They spent many more days like that. Bickering, teasing, and just doing anything to pass the time, the tension before them practically evaporated overnight.

She also began to read all the books on the shelves. An experience she never had before. Sabele had told him that the last thing she ever remembered reading was a story about how dragons roamed the earth until one day they entered their eternal rest.

Evåinic explained to her that dragons had roamed the earth as guardians but with nothing to protect, they went back to their dens to sleep, and they haven't been disturbed since.

By the end of the week, Sabele had finished her rope project which turned out to be a hammock she had been working on. Ev helped her to set it up by her bookshelf and from then on, it became his bed. Much to his delight, he no longer had to sleep on the floor but he never told her that. It would become another reason for her to not be comfortable around him.

Sabele grew used to his presence, even if she was still a bit unsure of how to treat him. Evåinic just took his time getting to know her and some of the things she liked to do. He found that Sabele would often head far south to collect flowers for a small vase even though she hated leaving her dome, that she liked adding a strange herb to her stews because of the honeydew flavor they provided, and that she loved to walk without her boots even though her feet would probably freeze without them. He kept a mental note to watch her in case she decided to go without them.

But he'd never have known the full story, the scars that had scabbed her heart and would occasionally bleed her mind until one night her scream woke him. He thought an intruder had managed to get past him but that couldn't be. He had his eye trained on the place so if anything unusual were to take place then he'd know immediately.

Jumping from the hammock, he burst through the curtains. She laid thrashing on the bed in complete agony. Ev grabbed a hold of her and shook her awake to almost no avail. When she did finally come to, she was drenched in sweat and her breath labored.

"What's wrong, priestess?" He kept a steady hand on her shoulder just in case.

"Evåinic?"

"Yes, it's me."

"Please go back to sleep. It's nothing really." She couldn't see him but she knew he was unconvinced.

"It's not nothing, Sabele," his voice was hard and stern but instead of answering him, Sabele tried to turn over. He grabbed her and hauled her into his chest and held her there, ignoring her protests and struggles. Eventually, she stopped and they both stayed still.

"What are you doing?" Her voice was smaller than she intended it to be and she cringed at how weak she had sounded. How much of a child she had sounded like.

"Comforting you. At least trying to comfort you." Slowly, he rubbed his hands up and down her arms, warming them up. Ev smiled when Sabele leaned her head against his shoulder, relaxing.

"Thank you," again her voice was small, like a child's, but he made no comment on it.

"What plagues your dreams?" He placed his chin on her head. He hoped she would stay still and answer his questions. Surprisingly enough, she did.

"Every little bad thing that's happened to me comes back to me."

"I see. What came back to you tonight?" He continued to rub her goosebumped arms.

She didn’t speak for a moment, just sat there in the circle of his arms as if debating whether to bring it to light.

"My parents’ death. Then I was burned too. It hurt so bad. People were cheering." A cry choked her for a moment, her hands finding his shirt and holding onto him like a lifeline.

No, he was no lifeline. No man either, she remembered. He was a demigod.

With that in mind, she sucked up the rest of her tears and pulled out of his embrace.

"I'm sorry. There's not a lot I can do to help you with that but I'll do what I can." When she didn't answer him back, he left the room and headed to the hammock.

He didn't sleep the rest of the night but instead focused on listening to her breathing. He now knew exactly what had his mother crying the first time she had come back from meeting Sabele.

Neither had spoken about her nightmare that occurred just a few days before. He thought it best to give her time and space. Sabele appreciated that he didn't push on the subject or hover over her.

"Somebody is coming," she said quietly, grinding herbs in a bowl.

Ev tensed and waited by the entrance. He took a stance of intimidating power and authority. His arms crossed over his chest and he put his helmet over his head to obscure his face from their view. Fully armored and his sword strapped to his side for good measure.

A middle-aged woman came through the curtain with an elderly man not too far behind her.

"Priestess, would you mind if my father takes a seat?" The woman held her father's arm in a tight grip to keep him balanced. He seemed dazed and looked ready to fall.

With a nod, Sabele brought over a spare stool for him to sit. She pulled up her own in front of him while the woman took a humble seat on the floor beside her father. Ev moved to stand behind Sabele, overlooking their entire interaction.

"Priestess, we have brought gifts," the old man's voice croaked in an effort to speak and he pointed to his daughter who presented her with a basket of wool blankets and fresh meat.

"You've come for something?" Sabele left the baskets untouched by her side. She would move them later but for now, she needed to focus on the task at hand. Helping the elderly man.

"Yes. My father and I are to travel far east from here. We would like the protection of Valcite and Diez through our travels," the daughter spoke this time, holding her father's paper thinned hand. It reminded Sabele of the old priestess. Her skin had been paper thin from work and age.

"I shall summon them. Do you have an offering for them?"

"No. Whatever they ask we will try to get it," she confirmed it with a serious nod.

"I will send a messenger when it is done. Thank you for your gifts." They bowed to each other and the guests left.

The pair sat for a moment in complete silence. Evåinic grabbed the basket and inspected the items before he put them away.

"Evåinic? Could you leave for a moment? I usually summon when I'm alone." Sabele drummed her fingers on the stool beneath her.

"Nope." An expected and unavoidable answer. Sighing, she got down on her knees, placed a hand over her heart, and bowed her head.

"Mr. Valcite? God of messengers, fast travel and mischief. Miss Diez? Goddess of the moon and protector of travelers. Please, I have urgent business with you." A small warm breeze blew across the back of her neck. They had answered her.

"You've summoned us for what reason?" Diez was straight to the point. Her midnight black hair hung in a beautiful braid that had white orchids glowing from the contrast.

"Now, now, Diez. No need to be in a rush," Valcite chuckled and shook his blonde head in her direction. A goofy grin adorned his face, only pissing off the goddess.

"I was asked by an elderly father and his daughter for your protection on their travels as they head far east," Sabele interfered before the goddess could even think about strangling the god. It was usually best to stick to the topic at hand.

"I will. On the condition, the daughter keeps a live white orchid with her. So long as it is alive and well and with them, I shall protect them," with those words, Diez sneered at Valcite and disappeared. She had a temper and murdering her nephew would not go well with her sister.

"Don't worry about her, she's just a party pooper," he winked in her direction before continuing, "I want the largest ram they can find. Sacrifice it at my altar and they have my protection during their travel. Good day, Sabele." Valcite waved and stuck his tongue out in Ev's direction before disappearing.

"Well, that was interesting." Ev couldn't deny the statement. He had strange family members.

Sabele made no further comment and chose to continue her work at her desk. Once she finished, she left without a word. Evåinic grabbed his cloak and her hunting jacket to follow. He wrapped her in the jacket to keep her warm and snapped his own cloak into place.

“Where are we going?” She didn't answer but took long strides down the mountain. She didn't wear her boots and Ev cursed as he saw the blue hue come upon them.

They reached the gates to the city where a guard greeted them. Sabele passed on her message and he took off to deliver it. Since she completed her mission, she headed back up the mountain.

“Your feet are blue, Sabele.” Then without notice, he swept her off her feet.

“What are you doing?!” Outraged by the way he picked her up with ease as if touching her didn't bother him, she helplessly flailed her arms around.

“Carrying you, of course. Your feet are cold. It would be better if you had boots on. How come your little toes haven't fallen off?” His teasing tone only added fuel to the fire.

“Excuse me, but my toes aren't little. I'm used to the cold and can handle a small trip down the mountainside,” she huffed in annoyance. She did that a lot, he noted. Always huffing at him.

“Well, they are little. And cute. I can't just have you getting frostbite on me now, either. I’m carrying you one way or another. Be lucky I just didn't throw you over my shoulder,” he winked down at her and she kept silent the rest of the way. Sabele actually was grateful he hadn’t thrown her over his shoulder.