The next morning she awoke, she felt nothing. The hollowness still dwelled within her. She walked with graceful strides in her limbs but carried herself with a stiff back and sunken head. Solemnly, she wandered to Meslinda’s home; there she bid her deepest regrets and condolences to her friend’s grieving parents. It wasn’t but a streak of light past dawn and Aila didn’t have to say goodbye to Sglavi forever until noon. She battled her own mind on whether or not to go by and pay the crazy old gypsy a visit to see if she actually knew what she was talking about. Dismissing the purpose she went to seek her aunt, taking the long way around to avoid the gypsy, for now.
After wondering around for awhile she still had seen no sign of Tatiana. She wandered to the blacksmith shop to visit with Deleon and give him the news. She walked through the door into the smoky atmosphere. The master blacksmith towered over the counter with his broad shoulders and thick soot colored complexion. Aila thought to herself, how can a man this massive been possible? She walked up to the counter and asked to see Deleon.
“I’m sorry young lady, this is a place of business not courting. Besides, my young apprentice did not come in today” he replied gruffly. He stroked his beard and turned away.
He didn’t come in, but he always comes in; Aila thought puzzled. She turned then left the blacksmith shop and made her way to Deleon’s home. It had been many years since Aila had been to Deleon’s home but she still had a general idea of where it was. As she approached it she saw the village healer walking from the entrance of her destination. She paused a step and her heart skipped a beat fearing the worst. She dreaded what she might find but she marched forward to the shaky wooden door and knocked against it’s planks.
She heard a gruff voice grunt from inside, “ err come in”. She opened the door and walked in. She saw a tall lanky beard faced man poking at the fire. She recognized him as Deleon’s father, Rhokr. Rhokr had always been kind and gentle. Deleon took after him in many ways including facial features and select personality traits. However Deleon’s mother died a few years after Deleon was born. She was a fiery young woman from down south near the sea. Her and Rhokr were hopelessly in love till her last dying breath. Deleon had her fiery devil may care passion.
Aila greeted Rhokr and made pleasant, starting conversation with him. He was kindly in his words despite his scratchy, gruff voice. Aila decided to not put her business of being there off any longer.
“Sir, Where is Deleon? The blacksmith said that he hadn’t come into the shop today” she said and waited searching for a reply in the old mans eyes.
“Ah, I see; as his friend you have the right to know” he sighed a low sigh and continued, “ last night he went into the shop after closing in the dead of night to work on some things to get the shop caught up. He was attacked while working at the hot coals”
Aila’s hands flew to her mouth as she gasped. She managed to breath out, “ is he ok sir?”
“young lady, he was attack from behind and the attackers got away. He’s alive if that’s what you’re askin’. His attackers dumped an inferno of burning coals over onto him on their way out. His apron got burned to his flesh, well parts of it anyways. Other than that it’s a few bruises. I had to beg him to stay at home today to get well.”
Aila sighed relieved that he wasn’t dead. Most people hadn’t survived attacks when they were all on their own. Aila thought to herself, that boy, just keeps on goin’ and isn’t anything gonna slow him down but death. Aila was led to a back room, Deleon’s bedroom, so she could visit him.
She walked into the room and the air was putrid with the smell of burnt leather and cooked flesh. There Deleon lay. He was poorly bandaged and was covered in soot. Red inflamed areas covered his muscular chest and arms. A few that were on his neck had thick puss filled sacks to mask them. His left eye had been blackened and the right one swollen. At the sight of Aila he let out a crooked smile from his busted lips and revealed a chipped tooth.
He scoffed, “well you’re a sight for sore eyes” he hoarsely laughed punning about his dinged up eyes.
“Deleon….” she breathed out. She couldn’t think of anything else to say. She was equally relieved that he was alive as she was shocked at his appearance.
Deleon let a out a hollow cough. His face seemed to cringe a little as he did so. Aila looked down at his tortured body with worry. She had never seen her dear and strongest friend look so weak. Her mind was at a loss for words. All she could do was stand there with one arm dangling at her side and the other crossed across her torso clutching the dangling arm and look at him.
“What? Do I - do I really look that horrible?” he wheezed looking at her then slowly scanning himself without moving his head.
“Oh Deleon, who could have done this to you?” She blurted it out choking back tears.
“Damn cowards that’s who. Ha, the scoundrels couldn’t even -even,” he paused and took some deep breaths then continued, “couldn’t even stay and put up a fair fight”
Although the skin around his eyes was broken and conquered by pain his eyes still shown fiery. He gazed back and forth between her eyes searching for something. Yet, he only found raw sadness and sympathy.
“If you’re gonna look like your best horse had to be put down then you might as well leave” he signed looking down and closing his eyes said, “the last thing I want or need is sympathy.”
“Did you see who did this to you?” she questioned as her voice had suddenly been embodied with sweet revenge.
“No Aila, no I didn’t. Why must we talk about this, I’m sure there are other for us to talk about” he offered to change the subject. He showed clear signs that he had enough talking about the assault night.
“Deleon, I will not let some one get away with this!” Aila’s fists knotted and her foot stamped the ground in fury.
“Let it go” he said looking away from her making it obvious that the subject would be changed or their conversation would cease. Aila wouldn’t budge the conversation so Deleon shoved it to the next subject.
“So how did the ball go? I see you’re still get angry as a hornet that’s been shook up in a jar and not set free, you mustn’t have been picked then” he said looking at her. Her eyes went soft and saddened.
“Actually it’s just the opposite, I beat the hell out of this barbarian who I would have rather died than be married to and then I went back to the tavern to find Aunt Tatiana sitting with two gentlemen” she paused to sigh, looking away she finished, “ it just so happened that they were there discussing me. I am to leave for Siycle at noon today to, to - well you get the rest.”
She looked ashamed of herself when she finished the statement. Her eyes slid over to see Deleon’s reaction. There in his face she found only a puzzled expression but in his eyes he looked like he had be kicked in the face by a mule.
Deleon sat shocked for a few minutes. His lips tried to for form words but only breathe escaped. Finally he sighed, he felt terrible. The only woman alive who still cared for him was exiting his life. He had no choice, get married or become a lonely blacksmith.
“Congratulations Aila, guess I was wrong. Some guy saw past your forward nature. I- I’m really happy for you” He slid a smile across his lips for her sake.
Aila stood before him looking sick to her stomach. She was there physically but in her eyes and stance he could tell her mind wasn’t there but ticking away in a distant reality. She stood letting her mind tick for a few moments and then reclaimed their grip on reality.
“Oh, yes; lucky me” She murmured sadly.
Deleon no longer felt the pains of his flesh wounds but rather the agony of loss. His strong eyes looked graven and feeble as he stared at Aila in disbelief. His best friend was to leave him. Aila held back tears that desperately tried to flow.
“Deleon, I promise this to you. I will come back to you dear friend, once I have sought and found revenge on your attackers and I have revolted my fianc&#;
“You can’t do that Aila, this isn’t your fight nor is it a wise decision for you to do this. Your life is now down another path don’t turn back for me” Deleon pleaded for fear that Aila would ruin the good thing of her finally getting married.
“Deleon I’ve promised, this I have pledged. You can not change my mind I will leave you now. Feel better dear friend” She bent down and left a friendly kiss on his forehead and left the hut despite Deleon’s calls of protest. Now I must find Tatiana, she thought as she headed back to the tavern to gather her things and set out.
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