Prepare for the dark

“What is a woman doing out here alone, tell me you are not alone!” He began his barking again.

“How long have you been out here? And how have you been spared from her?”

“I can see her. I can stay out of her way after dark.” Sacha goes through the things in the bag. Taking them out one by one and laying them beside him looking for something useful. If he needed anything he could see what it was easily and reach for it.

“You can see her? Describe her to me.”

“White long flowing hair beautiful pale face but sad eyes. She wears a night gown long and flowing. Her blue eyes shine in the dark it’s the first thing you see of her. Her eyes. Her voice is a soft song but when she is angry she screams.”  

He nods and seems to drift off seeing her image as he looked up at the ceiling.  “I can offer her peace if she wants it. It is up to her. How can she think I am against her? How could she treat me this way?”

“Here! There is a sealing powder. Even the worlds most terrible Mage can manage a seal spell.” Her voice brought him back to himself.

He looked at her. “Go back to your city Sacha, why did you run away? Did something happen to you in the mansion?

“Something would happen if I stayed. It is petty and makes me sound spoiled but, they thought I was a Mage. There are other cities. I will be more careful next time.”

“I see. Are you?” Legarde knew, but be wanted to know what she thought.

“No. I can see spirits but that’s all I can do. Nothing impressive like, setting my own hands on fire.” She turned Legarde’s hand  in hers and gently rubbed the burn marks she discovered.

He pouted playfully and shook his head at her insult.  Her hands were soft and warm against his rough ones, and as she rubbed them with curiosity in her eyes and not repulse it warmed him. She didn’t know it yet, but she was a mage. No normal woman, who can only see spirits, can see a guardian so clearly both day and night. “You are something else. That’s not how I got those burns.”

“Who is the Herbalist you got those creams from? They smell horribly familiar. Pass me that jar of powder you are holding please.”

She was happy he had stopped barking orders and was now speaking in a respectable tone and  using words like –please. “So you have been hurt like this before have you?” She laughed.

A laugh that could brighten up a soul and he blushed. Oddly she knew nothing about him. That was good. Then she could only fear what she saw from here on out. He could have a clean slate with her.   

“My teacher’s name is Rose” She hands him the jar.

He checks the amount of powder in it and frowns. “This is a small house but use all of the powder around it. Windows doors even the fire place.” He hopes a good night’s sleep would heal him enough to ride tomorrow. If they survived tonight, they wouldn’t survive if they could not leave tomorrow.

“I know your city, and your teacher.”

She got up and did what he asked, then settled to sit beside him once more. “So you trust me now?”

“Will you do what I ask and leave me here Sacha?”

“No.”

“Then if you need anything from outside get it now before I seal it. You cannot go out once I do.”

“I am fine.”

He looked deep into her eyes. He hoped he would be able to see them smile at him with such life when he woke up. He resisted the urge he had to kiss her and instead his eyes shun a deep yellow almost gold.

She broke his stare to admire the room as it shone blue where she had spread the powder. Then the settled to its original white then faded and disappeared.

He closed his eyes as the energy to keep them open left him.

Sacha tries to stand. It was her plan to sleep on the other side of the room to put a respectable distance between them. Legarde grabbed her hand and pulled her back down to him gently.

“You cannot go far from me. I cannot protect you if you are not right here with me.” He snuggles her against his side, although everything hurt, he hoped she would not pull away from him. “Please stay close. You have my dagger. If I try anything that offends you put it in me.”

The horse stomped and could be heard trotting off. Sacha wondered how it got loose she tied it securely she was sure of it.

“Legarde the horse!” She fidgeted as if she would to go after it.

He was learning about her. He held her to him firmly and groaned in pain. Stubborn with a short memory and attention span. “Let Fear be. Our animals are smarter than us.”