Page 19 of One Last Promise
“For saving you,” he replied, moving to slip into the night.I couldn’t trust him—he was Noxlin—but what other option did I have?I wouldn’t last a night out here alone.
“Wait!”I called, not trusting the tremble in my voice.The Noxlin turned, giving me that smirk I already hated.“Can you help me get home?I can pay you in gold?”I was selling my soul to the enemy.
“Let’s go back to the safety of my camp.We can discuss my demands there.”I had no choice but to follow him.Whether he was escorting me to my ruin or not, I had no other options.
Taking one last look at Raiden’s lifeless body, I gripped the light sword and dragged it along with me as tears stung my eyes.I was alone.My life lay in the hands of aNoxlin!
“Do I get to know your name?”He quirked his eyebrow at me as I followed him into the cold night.
“Absolutely not!”I fumed, adjusting my bag over my shoulder.I would rather die than tell him my name.
“Fine.”His tone was indifferent.“I’m Darce.”Shock spread across my face that he had even bothered to tell me.He must have read it in my expression because he added, “I’m only telling you so you can name me in your stories as the one that saved your life.”
“I’m surprised that you’ll even let me live long enough to tell my story to anyone,” I sneered back.
“I have already assured you that I mean you no harm.”
“I’ll never trust a Noxlinpiglike you!”That shutDarceup until we reached his dwellings.
Chapter seven
Darce’s residence wasinside a large cave, which didn’t surprise me.Dylin believed that Noxlin lived in caves in Eallarim.With their simple minds, they wouldn’t be able to create a city like Dallethas.
It was a basic layout.There was a small fire near the entrance, where I assumed he cooked the food he caught for his meals.A small sleeping mat was against the side of the cave, not too far from the fire, and there was a jug of collected water near his few belongings.There was also wood that had been collected to burn, and a bow and arrow leaning against the wall.I was relieved that he appeared to be out here alone, like me.I couldn’t see any traces of another Noxlin travelling with him.
“What?”Darce questioned, watching me survey our surroundings.“Did you think there would be a whole army here ready to ravage you?”For the first time since we’d met, he had rendered me speechless, because that was exactly what I had feared.“Whatever your race told you about us, you would do better by making your own judgement.You’ll last longer out here that way.”
“Why are you out here alone?”The words fell out of my mouth before I could stop them.
“Why should I tell you that, when you won’t even share your name with me?”
“I’ll tell you why I’m out here,” I countered, not falling into the trap of giving him my name.It wasn’t the fact that Darce could find out I was the princess from my name.Names were something that were never shared with either race.High-powered individuals could be worked out in battle easily.There was no need to put a name to anyone.Royal bloodline, power-gifted, or common didn’t matter.When a name was put to them, it only made them more real and slightly harder to kill.My guess was that Darce was a Noxlin warrior.He appeared to have some power, but I wasn’t sure yet how strong his darkness was.Taking down a noc beast took a great amount of strength, though.
“You can go first.What were you and your friend doing out here alone?”He motioned for me to sit near the fire with him as he removed the sword from his back, leaning it against the far wall of the cave.I kept my sword close to me.“I have some leftover meat from my hunting trip this morning.Are you hungry?”I was famished, but could I accept food from him?“I’m not going to harm you.You won’t last a week out here without food in your belly.”I pulled my cloak tighter around my body with one hand as his eyes wandered over me.“Oh, please!Get over yourself.You thinkIwould be interested in a creature likeyou?The Noxlin females back in Eallarim arefarmore attractive than you.How do you camouflage yourself with that hair?”
“You arejustas displeasing to me!”I fumed, snatching the piece of meat that he offered.It shouldn’t have bothered me that he’d insulted me, but a small part of me was stung by his words.“A bath wouldn’t be a bad idea.You smell worse than the noc beast you killed.”
