262. Ayla

262. Ayla
Milton let go of Rhobart. 
A smile tugged at Milton’s lips as he waved his hand up and down in the wyvern’s direction. 
“This is Fluffy.” 
Eude’s left eye twitched. “You named a wyvern—a whole damn wyvern—Fluffy?” 
Milton roared with laughter. “I had the same reaction as you when Eluvene came up with this ridiculous name for the wyvern. But since she’s the one to tame him and he seems to like the name,” he shrugged, “who am I to complain?”  
There was something strange about Milton. The shadows of the past no longer tormented him, and he stood taller, somehow. He wasn’t the only one different. Happiness filled Eluvene’s gaze. 
It made Ayla wonder if something had happened between them while they were gone. She quickly dismissed the idea as she knew how much Milton disliked Eluvene for being a Dark Mage.
Such a shame. They would have made a cute couple. 
Rhobart looked around. “What about Wind?” 
Milton sucked in a sharp breath as his smile died on his lips. Eluvene stepped closer to him, her hand brushing against his. 
“Wind perished in the swamp.” Her tone was full of sorrow.
Rhobart clapped Milton’s shoulder. “I am sorry for that, my friend. I know how much Wind meant to you.” 
Milton nodded, his gaze misty. “His death shattered me,” he revealed. No one found his statement funny. “I know it sounds silly since Wind was a horse, but he was like a dear friend of mine.” He gazed down lovlingly at Eluvene. “If not for Eluvene, I wouldn’t be here. She helped me when I was deep in my sorrow.” His lips brushed against her forehead, leaving everyone stunned. “She is my woman.” His attention went to Godefray. “So stay the fuck away from her,” his words were sharp as the steel.
Godefray’s brows inched up. “I have no interest in Eluvene. Never had, never will.” 
Milton nodded. “Good.” 
Eluvene shook her head disapprovingly. “You are such a stupid wizard. I already told you there’s nothing between Godefray and me.” 
Eluvene and Milton reminded Ayla of how the beginning of her love story with Rhobart, who had been just as territorial as Milton was now. While the love between Ayla and Rhobart had changed, becoming more mature, it was just as intense and strong as in the beginning. 
Rhobart scratched his beard. “I’ve never seen a Fire Mage and a Dark Mage falling in love before, but I wish you a lifetime of happiness.” The others congratulated them as well. “How about you tell us what happened after we parted ways while we have breakfast?” Rhobart asked as he led Milton and Eluvene to the campfire. 
Marianna was by the fire with Kerra curled next to her feet. 
“It seems Eluvene and I are not the only ones who have things to share,” Milton mused. 
Rhobart served Eluvene and Milton fresh-baked meat and mushroom pie. “A lot has happened since we last saw each other. But I need to ask. Were you two successful in your mission?” 
For the following hour, Milton revealed everything that had happened since they parted ways. Eluvene intervened a few times, with additional observations and comments. 
A loud cheer erupted from Rhobart’s throat when Milton revealed that he had found the crosavitus. When Milton revealed that Eluvene was the one who destroyed the Black Tower, everyone looked at her with renewed respect. Milton brushed his lips against her temple before murmuring against her skin how amazing she was. Eluvene looked uncomfortable to be in the center of attention, so Milton changed the subject. 
It made Ayla happy to see Milton giving love a second chance. 
After Milton was done talking, it was Rhobart’s turn to let the two mages know about their nearly deadly encounter with the Forsworn and how they made it out alive with the help of Marinna, who was now part of their traveling group. 
“I suggest we rest today and depart for Drara early in the morning,” Rhobart said after breakfast. His gaze roamed around. “No doubt, Galian is searching for us. The destruction of the Black Tower gave us some advantage, but news always have a way of traveling fast. By now, half of Myrthana knows that the Cursed Castle is no more, and Galian is no fool. He knows we are behind it.” 
“In that case, I suggest we leave right now,” Milton said. “While we saw nothing strange while we were looking for you, Galian could be using the dense forest to hide his army from prying eyes.” 
Rhobart took Ayla’s palms into his and ran his thumbs left and right on top of her hands. His fingers covered her damaged ones.
“I want you to heal her first,” Rhobart said. “Her pain never goes away.” 
“I’m not in pain,” Ayla protested. 
Rhobart let out a sigh. “This is not up for debate. Milton found the crosavitus and he will heal you.”
“It will take about a day for me to prepare a balm from it that you will have to apply to your hands for… well, I don’t know how long. Until you are healed, I suppose. Eluvene, care to help me? This way, I can show you how to make healing potions as well.” 
“I have nothing better to do, so I suppose I’ll help you,” Eluvene replied, and the two of them went to the wyvern to retrieve what they needed to make the balm.
The rest of the day was spent making an inventory of what they had and needed for Drara, gathering most of the camp, and leaving out only the bare minimum. 
The next day, right before they parted for Drara, Milton gave Ayla a small, rounded wooden box. “This is the balm made from crosavitus. Have Rhobart massage your hands with it once in the morning and once in the evening until you ran out of balm.” 
“What happens when we use all the balm and my hands are not healed?” Ayla wondered. 
“We will cross that bridge went we get there.”

The next chapter will be with them going to Drara. I will update in about 2-3 days.