Page 21 of One Last Promise
“You won’t mock me?”
Darce held his hands up as a sign of surrender.“Tell your legend.You have my word, I won’t interrupt you.”
After taking a sip of water from the jug to clear my throat, I began to tell him our myth, taken word for word from our scriptures.“Nantu was born of moonlight, unlike any of her kind before.A pure priestess of the highest power.She was one of the most powerful priestesses the Dylin had ever seen.At the Battle of False Promise, she was caught by the powerful first Noxlin king, who enslaved her because of her beauty and abilities.The king deflowered her, taking away her purity.She managed to escape him, but was chased to the sacred mountains near Specter Isle, where her only choice was to sacrifice herself rather than go back to the Noxlin that had defiled her.She was protecting the power of the light by not allowing the Noxlin king to gain any of her ability by trying to bond with her.It’s said that you can still hear her cries near the sacred mountains.Female Dylin risk their lives to pilgrimage to the sacred mountain to pay their respects in the Barren Lands.They are accompanied by a chosen, fierce Dylin warrior.”Darce sat there, taking in everything I had said.“Raiden was my chosen warrior.In the last four weeks, we became very close.He shouldn’t have had to die that way.My pilgrimage killed him.”
“You risk your life paying tribute to amonster?”His voice was full of disbelief.“That makes no sense.Why would you immortalise her, when it’s her moonlight beasts that prowl and kill everything in this land?”
“The only thing killing isyourkind!”
“I forgot what it was like to be young and foolish,” he huffed, undoing the buttons on his jacket.
“What are you doing?”I panicked.Was this where he would force himself on me?
“It’swarm.I’m simply taking my jacket off.Don’t worry, I have clothes on underneath.I won’t repulse you with my naked body.”
“O...oh...I...I...didn’t think you...”
“Your face says it all,” he chuckled, interrupting me before I could say anything else.As Darce slipped out of his tunic, he revealed a thick, leather vest underneath.I could make out markings on his muscular arms.There were three, large black circles that covered most of the design, with smaller ones on either side.The larger circle in the middle had an array of lines bursting from it, with tiny hollow holes in the ends.Was that where he harnessed the power of his darkness?“It’s rude to stare, you know,” he quipped, watching me.“If I was looking atyouthat way, you would try and run me through with your sword.”I couldn’t help but notice the teasing in his tone.Why did I feel like I could trust him?Was that his cunning plan?
“Are you this sarcastic with everyone you meet?”
“Usually.It seems to be much easier with you, though.”Shaking my head, I rolled out my sleeping mat, making it more comfortable to sit and enjoy the warmth of the fire.
“Why are you out here alone?”
“I’m hunting moon beasts that have been attacking our villages.That noc beast you saw me take down was one of them.”
“Moon beasts?”
“Creatures that have been corrupted by the Moonlight Mountains.”Moonlight Mountains?I was so confused.“You have your version of this land.We have ours.We believe it’s Nantu’s soul sending these monsters to our lands.If you want to worship her, that’s your choice, but while you’re undermyprotection, I need you to have your wits about you.”
“Protection?”I gasped at his choice of words.“You would protect me despite the fact that we are enemies?”
“We’renotenemies out here.We are two creatures that merely want tosurvive.Wouldn’t you agree?”I nodded briefly, gazing at him in bewilderment.“I can take you to your sacred mountain, if you wish.I know a shortcut through these caves.You can pay your respects to your fake goddess, and I’ll escort you back to the lands outside your kingdom.”
“You would do that for me?”
“Absolutely not.I would do it forgold, though.A poor foot soldier like me needs all the wealth he can get.”I sensed the truth in his words, but Darce was still using his teasing tone.
“I have some wealth.Not a lot, but enough.I will pay you well for my safe return.”When I offered my hand out to seal the deal, Darce shook it.“My name is Alora.”
A wide smile spread across his face.“Alora...that’s a pretty name.It doesn’t suit yourplainface, though.”I rolled my eyes at him but remained silent.I didn’t have a comeback this time.My body was exhausted.All I wanted to do was rest.“It’s safe here, Alora.I’ve warded the cave entrance so nothing can get in.Rest if you need to.”He hadwardedthe cave?That must have taken some power.
“You promise to keep your hands off me?I may be a vile, plain creature, but I need to know you can keep yourself in check if you have a certainneed.”
“I wouldn’t go near you even ifHoly Etherdemanded it.You are perfectlysafe.” Something in his eyes put me at ease.That was good enough for me.Closing my eyes, I allowed sleep to take me over.
