
I only saw him at our rituals and blessings.
Even at those, he hardly looked in my direction.
For him, because my powers hadn’t manifested, he didn’t see any achievement with my completed task to Nantu’s sacred mountain.
This fact made it clear: I had to keep my powers a secret at all cost until I could control them.
My destiny wasn’t going to be taken by bonding with Xavier.
Darce might be able to help me learn control as part of my training.
It felt wrong to pin all my hopes on a Noxlin, but Holy Ether had sent a message with the wisp.
I had to have faith that Darce would train me.
“What do I wear today?” I asked Enyo while she chewed on a deer bone.
Loki was outside on my balcony, soaking up the sun.
In a month, they had tripled in size and almost came up to my knee.
Luz believed they would be fully grown in a few centuries and be a formidable force.
Their teeth were forming, and the claws on their paws had already shredded numerous fabrics in my bedchamber.
They were devoted to me, and if anyone they didn’t like got too close, they made their intentions clear.
Xavier got growled at regularly by them.
My pups could sense my unease around him.
Once they were fully grown, I’d have the ultimate protection.
Looking away from Enyo and Loki, I tried to decide what to wear. Today was finally the day we were heading to Shielding Valley to pay Darce his gold and learn his decision.
Wearing my normal clothing wasn’t an option, but I had to look noble enough to serve in the palace. I finally decided on my pale cream trousers and opaque tunic. I completed it with gold trim under garments. I was lacing my leather boots when Noor wandered in.
“I noticed your lights were on. Where are you heading to this early?” She frowned as Loki and Enyo rushed over to her excitedly. “Hello, pups! No, I don’t have any food,” she snorted as Loki nudged her hand.
“I’m going for a walk. I had more nightmares about Raiden. I need to try and clear my head.”
“Did you need any company? You can walk in silence if you need to. I don’t like the idea of you being alone right now, Alora.”
“I know, but I would rather go by myself, if that’s okay. I wouldn’t be good company,” I lied, looking towards my hell dryads. “Loki and Enyo will keep me safe. You don’t have to worry.”
“But you know I do! You’ve not been the same since you returned. I can’t quite work out what is different, but I can see it in your eyes. You have a burden on your shoulders. I wish you’d talk to me about it. You’ve been so withdrawn since you got home.”
“The sacred mountain changed you, Noor. You know the effects the Barren Lands have. It was no different for me. I gave you the space you needed when you returned. All I’m asking for is the same respect.
” Giving me a sad nod, she let me pass. “I’ll be fine, okay?
Stop worrying. I’ll be back later.” Loki and Enyo followed, one either side of me in a protective stance.
“Don’t wander too far,” Noor called just before I walked out of sight. She had no idea just how far I was about to go.
Darce had shown me a short cut that would be a little safer. It was extremely early in the morning, which made me wonder if he’d arrive soon when he’d explained that he would wait until sunset for me.
Leaving this early avoided all the questions that would have come from those within the palace.
Xavier had his spies watching my every move.
If this was to become a regular meeting, Darce and I would have to get around him covering me in darkness every time we were together.
Uri would work out what was going on in no time.
My hair was down and braided at the sides, keeping the few stray strands off my face.
I looked much healthier than I had in the Barren Lands last time.
The suns hadn’t made an appearance yet, the pre-dawn sky was lit by our two moons instead.
Feeling the land darkened gave me a strange comfort that I had never experienced before.
It made me feel a little closer to Darce.
The cave that led into Shielding Valley came into view. Loki and Enyo charged towards it with excitement, recognising the scent from last month. Taking a deep breath, I followed them into the darkness.
Placing my hand against the wall of the cave, I felt my way until trickles of moonlight brightened the space in front of me. One of the pups brushed against me in encouragement.
The familiar lake came into view as the light of the two moons caressed the water with their moonshine. For a barren place, it was beautiful.
“You came,” a smooth voice called from behind me.
Turning, my breath almost caught in my chest at the sight of Darce standing in front of me with an arrogant smirk on his face.
The face I had pictured in my mind these last few weeks hadn’t done him justice.
The familiar feelings began to stir deep inside me. It was difficult to hold them back.
“You said you would train me.” My tone was clipped as I threw the bag of gold at him. “Your gold!”
“No, I told you I would see what you had, and then decide.”
“You shouldn’t underestimate me.” If Darce was my only chance of becoming a warrior, I had to prove myself to him. I believed I could do it, even if no one else did.
“Tackle me to the floor and I will consider it,” he offered, his eyes dark as the night.
As I crossed my arms, he began to stalk me in a circle.
“I will make the first one easy by not counter-attacking you. Let’s see what you’ve got, Alora.
” My father’s disapproving face entered my mind.
His harsh words, and the fact that he promised me to Xavier without my consent, began to make me tremble in fury.
That wasn’t going to be my life! Rage and adrenaline filled my body as I ran towards Darce.
He swerved to avoid my first punch that was aimed at his chest. Spinning around, he grabbed me from behind, touching the bare skin on my stomach.
My breathing was so erratic, it was embarrassing.
The close contact was making me dizzy. “Lesson one: never let emotions get the better of you,” he whispered into my ear, pushing my back.
I bolted a few feet away from him. Arrogant prick!
“You get under my skin! I can’t help it!” I fumed, watching Loki and Enyo playing with the third pup in the long grass. Darce still had her!
“Focus!” He was circling me again, so I held my stance as I worked out where to strike this time.
Darting in, I aimed for his legs and attempted to sweep them.
He caught me again, blocking my try as he swept my own leg, bringing me to the ground.
“I’ve really got my work cut out with you,” he sighed, holding his hand out to help me up.
The moment our palms touched, that same familiar warmth began to spread through my core.
When I looked down at my hands, they were glowing.
As in...fully flickering. “Careful,” Darce whispered.
“I can’t train you if I’m dead.” I doubted I was powerful enough to kill him.
Focusing on my power, I tried to calm the blazing current surging around my body.
“If we’re going to do this, you need to control your powers.
Breathe, Alora.” The light started to recede from the calmness of his tone.
“You’ll train me?” My voice was overly hopeful as I gazed into his star speckled eyes. Somehow, they seemed lighter than usual. The darkness was still there, but the universe inside them seemed larger.
“It’s going to take a lot of effort. Do you have any idea how much core work you are going to have to do first?
That could take a century at least. You need to be able to link the power all the way from the ground, through your core, to your sword when you wield it above your head. That’s not an easy task.”
“I’m aware of how much work will be involved!” He was treating me like a child. He was no better than my father. It made it even worse that he was Noxlin.
“I don’t think you do.” Moving towards the lake, Darce picked up a large branch that had fallen from an old oak tree.
“Lift this up above your head and put it down ten times.” Determined to prove myself, I braced my body for the weight of the load, managing to lift it above my head and put it down a total of four times before my body gave out.
“Not as easy as it looks, is it?” Quirking an eyebrow as he leaned against the base of the tree, he gave me a triumphant grin.