Chapter 34

He turned and looked into Ayla's eyes. There was something in his eyes – sadness or regret – perhaps. And there was something else – determination. Like he made up his mind about something.

"If I – " Nixx started but stopped and breathed. "If I help you, will you promise me one thing?"

"Anything," Ayla said.

"Promise me never to forget me!" Nixx said and walked towards the horses.

"Why would I forget you?" Ayla asked and ran after him.

Nixx stopped for a moment, put a hand against his chest, and inhaled deeply; then, he resumed walking.

Fear crept into Ayla's heart, "What's wrong, Nixx?"

He did not reply and kept walking until he was next to Scar's horse. Nixx took her messenger bag from the saddle and faced Ayla.

"I think this belongs to you, " he said as he gave Ayla the bag back.

Ayla grabbed the bag, held it against her chest, and gave him a short bow, "Thank you!" Then she put it on her shoulder, under her cloak.

Nixx put once more his hand against his chest and closed his eyes for half a minute.

"Nixx?" Ayla asked, and he opened his eyes.

The half-elf took out his dagger with its sheath and gave it to Ayla.

"This is the only thing I inherited from my father. It belongs to you now. It is made from magic ore," Nixx said as he put the dagger around Ayla's waist.

"You can't give me your dagger! It was a gift from your father!" Ayla said.

Nixx snorted, "I hate the bastard with all my heart for making my mother suffer and abandoning us. My sister was just a baby. I had to take care of my sister and mother since I was nine. Besides, I think you will need it more than I."

When Nixx started breathing fast and his eyes clouded with pain, Ayla feared he got sick.

"Are you sick? Where does it hurt?"

Nixx ignored her questions. "Get on my horse," he told her.

When Ayla hesitated, he rushed her, "Hurry up! Scar can return at any time!"

Ayla mounted the horse and looked at Nixx, "Come with me! Please!"

"I can't, sweetheart. You already know this."

Nixx untied the horse from the tree and walked a minute with her, having the river at their right and the forest to their left. When he stopped, he put a hand against his heart and grimaced with pain.

"Nixx! You are in pain!"

He smiled at her, "I am fine. If you continue straight, you will eventually end up in a clan – the Water Clan. They will help you."

"Come with me!" Ayla begged.

"Remember me always, sweetheart! That is all I ask of you!"

Then Nixx walked in front of his horse, Spirit, and pressed his forehead to the one of Spirit, and rubbed the horse's face with his palms, "You belong to Ayla now. Protect her as you protected me."

When Nixx lifted his face, a hiss of pain escaped his lips.

What was wrong with him? He was fine up until he started helping her. Oh, gods! The blood oath! Scar ordered Nixx not to help Ayla or neither let her escape.

"Nixx, you are dying! Because of me! We have to stop! We will find another way! I will find another way!" Ayla pleaded with him while tears fell down her cheeks.

"This is not a farewell, sweetheart! One day I will see you again. Be safe. Be free. And remember me. Now and forever," Nixx said before smacking the horse.

As the horse started running, Ayla looked behind only to see Nixx falling to his knees, bringing both hands to his chest.

"Nixx!" she shouted, right before she started crying.

"Find that dragon and fly with him for me!" Nixx shouted before falling on his right side.

A white owl flew past Ayla, heading to where Nixx was dying.

The horse was taking Ayla farther and farther from Nixx. From Scar. But she could care less about freedom right now. Not when it came with such a high price. She didn't want to believe Nixx was dying. Nixx, who shared secrets with her, and Nixx, who took care of her. Nix, who had been her friend. Nixx who wanted to find a dragon and ride it.

Ayla was lost in her grief, not paying attention to anything, when she heard, "You bloody witch! When I get my hands on you, I am going to kill you!"

She looked behind her only to see Scar on his horse, racing after her. His horse was running fast.

Ayla knew that if Scar reached her, she was dead. She had to be faster than him.

"Faster, Spirit!" she said to the horse.

The horse picked up more speed, but it was not enough. Scar was an experienced rider and was getting closer with each passing moment.

"Come on, Spirit!"

The horse continued his race while Ayla looked behind her once more. A small scream escaped her lips when she saw Scar right behind her. How come he was this fast?

Scar took out his bow and aimed an arrow in Ayla's direction. Her mouth went dry. She had to avoid that arrow.

Ayla avoided the first arrow as it flew right past her left shoulder. A second arrow followed fast, and this time Ayla had to lean over her right side to avoid it. She almost lost her balance but managed to sit straight on the saddle at the last moment.

"Faster, Spirit! Faster!" she yelled.

Ayla had to lean over more to avoid the next arrow. She knew something was wrong when she felt she was falling from the saddle and landing on her right shoulder on the solid snow. She rolled on her back, and a sharp pain coming from her shoulder stole the breath out of her. She could not even think straight. Did she break something?

Ayla was still on her back when Scar, with a new arrow on his bow, walked over to her.

"I should have let the ice wolf eat you!" Scar said, full of hatred. "It will be a pleasure killing you. But I am going to do it with my bare hands."

As Scar took out the arrow from the bow, her left hand moved slowly to the dagger's hilt. She would not let Nixx's sacrifice go to waste. She would fight.

"Please!" she said.

"Too late for begging now! Because of you, I lost that good for nothing half-elf!" Scar said as he sat above her waist, trapping her body between his bent legs.

When he started strangling her, Ayla did not let the panic take control of her. Her hand reached the dagger, and she buried it between his ribs with a quick movement.

Scar screamed in pain but did not let go of her neck. Ayla took the dagger out and stabbed him again and again. Her vision was starting to blacken.

When Ayla thought that she would die, an animal jumped on Scar, knocking him to the ground.

While Scar screamed and begged the gods for mercy, Ayla tried to control her breathing.

"Ayla!" a familiar voice came from within the forest.

She turned her head, searching with her eyes for the owner of that voice. When she finally saw him, a sob escaped her lips.