Ch. 20
“Opal”
I tossed and turned for a few hours before the thoughts and images faded to black much like the room. I am awakened from some shuffling of feet, and something being set on the side table next to the bed. My eyes shift as light flickers behind my eyelids. I open them and see Devlyn, Mother’s second, my friend, picking up all the candles I knocked down last night.
“Sorry about that…” I say while stretching out my legs passed the edge of this child sized bed. It must be made for children if I am too big for it. I kept my knees close to me and once I fully stretched out, every joint cracks.
“Geesh…” She glances in my direction before setting down the last candlestick. “Have you been doing your daily stretches? Don’t want all my hard work to go to waste you know.”
I let out a small laugh. “I am basically middle age for a mortal, but of course, Devlyn. How could I forget?” I look at the candle stick and back to her.
She laughs, but her eyes seem to fall. “Keep your power usage to a minimum until we get to the castle.” I feel my face lower, and she says. “Not because I don’t trust you.” She reaches for her tunic that now sits on the small chair by the tub. She removes the bag that held the gold pieces she gave the inn owner last night. She pulls out a small metal device and walks back to the side table by the bed. “I just don’t want you hurt.” She runs a finger over the metal device and a flame flick at the end of it. “Your mother would have my head if she found out I knew your powers were…” She pauses looking for the right word. Out of control. A threat to myself and others. Dangerous. “Confused.” She looks at me with a smile. “So, please as a request of mine. Your friend. Keep the powers to a minimum until we get back home.” Her smile grows. “Now that I know you haven’t been doing your daily training stretches. Get dressed and then give me twenty pushups.”
I groan and slowly crawl out of the bed. “I see the real reason you don’t want me using my powers now…” But I know pushing my body helps calm my mind.
--
After about thirty minutes of Devlyn barking exercises at me we finally make it outside the Inn. The autumn breeze blowing just as much as it has for the last few days. Drying the few sweat drops that run down my temples. We meet up with the scouts stationed at the stalls where our horses were kept. I manage to convince Devlyn to let me stop by the blacksmith’s shop before we leave Faymore and then going to meet up with the others camped in the forest. I had to promise her, shifter promise, scouts promise, and finally pinkie promise her that I wouldn’t use my powers while gone. Only if I truly need her, she would keep her mind open. Even though I practiced that a lot, like a ton, I haven’t had much success from distances more than a few feet let only on anything other than creatures...not my friends. But it is nice to know she trusts me enough to not ran sack her skull for all her hidden secrets. Given how my powers have been lately, the thought of mind communication or reading makes me queasy.
Mornings in Faymore are quieter than at dusk, but there is still some activity. I walk down the road from the stable as Devlyn starts talking to some of the scouts. I see a few other scouts down the road by the blacksmith’s corner. Which is why I knew Devlyn wouldn’t care if I went down here. Someone to watch me. I continue down the road. The market stalls closed and boarded up for the morning. There is an older woman who is sweeping by what I remember was the stand with the spices from yesterday. Our eyes meet and I give her a smile. She quickly looks me over and then retreats behind the stall. My scent, even when I’m not using my powers, is strong. I pull at the edges of my sleeves to cover the tattoos on my wrist and pick up my pace to the blacksmith’s.
Once I reach the door the smell of fire and ash fill my nose. I look back toward Devlyn, she is mounting her black stallion.
I reach for the door and pull it open. I’m nearly knocked over by the smoke that hits my eyes. Warm air soon after takes its place. It feels so nice. The cold still lingers, but it is better than last night. I recover and step inside. The front of the shop is displayed with swords, shields, armor and more. In the back corner of the shop there is another door that is wide open. I can hear the pounding of a hammer on metal.
I walk around the shop passing by a table of short and long swords. I run my fingers down a blade and halting at the hilt. There is an image of a snake swirling back up the blade. I continue to mosey around the shop. I stop at a table with a heavy metal helmets and nearly break my neck trying one on.
I make it to the back of the shop close to the back open door. That leads to the workshop where all this stuff is made, crafted, forged. There is a small table by the back door with a few daggers. Some looking like the ones in my vest close to my ribs. My eyes flow between the different shapes of the blades. I stop once I reach one that is shorter than my normal daggers. The hilt is smooth but has bumps that curve where your fingers would lace with it. Making for a better grip. Along the hilt itself, there is a hand painted and carved scene of the forest and the moonlight displaying shadows along the tree line, and the edges of the paint a different array of purples. The blade itself is not made from metal like all the other ones. No, it is made from pure opal crystal. I pick up the dagger, tossing it in my hands, gripping the ridges and pushing it out in front of me. A jab. I nearly jump when a large man comes out from the back workshop.
“I see you know how to handle a dagger.” He says with a slight chuckle while wiping soot from his face with a rag from the counter along the back wall.
He is a large stocky man, built like an ox. He is bald with a long soot-filled beard. I wonder if that is because he is by fire and heat on the daily. He has deep dark brown eyes that are hard to see with the soot that covers him completely.
“I’ve been trained by some highly skilled people.” I offer a small smile and set the dagger gently back down on the table.
The man gives his face a once over with the rag and then gives me a hard look. I freeze for a moment unsure about what to do and decide to start walking back toward the entrance. I can’t use my powers. Just stay calm. Remain.
“Are you Zeva’s daughter?”
I stop and turn back to him. “Who’s asking?”
He keeps looking at me, I see his eyes fall to my hair. I decided to go with another braid that wraps around keeping it up mostly, out of the way. His gaze moves back to my eyes, and he smiles. “Cybses.”
He walks toward the table with the daggers. I didn’t realize it at first mostly because he is covered in soot, but his skin is a dark shade of blue and his ears come to a point. I should have noticed that first thing. I really need to get back to the castle and have a full nights rest in a normal mortal sized, not child’s, bed. He grabs the dagger with the painted carved scene and starts walking to me. “Your mother has done so much for me and my family.” I hear the faint sound of children coming from the open door that leads to the workshop. “Take it.” He holds the dagger out to me, the hilt facing me. The painted moon is glossy against the light shining from the store’s big window.
“Are you sure?” I ask and he nods. I take the dagger and toss it between my hands again. The weight is balanced. Light enough to be thrown a good distance, but heavy enough to be hard to knock out of your hand. Surprising for the pink crystal that fills the hilt.
“Can I ask you a question?” Curiosity is my fatal flaw after all. Other than these raging raw powers within me.
His eyes move to me for a moment, interest peaked. “Sure.” He walks back to the back counter and grabs his rag again.
“Is it hard living in Faymore?” Even though I didn’t notice at first, I do now. He is part of the fae. I’m not sure of the logistics of high or low fae, but he is fae. Given the dark blue of his skin, meaning part dark fae, his pointed ears, and his smell, his power that now fills my nose. Masked by the ash and fire. The older woman by the spice stall basically ran from just my powers smell alone and I look human, or at least part.
He wipes his face again and gives me a look that almost looks like pity, but then he smiles. “I am a metal wielder. I don’t mean with just a hammer. Plus, I’m the best blacksmith in this region. My skills are favored by many.”
I smile at him, and I feel a pang in my stomach. Jealousy. Having powers that don’t cause destruction or fear. That must be nice. The front door opens and Devlyn’s wine haired head peaks through and we make eye contact.
“Thank you, again.” I bow my head toward him and he simply waves it away like it is nothing compared to what Mother has done for him. I walk back to the front door of the shop and meet Devlyn outside.
“Find a new toy?” She says as her eyes land on the dagger now in my hand.
I toss the dagger up. Grabbing it swiftly before it has a chance to cut my palm. “It is solid, well made. Although I am out of sheaths.” I say tapping the daggers along my ribs hiding in the vest.
Devlyn smiles and unbuckles one of her thigh dagger holsters and throws it at me. “Remind me when we get back to the castle to work on some more weapons training with you.” Says the deadliest woman with knives I have ever met.
“Daggers I have no issue with. It’s those long swords that are the same size as me I struggle with.” I laugh while buckling the holster along my thigh…the one that still had a faint handprint this morning. I shove my new dagger into the sheath of the holster. I’ll just hide it with my new weapon.
Outside the shop, a few scouts on horseback are waiting on the road that leads out of Faymore. Devlyn’s black stallion and the white, black speckled mare are among them. Devlyn mounts her horse with such ease. After a few failed attempts, I shoot Devlyn a glance. I could easily mount if I could use my wind, my power. A scout starts to offer to help, but then it is Devlyn who is shooting sideways glances at him. I basically have to have a running start and jump while hoping to land a leg over the horse. Then climb up the horse like a bean pole the rest of the way. Thank Nyx this mare is patient. I would have bucked or kicked this small child like rider off five minutes ago. Maybe low patience is also my fatal flaw. Just add it to the ever-growing list.
Once finally on my horse we ride down the road back to the stone arch entrance and head west to where the road tapers off leading back to the endless forest that wraps around the Zis mountain range. It takes us roughly thirty minutes to reach the camp. Wagons are starting to be packed up again. Faint outlines on the ground next to them showing where fires once were lit. Devlyn and I meet up with Sadar and Iamys. Devlyn’s dismount is just as gracefully as she mounted. She walks over to Sadar and starts talking about something serious because her face hardens, and then both Sadar and Devlyn’s stares fall on me.
Well shit. She told him. Now I really can’t use my powers. Mother would ring them both a new one. No matter how much I would love to use my powers right about now, I am not going to put my friends at the wrath of Mother. I start looking at the distance between me and the ground below my horse. Iamys stands by a wagon about twenty feet from the two buzz kills that are Devlyn and Sadar.
Iamys spots me. He walks over to my horse and I, where we have stopped. He reaches us and grabs the reins of my horse. I swing a leg over and not so graciously slide off the back of the horse. My knees buckling as I hit the ground. Iamys leads the horse to where Devlyn’s horse is now tied to a nearby wagon.
“No wind?” Iamys glances back at me while finishing tying my mare.
“Don’t even get me started.” I say while walking in his direction.
“Does this have anything to do with the ice?”
“Was it that obvious? “I spin on my heels facing the scouts that are finishing up rounding up the rest of the camp.
“You were purple.” Iamys says standing next to me now.
I start scanning the area. Where is he? Moving past wagons, horses, scouts, guards.
“How are you feeling, Princess?” Gaelira’s bright red hair takes over my view. She has a small smile on her face before she bows.
“Oh…you don’t have to do that or call me that.” I motion my hand toward her, but I feel my eyes fall behind her. There is no way Iamys or Sadar would let him out of their sights. He has to be here.
“Lady Mihaela, it’s an honor. I owe your mother plenty. So, bowing for her only daughter, her only child, her princess and viewing her as my true queen is as easy as breathing for me.” Mother seems to be popular today. “How are you feeling?” Galilea’s eyes move to my shoulder and my neck. That is a trick question, but I know what she is referring to.
“Honestly it has been the least of my worries lately.” I honestly forgot about it. Given all that has happened since then. I unbuckle my vest and set it down on the ground with a thud, heavy with daggers. This shirt is so baggy that I can simply push the collar past my shoulder. A tattoo of a Serpopard runs down my shoulder blade. A row of teeth marks dancing along the edges of it. Nothing more than faint lines.
A Serpopard is in shorthand a leopard with the head of a snake. We came across one, on one of the few quests I was allowed to go on with Devlyn. It attacked our camp at night. It killed a few of our scouts before I convinced Devlyn to let me handle it, but my beast became uncontrollable after, killing a few more scouts. Which still haunts me to this day. I wasn’t allowed on anything too far from the castle after that…and honestly, I probably only left the castle once or twice after that.
My powers, my control, has improved greatly since then. I mean I didn’t hunt down Zanir that night I let Kiza out to fight the Samca or the Balaur. Maybe I should have. Hunting the Serpopard was also the same night I told Devlyn about Kiza and what powers we share. Also, that is when she saw my beast form for the first time. It took us awhile to get myself back, well to myself. Devlyn made a point after to make my special room in the castle and to work with me to control the beast after it is out. It was decided soon after to not let the beast out unless absolutely necessary.
“They look good. I mean they’ll scar, but I’ll live.” I smile at Gaelira, and then I feel it. The feeling of being exposed. I look past Gaelira, past a wagon, by a tree roughly thirty feet away. His eyes meeting mine, to my shoulder, and back to my eyes. Studying. Lingering. I feel a wave of coldness rush through me. Shit. Gross. No. Remain.
I quickly fix my collar, hiding the teeth marks and my death Serpopard tattoo. “Thank you again, Gaelira.” I pick up my vest and start buckling myself back up. Checking every dagger to make sure it is secure. She bows, again. Nyx I will never get use to that. She walks to a wagon and begins packing up some bottles and papers.
I quickly look to Iamys, who is already eying my hands. “I’m fine.” I shake my head. Calm.
“Are you sure?” Iamys says noting that I checked my daggers and noting the new one on my thigh. The feeling of being exposed increases. I glance back to the trees. Zanir is sitting on a tree stump now. He is resting a leg on top of it with an arm draped over his leg, calm and unbothered. I feel my eyes narrow.
I look back to Iamys, but glance around us first. Most of the scouts and guards are too busy packing up the camp to pay us much mind, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t listening. I lean closer to Iamys. The feeling of being exposed increases even more and a cold shiver runs down my arms. Fucking shit. “Iams…” Thinking for a moment. Trying to decide how to word this. “As Devlyn put it, my powers are currently…confused….so she wants me to take a break.”
Iamys looks at me and a cloud forms from his breaths. Shit. I look at my hands. Still pale and normal. I take a couple deep breaths.
“That seems to be going well.”
“It is not on purpose. It is just happening.”
“And the locks? The door?” Iamys is searching for my face, and he places his hands on my shoulders. The feeling of being exposed increases again. Without even thinking twice I turn from Iamys and start moving.
“Double locked and closed.” I say with my back to Iamys now, who doesn’t follow me. I am moving quickly.
Ch. 20
“Opal”
I tossed and turned for a few hours before the thoughts and images faded to black much like the room. I am awakened from some shuffling of feet, and something being set on the side table next to the bed. My eyes shift as light flickers behind my eyelids. I open them and see Devlyn, Mother’s second, my friend, picking up all the candles I knocked down last night.
“Sorry about that…” I say while stretching out my legs passed the edge of this child sized bed. It must be made for children if I am too big for it. I kept my knees close to me and once I fully stretched out, every joint cracks.
“Geesh…” She glances in my direction before setting down the last candlestick. “Have you been doing your daily stretches? Don’t want all my hard work to go to waste you know.”
I let out a small laugh. “I am basically middle age for a mortal, but of course, Devlyn. How could I forget?” I look at the candle stick and back to her.
She laughs, but her eyes seem to fall. “Keep your power usage to a minimum until we get to the castle.” I feel my face lower, and she says. “Not because I don’t trust you.” She reaches for her tunic that now sits on the small chair by the tub. She removes the bag that held the gold pieces she gave the inn owner last night. She pulls out a small metal device and walks back to the side table by the bed. “I just don’t want you hurt.” She runs a finger over the metal device and a flame flick at the end of it. “Your mother would have my head if she found out I knew your powers were…” She pauses looking for the right word. Out of control. A threat to myself and others. Dangerous. “Confused.” She looks at me with a smile. “So, please as a request of mine. Your friend. Keep the powers to a minimum until we get back home.” Her smile grows. “Now that I know you haven’t been doing your daily training stretches. Get dressed and then give me twenty pushups.”
I groan and slowly crawl out of the bed. “I see the real reason you don’t want me using my powers now…” But I know pushing my body helps calm my mind.
--
After about thirty minutes of Devlyn barking exercises at me we finally make it outside the Inn. The autumn breeze blowing just as much as it has for the last few days. Drying the few sweat drops that run down my temples. We meet up with the scouts stationed at the stalls where our horses were kept. I manage to convince Devlyn to let me stop by the blacksmith’s shop before we leave Faymore and then going to meet up with the others camped in the forest. I had to promise her, shifter promise, scouts promise, and finally pinkie promise her that I wouldn’t use my powers while gone. Only if I truly need her, she would keep her mind open. Even though I practiced that a lot, like a ton, I haven’t had much success from distances more than a few feet let only on anything other than creatures...not my friends. But it is nice to know she trusts me enough to not ran sack her skull for all her hidden secrets. Given how my powers have been lately, the thought of mind communication or reading makes me queasy.
Mornings in Faymore are quieter than at dusk, but there is still some activity. I walk down the road from the stable as Devlyn starts talking to some of the scouts. I see a few other scouts down the road by the blacksmith’s corner. Which is why I knew Devlyn wouldn’t care if I went down here. Someone to watch me. I continue down the road. The market stalls closed and boarded up for the morning. There is an older woman who is sweeping by what I remember was the stand with the spices from yesterday. Our eyes meet and I give her a smile. She quickly looks me over and then retreats behind the stall. My scent, even when I’m not using my powers, is strong. I pull at the edges of my sleeves to cover the tattoos on my wrist and pick up my pace to the blacksmith’s.
Once I reach the door the smell of fire and ash fill my nose. I look back toward Devlyn, she is mounting her black stallion.
I reach for the door and pull it open. I’m nearly knocked over by the smoke that hits my eyes. Warm air soon after takes its place. It feels so nice. The cold still lingers, but it is better than last night. I recover and step inside. The front of the shop is displayed with swords, shields, armor and more. In the back corner of the shop there is another door that is wide open. I can hear the pounding of a hammer on metal.
I walk around the shop passing by a table of short and long swords. I run my fingers down a blade and halting at the hilt. There is an image of a snake swirling back up the blade. I continue to mosey around the shop. I stop at a table with a heavy metal helmets and nearly break my neck trying one on.
I make it to the back of the shop close to the back open door. That leads to the workshop where all this stuff is made, crafted, forged. There is a small table by the back door with a few daggers. Some looking like the ones in my vest close to my ribs. My eyes flow between the different shapes of the blades. I stop once I reach one that is shorter than my normal daggers. The hilt is smooth but has bumps that curve where your fingers would lace with it. Making for a better grip. Along the hilt itself, there is a hand painted and carved scene of the forest and the moonlight displaying shadows along the tree line, and the edges of the paint a different array of purples. The blade itself is not made from metal like all the other ones. No, it is made from pure opal crystal. I pick up the dagger, tossing it in my hands, gripping the ridges and pushing it out in front of me. A jab. I nearly jump when a large man comes out from the back workshop.
“I see you know how to handle a dagger.” He says with a slight chuckle while wiping soot from his face with a rag from the counter along the back wall.
He is a large stocky man, built like an ox. He is bald with a long soot-filled beard. I wonder if that is because he is by fire and heat on the daily. He has deep dark brown eyes that are hard to see with the soot that covers him completely.
“I’ve been trained by some highly skilled people.” I offer a small smile and set the dagger gently back down on the table.
The man gives his face a once over with the rag and then gives me a hard look. I freeze for a moment unsure about what to do and decide to start walking back toward the entrance. I can’t use my powers. Just stay calm. Remain.
“Are you Zeva’s daughter?”
I stop and turn back to him. “Who’s asking?”
He keeps looking at me, I see his eyes fall to my hair. I decided to go with another braid that wraps around keeping it up mostly, out of the way. His gaze moves back to my eyes, and he smiles. “Cybses.”
He walks toward the table with the daggers. I didn’t realize it at first mostly because he is covered in soot, but his skin is a dark shade of blue and his ears come to a point. I should have noticed that first thing. I really need to get back to the castle and have a full nights rest in a normal mortal sized, not child’s, bed. He grabs the dagger with the painted carved scene and starts walking to me. “Your mother has done so much for me and my family.” I hear the faint sound of children coming from the open door that leads to the workshop. “Take it.” He holds the dagger out to me, the hilt facing me. The painted moon is glossy against the light shining from the store’s big window.
“Are you sure?” I ask and he nods. I take the dagger and toss it between my hands again. The weight is balanced. Light enough to be thrown a good distance, but heavy enough to be hard to knock out of your hand. Surprising for the pink crystal that fills the hilt.
“Can I ask you a question?” Curiosity is my fatal flaw after all. Other than these raging raw powers within me.
His eyes move to me for a moment, interest peaked. “Sure.” He walks back to the back counter and grabs his rag again.
“Is it hard living in Faymore?” Even though I didn’t notice at first, I do now. He is part of the fae. I’m not sure of the logistics of high or low fae, but he is fae. Given the dark blue of his skin, meaning part dark fae, his pointed ears, and his smell, his power that now fills my nose. Masked by the ash and fire. The older woman by the spice stall basically ran from just my powers smell alone and I look human, or at least part.
He wipes his face again and gives me a look that almost looks like pity, but then he smiles. “I am a metal wielder. I don’t mean with just a hammer. Plus, I’m the best blacksmith in this region. My skills are favored by many.”
I smile at him, and I feel a pang in my stomach. Jealousy. Having powers that don’t cause destruction or fear. That must be nice. The front door opens and Devlyn’s wine haired head peaks through and we make eye contact.
“Thank you, again.” I bow my head toward him and he simply waves it away like it is nothing compared to what Mother has done for him. I walk back to the front door of the shop and meet Devlyn outside.
“Find a new toy?” She says as her eyes land on the dagger now in my hand.
I toss the dagger up. Grabbing it swiftly before it has a chance to cut my palm. “It is solid, well made. Although I am out of sheaths.” I say tapping the daggers along my ribs hiding in the vest.
Devlyn smiles and unbuckles one of her thigh dagger holsters and throws it at me. “Remind me when we get back to the castle to work on some more weapons training with you.” Says the deadliest woman with knives I have ever met.
“Daggers I have no issue with. It’s those long swords that are the same size as me I struggle with.” I laugh while buckling the holster along my thigh…the one that still had a faint handprint this morning. I shove my new dagger into the sheath of the holster. I’ll just hide it with my new weapon.
Outside the shop, a few scouts on horseback are waiting on the road that leads out of Faymore. Devlyn’s black stallion and the white, black speckled mare are among them. Devlyn mounts her horse with such ease. After a few failed attempts, I shoot Devlyn a glance. I could easily mount if I could use my wind, my power. A scout starts to offer to help, but then it is Devlyn who is shooting sideways glances at him. I basically have to have a running start and jump while hoping to land a leg over the horse. Then climb up the horse like a bean pole the rest of the way. Thank Nyx this mare is patient. I would have bucked or kicked this small child like rider off five minutes ago. Maybe low patience is also my fatal flaw. Just add it to the ever-growing list.
Once finally on my horse we ride down the road back to the stone arch entrance and head west to where the road tapers off leading back to the endless forest that wraps around the Zis mountain range. It takes us roughly thirty minutes to reach the camp. Wagons are starting to be packed up again. Faint outlines on the ground next to them showing where fires once were lit. Devlyn and I meet up with Sadar and Iamys. Devlyn’s dismount is just as gracefully as she mounted. She walks over to Sadar and starts talking about something serious because her face hardens, and then both Sadar and Devlyn’s stares fall on me.
Well shit. She told him. Now I really can’t use my powers. Mother would ring them both a new one. No matter how much I would love to use my powers right about now, I am not going to put my friends at the wrath of Mother. I start looking at the distance between me and the ground below my horse. Iamys stands by a wagon about twenty feet from the two buzz kills that are Devlyn and Sadar.
Iamys spots me. He walks over to my horse and I, where we have stopped. He reaches us and grabs the reins of my horse. I swing a leg over and not so graciously slide off the back of the horse. My knees buckling as I hit the ground. Iamys leads the horse to where Devlyn’s horse is now tied to a nearby wagon.
“No wind?” Iamys glances back at me while finishing tying my mare.
“Don’t even get me started.” I say while walking in his direction.
“Does this have anything to do with the ice?”
“Was it that obvious? “I spin on my heels facing the scouts that are finishing up rounding up the rest of the camp.
“You were purple.” Iamys says standing next to me now.
I start scanning the area. Where is he? Moving past wagons, horses, scouts, guards.
“How are you feeling, Princess?” Gaelira’s bright red hair takes over my view. She has a small smile on her face before she bows.
“Oh…you don’t have to do that or call me that.” I motion my hand toward her, but I feel my eyes fall behind her. There is no way Iamys or Sadar would let him out of their sights. He has to be here.
“Lady Mihaela, it’s an honor. I owe your mother plenty. So, bowing for her only daughter, her only child, her princess and viewing her as my true queen is as easy as breathing for me.” Mother seems to be popular today. “How are you feeling?” Galilea’s eyes move to my shoulder and my neck. That is a trick question, but I know what she is referring to.
“Honestly it has been the least of my worries lately.” I honestly forgot about it. Given all that has happened since then. I unbuckle my vest and set it down on the ground with a thud, heavy with daggers. This shirt is so baggy that I can simply push the collar past my shoulder. A tattoo of a Serpopard runs down my shoulder blade. A row of teeth marks dancing along the edges of it. Nothing more than faint lines.
A Serpopard is in shorthand a leopard with the head of a snake. We came across one, on one of the few quests I was allowed to go on with Devlyn. It attacked our camp at night. It killed a few of our scouts before I convinced Devlyn to let me handle it, but my beast became uncontrollable after, killing a few more scouts. Which still haunts me to this day. I wasn’t allowed on anything too far from the castle after that…and honestly, I probably only left the castle once or twice after that.
My powers, my control, has improved greatly since then. I mean I didn’t hunt down Zanir that night I let Kiza out to fight the Samca or the Balaur. Maybe I should have. Hunting the Serpopard was also the same night I told Devlyn about Kiza and what powers we share. Also, that is when she saw my beast form for the first time. It took us awhile to get myself back, well to myself. Devlyn made a point after to make my special room in the castle and to work with me to control the beast after it is out. It was decided soon after to not let the beast out unless absolutely necessary.
“They look good. I mean they’ll scar, but I’ll live.” I smile at Gaelira, and then I feel it. The feeling of being exposed. I look past Gaelira, past a wagon, by a tree roughly thirty feet away. His eyes meeting mine, to my shoulder, and back to my eyes. Studying. Lingering. I feel a wave of coldness rush through me. Shit. Gross. No. Remain.
I quickly fix my collar, hiding the teeth marks and my death Serpopard tattoo. “Thank you again, Gaelira.” I pick up my vest and start buckling myself back up. Checking every dagger to make sure it is secure. She bows, again. Nyx I will never get use to that. She walks to a wagon and begins packing up some bottles and papers.
I quickly look to Iamys, who is already eying my hands. “I’m fine.” I shake my head. Calm.
“Are you sure?” Iamys says noting that I checked my daggers and noting the new one on my thigh. The feeling of being exposed increases. I glance back to the trees. Zanir is sitting on a tree stump now. He is resting a leg on top of it with an arm draped over his leg, calm and unbothered. I feel my eyes narrow.
I look back to Iamys, but glance around us first. Most of the scouts and guards are too busy packing up the camp to pay us much mind, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t listening. I lean closer to Iamys. The feeling of being exposed increases even more and a cold shiver runs down my arms. Fucking shit. “Iams…” Thinking for a moment. Trying to decide how to word this. “As Devlyn put it, my powers are currently…confused….so she wants me to take a break.”
Iamys looks at me and a cloud forms from his breaths. Shit. I look at my hands. Still pale and normal. I take a couple deep breaths.
“That seems to be going well.”
“It is not on purpose. It is just happening.”
“And the locks? The door?” Iamys is searching for my face, and he places his hands on my shoulders. The feeling of being exposed increases again. Without even thinking twice I turn from Iamys and start moving.
“Double locked and closed.” I say with my back to Iamys now, who doesn’t follow me. I am moving quickly.
