Chapter 250 - A Different Kind of Trial

Chapter 250! That's a quarter of a thousand, which is a pretty big number. I think this is the longest chapter of Book 4 so far. Different from usually, but I had a lot of fun with this one.

“Have you received an assignment yet?” Myra asked. “I’m worried about you, Cel.”

“Not yet,” Celaine said. “Hump has his trial to focus on, and I don’t expect to be assigned to Vamir. “I might see if Finn can get me a position under Keeper Tessa.”

“You must be worried about him. This Trial of Resolve won’t be easy.”

Celaine was surprised to find she’d never doubted whether or not Hump would pass. Somehow, no matter what challenge he faced, he always found a way.

“There’s nothing to worry about,” Celaine said. “Hump’s been through worse than this just in the time I’ve known him. If there’s one thing he’s not short of, it’s his resolve to keep going.”

Myra gave her a look, then took Celaine’s right arm in hers. “Are you really going to dinner with Finn?”

They strolled unhurriedly back to the village, following the winding path from Ado’s cabin. Celaine looked at her sister, hardly able to hide her smile at her sister’s actions. So much had changed in the year she’d been gone. A year ago, Myra would stare listlessly ahead during a conversation, hardly partaking. While she wasn’t the same as before, her sister was back.

Celaine took Myra’s hand with her left, holding it. “Why does that surprise you? Finn is one of my oldest friends. Yours too.”

Myra shrugged, letting out an ambiguous hum.

“What?” Celaine said dryly.

“I just thought that you and Hump… you know? I like him. He seems nice, and you get along well.”

“We do get along,” Celaine said. “That doesn’t mean we need to stick to each other like glue.”

Myra pressed her lips together and narrowed her eyes. “You saw his face, didn’t you?”

“What do you mean?”

“For someone who supposedly has the Eyes of Owalyn herself, you can be blind as a bloodmole when it suits you.”

Celaine rolled her eyes. “Then enlighten me, o great sister.”

“Don’t roll eyes at me!”

“Then don’t make fun of them. They get offended you know?”

Myra sighed. “I’m trying to be serious.”

“Then just tell me what was wrong with Hump’s face without calling me a bloodmole.”

“I’m not calling you a—” Myra stopped herself and glared at Celaine, who couldn’t help the smug smile on her face. “Oh whatever. His face dropped the moment you told him your dinner plans.”

Celaine frowned at that. Had it really? She usually noticed things like that.

“Why would Hump care about who I have dinner with?” Celaine snapped.

“You mean other than the obvious reason?” Myra chided with far too much haughtiness for Celaine to ignore.

“Hump expressed his interest in me almost a year ago and moved on when I said no. He was happily going out with some pretty priestess when we were in Sheercliff. Now have you got any more questions or can we have an ordinary conversation?”

“Just think about what you want, Cel. I heard what he did for you when the lich attacked. That boy threw himself into the fires of death without a second thought and almost killed himself in the process.”

“We’re party members. We’d all do the same for each other.”

“You’re even more stubborn than you used to be! Mother’s mercy, girl. Fine. You don’t want to talk about it, fair enough. I’ve said my piece.”

“Thank you,” Celaine mumbled. “You’ve got nothing to worry about anyway. It’s just dinner. I have no interest in Finn beyond friends.”

Myra gave a slow bob of her head. “Mhmm.”

The thought brought to mind what she was doing in Drakalyn. There was no doubt that she would stay and defend her people from the lich, Irila. Just the thought of that creature sent shivers down her spine. She could still feel her poking at her soul with her poisonous touch. They would defeat her, but then what? Would she stay in Drakalyn? Hump certainly wouldn’t—she didn’t need to talk to him to figure that out.

The idea left a pang of unease in her stomach. She’d enjoyed her time on the road, adventuring with Hump and the others. She didn’t want it to end. But how could she justify leaving? This was her home. Her family. Her people. They had only just officially welcomed her home and already she was having thoughts of leaving once more.

“Little Nisha was cute today, wasn’t she?” Myra said suddenly. “She must be coming up to six weeks old now, right?”

“About that.”

“It’s good progress for a wolf dragon. It’s the second time you…” Myra trailed off. Celaine felt Myra’s grip tighten on her hand. She glanced at her, seeing her glazed over eyes staring ahead of them. It was gone a moment later, a smile once more on her lips. “She’ll be a strong one.”

Celaine’s lip quivered, a growing weight pressing on her chest. She could guess at the missing end to that sentence. It was the second time she’d helped to raise a dragonling.

“She’ll be amazing,” Celaine said. She squeezed Myra’s hand. “I wonder how long until she starts breathing fire. It could be any time now.”

“It could,” Myra said. “You’ve done well with her. She’s lucky to have you.”

Celaine swallowed at that, responding with only a nod. Remaining in Drakalyn would mean leaving Nisha behind too, that was, if Owalyn intended to allow Hump to leave at all. Everything they did pivoted on her judgement.

They parted ways at the market square, Myra heading home while Celaine waited for Finn to arrive. If there was one thing she missed about Alveron, it was the variety of restaurants found in Sheercliff City.

She loved the food of Drakalyn, but it was vastly understated compared to the sheer amount of choice one could find in both the Upper and Lower city. Here, the village was not built to cater to merchants, nobles, and travellers. Food was either prepared at home or bought from food stands that served various grilled meats, flatbreads, and single pot dishes. Most were manned by people too old or injured to fight, and primarily catered to hunters and the general workforce that didn’t have time to cook while on the job.

While she waited, Celaine called upon her new blessing, Relentless Pursuit, fixing Finn in her mind as a target. She could sense him getting closer even when only using a little essence—not enough to draw any attention, but enough for her to practice. When he stepped into view on the far side of the square, he appeared entirely in red, the rest of the world becoming almost blurred around him. He was her sole focus. Flashes of yellow appeared in his eyes, on his neck, his heart, his groin. Places of weakness. She relinquished the blessing before he caught her looking, only to notice something else.

When Finn suggested they meet there, that was the style of food she’d expected for dinner. Instead, he arrived with a woven basket in hand, no doubt filled with food from home. He was out of his dragon scale armour, instead wearing light linen trousers and a blue tunic. Despite his mission to the gnoll tribe earlier that day, he was recently washed.

He spotted her then, waving. She returned the gesture as he strode through the square, drawing the eyes of many around him. Sometimes Celaine forgot just how important Finn was to her people. Not just a dragon keeper, but the youngest dragon keeper. He was the future of Drakalyn. In many ways, she understood why her uncle was trying to push him on her so much.

“Celaine!” he said cheerfully. “Sorry to keep you waiting. You look beautiful.”

“And you look prepared.” Celaine eyed the basket. “What’s in the basket?”

“Ah.” He placed a hand on the top and looked away as if embarrassed. “When I told my mother we were having dinner, she insisted on making us a meal. Not exactly what I had planned, but I thought it would be nice to eat over by the Owl’s Oak.”

There’s no way that wasn’t planned, Celaine thought. Still, it didn’t sound like a bad idea.

“That was very kind of her. How is Quilla?”

“She’s well. A little afraid of the upcoming battles.” Finn shrugged. “Same as everyone. In truth, other than that not much has changed since you left.”

“Good,” Celaine said, and she meant it. Quilla had always been good to her. The woman was a mother to anyone that needed it, but none could take the place of her golden sun. “The Owl’s Oak sounds like as good a place as any.”

“Perfect.”

They talked as they walked. The Owl’s Oak was off the beaten path and near the edge of Owalyn’s threshold. They’d played there often as children, competing to see who could reach the highest branches. In the end, they’d all become skilled enough to reach the top, so it became a race. One Celaine often won—at least, when Finn wasn’t there. The area around the tree was overgrown with thick grass and shrubs now. As the forest became more dangerous, children weren’t allowed to play so close to the edge anymore. It was a sad state to see it in.

Finn placed the basket on the ground and drew a long knife from his belt. “Stand back a minute.”

She stepped aside and watched as he called upon his blessings. The wind stirred around him, flooding to his knife, the blade shining brightly. He swept his blade outward—it appeared slow, but the wind howled as essence exploded forward. The thick grass and shrubs were cleared in a perfect circle around him, the scraps blown away by the wind.

“That’s better,” he said. He took a colourful blanket from on top of the basket and placed it on the ground. “Have a seat, Cel. You remember when we used to play here as kids?”

Celaine smiled and nodded. “You mean when you used to beat us to the top of the tree.”

He waved her comment off. “I was the oldest. It’s only natural.”

She gazed up at the branches, eyeing a broken one near the top where Kelec snapped it and fell, breaking his arm. She took a seat.

“It’s a shame nobody comes out here anymore,” she said.

“It really is.” Finn took a seat opposite her. “One day, I hope to change it. We should be able to move freely within our home.”

“Oh yeah?” Celaine said, deciding to humour him. “How’d you plan to do that? Defeat the Fallen Lands?”

“At the very least I’ll push it back.” He must have seen something on her face as he grinned. “You don’t believe me.”

Celaine shrugged. “It’s a big goal. Drakalyn has been here a long time and the Fallen Lands have only ever become stronger.”

“I’m a fifth circle Chosen. With some luck, I have hundreds of years ahead. Anything is possible with the right people behind me.”

“It’s a good dream,” Celaine said. “I’d like to see this new Drakalyn some day.”

He smiled at that.

“How did it go with the gnolls, by the way?” Celaine asked. “Did they agree to help?”

“Not sure how much help they’ll be, but yes. They shall be our eyes, ears, and nose on the ground, as Tessa put it. Speaking of which, I have some good news. I’ve put in a word with Tessa and she’s agreed to have you join us.”

“Her hunters?”

He nodded. “It’ll be an interesting mission. We’re to claim the Greenhill Hold—that old fortress near the edge of the forest, over near the River Ryx. It’s not the safest assignment—reports speak of undead in the area, so we expect resistance. Still, I think you’ll do well there, and we could do with a strong huntress.”

“I see,” Celaine said. It was a day away on foot, maybe an afternoon if she were to sprint it.

He looked at her curiously. “I thought you’d be pleased. It’s a perfect opportunity for you. Tessa is a good leader, she’ll take care of you, and so will I.”

“I am pleased. I was actually going to ask you if you thought there was a place for me, so I was just surprised.”

“I’ll tell her you said yes then! Now…” He opened the basket, a delicious savoury smell of spiced stewed meat coming from inside. “It’s boar merenda. I know you always liked my mother’s version.”

She really did, and she had to admit, it smelled great. It was a spiced meat dish cooked slowly in binda milk—a type of fruit with a creamy white flesh inside. It was a pleasant meal. They ate it in flat bread, combined with various vegetables to form a small wrap. Catching up away from everyone else was surprisingly pleasant. Finn didn’t ask much about her time away, instead, they talked for hours about their time growing up, and how far they had come. Him a Dragon Keeper, Celaine one step away from being a fourth circle Chosen.

Celaine relaxed and gazed out into the shadows of the forest. The night sky was clear, a half-moon and stars providing more than enough light to see by. She enjoyed the warm night air, and the smell of the forest all around her. She’d forgotten how much she missed simply sitting out at night and enjoying the lands Owalyn had made for them.

“There’s something else I’d like to talk to you about,” Finn said, drawing her attention. “I’ve never come out and said it straight, but I always pictured us being together in the end. I want you to give me a proper chance.”

Celaine’s throat tightened as he said that. She’d hoped he wouldn’t bring this up. That they could just be friends, as they were before, even if deep down she knew that wasn’t the case. Finn had made his intentions clear from the moment he found her amongst the gnolls.

“What’s with that look? We’d be a good match, wouldn’t we? We’re both Chosen—our lifespans will be similar. And I’m a dragon keeper, so our place here will always be secure. We’re perfect for each other.”

“It’s just that I’ve never looked at you that way. You or anyone else. You’re looking for something that I’m simply not.”

“We’ve known each other forever, Cela. I care about you. Do you not care about me?”

“Of course I care,” she snapped. “But I’m eighteen. There’s a whole world out there I want to see. You can’t expect me to suddenly change course so swiftly.”

Finn’s face turned hard. “You’re leaving again?”

Shit. She’d come out and said it without thinking. “I haven’t decided yet.”

“It doesn’t have to be sudden,” Finn said. “When you decide to settle down in the village and stop gallivanting around, we can build something. Raise a family, build a home. I want you by my side, Celaine. I’m on a path where I will one day become First Keeper. Together, we can make that dream into something more.”

“Your dream.” Celaine scoffed. Her anger rose as she thought on what he’d just said—the audacity. The arrogance. “Is this truly how you see me? Staying home and raising children while you lead the keepers? I would never choose this life over what I’m doing.”

“What? Playing around in the south?” Finn said derisively, a hint of spite to his voice.

“Do you have any idea what I did?” she practically snarled the words. “You’re a child excited for an oncoming war, but I’ve seen war. I’ve seen a city in ruin and the horrors that come with it, and I barely made it through to the other side.”

“You’re being ridiculous,” he said. “I’m not saying you did nothing. But why wouldn’t you settle here? Why waste your gifts on southerners instead of protecting your own people?”

“I will fight to protect my people. I’ll fight this lich, and I’ll do everything I can to help, but I have my own life.”

Finn frowned. “This isn’t how it was supposed to go.” There was frustration in his voice. “Let’s stop arguing about this and just consider this properly. You don’t know what you’re saying.”

Celaine laughed in disbelief. “This was a mistake.” She rose to her feet. “Tell Quilla that the food was wonderful and pass on my thanks.”

“So what?” he raised his voice. “You’re going to leave again with that wizard? Really?”

“Perhaps. I’ve not thought about what comes after all this, I just know I don’t want what you do.”

“He’s nothing, Celaine. He is a weak, little man that isn’t good enough for you.”

“Yet when the lich almost killed me, it was Hump that saved me while you were powerless. It was him that brought me back from the dark and made room for Owalyn to reach me. I think we’re done here, Finn. I’m going to head back ahead of you.”

As she started to move, Finn grabbed her hand, holding her in place. Celaine’s breath quickened, anger rising inside her.

“Don’t go.”

“Let go,” Celaine growled.

“Just think about it! We were born to be together, Cel.”

Celaine called upon her blessing Way of the Shadow Archer without another thought, summoning the shadows around her wrist like a layer of padding. She pushed back Finn’s hand and slipped out of his grip, then sent a bolt of shadow at his chest, striking him in the centre and knocking him back to the ground.

“I told you to release me,” she snapped. “Next time, it won’t just be a thump.”

She didn’t give him a chance to respond, using Spring Step to boost her speed as she ran back to the village. The Finn she’d known as a kid was gone. No, he was probably like this all along. This was just what happened when he didn’t get his own way.

Celaine considered returning home, but she was too furious for that. Instead, she decided to go to Vamir’s, hoping to hide out there where there wouldn’t be any prying questions. When she arrived, however, she found Hump and Nishari outside, the dragonling flying back and forth as Hump caught her. She watched quietly from the path for a couple of minutes, feeling herself calm down and a smile form on her face.

Nisha spotted her first, leaping from Hump’s arms and flying toward her. Celaine rushed forward and caught her, grunting at her weight. Nisha climbed onto her shoulders, settling around her neck where she nuzzled the back of her head. Reaching around her back, Celaine scratched the little dragon under the chin and looked at Hump. He seemed surprised to see her.

“Evening,” Hump called. “How did it go?”

She gave him a long look. Knowing Hump, he probably had a pretty good guess just from the fact that she was there.

“It went shit,” she said. “Finn’s an arse.”

Hump snorted, his nose wrinkling. “Can’t say I’m disappointed. I don’t like the idea of you settling down with Finn.”

“Is that so?” Celaine said, smiling slyly and raising an eyebrow. She tried to play it cool, but he’d caught her off guard with the comment. He’d done that a few times recently actually. Hump was making a habit of surprising her.

“I-I don’t mean.” Hump frowned. “I didn’t mean it like that. You’re free to settle down with anyone you want of course. I just meant that I don’t like the idea of leaving Drakalyn without you. Not that I hadn’t considered you might stay, just that I want you to come with me back to Alveron.” Hump shrugged. “Or beyond if you’d rather. Though we should probably check in with Bud, Dylan, and Emilia before we go sailing off somewhere.”

Celaine laughed. He was a mud headed idiot sometimes, but he got her. And Finn’s actions had helped her to decide something else too.

“I don’t want to stay either. It was nice to be home, but once this business is over, we should go and find the others.”

Hump nodded, a little too quickly. “Good. I’m glad.” Nisha chirped excitedly in Celaine’s arms. “Nisha’s glad too.”

Celaine smiled. “I’m not meant for a life in one place.”

“We might make a hedge wizard out of you yet,” Hump said.