“Thank you, Aeldrin,” I replied, offering him a faint smile. “Your support means more than you know.”
Now, I had cast the night amongst the Guardian Priests. Whatever happened, I prayed that Aeldrin, at least, remained untainted by the shadows I suspected lurked in the temple’s highest ranks. That he remained steadfast, loyal, and willing to fight for the people of Solaris with the same conviction I held.
Our meeting concluded, and as I moved through the day, directing the Sun Paladins and coordinating with the temple’s caretakers, I felt the weight of my suspicions pressing down on me, a quiet, unrelenting reminder that there were questions left unanswered, mysteries that would not reveal themselveswithout a fight.
The Elders continued to resist my efforts, deflecting my concerns about the disappearances and the kidnappings with vague assurances, dismissing my inquiries with a calculated ease that only deepened my mistrust.
As expected, the ledgers that held the details of the relief shipment were delayed, because “there was a little last minute tallying up to do,” said an earnest faced acolyte who served the Elders. They hadn’t even delivered the news in person, so sure were they of my compliance.
I ground my teeth, but I said nothing.
By the time evening fell, the sun casting long shadows over the temple’s walls, I had made my decision.
Whatever secrets the Elders held, whatever darkness lingered beneath the surface of their words, I would uncover it.
And if the mage who had attacked Meryn was indeed part of some hidden plot, then I would need Dario’s help to expose the truth.
As the last traces of daylight faded, I slipped out of the temple, the familiar weight of my cloak resting over my shoulders, the faint glow of my power concealed beneath the layers of dark fabric.
The city was quiet as I made my way to the village on the edge of the Forest of Night’s Bane, to the boy’s house, the narrow streets empty save for the occasional passerby.
I felt a faint, unfamiliar thrill of anticipation as I neared the meeting place, the thought of seeing Dario again stirring something within me that I couldn’t quite define.
When I reached the edge of the boy’s street, I spotted Dario in the shadows, his figure half-hidden by the darkness, his gaze sharp, focused.
He looked up as I approached, his eyes catching the faint glow of my power, and for a moment, there was a flicker of somethingin his expression—surprise, perhaps, or relief.
But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by his usual guarded intensity.
“Elena,” he murmured, his voice low, rough, as if he hadn’t expected me to return. “I didn’t think you’d come back so soon.”
I shrugged, offering him a faint smile. “I told you I’d see this through, didn’t I?”
He nodded, his gaze shifting to the boy’s house across the street, the faint light flickering in the window casting a soft glow over his features.
“Then let’s wait. The mage will return eventually, and when he does…we’ll be ready.”
I nodded, settling into the shadows beside him.
Chapter 14: Dario
Night settled over the village like a heavy shroud, trailing shadows that mingled with mine.
I leaned back against the cold stone wall of the narrow alleyway, half-hidden by the darkness that I had come to know so well, my gaze fixed on the boy’s small house across the way.
Beside me, Elena waited as well, her quiet presence a faint, steady light against the dark. It was strange to stand here, our shoulders almost brushing as we watched and waited for the mage who’d failed to return for the boy.
We’d been waiting for two nights now, and each hour passed slower than the last, the silence between us filling with unspoken words, with something that hummed between us as quietly as her power did in the dark.
For two nights we had walked the city in silence, prowling the alleyways and rooftops, only the occasional soft flutter of Meryn’s wings breaking the stillness. And with every step, Ifound myself drawn further into her orbit, helpless to resist the pull of her presence.
I shifted, glancing sidelong at her. Elena was staring out into the quiet street, her face half-lit by the faint lamplight, her expression calm but alert. I could see her gaze scanning the street, the subtle tension in her stance as she waited, as if poised for flight.
I’d watched her a hundred times over these past days, caught in moments when she wasn’t looking. I found myself lingering on the soft curve of her jaw, the delicate line of her neck, the hair that fell in gentle waves to her waist.
Would it feel as soft to the touch as it looked?
“Dario,” she whispered, her voice soft but clear, pulling me from my thoughts. “Do you think he’ll come tonight?”
