Inferno's legacy (On Hold)

Chapter 25

Finding Damion was no easy feat. For a moment, she considered going back to their shared room. He had, after all, warned her from leaving the room. But she couldn't sit still. Her body hummed with an energy she couldn't quite place a finger on and the more she thought of it, the less sense it made. She went to the counter, where they had met Baldwin. He seemed to be familiar with Damion.

But when she got there, the bald man was absent. A younger lady stood in his place. Was he the one who had dragged Damion out?

"Is there something I can help you with?"

She turned to the lady who didn't seem much older than her. She didn't notice she had been stalling long.

"Actually," she leaned forward, "I'm looking for my companion. Maybe you've seen him. About this tall, with...white hair." Damion's features made him stand out. She wasn't sure that was a good thing. For all she knew, she could be telling the wrong person she was affiliated with the good looking divinity who was being chased, together with her.

The lady behind the counter blinked. Was she giving Eretria a look over? "You're with him?"

The way she said him, Eretria knew she had seen him. But what was that tone? "You've seen him?" She asked back.

"He left a while ago with Baldwin and a woman." She nodded towards the door.

Eretria's eyes narrowed and she nodded.

"You shouldn't go after them. It's quite easy to get lost in the city and I bet he wouldn't want to go looking for you."

Eretria chewed her inner lip as she considered her words. "Thank you." She turned around, ready to go back to her room when she noticed someone at the entrance, a hood over his face. She swallowed. Had she been found? Where the hell was Damion?

Deciding to ignore foreboding figure at the door, she walked up the stairs. Glancing once over her shoulder, she noted the figure had moved to the counter. The next moment, she turned on her heels and dashed down the stairs, fleeing to the entrance. She wanted to reach for her boot, but then she remembered she hadn't tucked her daggers. She cursed.

The city was actually quite easy to get lost in. In the warming sun, people moved about, carrying out their daily duties. She walked swiftly, grateful that her clothes didn't make her stand out. Damion or Baldwin had gotten them clothes that made her fit in - if her bright eyes wasn't an outstanding feature. How had she forgotten about her eyes? Definitely, both her and Damion couldn't blend in. Worst of all, she had no idea where she was headed or if the person back at the inn had meant her any harm. She could be running for no re-

The instant tug on her hand startled her but she didn't have a moment to react as she was shoved into a corner, away from the bustling street.

"What the hell!" Eretria cursed as she regained her footing, placing her palm on the dusty wall closed to her.

"I thought Damion did a better job tucking you away. He did not."

Eretria was narrowed her eyes at the hooded figure who brought down the hood, revealing a mop of greying hair and a gentle smile on her slightly wrinkled face. She could be older, given the lines on her face but appeared younger. It took a moment but Eretria recognized her.

"You -"

"Sheila. Head of the Mage council." She said. She watched as Eretria backed away from her. "Trust me, I mean no harm."

"It's difficult to trust, given what I've been true. But I recognize you. You visited my father once. He turned down your request."

Sheila gave her a soft smile. "I've visited him more than once but Aleric sure has a strong front."