The Silver Arrow by Larry Itejere

ignored, she spoke up.
    “Sorry to bother both of you,
but I was told to ensure that he eat something as soon as he was
up.” Elena released her grip on Iseac and turned to look at
Gina.
    “I’ll take that,” she said as
she reached out for the tray, which Gina gladly handed over.
    “I’ll make sure he eats
everything and return it to you once he’s done.”
    “Then I will leave you two
alone,” she said to Elena as she excused herself and left the
room.
    Iseac stared at her, amazed by
how much she had changed. Her youthful mannerisms were still there,
but inside was a now beautiful woman. Her hair was pulled back from
her face, held in place by a yellow ribbon.
    The last thing he remembered
was fighting Agoras at the outskirts of Bremah and some creatures
that took on human form. He was supposed to be dead, so how did he
end up in his hometown of Tru’tia? As other thoughts ran through
his head, he asked, “How long have I been here?”
    “Five days,” she replied in her
so-familiar voice that felt melodious to him.
    “For a while, Berta wasn’t sure
you would make it. Your fever took longer to break than Berta had
thought.” Elena didn’t mention she had been coming every day to
check on him since arriving at Berta’s.
    “You were found lying on
Durack, with his reins tied to the horse of an Ackalan.” There was
a hint of another discussion to come.
    “Mosley was badly injured, but
he’s well. The first thing he asked about when he gained
consciousness was how you were doing. When he was told you were
being taken care of next door, he got out of his bed and walked
over to check on you, ignoring the protest of Berta and her maids,
who were in the middle of removing the arrow in his shoulder. Your
safety meant more to him than his own life, it appears.
    “At your side, he asked several
questions on your condition; when he was satisfied there was
nothing else that could be done, he walked back to his room with
blood dripping on the floor.”
    Iseac listened while sipping
his soup. The first bite stung, as his mouth felt raw, and the
sensation was no different as it slid down his throat. Like
quicksand, it seeped into his bones, leaving him feeling warm
inside. He continued eating, not saying a word, listening, until
she mentioned a stranger who came looking for him the same
night.
    “I was told a group of armed
men stopped at the Two Arrows Tavern, and another group came here.
They were looking for two dangerous men who were badly injured and
asked if they could look around. The one who led this group here
spoke with the authority of a man who expected to be obeyed, even
though he saluted Gina. This man she said had the accent of a
northerner and the mannerism of a high Lord. Gina knew that
regardless of what she said, they were going to look around. The
only thing she could do was make them feel that while they were
welcome to look around, it would a waste of their time.
    ‘We’ve not had any new visitors
as of late, but you are welcome to look around if you wish,’ she
told them.
    “Even though the man she was
talking to was civil, the one standing behind him had his eyes
fixed on her. This man that stood behind his commander had no
warmth in his expression as he stared fixedly at Gina with his deep
green eyes while stroking the hilt of his sword, as if searching
for a reason to use it. When their commander gave the signal to
search the rooms, the men split into two groups. “The green-eyed
man walked up the stairs, his hand firm on the hilt of his sword as
he peered through the curtain on the first room, which was empty.
The man cautiously walked toward the next room. He pulled the
curtain open, and a young man, Dan, with his father, turned to see
who it was that had entered their room. The man at the door stared
at them for a minute and then turned around and left. As he
withdrew from the room, a call came from downstairs. It must have
been urgent, because he immediately ran back down to join