Part 1 - A Matter of Life and Death

Allana took a deep breath as she stood outside Elipson’s chambers, trying to gather some courage.

She and Elian had spent the night in the hut and, at daybreak, had walked back to the palace hand in hand. Along the way they’d talked a lot, more calmly than the night before, deciding what to do next.

She had told him she wanted to leave for Everlyn as soon as possible, preferably that same day, and he had agreed. Which had led to her presence there, outside Elipson’s chambers.

Denar already knew who she was and where she had come from. But not Elipson. And since Elian had decided to accompany her on her return to Everlyn, Elipson had to be told the truth. Elian had offered to talk to her but Allana had asked to be the one to give her the news. After all Elian had lied to protect her and she felt she owed Elipson as much. She had practically been staying in Mithir under her guidance and much of what she’d learned she owed it to the older woman, not to mention how much she had grown to admire her, as a Knight and as a person. And that was exactly why she now hesitated to knock at her door. Elipson was always righteous, following the Codes of the Knights very seriously. And Allana was sure she was bound to be disappoint, when she told her truth about her identity.

No use delaying the inevitable, she decided raising her head and knocking on the door. She would just have to learn to live with her disapproval. But, although she anxiously waited for an answer it never came. She knocked again and waited once more, and then sighed in relief as she concluded she probably wasn’t home. She didn’t know exactly what led her to try and turn the door handle. She only knew that suddenly she remembered that Elipson had been hurt during her duel with Denar, and that her injury had kept bleeding the entire time.

When the door creaked open she peered inside, hesitating between going in and invading her privacy, and closing the door and walking away.

“Elipson …?” she called in a whisper, taking a step inside, trying to adapt her eyes to the darkness that surrounded her, and crossed the small compartment, bringing to memory the layout of her scarce furniture from the last time she'd been there. She searched for the window, opening the heavy curtains that kept the daylight at bay, and looked around.

Her gaze immediately fell on her black clothes, scattered all over the floor, and there it was, her torn, bloody shirt.

A frail murmur made her stop and remain still for an instant, before silently walking around the wall that divided her small dwelling in two.

Because it wasn’t the first time she’d been there, she knew that there was where the bed stood. Even so she couldn’t help feeling surprised when she saw that someone was laying there. Walking around the bed she tried to see who slept under the covers, since she could hardly believe Elipson wouldn’t wake up after she'd knock twice on her door. And that’s why, for a split second, she was surprised to see a silky mass of black curls spreading over the pillow.

“Elipson,” she called her, trying to wake her up, and ended up shaking her lightly, but Elipson gave her no answer. Besides she felt too warm to the touch, and so Allana dared place a hand on her forehead, almost jumping back as she pulled her hand away. She was burning up!

Immediately turning on her heals, Allana filled her washing basin with fresh water and carried it back to Elipson’s side. Immersing a clean towel in the cool water, she squeezed it and placed it over the woman’s forehead, trying to lower her fever. With a second thought she pulled back her covers to take a look at her injury. She'd probably bound it herself but the bandages she’d used were already soaked with blood, as were the sheets where she laid.

What to do …?, she wondered worriedly as she cooled the towel once again. She obviously needed to call someone, but if she raised the alarm everyone would start asking questions about how the invincible Elipson has been injured. And, her silence vow apart, the duel between Elipson and Denar was clearly against the rules. Even Elian had been angry with them. She couldn’t allow anyone else to know about it!

The sound of someone knocking on the door startled her and, without a thought, Allana opened it, praying to find Elian on the other side. However it wasn’t Elian knocking on the door, and the boy before her widened his eyes, looking back at her completely stunned.

“Darna …?!”

“Karl! Great timing! I’m so glad to see you!” she told him, pulling him inside, and he tripped on the floor almost falling.

“What are you doing here? Where’s Elipson? She should be training us since earlier but she never showed up …” he tried to explain but Allana cut him off, holding him by his arm in order to guarantee she had his full attention.

“Listen! I can’t really explain it to you! But I need you to go to the palace and get Elian as fast as you can!”

“El … El … His Highness?!!” he stammered, eyes widening in disbelieve, even more when she didn’t deny it. “Are you crazy?! I obviously can’t do that!”

“You can! And you will!” she countered, squeezing his arm to strengthen her own words. “Use my name if you must! Just bring him here as fast as you can!”

“You’re really serious, aren’t you?”

“As serious as I can be! Just go, already!” she added, pushing him back towards the door. “Run!” Karl stumbled outside the same way he had stumbled inside and looked back at her in search of a confirmation. “Go! Please! Trust me! It’s a matter of life and death!” she practically begged and only relaxed when she saw him running towards the kitchen. Allana closed the door and went back to Elipson’s side, changing her wet towel once more, trying to cool down her burning skin.

* If you want to know more about this book or simply access earlier updates, please visit the official site at http://carpersanti.net/arnae/