“A more permanent settlement, actually.”
“You have found it here?”
“We are undecided. Days ago we were attacked.” Pain washed over his face. “A horrid creature took several of our men.”
I nodded. “An imp.”
“I’d never believed it to be true if I hadn’t seen it myself.” He was lost in thought as he continued, “We may move again, the risk seems too great.”
Suddenly, I didn’t want them to relocate. I wanted them to stay right there, where I could watch them. I tried to make him feel safe. “You know, I could protect you.”
He was incredulous. I decided to show him.
I stepped forward, noting his unease at my movement, and faced the boar that lie on the ground behind him. He turned to see what I was focusing on. I was afraid to scare him too much so I decided on a small gesture, yet significant enough to convince him. I held my hand out in front of me, emphasizing the action as I twisted my wrist in the air, the boar’s head spinning, the sound of its neck cracking in tandem with my movement.
He gasped and stepped a single step back from me. I was afraid for a moment I’d shown him too much. He looked at my face, searching, and finally let out a breathless, “Magic.”
His face was filled with wonder. I had seen many impressed with my talents but never with such an effortless show. I laughed to myself at the thought of his reaction to those shows. It was refreshing to have someone so genuinely awed. He didn’t ask to see what else I could do; he wasn’t sizing me up for battle. I smiled at him and he seemed to think that alone a reward.
He was still speechless.
“Well, shall you stay, then?”
“Forever,” he gushed. It was an curious response but I had begun to think he wasn’t that different, aside from the obvious lack of magic, skill, and grace. Moreover, where many of the others lacked beauty, he did not. Unconventional, yes, but nonetheless... interesting.
I led him to a set of stones to sit, wanting to get answers to all the questions that had been burning in my mind since I had spotted them. He had forgotten his prey, so I offered to help him with it. This befuddled him so I simply skinned and spitted the animal while he sat, staring in amazement. It was like he’d never seen fire before. It made the magic fun again. Like when we were kids, before Father’s ridiculous schedule. I shook off the memory of practice and focused on the human.
“So, how old are you?”
“Twenty-two,” he said, almost shamefully.
At first, I was shocked at the number; I thought maybe I’d misunderstood. But I remembered reading something about the human lifespan, which was very brief. I’d have guessed ten times that number if he were an elf.
“Why the hint of embarrassment at the number?”
“They tell me I should have a family by now.”
“You have none?”
“A mother and father but none of my own. No wife, no children.”
“You are expected to have a wife and child after just two decades of life?”
He laughed for some reason I could not see. “Then you have no family of your own?”
“I am not expected to pair for quite some time, if ever. And children? Ha!” He was visibly perplexed so I kept talking, “I have a family as well, though my mother died recently.”
Sadness washed his features. “I’m sorry. Was it an imp?”
“No.” I laughed at the strange idea. And for no apparent reason, I told him the truth. “She died of sorrow.”
His brow furrowed.
We shared the boar and talked further, casually as if we had been old friends. He resituated himself on the rock, coming closer to me, and his shirt moved to expose a different color skin where it opened at the chest. I reached out to pull it aside and his eyes grew wild at the touch.
“Your skin is a different shade here.”
He smiled, as if I were being coy. “Yes.”
“Why?”
“Sometimes I work with my shirt on, to avoid the burn of the sun.”
“The sun?”
He laughed but then realized I wasn’t joking. “It is a tan… from the sun.” He pulled the laces and lifted his shirt over his head, throwing it aside to show me his bare chest. The bronzed color of his face extended there, but was a lighter shade. I examined him closer, taking his hand and turning his arm. The inside of his wrist was lighter still, close to the shade of my own skin.
I was still studying him when he spoke, softly. “May I kiss you?”
His breath hit my face; I hadn’t realized how close I had gotten. It surprised me, as did his request. I had a perverted desire to let him, I smiled thinking of it. He took that as an invitation, leaning closer, his hand raised to touch my face. His thumb caressed my ear as he reached around into my hair, pulling me to him. He started gently, teasing, and then crushed our lips together, his strong hand holding me there, his breathing deep.
At some point, I became aware of what I was doing and drew back. “I have to go now.” He looked devastated. “Goodbye, young Noble.”
“Can I see you again?”