Chapter 2 The Stranger's Shadow

• The cottage felt smaller with the stranger inside. Kael Drakemire’s presence seemed to command the room, though he stood silently by the hearth. His rain-soaked cloak dripped onto the wooden floor, forming a small puddle that glistened in the flickering firelight.
• Ariella couldn’t look away from him. There was something both unsettling and magnetic about him—the way his sharp gray eyes seemed to take in every detail, the tension in his shoulders, as if he were prepared to fight at any moment.
• “Who are you?” she finally asked, her voice breaking the heavy silence.
• Kael glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “A traveler,” he said simply.
• “Travelers don’t usually show up in the middle of a storm,” Linnea said, stepping between them. Her tone was polite but firm, the subtle protectiveness of a seasoned healer who had seen her share of trouble.
• Kael’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I didn’t come here to cause trouble. I’ll be gone by morning.”
• Linnea studied him for a moment, her sharp gaze unyielding. Then, with a sigh, she gestured toward a chair. “Sit. You’ll catch your death standing there like that.”
• Kael hesitated before lowering himself into the seat. The firelight cast shadows across his face, deepening the lines of weariness that no amount of rest could erase.
• ---
• Ariella busied herself with the tea, though her hands trembled as she poured the steaming liquid into clay cups. She had so many questions, but the weight of Linnea’s earlier words pressed on her chest.
• *You’re not just a healer. You come from a bloodline older and more powerful than any in Elandor.*
• She glanced down at the amulet in her hand. Its faint glow had dimmed, but she could still feel its energy humming beneath her fingertips. What did it mean? And why had Linnea kept it from her all these years?
• She turned back to the table and placed a cup in front of Kael. He nodded in thanks but said nothing.
• “Where are you traveling from?” Ariella asked, unable to contain her curiosity.
• Kael’s gaze flicked to hers, and for a moment, she thought he wouldn’t answer. Then he said, “South. Near the borderlands.”
• Linnea stiffened at his words. “The borderlands? You’re lucky to be alive. The queen’s patrols don’t take kindly to strangers wandering near the edges of her territory.”
• Kael’s expression darkened. “I’m not worried about the queen’s patrols.”
• The sharp edge in his voice made Ariella shiver. She exchanged a glance with Linnea, who frowned deeply.
• “You should be,” Linnea said. “These are dangerous times. The queen’s reach grows longer every day. Even this village isn’t as safe as it used to be.”
• Kael’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond.
• ---
• Later, as the storm continued to rage outside, Ariella found herself unable to sleep. She sat by the window, the amulet clutched in her hand, staring out at the rain-soaked darkness.
• Her thoughts drifted back to Kael. There was something about him—something familiar, though she couldn’t place it. He carried himself like someone who had seen too much, who had endured more than anyone should.
• A sudden noise broke her reverie. She turned to see Kael standing by the door, his cloak draped over his arm.
• “You’re leaving?” she asked, her voice softer than she intended.
• He nodded. “I don’t stay anywhere long.”
• “But the storm—”
• “I’ve seen worse.”
• Ariella hesitated. “Where will you go?”
• Kael’s gaze met hers, and for the first time, she saw a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes. “Wherever I’m needed. Or… wherever I’m not found.”
• Her grip on the amulet tightened. “Are you running from something?”
• Kael’s expression hardened. “You ask too many questions.”
• Before she could respond, Linnea’s voice cut through the room. “You’ll stay the night.”
• Both Ariella and Kael turned to see her standing in the doorway, her arms crossed. “No one travels in a storm like this. You may not care for your life, but I won’t have it on my conscience if you’re struck down out there.”
• Kael opened his mouth to argue, but Linnea silenced him with a pointed glare. “Sit down. And don’t make me regret letting you in.”
• Kael sighed and stepped away from the door, setting his cloak on a nearby chair. Ariella couldn’t help but smile faintly. Linnea’s stubbornness had won again.
• ---
• As the hours passed, the storm began to subside. Ariella remained by the window, her thoughts swirling like the rain outside. Kael sat by the fire, staring into the flames with a distant look in his eyes.
• “Why did you come here?” she asked softly.
• Kael didn’t look at her. “It wasn’t planned.”
• “But you knew this place existed.”
• This time, his gaze shifted to her. “I’ve heard of the healer who lives here. And her granddaughter.”
• Ariella’s breath caught. “How do you know about us?”
• Kael leaned forward, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “Because you’re not as hidden as you think.”
• Her heart raced. She glanced at Linnea, who was watching them closely from her seat. The older woman’s expression was unreadable, but Ariella could sense her unease.
• Kael stood and adjusted his cloak. “Get some rest. You’ll need it.”
• “For what?” Ariella asked, her voice trembling.
• He turned to her, his gray eyes sharp and unrelenting. “The queen’s reach is closer than you realize. And if she finds what you’re hiding, no village, no healer, and no storm will keep her from taking it.”