Chapter 12

I woke up to the unpleasant sound of Elaria scolding the boys. Lydan had his pillow over his ears, most likely blocking out the sound of her complaints, and Alizon was staring directly our of the window with a blank look on her face. I debated whether to do that, except Elaria pointed directly at me and forced me to pay attention unwillingly. 

"Why don't you be more like Oliver?" She scolded. "He hasn't been hurt, he's had the right amount of sleep, and he doesn't put himself into dangerous situations,"

"He decided to follow us," Alys shrugged, sitting up. 

"He's right you know," Zath let out a long yawn. 

"What other choice does he have?" She yelled. "Look, just be a little less reckless and we'll be fine,"

"I think that's impossible with the witch chasing us, but whatever," Alys stood up, stretching. 

Elaria gawped at his back, staring with a mixture of disgust and sorrow. I didn't have a view of his back, but by the looks of Elaria's face it didn't seem to be good. 

"What's wrong?" I asked, concerned slightly. 

Alys froze in place, staring blankly at the wall. Elaria stood up, moving slightly closer to his back, possibly to get a better view. 

"Do they hurt?" She questioned, compassion lacing her voice. 

"Not much," he shook his head. 

"There's quite a lot," she replied, moving to touch one of them, but stopping before she made it. 

"You remember what I said about the witch? That she hurts him more if people care?" Zath commented, sitting up. "Well, I cared a little too much,"

"It's a common thing to do," Alys shrugged. "Don't batter yourself because of it,"

"Are some," her voice cracked. "Are some because of me?"

"Not many," he shook his head. "I think it was two,"

"Two's still a large number," she replied. 

Alizon stood up, walking to stand next to Elaria. "You never told me you had this many,"

"You never asked," he shrugged her comment off. 

"I could've helped," she mumbled. 

"'Compassion earns more', that's what she always told me," he replied. "In her eyes, nobody should've cared about me, all they should care about was dethroning the Altiorem,"

"That's what she was planning?" Lydan stood up. "Shyael must be there,"

"He isn't," Alys shook his head. "I've been there my whole life and I haven't seen him,"

"You're lying," Lydan glared at him. "Why would two separate witches kidnap the Altum and plot to kill the Altiorem?"

"Suspicion?" He stated. "The elves are too busy hunting one witch to care about the other, who is going to try and murder the Altioreum,"

"How do we know we can trust you?" Lydan raised his eyebrows. "You're working for the witch, how do we know you aren't part of the murder plan?"

"Why would I have reason to murder him?" Alys retorted. 

"Because of the witch," he shrugged. "You kidnapped the Altium,"

He paused for a moment, deep in thought. "You're just going to have to trust me,"

"I'm arresting you," Lydan stated. 

"Lydan!" Elaria exclaimed. 

"You are part of this whole scheme," he jabbed his finger in Alys' direction. "And we can't fully trust you,"

"He saved me, so you can't arrest him," Elaria stated. 

"He's part of a murder scheme for a royal," Lydan rolled his eyes. 

"Why not just kill me now?" Alys shrugged. "I've seen what they do to the darkened, at least heard of it, so why not kill me now?"

"How do you know what happens?" Lydan straightened up. 

Alys paused. "I have my ways,"

"That is a secret method," Lydan spat. "How do you know?"

"Know what?" Elaria asked, her face painted with confusion. 

"Nothing," Lydan turned to her, glaring at her. 

"I have a right to know!" She huffed, crossing her arms. 

"They murder them with Aurum," Alys told her calmly. 

"Aurum?" She looked at Lydan. "Who decided this?"

"It's been a thing for a long time," he replied. "Sometimes it was public and elves would watch, but after an accident it was said to have been abolished but instead done in private. I've seen it, and it isn't pleasant," he shook his head, pausing for a moment. "How do you know?"

"Research," he replied. "There was a time when I researched into it, just to see if the elves would take me back. I found out using magic what they did, and decided it would be best to just give up my efforts and hope that it didn't come to that,"

"Don't guilt trip me," Lydan shook his head. 

"Lydan, I highly doubt that was a guilt trip," Elaria shook her head. 

"So that's why you were so interested in past elven laws," Alizon mumbled. Alys nodded, and Alizon's face turned into one of panic. 

"We know he used to work for her, it's fine," Elaria smiled at her, placing her hand on her shoulder. Alizon breathed a sigh of relief. "But still, I think killing him is a little bit… extreme,"

"It's what the law states," he shrugged. 

"If he wants to kill me, he can join the long list of those who want to," Alys shrugged. "One more won't be a problem,"

"Lydan, please don't kill him," Elaria shook her head. "He's the only one who can actually fight the witch, without him we'd be defenceless,"

"She's right you know," Alizon nodded. "Alys is strong, strong enough to rival her. Without him, it's essentially asking for a death wish,"

Lydan rolled his eyes. "As soon as this is over, then we'll arrest you, and you will be punished for your crimes,"

Alys nodded, sitting back down on the bed and letting me see a glimpse of his back. It looked like it was covered in lots of cuts of varying size. The two girls sat back down, and Lydan continued to stare at Alys with a venomous glare. Zath looked at me with a concerned look, but I simply shrugged in response. I had no idea what anything they just said was, especially that execution method. I was curious, but I didn't want to ask at that point in time, it would only stir up another argument, and we didn't need another one. 

"I'm going to see where Locito and Laetus are," Alizon stood up tentatively, walking to the door with a weak smile and closing it behind her. 

"Locito and Laetus?" Zath asked. 

"The two from last night," Elaria said. "Locito is the woman, and Laetus is the man,"

"Ah, I see," Zath nodded. "Are they alright with us staying here?" 

"Yes, they are," Elaria nodded. "I've known them for a while actually,"

"Really?" Zath seemed intrigued. 

"They used to have a shop in Domun. I'd visit often to talk with Locito, she was always kind to me," her lips curled into a small smile. "She gave me this one day, a little bit of luck in hopes that he'd come back, though I suppose it isn't enough," She pulled a necklace from underneath her shirt. It was a glass heart, with a single strand of hair inside, shaped like a heart too. "She talked with a dwarven glassworker to make it, gave it to me as a present,"

"It's beautiful," Zath stared at the white hair. "So does that mean the bracelet Alys has is lucky?"

"Laetus' hair is lucky," she nodded. "Anyone who wears a strand of it gains his luck. Locito can tell the future too, she was blessed by Lady Fate as a young child so they say, and she helps to decide the luck,"

"You must be really unlucky," Zath looked at the hair wrapped around Alys' wrist. 

"I didn't need to be told," he shook his head, staring at the floor. 

"I doubt he needs it," Lydan mumbled. "He'll be dead soon enough,"

"Don't say that," I hissed, surprised at my outburst. 

Lydan glared at me. "And what gives you the right to talk to me like that, human? I could report you now if I really wanted to,"

"Lydan," Elaria said sternly, standing up. "He's a guardian, as well as me. He will come with us to Domun, protect the Altiorem, and then return home if he wishes,"

"And how do you know he isn't going to cross us?" Lydan stood up, towering over Elaria, even though she was the other side of the room. 

"Stop asking questions and trust me," she put her hand over her heart. "I know they won't hurt me. What do they have to do to prove that?"

"I'm not having you die too," Lydan shook his head. "I've lost one good friend, I'm not losing another,"

"You're not going to!" Elaria yelled, taking us all by surprise. "They're here to protect me, not kill me!"

"You have a servant of the witch, who's plotting to murder the Altiorem, a human, and an elf who's hated by the Domium and has a motive to murder you, and you think you're alright,"

"They've saved my life," she replied calmly. "If it weren't for Zath and Alys, both of us would be under the control of the witch and most likely forced to murder the Altiorem, would you prefer that?" 

"I'd prefer it if you left them all behind," he crossed his arms. "They are dangerous, and we don't need that danger in this trying time,"

"He's right, you should just leave us behind," Alys shrugged. "Take Oliver with you. Us two are only going to get hurt if we follow,"

"No, you're coming with us so that I can arrest you," he jabbed a finger in his direction. 

"I'm not staying behind," Zath shook his head stubbornly. "I'm not letting my friend get killed,"

"You have no choice," Lydan spat, turning to face Zath. "He will be punished for his crimes, and becoming darkened,"

"Do you really think I wanted this?" Alys stared at the ground, his face calm. "Do you really think I wanted to be filled with the darkness? To be outcast? To be changed so severely that nobody recognises me? Do you think that's what I wanted?"

"Why wouldn't you? You work for the witch-"

"I never wanted any of this," Alys interrupted. "I've wanted to live a normal life for as long as I can remember, to fit in with the elves and to not be regarded as some slave that can be controlled. If death is what it takes to be like that, so be it,"

"You're not dying," Zath shook his head. "You die, I die,"

"I won't let it happen," Elaria shook her head. "If you kill him, you're to kill me too,"

"What?" Lydan jumped back. "You can't!"

"You heard me," Elaria shook her head. 

"I won't allow it," Lydan stood up straight, shaking his head. "I won't allow another good friend to die,"

"He's not dead," Elaria shook her head. "I know he isn't,"

"What, did mister darkness tell you?" Lydan pointed at Alys, putting on a voice that would be used with children. 

"No, he didn't," Elaria stood up straighter, crossing her arms. "We visited Spriitum, and the spirits said they hadn't seen him, so he must be alive,"

"You… you visited Spriitum?" A crumpled smile crossed Lydan's lips. "You really believe in that old folk tale?"

"I've seen it," she replied. "I've spoken to the spirits there, and it's real,"

Lydan burst out laughing, much to Elaria's dismay. She sat down in a huff, staring at the wall with a displeased expression. 

"Spriitum is an old tale told to give hope to lost elves, all who've seen it have been hallucinating," he said between his laughing. "Don't tell me you've been hallucinating,"

"It's real, so shut up," Zath spat, taking me for guard. I'd never seen him so angry in the time we'd spent. 

"You too?" He smiled at Zath. "Who else has been imagining things?"

"It wasn't imagination!" Zath stood up. "The place is real, get that through to your brain!"

"Zath, this ain't a battle worth fighting, stand down," Alys stood up, placing a hand on his shoulder and almost forcing him to sit down. Lydan rolled his eyes. 

The door opened after a moment of silence. Alizon poked her head through the door, smiling softly and then letting it drop when she saw the moods we were in. 

"Locito made breakfast," she said, smiling again and then running away. 

Lydan walked out of the room without a second glance. Elaria followed sheepishly, and so did I, leaving the two boys alone.