Chapter Five

I can hear multiple voices outside as everyone returns to their tents. I watch as a shadow looms over the entrance and hesitates for a brief moment. One of the flaps moves inward and someone starts to come inside the tent. I’m half expecting the man with no name; another part of me thinks it’s someone coming back to finish me off.

As I brace myself, the warrior I encountered earlier saunters in with a smile and walks over to me. As soon as we lock eyes, that familiar searing pain rips through my chest for the second time that night. I groan and drop to the floor, writhing in pain. I hear a thud beside me and know he is feeling the same thing.

It leaves as suddenly as it came, and we both sit up panting. He is now in his wolf form. I stare down at my wrist, expecting the same pain as before, but it never comes. I look back over at the wolf and see that he has changed back into his human form. He is about to say something when his wrist starts to glow, and I can see by his pained expression that it must be burning. I can’t focus on him long, as my wrist also starts to burn and glow. But, this time, the tattoo is a blue wolf howling at a silver crescent moon. The pain subsides, and I now have three tattoos. I guess this means we have also been matched.

I look over at him, and he has the biggest smile on his face. “What are you so happy about?” I scowl; this is just not my night.

“I knew you were one of my matches; something about you struck me when I caught you earlier today. I tried to seek you out, and when I saw you weren’t at dinner, I asked Ayita where you were. She explained how you were sick, so I came to see how you were feeling.”

This makes me feel a little better, though not much. I smile faintly.

“I guess that’s not too horrible. I hope you don’t hate our third mate. What is your name anyways?”

I’m determined not to let him go without knowing his name.

“I’m Rafe. What’s your name?”

“I’m Elysia.”

I think I would've preferred the masters matching us. I'm pretty sure we wouldn't have been writhing in pain. I decide then to ask him the question that’s been burning in my mind since all the tattoos appeared.

"So, what tattoos were burned into your wrist?"

He looks down at mine, and then back at his.

"Well, at the center of my wrist is a blue wolf howling at a silver crescent moon. To the left and down, slightly below, is a green flame with a purple lightning bolt striking into the middle of it."

I wonder if he and the elf will go through the same pain I went through with each of them. I smile slightly, as the significance of the tattoos is starting to make sense. The tattoos on our wrists seem to represent each of us. Will the tattoos have a deeper meaning than just representing us as symbols? Will they change with us as we change? Before I can continue with this inner monologue, Rafe starts laughing at me; I try to glare at him, but I’m unsuccessful.

He smirks and shrugs. “What? The look on your face is very amusing. I don’t know what you are trying to work out in your head, but your whole face got all scrunched up.” He mimics my expressions, and I chuckle a little bit.

“Well, we have to run for our lives as soon as the elf returns.”

His brows furrow. “Why do we have to run?”

I sigh, “It's kind of a long story, but Mr. Elf tried to kill me by someone else’s orders. Obviously, he was unsuccessful, and now we are all in jeopardy.” Rafe’s frown deepens.

“Let me see if I have this right. This elf tried to kill you, yet we are waiting for him to return, so we can run for our lives?” I smile at his disbelief, as I still feel unsure.

“Yes, that pretty much sums it up.”

He’s just about to respond when my attempted assassin walks back into the tent. He checks to make sure no one has followed him, closes the tent flaps, and turns to look at me.

“Sorry it took so long to get back. I was stopped by the ones who want you dead, Elysia.”

“Who wants me dead?”

He’s just about to respond when he and Rafe lock eyes. Suddenly, they both crumple to the ground, grasping their chests and writhing in pain. I’m just relieved it’s not me this time. A short moment later, they both sit up panting. This time is different though, because Rafe didn’t change like he did with me. When their wrists stop burning and glowing, their tattoos are complete like mine.

Both men stand up, and a strong force of energy flows through each of our glowing wrists, connecting us. The energy is a golden, white color pulsing with life, as if this is what our bond looks like. The energy gets stronger until it connects in the middle of us and shoots up through the tent into the sky. I’ve never seen anything like it. Afterwards, our tattoos glow slightly.

I look first to the elf, his brown eyes pulsing with energy, with life. I look then at Rafe, the silver crescents glowing like the moon. Rafe speaks first.

“As nice as all of this is, I thought we needed to leave?” The elf nods in agreement.

“Yes, they’ll come to check soon to make sure I’m not lying.”

I suddenly have an idea. “Hey, what if we set the tent on fire and run to the stables for our steeds?”

They stare at me for a moment and then nod their heads in unison. I don’t want Ayita’s stuff to burn, so we gather everything, and I put a protective shield around it, along with a letter explaining that I met my matches for the Triune.

“You guys need to get your things and meet me back at the stables.” They didn’t really like my idea.

“Elysia, you will be unprotected and vulnerable. We can’t let you go alone.” Rafe said.

The elf agreed. “What if you run into them on your way to the stables? Without one of us there, they will kill you instantly.”

“Thanks guys, your vote of confidence is truly inspiring. Just because I am a woman doesn’t mean I am helpless. I am a Mage, and I can defend myself just fine, thank you.” They finally relented, unhappiness showing on their faces. They were really starting to tick me off.

They slip out through the front entrance, making sure no one sees them. I grab my bag and pack two changes of clothes, along with paper and a pen to eventually write to my parents a second time. I grab my sword, buckle it around my waist, and sneak out the back of the tent. I don’t set the tent on fire until I’m safe in the dark cover of the woods. I turn back to the tent and gaze at the torches lighting up the grounds. I can hear the joyful noises coming from the dinner hall. I try to take a mental picture of the scene before me and send a ball of fire at my tent.

It sets ablaze better than I could have hoped. I continue towards the stables, and it’s not long before I can hear frantic shouting. I make sure the fire won’t spread or burn anyone but that it won’t die down or be snuffed out until Ahmik and I are out of the area. It’s a brilliant distraction that would have made my parents proud.

I am just outside the stables, waiting in the shadows, as I notice a group of stable hands talking in the torchlight. Just when I think they’re never going to leave, Rafe runs frantically over to them. I can’t tell what he’s saying, but he starts motioning towards the tent. It doesn’t take long before they run off in that direction as quickly as they can. One of the stable hands turns and says something to Rafe, but he bends over like he’s out of breath and waves him on. The man simply shrugs and runs off towards the fire with the rest of them. Rafe stands up and looks around before finally spotting me. He waves me over, so we can go inside the stable.

We don’t wait for the elf to arrive before saddling up Ahmik. I just finish buckling Ahmik’s saddle when the elf comes up behind us and puts a black twinkling cloak around my shoulders.

“Whoever wants to cause you harm cannot see you for short periods of time when you wear this cloak. So, if you wear it while you ride, they’ll never see you pass.”

I like this idea. Before we go any further, I ask, “What in the world is your name?”

He chuckles. “I wondered how long we were going to go before you asked for my name.”

He gave me a soft smile. “My name is Maeron, but in your tongue, it is Declan.”

“I like it. Declan suits you.”

“Elysia, Declan, and I’m Rafe. Now that we all know each other, can we leave before we get caught?” Rafe asks us impatiently.

I nod. “Ahmik and I are ready, but where are your steeds?” Declan wears a brilliant smile.

“Glandur will meet me in the forest once we are clear of here.” I give him a quizzical look, and he just shrugs.

Rafe laughs. “Who needs a steed when you can run on all fours?” I stare at both of them.

“How do you carry your supplies?”

I have to ask, for it’s all starting to become overwhelming, and we have barely begun the journey that lies before us. Rafe smiles his hypnotic, crooked grin.

“Well, I run without anything most of the time.” Before I can ask him what he means, he keeps going. “However, when I do have things to carry, I either ask someone journeying with me, or I put it in my wolf pouch.” He points to the leather strap around his torso and shoulder.

“How do they hold weapons, clothes, and food?” I am slightly confused.

“The Mage of my village enchanted this strap to change with me and hold everything I need. Whether it be weapons, clothes, food, or anything else I might want to carry with me.” Rafe seems quite smug.

“Okay, now that we have all that settled, we need to leave.” Declan tells us matter of fact.

I climb onto Ahmik, while Declan is making sure the lane into the forest is clear and Rafe is shifting into his silvery blue wolf. I notice now that his wolf has a silver crescent on the center of his head. I wonder if that has anything to do with us being matched. I shake my head. I don’t have time to think about these things now. Declan waves us forward, and we are off.