The Mage of Orlon: The beginning (21 page)

“
I think this is a more suitable look for me.
It shows power, and vengeance!
I was living alone out here princess until those stupid Sevol locked you and the blind girl up in my fortress!
Now here is my dilemma if I let you live you will alert the king to my existence and the hunt to end my life resumes!
If I kill you in vengeance for all the evils the elves made me do then I will be hunted down and killed again.
So, what should I with you?
”

Nathan took a step closer to the black knight now holding Lela to the floor.
The knight
’
s helm quickly turned to Nathan.

“
No closer mage!
You are not immune to the treachery the elves are capable of either.
Let me make a guess, ever since you came into your powers all you have heard is how the Dark Queen is coming to kill you.
Is that about right?
”
The knight rumbled.

Nathan stopped in his tracks.
How could he know about all his drama right now? Unless, the thing could read his mind?
The knight chuckled because of the perplexed look on the young mage
’
s face.

“
Did I read your mind?
No!
I merely regurgitated the same lies the elves told me in my fledgling years!
It has been the same throughout the generations.
First there was me then there was the Sevol, and finally the mages of Orlon!
”

“
That is impossible you are lying!
It would take a creature of great cunning to keep that lie going.
We met the Sevol!
”

“
You have met the splintered too, and the one common thing the Sevol and I have is our hatred of the elves!
I warn you now mage no good will come of being around these filthy forest dwellers!
You will regret it!
One day they will ask you to do something you will not be able to bring yourself to do, and they will turn on you!
”

“
Maybe, but I will deal with the consequences when they arise!
”
Nathan shouted.

“
My decision is made princess!
”
The knight said.

His cold metal clad hand grasped Lela by the neck and hoisted her into the air.
Lela became airborne as the knight threw her at Nathan who caught her. The force of the throw pushed Nathan off balance.
He and Lela both fell into a puddle of water.
When they looked back at the knight, he had vanished.
Lela and Nathan both looked at Ileana.

Ileana
’
s bow crackled with magic, her eyes were rubies of rage.
Her shoulders trembled from holding the bowstring with a bolt ready to fire.
Through clenched teeth she mumbled to Nathan
“
How could you try and save the person responsible for destroying my village?
The same person who only moments ago was ready to kill me!
”

“
Ileana, I was only trying to
…”

“
No!
No more trying, no more anything Nathan now you have to choose me or Lela!
”
Ileana was enraged, Lela had nearly slit her throat, and by the tone in her voice with some amount of satisfaction!
Galvin was right the elves were evil, and Nathan would be used as a weapon by them!

Nathan was torn he could go with Ileana and possibly live a great life here, but he would never find a way home.
Then there was Lela, he could be happy with her, but she seemed a little too ready to kill Ileana.
But there was a possibility that he might find a way home. But would the elves let him use it, or would they ruin any chances he had of going home?
It wouldn
’
t be so hard if he knew how Lela really felt about him.

“
Lela how do you feel about me, do you care about me at all, or am I just a weapon for your people to be used and thrown away?
”

“
Nathan why bother to ask her?
You know how I feel towards you.
I have done nothing but throw myself at you since we first met.
I cooked for you and tried on numerous occasions to be intimate with you.
I want you as a wife wants her husband.
Don
’
t you understand I love you Nathan!
”
Ileana said as she slowly relaxed the bow letting the arrow fade into nothing.

She crossed over to Nathan and knelt down to look into his face.
She could tell her words had hit a cord in Nathan because he was blushing.
Could it be that she was his first serious relationship?
That had to be it!
He hadn
’
t been rejecting her all this time he just wasn
’
t sure.
Ileana grabbed Nathan
’
s face and kissed him full on the mouth.
The kiss lingered for what seemed a lifetime.

Lela screamed in rage, and pushed Ileana away from Nathan.
Why had she done that?
Nathan had to make this choice.
Finally stilling herself Lela began to answer Nathan
’
s question.

“
I don
’
t know how I feel about you Nathan.
It is all so confusing.
I can
’
t stand the thought of you being with another woman, but I really don
’
t want you for a mate.
It would be ridiculous.
You would die within what my people consider a short period of time.
”

“
I told you about Santrose the night before we got there, and of the guilt I have carried ever since that fateful day.
I didn
’
t know about the Sevol or the splintered being weapons. I was always told that the mages and elves were friends because of magic.
None of what has happened here today makes any sense to me.
I have needed to talk to a friend of mine.
But we would have to go back to the elven castle to do that. I don
’
t think you would trust me long enough to make the journey back.
Maybe you should go with Ileana; she can give you the love you deserve.
”

“
So who is it Nathan?
”
Ileana demanded.

“
I want to find a way home to my world.
But who do I choose for that?
The elves probably won
’
t let me leave. If I find a way home while with you Ileana, you would want to stay here because in my world your bow wouldn
’
t work and you would never be able to see again.
”

“
Why couldn
’
t you stay here with me Nathan?
I could make your days here soooo pleasurable.
”
Ileana said in a husky voice.

“
Okay stop with the pulling back and forth, both of you!
I need to talk to someone about how I am to get back home.
The problem is, I don
’
t know if anyone in this world can help me.
Lela this friend of yours that you want to talk to, does she know magic?
”
Nathan asked.

“
Yes, she is studying to be a high priestess; they use dangerous magic and have to be trained to receive their title.
”

“
So she might know how to get me back to my world?
”

“
Maybe, but it might be beyond Ezra
’
s knowledge.
”

“
Nathan you would forego any pleasure I could offer you to go home?
Am I not beautiful enough?
”
Ileana began pouting.

“
I have to try to get home Ileana, but if I am to be stuck in this world I would want to be here with you.
Lela is right even if she had feelings for me it would not work she would out live me in what would seem to be a blink of an eye to her.
I need to try to get home; if I cannot do it then maybe we can pick up where we left off?
”

“
So I am to be second in your life is that it!
You would gladly go into who knows what with this filthy murderer of villages if it means you possibly getting home!
I
…
I cannot believe I am losing to a possibility of you going home!
The elves would never allow it, she would never allow it!
”
Ileana pointed at Lela with a shaking finger.
The grip on her bow had turned her hand white from lack of blood flow.
Her voice sounded like breaking glass as she fumed.

“
You are a fool to think this will possibly end well Nathan!
They will manipulate you until you do something horrible, so horrible you will never be able to go home!
Look at how many times you have nearly killed for this pointy eared harlot!
You nearly killed me once, or have you forgotten when we first met?
”

“
I have not forgotten and it was because I thought you had killed Lela!
”

“
You do care for her!
So go with her!
Though she will never love you, go with her!
”

It was too much Ileana began crying.
How had she lost Nathan?
She had tried to seduce him, he cared about her, he brought her back to life when the plant sprayed its poison in her face.
He had shown her his world, though she could never see it.
He had felt passion when they kissed she was sure of that!
So how had she lost him so completely?
She heard him coming forward.
She pulled her bow string, her eyes seared through the darkness to see Nathan walking to her.

“
Stay back Nathan.
”
Ileana sobbed.
It sounded weak even to her.

Nathan kept walking forward. His arms stretched out.

“
Please, I don
’
t want to hurt you.
”
Ileana begged.

Nathan
’
s hand touched Ileana
’
s hand and the arrow faded to nothingness again.
Nathan wrapped his arms around Ileana and held her.
Ileana began trying to break out of his embrace.
After a few moments she sunk into the warmth his body gave off.
Ileana felt the loneliness of her existence weigh in on her soul.
This felt so right, how can she lose him now?
Ileana twisted around in Nathan
’
s arms and kissed him once again.
Her body became a hot pool of desire, how could he pass her by, her need for his touch was so apparent.

“
You are right Ileana, you could make the rest of my days very pleasurable.
”

“
You would be mine forever Nathan, as my husband and lover.
”
She stated.

Lela
’
s stomach clenched.
He had chosen the human, but wasn
’
t that what she wanted?
Didn
’
t she push him towards her until it was a certainty they would fall for the other?

He had said he loved her in the tent the night the curse found him sleeping.
Why did she keep pushing him away?
It didn
’
t matter now.
He was Ileana
’
s now.
So why was she crying?
When she felt them looking at her Lela wiped the betraying tears away.

“
I take it you won
’
t be coming to the castle with me then Nathan?
”
Lela asked.

“
I will be leaving with you Lela.
”
Nathan said flatly.

Ileana crumbled, the elf woman had won!
She turned and ran from the fortress before either of the two could say a word.
Nathan turned to talk to Ileana finding only the empty space where she had been standing.

Lela and Nathan walked out of the fallen fortress.
Nathan had felt bad about leading Ileana on, but he didn
’
t love her.
He hadn
’
t known how Lela felt until he saw her crying.
Lela had been crying over losing him.
She might not admit it, but she cared for him.
The two walked until it started to get dark.
Nathan half expected to see Ileana following them, but there was no sign of her.