Flower Falls and Crystal Calls

Let Sleeping Emissaries Lie

Chapter 5 

Elle hadn't realized she had fallen asleep until she felt herself being lifted. Her instincts had her reacting without thinking before she was fully awake. The knife she kept at her waist was out and placed against the ribs of whoever it was that was holding her. The man froze before he even straightened all the way.

She opened her eyes to see Caius looking down at her with shock. She released a long breath and pulled the knife back. "Sorry. Gut reaction."

Caius finally finished standing, but he was still giving her an evaluating look. "Do you always carry a knife?"

She pushed against his chest. "Would you put me down?"

He sighed and did as she asked. Once she was on her own two feet, she stepped back and looked around. It was fully dark, and she cursed. She had promised to get back before the compound locked for the night. No wonder they sent Caius after her. What was he? Was he an apprentice? Either way, it didn't matter. She sighed and put the knife back in the hidden sheath. "To answer your question, yes. At least one." She paused and held out a hand.

He looked at it with some apprehension. This woman had already proven herself to be just as unpredictable as any warrior he had encountered. When she sighed and dropped her hand, he watched her shrug. "Look, I don't blame you for anything. I just wanted to apologize. It seems we've gotten off to a rough start. All I know is I was shoved into this without being asked first, and I'm still trying to figure it out."

His brow drew down, and it was several moments later before he said anything. "Praes told me he saw your mark. You were branded by the Goddess. Is it true?"

Elle laughed bitterly and pulled back the edge of her top. "I guess that's what this is. It's what Yeul said it was anyway. I know it wasn't there before."

Caius' eyes widened. "I have never seen that symbol."

"That makes two of us."

Silence fell between them at that. Finally, Elle looked into the darkened city with a sigh. "I'm sorry you had to come after me. I didn't mean to fall asleep up here. I just had a lot on my mind, and this was the closest I could get to open air without leaving the city."

Caius watched her for a few moments as she looked up to the stars. It had taken him hours to finally track her down. Praes had called him into the Seeress' chamber only for Yeul to tell him that for the time being, he was to be assigned to both guard and guide the Emissary. He had once again questioned the reasoning behind the order, but not aloud. By the time he had followed her, she had disappeared. He had been aggravated, but there was still a part of him that had been impressed. With her appearance, it should not have been as simple for her as it had been. It was only the fact that someone had spotted a person on top of the Learner's and Healer's quarters and had reported it to the guard that he had even known where to look.

As he looked at her now as she watched the stars, she seemed every bit the small and fragile woman he thought she was as he saw her sleeping. Though he felt that was the façade and not her true face. He doubted a fragile person would be willing to struggle as she had. He finally broke the silence. "Emissary, I believe I owe you an apology as well. Perhaps we can start anew with the day tomorrow. I have been asked to guide you. For tonight, please allow me to take you to suitable sleeping quarters."

Elle turned to him with a dark look. "Alright, if we have any chance of getting along at all, then we need to get one thing straight. My name is Elle. Not Emissary, not anything else that Yeul might tell you. Elle." She stepped up and held up her hand again.