I awoke sometime later, rested and comfortable, with only a vague recollection of what had happened the night before. I remembered with burning clarity the betrayal of the people I had considered my friends, how they were all using me for the power they believed I possessed. The old wound that had slept soundly within me woke up with renewed vigor and I clenched my hands in anger. I sat up, a sharp pain moving swiftly through my leg, and I realized that my ankle had been bandaged. It throbbed as I stared at it, and I remembered my dash through the rain, tears blinding me to the stones I had tripped over. I glanced around the small cave where the man Cireno had brought me.
It was very homey. Skins carpeted the stone floor, and dried herbs and pelts of small animals hung from the uneven stone walls. I heard the trickling sound from somewhere in the back of the cave and thought there must be a spring or waterfall. I lay near the entrance to the cave, the remains of a fire smouldering before me. I could see outside that it was a bright and sunny day, the light dancing along the mountain peaks. I could not see any of the rock spirits, and I was glad for that.
“Awake?”
Cireno stepped into the cave, smiling brightly at me. I realized he was a lot younger than I had originally thought, a short beard growing on his youthful face and his eyes bright and twinkling. He still wore the bearskin over his shoulders with the head resting on his own, and I found the dead eyes of the bear disquieting. Cireno knelt next to me and poked at the dying embers of the fire, tossing on a few logs to bring it back to life. He grinned at me the whole time, and I smiled back.
“Here,” he said, handing a stone bowl to me. “Have some breakfast.”
The bowl was full of berries and fresh milk. I looked at him curiously and he laughed.
“Goats milk,” he said. “I keep a few penned on the other side of the cave. The berries are from there too. They’ll give you your strength back.”
I thanked him and ate the food. It was delicious, the milk thick and creamy and the berries tart. Cireno sat and watched me, his arms resting on his knees.
“What are you doing up here, anyway?” he asked.
I swallowed. “Hiding, mostly. There are soldiers after me. My name is Leila, by the way. I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself earlier. I wanted to thank you, Cireno.”
Cireno waved the apology aside. “You were hardly in any condition to worry about manners, Leila. I’m glad you remember my name, though. How’s the ankle?”
“It feels fine, thank you,” I said, wiggling my foot to show I wasn’t lying. I found myself captivated by this young man’s demeanour. He didn’t care who I was, or what I could do for him. He was only concerned with my well being, and the thought spread warmth through my body.
“Well, Leila,” Cireno said, rising to his feet. “You’re welcome to stay here. I saw a few soldiers moving about, but I don’t think they’ll find us.”
“Are you Huryl?” I asked, the question sticking in my throat. I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear the answer.
Cireno grinned. “No. Not Dyrel either, if you’re wondering. I gave up any allegiance I had to those people long ago. I’m just me. Cireno.”
“I’m just me, too,” I said, not entirely sure why I was confiding in this man. “Not Huryl or Dyrel, but they’re both after me.”
Cireno raised an eyebrow. “Really? What for?”
“I’d rather not say.”
“Hide here then, as long as you like. It does get lonely after a while, and with the war going on, it hasn’t been safe to leave the mountains.”
I thanked him again as he moved deeper into the cave, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I inhaled the cool mountain air, letting it fill my lungs and push aside my troubled thoughts. I was safe here, far from the warring humans and the greedy spirits. I didn’t have to worry about falsehoods or deceptions. I could be myself, safe in the cave with Cireno.
Later that afternoon, I followed him around as he went about his daily business. He brought me a piece of wood for a cane, and took me to the small clearing where thin grass grew and the wild goats came to feed. I sat on a stone as he herded the goats around and picked wild berries. After that, he crept away for a while, telling me he was off to hunt. I waited in the sunlight with the goats, watching insects move industriously around and smelling the small flowers that grew in the cracks of the stone. I watched the goats wander to the edge of the cliff and deftly leap from ledge to ledge as if they were flying. For the first time since I arrived in this strange world, I felt at peace.
“Leila!”
My eyes widened at the familiar voice, the last voice I wanted to hear at that time. The aura of peace around me vanished with the sound of my name, and I turned to see Jakob and Clothis standing at the edge of my sanctuary. They were both wide eyed and dishevelled, and I was surprised to see them both together. Anger closed around my heart again, and I turned away from them. Cireno appeared on the other side of the valley and walked quickly to stand beside me. He did not seem at all shocked at seeing my former companions.
“Leila, please,” Jakob begged. “That man is not what he seems.”
“Neither are you,” I snapped. “Usurp your king some other way.”
I felt Cireno place his hand on my shoulder, and I was thankful for his presence. It was painful for me to have to see them again so soon after I had discovered their treachery.
“Lady Leila,” Clothis said. “Come with us. You are not safe here.”
“I’ve never been safer,” I insisted. “I can be myself here, without worrying what everyone around me wants of me. I can be at peace.”
“Should I make them leave?” Cireno asked me in a quite voice, his hand tightening on my shoulder.
I shook my head. “I’ll do it. Don’t trouble yourself on my behalf.”
I stood and walked over to stand in front of my former companions, the rage burning stronger than it had the night before. I could see the rock spirits drawing closer, and a few fire and water spirits were peeking around the corner of the cave. I drew on their strength, as I drew on the strength of Cireno and those who cared about me for who I was, not what I could offer.
“Go back to your king and tell him the Huryl are not worthy of my power,” I told Jakob. I turned to Clothis. “Go back to your prince and tell him he must find his own peace.”
“And what
message for the Woodwalker,” Clothis asked dryly. “Or have you forgotten him?”
Fynn’s face flashed in my
memory, his smile and gentle eyes, the worry he showed towards me when I fell
into the pond, the fear when he saved me from the soldiers, the pain when he
was chained in iron for my sake. I pushed the memories aside. He had suffered
for his own sake, to get whatever power he had been promised.
“Fynn can take care of himself,” I snapped.
Clothis took a step forward, but Cireno quickly placed himself between her and me, drawing a long dagger he used for hunting and holding it to Clothis’ throat. The Dyrel froze, her eyes locked on the mountain man’s face. Jakob sensed an opportunity and lunged towards me, but I dodged out of his grip, scrambling towards the calmly eating goats. The goats scattered, leaping off the cliff and scrambling up the mountain face, bleating in annoyance. A few dislodged rocks fell off the cliff, and I heard them bouncing down towards oblivion.
“Leila, please!” Jakob said as he tried to grab my arm.
“Get away,” I snapped. “Leave me alone! I hate you! I don’t want anything to do with you, or your father, or your crazy king!”
Jakob made a final dive, and I moved to one side. I felt his fingers lightly brush against my arm, sending a shiver across my skin. Time slowed to a crawl and I could hear my own breathing echoing in my head as I turned. Jakob sailed past me, his eyes wide with fear as the ground disappeared beneath his feet and he tumbled headlong down the side of the mountain.
“Jakob!” I screamed, as my heart stopped.
I had not expected it to end like this. I had not wanted anyone to die.