Search for the Extinct [Last of Elves book 2]

Thirty-Two: Kuraĝon

Kuraĝon

She didn’t know how her brother had convinced the priestess, but they were allowed to leave that night. She didn’t question him.

Late that night, as the full moon rose to shine her cold light over the temple’s courtyard, the horses were saddled. When she’d found that her mare would be staying, and that she would be riding a horse of the temple, she lost her temper again. She had to find him.

“Pig’s piss! To hell with you, Ali. You damnable, flea-ridden, pig’s pissed scumbag. I hope you drown in fire, you miserable, rotten, no-good, arrogant elf.”

Her curses were audible to everyone in the courtyard, and the warriors looked at her with new appreciation.

“Damn you, Ali!”

As she’d expected, he was with his stallion. Of course. He would be able to take his horse, but she wasn’t allowed to take her own. She stormed over to him, fury flashing in her eyes.

“What were you thinking?” she demanded, furious. Behind her, Vakt growled, his tail lashing as he glared at any warrior who came near them.

“I was thinking you wanted to leave, little sister.”

She stamped her foot, and immediately felt like a child. “Ali, not on that horse! I want my own!”

He sighed, and faced her. “If you want to stay, then stay.”

She gaped at him. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that I’m not telling you what to do. You’re old enough, Kuraĝon.”

She shivered. He hadn’t said her full name for years. She took a step back. “I don’t understand, Ali,” she whispered.

At last, kindness softened his expression. “He’s calling me, Kura,” he said gently. “I can’t resist any longer. I have to go to him.”

Her mouth dropped open again. “Wh – what are you saying?”

“I have to leave. No matter what you say, or the priestess, I’m leaving tonight. The call is too strong for me to withstand it any longer.”

She struggled to draw breath. “Were … were you going to tell me?” she whispered. “At all? Or were you just going to vanish, like you did before?” Her voice had risen until she was shouting at him, not caring about any humans that could hear her. She glared at her brother, furious that he would consider leaving her again. “You promised, Ali! You said that you would never leave me! You were going to break your promise!”

“Kura,” he said softly, reaching out to her. She recoiled from him, unable to not see the burn scars that were still on his hands. All that they reminded her of was the priestess, and how he’d chosen to leave her instead of stay with her.

“You were going to leave me,” she repeated, almost whimpering. To her shame, she felt tears fall down her cheeks, and she turned away, hating herself.

She couldn’t let him see that she was crying.

It didn’t seem to matter, for the next moment she felt his arms around her. She held herself stiff and tense at first, trying to refuse his comfort, but it didn’t last long. He was her brother, and she couldn’t keep herself apart from him.

With a sob, she buried her face in his shirt, crying as silently as she could.

“Kura,” he said quietly, and she felt the vibrations go through her. “Kura, I didn’t want to scare you. I know you hate wandering. You have roots, roots that I’ve never been able to have. If I lose you …” He trailed off, and then seemed to force himself to continue. “Kura, you are my roots. If I lose you, nothing will keep me anywhere. I need you to stay safe.”

At last, she looked up at him, wiping the tears away from her face. “I can’t leave you. I’m coming with you.”

He stared into her eyes for a long time, searching, and finally nodded. “If that’s what you wish. I will always come back to you, little sister. I promise you that. I won’t leave you again.”

His scars were the painful reminder of the first and only time he’d broken a promise, and she could never forget that. Despite that, she nodded, hugging him all the more tightly.

“I’m coming with you,” she repeated.

And with those words, he smiled slightly, the first she’d seen in a long time. “Thank you,” he whispered, but she shook her head, refusing to speak more.

“Come on,” she muttered, still ashamed of her tears. “Let’s get going. The moon will go soon, and you wanted to be off.”

He nodded, and in silence, they finished their preparations, slipping out of the city under the light of the cold full moon. Three horses, three figures, two beastkins. One nightbird.

As always, she followed her brother. With horses that were clearly from the temple stables, they were no longer viewed with suspicion as they travelled, even though they both kept their hoods low.

Late Winter faded to Early Spring, and then changed to Midspring, with the beastkins growing even more playful with each other and the girl. Kú grew ever more stronger, learning how to hunt for herself, and how to put her ear-splitting call to use. Newborn animals were everywhere, often coming up to them. However, Kuraĝon didn’t think her brother noticed any of it.

He rode as if in a trance. Whenever she glanced at him, his eyes were either closed, or blank. A faraway look. It got to the point where she was leading his horse.

He was worrying her, but there was nothing she could do about it.

Aura was an easy companion. Because she had no voice, she couldn’t complain, but Kuraĝon was beginning to understand her extensive hand signals. As she’d expected, the girl was fascinated by the world outside the walls of Highstone, and the young elf found herself explaining what they were seeing, and any elfin legends that might be associated with them.

When she had time to herself, she refused to acknowledge that she was finding affection for the girl. It was only because she was Ailill’s daughter, she told herself. Deep down, she knew the true reason.

She was fond of the little girl.

This time her brother didn’t lead them all over the land. He seemed to be hearing something, something that was telling him exactly where to go. When Kuraĝon finally realised, she felt a chill in all her bones.

He was heading for the Forbidden Mountains.

It wasn’t long before Aura realised it as well. She was a brave girl, but even that scared her.

Why are we going there?

It was a silent question, communicated through her hands and eyes, but Kuraĝon was becoming much better at understanding. She glanced worriedly at her brother’s blank gaze. She was still leading his stallion.

“I don’t know,” she responded quietly. “I’ve never been this close to them, let alone through them.”

So you don’t know what’s on the other side?

Kuraĝon shook her head slowly, her gaze fixed on the looming mountains. They were huge, and she knew that they were still at least a day’s travel away from them.

“No, Aura,” she murmured. “I know nothing.”

For a long moment, the girl did nothing, and then her hands moved again, slowly enough for Kuraĝon to puzzle out their meaning. Will we return from where he’s taking us?

 Kuraĝon didn’t answer right away. She watched her brother, still leading them unerringly towards the Forbidden Mountains. At last, she spoke, not taking her eyes off him.

“He’s not … a normal elf, child. He’s always been slightly different to us.” She looked at the girl. “If anyone can cross the mountains and return, it’s him.”