Emerali: A War Song Tapestry

Chapter 15

Emerali slowly approached Devaen's house, her heart beating thickly, wondering how she was going to break the ice. The sound of blows and grunts interrupted her thoughts. She recognized Devaen's voice, and realized he was most likely sparring. She made her way around the house to the yard from which the sounds were coming.

Sure enough, Devaen was practicing his aerial combat skills against half a dozen clockwork training dummies using the Aetheric energy device he'd created. Despite the wintry air, Devaen was sparring bare-chested. The mere sight of him made Emerali shudder.

Devaen was striking violently at the dummies with cries that were almost savage. His powerful wings beat the air hard. Watching him, one would have thought he was locked in battle against an Asmodian legion. He landed a last crushing blow upon one of the dummies that sent its head flying away. It rolled to a stop at Emerali's feet.

"Whoa," Emerali muttered. She looked back up at Devaen, and after a moment's hesitation, she called up to him.

Devaen balked, hovering in mid air. The beating of his wings was the only sound to be heard. At length he slowly alighted and turned to face her. "Hello, Emerali," he said in a rather hollow voice.

Emerali advanced. "That was some battle you were having there; glad I'm not the dummy." She chuckled. "Seems your flight invention works like a charm."

"Yeah."

Emerali cleared her throat. "Aren't you cold?" she asked

"No; on the contrary, I'm hot. Anyway, it's part of elemental endurance training." Devaen replied, shortly.

"It looks more like self-inflicted punishment to me," Emerali remarked.

Devaen looked out to the horizon. "Maybe it's a little of that, too," he muttered. He turned an austere face back to her.

Emerali examined him briefly. "I came to talk to you," she said, softly.

Devaen shook his head emphatically and headed back to the house.

Emerali quickened her pace to keep up with him. "We have to talk about what just happened."

"It was a mistake."

"We both know it was no mistake. Please, stop walking away from me," Emerali said, her patience thinning.

"I don't want to do this now, Emerali," Devaen said, without checking his pace. He headed into his bedroom, Emerali at his heels.

"Damn it, Devaen, look at me!" Emerali snapped.

Devaen stopped dead and turned a surprised countenance to her.

"You can't just tell someone you love them and then expect them to pretend nothing happened," Emerali said, her voice softening.

"I wish it hadn't happened. I'm such a fool. I've destroyed a special friendship," Devaen said, his features darkening.

"No, you haven't," Emerali said.

"No? I can't stand beside you in battle now. All I did was create tension between us, and now nothing will ever be the same. I scorn my weakness and stupidity." Devaen turned his back to her and looked out the window.

Emerali's heart swelled. In that moment she realized a startling truth: not only did she love him with every fiber of her being, but she felt in the depths of her heart that she had loved him long before that day. Approaching Devaen quietly, she laid her hand gently on his shoulder.

"Please, Emerali, I don't want your pity. That just makes it worse," Devaen said acerbically.

Emerali remained silent. She ran her hand down his muscular arm and made him turn to face her. She laid her hand over his heart; his pulse had quickened and he indeed felt feverish.