Chapter 269. Ayla
Chapter 269. Ayla
Fire golems were not born, they were forged. Shaped from obsidian, volcanic stone, and hardened ash, their bodies pulsed with molten veins that glowed like lava cracks beneath the surface.
Their kind had been created during the forgotten age of the first war between humans and Orcs, summoned by Fire Mages who chose to follow Beliar. These mages traded years of their lives to bind elemental spirits into stone forms. Most golems crumbled into ruin after the war, but some were said to still slumber beneath the earth, waiting to be summoned into a new war, while others wandered the desert aimlessly.
There had been rumors of drakes led by fire golems attacking lost travalers or other animals. Sometimes, even small caravans.
“I don’t like this,” Varan said.
“Me either,” Rhobart agreed. “We need to be careful.”
“I will tell everyone to be vigil and I will have the men guard the camp while we rest.”
Rhobart nodded. “Good.” He pondered his next words. “Mages travel with me. One of then is a Water Mage. His spells can do a lot of damage to the golem.”
The tension in Varan’s shoulders didn’t disappear. “I hope it won’t come to that. One fire golem can kill all of us in a couple of minutes. A Water Mage can’t kill him.”
In fact, no one knew what killed a fire golem. The ones that perished after the First War was because they ran out of the one thing that created them–magic.
There wasn’t an ounce of fear in Rhobart’s eyes as he said, “We survived worse,” before he said to Ayla, “Let’s finish our meal.”
Seconds later, the women and the children returned to their tents, while the men kept an eye on the mountain.
Rhobart kept an eye on the mountain, af is he could see the golem from where stood.
“First the drakes, now a golem,” Ayla said carefully, not wanting anyone from the caravan to hear her. “This can’t be a coincidence.” She pushed a piece of cheese with her fork along the tray. “The past weeks have been quiet but Galian will never give up… not until I’m–”
She couldn’t finish that last word.
Her hands had been better in the past few days, but thinking of what she had to endure in the Black Tower made her fingers tremble so hard, she dropped the fork.
She had been afraid when she first arrived in Nordmar. She had been afraid when she fought the Seeker and Eude was on the verge of death. She had been afraid when she returned to Myrtana to find Drax and Eluvene, and again in the Cursed Castle. But nothing—nothing—terrified her more than Galian. Years will pass, and she would still remember how much he enjoyed hurting her, torturing her, breaking her. And for a while, he did break her. He broke her spirit, but Rhobart, with his love and understanding made her feel safe again.
She hated that he still had so much power over her. But after years under his thumb, fear was the only thing she knew when it came to him.
Rhobart placed a palm on her thigh. She could see the tension in his muscles. “He will never touch you again,” he promised.
She knew Rhobart nor any of her friends would let anything bad happen to her, but once in a while, when she closed her eyes, she could still feel the Soul Eaters crawling inside of her.
A shudder ran through her.
‘Are you alright?’ Godefray asked thought their x’makide bond.
He was somewhere in the caravan, doing Inoss knows what. Since the event in the Cursed Castle, he had been more redrew, choosing no to spend so much time with Ayla or anyone else. She felt like she was losing a good friend, a brother, and she didn’t know what to do about it.
‘Yes,’ she said quickly, not wanting to worry him, but then she decided to be truthful to him. ‘We believe Galian might be the one who sent the drakes after us and thinking of him… reminded me of… the tower.’
She sounded so… hollow each time she had to speak of what she endured in the hand of Galian and the Black Master.
She could hear Rhobart and the twins talking but all her focus was on her conversationw with Godefray.
‘He will never hurt you again.’
There was a lethal threat in Godefray’s tone, but it only made Ayla fear for his life. ‘Your safety is more important than anything else.’
‘Likewise.’
She let out a sigh. ‘Where are you? Have lunch with Rhobart and me. The twins and Marianna are also at our tent.’
There was a hesitation before Godefray said, ‘I can’t.’
‘What’s wrong?’ she couldn’t help but ask.
‘Nothing,’ he replied fast. Too fast. Almost as if he was expenting her to ask that.
‘Why won’t you talk to me?’ she pressed on.
‘I am,’ he snorted.
She mentally rolled her eyes at him. ‘You know what I mean.’
She could feel it through that invisible link that allowed them to exchange thoughts, to share their strength and powers, that Godefray was hiding something from her. Something big, something important. She wanted to press him for answers, to force him to tell him what was happening, to command him to reveal why he was pulling away, but instead she said, ‘I love you, Godefray. I would have died in the tower if not for you. All my life I believed Galian was my brother, but you have been a brother to me in more ways that he has eve been.’
The x’makide bond trembled. ‘I’d give up my life for you without hesitation.’
‘But I don’t want you to die. I want you to live.’
For a few seconds, Godefray said nothing. Then, ‘Fine. I’m having lunch with you and Rhobart.’
‘Don’t forget about the twins and Marianna.’
‘How can I?’ he grumbled.
Ayla focused on the tray of food–it was almost empty. “I’m going to get more cheese and meat from inside. Godefray is joining us for lunch,” she let the others know as she disappeared inside the tent.
Sorry for the delay - I have no excuse except this one - I was working on two Heart books at the same time - Wolf Heart 1 and this one, and they requier a lot of focus on my part. I finished with WH1 and all my focus is on this book. Next update will be in 2 days :)