Elegy of the Leaves

IX | The Calm of Darkness

There was a darkness that crept between the trees. The sky painted its hue gold with the setting sun. Evan, Claire, and Vausse stared at Tahlia who continued to tug at Evan's hand around her wrist, trying to fly away.

Evan could feel she wasn't trying to really escape. If that were fact, she would've flown away with him holding her for his life. No, this was the feeble attempts of a deeper sorrow that made Tahlia pull at Evan.

"Tahlia..." Evan said, pulling her back to the polished wood of the deck. "You said you were the last of your kind, so why do you want to go to someplace that would only bring you misery?"

"You wouldn't understand, hume." Tahlia avoided Evan's gentle gaze. She her feet planted back on the planks.

"I lost my father, well, he abandoned my sister and I, really." Evan took a step toward her. "Still, I'd never known the true meaning of loss until then. My stomach turned with sadness and rage for at least a month. Whenever I think about it, the same twist of my gut returns." He placed a hand on his stomach.

"This place is the last connection I have to my people. I must go. I must put their souls to rest, but it must be alone."

"I can't let you do that, miss..." Vausse began.

"Arentahlia."

"Right. I have strict orders to—"

"I don't need to follow your orders. I am not a hume in your military!"

"But you are my charge. Be you an asset or liability is yet to be foreseen, girl. If I let you leave, I will have to take your life; although, I'm sure it will be mine that gets taken." Vausse paused. "I am aware that our alliance was once charged with protecting your kind from the Empire, but those times have long passed."

"They are like seconds to me. Your betrayal is still fresh upon my hearts." Tahlia's eyes narrowed.

"Then let us regain your trust!" Evan interjected.

"Evan!" Claire shouted.

"No, this is my duty, Fullwing. Sir! You put me in charge of Tahlia. I will go with her, and perhaps by helping her lay the souls of her people to rest show her we can uphold a once broken promise!"

"Sir," Claire turned to Vausse. "If Secondwing Montresser is permitted to go, then I ask that I accompany them as well. Evan has no real knowledge of anything outside of our home isle. He—"

"Sis!" Evan tried to interrupt.

"He cannot be without supervision from his commanding officer." Claire grunted over her brother.

"I concur. Secondwing Evan Montresser, you will allow your sister to accompany you. You will obey her orders in my stead. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"Tahlia, can I have your word you will allow my subordinates to assist you in repaying a small portion of our failure?"

"Is it the only way you'll let me go?"

"Until my superiors determine otherwise, yes. The alternative is that I order my soldiers to chain you until we're ready to set sail again."

"Fine." Tahlia spat. She turned to Evan, letting her eyes trail down his arm to her wrist. She could feel the heat of his palm through the leather of his gauntlet. She hesitated to pull her wrist from it. Despite her feelings towards Evan and his kind, she had missed the touch of another soul.

"Now get off the ship until Engineer Vausse clears it!"

"Yes sir!" Evan and Claire said.

Evan turned to Tahlia. Her eyes flicked to his then away. She held her shoulder as Evan let go of her wrist. Evan's brow knit together. He wondered if he'd seen a faint splash of rose flush onto her cheeks, but she leapt over the side of the ship before he could be sure. She gave a few strong wingbeats, and within moments she'd touched with grace upon the mossy stone that covered the edge of the isle.