Soulfire: Knightfall

Chapter 4

    My efforts were in vain. I appealed to the Devine Council- let them know what happened. Instead of giving Skye Yeva a pardon or even reduced sentence, they charged her with resisting arrest, and aiding a criminal, along with her charges of theft. Her sentence? Two years in Reachcliffe Prison with no visitation rights. She was given an adult's sentence, even though she was still five days away from even being sixteen- the legal age of adulthood in Kellenya.
    That hellhole will probably kill her. She'll die alone in a cold cell. If she's lucky, she'll meet a quick death at the end of a prison shank. More likely she'll suffer for the entire time, then come out worse than the streets could have ever made her.

    That was over six months ago. I have no idea what's become of her thus far- no visitation rights and all that. I can only hope for the best. I tried my best. Why does she keep coming to me in my mind- that sad little face haunting me at the strangest moments of my life, like right now as I enjoy the spring day off with Alena. Guilt, probably. I sit here in freedom while she is stuck in a cage, or dead. Damn my conscience.

    But there's nothing I can do about it. Right? That's what I keep telling myself- what Alena tells me. I feel like I'm obsessing over this. What the hells is wrong with me? Damn it. I'm not going to focus on my failure.

    Alena and I have ventured just outside of Kalsimor for the day, enjoying a secluded area to ourselves- a picturesque hilltop with a shade tree. The green spring day, colored by fields of natural beauty accented by civilization's artistic structures. A view of the entire capital of Kellenya can be admired from our little spot. It's always been our spot. This was our place to escape when we wanted a quiet place to relax. It's where I asked her to be my wife seven years ago. It's where we go when we feel like forgetting the rest of the world.

    I close my eyes and lay back in the soft grass, resting my head next to Alena's as she lays peacefully next to me, just trying to let go of my failure to relax with Alena. My fingers find themselves slowly caressing her soft black locks, coaxing a quick giggle from her mouth. "You always touch my hair when you're carefully considering something." She knows me too well. Her eyes travel up and down my face for a moment before she rolls her eyes and scoffs. "Wait. You're not worrying yourself about that Aylarsi are you?"
    She knows me too well.

    I scoff at myself and nod. "Unfortunately."

    "You did all you could, Keith." She reminds me. "Stop beating yourself up over it. You can't always be a hero. Can't save everyone."

    "I feel like we've had this conversation before."

    She laughs and gives an affirmative. "Probably a hundred times." Alena bites her lip, then crawls on top of me, planting a kiss directly on my lips.
    "My brave knight." She says slowly with her smile growing on her perfect face. "Don't make it to where I have to save you, my dear."

    I laugh and roll her over, reversing our positions. "Save me from what, exactly?"

    "Your silly quest of being the baddest hero of all. From yourself. Pft. Men." She replies, then shakes her head in a sarcastic fashion. "Didn't you pass the mind-reading class in that fancy knight-school?"

    I laugh hard now. No such thing as mind reading- even for wizards, I think. The mind is protected by the Devine from invasion. Even demonic possession is impossible without the consent of the person being invaded. But, I assume that she's referring to the portion of classes dedicated to learning how to understand people's behavior and discerning the truth from lies. I was good at that class, but I can't read her mind.
    Alena is such an understanding and caring girl- always trying to lighten me up. She might not be the most educated woman in Kellenya, but she more than makes up for it in charm and kindness. You know- except towards Aylarsi.