The Forsaken Hero

I barely remembered the trip to the Glory Chaser’s small, half-timbered house, and nothing about falling asleep. But when I awoke, I barely flinched at the sight of an unfamiliar ceiling or the small guest room around me. Borealis was nestled on the rough-hewn bedpost of my bed, with Fable curled up around it. The embers of a fire smoldered in the fireplace, and morning light streamed through the window, mixing with the swirls of starlight.

”How did you sleep?” Tana asked after I’d dressed and made my way into the kitchen, Borealis on my shoulder.

I yawned instead of responding, and blushed as she giggled.

”Sit tight. I’m cooking up some sausages we’ve been saving. Breakfast will be ready soon,” she said.

The kitchen was small, too small for Fable, so I shooed him outside and sat at the table. It looked hand-carved, but in the fine, meticulous manner of the elven furniture. Jenna and Kahlen were already seated, but I couldn’t sense Luxxa or Gith anywhere nearby. The other members of the Glory Chasers filtered in over the next few minutes, and I entertained everyone with stories of our travels as Tana began setting places for everyone.

The last to come were Ror and Sari, yawning and rubbing bleary eyes as they stumbled down the stairs. They still wore their clothing from last night; the fabric rumpled and creased. But as they sat together, their tails brushed, and Sari leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder, suppressing another yawn.

”You look terrible,” Sorrin said, frowning at the older foxkin.

”Didn’t sleep much,” Ror mumbled, avoiding his eyes.

Sorrin’s frown deepened. ”I know you were excited, but a warrior needs discipline. If monsters are to strike, or demons invade, you’d be in no state to fight them off.”

”Oh, lay off him, we only just got Sari back. It’s only natural they’d want some time to catch up,” Tana said, coming up behind Sorrin and resting her hands on his shoulders.

He looked up at her, brow creased, and she leaned over, pecking his forehead.

”Alright, but just this once,” he mumbled, his tail flicking with an audible swish across the floor.

The mood lightened as Tana finished setting the table, and we delved into our meal. The topic of conversation shifted all over as Tana inquired about the cuisine of the empire and Sylarus, listening with rapt attention as I described all the various foods I’d tried. Most of them hadn’t been to my tastes, but anything was better than hard tack and dried bread.

”Hmm, imagine that,” Tana chuckled, resting her chin on her hand and looking at me, amused. ”In the end, you still like those cream-filled pastries, huh?”

”I...they’re good,” I mumbled. ”But they’re not too popular in Sulvarus.”

She giggled and clapped her hands. ”Then we’ll have to go into town today and get some! How long will you be staying? A few days, I hope.”

I hesitated, looking at Jenna, and she grinned.

”I could do with some shopping myself,” she said. ”The elvish dresses are beautiful, but a little modest for my taste.”

”At least one day,” I decided. ”But then we must move on. Time is growing short, and I’d like to visit Brithlite before we return to Sylvarus.”

”We hate to hear you leaving so soon,” Dyson said, ”But with those nifty rifts, you can come back any time.”

”Dyson, be considerate,” Tana scolded lightly. ”Eighth-level spells take an extraordinary amount of mana, and she’s preparing for war, remember?” Her voice softened as she looked at me. ”Starlight, don’t let him pressure you. Do what you need to. We’ve survived this long, and I expect we’ll continue to, now that we’ve got Sari back. We’ll be here whenever you find the time and strength to visit.”

”Thank you. I’ll remember that,” I said, nodding. ”Now, um, if you don’t mind, I’d like to do some shopping too. I don’t mind the skirt length,” I said, picking at my skirt, ”But the sleeves are getting a little short.”

She smiled knowingly. ”Not to mention a little tight around the bust, eh? You’ve gotten more than just a little taller.”

”Tana!” I squeaked, glancing at the others with a blush. Ror seemed oblivious, whispering with Sari, but Dyson gave me a grin.

Just as we were preparing to leave, Luxxa and Gith returned, slipping in through the front door.

”My Lady,” Luxxa said, saluting in greeting.

”Where have you been? You missed breakfast!” I exclaimed.

She smiled faintly. ”I’m afraid our business was more pressing.”

”What did you find?” Jenna asked.

It was Gith who answered. ”No sign of inquisitors, or even priests. It seems like the city is secure.”

”Then what are we waiting for?” Tana asked, taking my hand and tugging me out the door. ”Let’s get going!”

Tana and I spent the entire morning wandering the markets, checking out the few bits and baubles that had made their way through the wartorn lands to the city. Heartland was small and compact compared to the sprawling streets and gardens of Sylvarus, but I found it easier to breathe. The pressures of armies, courts, and even Luke felt like a distant memory. I was free to be a regular girl with Tana, holding hands, giggling together, and enjoying the cool autumn breeze.

”I’m really glad you made it back before winter,” Tana said as we sat under an outdoor pavilion at a small restaurant.

”Me too. I thought about you all the time,” I said, sipping a cup of thin, watery juice. It was far from the refreshments of the Sunsinger House, but even out of season, it tasted sweet to my tongue.

”Well, not just because I missed you,” she said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. ”It’s Ror. You saw a little of it this morning, but he’s been pushing himself really hard, and Sorrin’s been helping him. But it’s taken its toll. He’s too young to have such worry, such a duty. He felt like it was his fault his parents were murdered and Sari was taken.”

”That’s ridiculous,” I said. ”If anything, it was, well...” I hesitated, biting my lip.

She rolled her eyes. ”Not you, too. There’s nothing you could have done. Even if you turned yourself in, the Circle still would have taken every slave they could from the villages.”

”I guess that’s true,” I said, sighing, resting my cheek on the back of my hand.

”It is. But for Ror, he had no one. Sorrin and I tried our best, but I learned quickly just how unprepared we were to be parents. He’s very earnest and well-behaved, but stubborn as anything,” she said, chuckling. ”I hope things get easier now that Sari’s back.”

”So you’ll take her in?” I asked.

She blinked, tilting her head. ”Was there a reason you thought we wouldn’t?”

I quickly shook my head. ”I just want to be sure she’ll have a real home. It’s been hard for her, too. I wasn’t able to give her the support or attention she needed, and no one else was either. Until the last few months, she was practically raised by soldiers. I’m not one to speak, but that can’t be good for a growing girl.”

”No, no, it can’t. I expect she’s got a few bad habits to kick,” Tana said, her tone light to let me know she was joking. I wasn’t so sure she should be.

”Well, they seemed really nervous at first, so I was worried it would be awkward between them, but I guess it worked out,” I said, taking another sip. It really was sweet, but maybe that was just the company. I could enjoy tea if it were with Tana.

”Either way, we’ll keep them safe. I promise you that,” she said. ”Don’t waste any of your time or energy worrying, alright?”

”As if that’ll happen,” I muttered, shaking my head. Then, with a smile. ”But I’ll do my best. There’s no one I trust more.”

She smiled back, reaching across the table and resting her hand on mine. ”That makes me happy to hear that. More than you can guess.”

We spent the rest of the day visiting shops and boutiques, looking through their rather limited supply. They offered a few styles, but I gravitated toward the familiar off-the-shoulder style.

”Are you sure you don’t want to try something else?” she asked at one particular shop. ”Now that you’re free of the sunpurge, why not try something else?”

She’d been most excited to see that particular scar had vanished, and even more awed that it was R’lissea, the Life Hero, who had healed me. But I shook my head, anyway. ”I like these ones. They make me feel...I don’t know...”

”Pretty?” she asked, her eyes lighting up.

My cheeks warmed, and I nodded. ”Something like that. I’ve got a few other styles from Blacksand and Sylvarus I wear for special occasions, but these are the most comfortable.”

”Then let’s get you a couple. You still like red and white?”

”Is that bad?” I asked, tugging the hem of my current dress, the red and white garment we’d bought the last time I was in Heartland.

She flashed me a smile. ”It looks good on you. Red matches your hair and horns, and the white brings out the gold in your eyes.”

The day flew by, and before I knew it, it was night. As we made our way toward Tana’s home, preparing to rejoin the others for dinner, I caught her hand, a shiver in my tail.

”Um, Tana?”

The anxious swish of my tail drew her eye, and she looked up sharply. ”What is it? Is everything alright?”

”Well, um...yes. It’s just...there’s something I wanted to give you.”