Day After Night Part II - The Quest Begins

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Fiction

Day After Night Part II
Fiction by Sheena S. Johnston

A tall man stepped from the shadows, well hidden from
all but the most expertly trained eyes. He stretched
for a moment, dusting his shoulders off and coming to
stand before Faeo, lips curling into a crooked smile.
"You have returned." He paused for many moments,
liquid eyes pouring over her form, his expression that
of distraction from the business at hand. At last he
spoke, shaking his thoughts free, voice speaking in a
lower, hushed tone. "You retrieved . . . it . . .
from Kal-Rerkol?"

Veyros stood tall even for an elf, towering over Faeo
by a full head and maybe even more then that. His
other features spoke more loudly for an Elf even
without his pointed ears. Smooth skin was as flawless
as Faeo's with the same bright blonde hair that he
kept tied back, almost spiked but kept neat. His eyes
held the same depthless ness Faeo's did but Veyros had
a cold calculating blue eyed stare - devoid of emotion
lest he reveal the warmth beneath them. A simple white
headband had been tied about his forehead, the center
of which bears a rune of gold - a mark of a Guardian.
A plain white shirt has been stretched over Veyros's
chest; the rims of the sleeves, waist, and collar have
metallic silver woven into them in an interwoven
Celtic knot pattern. He wears velvety leather pants
on his legs, his feet being shielded by brown leather
boots. The boots are soft and more akin to moccasins
in design, yet come well up his calf. Aside from the
pouch at his waist he wears a lengthy, wicked blade
secured behind his shoulders.

Shaking free her hair, since there is no one else in
the room to see her face, she smiled up at Veyros, "I
have." She pulled out both halves of the Al'clarice
from within her cloak and smiled, "He still believes
that I'm the only Guardian left. A fool that he
doesn't have better ears around this place to know any
better. A plain fool, sitting upon a plain fools'
throne." She sighed softly and brushed her hand over
Veyros' cheek, "Everything went as I thought it
would," More then anything else the Guardians guarded
what the real use for the stone was. "But he is
sending his son, Ual-Ka'lear, with us. He loves
keeping his fingers in the honey pot; hopefully they
won't get cut off."

Veyros could not help but scowl at the thought, "It
surprises me not. Greedy old man." His eyes fell
upon Faeo's, his expression warming as her fingers
touched upon his cheek, eyes revealing a hidden
sparkle not often seen. "This changes things
considerably. It would be a terrible shame if some .
. . accident . . . were to happen during our travels.
The world is not a very safe place for sons of kings,
after all," Veyros's lips curled into a heartless,
cold grin.

Faeo giggled softly, her first in many long days on
the road to this cursed place, "True enough. I think
that might be his reason for sending the boy.
Ual-Ka'lear isn't really a son after the King's own
heart like that other spawn of his," she spit acidly.
Her soft hands curling around his waist and giving him
a hug, "The stone is ours again so it matters not."
Her smile deepened to true affection as she laid her
head on Veyros's shoulder before pulling away, "The
guards were brainless and couldn't pick up anything if
it was standing right in front of their faces. All
they know is fear, just what I've given them . . . the
Dark Rider." Who will be seen leaving with another
rider just as dark and the rumors will fly, she loves
to play games with them so, even if it made her sad at
the same time.

Veyros smiled softly, lips curling into a grin,
thoughts upon the journey ahead, "Two Dark Riders."
He laughed, squeezing Faeo affectionately, leaning
down and pressing a tender kiss to the corner of her
mouth, lingering there as his eyes searched for her
own. He lifted away slowly, but enough to focus upon
those pale eyes of hers. "You are right . . . the
stone is ours, at long last. It is but a matter of
finding one skilled enough to forge it . . ." His eyes
swept over her face as he spoke, almost as if the
words were not his own, distracted by the sight of
Faeo. "When . . . do you wish to leave this place . .
." He paused before plunging ahead quickly, "Faeo?
There's a long journey ahead, and no one knows when we
will have time to rest and relax again. You know the
old saying, 'All work and no play. . ." A grin forms
upon his lips, ". . . makes Faeo a dull Dark Rider',
one would say."

Faeo nodded gradually and moved to sit on the bed,
pulling off her dark cloak to reveal the white dress
she had been wearing under it, "I don't think the
forging shall be too hard even if we must do it
ourselves. It should be in one of the books back at
the Tower . . . we'll have to look when we get back."
The lines on her face said that she was tired but her
eyes seemed still wide awake as she glared playfully
at him, "We shall leave first thing in the morning
Veyros." Golden locks shook back and forth with the
movement of her head, "Well all work has made me what
I am . . . and all playing won't pass the Guardian
Test for you when we get back," a feathery hand
reached up to point at the ruin of gold on his white
band around his head, her own mark blazing silver on
her forehead.

Veyros turned to face her as she sat, clearing his
throat, the cold, steely barrier forming once again
over his emotions. He nodded once, regarding Faeo
with those eyes, running his hand through his hair, as
he, too, stretched tiredly. "As you wish, Guardian,"
nothing was revealed in his words, strictly business,
his quick change of attitude giving way to the
feelings of his heart without need of emotion. He was
sworn to protect her, even from herself when she
pushed herself too hard but how could he stop her when
her path was set? He'll never show it, though, not at
this point with her watching him. He promptly sat in
a chair near to the bed, placing his sword nearby to
rely on it rather than wards of protection. Soon he
closed his eyes and tried to doze in the hard, wooden
chair, looking rather ready to leave this place, after
all.

Faeo's eyes blazed over him for a split moment before
she knelt down next to him with worry masked by her
face, "You know my love for you runs deep, Veyros. We
can't let that get in the way right now, you know that
as well as I do. I know you trying to protect me but
you might no always be there when I get into trouble.
The Mist is coming and from the moment I took the
stone we were in danger, we must be on our guard from
now on." Her heart ached but just like him she has
learned to hide it well, "Guardians will get little
rest and no relaxation until this is over. . ." She
sighed sadly and shifted a little, "I'll take first
watch, Veyros. I'll wake you a little after midnight
for the second."

Veyros's face softened, eyes upon Faeo as she spoke
to him. His hand moved to her cheek before she got
up; cupping his palm there gently he pressed a kiss to
her forehead, the warmth of them inviting, yet he
retracted far too soon, eyes unable to leave hers for
a long time. He watched Faeo as she stood and moved
next to the window. "As you wish, Faeo, I'd rather
stand last watch anyway. . ." He grinned, trying to
lighten the mood in the room, "You know I never wake
well. By the time you rise from sleep I should be
well enough awake to be on our way."

Faeo smiled warmly back at him, "Work now, play
later. I'll make sure to wake you up softly, I never
liked having a sword to my throat when I don't." She
stood by the window looking out, covered again with
the dark cloak after changing from the white dress
into normal wear of pants and a loose tunic.

Two hours from sunrise were all that was left when
Faeo walked back over to Veyros and kissed him softly
on the lips, pulling away a little when he stirred,
"Wake up, Guardian. The sun is coming up and I need at
least one hour of sleep before we head out." She
hadn't woken Veyros when she told him since she
couldn't make herself sleep just yet, having a few
things to think over before she could. What they were
going to do once out of the city was one. They had to
get back to the Tower before too long for a few items
she left in the keep was another.

Veyros returned her kiss softly, opening his eyes,
squinting through the dusty rays of early dawn that
splashed over his face through Faeo's locks. He
yawned slightly, just smiling, looking up her face as
if in a dream - the same expression he used to give
her, long ago, in the Tower. He snapped to attention
suddenly, sitting up, a scolding look upon his
features. "You should have rested! It's nearly time
to leave. . ." He couldn't bring himself to scold her
too harshly however, and simply sighed, his hand
moving to finger through her hair, twisting a bit
around his fingers. "Rest. Please. You know there's
a long day ahead of us."

A dark figure moved with cat-like grace within the
shadows of the alley. She has lived her life in the
shadows and masked with lies, no one knowing where she
really came from or who she was. The name she adopted
for herself is Asheal, Live Shadow in an Old Tongue.
Asheal isn't pretty by any means, more plain or dull
if anything else. She has dark black hair, the color
of coal, with eyes to match her dark demeanor. Her
skin is a coppery shade even when the sun has hardly
ever touched it. Asheal isn't very large but more
small and lanky so she could get in and out of places
within moments. With dark, snug fitting clothes
finishing off her gracefully plain look. Pants let her
move quickly and easily, better then skirts or
dresses, making her the perfect assassin.

Creeping closer to The Dancing Dragon, Asheal keeps
her eyes open for drunks or farmers rising early to
take care of chores. Asheal also holds her weapon
close just in case, she likes being prepared. The
Karacoral looks like a short staff with a long one and
a half foot blade on each end. A weapon long forgotten
by most people and only taught by a few who have
studied it. Even with all the Masters combined she was
still the most deadly with the weapon.

The window where her prey was staying was still dark
though she had seen a bit of movement there not too
long ago. That man was sly but he was getting
careless, he had come into her view several times
before he had reached this inn. All well for her since
she has planned to dispose of him before dawn so she
could collect her money before she got caught herself.
Getting to the window wasn't hard, slipping a leather
thong around her weapon and tying it to her waist, she
climbed up the side of the inn. Loose boards and
cracks made good places to put feet and hands. Asheal
made little noise in the early dawn hours as the sky
turned to a soft yellow and pink.

Her thoughts wondered a little, back to others she
has killed through her younger years, being only
twenty-three as it is. A baby to many people at the
time, she learned to kill without feeling for the
people. Only one really touched her, one death she
couldn't escape. . . Roughly she pushed aside her
thoughts and focused on the task ahead. She was now
just under the window, peeking in to see what she
could of the room. The only thing she could really see
was a bundle sleeping in the small bed. What a fool,
she thought with icy crispness, he didn't even set a
watch.

Unlatching the clasp on the window with her knife she
swung the window in slowly. Pulling herself over the
seal, Asheal landed with a soft thud on the floor.
Letting her eyes adjust to the dim light of the room
she untied the Karacoral from her side and breathed
slowly to get herself ready to strike.

The blade glinted darkly in the growing light outside
but thankfully the fool was still asleep in his bed.
Asheal slowed her breathing even more and blocked
everything from her mind, a way she taught herself to
keep from feeling the pain of killing another. With
slow, almost reluctant steps she brought up the
Karacoral and . . .

Her heart jumped as she gave a small squeak as
fingers closed around her throat and tightened. The
iron grip around her neck cutting off her air and
making her lose her grip on her weapon. The dark
blades of the Karacoral landed on the floor with a
clang, ringing in her head like the Death Bell she
knew would come. She just hoped it would come swiftly.

Frowning slightly at the girl he held in his hands
Veyros stripped her of any remaining weapons and set
her back on her feet to catch her breath. He had been
standing within the shadows and just about to wake
Faeo when the window opened and the girl climbed in.
He watched for a time before making his move, really
he couldn't kill the girl but giving her a scare would
do her a lot of good.

Faeo was quick about getting out of bed, only a
little ruffled from her small nap, to take a look at
the girl. She gave almost no notice to the double
sided spear and the other weapons that the girl was
carrying, but paid close attention to every breath she
made.

A small smile spread across Faeo's face before she
spoke as Veyros watched, "So she did follow you like
you said she would." Veyros nodded once and was
pleased to see the look of shock spread over the
girl's dark features.

Faeo didn't seem to notice that either and went on
without more then a small pause, "Well she isn't much
to look at but she is quick and quiet. Thankfully she
was no match for you, Veyros, or I might just be dead
right now." Looking over the girl again with her
unsettling eyes Faeo nodded, "She will learn quickly
with help and a guide."

Dark eyes glared at both of them before the girl
chose to finally speak, "My name is Asheal, thank you
very much. I'm right here so you can stop talking over
my head now. I'm not a child you know."

Faeo's face didn't change as she made a little play
of smoothing out her hair and dress, which neither
really needed it. Only after every last piece of hair
was back in place did she shift her gaze back to
Asheal and spoke, "Well, Asheal, we have a little
problem here." She sat down smoothly on the back,
taking her time with it, "You see you've just tried to
kill me, a cause which gives me the right to dispose
of you as I see fit." Asheal's eyes showed fear but
her face was like stone. "On the other hand, I'm in
great need of someone with your talents. I need
someone who can get in and out of places without
people being aware that there was even someone there
in the first place. I just don't know what to do,
inner conflict is not something I deal with well so
I'm giving you the choice. Come with us and do as I
say or I'll turn you over to the King and I'll let him
deal with you. So what do you say?"

Sheena S. Johnston, age 17, contact:
earths_missing_angel@yahoo.com
Copyright 2001 Sheena S. Johnston
Reviews and comments requested
Posted 06/29/2002