Part of me felt like my suspicions had just been confirmed, but part held back. There was no anger or rage in his eyes, no tension behind his muscles to belie his words. No tension behind his voice, either. He wasn’t straining to keep his voice quiet and gentle. He actually was speaking courteously. To me. That almost left me more worried than if he’d come in yelling.
Distinctively awkward now, I let my arms drop to my sides and shifted my weight. “I’m sure Jec isn’t the type to eavesdrop on a private conversation.”
Erret fidgeted. “Of course not. But there are some things I wish to say to you, and I would prefer it to remain… private.”
My cynical side was losing ground. If he was faking this polite act to get me alone to yell at me, he’d suddenly become a far greater actor overnight than he’d been the entire time I’d known him. He was hiding what he wanted to talk about, but he didn’t seem angry or devious or shifty. If anything, he just looked uncomfortable.
I folded my hands together and met his eyes, waiting. I wasn’t going anywhere with him without knowing what he wanted.
He shifted his weight a couple more times, then finally looked down and quietly spoke. “I… I need to apologize to you, raisa. I’ve treated you unfairly.” His voice dropped even quieter. “I was wrong.”
It was the last thing I’d expected out of his mouth. I searched his body language for some hint of deception, for some trace of falsehood in him, but saw none. Instead, for the first time, I saw just how deflated he looked, like a heavy burden of guilt was trying to drive him into the ground. He didn’t want to talk in private because he wanted to avoid witnesses. He wanted to talk in private because he was ashamed.
The realization startled me. I knew how to deal with a bully. I knew how to deal with a threat. I wasn’t entirely sure how to deal with… this, whatever it was. I looked at Jec, but he was studiously ignoring us, giving Erret the privacy he wanted.
I turned back to Erret. I was going to be leaving today. Might as well give both of us the chance to clear the air. And if this was some sort of trick, I wouldn’t hold back this time. I wouldn’t bite my tongue to avoid reaming him and risk losing ground with Thone. After today, my standing in the village wouldn’t matter. And, if he intended to attack me, he’d find out just how sharp my ‘unnatural’ fighting skills were.
“Jec,” I said, “please excuse me. I need to have a private word with Erret. I’ll be back shortly.”
He nodded, humming off-key as he worked the metal.
Erret looked surprised, but held the door for me. “Thank you, raisa.”
A few people worked on the road, putting finishing touches on the new wood covering. No privacy there. I looked around, then took the lead, walking toward the end of Magra’s place. We could walk around the outside edge of the village, beside the forest. Close enough for the villagers to hear if I shouted. Close enough for Axen to reach me if needed. But far enough away from people to give Erret the comfort of no witnesses to his embarrassment.
He remained quiet until we turned the corner of Magra’s house and began walking between the buildings and the forest. “When you came…” He paused. “What I mean is, you and the dragon…” He lost momentum again and fell quiet.
It took a minute before he tried again. “I know that there are other Elf settlements out there. And I know that not all of them still hold to the Traditional ways. And not like Krenish, either. Many of them are still honorable in many ways, but not…” He sighed. “Not in the old ways.”
I continued walking at his side, listening, waiting. And keeping a close eye on his body language for any indication of deception.
“What I’m trying to say is, I know not everyone still does things by the old ways. And maybe that’s not always a bad thing.” He chewed on his lip. “Either way, I was out of line. The way I spoke to you, the way I treated you. It was dishonorable and disgraceful. I was so blinded by my fear of something new, something foreign, that I failed in my duties as an Elf man. I failed to treat you with respect and honor. And I am deeply sorry for that.”
I was staring at him now, unable to help myself. I saw nothing but sincerity in his eyes. Regret. Sadness. He truly felt sorrow for how he’d treated me. I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. “What changed your mind?”
“Yesterday.” A self-deprecating smile pulled his lips upward a fraction. “I finally saw you as a person, not as a threat. I’m sorry, raisa. It’s how I should have seen you from the moment you came.”
My panic. My fear. The villagers joining together to protect me. My vulnerability had forced him to see me through a new perspective. I would have normally been embarrassed at the thought of him seeing me as someone weak, but I was too relieved that he finally recognized how misplaced his animosity had been.
He turned and raised his hands in the customary gesture of friendship and peace. “I know I don’t deserve forgiveness for what a monster I’ve been toward you. But I hope you can find it in yourself to forgive me. I hope we can put this behind us and start over.”
I searched his eyes. Remorse. Hope. His sentiments were genuine.
I placed my hands against his. “Of course.”
He moved too fast for me to realize what he was doing before it was too late. His fist slammed into my jaw, bashing me against the house we stood beside. Lights and pain danced through my head, blinding me as I struggled to keep myself upright. Sounds roared in my ears without order or meaning. Something yanked at my hand.
A strangled scream tore from my throat as I felt the ring slide. Something inside of me slid at the same time, deep roots twisting themselves loose. I clenched my hand as my other arm flailed wildly. I couldn’t see or think clearly through the pain trying to drag me away from the world. My fist hit something without effect. A second pain tore through my arm, breaking my grip. The ring slid again.
“No!” I screamed, but the word wouldn’t come out. The ring slipped from my finger.
Everything inside of me churned in a mass of chaos, terror, agony. The roots snapped and tore free, clawing through my entire being and leaving behind nothing but a trembling husk on the ground.
Erret looked at me with sad eyes, then vanished into the forest.