A LAND OF FIRE AND DARKNESS

Chapter 16

The next morning, I ran through my training with Laveen like usual. He had given me both a lecture about slapping Delcallon, before giving me tips on how to ensure it caused more damage the next time.

Which he was adamant there would be the next time.

Delcallon had come to fetch me, but I refused to greet him and instead pushed past him ensuring I hit his shoulder before storming through the forest.

He followed after me while talking about how beautiful the weather was today, ignoring the fact that I was clearly angry with him.

We reached the rose candle and I proceeded to do what I was sure he would be teaching me today, which was stilling the candle. I sat down in front of the rose and leaned in to light with my powers.

"That is a useful trick," Delcallon stated as he placed himself opposite me.

I focused on my mind and took in a deep breath as I tried to still it. I continued to try and push all thoughts out of my head.

"Are you ignoring me?" Delcallon asked with a genuine tone.

Did he only realize this now?

I shook my head and focused on the flame again.

"Alinta." He continued, "Your wall is up, I cannot read your mind." He said with a casual tone.

I snapped my eyes at him, "You excluded me." I growled out, "What audacity do you feel you have to decide to leave me out of anything involving Eskar?" I knew my face was tensed and my jaw was clenched.

He looked down at me and pursed his lips, "It was a last-minute decision over dinner." He shrugged far too nonchalantly for my liking.

"Oh, so it is my fault?" I snarled. His eyebrows rose in amusement. "Because I refuse to have dinner with the council that hates me?"

His face morphed into more compassion, "That was not what I was trying to convey." He said with a gentle tone.

I shook my head in disappointment at Delcallon, but there was nothing more I could do. "What happened?" I asked.

His eyes drifted to the grass around us, "There was an attack at a temple dedicated to Air." He answered with a heavy tone.

"And you think it was Eskar?" I asked with an arched eyebrow.

He bobbed his head, "Writing was left on the wall, writing in blood." His words caused a shiver to slither down my spine. He wrote symbols in the sand symbols I did not understand, "May the future be bright."

My face dropped again. Eskar had said it to the person who had been with him in the cave, and the Elemental who had given me the Lipsin oils had said it too.

"I have heard that before," I stated with a toneless voice.

He bobbed his head, "I know."

I snapped my eyes to him as guilt washed over his face. He had seen it in my memories... The idea of him digging in my mind caused my jaw to clench. But I reminded myself that He had taught me how to put the firewalls, and now he could not enter my mind without my permission, nor could anyone else.

I looked down at the candle and tried to still my mind but I couldn't. Eskar had used blood to write the words on the door.

"Were people hurt?" I asked keeping my eyes on the candle.

"Yes." Delcallon answered with a heavy tone, "We were too late."

I looked up at the Highvarion and saw the sadness that washed over his face. He shook his head, "I do not understand why the rebels would attack a temple. They are filled with innocent people."

I arched my eyebrow, "Rebels?" I asked with confusion, "I thought it was Eskar."

He bobbed his throat, "Eskar is a rebel." He tilted his head, "I thought he was the one in charge, but." He looked over at me.

"He Is not." I finished his sentence as I recalled what Eskar had told me about the man in charge. The one pulling the strings behind the curtain.

"Do you know why they say, 'may the future be bright?" Delcallon asked as he shifted his legs to be more comfortable.

I shook my head at him.

He looked down at the flame, "I am darkness." He answered with a heavy tone, "They are stating that a world without me, would be brighter." His voice was filled with remorse and shame as if he believed it himself.

I smirked, "I think your ego is slightly too large, Delcallon." I taunted causing his eyes to shift to me at the use of his name, "They wanted all Elementals dead." I reminded him, "Not just you."

His lips curved up revealing his dimples, "Thank you for always offering to knock my ego down." He sarcastically thanked me. At least it made him smile.

I shot him a wicked grin of my own. He was not the evil King people projected him to be. He should not blame himself for this, something else was causing the uprising, and I doubted it was Delcallon.

I looked back at the flame and began to try and focus on stilling my mind.

Delcallon apparently had other ideas. "Eskar was spotted in the village closest to the temple." He began while I tried with all my might to block out his voice, "To close to be a coincidence."

"He vanished though."

I continued to try and ignore him.

"I do not know how to track someone who can become invisible." He leaned his head back while I focused on the candle. "Maybe I should hire a tracking Oblivion." I think he was now just mumbling to himself, but it was still distracting.

"But they are rarely ever trustworthy, no mercenary is."

"Del." I breathed with impatience.

His entire body twitched and his eyes snapped to me. The air seemed to shift causing my eyes to look up into his through lowered lashes.

I had never referred to him by the shortened name the others had given him. I was not even sure if I was allowed to.

"Yes?" He asked with a gulp.

"I am trying to focus." I shot him a gentle smile as I pointed at the flame.

He smiled with a type of relief, "Oh, my apologies. Alinta." He purred out my name ensuring my body reacted to him. I hated it. I could not control it. It was like an involuntary twitch. It reminded me of back when I was a child and the healers would tap the spot in my leg causing it to jump in response.

He leaned back in the grass and lay down with his arms behind his head. He was quiet though.

I continued to focus on the flame as I stilled my mind. After three hours of focusing, I managed to get it to the point where it only flicked when my heartbeat. I could not still my heartbeat though unless I died.

Delcallon called it a day and once again he extended an invite to dinner.

"Probably won't," I answered as I dusted off my pants.

He bobbed his head in agreement, "Alright."

He smiled at me before disappearing into a cloud of darkness that had not been there seconds ago.

Teleportation would be very helpful.

But alas, I could not do that, so I strode towards my room and climbed into a relaxing bath.

I washed my legs and my arms while I contemplated the King's offer to join them tonight.

I had never really wanted to but a part of me did tonight.

I climbed out of the bath and strode towards the wardrobe to see if there was anything to wear except leathers and glittery gowns. To my relief, there was not a spot of glitter, and the cupboard seemed to be compiled of beautiful shirts and pants and some dresses.

"Screw it." I sighed before pulling out a black shirt and pair of matching pants.