The Forsaken Hero

Luke steadied me with a hand on either shoulder, holding me until the world stopped spinning.

”What was that?” I asked, shrinking against him.

He leaned up against the doorframe, casually glancing outside. Whatever he saw caused his head to snap back, but his voice was calm.

”Nothing of note. What do you say we check this shop out for a bit? It looks nice.”

”But what about–”

Just then, Luxxa ducked inside, followed by Gith and Jenna.”

”Where’s the demon?” Luke asked sharply.

”He slipped into an alley. Circling around, he said,” Luxxa said.

Our arrival had caused some minor disturbance within the shop, but it was only a few elderly women giving us dirty looks. They eyed me and Luke with especially suspicion, muttering under their breath as they walked circles around us. Luxxa and Gith posted themselves in corners of the room, while Jenna walked along a row of flower seeds, examining them with one eye on the door.

Turning, I gasped, all thoughts of the disturbance forgotten as I laid eyes on the woman behind the counter. She was tall and fair, with a familiar soul and even more familiar face.

”Lady Newspring?” I asked, tail twitching in surprise.

”Ah, Lord Sunsinger’s guest,” the noble woman said, smiling brightly. ”I can’t say I was expecting to see her again.”

Though she smiled, Lady Newspring’s young face was lined and weary. She wore a long, high-necked white gown that flattered her ample figure. A single red ribbon was woven into the hem of one sleeve, creating a striking, asymmetrical detail.

”This isn’t your shop,” I said, looking about in confusion. ”I thought you were on the other side of the market.”

”This isn’t your shop,” I said, confused as I looked around. ”I thought you were on the other side of the market.”

She folded her arms and grimaced. ”I see you haven’t been over there yet. That region suffered catastrophic damage, and even with the repairs and renovation, the customer traffic just isn’t the same.”

”So you moved your whole shop?”

She shrugged nonchalantly. ”It’s only natural we’d realign our resources to better suit the current environment. But I don’t think I’ve seen your companion before. Would you introduce me?”

”Oh, right. This is Luke. He’s my, um...” I glanced at Luke, suddenly uncertain of what to say next. Friend? Ally?

”Friend,” Luke finished, giving me a bemused smile. ”We met in Brithlite some time ago.”

”Brithlite?” Her eyes filled with pity. ”That must have been difficult for you. I heard they were most... unpleasant to demonkin.”

Luke simply nodded. ”Yes, they certainly were. That’s actually why I burned it to the ground.”

”Luke!” I cried, swatting his arm.

”Hmm? I seem to recall that you personally killed Alverin,” he countered.

I turned back to Lady Newspring, finding her staring at us with wide eyes. ”It isn’t like that,” I quickly assured her. ”We just... okay, so it was like that, but—”

”Hold up,” she interrupted, holding up her hand. ”You’re an apostle, aren’t you?”

”I am,” Luke answered.

”Really? I’d heard of you—that you’re a hero to the demons—but to think you actually exist...” She rubbed her chin, gazing at him with an intensity that made me instinctively shrink against him, lacing my arm through his and holding him close.

She noticed, and her lips twitched into a small smile. ”Don’t worry, I have no intention of stealing him,” she said.

I let out a small squeak, blushing as I realized just how close I’d gotten. But I didn’t let go.

”If you’re an apostle, your words carry weight. Do you truly intend to spare this land?” Lady Newspring asked.

Luke merely shrugged. ”I’m not against the idea, but it’s ultimately up to your leaders. If I secure what I desire, the rest is yours to keep.”

”You speak with more than just influence,” she said slowly. ”Who exactly are you?”

Though I tightened my grip on his arm, he seemed unfazed, answering her without hesitation.

”Luke, apostle of Curses and the lord of the infernal horde. Though today, I’m simply here as a companion to Xiviyah,” he said, giving me a gentle smile.

Her face went pale as she stared at him, her mouth opening and closing wordlessly.

”L-Lord?” she finally managed to stammer. ”You mean the leader of all the demons?”

”The horde moves when I command, kills whom I choose, and spares those who interest me.”

”And you’re with her,” she murmured, gaze straying to me. ”I see. That makes a lot more sense.” She drew herself up to her full height, projecting a sense of formality. ”Please forgive my lack of recognition. I had not heard a figure of your stature was visiting our city. House Newspring intended no offense.”

Luke waved a hand dismissively. ”Forget the formality. I’d prefer you speak to us as you did before. Whatever may come, today, we are simply customers.”

”As you wish,” she replied with a slight curtsey. ”So what brings you to our humble shop?”

Luke blinked, looking at me. I shrugged, and he stiffened, as if remembering something, glancing furtively at the door. The tip of his tail began to flick, and his muscles tensed ever so slightly beneath my grip.

”You did

have a reason for coming here, right?” Lady Newspring asked.”Yes, of course...did you want anything?” he asked, looking at me helplessly.

”Well, um...yes, actually. Those flowers you gave me are so pretty, and I wanted to make them into something for my friends.”

”Hmm, we don’t typically produce accessories here, but if you’re looking for advice, perhaps I can help,” Lady Newspring answered with a warm smile.

The awkward air cleared up as we fell into discussion. I didn’t have anything particular in mind, but as we talked, I grew more and more excited about the idea. The garland of flowers Tana had given me was one of my most cherished possessions, below only the Staff of Fate and Luke’s ring, which I always wore around my neck, and I wanted to give Elise and R’lissea something, too.

After a few minutes, Luke grew bored and wandered over to the window, standing off to the side and peering out with Gith. Whatever he saw caused him to grimace, and the ranger muttered something in a low voice.

Lady Newspring glanced at them. ”It was brave of you to bring your guards out like this, what with the new laws and all,” she said.

I looked up, tilting my head slightly. ”But we have Anrynth, one of the Sunsinger servants, with us. He’s waiting just outside the market.”

”That law is old news already. Don’t tell me you didn’t hear? Just yesterday, there was another incident with a beastkin adventurer on the edge of the city, and the council passed another ordinance banning non-elves from carrying weapons within city limits.”

At her words, the other customers, a pair of women perhaps fifty years old, gave my guards suspicious looks. Luxxa, Gith, and Jenna stiffened, and in a flash, their weapons vanished into spatial rings.

”I suppose that makes things dangerous for you, though. Say, if you get attacked again, would you mind fighting elsewhere? I’d hate to have to find another piece of land suitable for the Newleaf Garden.”

Her smile let me know she was only teasing, but I shifted, an anxious swish moving my tail.

”Perhaps we should get going,” Luke said, glancing out the window again. ”It’s almost noon, and I’d like to find someplace to eat before heading back to the manor.”

”You could try the Salted Cliffs,” Lady Newspring offered. ”It’s a small, high-end restaurant built in one of the old quarries not far from here. I’m certain your servant would know the place.”

”Thanks,” I said, gathering up the flowers she’d brought out to show me. ”I’ll take these, too. I would have been lost without you.”

She smiled. ”Always a pleasure to help a paying customer.”

Ah, right. Payment. I gave Luke a helpless look, blushing slightly. He sighed and walked over, leaving some coins on the counter. The elf counted it quickly before returning some change.

”You still don’t carry anything?” Luke asked as we left the flower shop behind.

I shook my head. ”I meant to ask Selena, but I just...well, it felt weird. I don’t want to beg again.”

”Again? But you’ve been a hero since...do you mean your old world?” he asked, looking down at me.

A sharp, cold shiver ran down my tail. Sometimes, I hated how astute he was. It made my carelessness in watching my tongue all the more apparent.

”You don’t have to speak of it if you don’t wish to,” Luke said quickly.

I lowered my head, staring at the ground for a few steps, before he suddenly gripped my arm. My heart leaped as his fingers dug into my skin, and my head whipped up. We’d reached the edge of the market, just a few blocks from where Anrynth waited with the carriage. But waiting between, dressed in gleaming armor and bearing long spears, was a patrol of guards. And they were marching right toward us.