Present Time,
KAMAZ'S POV
"Quinzi la akamel Rauch!"
It is the ancient language of Zoah which translates to, "It could very well kill me!"
I haven't been torn on what to do. I know what to do but…it has just been so hard leaving her side.
I couldn't up until now.
No, up until I had carried her from Korah and that feeling of her slipping from me had rushed again.
The marks on her body - from the ropes they used to tie her to that pillar. The marks got from when she had struggled with them taking her.
They seemed to glare at me as I saw her lying on that bed and it reminded me of my incompetence.
I'm not going to lose her again!
For her to recover fully, get her strength, and live normally, I knew I had to leave.
The mansion is the safest option as whatever brooding danger, won't be able to get to her easily. I also had some tracks to do, picking up from the clues Korah and Shadow had found.
Their information wasn't solid, but it was something, and I was taking it up, killing two birds at a time - giving Zeda time to recover and also finding out what the thrum of lurking danger is.
I know I wouldn't be able to flee from her forever but there is a price I must pay if I am to return to her without my existence sapping her energy all the time.
And for the first time in a long time, I lied.
I do not lie. I never do. There has never been a reason to.
But when Zeda had asked for how long I was going to be gone, with that look in her eyes that suggested she probably wanted my boring existence, I had to give her something close to hope.
Two months could very well be the time needed to properly start.
I was a little grateful for the presence of Julian. She had called him her friend, and even though he was as effective as a thwart, I felt better knowing that with Falkur and I gone, she wouldn't be all by herself.
As I spent the last few minutes before my departure in her ward, I felt her become more weak. She wasn't properly healed and the pressure of my existence so close to her was causing her human body to almost collapse. But my girl is strong; she was able to stay awake till I left, and it brought me a kind of joy knowing she had fought the weakness, just so she could speak to me.
I really am not deserving of her!
I went back to my study where Rena and Falkur were waiting for my next command.
"We have everything ready, My Lord," Falkur said as I made my way to my seat.
Rena stood up.
"I have no right to speak on this My Lord but I feel I need to make an input"
A glance was her sign to continue speaking. She swallowed.
"I think it will be best that you ask the Miss My Lord.
She needs to know what is going on. This adventure you are about to embark on is quite dangerous and we know that the outcome won't be anything …"
Falkur stopped her.
"You have no say in this Rena. It is Lord Kamaz's decision and our responsibility is to follow.
Do not bring this up again!" He said. He didn't sound angry, he only sounded concerned for her.
But I also understood Rena.
She is one of my most trusted soldiers and tries to look after me. But the lad sometimes doesn't understand some vital parts of life yet, even though she has had about three centuries to do so.
"The girl has to know. In comparison with what you are to lose My Lord, the girl's sacrifice does not hold a meaning…" Rena said, her voice rising.
"Enough!" Falkur roared. Now he was angry.
I was about to pin her to the wall, a fog of darkness for her careless words, but Falkur's anger had prevailed.
He stood in front of her, obstructing my view of her.
"Leave Rena!
Now!" Falkur spat, as he pointed at the door.
If she had something more to say, it wasn't heard.
She moved away from him and gave a courtesy bow to me before she stormed towards the room.
As she opened the door, a particular peculiar scent wafted in. It was faint, but I knew it was Zelda's.
Rena paused short at the door.
"Miss!" Rena greeted before she left the door open and walked off.
Zeda walked in, a small smile on her face.
Is she just coming? Did she hear what Rena said?
But she is smiling. She couldn't have heard it.
"Zeda, what are doing here?" Falkur asked as he looked from Zeda to me. He was also wondering if she had heard…
I immediately walked up to her as she replied to him. She is supposed to be resting. She isn't strong enough to be moving around.
"I'm sorry for coming here. I just had to give you this," She said, lifting a thread-like bracelet.
"I uhm, wanted to give you something. You know you won't be around for two months, and you know how these things are; you could go off, forget you have a house here, buy off another mansion in the middle of nowhere, and forget about us here.
I just thought you should have something from someone here…uhm from me"
She was stuttering but I got her message.
She felt I was about to collect the bracelet but I pulled her to me. I hugged her and patted the hair behind her head.
"You should still be resting. You know you didn't have to, but I'm honoured to have something from you.
Thanks, Zeda," I said softly.
I heard a little sniffle. I broke the hug and lifted her.
"Let's take you back to bed. Shall we?"