Free Sunset of Lantonne by Jim Galford

“Has anyone been here recently?”
    Sniffing, Raeln shook his head, but Ilarra could tell by his expression that he was not entirely sure..
    “So we’re safe for now.”
    Raeln gave her a skeptical stare and finished situating himself in front of the door, sitting cross-legged and facing out toward the main room.
    “You always think we’re in danger.”
    Raeln nodded and closed his eyes.
    That would be the end of even trying to converse, Ilarra knew. When Raeln closed his eyes, he rarely was truly asleep but would rest quietly until she was ready to move on. Any sound would snap him awake, but he would not respond to her questions further, though she guessed he still heard what she was saying. Sometimes it felt like he was trying to make her stop talking, but she had no good way to scold him for doing so.
    Ilarra released her concentration on the magical glow and her hand faded away slowly, making the room pitch black.
    Laying down, Ilarra tried to sleep for a long time. Each time her mind was willing to drift, a pop or creak of the old wooden building would startle her. She eventually grew accustomed to it and fell asleep.
    Her dreams that night were filled with worries about what her father would say when he found out that the tower of magic had turned her away.

    *

    Early the next morning—far earlier than Ilarra really would have wished—she woke with Raeln’s massive hand clamped over her mouth and jaw. She choked as she came to, having to shove at Raeln’s hand to move it off of her nose so that she could at least breathe. He refused to budge at first, but quickly seemed to realize that he was suffocating Ilarra and adjusted his grip, though he kept her mouth held shut.
    Once she could think clearly and breathe through her nose, Ilarra focused on Raeln, then the room around them for some sign of what was happening. It did not take her long at all to realize that the once-quiet place was far noisier than she remembered.
    Shouts and clattering sounds like someone was dragging furniture echoed through the structure. With each new crash of something being tossed about, Raeln snarled more openly, watching the doorway while he kept one hand on Ilarra’s face. He wanted to go out there, but he would not leave her alone.
    Ilarra yanked Raeln’s hand away and sat up, grabbing what she felt was most essential among her belongings as swiftly as she could manage. Meanwhile, Raeln shifted closer to the door, where he could intercept anything coming in but not be seen from downstairs. Into Ilarra’s small backpack went her notes on magic, a pack with some food, and a waterskin. The rest would have to wait until they could find out what was happening.
    A loud creak from a loose board near the doorway made Ilarra freeze. She could practically feel Raeln tense behind her. He had not made that noise.
    Easing her pack onto her shoulder, Ilarra slowly got her sandaled feet under her, ready to run if Raeln gave her the signal. Instead, he had a hand held up toward her, warning her to stay where she was. Never would she argue with Raeln when it came to safety. Likely, he would try to clear a path for her to run if things came to violence.
    Seconds passed and the edge of an axe appeared in the doorway, though the wielder stopped just out of view. Whoever it was backed away suddenly and Ilarra heard a rush of more feet pounding up the stairs, stopping somewhere nearby.
    “Show yourselves,” came a growling voice from the hall. “I’m guessing one elf and one big dog. We don’t want a fight…but you’ll both die if you don’t come out right now. None of us are in the mood to negotiate.”
    Raeln motioned for Ilarra to relax and then stood slowly. He took a slow breath before stepping fully into the doorway. The whole time, he kept his hands visible to whoever was out there, making sure they did not think he meant to attack first. Showing that he had no weapons was probably reassuring to the people outside, but after years