I awoke tasting blood in my mouth and tried to sit up but fell back down. What was wrong? I tried again, but my strength was gone. I turned my head to see a few of the band had fallen along with the Keltcher , but I didn't see Maverick. One of us had to be dead surely. There was no way either of us had allowed the other to live.
Finally, Alistor was at my side.
"What happened?" I said.
I tasted dried blood on my lips and my throat felt raw.
"I should be asking you that. Fighting with fire? Your hair turning white and your markings glowing under your shirt? Your eyes turning completely gold?"
"Rowan," I said through gritted teeth.
"Who?"
I tried to get to my feet again. "It's a long story."
I looked down at my clothes to see them all in tatters and that all my markings were completely visible on my torso. I felt completely drained and close to death. Rowan always did this. He brought me knocking on Zanti's door any time he came to my aid. I guess with great power, came the possibility of a great death. I hoped Ander was pleased with himself. I spat in the mud. I was tired of feeling like the god's puppet.
When I was on my feet, Alistor helped support me. That's when I saw Sasha being held in Sebastian's arms. Her shirt was bloodied. I pushed Alistor off me suddenly feeling a surge of power. Sebastian glared at me.
"You," he spat. "Stay away."
I knelt next to her, not listening to Sebastian, and pushed her hair out of her face. "Sasha," I growled. "You are not allowed to go to the other side."
I felt Sebastian glaring at me.
"Get away from her, monster!"
"Without me, there would be no Halflings!" I spat. "So watch who you call a monster."
"You're a Halfling yourself!" he growled.
Alistor came over and gripped Sebastian's shoulder. "We need to get her to a healer. Your bickering isn't going to solve anything."
Without a word, Sebastian sobered up and stood with her gently in his arms and began walking away. I stood there confused.
"Please … please tell me exactly what happened," I begged Alistor tiredy.
My knees buckled, and before I could stop myself, my eyes snapped shut.
*****
I felt a damp cloth on my head later and my hand automatically grabbed for my axe clip. A callused hand stopped me and my eyes snapped open to see Sasha with her eyes showing a dull yellow. I reached up to move a strand of hair out of her face, but she stopped me.
"Don't," she warned.
I dropped my hand, looking at her. Happiness filled me. She was alive. There is no amount of words to explain how happy I was at that thought.
"You're alive," I whispered.
"Aye," she whispered.
I tried to sit up, but was still drained of strength. I sighed. "What happened? Why was Sebastian so royally pissed at me?"
"Just regain your strength, okay? Then I'll tell you," she said gently and moved one hand like she was going to grab mine, but stopped herself.
"Sasha…"
"You owe me that much," she said.
What had happened?
"Did I hurt you?" I whispered.
"Nay," she said, forcing a weak smile to her face.
"Sasha," I whispered grabbing her hand.
She flushed trying to conceal it, and quickly pulled her hand away.
"You didn't," she whispered. "Alright?"
I sighed. The way she was talking to me now reminded me of the time my mother had been there with me right before Bane and Rentook had taken me into isolation.
"Very well."
She got up. "I should go before Sebastian begins to worry."
He didn't know she was here? Where was I anyhow?
"Sasha?"
"Aye?"
"I'm sorry."
She didn't say a word as she pushed the door open and left. I rolled over and fell into a fitful sleep. I hated not knowing what had happened.