08. Reckoning, page 14
part #8 of Second Skin Series
The silent treatment was definitely not typical for Elistá, and it completely threw me off. Not that I was exactly ready for her typical attitude either. In an effort to get my shit together and delay the inevitable for just a little while longer, I hurried into the small adjoining bath chamber to get ready for bed.
As I stripped off my armor and weapons, I realized just how pathetic my behavior was. Elistá had done a great deal to help me, saving both my life and Mailyn’s on more than one occasion. I owed her a debt that was far beyond my ability to repay. While there was no way I could have anticipated the barmaid’s aggressive advances, I should have shown a bit more restraint in my response. My mind hadn’t wandered down the path of romance for years; I guess it wouldn’t be too difficult to hold those thoughts at bay for however long my training might take.
I wasn’t looking forward to it, but as I slid beneath the covers, I resigned myself to paying whatever penance Elistá might require of me. Although I could tell from her steady breathing that she was still awake, she didn’t stir as I sat leaning against the headboard. Nor did she turn around to face me when she spoke first, preempting my apology.
“There are kinder ways to let me know you’re not interested in me,” despite her best efforts, Elistá’s voice wavered noticeably. “You don’t have to throw yourself at every woman who crosses our path.”
This would normally be the part where I’d write some internal dialogue for the clueless hero like ‘Wait, what?’ or something similar to express his utter consternation and surprise, but Elistá’s revelation was so shocking that my mind couldn’t even process that much. For a moment, I just stared at the lump of blankets she was hiding under, trying to piece together all the clues I’d so obviously missed.
Looking back, it all came into focus. Elistá’s taunting comments had never been as mean-spirited as I’d once thought. Had I been in the right frame of mind, I would’ve recognized them as the playful teasing she’d intended them to be. When her flirtations hadn’t been enough to get my attention, Elistá had even tried to be more obvious. Curling up with me while we slept had been no accident; she’d given me plenty of chances to notice her affections, but I’d spurned her at every opportunity.
“Say something!” Her eyes threatened to overflow when she finally turned to face me, but Elistá fought hard to keep me from seeing how badly I’d wounded her. Only her head stuck out from beneath the covers she clutched at defensively, as if the scant protection could somehow shield her from me.
She certainly deserved an answer, but watching her struggle to maintain her composure robbed me of words. Elistá had been much more than a friend to me over the many weeks we’d spent together, and I’d repaid her trust and devotion with nothing but scorn. We’d finally reached a breakthrough of sorts on the road to Brookton, and I’d managed to snuff out that tiny bit of progress within a matter of hours. But the moment I spent reflecting on everything we’d been through finally led me to the response I needed to give her.
“I love you.” Even with how suddenly the realization had come to me, there wasn’t a shred of doubt in my heart.
“You… what?” Elistá kept the covers bundled around her closely as she propped herself up beside me.
“I love you,” I repeated the words again, smiling at the utter confusion on her face.
“You know my past, the losses that I suffered, and the pain I’ve endured.” Elistá nodded back numbly, absorbing my explanation. “This won’t be easy for me, but I’m not going to hide from my feelings anymore.”
Reaching out, I pried Elistá’s hands free from the blankets, and she stared at me almost blankly as our fingers curled together. The comforting warmth of her touch radiated through my entire body, beckoning me to bring her closer, and with a soft tug, I pulled Elistá towards me as I slid my hands around her back. Although I’d only intended to hold her in my arms, Elistá had other ideas. Her chin tilted slightly upwards as we drew together, lips parting as she gazed into my eyes.
I don’t think I have the right words to describe our first kiss. Terms like passionate, heated, intense, and electric simply wouldn’t do it justice. It had been years since I’d experienced anything close to intimacy, and I definitely felt the effects of the increased sensitivity I’d gained from being one of the Deathless. But those two factors couldn’t account for the overwhelming sensations that lingered on my lips even after Elistá pulled away. She’d clearly experienced something similar, and we stared at each other with unfocused eyes, taking in deep breaths as we tried to regain ourselves.
“What was that?” Elistá exhaled in a rushed gasp.
“I was about to ask you the same question.” I managed a weak smile, brushing my fingers across Elistá’s cheek before my hand came to rest against the soft skin of her neck.
The expression on Elistá’s face shifted from hesitation to… something completely different in the blink of an eye. “I want more. Show me everything.”
21
Despite its intensity, that one kiss did absolutely nothing to prepare me for what followed. The slightest brush of Elistá’s bare skin against mine sent waves of desire coursing throughout me, and my hunger for her only grew more desperate with every passing second.
I lost track of time as we made love for what seemed like hours on end. Being with Elistá filled me with a sense of completeness I’d never felt before, yet she still left me craving more. It was only once we were both utterly spent that Elistá collapsed beside me. Coated in a thin sheen of sweat, her pale skin glistened in the dim candlelight, and I fell asleep mesmerized by the steady rise and fall of Elistá’s chest moving in time with the rhythm of her shallow breaths.
I awoke in the morning to find that she’d nestled against me sometime during the night. Feeling the warmth of her body brought back powerful memories of the previous evening, bringing me fully awake as those desires began flowing through my veins once again. But even as enticing as Elistá was, there was much more to our relationship than its physical aspects, so rather than wake her, I contemplated the future that lay ahead of us as I carefully propped myself up against the headboard.
I’d been far too overwhelmed at the time to even consider why things had been so intense between us. But with the clarity of the following morning, the light of dawn laid bare the implications of the link we shared. Elistá hadn’t simply stumbled upon me in my hour of need, nor had she accidentally overheard my conversation with Mailyn. We’d been brought together for a reason, one that I’d finally recognized.
Brushing aside a few errant strands of her golden-brown hair, I gazed at Elistá as she lay sleeping peacefully, and my heart swelled with the knowledge I was about to share with her. Elistá’s eyes slid open when I traced my fingers along the graceful contours of her back, offering a bright smile as she craned her neck towards me and planted a soft kiss on my lips.
“Good morning, my Tarí,” I returned her affection, grazing our lips together once more.
“I like the way you say that.” Elistá’s brow knitted together in confusion. “But I don’t know what it means.”
When she rose to sit in front of me, I struggled to keep my gaze from drifting downwards as the covers slipped from Elistá’s shoulders and pooled around her waist. She grinned broadly in response, both pleased and amused by my difficulties while I took a deep breath to still the longing she’d provoked in me. As much as I wanted to pick up right where we’d left off the night before, there was something far more important we needed to discuss.
“It means that we belong to each other forever.” I reached out to take hold of her hands as I started to explain. “What we share is more than just love. There’s a bond between us that transcends that simple notion.”
“I don’t understand.” She leaned back, pulling away from me slightly. “What have you done to me?”
“Nothing and everything,” I replied with what I’d hoped was a reassuring smile and a slight squeeze of her fingers. “It’s complicated.”
Although I’d told Elistá about my escape from Dreya and some of the aspects of the power I’d inherited in becoming Daenar, I’d never gone into the details of what it meant to be Sintári, let alone The Sintári. I hadn’t even worked out the finer details of the relationships between a Sintári and their Tarí until I’d written Dreya’s story. I’d actually intended for her tale to unfold without any romantic entanglements, but the irresistible pull of Dreya’s Tarí reminded me that I hadn’t truly written the story of her life, I’d only been gifted with the ability to observe as it unfolded inside my mind. Now that I’d assumed Daenar’s identity, it was obvious that those same forces had been brought to bear against me as well—with one saving grace. I was certain that Elistá would be my only Tarí. It took some time to work my way through everything, but when I finished, I could sense her doubt through the delicate connection of the bond we now shared.
“This is a lot to absorb.” Elistá locked her arms across her chest as she pulled the covers around herself again.
As much as I wanted to reach out to her, I allowed Elistá to have the space she needed. “I agree, but now that I know the truth, there’s nothing in the entire world that I want more than this.”
“You don’t feel…” she paused, taking a moment to choose her next word carefully. “Trapped?”
“Not by you.” I was grateful that she took hold of my hand when I offered it to her.
“Elistá, you have to understand; this is a gift, not a sentence.” Her head tilted slightly to one side as she considered what I said. “Our connection wasn’t forged by chance. We’ve been bound together like this because we’re perfect for each other. I know it hasn’t always been easy for us, but that’s over now. My only regret is that it took so long for me to figure things out.”
“Okay.” Her faint smile in response lacked the playfulness of her usual grin. “It’s not like I have a choice.”
Elistá’s tone belied far more acceptance than the few words she’d spoken, a feeling that was bolstered by the subtle flush of relief that washed through my link with her. I would’ve liked to have been able to spend the entire day lying beneath the covers together, exploring those new feelings, but I was still haunted by my impending confrontation with Dreya. Her looming presence was like a dark cloud lingering on the horizon, providing a constant reminder that she was always lurking somewhere off in the distance. We’d let nearly the entire morning slip away from us, and I desperately needed to get back on the road again. The faster I unlocked my powers, the sooner I’d be free. And with the discovery that Elistá was my Tarí, freedom suddenly meant more to me than ever.
“You’re… frightened?” Elistá stopped rummaging among the blankets for her discarded clothing as she sensed my emotions.
“I’m scared to death,” I confessed. “There’s a Goddess hunting me down. Even if I can uncover all of my abilities before she finds me, I’m not sure that I’ll be strong enough to defeat her.”
“I used to only worry about what that would mean for me.” I had to force myself to relax and unclench my fists as they balled up the blankets between my fingers. “But I can’t help wondering what she might do if she finds out you’re my Tarí… or that I have a daughter.”
“I won’t let that happen.” Elistá’s narrowed eyes and fierce expression left no room for me to doubt her. “We’re going to win.”
Having made her pronouncement, Elistá distracted me with a playful grin, letting the blankets fall from her hands as she glided towards the bath chamber to retrieve the rest of her clothes. I have to admit, despite how obvious it was, her attempt to divert my thoughts was extremely effective. I followed after gathering my things, but as we got ready, I couldn’t keep my gaze from wandering over to her. I didn’t bother trying to hide my appreciation, and she smiled when she caught me gawking.
Within the span of just a few short hours, the bounds of our relationship had been drastically altered, yet I was completely at ease with the abrupt shift. I might have failed to recognize it earlier, but Elistá and I had been moving in this direction since the moment we’d first met. Although the newness of the bond we shared only allowed me to barely sense her, there was a comfort to those sensations that I’d desperately needed to feel.
We headed for the door after I’d grabbed my pack, but I stopped Elistá before she could turn the handle. I wasn’t sure where we’d be going next, but I knew that our path would leave us on the open roads or wandering through the wilds for the foreseeable future. There was no telling when there’d be another opportunity for us to be together again, and even with Elistá standing by my side, I was already feeling her absence. Although the relationship between a Sintári and their Tarí wasn’t defined by physical acts, those unions were both profound and even necessary to maintain their connections. Before we started on our journey, I wanted… no, I needed to hold her close just one more time.
“This is nice.” Her breath warmed the skin of my neck as she nestled against me.
“The rest was pretty good too.” I couldn’t resist teasing her just a little.
“No.” She didn’t shy away from the subject of the previous night, surprising me even more with a playful nip. “That part was amazing.”
Elistá’s response reminded me that she’d never been the delicate flower I’d once envisioned her as. Contrary to my perception, she was a woman of deep passion, capable of demonstrating far more affection than I’d realized.
“We need to go now,” she sighed, finally pulling away from me. “Or we won’t be leaving at all.”
With all that had happened there and the promise of what still could if we decided to stay, it wasn’t easy to leave that room behind. But I knew that my days on this world were numbered, and if I wanted to change that, we had to move on and resume the quest to unlock my talents. Sealing the door behind us was like closing a chapter of my life, but its end also brought on a new beginning, one I hadn’t anticipated but now looked forward to.
We had the inn’s common room all to ourselves, and within seconds of taking our seats, the waitress came over to take our orders. Seeing the same woman from the night before standing beside our table caused us both a moment of discomfort, yet the waitress ignored our hesitation as she left to fetch our meals.
“You learn a lot about people working in a place like this,” she returned quickly, talking to us almost absently as she set a plate in front of me. “Like how to spot someone who’s so distracted that they can’t see what should be obvious.”
I sat frozen in disbelief as she stepped closer to Elistá.
“Then there are the shy ones.” The woman paused as she slowly poured out a cup of tea. “Those who truly want something but are too timid to reach out and grab hold of it.”
“Usually, all they need is a little push.” She let out a soft sigh, offering Elistá a grin that was somewhere between friendly and conspiratorial. “A subtle reminder to act before they let things slip away.”
Holy. Fucking. Shit. She set us up!
“Breakfast is on the house,” the woman said in parting as she walked away. “You two have a wonderful day.”
“Did she just…?” Elistá’s doubtful stare followed the woman back to the bar.
“Manipulate the fuck out of both of us?” I finished for her, shaking my head slowly in disbelief.
“How is that even possible?”
“It really shouldn’t be.” I let out a soft chuckle as I leaned back in my chair. “Welcome to life with a Sintári.”
“I can see that things are going to get very interesting from now on,” Elistá’s tone was one of amusement, but her sideways glance hinted at an undercurrent of suspicion.
There was certainly a lot to consider, and we finished our meal in silence after that. Rising to leave, I drew out one of my last two Silver Crowns and placed it on the table before taking Elistá’s hand. Although the waitress had mentioned that the food was complimentary, she’d more than earned the generous tip.
I couldn’t help but smile as I laid the coin on the dark wood. “Worth every penny.”
“A bargain at twice the price.” Elistá matched me, dropping a second Silver Crown on top of mine.
Once we stepped outside, we walked hand in hand towards the east road. The challenges ahead of us were nothing short of daunting, but I was fighting for something far more important than my own survival. Victory would mean more than the opportunity to exist for just another day; it was the key to having a life truly worth living. Taking the first steps beyond the confines of Brookton, I considered the possibility of spending the rest of my days with Mailyn and Elistá and the family we might become together.
22
The lands around Brookton were an oasis of relative safety amid a sea of chaos, so as we walked, Elistá told me some of the histories of the Realms of Osteroth. Just as I’d feared, the continent was a fractured land, with the various nations plagued by constant wars and the ever-present threat of raids from bandits and hordes of monsters alike. Even if I managed to survive Dreya’s onslaught, finding a safe place for us to settle down wouldn’t be easy. The diversion allowed my mind to focus on something other than Elistá for the first time in a long while, and I felt Nika’s presence as she mirrored our pace walking somewhere off in the distance towards my left.
Oh, fuck…
Even with the separation, I could sense the anger and frustration roiling within her. I had no doubts about the target of her ire; to say that Nika was displeased with me would have been a supreme understatement. I tried reaching out to her to offer an explanation for both how and why things had changed between Elistá and me, but she was too far away, and my words were unable to span the distance. As time went on and she maintained the separation, I realized that was precisely her intention—Nika would return to me only when she was ready to hear what I had to say.
