The Forsaken Hero

My breath caught in my throat, my heart skipping a beat. He wore a crisp black tunic with black pants, embroidered with silver thread on the collar and cuffs. His horn and had a deep, lustrous sheen, and his tail swayed idly behind him. He was clean-shaven and neat, though his hair was tousled as always, a few dark strands falling across his brow.

When he saw me, he froze, his tail going rigid. His eyes widened, and his gaze slowly traced down my figure. A deep blush rose on my cheeks, my tail curling shyly, and I tugged at the hem of my neckline, trying to hide just a little more of my skin. The slight movement seemed to shake him from his daze, and his eyes snapped back up to mine. He cleared his throat, his own cheeks coloring.

”You look...nice,” he said, his voice low and a little rough.

I bit my lip to keep from smiling, my heart fluttering. ”You do, too.”

”What, this?” he tugged at his sleeve, chuckling. ”It’s a little unoriginal, I know, but not all of us have had time to pick up a wardrobe.”

My hand curled, gripping my bodice tighter. ”T-the maids insisted.”

He grinned, a warm, genuine smile that made my stomach do a flip. ”They have excellent taste.”

Luxxa coughed quietly and nudged me from behind, making my tail twist. Blushing, I made my way down the stairs, Luke meeting me at the bottom. He held out his arm for me, and I took it. Together, we walked through the entrance doors and out into the morning sun.

Anrynth was waiting for us, just as Selena promised. He wasn’t alone, either. Fyren stood beside him, arms crossed, while Fable paced behind the carriage. The horses whickered nervously whenever he crossed by.

”My Lady,” Anrynth said. ”Apostle. I am at your service.”

”Sorry to trouble you like this,” I said, bowing my head. ”I know this is more of a formality than a necessity.”

”My duty is to serve, whether in the manor or without,” he said with a smile.

A screech pierced the sky, and I looked up, shielding my eyes as Borealis swooped down. He made a pass for my head, but I ducked, narrowly avoiding him. Letting out a slightly less enthusiastic cry, he caught his descent with his wings, rising to settle on my shoulder.

”Hey! you’ll mess up my hair,” I protested, squirming as he nuzzled my cheek. I giggled, reaching up to stroke the feathers on his head. ”Alright, alright. I missed you, too.”

Luke watched us with an amused expression, while Fyren let out a low chuckle.

”Shall we?” Luke asked, guiding me toward the carriage.

I took a seat against the window, snuggled against the wall with Borealis in my lap. Luke followed after, and my tail drooped a little as he chose to sit across from me. It fell even more when Fyren pushed his armored frame through the entrance, sitting on the same side as me. Though we were on opposite walls, he was big enough we nearly touched.

”You’re coming?” I asked, trying to keep the disappointment from my voice.

Fyren glanced at me, and then at Luke. ”There’s too many rogues in this city to trust, no matter how charming they might seem.”

Luke rolled his eyes. ”She’ll be with me, what could possibly go wrong?”

Fyren grunted, letting his gaze drift to the window. ”Exactly.”

Luke scoffed, but as the carriage began to move, let the matter drop.

”So what exactly did you have in mind?” he asked. ”Do they have, uh...gardens, or something? A place to eat?”

I smothered a laugh. ”Luke, is that all you can think of?”

He flushed, looking down at his hands. ”Blacksand was the closest I’ve ever come to visiting a city before. Normally, when I pass through, the only thing to see are corpses and ash.”

”Oh,” I said, my smile fading. ”I...that wasn’t what I...”

He waved it off, leaning back against the seat. ”It’s fine. It just makes this all the more exciting. I’d rather my first time be with you, anyway.” He paused, his eyes widening. ”To the city, I mean!”

My cheeks burned, and I focused on stroking Borealis’s feathers. Fyren coughed, though it sounded suspiciously like a smothered laugh.

”I, um, was thinking of the flower market,” I said, ”THe last time I went, well...I didn’t get to see everything.”

”Flowers?” he blinked, glancing at the wreath on my head.

My hand crept to my head, touching the blossoms. ”It’s...silly. You probably don’t care about them. Sorry, we should just--””

”No,” he said quickly, reaching across the small space to put a hand on my knee. My heart skipped a beat. ”I’d love to see them.”

We rode in a comfortable silence for a time after that, the rhythmic clatter of the horses’ hooves and the swaying of the carriage a soothing lull.

It was over much too quickly, when the carriage rolled to a stop. The door opened, and Anrynth bowed, his hand outstretched. I took it, stepping out into a familiar garden. It was the same place we’d parked before, when Aerion had taken me around. The edge of the market plaza was just in view, peeking out behind a row of half-timbered buildings.

”Are you sure this is a good idea?” Fyren grumbled, emerging after me. ”This place is too open.”

Anrynth sighed. ”We can’t bring the carriage into the market, demon. We’ve been over this.”

Indeed, the streets were wide, but the stalls and open booths crowded from the edges, and the swells of elves made traversing it difficult.

”Hmm, you don’t quite fit the mood,” Luke said, coming to stand beside me. He was looking at Fyren, who had just stepped out, a towering, imposing figure against the backdrop of the bright, cheerful market.

Fyren’s lip curled in a slight sneer. ”I’m not here for a picnic.” He turned to me, and his face softened. ”Don’t wander too far. I’ll be near.”

With that, he strode away, he folded his arms, leaning against the carriage. Anrynth followed behind, leaving a detail of Sunsinger guards to watch the carriage.

”Ignore him.” Luke grinned, looking out at the plaza. ”So, flowers, eh? Lead the way.”

I did, my steps light and my tail swishing behind me. He followed close behind, the Star Guard trailing after. The Wildblossom Market had changed dramatically since my last visit. Enormous craters, some fifty feet across, marred the once orderly streets and ate chunks from buildings. But instead of ugly scars, they’d been smoothed over by magic, turned to gently slopping bowls or ponds amidst the greenery. Wooden bridges spanned the still waters, overlooking lily pads and floating flower baskets. Lanterns hung on the bridge struts, glowing faintly even in the sunlight.

”This is where you were attacked?” Luke asked, looking around in disbelief.

I nodded, staring around in wonder. So many shops and stalls had been ruined, but I never would have guessed the battle was only a few weeks past. There were less elves before, perhaps because of the early hour, but they wore smiles and traversed the new terrain with practiced ease. Some children ran by us, laughing as they dove for each other, playing a game of tag. I flinched as they got within a few steps, instinctively shrinking back against Luke.

”What is it?” he asked, moving into a more responsive stance.

”N-nothing,” I mumbled, biting my lip.

”Is that right?” he asked, raising his hand.

I watched, tail twitching, as my hand rose with his, gripping his sleeve.

”Apostle, it would be best if you kept anyone from brushing too close to Lady Xiviyah,” Luxxa said, stepping forward. ”We’re maintaining a close eye, but filtering this many people without causing a scene is difficult.”

”Ah, I understand,” Luke said, relaxing his stance. ”In that case, I’d better stick close.”

He stepped into me, and when I bounced off, he caught my other shoulder with his hand. I let out a squeak, going red, as he began to stroll toward a nearby bridge, dragging me along with him. After a few steps, I nestled against his side, tail twitching furiously.

He let go of me, taking the warmth and comforting strength of his hand from my shoulder. I looked up at him, feeling a thrill of unease. Why had he let go? Did I do something wrong?

”Sorry, I was just teasing,” he said, giving me a carefree smile. ”Didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

”I don’t mind,” I mumbled, gripping my skirt with both hands.

He leaned forward. ”Sorry?”

”Nothing!” I squeaked, turning away quickly, before he could see my blush.

We drew eyes as we entered the Wildblossom Market proper, and the elves naturally drifted away from us. But I didn’t mind the attention, barely even noticing the stares and whispers as we moved from stall to booth, admiring the exotic blossoms and colorful bouquets. I watched Luke from the corner of my eyes, noting his smile as I fawned over the white lilies, or how he stood a little closer whenever an elf brushed by. After almost twenty minutes, I stopped, turning to him with a worried look.

”Is it alright? You don’t like them?” I asked in a small voice.

His brow furrowed. ”Hmm? What do you mean?”

I picked at my skirt. ”Well, um...you’re not really looking at anything. I knew they were boring...”

”Oh, that’s not it. I was caught looking at the most beautiful blossom of them all, and couldn’t bring myself to look away.”

Our eyes met, capturing me in their violet depths. He leaned toward me, bringing his hand to my face. I flinched as he brushed my cheek, moving a strand of crimson hair out of my eyes and tucking it behind my ear.

”W-where is it?” I stammered.

His smile made my heart skip a beat, but instead of answering, he turned away. I sagged as his hand fell, panting, my cheeks burning. What kind of flower was he talking about? He hadn’t done anything but watch me the whole time.

”That’s not fair,” I whispered. ”I want to see it too.”