FOREVER KNIGHTS: #12 Primal Intent

Sabine sat quietly reading in a chair near the fire.

She’s gotten good at lighting it herself. She sat so still, nearly regal in her elegance. Blonde hair twisted atop her head with a few twining strands resting against her slim neck.

I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.

He felt the tearing pain of his physical skin again but was able to walk through the pain to her side. Hiding his agony.

“Chavias?” She whispered softly. Sensing his nearness as she always did.

“Good evening, Sabine.” He forced his voice strong despite his body’s weakness.

“I wondered if I might impose on your company for the evening?”

I don’t want to think about the torture. Don’t want to endure it just now.

She smiled at him. Light blue eyes alive with tenderness. “Of course.” She gestured to the other chair in welcome.

He drug it next to her, watching carefully in-case she’d object. Blessedly, she didn’t.

“What are we reading tonight?”

“Tonight, it’s only Druhaven.”

“You’re in a mood for the gloomy then?”

Druhaven’s poetry touches into the morbid.

She smiled softly. “I was in the mood for mystery.”

“I don’t offer enough of that?”

“I thought perhaps some mystery eventually solved, might ease my mind.”

Implying I’m a mystery that may never be solved. Touche.

“That’s fair.” He nodded. Taking his seat arm to arm next to hers.

I want to be close to her. I’m not wholly certain I’ll live beyond tonight. Depending on how thorough Okine is in his ministrations. But he looked at her and realized he was okay with her face being the last he ever saw.

“Sabine?”

“Yes.” She chewed her lip thoughtfully as her eyes poured over the pages.

“If anything were to happen to me. I need you to find a man. One in particular. So, I know you’ll be safe.”

Sebastian. He’ll look after he.

She frowned. Her pretty features scrunching. “I still don’t even know what it is I need to be safe from.”

“Evil.” He explained.

Radix. Cimmerii. Leaning sideways to be closer to her while she looked up at him. He rested an elbow on the arm of her chair.

“Unless you’ve seen it, I cannot explain it.”

She nodded somberly. “I think I understand.”

He remembered hearing about Libby and Essius confronting her and Sabine had managed to evade them. She probably does have some idea…

“If something were to happen to me would you find him?”

“If that’s what you wish.” Pain flashed across her face.

Wounded I’d send her away.

I won’t. Unless I don’t have a choice.

“Is everything okay, Chavias?”

“Nothing is ever okay in Ardae, Sabine.” He sighed.

She worried her lip. “Can I help you?”

You do. Your presence has offered me immeasurable comfort in many of my darkest hours.

“You can keep me company. Your presence soothes me.”

I may die tonight.

If I don’t. I need to take her to Sebastian. He didn’t like the idea of her having to find her way to him alone.

“Then stay as long as you like. You’re always welcome in my company.” She said kindly.

Always kind.

“I’d hoped you might say that…”

But if I feel my life fading, I’ll leave her. I’ll tell her goodbye and go.

But looking at her beautiful face as she murmured aloud as she read, he wasn’t so sure. Could I ever tell her goodbye?