Elements of Change

Plans to Make

Kammon sat on the back step of Maggie's cottage, the cool night breeze trailing through the tree branches, taking his thoughts with them. He'd set out to find Alvrey so that they could remove the Vow on Ezo. Once they'd found her, though, she took them on the journey to Maggie. Now they had to travel again.

This was his fault, and Ezo was being dragged farther away from his beloved Riverkeep to figure out what was happening to them, and if they could stop it.

"Kammon?" Alvrey stepped out of the shadows that had hidden her on the path. "I mean no harm."

Kammon stood, magic pulled close around him, but he didn't answer. He was torn between screaming at her for attacking them and begging her to understand that he would never hurt Ezo.

The problem was that she already knew it. Last night, she'd taken it upon herself to separate Ezo from him, though. He liked Alvrey, but he didn't trust her anymore.

She walked closer down the path, and Kammon held wind in his hands, ready to push her away.

"Don't," Kammon warned.

She stopped. "Kammon, I'm not going to hurt you."

"I believed that when I went looking for you. I believed it when you brought us here to speak with Maggie. I even believed it last night when you came to the fountain."

"You know what I was doing."

"I do. Did you expect that I would be understanding, Alvery, after you tried to rip the bond away from Ezo and me?"

"I'm trying to save him." Her hands were clenched into fists, and she squared her shoulders.

"You begged me to leave him after Pramas, and I did, because I still hoped that distance would dissolve the bond. Because I was still struggling to accept that it was permanent. We both know it is now. Trying to unravel our bond won't help him."

"Your bond is dangerous!"

"Our magic bound us together to protect us. You're a healer, Alvrey. Why am I even arguing with you about it? You already know the truth. This isn't even about Ezo. It's about you and your fear of me."

"I've been to Shafra and seen the damage you've done." Alvrey took a step forward, and Kammon let loose a small burst of wind, just enough to warn her that he was prepared for another attack if she tried.

"You can stop now," Ezo said from behind Kammon.

Kammon hadn't heard him approaching, but Ezo would have felt the moment he reached for magic.

Kammon expected Alvrey to look contrite as Ezo joined him, but she stood her ground. Her frown deepened when Ezo stepped in front of Kammon, pressing his shoulder into Kammon's chest for a point of contact.

"Have you ever seen what he did, Ezo?" she asked. "Have you heard the way people speak of the Calamity? They fear him for a reason."

"Kammon isn't the problem. He's never attacked me. You're the one I have reason to fear."

"You approached me with a purpose, Alvrey?" Kammon cut in. "What do you want?"

"I want you to understand why I did what I did."

"I do. I won't condone it or accept it, though," Kammon said.

"But-"

"Did you really think I would?" Kammon understood why she worried about them together, but did she expect his support in what she'd done? "You did. Because I agreed that Ezo'd be better off bonded to someone other than the Calamity, you believed I would stand aside and let you destroy what we have."

"I thought you'd do what was best for him," Alvrey said.

"I decide what's best for me," Ezo countered. Ezo turned to face Kammon. "Let's go. We have plans to make."

Kammon didn't want to give an enemy his back, but there was nothing left to say to Alvrey. As they'd journeyed together, he'd hoped that she and Ezo could reconcile their differences. Now he knew Alvrey would never accept his place in Ezo's life. She saw the destruction Kammon had caused as one of the War-Sworn, and she refused to see that he wasn't that man.

Ezo walked through the door to Maggie's cabin, but stopped just inside. Kammon noticed that Ezo held the door open for him and kept his eyes on Alvrey as he waited.

Ezo had been furious with her for what she'd done before, but he'd never treated her as a threat. Now, he was on guard against her and was making sure she didn't attack Kammon behind his back.

It was both appreciated and heartbreaking at the same time.

Kammon took one last look at Alvrey. "Thank you for helping us find Maggie, but it might be best if you start your preparations for your journey to Jaroh and the players. We no longer need your guidance."

He walked into the house before she could speak again. Ezo was right. They had plans to make with Maggie, and Alvrey was just a hindrance now.

Author's Note: Alvrey did what she did out of love for Ezo, but what now? Will she ever be able to earn back Ezo's trust? Or will she disappear into the story, mourning for her friendship? What do you think?