The Believer

Chapter Eight: Casey Caster Meets Helewis Bronsky

Thea was terrified.

"They might be in bad need of a healer," Wilky said calmly, hopping to her feet. Thea grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back down, speaking softly.

"Wilky, you can't..." Her voice trembled.

Wilky gave her a disapproving look. "There's no need to be so grumpy about everything, you know." she got up again and this time Thea was unable to stop her. Wilky had already crossed to the door and pulled it open. A tall young man stepped inside, wearing dusty leather and a forest green travelling cloak, the hood of which shadowed his face. He was armed with two long daggers at his waist.

He stepped into the light and pulled down his hood, revealing a grubby but handsome face, framed with sandy hair.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"I'm Wilky. The healer, Mister Figweave, he's back there," Wilky said, pointing. The young man seemed unconcerned with Wilky, his gaze sweeping around the room and landing on Thea. Wilky followed his gaze, and saw that Thea was now hiding under the table. Wilky turned back to the cloaked man, only to receive a sharp blow from the hilt of one of his daggers. She collapsed to the floor, unconscious.

"You're not Draegon," Thea said accusingly, voice shaking. "Who are you? Are you working with him?"

"I am," the young man replied, a subtle smile perched on his thin lips. "My name is Helewis. He told me to find you."

"What's going on? Is everything-"

Everything happened in an instant. Figweave darted into the room, and was beginning to kneel by Wilky when there was a glint of cold steel that hit Figweave in the throat with a meaty thunk, and sent him flying backwards into the wall. Helewis crossed to the body and yanked his dagger from the man's neck, wiping the blood on Figweave's shirt, and sheathing the blade.

Thea's body trembled like a leaf in the wind. This man, Helewis, was terrifying and dangerous, not to mention her enemy. She didn't know why she was still clutching the hilt of her sword, which was too heavy for her anyway. He was a thousand times the fighter she could ever be.

Her eyes drifted to Wilky's body, so weak and vulnerable. A pang of guilt shot through Thea. At least Helewis hadn't knifed Wilky in the throat, but she was still unconscious and would have an awful headache after this was over.

That man's death is my fault, Thea thought. I should give up now, before anyone else gets hurt because of me. I was a fool to believe I could ever make it to freedom.

"Sorry about that," Helewis said. "And stop shaking, if Draegon wanted you dead, you'd be lying in a pool of your blood by now." he held out a gloved hand. "Come out from under the table. I know that sword is too heavy for you, and honestly, I don't want to hurt you."

By his expression, he looked sincere. Thea let go of her sword and retreated farther under the table, rather than choosing to take his hand. If she could stall for time, maybe something would happen.

But then, when did Thea ever stumble upon good fortune? She had always been told that women were cursed and men were blessed, and this was a fate she could not hope to escape. When she ran away, Thea had hoped she could be escaping that world, a world where her very existence was a sin. She had thought that the choice to believe was her own, and if she didn't believe she was cursed, maybe she wouldn't be.

Now she knew that no matter what she believed, she could not escape the truth. It had followed her this far. It was a losing battle.

"Please, Avina, don't make this difficult."

"I'm the one you should be worried about making things difficult!"

Suddenly, Casey was in front of her, wand pointed threateningly at Helewis. His oak colored hair stuck up on one side, and his clothes were wrinkled from sleeping in them for so long. Still, Thea could have cried with the relief she felt. Perhaps this wasn't over yet.

There was a flash of silver, followed by Casey yelling something Thea didn't understand, and a bright flash of red light.  Helewis's dagger fell to the floor with a clatter.

"Oh. A wizard," Helewis said simply, eyebrows raised in comical surprise.  He was unfazed by his failure to embed his dagger in Casey's chest.

"You..." Casey muttered. "You're Helewis Bronsky, aren't you?  I have to say, your wanted posters don't do you justice."

"And who are you?" Helewis replied, smirking a bit.

"Casey Caster," Casey said, with a little smile. He'd never thought much about Helewis Bronsky as being very charming, but he had to admit, he was. "Savior of Atlo Marine, Prince of Cordia and trained wizard, at your service."

"Ah, I've heard of you." Helewis said slyly, nodding. "But only in passing."

"I didn't claim to be world famous," Casey shot back. "Whereas your face is pasted in every city from Cordia to the South Fathom!"

"So it is," Helewis acknowledged. "But they haven't caught me yet, have they?"

"It appears they have not," Casey admitted.

Thea was less scared now and more confused. She finally moved out from under the table. "Casey," she hissed. "We should go!"

Casey and Helewis glanced over at Thea, as if they had only just now remembered she was there.

"Terribly sorry, Caster, but I've got a job to do," Helewis said, drawing his remaining dagger in one swift movement, and stooping to collect the other one off the ground. They glinted gold in the dim candlelight. "So if you would step aside."

Thea grabbed Casey's shoulders. "Casey! Do something!"

Casey looked uncertainly between the two.

Helewis waved one of his daggers at Casey. "Move! I really, really don't want to kill anymore than I have to."

"You just don't want to kill me," Casey accused, grinning.

"Don't be ridiculous," Helewis scoffed. "I'll hurt you if I have to."

Casey narrowed his eyes. "Would you really?"

"PYA!"

A blue light hit Helewis in the chest, and he flew backwards against the wall before slumping to the floor. Wilky was propping herself up on the floor and grinning widely, her staff pointed at the place where Helewis had been standing a second before.

"Now, there was no reason to do that," Casey scolded her, crossing to stand over Helewis, and tucking his wand back in his belt.

"Sorry," Wilky apologized, clambering to her feet. "I thought he was threatening you."

"It's alright," Casey sighed.  "You did help, sort of."

"What are we going to do with him?" Thea asked.

"We'll take him with us," Casey told her. "As our prisoner! What else?"

Hello everyone!  It's good to be back and writing again.  As always, thanks for reading, and please leave a vote or a comment if you enjoyed!  Thank you so much!  You're awesome.