BAD CROW MOUNTAIN (Lesbian)

CHAPTER 21 Shady people

"The boy is not going anywhere," I say calmly.

"But I must go with you! It's my duty," Zil begins to plead with me like a little child begging for sweets.

"Your duty is to study, write a good thesis, become, for example, a researcher mage, maybe take the place of the teacher, start drawing masterpieces and selling them to rich upstarts in the capital, and it's definitely not your duty to run around like a spy or rebel through dense forests with shady people," I say as if not speaking, but driving each word like a nail into the wall. "That's my command," I draw the line.

"She's right," agrees the 'shady person.' "You've already got into trouble because of us. I'll give you my map, and I think you could use some money too," the elfia says, her expression puzzled as she rummages in her bag again, "Wait, Eden, I'll find something for Zil, and we'll go."

"I'm not going either," I say quietly.

"But how can this be! I thought we would go together..." the elfia looks disappointed and confused. She looks at the passage to the elven kingdom, then at me, as if unsure whether to go or not.

"I think it's time for us to say goodbye before we get used to each other even more."

"Or before we say even more stupid things to each other."

We smile. Why is it that just when it's time to say goodbye, everything seems to fall into place, and you don't want to part?

"It's better for each of us to go our own way."

"I'm sorry," she unexpectedly confesses.

"Me too," I honestly reply.

"You're right. You fulfilled your duty. You got me alive to the destination. I don't know why I thought you had to go with me further," She slips her finger into the hole in her already well-worn sheepskin.

"You never introduced yourself to me, and you learned my name from an evil witch (I'm still intrigued as to how she knows me). We should have started everything differently; everything could have gone differently."

"It's my fault," she takes a step towards me. "I didn't want to get close to you, but it just happened that I don't want to leave."

"You have to. You won't be able to sleep peacefully until you report to your mother about what happened. Perhaps you can change the course of history and make everything right. Maybe life in Woodland will improve."

"Or maybe everything will go to hell..."

"We, Woodlanders, are accustomed to it. We'll manage somehow, babe," I say, putting my hand on her shoulder. "You understand that I have to get the boy back to the academy intact and safe. There's no need for him to wander so far from the protection of the academy and the Coven."

"I understand you."

"I think I should return your shawl. Here, take it. I don't deserve such a gift. I know that gestures like this are very important for elves." I take out the folded red shawl from my pocket. Its material is so thin that it can fit entirely into a thimble.

"I insist that you keep it. Our encounter was tumultuous, strange, but probably the most eye-opening in my entire life." She smiles sadly. Her smile brightens me up. Why do we find a common language now when we are most likely parting forever? Why do you start to appreciate something or someone only when you lose them? I thought that Malva's death was supposed to teach me to cherish every moment of life, but when you don't learn a life lesson once, Bibar or maybe even Amixantra will give you this lesson again.

"Forgive me, please. I find it difficult to get along with people; I'm not justifying myself, I just don't want you to hold a grudge against me." She lowers her eyes.

"You forgive me too. You saved me so many times; I'll be indebted to you. And... about the kiss, I'm sorry." It's hard for me to look her in the eyes, so I examine her short curly hair and golden stud earrings sparkling like stars against her sharp elven ear and the black-as-night skin.

When I mention the kiss, Zil and the kikimora behind my back make sounds resembling "ah" or "oh." All this time they have been watching our heart-wrenching farewell scene with due spectator respect, like any seasoned theatergoer.

"Please don't apologize for the kiss." She puts her hand over mine and presses both of our hands to her shoulder. "My name is Terra."

"Farewell, Terra."

"Farewell, Eden."

***

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