AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Dear Cian and Hellion,”I said aloud. “Goddex, he’s misspelled my name.”
“Never mind that. Keep reading.”
I sighed and read on. “I asked Dorric to write this, but he made me do it. He said I need to practice. I’m writing to tell you I’ve decided to stay. I know how to make dreamsteel now, and Dorric has been teaching me to read and write. There’s a lot I want to say. Too much for a letter, so I’m coming to see you, and I’m bringing one last gift with me. Please don’t die before I get there. Love, Nevahn.”
There was a long beat of silence as we all processed what I’d just read.
“He’s staying.” Cian’s voice almost broke with relief.
Nisang sighed. “Cian…”
But Cian didn’t listen. He put his arms around me. “He’s staying, and he’s coming here! He’s staying, Hellion!”
“Yes, I know. I read it, remember?” I winced when he tackled me to the bed, but my lips quickly turned up in a smile. I touched Cian’s face. “I told you there was a chance.”
“Flame and cinders. This is real, isn’t it?” Nisang said quietly.
Cian and I parted and stared at him. I’d almost forgotten he was in the tent.
“This with Nevahn,” Nisang continued, staring at Cian slack jawed. “You’rein lovewith him.”
I sat up, a hand on my bandaged stomach. “Do you have a problem with Nevahn?”
Nisang closed the distance and knelt in front of Cian. “Cian, you must listen to me. Whatever you feel for the human, you mustn’t let it cloud your judgement.”
Cian frowned. “Nisang, whatever’s gotten into you?”
Nisang turned and picked up a paper and pen from the table nearby, thrusting both at Cian. “Write back and tell him not to come.”
“Why would I do that?” Cian asked.
“I mean it, Cian! Tell him not to come. He shouldn’t be here.”
I gave him a sharp look and stood. “That is not up to you.”
Cian surged to his feet. “I am more than capable of doing my duty, Nisang. I can fight this war whether Nevahn is here or not.”
A muscle in Nisang’s jaw twitched. Cold, angry eyes fell on me briefly before dancing away. “You could have died in the last battle saving Hellion. You risked your life for them.”
“Don’t be foolish,” I warned. “That is not a line you want to cross, gargoyle.”
Nisang pressed forward. “Cian, what if Nevahn were captured? What if they torture him for information?” He gestured to me. “It’d be one thing if it were you, Hellion. You’re a trained warrior. Nevahn is human. He doesn’t even have magic! You are bringing a defenseless human here and it is a terrible decision!”
“We will protect him,” Cian snarled.
“You can’t protect him all the time. Not and run this war effectively.” Nisang’s expression softened. He held out the paper and pen again. “Write to him, Cian, and tell him to stay as far away from here as he can. For the good of everyone, he should not be here. He’s too weak.”
I stared at the offering of ink and paper, a new knot forming in my throat. He never would have suggested Cian send Ren away. Ren had fought alongside us. The three of us had broken armies together, slaughtered foes beyond counting.
But Nevahn was not Ren.
He was also not as weak as everyone believed, a secret only I knew. Did I dare tell them I suspected Nevahn had magic? Not without proof. Still, I couldn’t just sit there and let Nisang believe Nevahn was weak.
“He’s not weak,” I growled at Nisang. “Perhaps he can’t turn his skin to stone, or fly, or conjure shadows, but that human has endured more than you know.”
Nisang narrowed his eyes. “He has not endured war. He has not endured torture or dragon fire.”
“Enough!” Cian shouted.
