Page 35 of One Last Promise
“NO!I’mtalking now, Alora, and youwilllisten!”he interrupted, giving me a stern look.“If you were alone all this time, tell me why Uri couldn’t see you until this afternoon?You were surrounded by darkness.Do you think I’m a fool?If I find out you are protecting thisNoxlin,I will make youbothpay.If you’ve been touched and defiled by this creature, I will destroy you both myself.I will not have my bloodline tarnished by that filth!”Tears trickled down my face at his outburst.Was that what my father thought of me?That I would so willingly give myself to a Noxlin?“Now!Tell me thetruth!What happened in the Barren Lands.”
“I have told you the truth!I have no idea why I was surrounded by darkness.Perhaps the Noxlin kept close by, but I can assure you, I completed the pilgrimagealone.Iampure, Father.Your bloodline hasn’t been infected.I did everything you asked of me.You know I would never allow a Noxlin to touch me!I hate every single one of them!”
“I want to believe you, but how can I trust something Uri hasn’t seen?”This was his get out clause.The wisp was right: my father was never going to allow me to train.“You still have much to prove to me, Alora.”
“Me telling you thetruthwill never be enough.”Standing up, I brushed my clothes down.“You do not wish for me to become a warrior.I understand that now.Even after I’veprovenmyself, you’ve chosen not to believe me.I won’t ask for battle training again, Father.You have my word.You wish for me to be aweak,helpless princess.I’ll take my fate with no further argument.”Light sparked from my father at my words, making me jump and take a step back from the bathing pool.
“When you bond with Xavier, he will be your strength.With your power, he’ll be unstoppable...the most powerful general our race has ever seen.Thatis your fate!”
“And what about my choice?”
“Oh, Alora,” Elin chuckled darkly, running her hands through her pure white hair, “we are female.We do not get a choice.You, Princess, need to fall back in line.”
“None of this concerns you,Elin,” I seethed.“All you do is keep my father’s bed warm.Do not think for a second that you can replace my mother!”
“That is enough, Alora!”My father’s voice echoed around the pillars.“This is exactly why you will not be trained as a warrior.I had hoped this disrespectful behaviour would have faded after your pilgrimage to Nantu.Clearly, you haven’t been blessed by either of the gods.Have your powers surfaced at all?Surely something has come from this pilgrimage!”If I told my father that my powers had started to manifest, I would be bonded to Xavier within the next century.No, I wouldn’t allow that to happen!Shaking my head, I gazed down at the floor.“It appears you still have much to learn.Go to your chambers and wash.I am sick of the sight of you.Be sure to pray to Holy Ether.Maybe she will give you some grace.Not that you deserve it for disrespecting me!”When he turned away from me, Elin fell into his open arms, kissing him passionately.“I have no idea what to do with her,” I heard him mutter as I walked to the exit.
“Wait until her powers surface.Once she bonds to Xavier, Alora will be his problem.”Sparks shot out of my fingertips at her audacity.I quickly looked around as I hid my hands, praying no one had seen.Luckily there weren’t even guards nearby.I had to get my powers in check.I couldn’t afford for anyone to find out.
****
NOOR, NELL AND LUZwere playing with Loki and Enyo when I entered my chamber.
“Gods, Noor, why don’t you invite everyone into my chamber?”I joked as Loki and Enyo rushed over to me.I had granted entry to them all just prior to my pilgrimage.“Hey, pups!Did you miss me?”Loki began pawing at my leg, demanding to be picked up.
“You need to explain from the beginning,” Nell demanded, slumping down onto my bed.“Uri couldn’tseeyou, Alora!What have you gotten yourself involved with?”
“I met aNoxlin.”All three of their eyes went wide.“Have any of you been face to face with one before?”
“Of course not!If we’re on the battlefield, we’re protected by our army because of our power.They would never risk us getting that close to those brutes.”Luz was shaking with rage.“You could have beenkilled!”
“ThisNoxlin...”Nell inquired, “was it male or female?”
“Male.”All three of them gasped.“He wasn’t hideous at all.And before you ask,no, he didn’t touch me!I am stillpure.”
“Alora, how are you still alive if you had a run in with a male Noxlin!”Noor looked as if all the blood had drained from her face.
“He saved me from a noc beast and then let me go once he’d explained where the sacred mountain was.I made the pilgrimage alone.As I explained to my father, I have no idea why I was surrounded in darkness.”
“He must have beenwatchingyou,” Nell suggested, looking thoughtful.“Uri saw a path that involved a Noxlin, but the outcome was difficult to read.”It was going to be difficult to keep up the pretence with my friends.“Did you have any suspicions that he might be following you?Did you see any shadows or figures at all?”
“Why is it so hard to believe that he saved me and left!”
“That’s not the Noxlin way.They deceive with every breath they take, and do everything for a reason.You have no idea how cunning they are, Alora.Did he have any idea who you were?”
“Of course not!Do you think I’m a fool like my father does?”
“Your father doesn’t think you’re a fool, Alora.”Noor tried to sympathise.“He was out of his mind with worry while you were gone.”I found that hard to believe after the conversation we’d just had.
“Did you give anything away to this Noxlin?Jewellery, clothing...”
“Why would that be a worry?”Luz frowned.
“He might be able to track herhere.”I doubted Darce would want to track me, but he didn’t have anything of mine, anyway.He’d even refused the part of my armour that I had offered him.
“I need you to tell me word for word what happened with this Noxlin male.”I was too tired for that right now.
“Nell, it’s over.I don’t want to relive a single second of it.I had to watch Raiden be ripped apart by a noc beast.All I want now is a bath and my bed.”
