To Flee

SAELYNA

The row of sycamore trees that line the top of Halden Hill used to be a spot where town folk gathered in the evenings to relax and get together. Here, it's peaceful, especially at night. A clear view of the village is offered from this point, and one can see just enough of every corner of Halden.

I dig my left toe into the grassy soil and twist up earth. I've been here for half an hour, but it's starting to feel like forever. I've bitten my nails to the stub, I can't mess with my hair any longer, so I'm on the edge of going wild with apprehension.

A sudden sound makes me jump and turn around. Someone is coming up the hill, slowly and deliberately. I duck around a tree, listening to my heart thumping wildly, as he summits the crest. He's wearing a black hood and a cloak. They've found me, then. The mages have tracked the magic. I brace myself to bolt at the slightest slip. I can't outrun a mage, but I have the advantage here, given that I'm an elf. 

I'm about to spring down the hill, when the man takes off his hood and its just Quain. He doesn't know I'm here, so he jumps when I punch his shoulder. 'Gods, Saelyn, what was that?' he hisses. 'Why are you garbed as a mage?' 'Because people would mind their business if they saw a mage going this way. And it worked, no one has followed me so far'. I perk up ears to listen. Cyran has the godsight, and I got the blessed hearing or whatever it's called, and my ears tell me there's no one else around us save us.

'Alright, you have it?' Quaint asks hurriedly. 'Yes I do. But I'm not handing it over. We never talked price'. I had already planned out what to say. If there's anything our playtime together as children has taught me, it's that Quain is not the best dealer. 

I can make out his face crease in the darkness, but he only sighs and draws out a pouch. He counts ten silver pieces and hands them to me. 'Quain, these are a lot more than that'. 'I gave you a quarter of my earnings'. 'That is an overstatement and we both know that'. He purses his lips, then counts out five more pieces. 'There. That's all I have. Now hand it over'. 

The peas must be a whole lot more than that if Quain agreed to sell for fifteen sheraks. I dig in my back pocket and produce the pouch, feeling the steady thrum of energy tingle my fingers as I hand it over. There was something the man had done, or I had. My whole being yearns for the blue matter that lies within that bag. 

Quain is staring at me, and it takes me a while to notice. Is it me, or is he extra jumpy? 'What is it?' I ask. He shakes his head as he tucks the peas away then tells me, 'You harnessed magic today, didn't you?' 

I'm surprised, but not that surprised to let it show on my face. 'What?' Quain touches his temple, like he does when he's frustrated or angry. I hope it's neither. 'Cyran wasn't well today. Camille said so. And when we dropped by to check on him, he was fine', he says. 'Ok. I raised a false alarm, I misunderstood the signal he sent me', I counter, hoping he believes my shrug. But Quain just taps his temple faster. 'You do know I'm an elf, right? That means I still have connections with magic, and your cottage reeked of it. I know you used the peas, maybe to heal to your brother, but right now, it does not matter.' 

I know all too well. That's why I need the money for these peas. So we can leave as soon as we can. 

I look up at Quain again and something hits me. 'Then why are you buying them from me, when you know you might be in danger?' I ask. Quain spreads his hands and let them drop by his side. 'An elf can not be alone. Not in Quindar, not anymore'. He steps forward and looks me in the face, and it strikes me how different he looks tonight. I've seen that look before. And it scares me. 'I'll buy you time. You and Cyran need to leave tonight, and I'll get you all the time you need….' 'Slow down, Quain'. 'They are in the village. Two of them came by, the mages. They've detected the magic, they're but Foden is holding council with them in attendance. You have to leave. Now'. He runs a hand through his hair. 'It wasn't supposed to be this way', he mutters and turns away. 

I don't have time to ask him. I have just realized how much danger I've put us in. Not just my brother and I, but the whole village. 

There's no time. I turn to head down the hill but Quain places a hand on my arm. His blue eyes are penetrating and I'm pretty sure they glow in the darkness. 'I need you to follow your gut. You hear me? There's more at stake here, more to what you see. These peas…they're just a beginning'. 

I flee down the hill when he lets me go, and this time, I don't need a horse to get home on time. 

CYRAN

'I cannot believe this', I tell her as he enters the room. 

And I can't. 

That one day, (well not just any day, it's three days to the Hunt) I would be running from Halden in the middle of the night has never occured to me. 

But it is happening, and try as I might, I cannot wake up from this nightmare. We have to leave before the mages arrive. 

No one knows what really happened to Kedan Malleher. We had all been returning from the Glade when the patrol guards picked him up along with his brother, Quain. They had discovered kingpeas on him. We never saw him again, and when Quain returned, he never was the same. He became hollow, secluded, withdrawn to himself. No one asked any questions. We all knew we were never going to see Kedan again, and that was enough. 

So I of all people should be afraid for my life and running as fast as I can. For some reason, I can't.

Saelyna handles it all like she always has, with a full measure of control. Part of me wants to blame her for everything. Another part of me knows I'd be dead if she hadn't done what she had to. She was just trying to save me. As always. 

I don't have much possessions. Saelyna had packed everything up anyway, and she's just cleaning up the house. I wonder why. Maybe she thinks we'd return. I hope so.

She stops hurrying around suddenly. I look up at her, and I see why. Ima, that stupid cat, purrs softly, as it rubs her body against hers. Saelyna strokes her head softly, and as she looks up at me, I can see tears dance at the edges of her eyes. 

That's when I know this hurts her more than it does me. She's the one who's worked so hard to keep the cottage together, even after that shitty boyfriend of hers left. She's the one who stuck her neck out for me all the time, since the rebellion and the attacks that followed. She's the one that tried to preserve our family's legacy, including this insipid little panther. 

And me? I'm just sentimental that in going to miss the Hunt. I'm the most miserable I've been in a long while.

'We can't leave her'. I walk forward as she drops to the floor and bows her head. And she sobs. The last time I saw Saelyna cry was ten years ago. 'Hey. Hey, it's okay. It's okay', I say and sit next to her. She rests her head on my shoulder and cries hard into it. 'I fucked up, Cyran. I fucked it all up. That's all I ever did, wreck things that I had no right to'. I know she still holds on to the Fall incident, and I know it's no use assuring her again that I've forgotten all about it. Saelyna had always placed herself on this pedestal of perfection, and it has hurt her more than anyone. I should know. She's the one crying her eyes out. I'm the one that got hurt, and made her heal me with magic. 

If anyone should go, it's me. 

'Listen to me, Saelyna. This is on me…' I start. She holds up a hand. She knows what I'm about to say. I know she won't allow it, but I try anyway. 'If I hadn't gone hunting, none of this would have happened. You know that'. She shakes her head. 'We both know that I am at fault for stealing those peas'. 

She stands up swiftly and the tears are gone in that one fluid movement. 'Take care of Ima, will you?' Now this is pissing me off. We are twins for Aranon's sake, and I'm not her younger brother. 'No', I say sharply, 'Either I go, or we stay'. 'This is not up for debate, Cyran. I am going to turn myself in'. 'Good luck with letting me let you do that'. 

I've never been more resolute in my life. I take up my bag and step forward to leave. She moves in front of me. 'Cyran, please', she says, actually pleading. I feel a deep and heating rage for Xanwed and his deer-sucking court. No one should make her cry. 

I'm about to brush past her, when the back door opens.