The Past

Forgotten in history

"You're self-centered and crude, Kinheal. I will not accept your apology, because you still think you're right!"

Dinner had not been going well. Athern had brought us to a lovely little restaurant, right on the skirts of town, a little over fifteen minutes by carriage. Paves had decided to ruin the entire ordeal, though.

"You really have the audacity to say I'm self-centred?" I responded to Paves, my voice starting to draw eyes from those sitting at nearby tables. "You would do away with an entire lineage for the sake of a bastard child! And of course I still think I'm right, even Teirr thinks I'm right!"

"Nea, please calm yourself." Remor placed his hand on my shoulder as he stood. "We can't afford to make a scene."

"Tell her that." I rose to my feet, not once breaking my eye contact with Paves. "You are ungrateful. I took you in, brought you to Orion with me, I gave you opportunities you could never have without me. In turn, you've left my side for a man I once fancied, you've burdened yourself with a bastard child, and you've insisted on destroying the lineage of Doran. Yes, Doran has other sons, but Alarithe picked us. We are the rightful heirs, we are the ones whose blood runs blue, not our siblings. After all your lectures to me about my duty, I do in fact despise you for your betrayal. I rescind my apology, and I retire from this table. Good evening to you all."

Remor made a move to follow me, but Athern grabbed his hand. "Let her be on her own, we shall bring her a plate once she has calmed herself."

"Your intention is to be her comfort, rather than allowing me to be. I tell you this plainly, Athern, interfere between myself and Kinheal and you will lose more than a hand." It was Remor who now held a string of air around Athern's hand, turning it blue before letting go to follow me.

I pressed my back up against the wall as he walked out of the dining establishment, breathing suppressed until he had passed. A small flicker of light flew past my face as Remor walked in the direction of the carriage drivers. Pressing my fists against my eyes, I tried to clear away the feeling that there was something in them. I opened my eyes to many more flickers of yellow light, marking a path on the ground. When I looked down to follow the path, I realised my feet had lost their boots!

I followed the dirt path into the wooded area which it led to, careful not to make too much noise, but it couldn't be helped when rocks were finding their way to my feet. I couldn't fathom how my shoes might have been stolen, even as I was wearing them.

Luckily, I could raise the earth itself and push off all other elements obstructing my path, allowing me to walk on a solid lane of plain rock.

Swaying trees gave way to the night breeze, leading me to notice the natural music playing around me. I could no longer hear the sounds of the city, rather the loud cricks and chirps of insects and the rustling of leaves as they drifted down in the darkness, only to be trampled by the creatures of the forest.

Deeper into the woods, a different tune began to play. The tune of merry laughter and singing drifted up into the treetops, which were accentuated with tiny bright lights. Any weight in my heart evaporated when I stepped into an opening and looked around at the bonfires, a buzz of joy suddenly taking its place.

Wooden chairs stood around long tables overflowing with plates and baskets of foods that I didn't recognise. Small people stood around the bonfires, green skin shining in the warm light.

I let out a small gasp as I processed the latter. At first, they seemed to be children running around in odd clothing, but soon I realised they were, in fact, not human at all.

"Hello?" I said, holding my tone low so as to not startle them. "Have you happened to see a pair of boots?"

Suddenly, all of the music and laughter cut off entirely.