Governor Larius pranced around the room, examining the walls, the cupboards, and the inside of the chests.

Fabyan and Kassius remained in the workshop, with their eyes ever fixed on the man. A million thoughts raced through Kassius’ mind. What could he do if he found her? That was not only Alana’s demise, but also his. He would have to fight back. He took a step back, next to the pile of old swords and daggers. He quietly reached for a small one. Should he stab the man in the back? He had a sword. Both would defend themselves. And how would Fabyan react? What if he tried to kill both visitors, what would he do about Fabyan?

Larius slowly crouched and looked under the bed.

Kassius swallowed.

Then, Larius stood up and opened the window. He turned back toward the forge and strode out of the room.

“I swear I heard a woman’s voice,” he said, narrowing his eyes.

“That is strange,” Kassius responded in his best Iberian accent.

“Anyway,” Larius tapped on Kassius’ shoulder, as Kassius put his hands behind his back, hiding the knife. “Keep up the good work. I beg you forgive my suspicions, but there are wanted men around. And girls. Do you people know about them? Have you seen them before?”

“Certainly, sir,” Fabyan responded. “We’ve met them, and we keep our eyes open, I mean, when we get the time to go out.”

“Have you been in that forest, young master?” Larius asked with his only visible eyebrow raised.

“I… I have not,” Fabyan said.

“Let me ask your young slave.” He turned toward Kassius and put his hands through his messy hair. “You, as Iberians are renowned for their hare-hunting skills; are you aware of the fauna of this forests. I am planning to go for a hunt one of these days.”

“Me?” Kassius swallowed. “Well...”

“Have you been in the woods, young man?”

“I do not go out all that often,” Kassius muttered.

“Because your boots are quite wasted and muddy.” Governor Larius looked at his feet. “As if you had dragged yourself through a swamp. Over and over again.”

“These are the only ones I have, sire,” Kassius stuttered.

“Have you? Have you not been in those woods? Could you tell me what I need to know?”

“Well, what is my lord interested in hunting?”

“Bears.”

“I know of bears. There must be. They are common, but I have neither seen nor heard of any.”

“Fair enough. Now, gentlemen,” Cladius interrupted. “We have to check the other forge. And the weaver’s workshop too. We haven’t got all day.”

“We have time, Cladius,” the governor said, then turned toward the boys. “Would you mind if we stay for lunch?”

“I’m afraid we have nothing,” Fabyan added. “We have, honestly, no food. I relied on the goodwill of the people of the barracks as of now.”

“Sire,” Cladius kept cutting them off. “We won’t have time to visit.”

“Patience, Cladius,” Larius cleared his throat. “So, in that case. Keep up the good work.”

“We will, sire,” Fabyan answered for both.

“Thank you for your time, gentlemen,” Cladius solemnly said, as he turned toward the door and opened it. The outside was now white with frost and snow. Larius walked behind him.

Fabyan rushed to close the door behind the men and Kassius sighed with relief.

“That was intense,” he said, blinking and shaking his head.

“Yes,” Fabyan said. “Now, thank you for your help, but please get out before they come back.”

“Wait.” Kassius walked to the room and looked around. He didn’t see traces of Alana. He looked out the window, glancing sideways.

Suddenly, he heard a noise directly beneath. Alana’s face emerged from a pile of hay. She spat bits and pieces and quickly stood up, reaching for the window frame and pushing herself in. Kassius took her by the hand and helped her down. She shook off her clothes, and dust and hay descended on the floor.

“I’d sweep this myself but I’m dead tired, Fabyan,” she muttered.

“Ah, do you think your friend here is less tired than you?” Kassius said.

“It’s fine, leave it,” Fabyan said.

“My gods...” Alana shook her head and stared at her long hair and the stubborn pieces of hay that just wouldn’t fall off. She shook them off again.

“Thank the gods you’re safe,” Kassius said, making eye contact and smiling slightly.

“We’re safe,” she said, lowering her head.

“And… Now what?”

“We have to rescue Tor.” She lifted her chin.

“Are you out of your mind? That is suicidal. How?”

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“We have to.”

“Yes, but we have to finish the sword too. Pick one.”

“Tor is in danger!” Alana insisted.

“Yes, but how can we rescue him? And we need the gem and the sword to work, if not, he will burn the forest and obliterate us.”

“Kassius, do you even know where the gem is?”

“I’m seeing it in visions. I think I know. I think I can find it today, but it will be dangerous too.”

“Well, then you’ve got to find it today. And you’re right about the timing. He’s gonna burn the forest!”

“Well, we can stay inside our little place, can’t we?” Kassius suggested.

“Let’s get the sword and defend the forest.”

Kassius sighed.

“I agree, but… Wait… I’ve got an idea.”

“Please discuss your ideas on the way,” Fabyan muttered.

“So do you plan on having the sword ready by tomorrow?” Kassius asked.

“Yes. I mean, having a rough draft and enough to put the gem inside. You told me how it looks. We need to flatten it a bit, and have Tor make the crucible after I bring him to the forest. To look just like it’s supposed to. Fabyan, do you still have ebony by any chance?”

“Get it from the carpenter,” he said.

“Do you have it or not?” Alana insisted.

“Don’t think so.”

“Blast! Anyway, I’ll rescue Tor tonight, you go in search of the gem and we gather here and...”

Suddenly the door flew open again. Alana, Fabyan, and Kassius stared at it, their faces pale and their jaws dropping as one of the foreigners peeked inside. That time, Alana could not hide.

Cladius, the dark-skinned delegate from Itruschia stood with one hand on the door, one foot inside, the other in the snow.

“Young men, if you are free tonight,” he faced Alana, looking at her in the eye. “I have invited all of the soldiers to a big feast. All, especially the ones in the prison. Thank you, I had forgotten to say this. Especially you, I hope you can take this opportunity. Have a good day.”

He shut the door.

They stared at each other in silence, until Alana cleared her throat.

“F-f-abyan? Do you have iron oxide by any chance?” Alana asked.

“It’s in a glass jar under the cupboard,” he answered, his face still as pale as paper and his mouth half-open.

Alana turned her back and rushed to the cupboard. She fidgeted through the jars, half distracted. What she had just experienced had been surreal. What did he mean the ones in the prison? Did that mean he had cleared the way for her to go to the prison that night and rescue Tor? He had probably recognized Kassius from the pictures and the description. But why? Why help them? Was it a trap? Was it going to be an ambush? If so, why not capture them then and there?

That was too much information for too short a time frame. She kept pawing through the jars, realizing there was something wrong.

“What did you do?” she complained. “You changed them all and labelled them with letters. What is this black glass? They all look the same.” She took one from the cupboard and lifted it against the light.

“That’s powdered carbon,” Kassius said.

Alana frowned.

“Oh, that one’s the oxide,” Fabyan said, pointing at the third jar over the cupboard.

She nodded and opened the jar. A rusty smell invaded the air.

“What are you gonna do with that?” Kassius raised an eyebrow. To his surprise, Alana opened and poured the powder on the table and added olive oil from the counter, then she started to smear it on her hair. It worked as a kind of dye, painting it red.

“Mirror,” she said, extending her hand. Kassius quickly gave her the only mirror in the house, a broken one. “Perfect,” she said.

“Indeed,” Kassius said. “Did I mention that redheads drive me crazy?”

“I beg your pardon?” she asked, turning around.

“I like it.” Kassius cleared his throat.

“So, that means you never liked my natural hair.”

“I did not say that, I like you anyway, but...”

“So you like me, huh?”

“I mean...”

“Fine. Do I look different?”

“You do.”

“Will anyone...”

“If they know you, they will. Soldiers will not, though, I think. Well,” Kassius looked through the window. “Let’s get out of here. Give me your girly coat.”

“Good idea,” she said, handing it to him. He quickly put it on, they muttered a goodbye and left into the cold.

***

After sleeping ten hours and eating forest mice, Alana and Kassius got ready. Kassius’ ready was sitting in front of a flame. The exercise would allow him to access visions, but something was missing. He had drawn a circle around him, along with the runes. He had sworn righteousness in judgment and deed.

Alana stood beside him.

“Kasha, I’m leaving.”

Kassius sighed. His concentration had been broken.

He turned around and stood up. The light illumined her figure. The red markings on her hands and legs were still there. Her hair was now red as fire. Her eyes blue like clouded sky and her lips, even though dry, more desirable than a ripe fruit. Was it the fast that had made him so sensitive to her beauty? Or was it something else that he had hidden for so many years?

He swallowed and glanced at her.

“I… I wish you luck and...”

Alana’s gaze remained fixed on the ground beneath. He walked toward her and looked her in the eye. The red hair made her look different, but the blue eyes were the same. He looked into them and saw the fire and his own reflection. He looked more and more like a skeleton.

Alana shut her eyes for an instant and hugged him tightly. She pressed her forehead against his shoulder, and he returned the gesture, feeling her warmth around him like a cozy fireplace, and the caress of her hair, like a sweet blanket of dreams.

“Alana… I want to say...”

“Thanks for everything, Kasha.”

Words were about to come out. He just let go.

“I love you.”

“What?” She lifted her head.

“Sorry. It just slipped out of my mouth.”

“Kassius, I love you too.”

Kassius smiled dumbfounded.

Alana chuckled.

“I guess we are...”

“We’re husband and wife,” Kassius said, then swallowed, as if he had messed up. But it felt right. Besides, he may not see her again.

“Yes.”

“I was wondering...” Kassius scratched his head.

“What were you wondering?” Alana asked, raising an eyebrow. Their eyes locked for an instant that extended forever, and Kassius’ glance slid down to her lips. Chapped, but sweet, like soft roses in the rain.

Alana’s skin colour slightly changed, as if blood had filled the vessels underneath. Her cheeks became pink, her mouth slightly opened. Kassius closed his eyes slowly, they both drew closer, and their lips touched like leaves caressed by the wind.

They let go immediately, with just a touch of her humid lips like dew upon fresh petals.

“I have to go,” she said, turning her back and rushing to the edge of the tunnel. Then, she faced him for the last time. “And, again, I love you too,” she softly replied.

Kassius sighed, but the smile did not fade from his lips. He walked back into his magical circle and sat, thinking of how dumb they both had been. After living together through the harshest of times, sleeping together, doing everything together.

He shut his eyes, and a light shone in his mind. It was green, like a jewel in his dreams. It sparkled, and a strange bolt of lightning was drawn in his head.

Kassius recited the enchantment once again.

A bolt of lightning, a dark forest, an underground cave.

A den.

He stood up, eyes closed, as the stave appeared in his mind and guided him through the path, toward the cave where the Brown One dwelt.