Ava

11 - The Northern Borders

Black somehow slowed his steps, moving lightly over the stones as they neared the camps where humans who wanted to cross the border temporarily stayed. Though taverns are available at the small town where these people can comfortable stay, they choose to camp due to lack of finances and couldn’t afford them. He looked around and realized that Casix idea to blend in the crowd wasn’t too bad after all. They just have to be very careful not be discovered. Alvis then went ahead to try and check a good space for them to settle in.

Hearing a feminine laughter from behind, Black halted and glanced back.

“If you say that one more time, then I might start to believe you.” The woman said before laughing softly, her voice drifting meekly as it reached his ears.

Why does she always need to laugh like an i***t whenever she talks to that centaur? He thought and pouted. Why do I even care?

“I am just telling you the truth, my lady.” Casix replied. “You’re a real beauty. 

Black’s frown grew deeper, resisting the urge to roll his eyes and go break the centaur’s neck. 

Such flowery words. Tsk. He scoffed inwardly. 

“Will the two of you hurry up?” He blurted out which caught the attention of the two. 

“We are. You don’t need to repeat it.” Casix answered and met his intense gaze. 

“If you truly are, then I wouldn’t have had to repeat it.” Black responded.

Tension spread between the two like a wild fire until Ava’s hand touched the centaur’s arm. “It’s fine, Casix.”

That made Black scoffed before turning around and moving stealthily onwards just in time to see Alvis running towards them. 

“Found a corner for us. Let’s go.” Alvis said and they all followed his quietly. 

*** 

Night time in the camps came alive with bonfires and lamplights on each of the tents. Several groups were out doing their own business. According to the humans they talked to have said, it will take one person a week of stay in those camps before that person can even cross the border. They said it was because the security had tightened recently. As the night progresses, each one has completely locked themselves up inside their tents, keeping quiet as they can. Masked soldiers suddenly came, patrolling around the camps. In exchange of the unique cloth of Black’s cloak, a human offered his tent for the four of them to stay in. Thus, all of them are now cramped inside the small space including that old man who took the cloak. They agreed then to partner up and watch over alternately. Since Black and Casix were goof fighters, they have to stay on separate groups. Even before the centaur can say anything, Black pulled her over to him and pushed Alvis towards him. Sighing, Casix just nodded, not wanting to deepen the tension between them. 

The old man beside Ava was now sleeping so soundly. Peeping discreetly, Ava took the chance to check the number of soldiers who are patrolling at night. They were the first to watchover. During the day, these soldiers mainly stays at the border stations but a triple number of them would patrol the camps very closely at night. 

Will it be the same case with the Peace Keepers who are at the border stations right now? She thought. 

This was very opposite comparing to the borders of the eastern region. And unlike this border, there were no camps set up outside those borders.

What is in the north? She asked herself. She’s been there before she even met Eli. It was where she got her special dagger, the dagger that can kill Peace Keepers. A lot of things happened then and one day, she was just saved by Eli.

Eli. 

Closing her eyes, flashes of memories instantly flooded her mind. 

“You have to move now. Go and save yourself!” Eli exclaimed as soon as he reached the boulder where she’s hiding. 

“But why? I thought-“ She started but was immediately cut off.

“We were betrayed by a member. Someone tipped them off.” Eli butted in and explained. Then he looked at her intently, holding on her cheeks. “The border gates are open. I want you to go now. Going west would make it easier for you to go North. Once I get up, I want you to run towards it and escape. Never ever get distracted and keep running until you’re safe.”

“Eli.” Ava whispered as tears started welling in her eyes. “Come with me.” 

“I can’t. The heavens know how much I wanted to, pretty. But I can’t. I have to stay and fight with them. We were already betrayed. I can’t betray them too.” Eli replied in tears as Ava nodded in understanding. He was hurting. “Now, off you go. Once I get the chance, I will find you.”

Eli was about to get up when she grabbed him and embraced him tightly. “Thank you for everything.” 

Pulling away, Ava smiled and gently wiped his tears. 

“A..va.” She whispered which made Eli a bit confused. “My name is…Ava.”

“Ava.” Eli repeated and bitterly smiled. “What a pretty name.”

She nodded and cried silently. 

“I will do my best and find you, Ava.” Eli said before kissing her cheek and swiftly moving away. 

Ava opened her eyes and saw a piece of cloth in front of her face. 

“Wipe them. You look ugly. It annoys me.” Black whispered. 

That’s when Ava felt the tears from her eyes. She didn’t even notice that she was already crying.

“It’s clean.” Black added when she didn’t take it after a while.

“Thank you.” She said softly before taking the cloth and wiping her tears away. 

Black just gave her a cold stare before nodding and moved to peep from his side of the tent. 

“What are you exactly, Black?” Ava spoke softly after recovering, her eyes a bit scrutinizing as she eyed the man beside him.

“I told you. I don’t know.” Black answered, still peeping, not looking back.

“Impossible.” Ava commented and pouted, she was now brainstorming.

“I don’t lie.” Black replied, still not looking back. 

“Fine.” Ava responded, knowing that he was telling the truth. Then she moved to Black which made him turn towards her, her face so close to his. She began studying his features up close. “You look like a human but you know magic.” 

Then she began sniffing him. Black remained stoic despite being slightly taken aback by her actions.

“You’re not a shapeshifter. I couldn’t smell you for some reason.” Ava added as she pulled away. “Since you are a very good mage, maybe you’re a wizard?” 

“I’m not. Wizards don’t produce white flames.” Black replied, now he looked amused.

Recalling the times when they were at inside the dwarves’ hideouts, she remembered how he just snaps his fingers and produces white flames.

“Right. Dragons can produce flames even when they’re humans, right?” Ava asked and black nodded. “But you’re no dragon.”

“Exactly.” Black seconded which made Ava crease her forehead. “Plus I can become a cloud of smoke if I want to.”

“Right. That too.” She commented and now had started to rob her temples. “And you can heal cuts and wounds.”

“Yes.” Black confirmed. 

Ava seemed to go under a deep thought before scowling deeply. Seeing her face, Black smiled briefly before shaking his head.

I must have gone really mad. He thought. 

“Ugh. I must be stupid. I can’t think of any creature who can do everything that you can.” She then blurted out and sighed.

“I think I’m smart but I still don’t know.” Black said. 

“Good point.” She responded. 

Silence filled the tent.

“No worries. We will surely find out what kind of creature are you soon.” Ava said positively and smiled. 

Black’s brow raised. 

“Do you bleed?” Ava suddenly asked and he nodded. “Weird. Hmmmm. How old are you?” 

“I don’t exactly know. But I can only remember waking up from a forest more than a hundred years ago.” He replied and Ava gasped. “Shhhhh.”

“Sorry.” Ava whispered, her curiosity is now at its peak. “So you’re really more than a hundred years old?” 

Black just nodded nonchalantly. 

How can he be more a century old and still look this good? Ava thought before something crossed her mind. 

If he is truly more than a hundred years old, then he must know about the second plague, right?

“Black, that means you are already here when the second plague happened.” She suddenly said and he nodded. 

“What about it?” He asked.

 Ava was about to ask him a question when they heard several footsteps marching outside towards them. Black tightened his lips. 

“Keep searching.” One of the soldiers said. “He couldn’t have gone far. Besides there’s nowhere to run here. He also couldn’t disappear into thin air.” 

“What if he really did disappear like magic?” The other soldier asked. 

The soldier he was talking too then turned at him. “Are you just plain i***t? Magic is gone! It’s a matter that doesn’t exist anymore!” 

“But you’ve heard the rumors already, right? I even heard that His majesty is actually-“ The soldier was cut off as the other one struck him so hard that he thought his skull would break. 

“Shut your stupid mouth!” He barked and looked around. “There’s no magic! No more! No such thing.”

Then he looked around fearfully, hoping no one has heard it. He was so close. 

“Just go that side and keep looking!” He commanded. “And nobody tells anyone about it!” 

Then both scurried away with the others.

“Tell me.” Ava immediately said when the footstep went away. 

“Since they were searching as discreetly as possible, not involving the Peace Keepers, then it only means one thing.” Black replied and she looked at him with great anticipation. “Magic.” 

Ava looked at him and smiled right away, understanding what he meant. They’re afraid of magic, not of magic itself, but for all the humans in these camps to know that magic still exists. Black thought that they can use this man to create a slight chaos which will distract the remaining Peace Keepers and soldiers, then they can use the time to exit through the borders.

As soon as the day broke out, they have already prepared themselves and made some plans. Whilst Alvis would stay with the old man to secure their space, the three would venture out and find the man those soldiers were looking for.  A third of the soldiers’ number had now stayed and the rest already marched back which made them a bit more at ease going around the camps. Starting off, they began their search by trying to trace an unfamiliar scent that only shapeshifters and/or magical creatures have.

Looking up, Ava’s eyes trailed over the huge and high walls of the border and the gates. 

Northern Borders. I will be able to pass through you soon. She thought. 

***