Taste of the Fire

Chapter 4: Shea

I stared at Felix for a while until his aura died down to a point where I could actually leave him alone. What was Ozavior saying to him that irritated him so quickly? I shouldn't have brought Felix here, he is going to get into huge fights because of Ozavior. Who knows what would happen if I leave them two together as I go train with Master?

    I groaned in frustration and turned my horse around, galloping deeper into the woods alongside Master. I could feel his eyes on me which in turn only made me furious.

"What seems to be the matter, Shea?" he inquired.

I refused to speak, but that only increased my distress. "I am concerned about those two," I confessed, "It hasn't been thirty minutes and Felix was ready to snap at Ozavior."

"What do you mean by snap?" he questioned.

My horse whinnied as I continued to answer his questions, "Felix, when under a lot of stress or emotional discomfort, loses all control over his actions and does what his gut tells him to do at that instant. He becomes beastly; a lion with no leash."

"How did you figure out that he was going to snap then?"

"I truly don't know.. its like, I could feel his consciousness leaving his body and twisting in a threatening way, then I go and try to soothe him."

He looked forward and stooped under a branch, "So I assume you named it 'snap'?"

I nodded, "Whenever he snaps it hurts me sometimes. I guess it because we both spend time together a lot."

Master glanced at me, "Tell me why you brought him."

I really didn't know why. I thought I'd be able to keep my powers in check around him so that I don't go burning down trees and animals in the training. "I hate being around Ozavior, so I thought maybe Felix could keep me company."

He hummed in response and made may into a small clearing near a creek. I called on the boys, to set up camp.

"Where are we going, Master?" I said.

He smiled, "Vahili". I grinned in return, my old training grounds.

We tied our horses to a low branch and brought out our packed cases of food for dinner. I took care of the fire, Felix gathered the wood, and Ozavior cooked. The Master used his magic to set up his own tent and remained in there.

"Hey hot head, why did you bring him?" Ozavior asked as he barbecued his meal over the flame.

"So that I don't have to listen to your voice all day."

"Jeez, did I make you that mad already? I didn't even try," He smirked.

I sighed deeply and looked at him, "Look. Don't bother him ok? He can severely hurt you."

He laughed, "He can't hurt me!"

"But I can."

He shut up and looked at his food, "Shea.. listen," his voice suddenly filled with agitation, "There is a darkness inside him. It's not the darkness that you and Master were talking about."

My head snapped towards him, "How did you hear us?"

"That's not important," he leaned in closer, "I felt his power and saw blackness. Like the night sky. He isn't human isn't he..?"

I shook my head, "No, he is a Half-Elf."

He gawked at me, "Seriously? What type of Half-elf?"

It suddenly hit me that in the years I've been ruling, I never asked Felix how he was doing after I left or about his past. I heard stories of me exploding into a body of flame and then getting taken by Master, then of me saving the city, but no one told me what happened in the years I was gone. I suddenly felt awful.