The Mage of Orlon: The beginning (22 page)

The Sevols
’
messenger broke through the forest to look upon Dark Hold, the Dark Queen
’
s castle.
The castle was built from black granite, twin spires reached to the heavens with dark defiance.
Dark Hold had only one way in, a draw bridge over the mote.
Carg
’
s fur pricked at the site of the foreboding shadows surrounding the castle.
Orcs could be hiding anywhere in those shadows, Still his queen had ordered him to let the Dark Queen know the Sevol had the mage.

Carg mustered up his courage to approach the castle when he was tackled!
Carg and his would be captor rolled in the forest line.
Carg kicked free, and roared with his claws extended!
The other Sevol had done the same.

“
Narg?
Why did you stop me from following our queen
’
s orders?
”
Carg asked,
“
If you had told the Dark Queen we had the Mage she would have hunted us down mercilessly when she discovered the mage had escaped!
”
Narg said.

“
When did he escape?
”

“
During the night watch, the Queen ordered our people to pack up what we needed and move to a new place.
I was sent to get you.
”

The two Sevol quietly crept back into the forest where they began their long journey to the new Sevol village.

The Sun broke over Cravenwood.
Lela emerged from the tent, and inhaled the morning air.
She coughed because she had inhaled smoke.
Smoke!

“
Nathan get up!
”

“
What is it Lela?
”
Nathan answered groggily.

“
Something is on fire!
”

Nathan sprung up, where they under attack?
Where was the fire?
Exiting the tent Nathan caught a whiff of the smoke, quickly scanning around he saw no flames.

“
Where is the fire Lela?
”

“
I don
’
t know, but we need to find it so we don
’
t get trapped in here by it.
”

The two began searching the forest skyline when Nathan saw the thick billow of smoke rise into the sky like a giant snake ready to strike.

“
Over there Lela, hey isn
’
t that where
…
?
”

“
Santrose is!
”
Lela finished for him.

They ran through the forest with abandon, Ileana had taken quite a blow to her ego last night, and now it looked like she was under attack.
They cleared the last set of trees to find

Santrose entirely engulfed in flames.
Nathan ran forward only to have Lela grab his arm and spin him around.
The look on his face was one of guilt.

“
If she is in there Nathan you can
’
t help her!
”

Nathan struggled in Lela
’
s iron grasp.

“
Stop it Nathan!
You can
’
t save everyone!
You are only one person!
”

“
She is our friend Lela!
”

“
No Nathan, she was wanting you as a husband.
”
Lela stated quietly.

The statement sunk in.
He had told her he chose Lela, but Ileana didn
’
t even know why!
A great roar escaped into the air that dulled into a moan, a few seconds later Nathan realized the sound had come from him.
Nathan fell into Lela and began to cry.
Of all the stupid things he had done in his life none would ever compare to this!
She had died alone in a fire she had no knowledge of!
Another wave of guilt crashed over the sobbing form held by the elven princess.
He had done this!
If he would have chosen Ileana she would still be alive!
They could have fought off the attackers.
They would have had a great life together.
The small voices in his head replayed the moment he broke Ileana
’
s heart, and showed him a picture of her screaming his name with her last breath!
It was too much to bear.
Nathan collapsed to the ground he couldn
’
t move!
The sorrow was too powerful!

“
I could have saved her if I had chosen her.
”
He sobbed.

“
No Nathan you could not.
In this world you have to learn that people you care about sometimes have bad things happen to them.
It wasn
’
t fair that Zorn died so young, but he did doing what he thought was right.
It was that quality in him that first drew me to him.
I cried for days after he died.
I refused to eat or drink.
I thought I could have saved him if only I had been stronger, faster, or more powerful.
After that I became a scout for my people, it required me to learn to be alone, self-reliant, and stronger.
Nathan, I know you were torn when you had to choose, but I am glad you chose to be with me.
”

Nathan looked at Lela, was she using his feelings to manipulate him, or did she really mean what she said?
It was so confusing, but he had decided to go with Lela and even now he felt he had made the right decision.
He would morn Ileana
’
s death for the rest of his days, but he would find his way back home, but before he left he would find out who had killed Ileana and make them pay!

Lela and Nathan found their way back to the campsite.
They quietly packed up everything and left.
Now they walked extra carefully, because whoever burned down Santrose might still be in the area.
The once prosperous village of Santrose was still burning as they passed, the cursed woods kept the fire from spreading into Cravenwood.
The smoke was soon to Nathan and Lela
’
s backs as they trudged on through the cursed forest.

Nathan
’
s heart was still weighed down with sadness.
Lela trudged along listening intently for the sound of pursuers, or the hurried sounds of ambushers ready to spring the newest trap.
In all her years Lela never thought she would see Santrose burn to the ground.
Who would have done such a thing?
It could have been the splintered, or the Dark Queen
’
s men, it could have been Ileana herself distraught with grief that she had lost the heart of Nathan to someone who didn
’
t even love him.

The last thought bothered Lela.
Did she love him?
She had felt her stomach clench in the moment before, when it looked like he would choose Ileana.
The thought of falling for him gave her a strange feeling, it wasn
’
t fear, but she couldn
’
t quite put her finger on what it was.
Another thing that troubled her was all the things that the splintered had revealed about the elves.
Could it be true that they had caused so much misery in such a short time trying to combat what the Dark Empire might do someday?

Could the elves be responsible for the creation of the Sevol and the splintered?
Had the elves been manipulating the mages to defeat the Dark Queen?
It seemed to unlikely, and yet a nagging feeling in her whispered,
“
But what if it is true?
”

Nightfall found Lela and Nathan unaware of how late it had become.
The rain reminded the two of how ill prepared the day had made them.
The tent was put up in record time.
The rain hammered the enchanted tent as the storm vented its fury on the makeshift shelter.
Lightning illuminated the skyline as the wind howled through the trees. In the distance, thunder rang out its battle cry declaring a watery war on all those who dare travel during the storm
’
s rein!

Lela and Nathan sat across from each other looking into each other
’
s eyes.
Lela
’
s palms became wet with perspiration as she felt Nathan
’
s eyes peering into her soul.
He had said nothing ever since they had entered the tent, and now it seemed as if he were judging her in some unknown way.
Lela refused to wipe the sweat from her hands in a vain attempt to look innocent in the mage
’
s eyes.

Nathan had actually stopped seeing Lela
’
s face as his thoughts deepened.
Too much had happened within the past two days it all seemed to be getting jumbled together.
First there was the run in with the Sevol, who tried to sell him off to the Dark Queen to save their own hides. Then, the splintered revealed more of the elves
’
dirty secrets. Not to mention Lela trying to kill Ileana. Ileana dying in the fire that swept through Santrose. Ileana had wanted him for her lover, it was all so confusing!
Now he sat staring at Lela trying to decide if he had made the right choice leaving with her instead of Ileana.
There was just so much, and don
’
t forget the Dark Queen!
What he wouldn
’
t give for the normal life he once had!

The storm howled and raged outside as the temperature inside the tent began to rise.
It was becoming stifling hot inside. Nathan turned around and opened the flap of the tent, and stuck his head out in the rain. Cool air filled his lungs clearing his thoughts.
Lela sat staring at the strange mage who now had his head stuck outside getting wet! Humans are such strange beings!

Lela slowly got to her hands and knees and crawled closer to Nathan.
Nathan pulled his head back in and nearly fell over Lela.

“
Why did you do that?
”
Lela asked.

“
Do what?
”

“
Why did you stick your head outside the tent?
”

“
I was getting too hot. I needed to get some fresh air.
”

Lela
’
s brow furrowed, he needed fresh air?
Maybe she did too!
Without a word Lela pushed her head through the tent flap.
Rain soaked her hair as the storm poured water from the sky.
The air was cooler outside and was refreshing!
Lela pulled her head back inside the tent.
Her hair was plastered to her head.
Nathan began staring at the elven princess again, only now there was a different look in his eyes.
Lela felt her stomach knot up again, what was this?

Nathan saw the golden hair frame Lela
’
s face, the blue eyes Lela had had seemed to turn three shades bluer since getting wet, why had he not noticed this earlier?
Nathan traced the golden strands to her pointed ears; they were dainty with slight points at the top.
For a brief moment his hands had a will of their own.

Lela sat paralyzed by the mage
’
s gaze, and then she saw it, a slight thought of something.
Whatever the thought it brought a very quick smile to Nathan
’
s lips, this worried Lela even more.

Nathan crawled over to the wide eyed elf, and drew himself into a sitting position directly in front of her.
Before he realized what he was doing he kissed Lela, his hands moved on their own.
Lela began long throaty moans while they kissed as Nathan began rubbing her ears!

The knot in Lela
’
s stomach sank lower, and the rubbing was driving her mad with excitement!
She felt his tongue flick her lips. She opened her mouth and returned the tongue flick.
Nathan
’
s mouth opened and drew her tongue in.
Her ears were so sensitive and the kiss was starting to break through all the barriers she had put up so long ago.
Their kiss finally broke and both stared at each other confused and trying to decide what to do next!
Nathan began to say something when Lela tackled him!

She wanted to kiss him again!
She wanted his hands to caress her again!
Her mouth found his, she pushed her tongue into his mouth again trying to get back to the place they had just been!
His hands ran down her back touching her slowly, working down to her butt.
Lela was getting excited by all the touching and suddenly needed more!
It all became too much for her to keep her head!
She needed to feel him all over her, and she needed it now!

The kiss broke again; they both started gasping for air.

“
We can
’
t do this Nathan.
”
Lela said the flush in her cheeks returning to normal.

“
Why
…
why not?
”
Nathan stammered.

“
It is wrong; you want to leave my world to a place I cannot follow.
It would be ridiculous for me to fall in love with you no matter how good you make me feel.
”
Lela said with tears threatening.

The rest of the night was spent listening to the rain pommel the tent roof.
The feelings that the two felt for each other hung in the air, but neither dared to start the dance again.
Morning found both of them cranky and tired.

“
We need to get to the castle today.
You will find your way home and I will find a way to be at peace with it.
”
Lela stated flatly.

The castle felt like home, though the princess had never called it that.
Her misguided attempt to save Santrose had caused her to cut off all the ties she could to her royal heritage.
The floors shined in the sunlight as they always did, but for Lela something felt a miss.
She no longer was entranced by the small wonders of nature; she seemed preoccupied and unable to enjoy anything.
She sent word to Ezra that she needed to desperately talk to her, and was waiting in her room for her friend to finish her studies.
The knock came quietly, and Lela recognized Ezra
’
s small fist as it landed on her door.