Not All Heroes Are Guiltless

Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Aela’s POV

The cold bitter wind hits me hard the moment I walk out of the gateway tonthe spirit realm.. The wind is strong and nearly knocks me down. I rush to one of the ice-covered buildings and huddle low to have the wind break around me. I look up in the sky and see the dark clouds swirling above me.

‘We need to get out of here. I’d rather not go jumping through neck high soft snow.’ My voice encourages me to switch to wolf form and leave as quickly as possible. With some hesitation, I let the transition wash over me and then keep low to the ground. I find my way through the snow drift.

Finally, I am able to see the outer gates of the small enclosure. The wind and snowfall are making it harder for me to see even in my wolf form. Sniffing the wind, I can’t find any form of life. It’s all covered by the blizzard.

Huddling at the entrance on the side of the cliff, I try not to panic for my current predicament. I came back from the spirit world, and now I’m unable to find my mate because of a blizzard.

Another strong wind pushes against me, and I have to sneeze to remove the snow and ice from my snout. I’m grateful my wolf form has good, insulated fur because I’m almost certain the cloak would give me frostbite in this storm.

A dark shadow moves over me, and I instantly shudder and stumble backward until I recognize it as one of the tendrils from my mate. I lift my head up and sniff at it, and it caresses me tenderly. I can feel its intention was to search for me now, and I’m glad. With a good lunge, I playfully pounce on it and jump into a good trench of snow. The tendril wisps around my face, then seems to retract. I rush to follow it, and it moves more, always staying in my line of sight. I jump through the piles of snow.

The tendril movement isn’t always the best for me to travel, but it keeps caressing my ears and neck when I have to find a safer route. I know my mate must be in a safer spot, and hopefully, he has a camp set up.

The blizzard is still in full force when the tendril disappears under the snowdrift. I am almost scared I have been led astray when it comes back up and loops around my neck and acts like it is trying to drag me under the snow. I line myself up and leap and fall through a snow drift and hit a hard rock surface below.

The wind howls and blows more snow into the hole I made, and I stand up and look around. I can barely see, for it is so dark, but the smell is musky and damp, so I know I am in a cave of some sorts. But, another smell is seeping through the smell of roasted meat, burned wood, and the savory scent of my mate.

Following the smells deeper into the cavern, I find him sitting by a small campfire with sticks filled with meat over the flame. He watches as I come into the light in my wolf form and change back into my human. His cloak drapes over me fluidly as soon as I change. “You were waiting for me?”

“Always.” He pats the spot next to him. “Dinner will be ready soon.”

The exhaustion from the run has hit me, and I can’t think of anything better than sitting and cuddling with my mate. He opens his arms and pulls me in. “So, was I gone for six days?”

“No, just a few hours. The storm was unexpected, almost like it was trying to push me away.” He says with a laugh.

“I was told the spirits don’t like anybody. I don’t think it was you. They didn’t like me either.” I say as he offers me a drink from the flask, I know he keeps the liquor in. I take a swig and then nestle into his chest and breathe slowly. He strokes my arm softly, and I’m able to drift into sleep easily.

I wake up with a jolt when I feel my arms are on fire. “Nadar, calm down. You are fine. Just breathe, and it won’t hurt.”

I swallow my scream as I’m writhing from the pain in both of my arms. I can feel his cold hands on my forearms, and I can almost smell the burnt flesh. I clench my fists and can feel cool metal in my fingers, and the burning sensation starts to fade away.

Opening my eyes, I can see my spirit swords in my hand, and I’m standing over what used to be the campfire. It's just simmering coals. My mate, though, is on the other side of the dark cavern with his feet separated in a defensive stature. I lower my swords, “I don’t know what happened.”

“You are wielding elemental magic through your spirit swords, and you have no practice on control.” He says, and I nod my head. “I’m happy it was successful.”

Retrieving my swords away, I clasped my hands and stretched them over my arms, which I thought had burned and could feel the nervousness responding with only a red mark left. “You are healing quicker also.”

I lift my head and look at him, and even in the dim light, I can tell he’s relieved. “Yeah, the spirit realm was a trip in itself. Are you going to be able to help me with control? I don’t know if I should enter a city or anything now.”

He rushes me and holds me tightly, “I won’t leave you until you can manage on your own. For now, is it okay if I wrap you in some protection shields?”

I turn my face sideways on his chest, “Do you mean keep more of your tendrils wrapped around me?”

“Tendrils?” He asks in almost a stupor.

“Yes, the little black things that float out around you.” I say confirming the rationale of them. “I’ve been seeing them better and better the longer you train with me. The first time was when you saved me from myself when you found the warehouse with the box I was stuck to.”

He stops breathing, and then, with one great huff, he releases quickly, “The time bubble did you see any tendrils there? Or is it only on me?”

“Only you.” I say now I’m really curious. I stare at him as I realize he’s trying to recollect some form of information. He’s done this anytime he’s stumped, and I’m always somewhat turned on watching him process challenging questions. “Do you know who Neith is?”

He glances down at me, “She wasn’t the one you met, right?”

“No, Selva. Belva’s mother was the spirit guarding the gate. But, it was Delia who I met inside, and she said Neith’s descendent has some labyrinth.” I say, and he licks his lips. Now I wonder if he will lie to me just like Andy would when he did that.

“Neith? Is a powerful god with the shape and concept of a spider. And a labyrinth is just another way to describe a complex web. What does she have to do with any of this?” He asks me so skeptically, but I’m just excited he chose to tell me the truth and give me information that might help.

“So, spirits from our realm are still ensnared in a web? I wonder if I could see this web and break people out of it.” I say softly and thoughtfully.

“Just don’t irritate someone who might have the Spider goddess' blessing.” He says while hiding so many emotions. I just wish I could understand how he would know.

“I learned why Titan gave me the totem amulet.” I smile, trying to change the conversation to something useful at least, “He’s not ready to leave the world, and all the futures he could see involved me.”

“Nadar,” His hands brush my cheeks. “Who told you that? It’s not like you to act so impulsive and arrogant. It’s not your temperament to be conceited.”

“Delia. She had your eyes.” I say closing, trying to remember everything else that happened, but now it seems to be mostly like a dream fading from memory. Then the fight I the garden came back, “You are my father’s brother?”

“Yes.” He says so silently I could barely hear it.