Another Farewell

A great sigh escaped Aria. In response, Alexa laughed softly.

“I’ll try,” Aria conceded, “but Wells, try not to make a complete fool of yourself.” A final chuckle bubbled from her as she launched from his shoulder, her peals of laughter trailing behind her as she soared toward a distant tree.

A genuine apology began to form on Wells’s lips, but Alexa cut him off with another light laugh. “It’s all right,” she assured him. “She’s only trying to protect you from me.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

A mischievous glint sparked in Alexa’s eyes. “It’s a girl thing,” she stated simply. She patted the grassy earth next to her and settled down, an invitation Wells accepted. “Enough about her, though,” Alexa continued, her focus shifting entirely to him. “Tell me about your wizard training! Can you show me some magic? How have you been since I last saw you?”

Wells gave her a concise summary of his recent adventures. When he recounted the story of his abduction, a sharp gasp escaped Alexa.

She placed a gentle hand on his arm. “Wells, that must have been terrifying,” she murmured.

He waved it off, trying to minimize the ordeal. “Eh, it wasn’t so bad. I was unconscious for most of it, and Anais and Ariana rescued me.” He paused. “But that’s not all that happened.”

He proceeded to share the remainder of the tale, conveniently omitting the mortifying detail about the fire. “...and now,” he concluded, “I’m getting reasonably skilled with water magic.”

“I’ll want to see some of that later,” Alexa said, her attention fully captured. “I’ve never been friends with a wizard before.”

“Well, that’s enough about me,” Wells remarked, turning the focus back to her. “How was everyone when you left? And how are you?”

“Everyone was fine when I left, about three days ago,” she began. “We ended up staying longer because Galano and Erebos had more business in the city than they’d expected.” Her gaze drifted toward the centaurs, who were still conversing with Cirus, and she hesitated for a moment. “Vance left not long after you did,” she added. “They fitted him with a suit of armor, and he rode off with Sir Alaric, a knight from Neron.”

“Where were they headed?” Wells asked. “I hope it wasn’t anywhere dangerous.”

“Sir Alaric planned to ride for Corala to begin establishing a Neronite base there,” she explained. “Vance was getting swordsmanship lessons for about five days after you were gone. He was getting really good. I ran into him a couple of times while I was practicing with my bow.”

“How’s Aidan?” Wells inquired. “Is he still making a general nuisance of himself around the castle?”

Alexa laughed. “No, surprisingly,” she answered. “King Haelen was taking him to a lot of private meetings. Apparently, everyone who meets him finds him hilarious.”

“Aidan?” Wells sounded incredulous. “Are you certain we’re talking about the same person?”

“I know, right?” Alexa exclaimed. “It’s bizarre. It doesn’t seem to be going to his head, though.”

“And what about Juliana and Nikolai?” Wells asked, his excitement renewed.

A distressed expression clouded Alexa’s face. “I—I honestly don’t know,” she confessed. “They’d vanish during the day and only reappear at night. And they refused to tell anyone what they were doing.”

“That’s odd,” Wells commented, his spirits sinking. “You don’t suppose they’re in some kind of trouble, do you?”

“What trouble could they possibly get into?” Alexa countered.

“Good point,” Wells conceded.

An uncomfortable silence stretched between them for several minutes, punctuated only by the occasional snicker from Aria’s perch in the tree. Wells finally spoke again. “So, what have you been up to?” The moment the question left his lips, he flushed, realizing how foolish it was given what she had already told him.

Alexa looked down, twisting a blade of grass between her fingers. “I’ve been fine,” she said softly. “Galano has been teaching me archery and Vaenyari, and I’m supposed to meet King Holst when we get to Valencia. I haven’t been doing much, really.”

The conversation stalled once more. Wells cast an anxious glance over his shoulder. It had been weeks since he’d seen Alexa; surely there was something more to discuss. He had been so consumed with his own journey that his friends hadn’t been at the forefront of his mind. Now, presented with the chance to talk to one of them, he was failing completely.

As if sensing his distress, Cirus approached them. “Hello, Alexa,” he said with a brief smile.

“Hi, Cirus!” Alexa replied. As they both rose to their feet, she flashed a grin at Wells. “Wells has been telling me all about what you two have been doing.”

“Indeed, and Galano has filled me in as well,” Cirus noted. “Why don’t you two join the others now? You’ll be camping with us for the night, Alexa.”

She sighed in relief. “Good. I was growing weary of riding all day.”

They trailed Cirus back toward the main group. The humans were gathered near the river, while the centaurs kept their distance. Cirus sighed and shook his head. “I’m always encouraging them to mingle, but they resist,” he said. “And Erebos certainly doesn’t help matters.”

Swooping down from her tree, Aria flew directly to Wells. She materialized abruptly, landing on his shoulder with a triumphant squawk that made Alexa cry out in surprise.

“Aria,” Wells muttered, “since when are you so malicious?”

“You’re one to talk,” Aria retorted in a low voice meant only for him. “You’ve gone completely lovesick on me.”

“What?” Wells’s voice was louder than he intended.

“You have,” Aria insisted, “and you know it.”

“I have not,” he shot back instantly.

He made a point of not speaking to her for the rest of the evening. Instead, he sat with Alexa, and the two chatted cheerfully, speculating about what might be happening back in Harrow Haven. Aria, meanwhile, settled beside Galano, whom she took an immediate liking to, and cast periodic, chuckling glances in Wells’s direction.

The next day, their paths diverged. The centaurs were headed north toward Valencia, while Wells’s party had to continue eastward along the river. Before they parted, Alexa pulled Wells aside.

“Be careful,” she said, giving him a tight hug. “And have fun with Aria.”

Wells chuckled. “You be careful, too.”

She released him, her expression turning serious. “It’s so strange, you know, thinking of you as a wizard,” she confessed. “To me, you’ll always just be Wells.”

A genuine grin spread across his face. “That’s good to hear,” he replied. “I wish more of these people saw me that way.” He glanced over at Cirus. “Cirus sees me as his student. Elrin and his men just saw someone to protect. I think only Aria sees me as just me sometimes.”

“Well, to your friends, you’re Wells,” Alexa stated firmly. “And that’s what matters.”

“Thanks,” he murmured, pulling her into another embrace. “I’ll see you in Remira, when we’re ready to leave. Have fun with the centaurs.”

“I will,” Alexa promised. “Goodbye, Wells.”

They continued down the river that day, with Cirus pushing Wells through an unending series of spells. By noon, Wells was ready to abandon magic altogether if it meant an end to the relentless training. He complained about it to Anais.

“My master was much like Lord Cirus at times,” Anais remarked thoughtfully. “But there is pressure on him to complete your training as quickly as possible so he can join the war.”

“Why not fight in the war first and train me later?” Wells asked.

“I believe he intends for you to be safely away from here while the war is fought,” Anais replied. “Why else do you think he is taking you all the way to the Burning Plains?”

“I hadn’t considered that,” Wells admitted.

Anais stood, his tall frame perfectly steady in the rocking boat. “Do not judge your master too harshly, Wells,” he advised. “He is doing what he believes is right, and Lord Cirus’s judgment is seldom wrong.”

The day dragged on, even as the river’s current quickened and their pace increased. That evening, after they had moored the boats and finished their meal, Elrin called Wells over. “It is time we began your sword training,” he announced. Wells shivered inwardly; at least this would be more exciting than conjuring storm clouds for the fourth time in a row.

Elrin led him to a small clearing, a five-minute walk from their camp. Aria materialized on Wells’s shoulder as they went.

“You’re going to make a fool of yourself,” she chirped as they entered the clearing.

“Shut up,” Wells replied bitterly.

Launching from his shoulder, Aria settled on a branch five feet above his head. “This is going to be entertaining,” she chirped.

“Ignore her, Wells,” Elrin said. “Now, stand opposite me and draw your sword.”

Wells obeyed, feeling a bit foolish. The sword, Magos, felt heavy and awkward in his hand. Elrin gave a curt nod and a thin smile.

“The first lesson is how to guard,” Elrin stated. “For a Knight of the Grove, that was always the most important principle of sword fighting.”

He went on to demonstrate the proper guarding technique, showing Wells three basic stances and having him mirror them.

“Raise your arm, just as I showed you,” Elrin instructed. He bent down and picked up a thick stick. “I will attack you with this. It’s sturdy enough to test your block, but it won’t do too much damage if you fail to guard in time.”

Wells nodded. “All right. I’m ready.”

Elrin raised the stick and charged. Wells clumsily brought his sword up into the defensive posture, his arm trembling from the blade’s weight. A sharp crack echoed as stick met steel, but Elrin’s strength was overwhelming. Wells fought to hold his ground, but it was no use. His grip shattered, the sword clattered to the ground, and Elrin’s stick connected with the side of his head. Stars burst across his vision.

Dazed, Wells staggered and fell. From her branch, Aria let out a cackle. Shaking his head to clear it, Wells accepted the hand Elrin offered to help him up and retrieved Magos. “That didn’t go very well,” he finally managed to say.

“No,” Elrin agreed. “Frankly, I didn’t expect it to on the first try. Let’s go again.”

Once more, Wells raised his sword, and once more, Elrin attacked. He was still unable to repel the blow. Frustrated, he cursed and insisted they try a third time. As Elrin charged, Wells’s arm buckled, no longer able to support the heavy blade. Instinctively, he threw his hands up to shield his face. Before the stick could reach him, the Ring of Resolve flared brightly, and Elrin’s weapon burst into flames.

Elrin cried out and dropped the burning stick. Wells lowered his hands, and upon seeing what he had done, he snapped his eyes shut and drew on the damp evening air, conjuring just enough water to douse the flames. He looked up to find Elrin staring at him, his expression one of profound irritation.

“I believe,” Elrin said through a strained voice, “that is enough training for one day.”

They walked back to the camp in silence. Aria dropped down from her tree to land on Wells’s shoulder. To his immense relief, she said nothing. Not a single word was exchanged as they made their way back through the trees.