The Elder's Curse by Andrew Walbrown (ereader for textbooks TXT) 📕

scattered throughout the mountains after the dragonesses had ambushed them. Their only remaining tent was big enough to fit just two people; Ulam realizing neither of whom could be himself. As they sat around their small campfire Nilawen reached into her bag and retrieved a set of six-sided dice, and then explained how rolling the pip-filled cubes would be the only fair way to determine who would enjoy the comforts of the tent for the night. No one objected to her suggestion, either because they agreed or they were just too tired to care.

“I’ll roll first,” Nilawen said as she tossed the dice across the ground. “Ugh. Five.”

Amantius reached for the dice next. “Ha! Eight.”

The dice were passed to Ulam, who in turn gave them to Mazargo. “I will sleep out here; I honestly do not mind.”

Mazargo shook his hands vigorously before throwing, his lips curving downward as he saw the result. “A three? Really?”

“Don’t worry, Mazargo,” Amantius said with a grin, “sleeping outside isn’t all that bad. You just have to watch for snakes, water getting into your boots, and the occasional kidnapper. The last one is a true story, by the way. You see, I was…”

“Eleven,” Kona’s gentle voice interrupted, causing Amantius to whip his head around. The grin on his face had completely disappeared, replaced with a cold nervousness Ulam had rarely ever seen.

“Looks like you two are the lucky winners, then,” Nilawen said as she collected her dice.

Ulam watched as Amantius stared at Kona, the latter returning the glance. They were sharing an awkward silence, something which Ulam thought his foster-brother was incapable of experiencing. Ever since they left the Matriarch’s lair, Ulam had noticed there was some kind of invisible barrier separating Amantius and Kona. They barely spoke to one another, and when they did Kona was the only one who spoke with any warmth behind her words. Because their attitudes had changed so quickly, Ulam had been caught off-guard and left puzzled. I have to talk to him. Something must have happened; it is unlike Amantius to alter his humor so abruptly and without reason.

“I guess it doesn’t really matter to me,” Nilawen continued, “I love sleeping under the stars, and I don’t know of any place in this world where the sky is clearer than in this desert.”

“You know what?” Amantius said as he rested a hand on Mazargo’s shoulder. “You take the tent tonight. I’m like Wen; I love the stars and all that too. Besides, I’m used to it.”

“Do you mean it?” Mazargo said, the excitement back in his eyes and voice.

“Of course, friend.”

Ulam could see the relief in Amantius’ eyes and hear the anxiety still lingering in his laughter. He was convinced that his foster-brother was hiding something, or at least actively avoiding Kona. As he watched Nilawen and Amantius walk away from the fire to look at the star-heavy night sky, he turned his attention to Kona, who held his gaze for a second. Though the moment was brief, he could see the confusion and dejection behind her burnt sienna eyes. Although Ulam had long suspected Kona’s intentions, her pained expression made it impossible for him to withstand the river of sympathy rising in his heart. Even if he did not wholly trust her, she was good for Amantius, which was good enough for him. Kona has always been kind and graceful, she even healed Nilawen with her herbal knowledge. She does not deserve to be treated this way. I must talk to Amantius and find out why he has been so cold to her.

With a grunt of determination, Ulam left the campfire, leaving Mazargo and Kona to assemble their tent. Near the edge of the water he found Nilawen resting on the ground, a blanket for a pillow and another one draped over her body. Amantius sat on a rock nearby, staring across the oasis, a frown on his face.

“Nilawen is asleep,” Ulam said matter-of-factly as he sat down.

“I know,” Amantius replied, “she dozed off as soon as she put her head on the blanket. I gave her mine so she wouldn’t get cold overnight.”

“What about you?”

Amantius sighed. “I don’t think I’ll get much sleep tonight. Besides, I have enough clothes on to stay warm.”

They then fell silent, both staring at the other side of the calm oasis. Ulam watched as horned frogs and aquamarine geckos crawled out of their hiding places to bathe in the water, noting how strange the normalcy and serenity felt. It was a welcome feeling after spending weeks with ash storms, dragons, dark magic, and a corrupt mage obsessed with revenge. He did not know how much time had passed while they sat there, and he did not care either. Ulam was simply enjoying his foster-brother’s company, away from everyone and everything, just like their days together on Mount Meganthus. For a moment, he even felt a little homesick.

“The first time we camped here Kona crept up behind me and scared me off this rock,” Amantius started with a chuckle. “Not intentionally, of course. We then talked about hopes and dreams, but…” he stopped his words trailing off into the night.

“But what?”

“Tomorrow we’ll arrive in Yawan. And after that, Kona will be gone. Not just from our lives, but in a spiritual sense.” Amantius looked troubled, like he harbored the whole world’s woes inside his heart.

“What do you mean?” Ulam asked. “And why have you been avoiding her? Would it not make more sense to spend as much time with her as possible before she is gone?”

Amantius sighed and rubbed his eyes, little flakes of ash dropping from the corners. Despite his proclamation about not needing much sleep, he looked utterly exhausted. “Durkan said something to me before we left their lands. He labeled Kona as ‘my Kalikki,’ thinking we were together romantically. Of course we’re not, because she’s married, and also there isn’t anything there. At least, from me there isn’t. But, it made me realize that if Durkan, who has no