Eclipse

Eclipse: Chapter 7

Eclipse: Chapter 7

by

Spottedleaf9 and Dracanoth Dereal

(Valisilwen)

As time passed, I became increasingly hopeless. I was not given another chance to rebel so splendidly as I had before. I needed time to change and I wasn't ever alone long enough to do so. Besides that, the beast blood appeared to be sleeping within me; shocked into some kind of dormant state by the ordeal I went through in it. That distressed me. One of my biggest flaws as a hero was the fact that whenever I lost a power, I would get withdrawn and pine over it. I hated being powerless.

I watched as Dracanoth began his research and kept my knowledge of Black Books to myself. He'd find out about them soon enough anyway. They didn't need to know that there was on a shelf in my room back in my manor; a mere handful of miles from where we camped. I hadn't heard from a courier and this made me thankful. It meant that my letter had been heeded and no one was going to come and help me. It made me feel somewhat abandoned, but it was only what I had asked for. I couldn't stand the thought of losing a Shield-Brother or Sister to this man or his confusing accomplice.

I was starting to lose my edge; cooped up in the small hut with two men who watched me like hawks for the first signs of claws or fur and fangs. Getting tired of it, I turned to Dracanoth one evening as he stood pouring over books on the layout of my country. I gave a cough to let him know I was standing behind him. "I think we should go to town. I'm bored. Surely that's one thing you can understand. Boredom? I'm always adventuring and now that you're watching me so closely, I don't even room to attempt your assassination again."

He glanced up from his book for a moment to inquire what I wanted before returning to his book. "Is there something of importance you need from town?"

"Yes, actually. I need to get something." I purposefully, pointedly left it blank; hoping he would be able to pick up on subtlety. "For myself. If you could just allow me to go into town, I'd be right back. No tricks." I was being honest. I sincerely needed herbs. "I've just run out of some things. If you haven't noticed, I feed myself and generally take care of myself apart from whatever you and Michael take part of."

He gave a slight sigh before replying. "I would like to continue to work as long as possible to get Horny out of those blasted lands, but I have all the time in the world. Fine, I will be accompanying you. Michael you can stay here and research." I assumed he went with me instead of Michael because he was the only one capable of incapacitating me. "Keep researching the layout of the land. I'll look over your notes when I return."

Only slightly upset by this, I was still happy to get outside. It wasn't like I could run from Michael anyway. I let myself partially change when we entered town; to the point that my features were still all high elven, but I had heightened senses. When we passed by my manor on the way to the market district, I took a deep breath; drinking in the scents in the air. I could smell Erith, but it was long since fading. Good, then. This meant she had left when I wanted her to. I cast my nose to the air again, taking a long breath as if I were enjoying the scent of fresh baked bread floating through the air. "Smells like home." I half-lied. It wasn't home without the strong scent of Erith wreathing through my nostrils like a kitten around one's ankles. I ducked into the general goods store and nodded a hello to Sayma. "Hello, grandma." She and I were rather close. I was with most people. I'd never made a single nasty transaction in my life and only used my speech skills to avoid fights. "I'm here for my usual herbs. For the pain. I recently changed." She knew I was moon-born and thought nothing of it because she also knew I had a kind soul and cared only to save just lives.