Acting out

With his thoughts on the upcoming hostilities, Kael doesn’t think much of his trip home until he arrives at his door. Despite his confidence in himself and his fellow champions, there’s still uncertainty. Karlia possesses vast manpower reserves in comparison to Foresthearth, and their troops are hardly second rate. Those main advantage Foresthearth holds is Kael and his companions, and it’s likely that Karlia will have a plan to negate that advantage. Lord Greyheart is gambling a lot on the surprise of sending four of them together. Kael hopes it pays off.

Walking through his front door, the worries of war diminish immediately, as Evie is there, a smile on her face.

“Master, you’re back already! What happened?”

Kael shrugs. “Nothing great. But first, lord Greyheart sent a gift.”

He hands her the box, and Evie gasps as she opens it. “I’ve never had any jewelry before! It’s lovely! And…magical. I can feel there’s power here. What is it?”

Kael shakes his head. “I wouldn’t know. Lord Greyheart didn’t say, and my abilities deaden the sensation of magic, unless it’s exceptionally strong. It wouldn’t be anything harmful, though.”

Evie puts on the necklace, the emerald glimmering at her throat. She looks at Kael with a big smile. “It doesn’t seem to do anything at the moment. Just jewelry. How does it look, master?”

Kael chuckles. “I’m a bit biased, but it’s very pretty.”

Evie giggles and kisses him. “I think so too, master! Pass my thanks to fath…to Lord Greyheart, please. I love it.”

She looks at Kael curiously. “Now, can you tell me what happened, master?”

Kael nods, walking over and sitting on the couch. Evie sits beside him and listens as he explains the looming threat to the north. Evie’s smile vanishes like the sun going behind a cloud, and there’s a worried expression on her face.

“Will you be safe, master? I don’t like it when you get hurt…”

Kael sighs. “I won’t lie to you, Evie, it’s going to be dangerous. That’s the nature of my duty. But I’ll have Orin, Ria, and Koa at my side, and the four of us together are extremely strong.”

Evie hugs him, the worry still on her face. “I’m scared, master. Please be careful.”

Karl gently strokes her hair. “I will, Evie. I promise I’ll be careful.”

She looks up at him and smiles. “Good. So…do you have anything else to do today, master?”

Kael shakes his head. “Nothing in particular. Why?”

Evie has a strange look in her eyes, a playful, almost mischievous smile on her face. “No reason, master. Just making sure.”

Kael raises an eyebrow. “Should I be worried, Evie?”

Evie shakes her head. “Not at all! I’m just planning ahead, master. I want to make sure everything goes smoothly.”

Kael stares at the grinning elf for a moment, then chuckles. “You’re a terrible liar, Evie. But I’ll let it go. One other thing, though. Ria wants to come over for dinner before any…unpleasantness happens. So I was thinking some time in the next couple days?”

Evie nods. “Of course, master. I’d enjoy that. She sounds very nice.”

Kael smiles. “She is. I’m betting that you two will get along well.”

“I hope so master.”

Kael sighs, standing up. “Well, I’m going to get out of my official business clothes. We can have something to eat afterwards, okay?”

Evie stands as well. “Of course, master! Make yourself comfortable!”

Kael looks at her, curious over the odd way she said that, but simply shakes his head. “You’re acting weird, Evie, but that’s fine. Be back in a minute.”