A LAND OF FIRE AND DARKNESS

Chapter 18

"What do you mean he is going to be away for a few weeks?" I asked with astonishment as Yarris spoke to me in the courtyard by the training ring.

Yarris thinned out his lips and looked over at Laveen, "Laveen." He began with a shrug, "You are the Alinta whisper, do you want to explain?"

Laveen sighed out in frustration and looked down at me, "A tour of Pretonas was long overdue." He shrugged, "He needed to ensure people are still thriving."

I narrowed my eyes at him, something in my mind told me that was not the full truth, "Now?" I asked with an arched eyebrow, "He decided he needed to do that now, while he is supposed to be training me?"

Yarris smiled at me, "I will be training you while he is away." He bowed his head in respect at me before looking up at me through lowered lashes.

I met his eyes for several moments as I stared into his purple gaze. "Fine," I muttered as I walked past the two of them and towards the forest. "But if I burn down the castle while the King is gone, then it is his fault," I stated sternly into the air.

"I want to disagree." Laveen shrugged, "But I honestly don't."

It bothered me Delcallon was excluding me again from something. I was not sure what, but I knew Laveen was covering up for something. But there was nothing I could do about it now.

So, I continued with my routine, I trained with Laveen every morning, and afterward, I trained with Yarris. He continued to jump between teaching me to still my flame while teaching me to keep a flame steady in the palm of my hand. That was difficult. The flame did not have something to grip down onto it, and so would easily be blown out by the first breeze that swept past us.

But I continued to try.

After Training I decided to make use of the private courtyards. I would find a book from the Library and enjoy the silence as I read through the pages. I had found a few books on the history of Pretonas and tried to make myself accustomed to the way of the Elementals.

The customs in Pretonas were far more entertaining than that of Utohia. When a child was born, there was a celebration held, not only for the child but for the mother who had to endure the pregnancy and labor. When an Elemental reached their first one hundred years, they were given a silver object to remind them that they could still die. It was dark, but I could understand why that was needed.

One particular day in the courtyard I felt myself missing Delcallon. The feeling did not linger long though, but mainly because of the storming Oblivions who were arguing somewhere in the courtyard.

I could not see them, but I could hear them clear as the blue sky above me.

"Dorica." Brallon's voice echoed over the maze walls.

"I do not want to talk about it anymore." Dorica's voice was stern and harsh.

"Dorica." Brallon snapped again. Their voices were getting closer.

I stepped away from the bench and into the maze to try and avoid them from catching me.

"Be with whoever you want to be with Brallon. I do not care." She barked out.

I smirked, she clearly cared.

"That was not what was happening." Brallon tried to explain.

I decided to leave them to have their argument and swiftly turned to exit the maze. I stepped straight into a hard body and nearly toppled them over.

"Whoops." The faintly familiar voice startled me. His hands gripped onto my shoulders forcing me to look up at his eyes face.

"Oh." He said with a soft smile, "Alinta."

I glared up at the Ashtarion I had met before. The man who had silky black hair and deep blue eyes. A scar ran down his neck, which was probably his most striking feature. Tristan.

The last time I had seen him was in Eskar's estate. He worked for him.

Instinctively I knocked the book as hard as I could across his head causing him to groan out and release me. He stumbled back in confusion and I took the opportunity to strike him down.

I swiftly delivered a powerful right hook, hitting him in his ribs which caused him to stumble back further. His balance was terrible and I used that to my advantage. I hooked my leg through him before throwing him over onto his stomach.

He coughed out a heavy groan as I climbed onto his back and wrapped my arm around his neck to chock him.

"What are you doing here?" I growled as he struggled against my grip.

"Walking!" He spat out with a croaked voice.

My face creased in confusion.

"Alinta." Brallon's voice caused me to look over my shoulder to see Dorica and Brallon standing staring at me. "What are you doing?" He asked with a faintly amused expression.

"This is Tristan." I stated as I gestured with my head towards the Ashtarion I still had gripped, "He works for Eskar."

Dorica snorted out in amusement as she folded her arms over her chest.

"Yeah." Brallon bobbed his head slowly, "He is also the one who told us where Eskar was when he took you to that Estate."

I furrowed my eyebrows at them, "He is not working for Eskar?" I asked with confusion.

"Elements no!" Tristan chocked out in my grip.

I tightened my hold, "He could be lying." I stated with anger.

"Del already interrogated his mind." Brallon smiled, "He is not lying."

My hold on the Ashtarion softened. "Oh." I released him completely and his head fell to the ground causing him to groan out in pain again.

I climbed off of him while Brallon stepped in to help the Elemental up.

Tristan rubbed his hands on his neck where I had strangled him. His deep blue eyes traced over me as his lips curved up.

"I see you guys have finally decided to upgrade Laveen." He teased with a wicked smile as he met my eyes. His face was carved to look as beautiful as a spring's eve.

"Actually." Dorica stated as she crossed her arms, "Laveen is training her." She gestured with her head towards him.

"Oh." Tristan smirked, "Well, tell him to stop." He huffed out with a kind tone.

I looked down to conceal the faint smile that spread across my face.

"Come." Brallon stepped towards Tristan and wrapped his arm around his shoulder, "Let us go and eat." He said as he began leading him towards the palace.

I pursed my lips as I watched them wander off. Tristan looked over his shoulder at me and shot me a pleasant smile that caused my face to react in shock. Having his deep blue eyes on me was interesting.

"I hope to see you around Alinta." He greeted with a bow of his head before they all turned around the corner.

I smirked to myself while I picked up the book, I had used to hit Tristan and continued to stroll through the beautiful garden courtyards.

If Delcallon trusted Tristan and had peered through his mind, then I felt I could trust Tristan.