Chapter Eight

I awoke the next morning to sunshine bathing my room in light and heat. I distinctly recalled pulling the shutters closed the night before. I studied the shadows on the floor and was able to decipher that it was well into the morning. But how did the shutters get open? I looked around the room to find Danders sitting at the end of the bed watching me.

"Some women may find that a little disconcerting, Mr. Greensley," I informed him.

"I hate it when you call me that. You know good'n'well my name," he replied in an odd tone.

"Is there something that I may be able to assist you with, Danders?" I asked too harshly.

"Are you gonna stay?"

"No."

"Then no. There's not a single thing you can help me with," he said, pain obvious in his voice. He let out a long, raspy sigh and added, "I wanted to say goodbye. I'm not gonna see you off. I'm gonna go ahead and leave now." He refused to look me in the eye as he said this. I watched as he clenched and unclenched his jaw.

I couldn't control it. I tried to fight back the emotions, but tears found their ways into my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. "If that's what you must do," is all I could manage to say.

He lifted himself from the corner of the bed and began to head to the door. Suddenly, he turned back to me and said, "I thought I could convince you to stay. Right now I feel as if I never want to see you again, but I know every night when I go to bed the memory of your eyes will be in my dreams. I can't escape it. I'll pray to the nine constantly that you will come back to me – and maybe one day you will. But for now, just for now, I can't be around you." With that he left the room.

I was stunned. I was unable to breath. All I could do was stare at the door as tears fell down my cheeks.

Eventually, with an aching in my chest, I was able to stand and get dressed. I brushed my hair out and braided it into what my father called an elf braid: a small braid in the front that collects hair as it travels down my back. I found my weapons, which were brought up some time before I woke, and put the knife holster back on my belt as well as slip the bow over me and threw the quiver on my back. I took a deep breath and slowly walked down the stairs to say goodbye to Alyssa.

As I made my way down the steps, I heard voices in the dining room. One was Alyssa's and one was a deep male's voice. Danders. I froze, surprised that he was still here. He and Alyssa were arguing about something, though I was unable to decipher it. I silently crept down the remainder of the staircase and turned toward the door. I hid myself in the shadows and remained outside the door frame. Danders's back was to me and he was gesturing harshly to Alyssa.

"No. Please listen to me! No! I can't do it," he was saying to her. Alyssa only nodded her heard, insisting that he can do whatever it was in question. "You can't force me to, Grandma, you just can't! I'm gonna leave now and you can't stop me!"

"You need to assist her, Danders." Were they talking about me? "You know, deep down, you want to. It would give you more time with her." Yes, they were definitely talking about me.

"No! I'm leavin'!" He shouted at the old woman and then turned to exit through the passageway where I was hidden. I stepped into the frame, allowing him to see me. He stopped in his tracks, his face ashy white and eyes glowing with anger. "You knew she was there, Grandma?"

"Yes, Danders, I did," Alyssa said simply.

"May I ask what it is that you are refusing?" I ask him, looking him straight in the eye.

"I requested the he takes you to the Elsweyr boundary in his cart," Alyssa answered for him.

"I don't wanna be near you so I said no," Danders continued from Alyssa's statement, keeping his eyes from making contact with mine.

"You can leave if you like. I will walk," I said coldly. Danders's eyes met mine, pain flowing through them which sent a chill down my spine.

Without another word, he brushed past me and slammed the door on his way out.

"Don't mind the boy. I have a surprise for you, my dear Emerald," she told me, taking one of my shaking hands in hers. She walked to the hearth and picked up a black bundle of fabric. "Lay your things in that chair, if you don't mind my dear, and then turn around."

I did as she instructed. She placed the fabric over my shoulders and tied it around my neck. Finally, she lifted a part of it over my heard. I walked to the mirror in the entry way and looked at what she had adorned me with. It was a cloak, black as night.

"I love it, Alyssa!" I gave the old woman a big hug. I replaced my weapons and moved around the room. I felt as if I were a thief in the night, which only reminded me of Danders.

"Now, listen close. You will be going over the border and into Elsweyr. Go into the first town you come across. It will be called Riverhold. That is where your quest will truly begin. You must leave now, my dear," she said, taking my hands. "Oh, you mustn't forget this!" She handed me an extra bag. "I have placed some potions in there. Use them wisely. There is a compass and map in there as well."

"Thank you very much! This will be a long journey, but I know you will be with me."

"Yes, dear, I will. Also, it will not be quite as long as you believe because you will have a ride to the border. Danders is outside right now with Kaie waiting on you. Now you must be leaving!" I hugged the old woman again and she sent me out the door. As she had said, Danders was in the street sitting atop Kaie.

"Hurry up," he grunted at me.

I hugged Alyssa one last time on the door step and walked towards Danders. He offered me his hand and hoisted me onto Kaie behind him.

"You better hold on tight 'cause if you fall off I'm not stopping for you," he grumbled.

He trotted Kaie through Skingrad and then set her into a gallop once we were out the East Gate. We passed under a bridge that leads from the walled city to the castle that held the Count. Though the road continues straight after the bridge, Danders takes a path that goes sharply right from the main road. The path slowly becomes thinner and shabbier looking. We rode in silence for a while, the soothing feeling of Kaie's rhythm helping the time go quicker. The sun was setting at the top of the trees in the horizon as we crest a hill and see more Aylied ruins.

As we come closer to the ruins the path turns into wooden stairs and Danders stops the horse. He gave me his arm for me to slide off the horse, and then he followed me. He finally broke his silence when his feet hit the ground.

"I'm sorry," he said, emotionless.

"For what?" I wanted to hear him admit how rude he was and how uncalled for his actions were.

"Trying to trick ya." I hadn't expected that response.

"Pardon? You did what?"

"Yeah, I tried to trick you. I thought if I kissed you, you might fall in love with me and come back to Dasek Moor with me. I thought I could trick you into feeling somethin' for me. But I was wrong," he said, his voice tinged with defeat.

"You didn't have to trick me into feeling anything for you…" I began.

"I know, you don't have to rub it in!" He shouted at me.

"I was saying that you didn't have to trick me because I already had feeling for you," I said slowly, unsure if I wanted to say the words. He didn't respond for a second.

When he finally does speak, he says, "You're going to have to go that way." He pointed down the wooden staircase at more white ruins. "Do you know how you're gonna get across the border?"

I stare off in the direction of Elsweyr for a moment and then said, "To be honest, I haven't the slightest idea."

"You know you might have to kill to get across. If a person stands in your way, would you be ready to shoot him with your arrow? If you expect to finish this journey, you eventually will be in a situation where you will have to let the arrow fly at a target you may not want to hit."

I look him straight in the eye and reply, "Yes, Danders. I know what I may have to do."

"They you best be on your way, Miss Emi." He sighed as he wrapped his arms around me.

"I will miss you." I returned his hug and kissed him on his stubbly cheek.