CHRONICLES OF AADYA

Episode Twenty-nine

BELLAMY

I proceeded on the alley ushering to the chamber I share with Ali following Lorcan's parting. The young warlock had taken a different route by the time we reached an aisle on the ground floor. I sighted the sole purpose of our journey at the far end of the path upon arriving at the start of our passage. She stood quietly before the entrance of our room after a brief knock though was about to utter when she glimpsed me and turned slightly in my direction and before she could again furthermore utter certain anonymous words specifically to me the door ripped open, revealing Ali. She took a last quick look in my way before it perked up at Ali's now-gazing ones.

Eventually, I got to her side. "Sorry to bother you" She emitted as she turned in Ali's direction. It was softly spoken and shrill. "I'm in search of Gunnar, perhaps you might have come to know where he is? I could not find him in the room he sleeps in..."

"He is here, in the room" Ali threw in extending the door adequately so she could take a decent view of the young lad who appeared more of a ghost than a mortal, it is possible that he might have woken up from a terrible nightmare. Though that won't be noticeable as he was perched a bit far on my mattress. Even though Ali was speaking about the boy, his gaze in some way managed to remain captive by Aadya's face, watching her tenderly as though she was the most enchanting being to grace the surface of the world.

I might have forgotten about the situation before her mild voice came up. "Are you all right?" She forwarded it to the young lad. It was laced with concern just as though she had suddenly seen through him. I could sense her aiming to go in yet somehow handled herself well by the door, her reason unknown.

"I'm all right, sister. You need not worry, I only had just woken up and would return soon to the other room" He tells her not moving from the bed. It was obvious that she believed not yet she nodded to his words.

"It's all right. I only wanted to know where you are and if you had supper"

He nodded "Yes, I did have supper”

"Okay. That would be it" She said and took a few steps back before her gaze was back on Ali who instantly and gently pulled the door behind him as he stepped into the hallway.

"Please look after him" She appealed softly as she gazed up at Ali and he nodded. "I haven't been opportune to thank you for watching after my little brother" She unexpectedly spoke up turning to me "Thank you"

A smile crossed my face and I slightly puffed out some air through my nose, not because of her words but because of how devoted Ali appeared, he might not yet admit the validity that this maiden is his mate, even though they are only bonded by a prophecy, it doesn't stop the fact that all he has is her and all she has is him. "I do rather say he watched after me," I told her fondly transversely observing my brother. Others may not see through that impassive expression nevertheless it was rather apparent to me. "Furthermore, it harboured many fun memories"

She nodded gently "All right. I should return to my room" She signified and with a quick look at Ali, she walked past me and we both turned to watch her until she finally proceeded beyond our view. The noble manner in which she portrays herself was addicting to admire, it is likewise that Ali has been captured by that elegance or perhaps could be something more. The way he watched her, I've indeed waited so long to witness such... I might say the possessive wolf in him is on the verge of being unleashed.

The door sealed behind him as he later followed into the room "We will be departing by daybreak" He mentioned midway and took a few steps to his bed. Settling at the edge "Although the problem stands that we might be needing a horse, I mean three horses for the journey" He corrected a bit dishevelled.

"How do we come about the horses?"

"That's the actual crisis" Considering his words, I believed he wasn't intending on asking the old warlock and that brought me to...

"I think I might know someone who would help," I said hoping it is as I have spoken.

***

"A horse" Lorcan reiterated. I had left for his room following my chatter with Ali.

"Three. Three horses" I rectified. He only stood silently mulling over my request and in the end, he indicated I go into the village with him. Arrival at the small townlet, we began to wander through various sidewalks up until we got to a farmhouse I presume was where we came for. I paid my respect to the old man that came forth before us, and Lorcan goes on to disclose our motive to the man. Several foreign lingoes betwixt them both before the man hollowed out to me.

"Young man" He called "Assisting you with some horses won't be a problem but be sure to bring them back" He informed and I narrowly glanced at Lorcan who allotted the go-ahead to abide.

"I will make sure to do as you have said"

"All right! That's it" He let out and signalled we follow. We proceeded to the stable, sauntering through its centre until we got to where the horses were kept.

"She is brilliant" The old man announced feeding her a carrot he had grabbed on our route. "Fast with her foot and obedient to her owner. You should treat her well" He advised and moved toward a black one in the next slot.

"This is Ruin, I named her so" Lorcan whispered as we approached the black beauty "She's my favourite to ride, and quite elegant though she might be a little bit fierce when mistreated. She is a woman of her own" He let out and the corner of his lip submissively turned up into a smug smile.

"He might have made it sound mellow but she is indeed violent" The old man alerted.

We finally made it back to the black hell alone on the request to have the three horses he had shown me by dawn. The old man had denied my offer to pay for the use, his reason being that he was only lending them to me because of Lorcan, and I only had to bring them back. Lorcan had said it wasn't a problem and so I gave in to the man's word.

"There's something I need you to have," Lorcan revealed once we entered the coven. "Since you would be departing tomorrow" He added. I do might have forgotten I wasn't to return to this land and just then, I felt like I was about to lose an ally.

He handed me an object swathed in a soil-like fabric and when I uncovered it, there it was the same reader he had always kept away from me. "You are giving it to me" I wasn't certain of his motive but he soon elicited a face that says otherwise.

"No. I'm asking you to hold it" He set straight "I have vowed to one day visit Irpinia, this will only make it easier for me to find. I just have to find the book and then I will locate Irpinia" He specified.

"Well, I never knew how serious you were"

"At least now you know"

I slightly jerked my head "It's good to start young" I let out, pleased.

There was no trace of Lorcan anywhere in the coven by the time we were ready to depart therefore I simply presumed that he might have earlier left for his regular hangout by the river. A strange feeling engulfed me, it was as though I had stayed here for a full month whereas it had only been two nights. The world seems to stand still when I gaze solely back at the castle. This feeling I have never felt before, it's of total sadness, or perhaps I have never relished a place to even notice such feelings exist. Though in the depth of my soul, I'm relieved that I would soon be home and rectify this regret ripping into my heart.

Although I was in the depth of my thoughts I yet didn't fail to glimpse the maiden’s undefined mood, if you only look closely, you will see she was a little disturbed and not because of the journey, it appears she desired to see a certain person before she leaves except that person appeared not in sight which caused her to worry silently. I would conceivably declare that the person was certainly the warlock that had arrived alongside her the evening we had arrived at the coven as he was also nowhere near the structure. Of course, Ali must have detected her mood as his steady gaze on her stood more like he was making much effort to restrain himself from uttering any word concerning her slight discomfort.

Two hearts became connected, Ruin and I, She gave her back and the strength of her limbs to carry me onward. She is a beauty to behold as her pitch-black hair glowed under the day sun. Upon the horses, through forest and mountains, connected to the earth by hoof, and on the sixth evening, we were carried into the pastures and the clear waters where we could drink our fill and rest for the night. Gunnar dismounted and so did his sister. "She would still be here if you only took your eyes off her" I whispered to Ali as he tied their horse to a tree. He only looked at me and reframed from uttering any remark and I gave him an all-knowing smile before proceeding to gather some wood.

"You're fetching the woods?" Gunnar's voice rose from behind.

"Yes, Gunnar!" I responded while still moving away from them and I start to hear his footsteps behind and jogging toward me.

"What? You coming?" I asked as I took a quick look at him though not stopping in my tracks.

He uncertainly jerked his head. "Yeah, you know" He let out and began to play with his hat. "I could be of help"