"Very well done, Ered. I am so proud of you, my son" I looked around the lush green meadow for the source of my mothers' voice but saw nothing. "I miss you, mother." i said softly and hung my head as i started to weep. I felt a hand gently settle on my shoulder, but when i looked up my eyes opened and i realized i was back at the Inn, in my own bed.
Cassa was sleeping next to me with her head resting on my chest. I looked and sighed. 'I feel like i am being tormented. Hearing my mothers voice but never seeing her' Cassa shifted in her sleep and brought me out of my thoughts. "Princess?" i lightly touched her shoulder and she lazily looked at me then gasped in shock as she sat up. "Your eye!" She pointed at me in horror. I closed one eye then the other checking my vision. "I can still see you with both eyes. Whats wrong?" She slightly relaxed then jumped off the bed and ran though the tables to the kitchen. Fenta came running to my room then gasped when she saw me, stopping at the door.
Cassa came back and shoved her way past Fenta and held out a small silver plate towards me. I saw what they were gasping at. My eye had become blood red, no white to be seen. I motioned for Cass to come close and hugged her tight and she groaned a little. "I will be alright. Nothing to worry about." I guess she forgot i could heal myself. After a few moments of healing she smiled wide at me when i opened my eyes and they were perfectly white and normal.
"Why you always scare Cassa?" she pouted and i just laughed. I was waiting for the splitting headache to come as it always did when i over exerted myself but this time it was a slightly dull ache. As i let go of her i saw a little red bandage on her arm and frowned at it, "Your hurt!" She jumped at the volume of my voice and i quickly grasped the bandaged area in my hands and started the healing spell again. She grimaced in pain at my grip but quickly relaxed and slumped down to lay on my chest and stomach, totally relaxed.
"Oi! Stop tha' spell!" Fenta broke my concentration and i saw Cassas' eyes were rolled back and her tongue was hanging out of the side her mouth. "Oh my Gods! Cassa, are you ok?" I started lightly patting her cheek and she blinked a few times when her eyes righted and fixed on mine. "Cassa felt a little fuzzy." She wobbled a little when she tried to stand up then fell over again on the bed. Fenta just laughed at her.
"Didn't know the healing spell did that." i said trying not to laugh at her myself. "How do you feel, love?" Cassa just smiled at Fenta as she lightly shook in place and slowly flexed the muscles in her body. She almost giggled at the feeling then fell over and lightly snored. Me and Fenta burst out laughing at her. It was like she drank way to much ale. I moved her off my legs and set her up to the pillow when i got off the bed. I covered her up with the blanket then left the room. "How long was i out this time?" Fenta was opening Gros' door and stopped when i asked. "Two days." then she went inside and closed the door behind her.
'Two days!' I thought then fell into the little chair at the table. I really need to take it easy with the spells or this is going to kill me. Alzi came up and touched me shoulder, "How are you, Master?" then he sat down next to me. I told him everything of how our battle went and i could see little sparkles in his solid black eyes when i spoke of the fire giant. What i didn't realized was that i had an audience when i finished the story.
Some of the towns folk who were at the Inn had gathered round me as i finished telling of that nights events. One of the folks, who setting at the table beside me and Alzi, was hastily scribbling with a quill on a piece of parchment when i finished. I saw him dip the quill in a small black bottle at regular intervals until he stabbed the large feather at the end then stood up and ran out the front swing doors. "That was strange," i frowned as i stared after the young man and Alzi laughed at me. "That was Grimby. He runs the towns little news shop. He prints everything he hears from wild stories to the latest news of the region." Alzi spoke plainly and it put me off just a bit i just shrugged it off then my stomach spoke next, grumbling quite loudly in hunger.
Alzi got up and went to the desk and spoke with Brinda then she disappeared to the kitchen as the Dragonkin came back to his chair, "The cook will prepare you a feast of different meats and fruits and all the ale you can handle for your exceptional deeds." He puffed out his chest a little as he spoke feeling a little pride. "Thank you, Alzi. It would not have been possible without your help." Smiled as i spoke and huffed out all his breath in surprise at my kind words, "You may eat first if you wish when the food arrives." He froze this time and would have fallen out his chair if not for me grabbing his shoulder and holding him in place.
He blinked at me a few times then quickly shook his head to regain his composure, "Master is too kind," then he lowered his eyes. I just patted his shoulder and smiled. "Why did my fire elemental get so large and resemble Cassa?" I asked genuinely confused and Alzi replied, "Your heart." He paused for a second, "It reacted to what you hold dearest and the intentions of your heart. Also, it became wild and enraged when you shifted focus at the end towards the bone giant."
Cassa came out of our room yawning and scratched back as she lazily looked around for me. She smiled at seeing me and climbed into my lap and laid her head down on the table. I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her close. "I want to go home and visit my father." I felt her lightly shiver in my arms, "You will be coming with me." I leaned down and whispered in her ear so only she could hear, "You are my mate and my love."