Below the Peak (Sola)(93)

“So, are you willing to do that?” his brow rose.

“Yes, I can do that” she agreed.

Calemir stood. “Then let me grab what we need.”

“We are starting tonight?” she asked, tilting her head to look at him.

“Yes, nights are probably the times I can teach you” his lips twisted.

Nara nodded and watched him leave. As she waited for him, she took the book back, run a finger of its column before flipping its old pages. It was written in elvish, so she didn’t understand, but she focused on the illustrated drawings. They depicted various scenes. Scenes with dragons flying and breathing fire on cities. Scenes of two elves facing a dragon. She turned few pages and fell in another scene. It was a war a scene, elves against dangerous giant creatures. The curiosity to know what the text below it said gnawed her mind. She had never heard of another war of elves against other beings. That old excitement and interest she had growing up returned with a spark. She would really like to know. Perhaps later, she told herself, not wanting to get to consumed by it that she would end grilling Calemir about it and not learn a thing.

Out of sight, out of mind, she thought. Standing, Nara returned the book to the shelf and sat back down. She was staring at flames of the lantern when he came back empty handed.

“I think writing in the dining room is much more comfortable” Calemir suggested.

“Alright” Nara followed him into the room. On the long table were several blank papers, an ink bottle and two quills.

Nara took a sit first, and he sat beside her.

“Probably let’s start with something simple. Name first and greetings” Calemir spoke. “Then later proceed to much more complicated things.”

“Like what is your name?” she voiced.

He nodded. “Yes, something like that with the answers below or it would be tedious going back and forth.”

He slid her a paper and a quill. “You should go first.”

“Alright.” She said.

And that’s how her writing lesson had started. It was easier said than done. It was tough to tell which word ended and another began when the letters were connected, some written above and others below. Within three days she wondered if she should stop. However, when she grumbled, Calemir offered her a hopeful smile. He had even said, he was also learning. They were both students and teachers to each other. He teased that if she stopped, she would be setting a bad example as a teacher. That had brought a smile on her face.

*****

“Do you miss being in combat?” Calemir asked, stopping her by her bedroom. It was night, and they had called it goodnight after their lessons. The sound of the heavy rain outside made her contemplative eyes look even more melancholy.

“Sometimes, it’s all I think of” she sincerely said. Her mouth curled ruefully, “I know a sane person would rather have a life of peace and quiet…but…I-I personally prefer being on the front line.”

Calemir made a noncommittal response, finding her honesty refreshing for a man who lied and kept secrets that one day was going to take their price for his deceit.

“You should come to the base one day” Calemir suggested. “You could train there. Just you know to make you feel your still part of it” he trailed off. It was the only succor he could offer.

“I’ll think about it” she replied after a beat.

“Sleep well” he wished in elvish. Nara glanced at him and entered her room.





Chapter Forty-five


“Where is everyone?” Nara asked Izza as they stopped at a stall selling, vegetables. The market that was frequently crawling with people was scarcely empty with even less opened stalls. Izza gave her clueless look before turning to the farmer. Nara studied the almost empty square, and at the merchant at the far closing his stall. It was too early too close shop in this afternoon. She suspected something was up. She turned her attention back to the other two. Izza had just won the merchant over to reduce a price of cabbage was smiling as she put it in the basket she was carrying.

“Let’s go,” Izza said, and sighed. “there are no good spices I want today.”

As they turned and headed back, the sound of cheers rang in the air. They echoed again as she took another step. She made a face at Izza. Abruptly stopping, Izza smacked her forehead lightly, and as if a bright light shining in her eyes, she said. “Tournament.”

“Where?” Nara asked.

“Military base” Izza replied. Looking at her she asked, “Want to go and see?”

Nara nodded.

That’s how they found themselves, walking another three minutes from the market toward the garrison. The cheers and boos grew louder when the station came to view. Nara noted the similarities of the place as it was back in Vessener. A wall surrounding the base with a wide entrance. Now she knew where everybody was she mused as the two of them entered. Women, men and children stood, making a full circle around the field in the middle that had been transformed into an arena. She and Izza weaved and squeezed themselves through the throng to get a better view. Mercifully it didn’t take her long to find a good spot. Six pairs of elves faced against each other. Both men and women were dressed in simple clothes, tunic and leather trousers paired with boots. They carried no weapons. It seemed to be a hand to hand match. Looking carefully at the elves in front of the crowd, she saw Leena and Finn. They both wore grim expression as their fellow competitors.