Chapter 16

 

“You look lovely,” Alric said, and then bent down to kiss her bare shoulder. She watched her reflection as she brushed her hair down and tied the front back into a long braid.

“You said just tonight.”

“Yes, I just ask that you dress up tonight. It’s very important that we smooth things over with the elves, and they are vain and put high regards into beauty.”

She frowned, and that small gesture made him laugh.

“Meet me down there when you’re done, ok?” Alric asked. “They’re here and I need to greet them.”

“Sure, will be down in a second,” she told him, and then stood up and smoothed down the long black dress. When the tailors came to make her a formal dress for the dinner, she had agreed to embellishments as long as the dress was black and the embellishments were silver, and not gold. Of course, she also specified a high collar, but this dress had a plunging neckline that she couldn’t seem to tug up any higher. After slipping on the sling for her arm, she looked in the mirror and grimaced.

Contrary to what she’d promised Alric, she then hiked her dress up and tied her flail to her thigh. The tailors were thrilled when she asked for a full skirt with many layers, but only because they didn’t realize that she was using it to stash weapons. If Creteloc had ingrained anything into Kyrin’s subconscious, it was the need to always have a weapon.

Once she was sure nothing else could be done to lessen the femininity of what she was wearing, she sighed and walked out of her room. The Lady’s quarters were on the 5th floor of a seven floor castle, and shared the floor with a bunch of empty rooms. She’d never bothered to ask what they were for, but she did like the privacy.

The ante-chamber with the soft couches and fire place was where men were to visit, or so she was told by Alric. It wasn’t proper for any man to walk past the ante-chamber, and she wasn’t quite sure why. Any time he visited her, he dutifully stayed in that room though, as did any Knights or even Trox.

The floor was empty, as usual, when she stepped out. She carried her dress, so she didn’t step on it but would have to drop it as soon as she got to the stairs. The tailors had dropped off a delicate pair of black shoes that she was sure would fall apart if she had to run through a forest, so she’d replaced them with her boots of speed. She just had to keep them covered during dinner.

Just as she started out of the main hallway and toward the stairs, a slight movement in the shadows two floors down caught her attention. She immediately backed up to the wall and then crouched low and peered around the corner to watch. Her hand hung inches above her flail as her eyes narrowed, and she studied the corner.

She saw another movement. Someone was hiding in the shadows of the castle. None of the Knights could hide like that. It took one skilled in stealth to do. Kyrin studied them for a moment, trying to decide if she should go attack them with her flail, or just cast at them from where she stood.

Trox and Alric started down the stairs from the top floor. They had a quick discussion about what to tell the elves, and had fallen silent as they walked toward the ballroom. They both stopped when they saw Kyrin hunkered low against a wall and watching something below her.

Alric chuckled to himself at the un-ladylike way she squatted and how she didn’t care that her hair was piled below her on the floor.

Trox’s eyebrows rose as he watched her, and he couldn’t help but smile. Both Alric and Trox saw her flail though. The way she was positioned, her skirts were tight against her right leg and the visible outline of the flail was discernible.

After a few seconds, when she didn’t notice them, Alric cleared his throat. Kyrin jumped to her feet and spun to face them. She couldn’t help but look startled, and she chastised herself for not knowing she was being watched.

“Is there a problem?” Alric asked.

She nodded and motioned him forward with the bend of a finger. He moved closer to her and bent down so she could whisper into his ear, “There’s a rogue hiding in the shadows on the 3rd floor.”

When he started to look around the corner to see for himself, she pulled him back by the collar of his dress tunic, and Trox had to stifle a laugh.

“Don’t look!” she whispered.

“I don’t thi…” Kyrin stopped his words with a hand to his mouth.

“Shhh”

When she reached to grab her flail, he took her wrist, “It’s not a rogue.”

“Would you keep your voice down?” she whispered harshly.

He grinned, “No, I won’t. The elves have protection around the castle for their King. Each floor has a guard posted, and the elves are trying not to be too visible.”

“I don’t like it.”

“Flail,” he said, and she looked over and saw he was holding his hand out.

“But…”

“No weapons. This is a peaceful dinner.”

“But…”

“Flail,” he said again. Trox watched them and was surprised how calm Alric was staying with her. He’d ordered no weapons in the ballroom, and his orders were always followed.

“Alric”

“Kyrin, no. Hand it over.”

She hesitated and then hiked her skirt up to remove the flail. Trox spun when her bare leg came into view and Alric just shook his head and held his hand out.

Kyrin handed the flail over. She wasn’t happy about being without a melee weapon, but she knew she always had magic to fight with if they decided to attack.

Alric disappeared into her room and came back out without the weapon. He walked up to where she was standing, took her wrists in his hands to keep her hands apart, and then kissed her softly.

She was frowning at him when he pulled away from her, “Stop holding my hands.”

“Not until I feel like you aren’t going to turn me into a basilisk.”

She huffed slightly, so he took her hand, and they started down the stairs, followed by Trox. The ballroom was full of Valharan dignitaries and a handful of elves. The elves were all wearing gold and platinum shimmery clothing that was almost surreal. Their beauty was beyond anything else in the room, something common for the royal elves in any dimension. Most were taller and thinner than the bulky Valharan Knights.

The elven king, Auldian, saw them coming and stood up from his chair by the table and smiled at Kyrin. Her skin crawled. She didn’t like, nor did she trust, the royal elves, and she wished they had an alliance with the shadow elves instead.

“It’s so nice of you to join us,” Auldian said with a slight bow. He took her hand and kissed it gently, and she couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose slightly.

Alric saw the conflict and interrupted, “Shall we have a seat?”

Kyrin had never seen this much food. The long tables were heavily laden with every kind of meat available in the Kingdom, along with thick gravies, stew, breads and muffins, baked apples, and too many vegetables to count. Each guest had a tall glass of clear water and wine.

She’d decided not to eat anything she couldn’t eat properly with her hands, so she grabbed a roll and sat back to endure the endless talk of the Minotaur attack, though she noticed no one mentioned her magic to get rid of them.

When the dinner was over, Kyrin started to stand, but Alric stopped her, “It’s time for dessert.”

She cringed, wondering what that meant. She didn’t know if she could handle another long meeting or any type of entertainment. Servants began to stream into the room carrying large trays of what looked to her to be brown towers. Each table had at least five of them, and then dainty plates were passed around.

Not sure what to do, Kyrin watched the others as they cut a piece and put it on their plate. Once everyone was served, although Alric had to serve Kyrin because she wasn’t about to try the brown lump, they all settled down to eat.

“Not going to try it?” Alric asked when he saw her not eating the cake.

“What is it?” she asked, poking her finger into the thick frosting.

“Cake, try it.”

“No thank you.”

“Cake is sweet. We eat it after dinner.”

“Why? Aren’t you full?”

“We’re never too full for cake,” Trox told her before taking a large bite.

She looked down at it. She was still hungry, having just had a roll, but the brown mass didn’t look appealing at all.

Alric laughed, “Just take a bite.”

Another reason not to eat cake, it required the use of a fork. She was getting better at it but was afraid she’d spill it down her front, and everyone seemed to be watching her at the moment.

“I really don’t want to.”

“Afraid?”

Kyrin looked up at him with a scrutinizing gaze, “No.”

“Then try it.” Alric was having fun with this. He thought if she would try it, she would like it. The castle Baker was famous for his chocolate cake.

She hesitantly picked up the fork and put the tiniest crumb of cake onto it, then looked up at Alric before bringing it to her lips. The texture alone made her want to gag. It was like heavy bread, but the sweetness made her teeth hurt, and she put her fork down immediately.

“You don’t like it?” Alric asked, shocked.

“No, I don’t.”

He laughed and called out for a servant. He whispered to the servant, who then ran out of the room. She wondered where he went, but he returned a few minutes later with a large apple in his hand. She smiled and took it, much happier with it than with the disgusting sweetness of cake.

As she ate, she watched the interactions of the elves and the humans. Both kept complimenting the chef on the cake, but just the thought of its sweetness made her sick. Once everyone was done eating, Alric put out his hand, and she took it and followed him into a large room with one round table in the middle.

Alric and Kyrin sat down, followed by six high-ranking Valharan officials, and then the elves.

Once seated, Auldian addressed Kyrin, “After the disturbances, I asked Sithias what happened, and he directed me to you.”

Alric nodded, “You could say it was my fault…”

“Or my fault,” Kyrin added.

“How is it your fault?” Auldian asked her.

“The gods were fighting because I’m here.”

He smiled, “Why would they care?”

“That’s not important,” Alric said just as Kyrin started to let the elves know why. He knew she wasn’t embarrassed about being an evil and didn’t much hide it, but he also knew that the elves wouldn’t be happy if Valhara had allowed an evil to live with them.

“I think it is,” Auldian said. “Our Kingdom took damage too.”

“I understand that. All we can really say is that it was another god fight.”

Auldian sighed, “Did Erianah attack?”

“Yes, and Sithias wasn’t going to allow it.”

“And they fought over the girl?”

“Yes”

“Again, why?”

Alric studied him and then spoke, “She’s a magic user.”

Auldian leaned his head back and laughed.

Kyrin frowned, “What?”

“There is no magic anymore. You’re just too young to remember it.”

“Yes there is.”

“Prove it,” he said, on the verge of grinning.

“Let’s not,” Alric told him. “I’ve seen mostly offensive spells from her, and I don’t wish for tonight to turn into a battle.”

“You cannot simply… I don’t know, disappear or make the table levitate?” Auldian asked her.

“Why would I want to do that?”

“To prove it to us.”

“No”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t want to.”

“Or because it wouldn’t work and prove that Alric is lying.”

“I’m not lying,” Alric said angrily. “I am insulted that you think I would lie.”

“Magic, from this young one? The entire idea is preposterous. Now tell us the truth about why the gods fought over her.”

Alric turned to Kyrin, “Can you just do something little? Like maybe blow up a vase?”

“I don’t have to prove myself to anyone.”

“For me?”

“No”

He grinned, “Come on, please.”

Kyrin stood up, “I’m done here.”

“Sit, please,” Trox said. “A demonstration would help out immensely.”

“What stake do I have in this? I mean, what do I care if the elves and humans are friends?”

“It keeps us at peace,” Alric explained.

She shrugged, “Let them break off the peace and when they attack, they’ll get their fair share of magic.”

Auldian’s smile faded and he began to tense, “You’re ok with a war?”

“Yes”

“No, she’s not,” Alric said. “She’s just kidding.”

“She seemed serious. I haven’t seen anyone ready for the end of an alliance since the black elves.”

Kyrin smiled and sat back in her chair, happy that she’d made the elves nervous.

“The problem is that she doesn’t use magic for no reason. I’ve seen it. In fact, most of my Kingdom has seen it. That’s how we got rid of the Minotaurs.”

Auldian leaned forward, “She destroyed them?”

“Yes”

“How?”

They all looked at her, and she simply looked away.

“Tell them, please,” Alric said to her.

“Ok, here’s the deal, but I don’t know why I’m telling you this. I didn’t learn spells. I didn’t have a mentor. I can just do it. When I need something, words pop into my head, and I use them. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t, and sometimes they aren’t what I wanted. I am getting better at defending myself, but if I’m not being attacked, spells rarely work.”

“You have to have heard them, the words and incantations.”

“Well I didn’t. I have only about eight spells that I use regularly and those I do remember the words to. However, once in a while when I’m trapped or in a new situation, new ones appear in my mind, and I use them.”

“But sometimes they don’t work?”

“No, sometimes they don’t.”

“Such as when?”

Kyrin was starting to get irritated at the question, “Such as once in a while.”

“We still don’t believe you, and unless you have a demonstration, then we’ll have to confront Sithias about the lies and break off the alliance.”

“I have no reason at all to demonstrate anything to you.”

Alric thought it through, along with some of the things Sithias had told him about evils that were loyal, “If the alliance breaks, Valhara will be in the middle of a war.”

“Right”

“Meaning I’ll be out on endless battles and skirmishes, and you will be here, constantly under attack from the elves.”

Her eyes narrowed, “Keep going…”

“Things change during a war. There’s not a lot of down-time or peace and quiet. I could spend years away from the Kingdom fighting in remote lands.”

Kyrin turned and looked at him, “Magic is selective. If there’s no real need, then sometimes it doesn’t work.”

“You may just need more practice.”

She looked up at the ceiling and sighed, “What do you want me to do?”

“Just do magic, doesn’t matter what.”

“I don’t want to blow anything up in the castle.”

“Then we’ll go outside,” Alric said, standing up. She was openly not happy about what she was doing, but saw the need to protect herself from an unwarranted war with the royal elves.

Everyone walked out of the castle and to the front lawn. She looked around, “I still don’t see anything to blow up.”

Auldian was clearly not believing any of it, “Just blow up one of my consorts.”

“Ok”

“Wait!” Alric interrupted. “No, do something else.”

She nodded and looked around the lawn. A small bunny appeared out of the apple orchard and began to lick his paws on the fluffy grass.

Alric followed her gaze, “You wouldn’t…”

Without warning, Kyrin’s hands grew red, and she threw a flaming ball at it, hitting is squarely. It immediately burned down to the bone and the grass around it turned black.

The elves were speechless. Magic was dead, yet they were seeing it first-hand. A murmur ran through them, and Kyrin looked at Alric, “What?”

“That was a harmless bunny.”

“Which serves no purpose. It’ll never be missed.”

He was glad the elves were talking among themselves and didn’t hear what she said. Her evil ways were going to be harder to hide than he thought if she kept spouting off with things like that.

“Qualsax cannot know,” Auldian said at long last.

“They don’t,” Alric assured him.

“If they find out that Sithias has a magic user, they will stage a war.”

“Against both of your kingdoms at once?” Kyrin asked.

Trox turned to her, “Qualsax doesn’t have the rules our kingdoms have.”

“So you’re saying that Qualsax is much bigger because they don’t have to adhere to rules?” For some reason, she thought that was funny.

“Yes, they are much bigger than both of our kingdoms combined,” Auldian told her. “The only reason they don’t attack us is that they are also lazy. If Erianah finds out you are a magic user though, that would all change.”

“How would she find out?”

Auldian turned to Alric, “Sithias knows?”

“Of course.”

“Has he considered that she might be an evil?”

“Yes, that was what we first thought also.”

“Well I’m not convinced she’s not.”

Kyrin wandered over to the burnt grass to avoid getting in on the argument she saw coming. She didn’t care if they knew she was what this dimension called an evil.

She looked back long enough to see that Alric and Auldian were still bickering, so she disappeared into the apple orchard. When she got to the tallest tree, she hiked her skirt up and climbed up into its branches. Once high above the ground, she leaned back with an apple and listened to the others.

“If we deem her an evil, she will have to be destroyed,” Auldian snapped.

“She’s not an evil and to destroy her, you have to come through my army,” Alric replied evenly.

“I’m not afraid of your army.”

“I still think this is senseless! We have the Qualsax after us, and we’re fighting. We have to stand united against them, or they will eventually take over.”

“You’re right,” Auldian said, a lot calmer than before. “We’ll expect your magic user to protect us if the call comes though.”

“I don’t control her.”

“You should. She’s in your Kingdom.”

Kyrin grinned, knowing neither of them could control her.

“Well I don’t. She’s free to come and go as she pleases, and as you’ve seen, she doesn’t bow to my command,” Alric told him.

“Then you need to get a grip on her.”

“She’s a special case, and I’m sure Sithias will agree. She’s not part of my Kingdom and isn’t under his influence even.”

“No, she’s not in your Kingdom, but she’s obviously your lover.”

“I wouldn’t say that exactly,” Alric said, and she could tell by his voice that he was smiling.

“Control her.”

“She’s not mine to control.”

“I’ll be talking to Sithias about this,” Auldian threatened.

“Go ahead.”

“Four of my assistants will be arriving to work out details of our peace treaty within the week.”

“Very well, they are welcome here.”

Kyrin looked over from her perch up high, and saw the elves heading out toward Valhara. She leaned back with another apple and watched until they disappeared.

“Kyrin?” Alric called from in the orchard.

When he passed below the tree she was in, she dropped down behind him, “Yes?”

He turned quickly and shook his head, “You were up in a tree?”

“Yes”

“In a dress.”

“Sure”

He grinned at her, “You wouldn’t know proper etiquette if it slapped you in the face, would you?”

“See, that’s your mistake,” she said, slowly circling him. “I know proper etiquette if I really try to think about it. The question then becomes, if I wish to follow it or not.”

“Interesting”

“Ever considered taking off the official tunic and climbing a tree once in a while?”

“I do, maybe not literally.”

“I haven’t seen you.”

“I don’t do it often, especially in front of the people of Valhara.”

“Why not? You’re the King. If you want to walk around naked, then they shouldn’t have a say in it.”

He laughed at that, “I try not to.”

“Well at least you can. You should relax a little.”

“It is good to be King.”

 

***

 

“Lady Kyrin?”

Kyrin sighed and turned behind her, “Don’t call me that.”

“I’m sorry.” The young tailor came in with a garment bag and bowed.

“First off, don’t bow either. Second, I don’t need any more clothes. I have three entire outfits already.”

“I thought… well… I heard what you said… to the other tailor. I thought you might like this.” His nervousness irritated her.

“What is it?”

“A dress… sort of.”

This caught her attention, “What do you mean?”

“Well, we’d need to check with the King… but it’s not long, as is proper…”

She smiled, “Really? Let me see.”

Kyrin took the bag and disappeared behind the dressing curtain. She pulled the dress out and was fairly impressed. It was deep blue and gray, and had no embellishments or jewels. The top was a halter top with an under shirt of dark gray and the skirt was full, but would only come to her knees.

She slipped it on and looked in the mirror. It was much nicer than the tunic she wore every day, but not nearly as fancy as what they usually made her wear. She moved a bit behind the curtain and saw that it wouldn’t restrict her movements at all. The body was fitted and not at all bulky, and she had free range of motion with her flail.

Kyrin came out and smiled, “I like it.”

“We still, well we have to get it approved through the King.” He said, looking over his work.

“Why’s that?”

“It’s not proper.”

“Well he’s not my King, and I like it.”

“We still…”

“No, we don’t. Now can you make me a way to hold my flail?”

He nodded and then rushed off.

Kyrin had to smile. Alric was going to love the dress, even with its modifications. It wouldn’t inhibit a fight, so she thought she may actually like it. Because it was fitted on the top and flowing on the bottom, she didn’t think it would get in the way at all, and it was much cooler than the tunic and pants she’d been wearing.

It wasn’t but an hour later when the young tailor returned with a belt made out of the same material as the gray shirt. It was thick and accentuated her small waist, but had a loop for her flail that fit perfectly. She was nervous about looking as feminine as she did, but figured she wouldn’t wear it out of Paragoy anyway.

“Perfect!” Kyrin said, slipping her flail into her belt.

“Ma’am… I need to get permission, please.” The tailor seemed even more nervous.

She turned to look at him, “Why?”

“I’m new. I can’t cause problems or I could get sent back to the village.”

“You designed this dress?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Stop calling me Ma’am.”

“Yes… ok.”

“Let’s go talk to Alric.”

“What!?” His eyes grew wide.

“Alric, your King.”

“I know who he is. I just… why bother him?”

“Because I have an idea,” she said, and started out the door. The nervous tailor followed her and kept watching around him. He wasn’t sure if he was supposed to be walking around the palace with the Lady, and he knew he wasn’t supposed to be designing dresses for her.

When she knocked on Alric’s office door, the young tailor cringed and sunk back slightly away from her.

“Who is it?” Alric called out.

“Me,” she said, and then glanced behind her.

“Come in.”

Kyrin opened the door into the massive office. She often suspected she could fit Creteloc’s entire home into his office, and it seemed ostentatious, but so were so many other things in Paragoy.

“Hello,” he said, smiling. Alric stood and moved to her and then kissed her lightly after taking her hands.

She backed away, still irritated that he held her hands, and turned, “I want him as my tailor.”

Alric was looking down at her dress, “Wow.”

She looked down, “What?”

“You’re wearing a dress, and no one died.”

“This one… I like.”

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said, and walked around her. A proper dress had long sleeves with billowing cuffs, long, full skirts with petticoats and sometimes even a hoop, and low necklines.

“That’s why I want this tailor.”

Alric looked up at the tailor, who was just starting to back out of his office, “Who are you?”

The tailor bowed deeply, “Dison, Sir.”

“You made this?”

Dison simply swallowed hard and nodded.

Alric grinned, “How did you get her into it?”

Kyrin slapped him on the arm, “He didn’t force me. I told you, those dresses you all put me in don’t allow me free movement. If I can’t fight, then I won’t wear it.”

“I… I… well… I heard… and then…,” Dison mumbled, looking at the floor.

“Are you afraid of me?” Alric asked him.

“Sir?”

“You look like you’re going to have a heart attack.”

“Well…”

Kyrin sighed, “He’s afraid because apparently he thought he had to get the designs for this dress approved by you.”

Alric grinned sheepishly, “That is true.”

“Why do you have to approve my clothes?”

“It’s not that exactly. You’re… well… for all intents and purposes, barely dressed.”

Kyrin looked down, “I’m covered.”

“We’re just used to women being more covered.”

“And helpless.”

“That too.”

“Well either he’s my tailor, or I go back to pants.”

Alric leaned back on his desk, “Dison… you came up with this?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Based on what she said to someone?”

“To the head tailor, Sir.”

He smiled, “Perfect.”

“I can move in it,” Kyrin explained. “There aren’t any long sleeves to get caught on things, and no long skirts. He even gave me a spot for my flail.”

“Yes, I saw that.”

“If he’s going to take the time to listen to me, then he’s the only one I want to sew for me.”

“No one, not even me, has a personal tailor.”

“Then I don’t need a tailor at all. I already have three entire outfits,” she said, crossing her arms.

Alric studied her, appreciating how the dress showed off her figure, “Fine. Dison is your personal tailor.”

Dison’s eyes grew wide, “Sir?”

“Tell the Head Tailor that you are Kyrin’s personal tailor.”

Dison nodded, bowed, and then left quickly.

Alric tensed when he felt the hair on his neck stand up again. His entire body was suddenly on edge and he looked around, as if a dark shadow should have covered the land.

“What’s wrong?” Kyrin asked, frowning.

“I feel an evil again.”

“I’m right in front of you.”

“No, a greater evil,” he said, looking out the window. “I’ve felt it before. Once when Creteloc came to me, and then when Daemionis is in Paragoy.”

She smiled, “Creteloc’s here?”

“I don’t know.”

“Other than those times, you’ve never felt it?”

“No, and it’s making me nervous.”

“I can go look.”

He turned toward her and then smiled, “No, stay in here where it’s safe.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Or… just stay in here with me?”

“Depends, are you going to hold my hands?”

“Yes”

“That’s getting old.”

“You still tense when I kiss you,” he said, moving toward her slowly. “Until you stop, I have to hold your hands.”

“I told you I won’t cast on you.”

“I don’t trust you.”

She couldn’t help but smile, “That’s probably not a bad idea.”

“Why would Creteloc be here?” he asked, now just inches from her.

“I don’t know. She does what she wants.”

“She’s your friend. I figured you’d know.”

“Creteloc doesn’t have friends,” she said, backing up until her back hit the wall.

“Running from me?” he asked, leaning toward her with his hands behind her on the wall.

“I don’t run.”

He grabbed her wrists in his hands and then kissed her softly. She fought to get her hands loose, but couldn’t.

After a few minutes, Kyrin turned her face away from him, “Let my hands go.”

He shook his head and then began to kiss her neck, working his way up to her lips again. She hated how his kiss made her stomach flutter and how her body seemed to draw closer to him. As much as it made her nervous, part of her craved it and couldn’t help but respond if he persisted.

When he broke the kiss and let her hands go, she was able to compose herself enough to sound on the verge of being angry, “Stop holding my wrists!”

“No”

“Then stop kissing me and you won’t have to hold my wrists.”

He grinned, “No to that too.”

Without another word, Kyrin spun on her heels and walked out, furious when she heard him laugh behind her. She hit the stairs running and ran out into the apple orchard to get away from him.

By the time she hit the trees, she was mad and didn’t care who saw her. Engaging her boots of speed when she hit the tree line, she flew through the forest. When she was far enough from the castle to know she was alone, she slowed down and looked around.

While she inwardly yelled at herself for the feelings her body put out for Alric, she looked around the area. She hadn’t been this far north before and wanted to see what she could find.

The more she thought about Alric the madder she became and tears started to form in her eyes. She knew better than to let herself get attached to a man, and figured Creteloc would probably punish her if she were to find out.

She couldn’t fight the tears, the main reason she’d run from the castle, and finally sat down and buried her face. It wasn’t often she cried, but when she did she preferred to be alone. The feelings she had for Alric were in conflict to what she learned growing up and while running from the Shadowmere.

“Venduii”

Kyrin sprang to her feet when she heard the soft voice. She turned slightly and faced the shadow elf that stood before her, “Hello.”

The way he moved was indicative of an Assassin, so she slowly grabbed her flail and kept a close eye on him.

He smiled, “You are going to fight me with a weapon?”

“Yes”

“Why not use magic? I heard it’s not banned here.”

“Are you a shifter?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.

“No, I was led here.”

“By who?”

“You know who,” he said, and began to circle her. She spun with him, never letting him at her back.

“Why would Daemionis send you here?”

“To watch over you.”

“I don’t need a tender.”

“Don’t you? You’ve fallen in love with a human in this dimension… a good aligned dimension.”

“I have not.”

“Daemionis tends to disagree.”

She sighed, “So you’re to stay here now?”

“For a while. Just to see where this is going.”

“I’m not sure Sithias or Alric will agree to that.”

“They don’t have a choice, do they?”

“They could send me packing,” she said, starting back for the castle.

“Not dressed like that they won’t,” he said, and she could tell that beneath the dark hood, he was grinning.

“Don’t insult me. I don’t like you already.”

“Then don’t dress like a girl.”

“Shut up!”

He followed behind her, though she couldn’t hear his footsteps. She’d learned with Creteloc not to expect a single noise out of a well-trained Assassin, and it shocked her when she heard a tiny twig snap. He paused and then continued to follow her.

“New to walking?” she asked him as they neared the orchard.

He didn’t answer, so she smiled and walked to the castle. The Knights instantly moved to block the dark figure from entering the castle.

Kyrin turned around when she heard the Assassin unsheathe his dagger and step back.

“He’s with me,” she said, though she wished he wasn’t.

“We cannot let him enter.”

“Then bring Alric down.”

“To face this dark one? No.”

Kyrin shook her head when the shadow elf tried to fade into the shadows and managed to fall on his way, knocking over a suit of armor that stood beside the door.

The Knights chuckled, “Issues?”

“You’re sure Daemionis sent you?” Kyrin asked him.

“Yes,” he whispered, still trying to be cool and calm, when he’d managed to attract half of the castle.

“What’s going on?” Trox asked, walking up to them.

Kyrin sighed, “Daemionis sent a babysitter for me.”

“So what was the racket?”

“He is having noise problems.”

Trox looked over and immediately recognized the short figure of the shadow elves, “Get the King, now!”

Two of the Knights ran up the stairs to get him while Kyrin watched the Assassin try to act inconspicuous as he was being watched by fifty Knights.

“Trox, what’s wrong?” Alric asked, running up to them.

“Daemionis sent a black elf into our Kingdom.”

Alric looked at the hooded figure, “You’re sure?”

“Shadow elf, actually,” Kyrin said. “And yes, he did.”

“I’m actually surprised we found him, from what I’ve heard,” Alric said, studying him.

“Well he’s not very good at his profession.”

“I don’t have to put up with this!” the Assassin yelled.

“What happened to the door?” Alric asked, looking over at the pile of armor.

“He ran into the armor and knocked it over,” one of the Knights told him.

“Why are you here?” Alric asked the shadow elf.

“I came to watch over her,” he replied, trying to sound harsh, but his voice turned throaty, and he started to cough.

“Why?”

“Daemionis doesn’t trust you with her.”

“That can’t be it. He knows we are honor bound not to hurt her.”

“Unless she does something you don’t approve of.”

“Like bringing an Assassin home?” she asked, irritated.

“Where did you even find him?” Alric asked her. He was still trying to sort through all of this.

“I was out in the woods north of town, and I ran into him.”

“I followed her from the orchard, but she didn’t see me until I caught her crying in the trees,” the shadow elf told him.

Kyrin shifted nervously, “I was not! You couldn’t have followed me either, so stop lying or at least make it good.”

“I’m not lying!”

“You are too and you know it. You can’t keep up with me.”

“Elves are pretty fast, Kyrin,” Trox said.

“Not as fast as I am.”

He just frowned and turned back to Alric, “Sent by Daemionis or not, we can’t let him stay here.”

“No, we can’t.”

“If he leaves, I’ll go with him,” Kyrin said.

“Why?”

“If Daemionis sent him to watch over me, then I have to stay with him.”

“That’s stupid! You’re safe here. Safer than anywhere else with the Shadowmere trying to kill you.”

She glanced quickly around, but no one reacted to that, “Still, I have to stay with him.”

Alric looked at the Assassin as he noisily dug around in a bag, “What can it hurt?”

“We sure you aren’t supposed to protect him?” Trox asked.

Kyrin shrugged, “It’s possible. I’m more of an Assassin than he is.”

“Hey,” the shadow elf yelled.

“We could let him stay out in the old wood-cutter’s cottage,” Alric said.

“No, I stay with Kyrin,” he told them.

“I could stay there too.”

“I’d rather have you here,” Alric said.

“Something’s not right,” Kyrin said, and watched the Assassin.

“What?”

“Daemionis expects perfection.”

“He is far from that.”

“Or he wants me to kill him.”

“No! Let’s just imprison him and see what his true purpose is.”

Using her boots of speed, Kyrin disappeared from the castle’s entryway.

“Where did she go?” Trox asked, shocked.

“Not only that, but how did she move so fast?” Alric added.

“And you think I’m slow,” the Assassin said, evil returning to his voice.

Kyrin hit the trees and kept going. Daemionis wouldn’t send a bumbling idiot into another dimension. In fact, Daemionis would have killed the inept fool himself. He had to be a distraction, to pull their attention away from the true evil in the land. She remembered Alric saying he felt an evil presence, which furthered her feeling that he was a deception.

Once out where she met the Assassin, she stopped and looked around, “Creteloc? Are you here?”

“I was wrong,” someone said off to her side.

She spun and looked toward the voice, but saw no one. It wasn’t Creteloc’s voice she heard, but a male with harsh tones, “Who’s there?”

Whispers sounded as a breeze blew through the trees.

Kyrin readied her flail and looked closer into the trees. There was no noise, but she knew she was being watched.

“What were you wrong about?” she asked, her body tense.

When he stepped out of the trees, he stayed in the shadow, and his face was completely obscured, “I told Daemionis that you wouldn’t realize I was here.”

“Apparently I’m smarter than I look.”

“Creteloc disagreed with me, as usual.”

“What do you want?” She watched him closely, knowing that good Assassins could simply disappear into shadows, never to be found.

“I have a message, from Daemionis.”

“He sent you across dimensions for a message?”

“Yes”

“Why?”

“He cannot risk the gods of this land seeing him here.” The Assassin suddenly appeared in the shadow of a tree to her right. She spun to face him.

“Ok then, what’s the message?”

“Two of them, actually. The first is he demands a sacrifice. He said you are lax.”

“I have to be careful here. He knows that.”

“He desires what he desires.”

“If I kill someone from Paragoy, the gods will be angry, and I’ll be forced to leave. He wants me to stay here,” she told him, unbelieving.

“That is why Creteloc sent the idiot.”

“Creteloc sent that Assassin?” Kyrin asked.

“Do not refer to him as such. He wants to know the dark ways, but lacks any form of discipline.”

Kyrin smiled, “So Creteloc found him and wants me to kill him.”

“Correct”

“Easy enough. What’s the second request?”

The Assassin finally stepped out of the trees, so she could see him, though his face was still in shadow, “It is time for you to marry the Holy Knight.”

She frowned, “No.”

“You say no to a request from Daemionis?”

“He wouldn’t tell me to do that. I haven’t done anything to be punished that severely.”

“It is not a punishment.”

“Then why?” Her heart was racing. She couldn’t imagine defying the orders of her god, but she couldn’t be tied to this man either.

“Daemionis does not tell me his wishes, other than what I have told you.”

“Well I don’t believe you.”

“Are you refusing to do as he wishes?”

It was hard to speak, “I can’t marry him.”

Kyrin was struck with such pain it caused her to fall to her knees, unable to breathe. Blood began to ooze out of her skin as she slumped to the ground, losing all strength.

The Assassin watched her silently, and when the pain backed off, and she could breathe, she looked up at him when he spoke, “Again, do as you are asked.”

“I can’t do it,” she gasped, just as the pain started again. This time a scream escaped her, and she fell back against the crisp fall leaves that lined the forest floor.

The Assassin seemed uninterested in her pain, and carefully watched to make sure no one was going to interrupt. This time, when the pain ended, she stayed on the ground. Blood seeped from her pores, and her eyes were blood-shot.

“Agree to marry him and I will leave,” the Assassin told her.

“Please… Daemionis don’t do this.”

“I want out of this retched land, and to do so you have to marry that useless King,” he told her.

She shook her head and screamed again as her body erupted in pain.

He sighed, “Stop being difficult, girl. How bad can it be to marry?”

When a tear escaped her eye, it was blood that fell, and she groaned and again shook her head.

“Daemionis, leave her alone,” Sithias said, appearing in the clearing.

The Assassin fell back into the shadows, and his voice grew angry, “Stay out of this. She is not yours.”

“I will not allow her to be needlessly tortured in my dimension.”

“Back off!”

Sithias knelt down beside Kyrin and ran a hand over her. She relaxed against the ground, no longer in pain, and seemingly unconscious. The god then stood up to face him, “Tell Daemionis that he cannot force her to do this.”

“He can, and he will,” the Assassin told her.

“We both wish for this union, to see what children it will produce, but we cannot force it.”

“You may not completely control your followers, but Daemionis does, and he expects her to comply immediately!”

The Assassin watched her, but it was obvious that he was listening to something else. Finally, he snarled, “If she will not obey, then he will have to remove her from this place for punishment.”

Sithias stood tall, “Tell him to face me about this. I don’t want you here any longer in my land.”

“He reminds you that she is not yours to protect.”

“She’s young, and I don’t believe she had a choice in following Daemionis. There is good in her.”

“Then you’re a fool.”

Sithias calmly smiled, “Tell Daemionis that we agreed to leave her here for observation and torturing her isn’t part of that deal. He is to leave her alone and not take away her choice in such a personal matter as marriage.”

“He does what he wants!”

“Not on my land. Now you may leave.”

The Assassin looked down at Kyrin, and then turned and swept out of the area.

Sithias gently picked her up and watched until Daemionis took the Assassin back out of Paragoy.

 

***

 

“I’m an Assassin! I can get out of here,” the puny shadow elf said from inside of Valhara’s dungeon.

Alric shrugged, “Try it.”

“I don’t have to prove myself to you.” With that, the shadow elf tripped over a chair and fell onto the bare bed in the cell.

Alric frowned when he felt the evil presence leave the dimension, yet the Assassin remained.

“Sir?” Trox asked, looking over at him.

“The evil is gone.”

Trox studied the shadow elf, “How can it be?”

“That means this thing wasn’t the evil.”

“Then who was?”

“I don’t know, but I bet Kyrin realized it and went after it.”

“Do you think she killed whoever it was?”

“I don’t know.”

“There is no one else here,” the Assassin said, smiling. “Daemionis knows my true power.”

They both ignored him, and Alric turned toward the door when one of the Priests came in, “Sir.”

“Is there a problem?”

“Sithias brought the girl to us.”

“What happened?” he asked, tensing.

“She was punished by her god. We cannot intervene.”

“Perfect,” he sighed, and then left to follow the Priest. When he arrived at the temple, they all seemed nervous and Saith showed the King into the back room where Kyrin was laid out on the bed, covered in blood.

“Sithias cannot help her when she’s punished by a god,” Saith explained.

“What did he do?” Alric asked, sitting on the side of the bed. He’d never seen anyone so completely covered in blood with no obvious injuries.

“We aren’t sure. She seems to be sweating blood.”

“What caused it?”

“Sithias won’t say. He said it is between her and her god.”

“Kyrin?” Alric asked, and touched her face softly.

“Sithias made her sleep.”

“Was she in pain?”

“I believe so.”

“Why would he do this? She’s so loyal to him and all I’ve seen him do is cause pain and suffering,” Alric said, mostly to himself.

“She may not know how to leave him, Sir.”

“Only once have I seen her badly injured that wasn’t the doing of her so-called god.”

When Kyrin sighed softly, they both looked over at her and Alric took her hand, “Kyrin?”

She slowly opened her eyes and looked at him, “Where is he?”

“Who?”

“The Assassin.”

“He’s in our dungeon.”

She sat up slowly, aided by Alric, “Not that one. The real one.”

“I don’t know then. I don’t feel any evil in the dimension though.”

“But how accurate is that?” Kyrin stood slowly, testing her legs.

“Should you be standing?”

Saith shook his head, “No, she should not be.”

“I’m fine. Daemionis doesn’t leave lasting injuries,” Kyrin explained.

“Why did he do this?” Alric asked her.

She sighed, “I’d rather not say.”

“But you must have agreed. He stopped.”

“No, Sithias intervened and I’m sure I’ll pay for that later.”

“Sithias stopped him?” Alric asked, following her out when she left.

“Yes, now I need to go to the lake, and then I need that bumbling Assassin.”

“You can bathe in the castle. It’s safer.”

She smiled, “Daemionis won’t be back just yet.”

“I don’t trust that.”

“I do. I’ll be ok.” She didn’t wait for him to respond, but immediately headed toward the lake north of Valhara.

Alric watched her go and then turned to Saith, “I hate this.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“How can I get her to see that she would be better off here following Sithias?”

“She’s an evil. Sithias may not want her.”

“I have a feeling he does.”

Saith bowed slightly and then walked back inside. Alric stopped to talk to some of the townspeople, and just as he was arriving at the castle, Kyrin was walking out with the Assassin in a tight grip. She was no longer covered in blood, and didn’t seem injured at all.

“Where are you going?” he asked, unsure he wanted her to leave with the Assassin, no matter how inept he might be.

“I’ll be back. I need to take care of something.”

As she walked past, he took her arm, “Are you going to kill him?”

“No, I’m going to boot his ass out of Paragoy.”

“Ok,” he said, and then let her go. He had a strong feeling that she was about to murder him though.

Kyrin walked slowly to keep pace with the Assassin beside her. She knew immediately why Creteloc would want him dead, and was just glad she’d thought ahead to send him to Kyrin for a sacrifice. She hoped Daemionis would forget about the marriage order in lieu of getting a shadow elf sacrifice.

“You can kick me out of this dimension, but Daemionis will bring me back,” he said, starting to panic.

“I’m not taking you to a portal.”

“Then… what are you doing?”

“You’re a sacrifice,” she said as they walked up to the large rock she often used to sacrifice animals.

The Assassin turned on her and drew his dagger, “I won’t let you.”

She readied her flail and shrugged, “You are to be a sacrifice. Fight if you want.”

He lunged at her with the dagger held incorrectly, and she was easily able to slam her flail into the back of his neck, breaking it instantly. He fell to the ground, unmoving, but by now she was mad. Kyrin pummeled him with her flail, turning him into a mass of flesh and blood. When she was done, she was covered in his blood, and he was no longer breathing.

She took the ceremonial dagger from her bag and immediately removed his heart. She tossed it to the side for local predators to eat, and then dragged him to the rock. The hardest part was getting his blood-slicked body up onto the rock, but when she managed, she dropped to her knees.

When she didn’t get the feeling that Daemionis was appeased by just the sacrifice, her throat threatened to close off, “Please, Daemionis, no. I’ll do anything else you ask.”

Nothing happened, no booming voice, no pain, nothing. She looked up, and although the body was gone, there was no sign that he accepted the body in lieu of his request.

“Daemionis, I can’t do it,” she whispered, but the world seemed unnaturally silent as she looked around the trees. The sun was setting behind the majestic mountains, and the shadows seemed darker than usual.

“Why won’t you answer me?” She felt alone and afraid that Daemionis wasn’t going to change his mind. It wasn’t unheard of for his followers to be thrust into an eternity of pain for angering him badly, but she would take that over the thought of marriage.

After hours of praying and not hearing back, she decided that she would have to leave this dimension if she was going to avoid the humiliation of marriage. When she walked into the castle, everyone watched her, unsure why she was covered in blood and why she looked terrified.

She went into her room and began packing her enchanted backpack. She took nothing from Paragoy, and everything she brought with her easily fit into the pack.

“Leaving?” Alric said from behind her.

She nodded and continued to pack. He’d never been in the back rooms of her ante-chamber, but she didn’t care that he broke what was proper to come and see her.

Alric looked around at how her room had been transformed. The soft bed was on its side up against the window, blocking it, and a single blanket was laid out by the fireplace. There were pitchers of water throughout the room, all with varying levels of water in them. What few clothes she had were hanging above the fireplace to dry. He found that amusing. He had people to do the laundry, and from the looks of it, she was hand-washing her own.

He turned back to her and frowned, “Where are you going?”

“I don’t know.”

“Leaving Paragoy?”

“Yes”

“When will you be back?” Alric debated stopping her, but knew that it wasn’t his right to do.

“I won’t be back,” she told him as she slipped on the black leather vest.

“Stop, please,” he said, taking her hand. She looked down at their intertwined hands and then finally looked up at him.

“I just have to go.”

“Why? Is it because of Daemionis?”

“I can’t tell you why.”

“He punished you already, what more does he want?”

“He wants me, and I have to go.”

“Wait! You’re running from him?” Alric asked angrily.

She looked nervously around the room, “I just have to shift as soon as possible.”

“I can protect you.”

“Not from him. No one can, so I have to run.”

His anger grew. No one should have to run from their god, unless they broke a sacred rule, and no one should be that afraid of a being that was supposed to have their best interest at heart.

Kyrin checked around the room and then started for the door.

“You can’t just leave. You’re covered in blood and terrified.”

“It’s not my blood,” she said, walking down the stairs.

“I know whose it is.”

Once outside, she began moving quickly toward the trees, followed by Alric. He knew he couldn’t stop her from shifting out of Paragoy, but he had to try.

“I don’t want you to just leave here.”

“I know, but I don’t have a choice.”

“Did he send you on a mission that you refused?” He was genuinely trying to understand.

“No”

“Did he ask you to do something you don’t want to?”

When she didn’t answer, he knew he had it right.

“What was it he asked you to do?”

She stopped and looked around carefully, then started in another direction.

“Kyrin, stop!”

She turned to look at him.

“Tell me what’s going on.”

“I can’t. I just have to get out of Paragoy.”

“You’re running, and you can’t run from the Shadowmere and from Daemionis! You’re going to fall into the hands of one of them.”

“I have to try.”

“What did he ask you to do?” he asked, stopping her.

She turned to him, “I can’t tell you.”

Alric felt like at any moment she was going to disappear, and he’d never see her again. In a last-ditch effort to get her to stay, he quickly took her face gently in his hands and pressed his lips to hers. In his haste to make her stay, he didn’t restrain her hands to keep her from casting, which is why she did just that.

When the word popped into her head, she brought her hands together and pulled away from him. In the split second it took him to realize what was happening, he was frozen in place.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, and then turned and disappeared into the trees.

He couldn’t see where she went. He was aware and could see directly in front of him, but couldn’t move or make a noise. He strained, but couldn’t move a muscle.

What seemed like hours later, he felt a warming sensation. He could first move a finger, and then his hand, and soon was able to stand up and look around. By this time it was dark, and he wasn’t even sure which direction Kyrin had gone.

“Where did you go?” he whispered, looking around the dark forest. “Sithias, is she gone?”

The answer rang through his mind, “No.”

“Where is she then?”

“I have blocked the portals,” Sithias whispered.

Deciding to go back and find a Ranger qualified to track her, Alric headed back for the castle.

“Sir!” Trox said, running up to him. “We’ve been trying to find you for hours.”

He just shook his head, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, Sir. We were just worried about you.”

“Has anyone seen Kyrin?”

“Not since you left with her.”

“I want Fenre here, now.”

“Yes, Sir,” Trox said, and then turned to go get the best Ranger in Valhara.

When they returned, Trox was surprised to see Alric in full battle gear, “Are we under attack?”

“I don’t know yet. Fenre, I need to find Kyrin. If I take you to where I last saw her, can you track in the dark?”

“Yes, Sir,” he said, a little leery.

“I’ll get the Knights ready,” Trox told the King.

“No, it’ll just be Fenre and I.”

Trox hesitated and then nodded and watched them leave.

Fenre knew better than to question the King, but he was on guard and tense as they walked through the dark trees nearing midnight.

When they got to the clearing, Alric turned to the Ranger, “I last saw her here.”

Fenre moved forward and began a close sweep of the area. After only a few minutes, he started into the woods, followed by Alric, who now had his sword drawn.

Several times Fenre lost her trail, and was starting to get irritated when he held up his hand, and Alric stopped. Both were silent as Fenre pointed to a bunch of thick brush off to their right.

Alric nodded and quietly moved forward. He crouched down and watched Kyrin through the dense foliage. She was seated on the side of a grassy hill and was watching around her.

It was obvious she was in a hurry and irritated, because her foot was tapping impatiently on the ground, and she fiddled with the spiked balls on her flail while she waited.

Alric returned to Fenre and whispered, “Stay here. If she casts on me, then follow her.”

Fenre frowned, and started to argue.

“Do as I say,” Alric whispered sternly.

When Fenre nodded, Alric started around the bushes, “And that’s… why I hold your hands apart.”

Kyrin looked over at him, but didn’t speak.

Alric sat down beside her and put the sword on the hill at his right, “I’m not mad. I just wish you would tell me why you’re in such a hurry to get out of here.”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Why?”

“Because you might agree.”

He thought about that and then frowned, “You think I would agree with the reasons behind Daemionis’ punishment?”

“Yes”

“I seriously doubt that.”

“I killed him.”

Alric knew she was talking about the foolish Assassin, “I figured.”

“Offered him up as a sacrifice. I thought Creteloc sent him, so I could sacrifice him to keep Daemionis from demanding what he did.”

“I take it that didn’t work?”

“No, it didn’t. He took the sacrifice and then didn’t retract his demand.”

“What are you waiting for out here?” he asked, looking into the dark forest.

“A portal.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t found one.” He wasn’t too surprised. Sithias mentioned he was blocking portals out of Paragoy.

“Sometimes it takes a while.”

“So you plan on waiting out here until you find it?”

“Yes”

“Couldn’t that take days?”

“I’ve seen it take months.”

He sighed, frustrated, “Just tell me, please.”

“No, I’m not going to do it. He can just kill me.”

“Is it really that bad?”

“Yes”

“How can it be!?” His irritation came through in his voice, “How can it be that bad when you think I’d agree with it?”

A ball of light appeared before them and Kyrin stood with her flail ready, but Alric put his hand out. The light grew until it became Sithias.

Kyrin’s eyes narrowed as she watched him walk over to Alric.

“So good to see you unfrozen,” Sithias said, highly amused.

Alric grinned sheepishly, “I forgot to hold her wrists.”

“You,” Sithias said, turning to Kyrin, “seem to be in quite a hurry to leave my dimension.”

“You could say that.”

“Do you not think Alric has a right to know what Daemionis asked of you?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Interesting”

“Do you think I should know?” Alric asked his god.

“Yes, I do.”

“Then tell me, please.”

“We could solve the problem here, right now,” Sithias said to her.

“NO!”

“How?” Alric asked.

Sithias didn’t answer him, “It would be a secret, Kyrin. No one has to know but those of us here, and Daemionis.”

“I said no!”

“What are your fears?”

Her eyes shot to Alric, and then back to Sithias, “Try it, and I’ll kill myself.”

“Without these?” he asked. Sithias held out his almost glowing hand, and in it, he held eight tiny vials.

She gasped, “You took them!?”

“Yes, I did. I don’t wish for you to kill yourself over something as harmless as this.”

“Harmless? It’s not harmless.”

“It is.”

Alric was getting irritated with his lack of being included in the conversation, but knew Sithias wouldn’t appreciate being interrupted.

“What you’ve heard is not necessarily true in this dimension.” Sithias was being very kind and tolerant with her, and Alric was even surprised at how patient he was.

“I said, no,” she said through gritted teeth.

“I realize you don’t need the poison to kill yourself, so we resolve this tonight, or I will have to take matters into my own hands.”

“Do what!?”

“I can take you to my home and keep you there, safe, until an agreement is made.”

Alric was dumbstruck. He’d never heard of anyone being allowed into Sithias sanctuary.

“Daemionis won’t stand for that.”

Sithias smiled, “Oddly, he and I agree on this matter, and I don’t think he would interfere.”

She shook her head and walked backwards a few steps, “This is not going to happen.”

“It is my will, and the will of Daemionis.”

“I don’t care whose will it is! It’s my life, and I did nothing to get punished this way.”

“It is not a punishment.”

“You can’t tell me that. I’ve seen it. I’ll not fall into that trap, and I don’t need you or Daemionis to decide how to live my life. It’s a punishment, period.”

Sithias smiled softly, “I have no reason to punish you.”

“You know I sacrificed a shadow elf.”

“Yes”

“I’m sure that’s worth a punishment.”

“Not one I wish to pursue.”

Alric finally broke in, “Do I get to know what this is all about?”

Sithias turned to him, “It is time for you to do as I asked.”

He frowned, “Wait, this is all because you want me to marry her?”

“Yes”

“No! It’s not going to happen,” Kyrin screamed.

“I can’t force her!” Alric said. “She’s not ready.”

“She is ready. She is just afraid of the unknown. Afraid of things she’s seen and things she has been told that do not apply here.”

“It’s against everything sacred to force her into marriage.”

“It is my will.”

Alric looked over at Kyrin as she slipped her flail back into her belt. He knew that only meant one thing, and he started forward to protect Sithias, when Sithias smiled.

“Are you going to cast on me?”

Branches reached down from the trees behind Kyrin and wrapped themselves around her wrists. She was pulled back against the tree with her hands held straight out at her sides.

“No!” she screamed, fighting to get loose.

“This is my dimension,” Sithias reminded her. “Things here will do my bidding, and I do not wish to fight you with your magic.”

Alric wasn’t sure what to do. He loved Kyrin and wanted desperately to marry her, but not if she was terrified of it and being forced into it. However, it was Sithias’ will, and he didn’t want to see her punished because it was Daemionis’ will also.

He turned and looked at her, and saw blood appearing from her wrists where the tree branches cut into her as she struggled. He wondered how strong her fear was and how deeply embedded it was for her to have such an intense reaction. His heart went out to her, but it wasn’t his decision to make.

Sithias moved closer to Kyrin, “Now listen to me and try to understand that I don’t want to hurt you. If you cast on me, I am forced to restrain you. Do you understand?”

“Just kill me and get it over with,” Kyrin snapped at him.

“I don’t wish you dead. If I did I would let you shift out of Paragoy and wash my hands of you.”

“If you don’t want me dead, then don’t make me do this.”

“Talk to her,” Sithias said to Alric.

He sighed and walked forward, “I don’t think this is right either, but I’m not threatening to kill myself. Just calm down and let’s talk about this.”

“Of course you aren’t going to! You’re the man. Marriage is all for the men.”

“You don’t even know for certain what you’re talking about.”

“I don’t have to, to know that death is better.”

“Yes you do! You can’t make an informed decision based on fear of things you think might be true.”

Sithias sighed, “The decision is made…”

Alric turned to him, “I need time. Forcing her into this isn’t going to work. I need to be able to work through this.”

Sithias considered it and finally nodded, “You have two weeks.”

“Thank you. I just have to wipe the misconceptions out of her head. If we force her, she’ll either kill herself or shift.”

“Two weeks,” Sithias said, and then disappeared.

The branches holding Kyrin slowly let go, and she grabbed her flail and looked around, “Come back, Sithias!”

“Let’s not provoke him, ok?” Alric said calmly.

“I’m not going to marry you.”

“Our gods want it, so I suggest we talk through everything you’re afraid of. I want to marry you. I love you, and it would bring us together.”

“Sure! Bring us together you so can do repulsive things to me.”

“Like what?” he asked, standing back to watch her.

“Well… I don’t know.”

“Then how do you know they are repulsive and not extremely pleasant?”

“Because I know.”

“You don’t. Now let’s go back before we get attacked out here.”

Knowing that Sithias had the portals blocked, Kyrin finally agreed to return to the castle to make a decision. She wasn’t going to get married, period. She swore to herself at the age of five that she would never marry, and no strange dimension was going to change that.

When they got to the castle, Alric stopped at the floor with the Lady’s chamber and shook his head, “No, you have to stay in my room.”

“What’s wrong with mine?” she asked, ignoring how the Castle Protectors looked at her oddly. She had forgotten she was still covered in the blood of her sacrifice.

“Nothing, but I want to know you aren’t running off or killing yourself.”

“I won’t.”

“I don’t trust you. Up the stairs,” he said, pointing.

She huffed and then walked up the stairs, followed by Alric, who was relieved. He wasn’t sure she would agree to move into his room, so he could watch her. He had to remind himself that she had no reason to fear the bedroom. Her fears of marital rituals were so unknown that she hadn’t associated bedrooms with any of them.

Once in the bedroom, she sat down on the floor in front of the fire and looked over at him, outwardly furious.

Alric sat down on the bed, “Still can’t get you in a bed?”

“No”

“How do you sleep on the cold, hard floor?”

She didn’t answer, but slid onto her side away from him and shut his eyes.