The final days of sparring with Aurelia passed quietly and swiftly. Aurelia asked for no stories and Harruq told her none. They simply enjoyed each other’s company, fought to the extent of their skill, and then parted. On the fourteenth and final day, however, Harruq was in an unusually quiet mood. His mind refused to stay on the mock combat, and many times a quick jab of Aurelia’s staff cracked his arm or wrist when he should have easily deflected it away.
Finally, the elf called it a day. She set aside her staff.
“I thank you for sparring with me,” she told him.
“It’s nothing,” he said. “Better to spar with someone than practice alone.”
Aurelia smiled. “You’re different than what I expected, Harruq. Smarter, too.”
Harruq blushed. “No need for lies,” he said.
The elf laughed a little but said nothing. Instead, she walked over and gave Harruq a quick peck on the cheek.
“Keep your big butt safe, okay?” she said.
The half-orc tried to answer but his mouth refused to cooperate. Somehow, it seemed to have become unhinged. Besides, it wasn’t as if he could think of anything to say. All his mind could concentrate on was the feel of the elf’s soft lips on his cheek, the flowery scent of her perfume mixed with sweat, and the quick brush of her breasts against his arm.
By the time his jaw and mind began working again, Aurelia was laughing.
“What’s so funny?” he demanded. The elf smiled.
“Nothing. Just a big stupid half-orc I’m going to miss. Bye-bye.”
She waved and then vanished into the forest. For a long time, Harruq remained. He ran a hand through his hair and pondered what in the abyss was wrong with him.
“Never get involved with elves,” he mumbled. “Never ever should have gotten myself screwed up like this.”
But a part of him liked it, and that scared him even more.
Harruq arrived at the clearing the next morning at the same time as always. Aurelia stepped out from behind a tree, her cold, emotionless face so different from the previous day.
“We have sparred our two weeks, Harruq,” she said. “You have no need to come here.”
“Yeah, well, you heard what I said yesterday,” Harruq said, his face red.
“What was that?”
He kicked a rock. “It’s better to spar with another, remember?”
Aurelia frowned. “You know I am a sorceress. My time should be spent studying my craft. I only wanted to be proficient with my staff, not a master.”
A tiny bit of panic crept into Harruq’s voice. “Yeah, but, but, it’s only an hour or two, and who said you were proficient anyway? I could beat you without trying, and so could anyone better than me. It would be stupid now to just stop and…”
Aurelia crossed the distance between them and placed her hand across his mouth to shut him up. A grin lit her entire face.
“Okay, Harruq. I will do as you wish and keep meeting with you.”
“For sparring,” he said after she pulled her hand away.
“Sure. That too.”
Harruq blushed but let it go.
“Well, you ready to go, little elfie?” he said, trying act gruff.
“Of course.” Aurelia retrieved her staff, smiling to herself. The offer flattered her more than Harruq could know.
“Well,” Aurelia said, twirling her staff. “Ready for a go?”
“Oh yeah,” Harruq said, drawing his swords. “You’ve got no idea.”
But she did, and it made her laugh all the more.
7
“It is time I met your brother,” Velixar said as the clouds rolled above, obscuring the waning moon. He had trained with Qurrah for almost two months, and over that time the half-orc had grown greatly in power. “King Vaelor’s nightmares have never been stronger, and he will act upon them soon.”
“I am not sure Harruq is ready,” Qurrah said. “It is difficult enough bringing me here. The two of us sneaking out each night might be noticed.”
“You will draw no attention,” Velixar said, ending the debate. “Bring him. Let him swear his life to me.”
“As you wish, my master,” Qurrah said with a bow.
“Hey Aurry, I got something for you!”
Harruq tramped into the clearing, his two swords sheathed. Aurelia waited there, her arms crossed.
“A present from a half-orc,” she said. “Should I be worried?”
“Nope. Just take it.” He held out a small brown box. It was in poor shape, picked out of a heap of trash, but the elf could see the great care spent attempting to clean and fix it.
“What is inside?” she asked as she took the box.
“Open it,” Harruq said. “You’ll see.”
Aurelia pried off the lid and peered inside. A small bouquet of flowers lay on the bottom of the box. She lifted them up, smiling at the violets, blues, and reds.
“That’s sweet Harruq, but why?”
“Just to, you know.” He kicked a rock. “Wanted to thank you for sparring with me,” he said.
“They’re beautiful,” Aurelia said as she inhaled the aroma. “But why the box?”
Harruq turned a new shade of red. “Well, I’d look weird walking down the street with those flowers in hand. I do have a reputation to keep.”
The elf laughed. “Thank you, Harruq. Are you ready to begin?”
He nodded, eager to have the awkwardness pass. Aurelia twirled the staff in her hands as her smile faded into seriousness. Harruq drew his swords, and then they sparred.
“You’re out later than normal,” Qurrah said when Harruq returned to their home.
“I get restless stuck in here,” he said. He dropped his weapons in the corner, shed much of his leather armor, and then released a loud groan as he settled down.
“Harruq, I must ask a favor of you,” Qurrah said. He sat next to his brother.
“Sure thing,” Harruq said. “What you need?”
Qurrah fiddled with the bones in his pouch. “There is someone I need you to meet.”
Harruq raised an eyebrow. “The person you’ve been sneaking off to each night?” he asked.
“You know?” Qurrah asked.
“Course,” he said, shrugging. “You’re sneaky, brother, but I’m not as deep a sleeper as you think I am. So who is this person?”
Qurrah bit his lower lip. “His name is…he will tell you his name. He is powerful, Harruq. Very powerful. I’ve taken him as my teacher, and I want him to become yours as well.”
Harruq raised his arms and flexed, watching his calloused hands open and close. “What can a teacher of magic offer me?” he asked.
Qurrah chuckled.
“You’d be surprised,” he replied. “But will you accompany me tonight?”
“Fine, fine, I will,” he said.
“You will impress him, Harruq, do not worry about that.”
Qurrah left his brother to rest.