When Magic Speaks - NaNoWriMo 2020✔️

22

"Taun?"

The non-uniformed Hural guard pressed himself up against the iron gate, his tight grip wrapped around it. Despite barely any time passing since the harvest festival, it felt as though it had been years since they'd seen one another. Maybe that was another magical quality Monmouth possessed. Taun stared with wild eyes at Wiss as she grew closer. It was as though he were looking at a total stranger.

"Wiss..." he whispered in disbelief. The air between them was stiff and cold, both of them could feel it. The haunting gaze of Taun looked even more eerie under the large shadows of the dark night. He looked at Wiss was a paranoid gaze as though a nightmarish creature would jump up from behind him and swallow him hole.

"What are you doing here?" Wiss ushered sharply. She glanced over her shoulder almost as though she too were paranoid that someone would catch her talking to a Huralian. 

Taun spoke matter-of-factly. "We're worried about you. We all are."

Lie.

Wiss leaned in closer as she spoke more softly. "How did you--"

"Marma knew." Of course she did. Marma knew all. "She misses you. She--" Taun's voice trailed off as he glanced over the young Quilm's shoulder at what appeared to be...trolls? He blinked with disbelief.

"Yes, Taun, they're trolls. They're trolls who are the kindest creatures I've ever met. If you or anyone from town are conspiring together..."

"No," Taun sighed. "No, the uh...town seems pretty relieved that..."

"I'm gone." Wiss wasn't even close to surprised. Hural hadn't exactly been very skilled at pretending to tolerate her. "Well, finally we agree on something."

Taun finally pulled his gaze away from the trolls who politely attempted to ignore him. He stared into Wiss's eyes with that searching gaze once again. "Wiss...are you okay?"

Wiss didn't waste a single breath. "I'm fine. In fact, I'm better than fine. I'm living in a place where I'm not only welcomed but respected and accepted. I couldn't ask for a better home."

"Home..." Taun's gaze drifted to the dark kingdom behind her. While it hadn't taken Wiss more than a moment to not only acknowledge but appreciate the beauty of Monmouth, Taun had to stop and stare but finally...he could see it. More than that he could feel it. It was faint mind you, but he could sense it. As he looked back at Wiss she had turned her head towards the trolls, nervously smiling at them. Still through the nerves of him being here Taun could see it - she seemed genuinely happy. Being Wiss's friend for nearly her entire life, Taun had mastered the illusive game of Wiss's true emotions. She wasn't very good at hiding them but she was skilled at masking them. And right now, she had nothing to hide. "We miss you, Wiss," he whispered faintly.

The young Quilm shook her head before Taun had even finished his sentence. "I'm not coming back."

Taun paused, exhaling quietly between his lips. He hung his head as he thought before looking back up at his friend. "Not even for Marma?"

Now Wiss wanted to say she would be much happier here but saying something like that would only convince Taun to spill the beans to Hural, convincing them to attack Monmouth. Not that they wouldn't care very much if the Quilms disappeared forever but, Marma had protected them from Wiss. Maybe they valued the elder Quilm now. Either way, Wiss would never forgive herself if Monmouth came under fire thanks to her. So instead she said, "she's safer with you."

As Wiss slowly backed away from the gate, she exhaled instinctively. She could breathe better, she could think better. She didn't want the guilt of Hural haunting her and as long as Taun continued to defend them, she couldn't be around him. "Tell Marma that I love her. Please. Tell her that I love her but that I know everything." As Wiss slowly walked away she paused, taking one last look back at him. "And please...don't let them attack my home."