Sehn didn’t know if it was the adrenaline making him act funny, or if the sense of freedom extended to his emotions, but he pulled her close to him and kissed her. As he held her in his arms, it was then that he truly understood: there was never going to be someone he cared for as much as he did Cah’lia. Despite how much he upset her and how much he picked on her, she was the one thing that mattered above all else. Her taste, her lips, her everything—Sehn wanted it all.
He knew there was something she needed to hear, but rather than shout to be heard, he pulled away from her and spoke in a conversational tone.
“I love you, Cah’lia.”
“What?” she shouted back. “I can’t hear you!”
Sehn placed his hands along the sides of her face, and touched his forehead against hers so she couldn’t see the movement of his lips. Just the wind beating against their clothing was loud enough to drown out the sound of his voice, but to be safe, Sehn continued in a whisper. He ruffled her hair while he spoke.
“I’m sorry for everything I’ve put you through, Cah’lia, but there’s something I must tell you. If things don’t work out the way I plan them to, then I just need you to know that I…through all of it, I’ve loved you.”
“I can’t hear you!” she shouted. “Why are you whispering?”
Sehn held the moment for as long as he could and then let out a menacing laugh. He raised his voice. “I said,” he repeated, “that if all else fails and things don’t work out the way we planned them, we could always try using your fat elven ass as a parachute, Fool’lia! I’m sure it’s big enough to slow us down!”
“Ah! Who do you think you’re talking to?”
She drew back her fist as if to punch him. Sehn flinched. But rather than hit him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and planted her lips over his, filling Sehn with both confusion and elation. How did she manage to always smell so nice? Why was she rewarding him for his insulting words? These and a million other questions flashed through his mind.
While they kissed, Sehn could feel her heartbeat as she pressed against him. There was so much life in her. He promised himself that he would beat this curse, and then he would build a kingdom just for her, Nero, and Rina. They would all live together, and no hawks, Items, or mages would ever disturb them.
There was a dull, but noticeable stab of pain in Sehn’s lower lip. It took him a moment to realize that Cah’lia had bitten him. There was a mischievous glow in her eyes, and she pulled him closer. Sehn felt her breath tickle his ear.
“
I heard everything you just said
,” she whispered, adding the same menacing laugh that Sehn had used to insult her with.
“
Every
.
Single
.
Word
.
”
Sehn’s panic level went into overdrive. He tried to respond, but he stumbled over his own words as he stammered excuses. Then his words were cut off as her finger moved down his face, settling on his lips and silencing him.
“
Don’t even try to take it back
.
I’m never going to forget you said that
.
”
“I shall use magic to wipe away your memory.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Their conversation was interrupted as their descent slowed. The electrical energy that Sehn had felt became visible, wrapping the five of them in a cocoon of blue lightning. The valley of Hahl was approaching fast, and although they continued to slow, they were still practically dive-bombing towards the surface. Sehn wondered how they would survive crashing into it at their current speed. He hoped the barrier Shina put up worked as intended. He held his breath while they dropped the final few feet.
“This is the best part!” Shina called out. “Keep your eyes open, brother.”
As soon as they touched down, there was a tremendous boom. The cocoon of blue energy broke apart, and it sent ripples of lightning scattering in every direction. The ground around them exploded, sending up a shower of grass, dirt, and rock that would likely be seen for miles. So much dirt was knocked up that Sehn could no longer see the valley, yet nothing managed to penetrate Shina’s electrical barrier.
An instant later, the sound died, and the destruction ended. There was a buzz as the last traces of the blue electricity faded. That was when Sehn realized they were still somewhat elevated. His heart leapt in his chest as he felt himself fall. Luckily, it was no more than a foot’s drop, and he breathed a sigh of relief at the feeling of solid ground beneath his boots.
He took in his surroundings. It was darker now. Sehn looked up and estimated they were in a crater close to ten feet deep. Kellar, in a single, powerful leap, exited the crater and then crouched down at the top. He held out his arm and extended his hand for Shina, who jumped up and grabbed it. He pulled her out and repeated the process for the rest of them.
By the time they were standing back in the valley—still the most beautiful place Sehn had ever seen—Orellia was removing the provisions she’d taken with her from the prison’s kitchens and handing out bread.
“We’ve got about a week’s travel to Hahl,” she said. “Incidentally, we’ve got about a week’s worth of food, as well.”
Sehn nodded his approval. “Good. Now we can finally get Kellar back to his people so he can—”
Whatever he’d been about to say was cut short as agony began flaring up all over his body. He cried out in pain as a burning sensation spread through his eyes and a loud ringing sound filled his ears. Cah’lia ran to his side and grabbed him, but Sehn shrugged her off. He knew what this was: this had happened before. He ignored the pain and submitted to whatever it was that had breached his mind. He knew that to fight it would make it worse.
Unlike the last two times, there was no picture or images to accompany the pain. There was only a sudden awareness of something vague, but nevertheless real. Sehn tried not to panic. A word came to the center of his attention. No, not a word—a name. Then it ended and the pain faded away slowly until not even a dull ache lingered. Sehn, breathing heavily, set aside his confusion and acted immediately.
“We need to make it in four days,” he said, ignoring the worried, fearful looks from the others. “We need to get to Hahl in four days or…or nothing! I won’t accept failure. Not in this.”
“Sehn, what are you talking about?” Shina asked.
He looked at his sister. “It’s Nero. If we don’t get back to Hahl in four days, he’ll be dead.”
Sehn should’ve known better than to inform Cah’lia about his vision. She’d always been a quick-thinking and rational woman, and so it had only taken her a few minutes to get over the initial shock and accept Sehn’s warning as truth. Shortly after, she’d taken charge. Like a slave driver, she’d forced him and the others to travel at a grueling pace, intent on reaching Hahl within the four days they could spare before something awful happened to Nero.
Since then, the five of them had fallen into a tiresome routine. They would march for most of the day and night, and Cah’lia would only allow them a few hours’ rest whenever they were on the verge of collapsing. Then she would demand they pick themselves up and resume their journey back to Hahl.
The first two days after Sehn had alerted Cah’lia about Nero, she had asked him repeatedly where her brother was, what kind of trouble he was in, and how they could save him. Each time, Sehn would reiterate that he had no idea; all he could remember was the sudden feeling that, if they didn’t act within four days, something awful would happen to the boy. Regardless, Cah’lia asked him again and again as though eventually expecting to receive an answer.
If not for the gut-wrenching sense of urgency, Sehn would’ve enjoyed the trek through the Valley of Hahl. Snow-topped mountains blended in with the setting sun, painting the horizon a colorful mix of white and orange; deer and other wildlife lounged on the grass surrounding hot springs while keeping a vigilant eye for nighttime predators. Despite the tension and panic filling each of his steps, Sehn managed to feel the smallest trickle of excitement whenever he gazed up into the sky, remembering that, just two days earlier, he had been among those clouds. The thought gave him purpose—it made him even more determined to save Nero so that he could tell the boy all about his adventures up in the sky kingdom, and how he had fought giants and dragons up there.
Shina, Orellia, and Kellar had remained silent for most of the journey. The only time they spoke was during brief pauses to pass around food stolen from the prison’s kitchens. Cah’lia demanded that they eat on the go, which would’ve been fine if not for how fatigued Sehn felt. Cah’lia seemed intent on pressing them like horses, and at this rate, Sehn worried he’d die like one, too.
Now, on the dawn of their third day, Sehn had had enough. He was grouchy, tired, and everything just…everything just sucked! He hadn’t had more than an hour’s sleep at a time, and his mood was worse than it had been in ages. Not even the refreshing breeze or the beautiful sights could lift his spirits.
“You’re lagging behind, Sehn,” Cah’lia called from several yards in front of him. Sehn, panting for breath, held out his palm to let her know he’d rejoin her in a minute. But when she turned her back and wasn’t looking, he gave her his middle finger.
“I’m going as fast as I can,” he grumbled, quiet enough so that the wind drowned out his voice. “The Great Sehn requires man-slumber!”
Sehn inhaled, closed his eyes a moment, and then gathered his willpower to continue pressing forward. His body was drenched in perspiration, and his ankles ached almost as badly as they had before relieving some of the cursed magic, though this time, he was sure, it was nothing more than the usual muscle aches associated with such a strenuous, constant exertion.
You don’t realize how lucky you are
,
Nero
.
I wouldn’t do this for anyone else
.
After I save you
,
you will be taxed into oblivion for this
!
Sehn ignored the fire in his legs and jogged until he caught up with the others. When he pulled up behind his sister, he growled as a light from under her feet caught his eye. What he saw made him so angry that he came close to foaming at the mouth.
“Shina!” he hissed. “What are you doing?”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
Sehn pointed to her feet. “What is
that
?”
Of all present, Shina was the only one who didn’t appear worn out, and until now, Sehn wasn’t sure how she’d been able to travel for so long without showing the slightest sign of fatigue. Now, though, he finally understood. Shina was floating just a few inches above the ground while a disc-shaped, revolving field of blue electricity beneath her feet kept her from having to walk at all. Sehn had been too exhausted to notice until now.
“What is that?” he asked, repeating the question.
Shina looked down at her own feet as if not sure what Sehn was asking. Then her eyes lit with understanding.
“
Ohh
, I get what you’re asking me. Yeah, so my feet started hurting after the first few hours walking, so I’m using my magic to keep myself afloat. It makes for much easier traveling, and I’m light enough so that it doesn’t require much energy to maintain.”
“Unacceptable!” Sehn shouted. “How dare you float while your God-King suffers? I demand you walk like the rest of us!”
“Pssht, I don’t have to do what you tell me.” Shina stuck her tongue out at him. “Why don’t you make me?”
Sehn cursed every God and Goddess for his exhaustion. Not only could he not “make” Shina do anything, but he also lacked the strength to respond—at least not if he also wanted to keep moving. But whatever. Sehn had a long memory, and this slight wouldn’t soon before forgotten. Oh, no it wouldn’t. Once Nero was safe, he was going to make his imbecile sister
crawl
back and forth across this valley while he laughed at her and taunted her and repeatedly shouted, “You can’t do it! You can’t do it!”
Wait till I’m back to my full strength
,
Shina
.
Just you wait…
By the time noon had rolled around on the third day, Sehn was ready to collapse. Thankfully, Cah’lia called for a stop, and she allowed them a little rest. As Sehn sat down on the grassy valley floor, waves of relief flowed into his sore feet and ankles. They weren’t staying long enough to make camp, so the grass would have to do.
“Only an hour,” Cah’lia said, taking a seat next to Shina. “We need to move again after that. At this rate, I’m worried we won’t make it there in time.”
“Don’t worry,” Sehn said. He fixed Cah’lia with a hard stare. “I will not let anything happen to my disciple.”
Cah’lia nodded. “You better not, Sehn. You better not.”
She and Sehn hadn’t spoken much since they began their mad dash across the valley, and with such a need for hastened travel, Sehn had all but forgotten the kiss they’d shared. But times like these, where he had a moment to collect his breath and grab a bite to eat, he allowed the memories to return—along with his newfound ambition. The sight of her face alone made his grouchiness dull and the aches in his feet and legs a distant memory.
Sehn had changed in the last few days. While he was still the God of the world, a perfect being, and the rightful ruler of all living things, he had completely abandoned his plans for world domination. Now he had only one goal, one ambition: to take the money Kellar promised him and then use it to buy the biggest home in Elvar. Then, he could live his life in chaos (not peace!) with Cah’lia, Nero, and Rina. It was a thought that had grown on him lately, but now he was certain that this was what he most desired—what he wanted to fight for.
But that was only half of his plan.
The other half made him tremble with fear. Once this journey ended, Sehn planned to ask Cah’lia—in the manliest, Godliest way possible—to be his forever under the name of Goddess Helena.
But what if she says no
?
Sehn ripped the thought out of his head. Those kinds of fears would cripple him from demanding—
not
proposing, as the Great Sehn proposed nothing to anyone but cold death. Nevertheless, once they’d ended this mysterious “Hawk” threat, he would put all this nonsense behind him and return home.
Sehn was only half-finished eating when Cah’lia gave the order to resume their march. He looked down at the bread still in his hands, no longer hungry.
“Kellar,” he whispered as he stood to his feet. “Come here a second.”
A moment after they resumed their travels, the mage-boy slowed, until he hung back a bit with Sehn. “Yeah?”
“It’s starting again.” Sehn knew he didn’t have to say what. “I’m losing my appetite.”
“Are you in pain?”
“It’s hard to tell. I don’t think so, but even if I was, it would be nothing compared to the aches of travel.”
Kellar shrugged. “Well, if you’re really all that worried about it, then why not blow off some extra magic like last time?”
“Because,” Sehn whispered, “I want to let it build up. We don’t know what we’ll be up against when we arrive at Hahl.”
“Now that’s a surprise.”
“What is?”
Kellar grinned. “I know I’ve only known ya for a short while, but I expected you to say something silly.”
“Like what?”
“Like, ‘The Great Sehn doesn’t need to know what he’s up against. He will destroy everything.’”
Sehn sighed. “I learned something up there in the prison.”
“And that is?”
“That even Gods need to make concessions.”
“Interesting,” Kellar said. “Care to tell me what they are?”
“No. But there is someone I
do
need to tell…but not to you.”
With that, Sehn increased his pace and passed up Kellar, breathing heavily as he returned to Cah’lia’s side. She didn’t notice him at first, but when she did, she wore a slight smile. Sehn returned the smile, which only made hers become even more vibrant.
“That’s odd,” she said. “I never thought I’d see you smile at me openly like that.”
Sehn chuckled. “I’ve come to a new understanding, Cah’lia. From now on, I will make two concessions and two alone.”
She appeared confused. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve finally made up my mind, and the decision is settled.”
“Once again—what do you mean?”
“I mean that I’ll always be a God-King, Cah’lia. But I’ll be
your
God King.” He grabbed her hand, holding it in his own. Sehn still felt some discomfort at the affectionate gesture, but he found himself unable to let go.
Everything was finally making sense to him. It had taken close to twenty-one years, but through Cah’lia, Sehn now came to a truer understanding of himself: no matter how much he tried, Sehn would never be good enough to completely be his own person. He could come close—ninety-nine percent, perhaps. But something had to give. There had to be concessions. And it took Cah’lia and his epiphany in prison to understand that.
He didn’t need to change in any other way as long as he held on to two critically important things: Cah’lia, and the realization that even he had limits. With those two things in his life, he could be anyone or anything he wanted.
“You’ve changed, Sehn,” she said. “Ever since you broke us out of prison, you’ve changed.”
“Only towards you, Cah’lia.”
“How so?”
Sehn looked into her eyes. “I’m never going to mistreat you or insult you again. I promise. I know I’ve said that before, but this time is different. Starting now, I will never say a bad word towards you and only you.”
Her face reddened, and for the first time Sehn could recall, he saw Cah’lia blush. Then she shook her head and glared at him. “Oh, I see what you’re doing.”
Sehn blinked. “See what I’m…doing?”
“Yeah, I know what this is. Any moment now you’re going to laugh really loudly and then say how this is all a joke, and then tax me for falling for it.”
Sehn squeezed her hand tightly. “Not this time.”
“You’re full of it.”
“I’m not.”
“Who are you and what have you done with Sehn?”
“You’re talking to him, Cah’lia.”
“Impossible.”
Sehn laughed. “I can prove it.”
“And how do you plan to do that?” she asked, appraising him skeptically.
“First, you must promise never to tell anyone—and I mean
anyone
—what I’m about to show you. If you do that, I’ll prove it.”
“Fine,” Cah’lia said. “I promise. Now show me.”
Sehn reached into his tunic and removed a document—the Sehn seal, signed by none other than himself. He handed it to her. She rolled her eyes before glancing down at the document. An instant later, her expression changed. Her mouth fell open and she whipped her head towards him, her eyes wide in shock.
“Is this for real?”
Sehn nodded. “It is.”
Sehn felt her hand tremble in his own. “From anyone else, something like this would be stupid. But from you…”
One of the reasons Sehn was so fatigued—aside from the strenuous journey—was because, for the last three nights, rather than use the precious little time Cah’lia afforded him for sleep, Sehn had drawn up a document unlike any other he had drawn up before. In it, Sehn decreed that Cah’lia was to be known forever as his equal—his most trusted ally. Anything Sehn had, she could take. Any loot or plunder Sehn collected, she would receive half of. And anything Cah’lia wanted, he would give her.
“It’s not as worthless as you think,” Sehn said. “Because Kellar is going to buy me a castle, remember?” Sehn swallowed nervously. “According to that, you’ll get half of it…”