Fairyfly - 15. The Guide

All alone in Rulf’s kitchen, Esthor was sitting on a chair and moping, thinking how he would cry his eyes out if only he had them. I’m just a horrible person, he thought as he wiped his nose with his sleeve. He hoped Rulf would come out of the bedroom, but to no avail.

I can’t blame him. I did this, it’s my fault. I really messed up, he thought as he ran his long fingers through his blond hair. Everyone could see it but me. I’m sure even Khalgos thought I had crossed the line, but he never said anything because what would be the point? It was too late, and he knew I wouldn’t listen anyway.

There was no use in hanging around anymore and waiting when Rulf didn’t want to talk to him. He couldn’t stand even being in the same room as Esthor. Reluctantly, the sorcerer got up and walked to the bedroom door, placing a hand on it gently. He listened intently for a few seconds, hoping to hear any movement on the other side, but there was none.

“Bye, Rulf. I hope you can forgive me,” he said, hoping the other man could hear him.

With that, Esthor shifted into his fairyfly form and flew out the window, heading up north. He knew he would have to hurry if he was to reach master Khalgos’ house by morning, but he could barely focus. All he could think about was the fallout with Rulf. The pain and sorrow in the man’s voice were unbearable. I was the one that caused it, Esthor thought. I let him down. Rulf’s words still echoed in Esthor’s head: “I can’t be with you right now.”

He couldn’t blame Rulf even if he wanted to. No, this is all my doing, Esthor thought as he frantically flapped his tiny wings, trying to gain speed. I will beg until he forgives me, Esthor decided. He has to…

Maneuvering between trees and bushes, he was flying through the Howling Forest as fast as he could. The more he used his fairyfly form, the better he got at shifting. He still wasn’t able to shift at a moment’s notice like Rulf could, but he was definitely improving.

After about half an hour, though, he realized that however fast he was, he wouldn’t reach his master’s home in time, not by a long shot. The sun would be up at any moment, which meant he wouldn’t be able to sustain his animal form. He’d be stuck in the middle of the forest, all alone and blind.

Merely a few minutes later, as the first rays of sun began to appear, the sorcerer’s panic started to grow. Before he knew it, he was back in his human form. He fell down on his hands and knees on the cold, wet grass as his heart started racing. Once again, he was surrounded by complete darkness. He couldn’t shift until the sun set again, but he knew he couldn’t wait that long. He had to press on one way or another.

If he stayed in the forest, he’d be an easy target. With all the sounds coming from every direction, he was never sure if he was alone or not, which made him even more paranoid. What if Fendrel is here? One well-timed strike and I’m done.

Stretching his arms in front of him, Esthor managed to find a tree and hold onto it as he stood up, panting.

“Alright, I have to keep moving,” he whispered, trying to encourage himself, but it was no use.

All he could think about was his brave, amazing Lykos. Will they ever go back to how they were? He had no choice but to hope so.

With every step he took, Esthor found it harder and harder to keep walking. He kept tripping over roots and almost falling. He was tired and afraid. Any beast could finish me off now, he thought. I can’t do this, I can’t go on…

Holding onto a tree, the sorcerer sat down on the grass and wrapped his arms around his legs.

“I just need to get some rest,” he muttered to himself.

The wind blowing through the branches and rustling the leaves sounded ominous. Birds were chirping, but he couldn’t enjoy their lovely melody. Everything sounded distracting and threatening. And then he heard them – footsteps approaching rapidly. Esthor froze, holding his breath. Yes, those are definitely footsteps, and they’re coming toward me!

Muttering a few words, he created a protective sphere around himself, just in case. Better safe than sorry, he thought.

Suddenly, the footsteps stopped.

“Esthor!”

~~

Lying on the bed, Rulf covered his face with his hands and sobbed. All the pain he felt when he found out Arabella had died was back, but this time he felt it tenfold. Bella was an unfortunate victim of a crazed wolf hell bent on revenge. Fendrel was a bastard, a complete traitor and Rulf knew he could never forgive him. But Esthor… Rulf didn’t even know what he was anymore. His love? His savior? Arabella’s murderer? A victim himself?

Suddenly, he raised his head as he heard Esthor’s muffled voice on the other side of the door. A few seconds later, he let it fall back down on the pillow. Go, fly away, Rulf thought. I don’t want to see you or talk to you. I don’t want to think about you. Gaaahhhh, why did this have to happen!?

The young Lykos started tossing in bed, wishing he could fall asleep and just forget about everything. Every thought was causing him pain and sadness. He was disappointed in life like he’d never been before.

One thing he knew for sure – he would never let himself fall in love again.

Turning to his side, he shut his eyes firmly, trying to get some sleep, but after a while he gave up. He had too much on his mind. Besides, the dawn was starting to break and the sunlight was trying to creep into his room through the clumsily drawn curtains.

All of a sudden, realization hit him and he opened his eyes wide, jumping from the bed and throwing off the covers.

“He’s never going to make it,” he mumbled as he put on his shoes and rushed out of the room.

Locking the door behind himself, Rulf ran off into the woods as fast as he could.

“I have to find him!”

It would’ve been so much easier if he could shift, but it was impossible. The sun was already appearing on the horizon and he had to press on as a human. Running in the direction of Khalgos’ house, Rulf kept looking around for any sign of Esthor.

No matter how angry he was at him, no matter how much he was hurt, Rulf knew he just couldn’t leave Esthor alone. He remembered the night they met, when found him in the forest. He was lying unconscious, with his face all bloody and his eyes cut out. The memory made him shiver.

If anything happens to him, I’ll never forgive myself, Rulf thought.

All of the muscles in his legs were starting to ache and his heart was pounding, but he didn’t care. He couldn’t stop until he found him.

I need to know that he’s safe.

So, he kept running and running, jumping over roots and fallen branches, until he finally saw a blond figure sitting by a tree, a blue glow surrounding him.

“Esthor!” Rulf shouted as he stopped in his tracks.

“Who’s there?” the sorcerer asked as he turned around, an arctic blue ball of energy swirling in his hand, ready to be flung at any attacker.

“It’s me,” Rulf replied, slowly approaching the young man.

“Rulf,” Esthor stated, extinguishing the magic orb and removing the protective aura around himself. “What are you doing here?” His voice cracked, but he couldn’t help it. Controlling his emotions at a moment like that was something he couldn’t do no matter how hard he tried.

“I… I couldn’t leave you alone,” the Lykos said as he approached Esthor and took him by the hand, helping him get up. “Are you alright?”

Rulf scanned him with a concerned look in his eyes. The poor guy was trembling. His clothes were dirty and there were cuts on his hands.

“I am now,” Esthor whispered, nodding his head.

“Can you walk?”

“Yes.”

“Ok, let’s get you to Khalgos. He must be worried,” Rulf said, guiding Esthor through the woods. He kept one arm around his waist and gripping his left arm with the other.

“Rulf, I am so…”

“Don’t,” the Lykos interrupted. “I don’t want to talk about that now.”

“Ok.”

“Let’s just walk.”

Rulf’s tone was final and Esthor decided it was better to do as he asked. He doesn’t want to talk, but he still came for me, the sorcerer thought. He didn’t give up on me, and I’m not going to give up on him.

The two men spent the next few hours treading slowly through the forest, mostly in silence. They even made a few short breaks to get some rest, eat the food and drink the water that Esthor conjured up.

The sun was already fully out when they finally came out at the other end of the Howling Forest, with Khalgos’ house nearby.

“What’s the matter?” Esthor asked as Rulf suddenly stopped, tightening his grip on the sorcerer.

“We have company,” Rulf replied.

An expensive-looking carriage could be seen on a clearing further away, with several armed men sitting in the grass. Their horses were grazing nearby.

“Who is it?” Esthor inquired.

“I’m not sure. Be prepared,” Rulf warned as they started moving again, approaching Khalgos’ home and the strange men.

Esthor didn’t need to be told twice. A protective shield quickly formed around him and Rulf, while a whirling mass of energy appeared in the sorcerer’s right hand.

Just as they got close to the large stone house and the unknown men started to get up, the door opened and Esthor could hear the familiar voice booming.

“Welcome back!” Khalgos called out, smiling at them. “We have guests!”

Removing his magical protection, Esthor walked toward his master, led by Rulf.

“Hello, master.”

“Boy, where have you been? You disappeared on me last night,” Khalgos asked, looking at the two young men inquisitively.

“I’m sorry, I… It’s a long story,” Esthor said softly.

Rulf looked down, avoiding Khalgos’ suspicious gaze, but the old man could see something was going on. He suspected he was not going to like it, but decided not to press the issue. Esthor would tell him in his own time.

“Well, alright then. Come on in, we have visitors,” the master said, stepping aside to let them pass.

“Good luck then, and be safe,” Rulf said, squeezing Esthor’s shoulder and turning to leave.

“Are you not coming in with us?” Esthor asked.

“No, I… I have to go.”

“Oh… Ok,” Esthor nodded and grabbed Rulf by the arm, wanting to keep him there at least a few more moments. He wasn’t ready to say goodbye again. He was afraid if he let Rulf go, he wouldn’t come back.

“Rulf…”

“I should really be going. I have things to take care of.”

“Are you going to search for Fendrel?” Esthor asked quietly. Rulf’s silence was all the answer he needed. “Please, don’t. You know he’s dangerous.”

“Don’t worry,” Rulf dropped his hand from Esthor’s shoulder and stepped back. “Bye, Esthor. Stay safe.”

“You too.”

With that, the Lykos turned and walked away, returning where he came from.

“He’ll be alright,” Khalgos said as he stepped toward his student and patted his back.

“I hope so.” Esthor didn’t sound convinced at all. He knew what Fendrel was capable of and while Rulf was strong and agile, Esthor didn’t like the thought of him engaging in another fight against that wretched Lykos. He would’ve preferred to have him by his side.

“He will. I’ll send my crow to go after him. Now let’s go inside. We don’t want to keep the Prince of Thorodan waiting.”

“Prince of… What? Why is he here?” Esthor asked, confused. Is Khalgos joking with me?

“He needs our help. Come and he’ll tell you everything.”

Once they were inside, Khalgos led Esthor to the couch to join Terryn and Huck, while he went over to the window sill where his pet crow was perched, curiously observing what was happening. After whispering a few words to it, Khalgos opened the window and the crow flew out and into the forest, disappearing among the trees.

“It’s, uh, it’s good to see you again, Esthor,” Prince Terryn said, feeling awkward at seeing the sorcerer in such a state. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for the guy.

He remembered seeing him a few years ago back home in Thorodan, when he came to do some work for his father, King Theodore. He appeared in all his glory, dressed in fine, sky blue garments and riding on his majestic pale horse. Such a contrast to the tortured young man he was now.

“You too, Prince Terryn,” Esthor said, trying his best to sound polite and welcoming. The truth was, he was not in the mood for visitors or talking to anyone. All he wanted was to close himself up in his room and sleep until Rulf comes back. “What brings you here?”

“I was hoping you could help me, or rather a friend of mine,” Terryn said. “I can pay.”

Esthor had to chuckle. He wanted some people to pay, that was certain, but Terryn wasn’t one of them.

Thus, the Prince and his servant Huck told Esthor their tale – everything that had happened to them in the last few weeks. From the failed arranged marriage to Arabella, to coming here and accidentally freeing the Shade and helping her escape with the queen’s crown.

“How did you even find me?” Esthor had to ask. Few people knew where Khalgos lived, so how did it occur to them to come here?

“We went to look for you at your home, and… we met your friend Jonah there. He told us you might be here,” Huck said. “He seemed concerned about you.”

“Ohh, Jonah. Of course he would worry,” Esthor nodded, feeling stupid to have forgotten about him. “I’m going to have to let him know I’m alright.”

He thought about all the fun the two of them had whenever they would get together. There was never anything serious between them, no emotions past friendship, but the physical aspect of their relationship was certainly extraordinary. Esthor sighed, thinking how things were so simple with Jonah, with no emotional attachments.

With Rulf, things were completely different. Rulf made him feel things he never thought he’d experience in his lifetime. Esthor knew he wouldn’t trade it for the world, despite all the suffering they’ve been through. The two of them would work it out, he was sure of it.

“So, can you help Olivia?” Terryn asked, interrupting the silence as Esthor hadn’t spoken in a while.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Esthor replied, startled for a moment. “I would love to, but I have to do something first. I think I can help her more if I’m actually able to see. Master…” he called out, not sure if Khalgos was even in the room with them or not.

The old master soon appeared, coming from the adjacent room and carrying a large book in his hands.

“Did you talk?”

“Yes, they’ve explained everything to me, but we need to discuss my problem first. The book… You said there was a way to get my eyes back, but that there was a catch.”

“Yes,” Khalgos said calmly, sitting down and placing the purple tome on the table next to him. “You see, there is a ritual we can perform to restore your eyes. It’s blood magic, so nothing you’ve ever done, but I’m certain we can pull it off. The problem is, you didn’t lose your eyes by accident – it was through violence. And for such cases… the ritual requires the weapon used to commit the act of violence.”

“You mean, the king’s dagger,” Esthor sighed.

“Yes,” the master nodded. “We need it if we’re going to make this work.”

After a short break, we're back! Thank you to all Fairyfly readers, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!