The Catalyst

Chapter 54

As day faded to dusk and the sky took on a cobalt shade, mountains gave way to hills, their snowy tops bathed in moonlight. Noah, Dharkan and Kili picked up the pace. Luck remained on their side even as star-spangled blackness claimed the sky.

"Look up!" Kili exclaimed. A pink fire blazed across the heavens, like giant, luminous ribbons dancing playfully over the mountains. The silence around them grew vast and reverent.

"A pink aurora," Kili breathed. "It's a rare sight. The world is joyful tonight."

Noah wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her cold cheek. She smiled and pressed herself closer as he looked back up at the sky. She must be right. He'd only ever seen the green lights before.

"All right," Dharkan grumbled from a few paces ahead. "Romantic moment over. I'm freezing, starving, and thirsty. Move, move!"

They hurried after him. The northern lights continued to illumine their path all the way to Dedrifel.

Noah still had some gold left from when he'd healed Jaden. Once in town, they found a tailor who was willing to reopen her shop after Noah showed her the color of his coins.

The plump, middle-aged woman took one look at Kili and nodded knowingly. "I reckon I have something for her."

She moved to a rack of dresses, rummaged about, and came back with a simple corseted dress in ivory and russet tones, with long sleeves and slits on both sides for riding. Kili started to undress in front of everyone, until Noah ushered her behind a rack of coats.

"Sorry," she said sheepishly.

"Did your people walk around naked or something?" Noah asked, amused.

Her expression grew thoughtful. "It depended on the weather."

"Oh . . . Actually, that makes sense."

"Guys," Dharkan called, "could we not spend the whole bloody night here?"

Noah reluctantly stepped away from the rack of coats.

The tailor helped Kili with lacing the corset, then she fetched ankle boots and a black cloak. Noah paid for everything and thanked her again.

"Ah, well," she said, "I can't say no when people really need my help." Then she turned to Kili. "If I may offer a piece of advice, dear?" The tailor flipped over a few strands of Kili's hair, the parting now in the center instead of the side to properly hide the spider web tattoo.

"There, all better. You seem like a sweet young lady, but between the color of your hair and that dark paint on your lips . . . Well! At least now people won't think you're a dark mage." She winked. "I'm the tolerant sort, you see, but not everyone is like me."

Kili scratched the back of her neck, a shy smile on her lips. "Thank you."

As they walked back out in the cold night, Dharkan announced, "Next stop, ale and food!"

"I think my stomach is trying to eat itself right now," Noah said.

Kili's stomach rumbled. "I could eat a whole deer to myself!"

They made their way across quiet cobblestone streets before finding the inn where Dharkan and Noah had stayed three nights ago. Noah soon became grateful he'd tipped generously after the innkeeper had agreed to keep Shadow in his stables, because the kitchens were about to close, but the innkeeper recognized him and told the cook to prepare three more servings of whatever was left

"And three pints of your best ale!" Dharkan requested.

They sat by the fireplace with content sighs. Kili took off her cloak and draped it across the back of her chair, then she caught Noah staring.