Questing Sucks (Book 1) (21 page)

Sehn twirled his Elven blade with a speed that far transcended the ordinary, managing to block Cah’lia’s dagger each and every time. Nero and Patrick clapped as sparks flew off of the steel, and the two began their brawl.

Sehn leaped to the side as Cah’lia thrust forward, ending up on the side of her. He swung at her head. Cah’lia raised her blade to block.

Is she nuts?
Sehn wondered.
You can’t block a horizontal swing from a sword with a dagger!

Yet Cah’lia did just that as Sehn’s larger sword connected with Cah’lia’s dagger, she allowed herself to be pushed by the sword, jumping backward with the force, flipping, and landing on her feet. Even Saerina clapped, at the incredible display of alacrity.

The moment she landed back on her feet, she charged at Sehn yet again, giving him no opportunity to recover. Again she assaulted him with an array of thrusts and slashes, spinning and twirling. She attacked high, low, mid, even sometimes as low as Sehn’s ankle. It was becoming more and more difficult for him to defend against. Each time she spun, there was no way to predict whether she’d slash, or thrust, or what region she’d attack. Sehn had to exert his full effort just to continue blocking.

She threw a kick, her foot only a hair’s breadth from connecting as Sehn tilted his head back and saw her boot glide up in front of his face. She spun, and for a moment Sehn could see her arm movement. It was slight, and almost obscured, but he was sure he saw her raise her arm. She would be attacking high. Sehn raised his blade to counter, ready to turn the tide. If he knew where she would attack, then victory would be a cinch.

Cah’lia completed her spin, and as expected, attacked high. Sehn grinned, his blade already raised in defense. There was a mischievous glint in Cah’lia’s eyes as she dropped into a crouch, and lowered her blade to Sehn’s midsection.

It was a feint!
How did I fall for such a cheap trick?

Sehn leaped back, avoiding what would have been a very serious injury, instead receiving a painful but shallow gash across his stomach. Cah’lia did not acknowledge the attack, and gave Sehn no opportunity to collect himself. Again she closed on him, the same flurry of attacks as before.

Sehn began to feel the touch of fear, realizing that he might actually lose the fight. He was really trying to win, and he was taking it far more seriously than he had at the start. Yet, for reasons out of his control, he just couldn’t bring himself to attack Cah’lia with the same murderous intensity as he had the overseer. It was painful to admit, but it was the truth. The thought of cutting Cah’lia’s stomach the way he had that man, the picture of her bleeding and crawling on the floor. It was almost as bad as that cursed vision he’d had of Nero.

He still had to win, though, because the alternative was even worse. It was even harder to bear the thought of Cah’lia planting kisses on that idiot prince.
AND NOT BECAUSE HE LOVED HER OR ANYTHING, HE JUST DIDN’T LIKE THE IDEA OF THE PRINCE BEING HAPPY!

Sehn had one way of winning without harming her, but it would be risky. Cah’lia continued her flurry of slash and thrust attacks as she wore Sehn down. She aimed for his throat, and he twisted his blade, blocking with the width of his sword.

He risked a glance behind him, and almost lost his throat for it, just missing a slash across the neck. Sehn needed for her to keep pushing him back, he needed her to keep pressing the attack. Luckily, she intended to do just that. They were almost inside the forest, trees now to the sides of them. They were no longer in sight of the group, their battle had become private.

Just a little more,
Sehn thought.

As Sehn was backed up yet again, into massive oak tree, he knew that it would be his only chance at winning. He waited for Cah’lia’s next attack. She spun, and aimed a thrust at his midsection. Sehn kicked hard off of his foot, side stepping, and gaining as much distance as he was able. Cah’lia spun to him, unwilling to let him gain even an inch of distance.

The time it took her to cross the distance to where Sehn had leapt, was enough time for Sehn to enact his plan.

“Ralos MAHR”
Sehn yelled.

She had watched his fight with the overseer, and Sehn knew she was a very cautious, careful fighter. She would be expecting him to break the ground in front of her feet. As if she had been preparing to dodge the attack all along, she leapt to the side, and looked around in confusion when the ground didn’t erupt where she had just been standing.

Sehn let out a mighty laugh. “Look up, Cah’lia.”

Cah’lia glanced up as branches and twigs began to fall from the tall tree. “You shook the tree!” she gasped.

“
Remmos Salas!”

“Remmos Salas!”

Sehn’s fire mixed with the falling branches, and it rained fire on Cah’lia. Sehn knew that none of the flaming debris would hit her, he was counting on it. Nimbly, as expected, she rolled away as burning branches and leaves showered the area she had just been, but for the first time in the fight, Sehn knew what she was going to do. He knew her movement, and where she’d end up.

As she stood from her roll, Sehn was already waiting for her. Before she could cry out in surprise, he grabbed her wrist, forcing it open. The dagger fell from her hand, and landed into Sehn’s other hand, his open palm waiting patiently just below.

“I win,” he grinned.

Cah’lia smiled. “You did.”

Sehn didn’t care about pride at the moment. He was practically overflowing with emotion. Again he pulled her in, and kissed her for everything he was worth. Cah’lia grabbed him, and pulled him close as the two shared in each other’s passions amidst the fiery rain of burning leaves and branches.

Sehn pulled away, when he saw her tears. “Did I hurt you?”

Cah’lia was whimpering. She dropped to her knees, and her whimpering turned into bawling. She cried out, her voice a torrent of misery and longing. “
It’s not fair!”
she screamed, looking at the sky.
“It’s not fair!”

Sehn didn’t know what to do. In the arsenal of knowledge that was Sehn’s brain, this kind of situation was entirely absent.

“Ca...Cah’lia. Why are you crying?”

She looked at him, and when she met his eyes, her misery increased. She covered her chin in an expression of shock. She shook her head in denial. And then again she cried, her voice pained and tormented. “
No!”
She yelled at him.

She leaped at Sehn, almost tackling him to the ground in a hug. Sehn was confused, too confused to protest her embarrassing display of affection.

“You can’t, Sehn. You can’t! There has to be a way.
Tell me there’s a way!”

“Cah’lia, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Sehn grunted as she began to beat his chest with her fists. It was not painful. She wasn’t hitting him to hurt, but to protest something Sehn had no understanding of.

“Sehn,” she sobbed into his chest. “Promise me you won’t die. That no matter what happens, you won’t let anything kill you. That we’ll go home to Elvar someday.”

Sehn tilted his head to the sky, and let out a roaring, deep laughter. He grabbed Cah’lia’s shoulders, and forced her to meet his eyes, laughing through it all. “Is that what you’re worried about, Cah’lia? The Great Sehn…dying! Hah! Nothing can kill me, Foo’lia. If death tries to take me, I shall make him my slave. Not even the Gods can kill the Great Sehn.”

She looked at him one last time, before shaking her head at him and running away. It was a few moments before Sehn left his emotional state, returning to his normal self. Replaying the situation in his mind, he moaned at the memory.

“Aww man,” Sehn moaned. “I was all
romanticky
and shit. Blah! I just hugged and kissed and did all that stuff like a little bitch. If anyone saw that I’ll kill them. She must have used magic on me or something. Yeah, that was what happened!”

 

 

 

 

Chapter 22: Grace of the Light

 

Sehn frowned as the group took their first steps into the
Jinkar
forest. Between the uneven ground, massive trees that forced them to double back and sidetrack, and the constant assault by biting insects, Sehn was ready to turn around and go home.

Nero rode alongside him, his features beaming in delighted fascination as he looked at the sights around him. It was somewhat dark, if not dim. The massive trees blocked out quite a bit of the sun, making the forest darker, but also cooler. The lowered temperature was one of the few positive things about the place. Nero gasped as he looked around at many of the odd creatures that lived in the place.

They were only just entering the forest, and yet they could already make out two of the weirdest looking creatures Sehn had ever seen. The creatures somewhat resembled baboons, but they were also very large. They had yellow triangular faces, with multi-colored dots covering their entire bodies. Their hands were somewhat Human shaped, and they were each grabbing an end of a piece of fruit, fighting over which would be allowed to eat it.

Sehn laughed at a funny thought that came to him, and princess Saerina whispered something into Cah’lia’s ears. Her features tightened in anger, and she gave Sehn an accusing look.

 
“Saerina just predicted what you were thinking, Sehn. I am not happy.”

Damn that woman. How does she always know what I’m thinking?

“You were just thinking that Cah’lia looks like one of those
Babbaliths
, weren’t you?” Saerina asked.

Sehn almost fell off his horse, laughing. “They’re called
Babbaliths
? Haha! That is the perfect name for Cah’lia. Nero, fetch me a Sehn-Seal. I shall sign a decree stating that from this day forward, Cah’lia is to be known only as Babbalith-Bitch.”

Rina was the first to come to Cah’lia’s defense, riding with Cah’lia until she learned how to mount and ride a horse of her own. Sehn began to feel worry when he saw the look on her face. Since they had rescued the girl, the deadness in her eyes had faded, and was slowly being replaced with childish wonder. Yet the look she held now was one of confidence, it was the first time Sehn had ever seen that in the usually meek girl. There was something else, too, something that frightened him. Rina had a look of amusement, and a very mischievous glint.

“Rina knows,” she said.

Sehn panicked. “Knows what? What are you talking about, Rina?”

“Master Sehn knows what Rina is talking about,” she giggled. “Rina knows.”

“And what is it you know, foolish girl?”

Sehn had an idea of what she’d say, but that didn’t make it any easier to listen to. “Rina knows that Sehn loves Cah’lia! Rina knows they smooched, and that -”

Sehn screamed at the girl. “
Silence, fool!
I do not like Cah’lia! I don’t know what lies she has told you, but we did not kiss. I was merely trying to pucker my lips to practice my whistling—after all, one day I will need to whistle to call my servants—when I accidentally tripped on a log and fell into her face!”

Cah’lia covered her face to hide her laughter, while Rina began to sing, loud enough so that everyone in the group of them could hear it. Sehn wanted to crawl into a ditch and die as her childish voice carried through the forest.

“Sehn loves Cah’lia! Sehn loves Cah’lia!”

Sehn didn’t know if he was hallucinating or not, but it seemed to him that even the animals were laughing. He whirled around his head and ignored them, followed by Nero’s similar gesture. He would not give them the dignity of a response. Sehn did
not
love, like, or even care for Cah’lia. It was true!

The sound of horse hoofs beating against the ground caused Sehn to turn. Daniel was riding toward them, sweating and panting. “I know you guys aren’t going to want to hear this,” he said. “But we’ve already got a problem. The wagon got stuck on some mud, and it’s going to take me an hour or two to get it out.”

Patrick and Saerith did not look pleased. “More wasted time!” Patrick called out. “Daniel, what good are you? Rillith, go help him. We might as well eat an early lunch. We’ve been in this forest not two hours, and we’re stuck already.”

Since Patrick had revealed he was a prince, he had been much more commanding with his men. Prince Saerith seemed to approve of his behavior, nodding in places and tilting his head in others. Sehn watched as a small circle formed around a dry patch of forest just a few feet from them, Cah’lia and Saerina setting up a makeshift camp.

Cah’lia roasted boar-meat over the fire, and brought plates and eating utensils over to where Sehn was sitting with Nero. She sat on the ground next to them, and met Sehn’s gaze.

Here we go again,
Sehn thought.

“Look,” Sehn began. “I’m not hungry, Cah’lia, and nothing you can say will change that. I don’t want to start a fight today as well. As it is, you’re lucky I spared your life yesterday. Now, just take it easy and slowly put down the food, there’s no reason for anybody here to have to get Sehn’d.”

She didn’t respond. She only looked at him with an eerie, contemplative silence. Sehn didn’t like it, these evaluating looks she gave him. She didn’t even eat, she just held out the food, and remained motionless.

Why won’t she say something?
Sehn wondered.

“Cah’lia, I said I don’t want any.”

She seemed to be ignoring him, keeping her arms extended with the plate of food, eyes penetrating his skull like a dagger. To call it awkward would be a vast understatement. Sehn pulled back his lower lip and gave her a threatening stare.

“Speak, Cah’lia! Why do you look at me and say nothing?”

Still she remained silent. It was beginning to unnerve Sehn, the quiet but fierce stare, the stillness of her posture. Finally, Sehn grabbed the plate from her hands and forced himself to devour it. It was difficult, and it made him feel nauseous.

She smiled. “Thank you, Sehn.”

Sehn ignored her, and rubbed his shoulder. The dull ache had become just a bit more painful, but he wondered why it wasn’t going away or getting better. Cah’lia watched him and seemed to hesitate, opening and closing her mouth like she wanted to speak. After a moment she did.

“Sehn, why are you rubbing your shoulder? Does it hurt?”

“Of course not. The Great Sehn feels no pain. My body is merely testing me, forcing me to prove I am worthy of walking in such Godly shoes. I am so great, that I might not even be worthy of being myself.”

“That sounds confusing,” Nero said, munching into his food.

“It’s supposed to be,” Sehn answered with confidence.

Cah’lia seemed disturbed by something, walking away without saying a word. Sehn looked over to Nero. The boy was holding his plate in the air and licking it like some kind of animal.

“This was pretty good,” he said, ears wobbling.

A gripping and almost overwhelming emotion swelled up in Sehn. He tried to force it down, but he was unable to control it. As he watched Nero eat and smile, a powerful torrent of emotion flooded into him. He didn’t know why he was feeling it now, he didn’t understand fully what he was feeling, but watching the little Elven boy smile and ask him questions about their journey, Sehn began to understand something.

The thought was as clear as the water in the grand fountains of central Elvar. Looking at Nero, Sehn came to terms with something from deep inside of him. If anyone, from any race, ever tried to harm, kill, or attack Nero, then Sehn would unleash upon them a downpour of hatred and violence so ruthless, that nothing of them would remain in this world.

Sehn shook his head, ashamed of the thought. Cah’lia was returning with the princess. The two sat down beside Sehn.

“I understand you are having some shoulder pain,” Saerina said. “Let me take a look.”

Sehn glared at Cah’lia. “What in the fuck is this, Cah’lia? I can’t believe I’m saying this, but…did you just
tell
on me?”

“Hmph,” she said, turning around and raising her neck.

Saerina placed a warm hand on Sehn’s shoulder, far warmer than an Elven woman’s hand should’ve been. Sehn had to admit she was quite stunning. She didn’t even need any of the outrageously expensive clothing she wore. Her looks alone were enough to woo any man.

She ran her hand along Sehn’s right shoulder. It almost burned at the touch. “I’m afraid this is one of those things I won’t be able to do anything about, Cah’lia. It’s part of the process.”

Sehn wasn’t sure if he was mishearing, and with Cah’lia turned around he couldn’t see to be sure, but it sounded like she was sniffing, the sound of someone trying to cry without making much noise. Sehn sighed, unable to come to grips or understand the mysteries of women.

“Thank you for lunch,” Nero said. “My sister’s cooking is so good. Hey, Sehn, you haven’t made any fireballs lately. I wanna see one, do it!”

Saerina gave Nero a stern look. It wasn’t filled with anger, but it was the look of a person wishing to correct and educate. “Young Nero,” the beautiful Elven princess said. Nero turned around and blushed. Sehn knew he was still uncomfortable being in the presence of the princess herself.

“The Grace of the Light or, Magic, as the Humans call it, is not something to be used for entertainment. It is a force of light, to be used, protected, and cared for.”

Sehn laughed at the woman. “What a foolish thing to say, princess. Nero, ignore everything this woman just told you.” The glare she gave Sehn was not the educational sort she used with Nero, but one filled with great disappointment. Sehn didn’t care.

“Magic,” Sehn explained. “Is a tool to be used for personal gain and party tricks. Only an idiot would actually show respect to it.”

It wasn’t until Sehn felt the stinging in his face, that he realized the woman had actually slapped him. Him, the Great Sehn!

“I tolerate quite a bit from you, Sehn, because I know what lies within you, even if sometimes you don’t. However, if I ever hear you say such a terrible thing again, I will remove one of your arms.”

Sehn opened his mouth to shout at the young woman, but was interrupted. She raised a hand.
“Silence!”
it was the first time Sehn had ever heard her raise her voice in command.

“Do you think I am not serious? Look,” she said. She pointed to a tree in the distance.
“Sellos RAHL”

Sehn and Nero gasped in unison as a giant tree was cleaved clean in two in the distance, falling over and smashing with a loud crash to the forest floor. Critters and forest animals that lived in the tree scampered out, some bloody, and one was cut clean in half, somehow walking with only its front two legs. Sehn was shocked. An entire tree cut in half in an instant, something that had stood for hundreds of years.