Part 8 - Last Sweep

“I’m truly sorry but I won’t leave and that’s final! I’m only leaving here with the Princess!”

Denar took a deep breath trying hard to keep what was left of his patient intact and Heric ordered to group to leave.

“Hey! Why did you do that?”

“It’s no use losing time over foolish arguments. Dana will leave when we do, and that’s that. Let’s just get over with this and sweep the city to see if no one’s left behind. I’ll go north, you go south.”

Denar was about to protest against his all mighty posture when Elipson walked right past him.

“I’ll go with you,” she told Heric, who immediately started laughing out loud.

“You can’t be serious!” he protested but Elipson ignored him walking towards the city. “Are you listening to me? I’m not taking no damn woman with me!”

Denar was about to do something rash and probably send him flying to the ground when Elian held his arm, stopping him on his tracks.

“I don’t really need you to take me anywhere, now do I?” Elispon asked without even looking back. “And are you coming or what?”

Heric cursed and protested, looking for someone who’d support him like always, but none of the presents favored him and he ended up following her, still shouting his displease in a high pitched voice.

Elian turned to Allana, whose hand he still held, and smiled.

“Will you stay here? I’ll go with Denar. We’ll be back in no time.”

Allana seemed somewhat displeased with his suggestion, but Selina ran up to her, wrapping her arm around hers, and pulled her away from him.

“Of course she’ll stay! I’ll stay with her!” she decided, happily, and Denar spun around to look at the girl with an expression of utter disbelief on his face.

“You!! Shouldn’t you have left with the other group??”

“Ah! As if I’d follow such a stupid order! Please, give me a break!”

“You impertinent little girl!!” he roared, walking menacing towards her, but Elian held him by an arm and pulled him towards the opposite way.

“Yes, yes, let’s go …”

“But Elian! She’s definitely asking for a spanking!”

“Later. Now we have other things to do.”

Allana sighed when they finally left and Selina smiled at her side.

“His rather interesting, that Denar. Especially when he’s angry, don’t you think?” Allana gave her a look of disapproval and the other girl shrugged. “You’re no fun, as usual. But come. We still have things to gather,” she added, pulling her towards the stairs, and Allana followed her, tripping on her tired feet as she tried to accompany Selina’s hurried strides.

“Things? What things?”

“Well, your ring, and your crown, for starters. And the sword you’re father gave you.”

The sword, Allana thought with a stab in her heart. The sword he had had made especially for her … and that she had never had the courage to use. And yes. From all the things Selina kept listing, the sword was the only thing she really wanted to take with her when she left Everlyn forever.