Parting of the Twins

Olena woke with a start. She’d been dreaming, but of what? The details slid from her memory, leaving only a sense of dread.

She sat up to survey the campsite, relieved to see no cause for alarm. The elf keeping watch—the wild one, Turtori—noticed Olena, but did not acknowledge her. Good, she thought. Dealing with him was the last thing she wanted.

She scratched her side absently. At least Turtori’s friends had healed her; the monster’s bite was no more than an itchy memory.

Dawn had yet to arrive. She tried to go back to sleep, but her head was soon swimming with worries. She reached over to wake her brother, and was surprised when Kyrian’s eyes snapped open at once. “Can’t sleep?” he asked.

“Not anymore.”

“Me neither.” He drew himself up on one elbow. “I was up for half the night. In fact, I haven’t slept well since this whole affair began. Come on; let’s take a walk.”

They wandered away from the camp, grass brushing dew on her bare feet. Once they were out of earshot, Olena said “You think we should split up,” and Kyrian’s jaw dropped.

“How did you know?” he finally asked.

“Because I know you, Kyrian. Why else would you be up for half the night? Why else would you drag me away from the camp?”

“I was afraid you’d take it badly.”

“That’s silly! You’re the one who thought we’d never leave the Valley; I always knew we would. And I always expected that something out here would pull us apart.”

For once, Kyrian was at a loss for words. Olena placed her hand over his heart. “There’s no need to be afraid, my brother,” she said. “You miss Mother, but you know you’ll see her again. You’ll see me again, too. By the Oak Father, I swear it.”

Kyrian swallowed as tears welled in his eyes. “You know it’s not the same as Mother. You and I are two halves of the same person.”

“I know. But if those halves want two different things, then they can be in two different places.”

She dabbed at his eyes, and he sniffed. “I’m sorry, my sister. I thought you’d be sad.”

“I am. Or, I will be. I can’t explain.” She looked over Kyrian’s shoulder to see the other campers beginning to awaken. “Anyway, we don’t have time to talk about it now.”

They went back to the camp and started to pack. Olena winced as she pulled her boots over her dainty feet; how did these people walk so much?

After much preparation, prayer, and discussion, the two groups formed and made ready to leave. As Olena went to join Demaris, she glanced back at her brother, and the reality of their imminent separation bloomed in her gut. Eyes brimming with tears, she hastily excused herself, and joined Kyrian away from the others.

“You were right,” she said hastily. “Now I’m sad.”

He embraced her. “Don’t be, my sister. You’re the one who’s right. We’ll be together again, and soon.”

“I’ll be fine. It’s you I’m worried about; Murann sounds dangerous.”

Kyrian broke their hug so she could see his smile. “Don’t worry. Sam will watch me. He promised Mother, remember?”

“And Ligeia’s watching you, too. Just be careful, all right?”

“I promise. But you have to keep an eye on Yorick.”

She nodded. “Daemonfey proof or not, I’m not ready to trust him yet.”

“I don’t think Oren is, either. Do you trust him?”

“The paladin? Can I trust a paladin?” Olena’s laughter trailed into an awkward silence. Kyrian turned to leave, but Olena stopped him. “See if Odran will tell you why he left the Valley so quickly.”

“I will.”

They embraced once more. “I love you, Kyrian. May Silvanus bless you.”

“And I love you, Olena. Until swords part.”

They both spread their wings and sped off in different directions.

Olena had regained her composure by the time she spotted her group. She landed ahead of them and waited; as they approached, Demaris called, “Everything all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine.” As the words left her mouth, Olena realized it was perfectly true. She was fine. She felt ready to face the world without Kyrian at her side, ready to battle the forces of evil, ready to look death in the eye and laugh.

She could not have known how wrong she was.