Espex The Demon Mage. (1)

Chapter 11: A Long Wait.

Within the small building Haya had brought Samth to, or in her opinion stole her to. It was only two rooms big, a large area for cooking, sleeping and generally sitting around and the other room was a toilet and small tin bath. Haya had lead her in and placed her on a small wooden chair next to a table.

"Stay there lass. I will go find a bandage for your wound." Haya said in his weird accent much like Espexs.

The word lass it was what Espex had called her. He rarely ever called her by her birth name. Maybe it was a trait people from where Haya and Espex came from. Samth just nodded and sat quietly brushing the now short blonde hair. The first hair cut she ever had was thanks to Espex, it may be her last. All she could think of was Espex dying, he was surrounded by countless knights, and poor Grix he had been kicked and left. He fought the hardest to defend Samth. Haya rummaged around the small house for bandages, slowly making a mess of the already pretty messy shack. In the corner a sad Samth noticed a book case full of books about magic and mana. She pulled herself up of the chair and wondered over. Haya unaware she had left her chair was face deep in a small box. The books were old and used. Some had their names rubbed away by age. One that caught Samths interest was a thick purple book that had a red piece of cloth in it. Its title weird 'The Mana of Outer'. Samth opened it but before she could even read one word on the old book it was gone from her hand. Standing behind her was Haya holding the book.

"Ah you can't read this book, sorry" Samth jumped from his voice frightened.

She spun round "How do you do that? Do you teleport?" Haya laughed "Why can't I read that book?"

Haya lost his laughter and asked Samth to sit and he would explain. "Ok first up. This little house or shack or cottage, is a hideout Espex and I used to use back in the day. Still is sometimes, this place is where he used to come and train. This book" Holding it up at Samth "Is what he learned from his special birth mana. He wrote it all down in this. I simply can't let anyone see it, Sorry." Samth looked a little upset. She however did not blame the wrapped up mummy he had just met her, how can he trust her? "Also I didn't teleport. Did Espex never talk about me?" Samth just moved her head side to side. "Figures, well then let me formally introduce myself. I am Haya of the northern winds and fastest being in all of Hyarod. "Under his breathe he muttered more "self-proclaimed. You see I use Light mana to travel."

Samth sat amused at his introduction; he was far less serious than Espex. She liked this bandaged man. "Hello Haya, I am Samth daughter to Yath tavern keeper. Pleased to meet you Haya." He bowed his head revealing his short white hair once more. A moment of silence and calm followed before Samth followed up her greeting with a question. "Is it ok if I sleep for a while Haya?"

"Not at all lass the bed is over there." pointing his unbounded white hand at a poor sack of cloth of the floor. "It's not much am afraid but good for needs."

"First let me bandage your head." Samth just nodded and Haya wrapped her head a few times with some cloth he found in the run down shack. "This will do nicely."

Quietly Samth nodded "Thanks that will do."

"I will let you sleep for tonight, don't worry yourself lass. Espex is strong. He will be here in the following week I assure you. Now rest and forgets today's troubles." Haya walked out the shack with the purple book in tow. Samth made her way to the corner to the make shift bed. She lay herself on it gently and as comfortable as she could. The new clothes she got at Gord weren't as warm as the seal skin and she missed it now. Her firm smooth head lay on a piece of red cloth, felt like wool. She sighed as she looked around the room. A week of waiting she thought that's all and she and Espex will see each other again. In the back of Samths mind a fear grew, what if he doesn't come back and what if she is too weak to continue with him? These thoughts ran through her fragile mind until sleep took its sweet embrace and her big blue eyes closed.

Outside Haya stood up against the poorly maintained front door. He looked down at the purple book. "Of all the books on the shelf, she picks the one that you yourself fear." turning back at the door he chuckled. "Like it or not Espex, She is somehow part of your destiny. Like it or not." With that a sudden spurt of light appeared swallowing up Haya and taking him away from sight, leaving Samth alone to sleep.

Walking through the back alley of the streets of Gord Espex scuttled. His clothes destroyed and his breath gone. He paced slowly hoping not to run into knights. The sun setting and the large walls shadowing more of the city than usual it was hard for Espex to see. He used the walls as a walking stick, keeping his balance. He needed rest but he needed out of the city. His mana all but gone, his only hope was getting his white ghost skin bare against the cold stones of Gord homes. His mouth has still not ready for his new sharp back teeth, blood ran out his blood from biting himself.

"Damn, I need a break."

People passed by him, neither looking nor caring. This did not bother Espex he didn't want attention right now. Minutes of walking his feet cut from the unkempt rocks below and his body frail. He leaned against a wall and stood for a minute mustering up energy to move on.

"Come on, I can do this,"

Pushing himself off the wall he continued forward towards a secret exit and entrance to the city. Half hour of walking and he had made it. A hole no bigger than a child, was in the great white wall.

"Ha, at last."

Espex got to his knees and arms and slowly shuffled painfully forward through the hole. It was narrow and dark. Espex had forgotten how thick the wall was. This hole was made by Mages to exit the city, when being hounded by bounty hunters. He shuffled and squished his way through the narrow hole until he saw light once more. Reaching the outer wall he felt grass. It was a nice feeling. A healing touch. His eyes sore from the light though not a lot of it still enough for slight blindness.

"Nowhere to run now Espex" Bitter voice, the voice of someone with a lot of hate, Kruems voice.

Espex looked up to see Kruem and more knights of one. Kruem looked pale his face drenched of blood. His arm missing now covered with his bloody cape. "I don't care about the kings orders! Today you die!" Espex had no energy to even stand let alone fight. He plummeted to the ground and just waited for the embrace of a blade.

Under his breath he whispered "I am so sorry Samth. I was going to show you such sights. Forgive me and......good bye." Tears rolled from his glowing purple eyes.

Samth in the small shack eyes opened. All that ran through her head. Espex.

UM9RY^:3