Search for the Extinct [Last of Elves book 2]

Forty-One: Ailill

Ailill

It had been a long time since he'd been with the beastkin. Neither of them had forgotten anything though. Åska followed him everywhere, sticking close to his heels, keeping alert for anyone approaching. He knew that Aura was fascinated by the old male, and found it interesting that Åska hadn't reacted to her. He clearly seemed to know that she was of elfin blood, and thus deserving of his protection.

"Ali?"

He glanced up from where he was staring into the fire, looking at his sister. "Yes?"

She nodded down at the beastkins. "Is that normal?"

He frowned, following her gaze. Both of the younger beastkins had crawled to Åska's side, their heads resting on their paws as they growled softly. Åska was ignoring them, his eyes half closed as the firelight flickered in them. Ailill didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

"What's wrong, Kura?"

She huffed, narrowing her eyes at him. Across the other side of the fire, he could see the girl watching them, interested.

"What are they doing? They've never done it before."

Sometimes, he forgot that she'd never seen groups of beastkins. "Åska's the eldest," he explained, leaning forward to stoke the fire. They'd finished their meal a little while ago, but none of them were particularly eager to settle down to sleep. "Because of that, they show him that they'll listen to him."

"So why is he ignoring them?"

He smiled slightly, letting his fingers rub between the old beastkin's ears affectionately. "Because that's what he's like. He knows that they're only young. If you're lucky, you'll see him playing. If you're unlucky, you'll see him kill."

Aura shivered, inching closer to the fire as if she was cold. He met her gaze, waiting for the question that he knew would come.

Are we going back to Highstone?

He sighed, his fingers not stopping the slow movements. "For now, yes," he replied. He knew that she didn't want to. "If only to let the priestess know that you're still alive."

"But what about Åska?" his sister asked, nudging Vakt with her foot gently. The young beastkin left Åska, and rolled onto his back, wanting her to continue scratching his belly.

"What about him? He's not staying behind."

"But the humans ... They'll try to kill him, won't they?"

"Probably." He wasn't all that concerned. He was keeping an eye on Aura, making sure that if she had something to say, he wouldn't miss it.

"So you don't care?"

He grinned at her, intentionally riling her up. "Not really. He's survived this long, hasn't he?"

"But that was over the Mountains, Ali! There were no humans there!"

"There were once," he explained. "The city hasn't always been forgotten."

Ali?

He nodded to the girl. "Yes?"

What are you going to do? When we get to Highstone. What's going to happen?

He shrugged, starting to bank the fire. "I'm not staying. You won't either, will you, Kura?"

His sister shook her head, pale even in the flickering firelight. He hadn't expected any different.

"What you choose will be up to you, Stjärna. But Hunaja won't be able to stay if you do. It'll kill her." He was blunt with her, making sure that she understood. "If you decide to stay, she will stay with us. She's valuable."

How?

He shook his head slowly, trying to figure out how to explain. His companions stayed quiet, waiting for his response.

"She's the youngest," he finally answered. "Just as you are the youngest."

"What do you mean, Ali?" Kura asked him softly. "What's in your head?"

Again, he shook his head, this time not answering. At his feet, Åska moved, resting his great head on the elf's feet. Almost comforting.

I want to stay with you.

He smiled at the girl briefly. "I know you do. You'll convince your mother. Just be patient."

Aura nodded slowly, her dark eyes drifting down to stare into the flickering flames of the fire.

"Ali, are you going to enter Highstone?"

He nodded, his hands still moving over the dark fur of the beastkin at his feet.

"They'll take you! You know that!"

He shrugged, and she reached out to him.

"Ali! You can't be thinking that! They'll refuse to let you leave!"

He shrugged again. "Then I will die there." He kept his voice low, keeping an eye on the child. She was falling asleep where she was sitting, and he rose to go over to her. Gently, he laid her near the fire, Hunaja curling up at the girl's back, and covered her with a blanket. She shifted slightly, and then settled back into sleep. His sister had watched the whole time.

"You're fond of her." Her voice was equally as quiet, neither of them wanting to wake her.

"As are you," he replied, returning to his seat by the fire. He was tired, but he knew that he wouldn't be able to sleep yet. Not until they were safe at home.

She didn't deny it. "All those times you returned to the city. You were checking on her, weren't you?"

He nodded, not speaking.

"Why didn't you tell me anything? Why did you keep it to yourself?"

He sighed. "You hate the humans, Kura," he responded carefully, and continued, stopping her explosion of temper. "I know you have a good reason. I don't blame you. But, I needed to make sure she was safe. The way she was kept in the temple was suffocating her."

"And you being there helped?"

"Yes. You know that blood calls to blood. She knew I was there - she just didn't understand."
"I can't lose you Ali. Please."

He looked at her, meeting her eyes. "You won't," he promised. "Remember?"

She shook her head, hiding her expression. "I feel like I am," she said sadly. "To the girl, the woman."

He sighed, poking at the softly crackling fire. He couldn't deny her, not when he felt her drifting away from him.

Neither of them spoke any more, lost in their own thoughts. The rumbling snores of the beastkins were comforting, lulling them gently to sleep.