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I'll be posting my story here as well!  If you're interested in it, please feel free to follow my other account: ManuWrites
Thank you if you take the time to read it!

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All Chapters HERE.

CHAPTER 24: NO TIME

                It was dark. His body was a heavy, extraneous thing. The pain he had been feeling for what seemed to have been ages was slowly vanishing. His muscles relaxed, and he could smell warm wood and boiling herbs. The crackling of a gentle fire invited him to keep sleeping; to surrender into the realm of calm. To recover all his strength before facing the light again.
                Then he remembered the last thing he had heard before passing out: Malia’s disturbed voice. He had done the right thing. He had killed the enemy. But even so, he felt like apologizing. All because he didn’t want her to sound like that, distressed and upset. How childish could she be? What was more natural than eliminating a threat in combat? Even so, he would probably apologize. Once he woke up, he would look for her and tell her he was sorry. Maybe she would smile at him, and then it would all be alright.
                He opened his eyes.
                The first thing Gorken saw upon awakening was a wooden ceiling. He scanned the room and recognized Kadem’s home. The oldest witch was sitting on a chair near the fire; her long silver curls glimmered with the breathing flames.
                To his right Bayard was asleep, and little Hedera was sitting next to him holding her knees, her face hidden. To his left there was a translucent curtain. It was old and ragged, but it wasn’t dirty. He distinguished the silhouette of a woman with long hair sitting on the floor next to another body lying down. The choppy short hair of the man on the floor behind the curtain had to be Aldous’.
                Gorken groaned while sitting up, and Kadem turned her head to gaze at him. Hedera too raised her head, and the woman behind the curtains shifted slightly.
                “How are you feeling?” Kadem asked. Her face looked grim. She was old, of course, but it had never occurred to Gorken how fresh and young she usually appeared until he saw her now, tired and tense.
                “I’m fine.” He pulled back the strands of hair covering his face, “What happened? How did we get here? Is everyone alright? …Where’s Malia?”
                Hedera furrowed her brow and looked away, as if she was guilty of some heinous crime.
                Kadem inhaled deeply, “Aldous and Bayard are wounded, but they’re alive. You will have the chance to talk in person about what has been lost. Hedera and Licorice are unharmed. As to how you got here, Licorice came to me a few hours ago, and told me she needed my presence at your location. I assume you know my magic is powerful enough to move a few bodies without exerting myself. Although transporting people in such delicate conditions was no easy feat, even for me.”
                Kadem stirred the herbs that were in the cauldron over the fire, “…Plum is not here. According to Hedera, she was taken away by immortal soldiers. She made a deal with a man named Cain to ensure your safety. What has become of her, I do not know.”
                “…Taken away?!” Gorken stood up rashly, “Do you know what that means? To her people she’s a traitor! How can you all be sitting around! We have to go get her-!”
                Gorken felt a sudden force pushing him down, anchoring him to the floor. His first reflex was to glare at Kadem, but she shook her head. It hadn’t been her.
                Then he heard a voice he didn’t know.
                “And here I thought I would reveal myself later, but birds of a feather flock together. Idiots will only befriend idiots, and they will eventually breed more idiocy. It’s an endless cycle, really.” A tall woman with brown skin and short black hair materialized before Gorken, standing over him. It was as if a veil covering her presence had been removed. Then she kept talking, “I’m not surprised that worthless princess fell for you; your dumb reaction and arrogant demeanor match hers. You accuse your friends of sitting around, when you woke up only moments ago. You talk about going to get her, when you were rendered defenseless by a single general, and the youngest one at that. I knew Dorina would die an early death. Her bad habit of treating her opponents as pray and fooling around during battle was a weakness so glaring I’m appalled she was made a general.”
                The woman locked her amber eyes on Gorken, thoroughly piercing him.
                “Give him a break, Gabrielle.” Kadem spoke, “You don’t have the right to reprimand him. That boy is quite tough, take it from me. He’s just a bit upset at the moment.”
                “The fact that he’s upset is all the information I need to know he’s not tough, witch.” Gabrielle retorted.
                “Do not push your luck, brat.” Kadem warned her, “Being stronger than children doesn’t mean you’re strong.”
                “Perhaps,” Gabrielle continued, “but you’re stuck here taking care of the wounded. And I know you’re not one to take action, anyway. I’m the only one who can go get the silly girl, and so I shall.”
                “I’ll go with you.” Gorken stated. He had no idea who this woman was, and he didn’t have a clear grasp of the situation yet. But if Kadem trusted her enough to allow her into her lair, and if she had the power to save Malia… that was all he needed to know. Unnecessary thoughts and questions would only get in the way. If Aldous and Bayard were wounded enough that Kadem couldn’t leave their side, the best he could do for them was to return safely with Malia. Talks and explanations could come after that.
                Gabrielle strode to the door, “Shut up. Stay in bed and carry on with your tantrum. Taking care of one imbecile will be enough of a handful, I don’t need you hindering the way.”
                “I’m strong. I can fight and I can kill. I will come with you.” Gorken said as he followed her.
                Gabrielle didn’t reply; she kept walking without looking back.
                Before leaving the tree, Gorken fixed his eyes on Kadem’s, “Thank you for saving us. Please take care of my companions. Once we return, I’ll think of ways to pay you back.”
                “You’re not fully recovered yet, handsome boy.” Kadem grabbed his arm firmly, “But there’s no time. Don’t get yourself killed. And be prepared to find Plum’s corpse instead of her smile. You’re easier to read when you’re asleep. Good luck.”
                She let go of his arm, knowing full well he wouldn’t listen. It was likely he would get himself killed, and even more so that he wouldn’t be prepared to find Malia’s corpse.

                Kadem saw Gorken walk out into the night.

Description
I'll be posting my story here as well!  If you're interested in it, please feel free to follow my other account: ManuWrites
Thank you if you take the time to read it!

Previous Chapter:
Next Chapter:

All Chapters HERE.

CHAPTER 24: NO TIME

                It was dark. His body was a heavy, extraneous thing. The pain he had been feeling for what seemed to have been ages was slowly vanishing. His muscles relaxed, and he could smell warm wood and boiling herbs. The crackling of a gentle fire invited him to keep sleeping; to surrender into the realm of calm. To recover all his strength before facing the light again.
                Then he remembered the last thing he had heard before passing out: Malia’s disturbed voice. He had done the right thing. He had killed the enemy. But even so, he felt like apologizing. All because he didn’t want her to sound like that, distressed and upset. How childish could she be? What was more natural than eliminating a threat in combat? Even so, he would probably apologize. Once he woke up, he would look for her and tell her he was sorry. Maybe she would smile at him, and then it would all be alright.
                He opened his eyes.
                The first thing Gorken saw upon awakening was a wooden ceiling. He scanned the room and recognized Kadem’s home. The oldest witch was sitting on a chair near the fire; her long silver curls glimmered with the breathing flames.
                To his right Bayard was asleep, and little Hedera was sitting next to him holding her knees, her face hidden. To his left there was a translucent curtain. It was old and ragged, but it wasn’t dirty. He distinguished the silhouette of a woman with long hair sitting on the floor next to another body lying down. The choppy short hair of the man on the floor behind the curtain had to be Aldous’.
                Gorken groaned while sitting up, and Kadem turned her head to gaze at him. Hedera too raised her head, and the woman behind the curtains shifted slightly.
                “How are you feeling?” Kadem asked. Her face looked grim. She was old, of course, but it had never occurred to Gorken how fresh and young she usually appeared until he saw her now, tired and tense.
                “I’m fine.” He pulled back the strands of hair covering his face, “What happened? How did we get here? Is everyone alright? …Where’s Malia?”
                Hedera furrowed her brow and looked away, as if she was guilty of some heinous crime.
                Kadem inhaled deeply, “Aldous and Bayard are wounded, but they’re alive. You will have the chance to talk in person about what has been lost. Hedera and Licorice are unharmed. As to how you got here, Licorice came to me a few hours ago, and told me she needed my presence at your location. I assume you know my magic is powerful enough to move a few bodies without exerting myself. Although transporting people in such delicate conditions was no easy feat, even for me.”
                Kadem stirred the herbs that were in the cauldron over the fire, “…Plum is not here. According to Hedera, she was taken away by immortal soldiers. She made a deal with a man named Cain to ensure your safety. What has become of her, I do not know.”
                “…Taken away?!” Gorken stood up rashly, “Do you know what that means? To her people she’s a traitor! How can you all be sitting around! We have to go get her-!”
                Gorken felt a sudden force pushing him down, anchoring him to the floor. His first reflex was to glare at Kadem, but she shook her head. It hadn’t been her.
                Then he heard a voice he didn’t know.
                “And here I thought I would reveal myself later, but birds of a feather flock together. Idiots will only befriend idiots, and they will eventually breed more idiocy. It’s an endless cycle, really.” A tall woman with brown skin and short black hair materialized before Gorken, standing over him. It was as if a veil covering her presence had been removed. Then she kept talking, “I’m not surprised that worthless princess fell for you; your dumb reaction and arrogant demeanor match hers. You accuse your friends of sitting around, when you woke up only moments ago. You talk about going to get her, when you were rendered defenseless by a single general, and the youngest one at that. I knew Dorina would die an early death. Her bad habit of treating her opponents as pray and fooling around during battle was a weakness so glaring I’m appalled she was made a general.”
                The woman locked her amber eyes on Gorken, thoroughly piercing him.
                “Give him a break, Gabrielle.” Kadem spoke, “You don’t have the right to reprimand him. That boy is quite tough, take it from me. He’s just a bit upset at the moment.”
                “The fact that he’s upset is all the information I need to know he’s not tough, witch.” Gabrielle retorted.
                “Do not push your luck, brat.” Kadem warned her, “Being stronger than children doesn’t mean you’re strong.”
                “Perhaps,” Gabrielle continued, “but you’re stuck here taking care of the wounded. And I know you’re not one to take action, anyway. I’m the only one who can go get the silly girl, and so I shall.”
                “I’ll go with you.” Gorken stated. He had no idea who this woman was, and he didn’t have a clear grasp of the situation yet. But if Kadem trusted her enough to allow her into her lair, and if she had the power to save Malia… that was all he needed to know. Unnecessary thoughts and questions would only get in the way. If Aldous and Bayard were wounded enough that Kadem couldn’t leave their side, the best he could do for them was to return safely with Malia. Talks and explanations could come after that.
                Gabrielle strode to the door, “Shut up. Stay in bed and carry on with your tantrum. Taking care of one imbecile will be enough of a handful, I don’t need you hindering the way.”
                “I’m strong. I can fight and I can kill. I will come with you.” Gorken said as he followed her.
                Gabrielle didn’t reply; she kept walking without looking back.
                Before leaving the tree, Gorken fixed his eyes on Kadem’s, “Thank you for saving us. Please take care of my companions. Once we return, I’ll think of ways to pay you back.”
                “You’re not fully recovered yet, handsome boy.” Kadem grabbed his arm firmly, “But there’s no time. Don’t get yourself killed. And be prepared to find Plum’s corpse instead of her smile. You’re easier to read when you’re asleep. Good luck.”
                She let go of his arm, knowing full well he wouldn’t listen. It was likely he would get himself killed, and even more so that he wouldn’t be prepared to find Malia’s corpse.

                Kadem saw Gorken walk out into the night.