Magika [Completed]

Chapter 23

"This is Aldeheid. Mellidius' apprentice," Kitaya explained . "Aldeheid, this is Genora. She and her cape watch this house when everyone is away."

Genora walked up to Aldeheid, who was looking at her as though he expected her to bite. "You're quite the skittish bunny." She stepped around him, her eyes roaming him from head to toe as though he were a piece of art.

"Uh... Hello," Aldeheid said, looking like a cornered rat. "It's nice to—" His words were cut off when she gave his earring a little tug. "Do not put hands on me, woman."

"Genora stop scaring him," a voice came from the house.

Kitaya's head snapped towards the door. "Kemah!" She ran up to her altori and greeted him by clasping forearms and touching her forehead to his.

"It's good to see you, child. You look well." The smooth baritone of his voice was a familiar and welcomed sound after so much arduous travel. "This must be Mellidius' apprentice." He nodded to Aldeheid. "Aldeheid, correct?"

"You know him?" Kitaya and Genora chimed in unison.

Aldeheid scrunched his brow. "You know me?"

"Tall, unsure, with eyes like Mercy. Mellidius described you perfectly. Well, that and you're carrying his sword. Although, I'm surprised to see you travelling with Kitaya of all people."

Kitaya scowled at her altori, and she could feel Aldeheid's curious gaze burning through her.

"What did you mean by that?" he asked. "Mellidius told you about me? Is he here? Who is Mercy? Wh—"

"Aldeheid. . ." Kitaya pinched the bridge of her nose, and Genora broke into a fit of laughter.

"Eriani is going to love him," she said, a devious glint in her eyes. "You all should head inside. I'll take care of these beauties." She stroked Alvere's neck and winked at Aldeheid. "Enjoy your stay, bunny."

"B... bunny..." Aldeheid blinked.

Kitaya clapped him on the shoulder and steered him towards the house. Any longer with Genora, and she might cage him up and keep him like an actual bunny. As they walked into the familiar interior of the house, she inhaled deeply. Honeysuckle and wildflowers filled her lungs, welcoming her home. She trailed her hand along the stone mantle of the hearth as they rounded the wooden furniture.

She'd spent a long time here after leaving the Etheria Bastion, and within these walls she had reached a turning point in her life.

The mouth-watering scents of roasted meat and vegetables drew them into the dining room. A grand spread was laid out on the low stone table -- roasted meat, vegetables, unleavened bread, tankards of ale and goblets of wine.

Eriani stepped in from a room adjacent carrying a basket of fresh fruit. Kitaya locked eyes with her altori, and for a long while they stared each other down.

Eriani had a certain air to her that made strangers either wary or outright terrified. Everything about her screamed: stay away. The small scowl on her painted lips, the way the light from the opened windows danced in her dark eyes and cast shadows across the sharp angles of her face, framed by the black braids that fell from her head. They had a silvery cast to them, not a single strand spared from the iridescent shimmer.

"Eriani." Kitaya stepped forward to greet her, arms extended and palms up.

Her altori scoffed and walked by, setting the basket of fruit on the table before taking a seat on the opposite side.

Kitaya dumped herself onto one of the sitting mats and took a breath. This was going to be a long lunch. She could feel it.

"Darling, this is Aldeheid," Kemah said, gesturing to Aldeheid. "Mellidius' apprentice."