Page 32 of To Free a Soul
Weldir considered potential options until his sight landed on her cloak. It sat around her shoulders comfortably, and she seemed to prefer the weight of it after so many years. She hadn’t even shed it when she arrived here.
But what his gaze really fell on was where the mana stone would be underneath it. The stone was attached near the ties of her cape, dangling its weight against her breastbone.
“I could possibly make a protection enchantment that she could wear on her person, like how I made your cloak.”
Lindiwe reached up to curl her fingers around the mana stone and turned to him. “I don’t want to give up my cloak. I need it.”
He called an array of items to him. Above his left hand floated the other mana stone fragments she’d mined, showing he had many he could use. Above his right hand hovered three pieces of jewellery she’d left here: a silver ring with a diamond on it, a thick golden bangle, and a silver circlet diadem that had diamonds glittering along its twining arms.
“I can fuse a stone to any one of these, if you don’t mind giving one of them up.”
As she regarded each one carefully, her expression grew pensive. Then she flicked her gaze to him. “The ring could be the wrong size, as could the bracelet. I think the diadem would be best.”
Weldir made the ring and bangle disappear as he grasped the circlet. “Then I will make the enchantment.”
“While you’re doing that, I can bless one of the sacks of normal salt I left here with the pouch from the Anzúli. I’ll also double-check if the spell needs an incantation or not. I know which journals to check, so I should be done by the time you’re finished.”
Decision made, they both drifted off to complete their respective tasks.
Weldir watched his mate approach the entrance to Orpheus’ cave at midday, which allowed bright sunlight to shine over her. A subtle gust of wind pushed her cloak around her legs, while her curls bounced to the side within the confines of the ponytail she’d thrown them up in.
The dress underneath her cloak was an altered Anzúli robe, as Lindiwe had learned that the colour of her clothing impacted the hue of her feathers’ stems. This hadn’t been an issue when her cloak had been one of raven feathers, as the darkness hid any colour.
She cradled a burlap sack on her hip, while her satchel was crossed over her torso. Inside it was food, the diadem, and an array of other useful tools Lindiwe had spares of and thought might be of assistance. Fire-starting tools, a thin blanket, a water sack, and a few smaller items.
A growl started quiet and low – a warning for the one approaching to back away. Lindiwe didn’t heed that demand,and it turned into a snarl before Orpheus skulked out of the cave on all fours. He blocked the entrance protectively, his fish fins and fur raised on their ends to show his growing aggression.
“W-what’s there?” Katerina’s voice echoed from within the shallow cave. “Is it another Demon?”
“Leave,”Orpheus growled, his voice gruff, distorted, and beastly as he puffed himself further.“Go away. My human.”
Lindiwe’s lips tightened and her eyes crinkled. “That’s unlike you. You’re usually calmer upon seeing me.”
“Wait...” Katerina’s gasp echoed. “Is that another person?” The sound of clanking items and shuffling feet came from within before the female’s wide blue eyes peeked over his shoulder. “Please save me! This beast is keeping me trapped here!”
Something glinted in Lindiwe’s eyes, even when she steeled her expression and voided it of emotion. Whether it be guilt or uncertainty, she shook her head.
“I... shouldn’t interfere. It’s not my place to,” she answered. “I came to help him.”
“No help.”Orpheus bashed his chest with a deep thump.“Is strong. I protect.”
“Why would you help a Demon?! I’m the one who needs help!” Katerina pushed at Orpheus’ shoulder to get him to move, but he didn’t budge an inch.
“He isn’t a Demon,” Lindiwe stated with a sigh. “He’s a Duskwalker.”
The black-haired female’s eyes grew impossibly wider. “What the hell is a Duskwalker?”
“It’s what he is,” Lindiwe answered, gesturing to him. “He is born from...” She sucked her lips into her mouth warily. “All you need to know is that he isn’t a Demon. They call themselves Mavka.”
Katerina regarded him. “Is that why he has a skull head?”
“Yes. When he was first born, he was fed fish, a wolf skull, and part of an impala antelope. He gains humanity and intelligence from every human he eats. Although Demons have a similar trait, they are vastly different. He isn’t... evil like them. At least, not at his core.”
The female narrowed her eyes at Lindiwe. “You seem to know a lot about him.”
“I raised him,” Lindiwe admitted. “I know everything there is to know about Duskwalkers.”
Katerina’s expression paled, making the dark impressions under her tired eyes more sunken. “You raised him?!” She stepped back. “What kind of human raises a monster?”
