The Last Talisman by Licia Troisi

do.”
    â€œNo, but I’m cold, I’m so cold. …”
    â€œYour sole duty here is to determine who’s worthy of possessing the stone and who isn’t, am I wrong? This boy you’re stealing has done no harm. You’re not allowed to take him. You’re committing a grave offense, and you know it.”
    Laio let his hands fall to his sides and cast a dejected look at the floor. Nihal drew her sword, but Sennar signaled for her to hold off.
    â€œDo you know Ael?” Sennar asked.
    Laio snapped to attention. “The Supreme Lady of Water, guardian of the stone in the Land of Water … Of course I know her.”
    Sennar turned toward Nihal. “Sheireen, show her where Ael is now.” Nihal, however, merely stared back at him blank-faced.
    â€œThe talisman,” Sennar urged.
    She rummaged for it in her cloak. Carefully, calmly, she made her way over to Laio, who shot her a scathing glance. When the half-elf displayed the talisman, the boy’s eyes clouded over.
    â€œDo you recognize this amulet?” asked Sennar.
    Laio nodded.
    â€œWell, then you certainly know about the stones, as well. That one there is Ael. Her essence is now contained within the stone.”
    Laio leaned in to peer at the object.
    â€œAel is no longer alone. She left her sanctuary. She now guards over this stone we carry. In this way, you too can leave your sanctuary. If you truly hate it here so much, then come with us. You’ll no longer be alone. You’ll travel with us from land to land in search of peace. You’ll see wonder upon wonder. This is your one chance of getting out of here.”
    â€œNo, I don’t want to! This young boy’s flesh is so warm. …” Laio protested.
    â€œLeave him!” Sennar commanded. “He is not yours to possess. His life is not your life. You’re committing a serious offense.” He snatched the talisman from Nihal and dangled it before Laio’s eyes. “This is the answer. This is where you belong. Here is where you’ll find the heat you crave. Do you want to go on harming this pure-hearted boy? Is that what you want?”
    Nihal, in the meantime, had crept up behind Laio and was waiting, sword in hand.
    â€œLeave him,” Sennar repeated. “Free him and do your duty.”
    The talisman wavered before Laio’s eyes, and he followed its motion as if hypnotized. Right, left, right, left. At last, the squire closed his eyes, and all was dark again. Then a blinding light split the darkness and beamed straight into the stone, which had fallen to the ground. In the pitch black came the thud of a body collapsing to the floor.
    â€œLaio!” Nihal shouted. She groped along the floor until she found him. “Are you okay?” she asked, cradling his head in her hands.
    â€œLet’s get out of here, now!” Sennar shouted.
    Nihal searched for the stone in the dark. Then she threw Laio over her shoulders and ran toward the exit. It seemed to take forever. At last, they stepped outside into the light.
    Nihal set Laio down on the ground and began calling his name. After a few moments, the squire opened his eyes and brought a hand to his chest.
    â€œIs … is everything okay?” the boy asked in a strange voice.
    Nihal let out a sigh of relief. “Yes. Everything’s just fine,” she answered with a smile. Without wasting a second, she recited the sacred spell and set the stone into its niche.

8
    Ido’s Obsession
    Ido was alone for the evening. And he didn’t feel like sleeping. Seated on the hilltop just outside his tent, he cast a vacant gaze over the landscape. He was seized with melancholy, and the view before him did nothing to lift his spirits. The entire panorama of the plain, awash with moonlight and traversed by the silver ribbon of a river, seemed to him heartrendingly beautiful had it not been for the dark hazy strip still visible along the horizon, just where the