Page 65 of Dark Elf's Good Girl
It whinnies and spins around, breaking off into a trot back in the direction of home. Sighing, I return to the carriage and climb onto the driver’s seat, taking the reins in my hands.
“What now?” asks Isla.
“Now… We start our new life together. Let’s ride!”
27
ISLA
Aiken rears back the reins and whips them with full force, kicking the carriage into the motion as the two equus spur into a trot. I glance behind me, watching as the other equus disappears over a hill with an unconscious Calix slung over his back. I will never see him again.
Good riddance.
I realize that again I am leaving yet another way of life behind. This time, I’m heading into an uncertain future but this time I have Aiken by my side so I’m not worried. I sigh with contentment as I look up at him. He turns, smiling at me as he raises an eyebrow.
“Yes?”
“I just can’t believe that you came for me,” I whisper, leaning my head on his shoulder.
“There’s no world in which I would ever leave you to die,” he says. “You’re safe with me.”
“I know Aiken, I have no doubt about that. Even if we have to tread through scathing fire, I know you’ll protect me.”
“I’m glad you think so,” he chuckles. “Hopefully our journey isn’t long. I know these lands well. Relax now for a while, I’ll handle the road.”
I recline my head back as we venture deeper into the Darkwood Forest, watching as trees pass by overhead. They stretch tall, varying in both height and shades of brown. Some look as though they’re taller than the sky itself.
The rays of the late afternoon sun poke in through the countless branches, etching spotlights on the road like those found in a theater. The earthy smell of the woods becomes more pungent and heavy as the trail goes on.
Creatures of the wildlife call out and sing in the distance though I see none, save for one rodan who scurries underneath the roots of a tree as we pass by. The trail is smooth as silk at parts, and bumpy at others, causing me to hold onto the carriage frame so I don’t fall off. We splash onto occasional puddles of mud, sending a flurry of brown water into the air when we do.
Out here, nature is seemingly untouched and undisturbed by man and elves. We pass by small gatherings of beautiful flowers every so often, as well as contrasting sights of skeletons and carcasses of animals. Bite marks are huge and terrifying but Aiken’s presence reassures me that everything is okay.
I glance behind me after a while, seeing the entrance that we wook is no longer visible. All around us is an endless stretch of forest, trees peppering the way in every direction. After a couple of hours, the sky above fades into the heavy amber of an early evening.
“How are you doing?” asks Aiken.
“I’m fine as I can be,” I chuckle. “Especially for someone whose life is getting turned upside down again.”
Aiken narrows his gaze, seemingly unsure of what to say.
“I’m not upset or anything, don’t worry,” I say reassuringly. “I just can’t believe it is
all.”
“We have each other now, unobstructed by others too. Everything is working out just how it should be.”
The equus slow down to a steady pace as we come to the start of an incline. Aiken takes both reins in one hand and rests the other around me. In his arms, I begin to feel the effects of the day, lulling into a gentle sleep as my world fades to black.
A few hours have passed by the time I wake up. I lay horizontally across the seats with a blanket thrown over me. The sky above is pitch black, with stars sprinkled upon it. Hanging overhead is the massive silver coin of the full moon, shining brighter than I’ve ever seen it before.
Below me, I hear the sound of footsteps followed by the impact of wood on wood. Yawning, I stretch my arms as I peer below. I spot Aiken stooped at the ground over a pile of firewood. He rubs his hands together as a red glow emanates from them.
The glow reaches out to the firewood, sparking a bright flame that shoots up high before reducing to a moderately sized blaze. Aiken cranes his neck, peering up at me as a smile stretches across his face.
“Good evening gorgeous,” he greets. “Are you hungry?”
The embarrassing groan of my stomach answers his question, causing him to laugh.