Flower Falls and Crystal Calls

Challenge

Chapter 31

The rest of the festival week flew by much faster than either Caius or Elle wished it to. Nothing was said to either of them about her absence at the compound each night. Yeul even went so far as to reassure her that it was expected with the season, and intimated that with the traders incoming and the extra workload it might happen more often even after the first week was finished. When that had happened, Elle wondered if it had been on purpose, but didn't dare ask. She still wasn't about to give up the opportunity either.

The downside to the whole thing was the fact that both she and Caius were required to go back out on patrols after the festival was over. Not that it was too different than what they had been doing before, but it was extremely frustrating to have to sleep feet away from each other instead of wrapped up together on the few nights they did end up sleeping outside the city in camp. Neither of them felt that most of their team would condemn them, but it would still make things awkward, so they kept their distance.

They also kept their professionalism in the field. They both had enough experience to know that being distracted with monsters around would only lead to injuries, so that was not an acceptable state of mind. Neither of them lacked focus when they were outside of the city.

The same could not be said when they were in the city. It wasn't that they acted inappropriately in public, as they were both aware of their positions, but there were many times that they caught each other smiling for no reason, or the brush of a hand caused a smirk as they passed each other.

Given their discussion, they had decided that it would be best to keep things quiet. Not that they felt it was wrong or bad, but they were both aware of how the public could react. Neither of them wanted the public involved in their relationship at all. For the most part, they were successful, though there were a few that did not miss the signs that things had changed between them.

Laer was one of those people. He had suspected for some time that it would be a possibility. Before either of them even, but the first time he saw them on a hunt after the festival, he almost walked away. He felt like a knife had been plunged into his gut when he caught Elle smiling up to Caius with sparkling eyes. She practically glowed, and it was stunning, and the most painful thing he had ever seen.

Still, he could not hold it against the man. He sighed and turned away from the sight. He knew he should say something to them. Warn them of the possibilities of the troubles that they could face, but that would have to wait. He could accept this, he could even wish them well, but he could not do so with them in his face. Not yet.

After that hunt, he made sure he was never on their team again. He knew it would be upsetting for Elle, as they were close friends, but he needed time and space. Instead, he transferred to Mirus' team. Thankfully, the older Ballad twin no longer seemed to be so focused on the Apprentice and his charge. It was easier to forget his worries when everyone around him wasn't worried about it either.

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Things were hectic for the next several weeks while the autumn trading season finished, but to Elle, they couldn't have been better. She spent nearly every night with Caius. Whether it was in his bed or out in the fields, they were hardly separated. She had dated in the past, but she had never felt like this before. She was hesitant to put words to what she felt. The thought of it scared the hell out of her, especially since she knew she would most likely eventually have to leave, but she couldn't deny that for the moment, she was the happiest she had been since she was a girl and her mother was still alive.

No matter how much she wanted to freeze time, life did not always agree, and that fact was made more than clear one day near the end of the final week of the trading month as the last of the traders were packing up to leave. Caius and Elle were in the largest of the city squares. Elle had been laughing at Caius' hatred of the cold as she splashed the slightly chilly water on him, but their attention was jerked to the side when they both heard a loud voice call out. "Paddra Sol-Caius!"

Praes had stalked into the square, and everyone in front of him had scattered. Elle froze with her heart in her throat at the look he was giving Caius. Whatever was going on, it was obviously something important, as her lover had stood to his full height and faced his mentor with a frown.

Neither man moved right away, though the people that had been in the square all scattered to the edges to leave the area between them clear. The silence that had descended was eerie and had Elle's skin crawling. She suddenly had a horrible feeling that she knew what this was and wanted to pull Caius back. Before she could act on that feeling, her attention was drawn when she caught sight of Yeul stepping in front of Praes. Had it not been so silent, she might not have been able to hear the girl, but as it was, her voice carried across the square.

"Do not do this, Praes."

"Is that an order?"

Yeul did not speak right away. When she said nothing, the Guardian looked down at his charge almost apologetically, but the look quickly changed back to the scowl he had been wearing. "It is my duty to ensure that you are looked after. That includes making sure I pick the person I believe will be able to one day best me and take my place. I thought I had found that person, but I can see that is no longer the case. I cannot allow this to continue."

Yeul did not budge. "You do not know that he is not dedicated to me. He may still beat you. Do not. Please."

Praes laid a hand on her shoulder, and his gaze softened once more. "If the Goddess sees fit to grant him the strength to beat me, then so be it. Perhaps then he will have his priorities straight. This is one thing in which I cannot follow your wishes." Yeul lowered her head as her long time guardian stepped past her to face the one man she had known her whole life. The man that had been like a brother, and one she had cared for more than most people ever knew. She raised a prayer to the Goddess that this path was the correct one, no matter the outcome, though she could not turn to watch it.