Excerpt: Wrestling With Prophecy

Chapter 4 How Elora and Marcus Met
Elora and Vincent had been traveling for a whole day before stopping to make camp. They were still about a day’s journey out of Calibrase. Elora’s confidence seemed to grow as she became more sure that the Commander and his men weren’t following.
She would go out and scout around every time they would stop for a rest or for a bite to eat to make sure they weren’t being followed. In her patrols she had managed to scare up a herd of deer by accident, and almost could have sworn that someone was behind them, but she could find no evidence to support it. It could just as easily have been some other traveler trying to get to Calibrase, so she didn’t think twice about it until she had reached Vincent again as the sun was setting. She could hear the wolves calling.
You are hunted, came the message from a pack hunting nearby. Elora was instantly on the alert.
“Stay close to the fire,” she instructed. “Something is not right.”
“What do you think it is?” Vincent asked.
“Don’t know yet,” she replied, her nose in the air, trying to catch a scent but not getting much. She pulled her hood over her head and brought the wolf features out. She stopped and stood stalk-still, listening and smelling. There it was, over to her left. She crouched down, tensed for the spring and…
Twang!
Elora felt it hit her in the shoulder just below the collar bone. Despite that, it didn’t check her momentum and she landed hard onto whoever had shot her with the arrow.
She gave a yelp and put her features back to normal with the brief flash of adrenalin, rolled onto hard ground and promptly passed out.
Marcus was seeing stars. What just hit him? He sat up and was surprised to see what looked like Vincent's friend Stephan lying beside him with one of his arrows sticking out of his shoulder.
Odd, but I could have sworn I was shooting at a wolf! He was thinking to himself. I can’t ever remember making a mistake like that! He was jerked back to reality by Vincent’s concerned cries.
“Elora? Elora!” Vincent came running.
“Vincent!” Marcus exclaimed.
“Marcus? What the—” Vincent began.
“I’m so sorry, Vince! I didn’t know! I thought I was hunting a wolf, I really did!” he began. “I didn’t know—”
“Well, it’s more than obvious she’s not a wolf!” Vincent was instantly exasperated.
“She?! You mean this isn’t—”
“No. Now quit staring and help me!” With Marcus’s help they were able to get her to the fire where they could examine her wound better. The arrow had buried itself at an odd angle, as if it had deflected off of something. Marcus had his knife out and was using it to help him safely snap the arrow off so it had less chance of getting jostled.
“Vince, you had me worried. Your father isn’t happy—” Marcus began.
“And I had my mother worried sick, I get it. It’s just that life is no fun at the castle. Besides that, mom and dad have their hands full with Peter the Crown Prince to even notice if I exist!” Vincent said. “How long have you been following us?”
“Since yesterday morning. I had come to an inn that boasted good ale, so I thought I’d check to see if you were there. Instead, I get a run-in with a bunch of goons from Palanyea! They tell me they’re after an escaped criminal and that they had tracked her into Rivahnoe! Traitor to the crown, murderer and just plain dangerous! I convinced them to return to Palanyea—or at least clear out and leave it to the Royal Findsmen to get that job done. Imagine my panic when I talk to the innkeeper and hear your description and that you were hanging out with a girl who fit the Palanyean’s description! Of course I had to come after you! But as I was following you, I had come across signs of a wolf tailing you—that’s never a good thing, so it looked like I was going to have to save you from that, too! And low and behold, the criminal and the wolf are one in the same person!” Marcus said. “This goes way up on my weird-o-meter, Vince. I mean, I’ve heard of Palanyean avatars, but this is ridiculous!” He put his focus on Elora, taking a moment to snap off the point that had gone clean through.
At being jostled for this, Elora came to and moaned with the pain. Her shoulder was stinging like a thousand bee stings. The smell of blood—likely her own—permeated her nose, but she was still able to make out the scent of another person. Between Vincent and the newcomer, she could sense guilt, concern, near-panic and complete confusion.
She kept her eyes shut, trying to close out the hot pain that was throbbing now. She reached a hand over to try and find a pressure point so that the pain would lessen. A hand had arrested her action.
“Don’t touch it. Just lay still,” a new voice said. Elora did as she was told, and still, she did not open her eyes. She felt that if she did, she would see the blood and things would feel worse.
“So, Vince. Tell me your side of this story. I’m sure it will be far more interesting than mine. That Palanyean goon seemed to paint this girl out to be a monster. You wouldn’t believe the bounty that’s been placed for her! She wouldn’t be able to get within breathing distance of Palanyea ever again! You’re lucky to be alive,” the new voice admonished.
“Elora couldn’t harm a fly,” Vincent began.
“So Elora is it?” he was interrupted.
“Cut it out, Marcus. If anything, you’re lucky to be alive. Those were Avspa’s personal goons. Avspa wants her,” Vincent said.
“Well then! Avspa can have her!” Marcus said.
“Marcus!”
“Do you know what I could do with that kind of reward? I could retire early and live comfortably for the rest of my life!” Marcus snapped. “Besides that, it’s my job to capture criminals!”
“Get over yourself! You’d live with the guilt that you turned an innocent girl over to that evil hag—she’d find a way to use this girl against us,” Vincent said.
“We can’t stay out here. We’re getting surrounded by wolves as we speak. They smell her blood, and we need to get her help,” Marcus said.
“Wouldn’t—worry,” Elora gasped. She could sense the pack nearby and they were definitely on the hunt.
You are harmed. We will seek retribution on your behalf, one growled menacingly.
No. I need them and I need human healing. Please trust in me and keep your distance. I will call when I need you, she sent back.
As you wish, Wolf Sister. We return to our hunt. The surrounding sounds of the hunting pack diminished and went their own way.
“Next you’re going to tell me she can talk to wolves,” Marcus said.
“She didn’t say, but be happy they’re leaving us alone! Now how do we get this out?” Vincent asked.
“I don’t usually play medic. She needs a healer,” Marcus said.
“No!” Elora gasped out. “No healer. No innkeepers, no entanglements with the law, no curious eyes.” She opened her eyes now and gripped her arm tightly to keep her hand from straying up to her shoulder. She gripped so tight that her nails were digging in, drawing more blood.
“Vince, see if you can’t rummage around for some Dragon’s Wing and Ginwort and don’t get lost in the dark,” Marcus instructed and looked Elora in the eye for the first time. They both seemed to freeze as his deep azure blues locked with her golden ones.
Elora had a sudden urge to want to run her fingers through his beautiful sandy blond hair, but stopped herself as she realized that she had let go of her arm and was straying toward him. She clamped her hand back on her arm.
Marcus felt as if those golden eyes were looking straight into his soul. He somehow instantly knew that this girl was no criminal. She was more of a scared puppy, if anything. She couldn’t possibly be dangerous, and as for a murderer—not even possible. Vince was right. She couldn’t do much to harm a fly.
“Vince is taking way too long!” Marcus began to fret after a few minutes.
“Can’t you just pull it out?” Elora grit her teeth.
“You’ll bleed to death, not to mention that will hurt like nothing you’ve ever felt. I need the herbs to help with the healing,” he said.
“Trust me,” she returned with a dead calm to her voice.
“Are you sure? I don’t even know you,” he joked.
“I’m sure,” she reached for his hand to put it around the shaft of the arrow that still protruded form her shoulder. Marcus felt as if he had been zapped by a spark of current, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he gripped the arrow and she braced against him, ready.
“One, two…” he could feel her tensing, anticipating the blow, and squeezing her eyes shut. She needed a distraction, and with no warning—he bent over and gave her a slightly rough, but long kiss on the lips.
Elora’s eyes flew open at this and she made a sound and a move in protest, but at the same time it was soft, and gentle, and she surprised herself by actually kissing him back. She felt her defenses lowering and her body relaxing and—
A sudden gut-wrenching scream escaped her as he pulled what was left of the arrow out. It was done as quickly as ripping off a bandage, but Marcus was right, this hurt much more. Marcus felt chills going up his spine as the wolves seemed to answer by howling in the distance. It was such an eerie, chilling and mournful sound.
“What in the world!” Vincent had returned with both fists full of Dragon’s Wings and Ginwort. Marcus took them from him and instantly put them on the now open wound. He expertly had her bandaged in no time.
“Not a medic, huh?” she whispered. “Thank you.” She closed her eyes with a little smile on her face.
“You are most welcome,” Marcus returned with a wink.
“Did I miss something?” Vincent inquired.
“Not at all,” Marcus returned smoothly and made himself comfortable by the little campfire. He looked over at Elora and seemed to study her intently for what seemed like a long time. She had drifted off to sleep now that the herbs were doing their work. She was breathing steadily and lightly now.
“Vincent,” was all Marcus said.
“What? I’ve got nothing to say,” Vincent settled down opposite him across the fire.
“For a moment there, I thought I had shot your friend, Stephan!” he exclaimed.
“More than obvious that it’s not him,” Vincent said smoothly. “She’s the wolf you’ve been tailing. Stephan isn’t as inclined to be so furry.”
“What?!” Marcus looked at him as if he had lost it.
“You couldn’t tell just by looking into her eyes? Now who’s losing it?” Vincent cracked.
“You’re lucky we’re so close to Calibrase. I’ve got to make my report once we get there and let your father know that you are still in one piece,” Marcus said.
“And Elora? What about her?” Vincent asked.
“What about her?”
“I don’t know what it is about her, but in the last couple of days I’ve come to know her, I’m pretty sure we shouldn’t turn her in,” Vincent said.
“I’d agree with that—I know, don’t say it. I don’t usually waver in my duty. But I just get this feeling. She must have importance to something for Avspa to want her this bad—I mean she’s risking war by sending her goons into Rivahnoe to get her. Usually, whenever Avspa is involved, it’s never a good thing. The woman is evil, in my opinion, and I couldn’t tell you why at the moment, but I feel like I have to protect her from Avspa. Am I making sense?” Marcus asked.
“How caught up on your prophecy lore are you?” Vincent asked.
“What’s that got to do with anything?” Marcus asked.
“From what she’s telling me, the Seer is coming and so is the end of the world, and she’s the messenger,” Vincent said calmly.
“No she’s not, get out of here!” Marcus chuckled at how outrageous it was sounding. “You mean to tell me that she’s the one for that obscure prophecy about heralding the coming of the Seer and the end of the world? You know that one is pure malarkey, don’t you?” He tried to chuckle again, but it only came out half-heartedly.
“What is the matter with you? Have you been drinking?” Vincent asked.
“Hey, that’s my line!” Marcus returned. “No. I was just thinking about something else…” He trailed off looking at Elora. He had been having dreams about wolves lately. Did she have anything to do with that? Vincent knew that look.
“Marcus, no. Absolutely not! Don’t even think about it!”
“What?” Marcus began innocently.
“We get her to Calibrase, drop her off with the old woman-witch-lady and we go on as if none of this happened,” Vincent said warningly.
“Not sure if I can do that,” Marcus said softly, looking Elora’s direction again.
“I can tell you right now that she’s not for you. I mean it, Marcus—especially if she’s involved with mumbo-jumbo that we don’t understand. On top of that, wolves mate for life—just you remember that,” Vincent admonished. “Now throw another log on the fire and let’s call it a night.”
“Okay,” Marcus threw his hands up in surrender and then threw the log on.