Seeing Red

Chapter Seven

Chapter 7

Camp with Amarie was… interesting. She cooked the strangest things, and when we tried it we found it was good. But still strange. She had strange jokes, and admitted to me that she was from a faraway country called Theorsia. She and Zevvran were constantly bickering over something. Usually the stupidest things like the weather, or legends. It seemed to me that Amarie was the little sister Zevvran always needed, and the best friend I wished I had. She fit well into our life styles, and wasn’t the third wheel I was worried she’d be. I got to see her change into Maven form once, when a bandit tried to make us pay to cross a bridge. She opened her arms wide and said

“You want my money? Come and take it” and then she turned into this scary, deep, dark silver, shiny thing and when the man attacked her… well it was quite violent and gory, so I’d rather not describe it. Anyways it turns out every maven has their own shade of silver, and a unique ‘extra’ talent added in to their mix. With Amarie she had the ability to melt into a shadow, and she had super strength. It turns out the Arl of Sarathis had the ability to change your mind, and his appearance

“Figures” Zevvran snorted. I didn’t think I really had an extra, but Amarie said that was not the case

 “It took me two years to figure mine out. Your skills before you were awakened would be… advanced”

 “But I was good at everything!” I told her “I’m never going to know” she laughed and said

 “’tis not all bad. You still have a cup of tea, and a biscuit to share” I had no idea what this meant, but it made me feel better anyways.

 ************

Zevvran approached me when we were about a day ride from Adread.

“Layana… I have something I wish to tell you”

“Of course, you can tell me anything” I said to him

“I um… well this should be interesting. Perhaps we sit?” he said. Once we were sitting he began “well you know I am an Arl? The Arl of Jutara? Well you see I was not born as such. I was… Adopted you see. My mother… she married a human man. And they were very happy together, but… everyone makes mistakes you see, and well… I was not exactly my father’s son. When my mother found out I might not be his, she arranged to have me taken away after birth. I was to be given to the first family that needed a child like me. She died giving birth to me, but the healer knew what she was told, and gave me to the first orphanage she found. The Arl, and his mistress, my mother and father found me and took me in. for this I am glad” he smiled “but my step brother and father are still in Adread. I had hope that we might… check on them. I don’t want to meet them of course not! I just want to… make sure they are okay. If that is possible”

 “Of course that would be fine” I told him “I am glad you confided in me” he smiled

“ I knew you’d understand” I laughed and traced his tattoo with my thumb.

“I have a poem for you” I said to him

 “Really? For me? That’s a switch” he taunted. I glowered at him and said

“Here we go;

Light peeks through cracks, in your eyes, in your soul

Eyes that mist as it leaves you.

Another goodbye.

Another piece of your heart torn

I can give you back the light, in your eyes and your soul