Back at the cave, Sabele gave him the silent treatment and Ev gave up trying to converse with her. He settled for just watching her season the meat for their dinner. It remained quiet, not uncomfortable, but quiet for the next few days.

“Strange,” Sabele hummed from where she stitched up a broken seam on one of her shirts.

“What is?” Alarmed, Evåinic immediately appeared by her side, ready and armed.

“I’ve never received two visits in one week before. Usually, once a week is enough. Coincidence?” Sabele looked up Evåinic, hoping he knew the answer.

“I don't believe in coincidences, Sabele.” His hand gripped the hilt of the sword, knuckles white from the force. That reaction gave an answer all on its own.

Minutes ticked by while they sat in silence. Ev’s hand never left his sword and his hand never lost its grip. Gulping, Sabele finished off the seam and neatly folded the shirt. Placing it in the basket in the storage room, she returned to sitting by Evåinic.

“Evåinic…” He grunted in response, never looking down at her. “Please sit down and relax.” He didn't move a muscle. “You're frightening me, please sit down.” Her voice was low and for a moment, Sabele was sure he hadn’t heard her.

Then, his shoulders relaxed just the tiniest bit. Grabbing an extra stool, he sat next to her, silent, as if in deep thought. Evåinic’s hand slowly removed itself from his sword and he placed it in his lap. Fingers entwined, he sat more relaxed, or as relaxed as he could be. The stiffness in his shoulders hadn’t entirely left but he tried for her. That made her smile.

“Thank you.” Sabele didn’t receive a reply.

A mother walked in only minutes later. Her son breathing heavily in her arms with rashes up and down his arms. The mother’s plea became jumbled and barely audible between her sobs.

Sabele, though shocked at first, instantly got up and taking note of all his symptoms. She grabbed her notebook and flipped through it for anything.

“Can you help him?!” The mother practically screamed in the priestess’s face.

Sabele’s odd feeling returned. Never had she been screamed at before. They’ve cried and sobbed themselves into near oblivion but none had ever screamed at her. Exaggerated.

Sabele looked over her shoulder to look at Evåinic. He didn't think anything of the situation but the look on her face told him differently. But what difference? The boy’s condition? The mother screaming? The fact she had two visits in one week?

“Yes, please stay calm. It's nothing much to worry about. He just ate something bad, that's all,” well, that crossed off the condition.

It seemed common enough to Evåinic but wouldn't a healer have already identified the problem? Priestesses were consulted with major issues. Issues that seemed more suited to be fixed by supernatural means unless a special herb was needed. While they had information on lots of herbs, more so than any healer would, a healer could just visit for the information, not the patient.

An uneasy feeling settled in his gut.

Something wasn't right…

Sabele gracefully moved around the place, collecting what she needed and then working at her table to make up the potion. When finished, she returned to the pair to give it to the boy.

“This will help you.” She held the vial to his lips, but before he even opened his mouth, before even taking a sip, the boy’s hand came up, blade in hand, and drove it towards her throat. Shocked, Sabele stumbled out of the way, the coolness of the metal tingling her skin.

Evåinic, sword drawn, stood between the two seconds later.

“Leave,” his nostrils flared in anger, his gold eyes glowing slightly and his pupils turning to slits.

Scared, the mother grabbed her boy by the hand and they stumbled through the curtains. Ripping their way out, they left pieces of the beautiful curtain behind and took off down the trail. Their footprints imprinted into the snow slowly faded away when a gust of wind blew overtop.

“They ruined it.” Sabele gently rubbed her fingers on one of the pieces, tears coating her eyes.

“They can be replaced. Are you okay?” Grabbing her chin, he forced her to look up at him. Ev tilted her head one way and then another, inspecting for the slightest scrape.

“Yes, I am fine but I can't replace these. I told you I didn't have any money,” then in a lower tone, so low it was almost inaudible, “Zack bought these for me.” Crouching, Evåinic looked at her forlorn face.

“And I believe I told you I do. I’m sorry they were ruined, I am. However, if you would like I’ll get new ones.”

“Really?” The slightest hope reached her eyes.

He had to blink for a moment. Never before had he seen hope reach her eyes. It suited her deep brown eyes so well, in fact, it went as far as to light up her face.

“On one condition, of course.” Just like that, her face fell, the hope replaced by mild irritation.

“And that would be?” Sabele raised an eyebrow.

“Come with me?” Evåinic simple stretched out his hand, giving her an unsure but adorable boyish smile.

“Fine.”

That afternoon, they headed down the mountain. Sabele kept herself fully cloaked from head to toe while Evåinic just wore his cloak. Unlike her, he kept his hood down showing off his handsome features. Said features were a few inches shorter, brown hair, and brown eyes. Almost plain in comparison to the wild colors he had.

They walked around the marketplace for a while, looking at all sorts of imports and natively made goods. Sabele humbly chose a more poor quality cloth, one that was cheaper than the rest. Evåinic urged her to look at the ones with color. There were bright blues and dark reds, bright yellows and sublime greens, so on and so on.

Finally, due to Ev’s persistence, she chose a beautiful cloth of purple and gold. It had a wondrous pattern that looked like the night sky. Its background contained mostly purple but black and blue swirls could also be seen and then the stars, or dots, in this case, were made of golden oranges. The back was a plain dark grey.

The material held a velvet feel to it, thick enough to keep the cool breezes out.

“Um… This one?” She pointed it to it, unsure because of the large price tag.

“Sure,” Evåinic smiled and turned to the vendor to bargain. He got it half off to Sabele’s delight and they headed back to set it up.

“Thank you for buying this. You really didn't have to.” She gave him an awkward sideways hug in thanks.

“Of course,” he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, holding her close to him, “I didn’t have to do a lot of things. I enjoy helping you when I can.” They smiled at each other and separated to begin setting up the new curtain.

It was a wonderful addition to the cave that brightened up the entrance greatly.

But the good mood could only last so long with Evåinic’s constant teasing and unwanted guests.

"Priestess Sabele!" The way her back tensed at the tone, Evåinic knew it had to be the head chief of the city below.

"Yes?" She stopped stirring and looked up from the cauldron. Ev had been washing up after checking on the traps and bringing back a few rabbits. Sabele had yelled at him to stay in the storage room, out of sight. Now, he understood why.

Looking out, past the beaded strings, he counted four men plus Eztil-Catl.

Armored and prepared, his fingers gripped the hilt of the sword. They made one wrong move and they were dead. With his blood on fire, he felt every muscle in him tense then. Raw power vibrated through him at the thought of one of them touching her, he almost saw red. But, he shook his head of those thoughts. Blind rage would get him nowhere. Ev looked down at his hand which shook from adrenaline. Where had that feeling come from?

"Have you decided yet?" The head chief circled around her like a predator. Every cell in her body commanded she shrink back but she's had years of practice, years to prepare herself against his imitation tactics. She wouldn't let him see her fear, even if it seeped out of every pore in her body. She wouldn't show fear.

"I have not. I will let you know when I have, I assure you," Sabele reached for the stirring spoon to continue when he roughly grabbed her wrist. At least, that had been his intended course of action. The older man suddenly flew a few feet back and a gleam of golden armor caught her eye.

Evåinic stood between them, his back to her, with one hand on his sword ready to fight. The sword continued to be sheathed, only a sliver of the actual blade could be seen.

"Leave." His golden eyes flared as his pupil's turned to slits, a sign that the power within threatened to break to the surface.

Terrified of the demigod they knew stood before them, the chief rejoined with his men and they left in a hurry.

"That wasn't necessary you know." Sabele stirred silently as if the events were nothing. Just another day.

"My orders are my orders. I will protect you." He didn't focus on her but on the curtain that the men had just run through. They didn’t look to be coming back any time soon.

"Thank you," Sabele said those words humbly as they rarely ever came from her mouth. Then again, the meaning was almost lost on her. Nobody had ever really helped her to earn her thanks except for the gods and Zack.

Evåinic didn’t expect thanks. In fact, he more expected for her to rail on him some more but he was glad she did not.

He sat on a nearby stool and watched her cook. Her hips slightly swayed as she stirred, teasing him with the seeable flesh that moved in beat with the barely audible hum from her lips. His body burned again as he slowly led his gaze from her hips to her chest. Just the tiniest bit of breast could be seen and his mouth watered. His eyes continued up, seeing her soft face as she worked, her mind far away in that moment of peace, her heart guiding the tune to which she swayed to.

Guiltily, he looked away, to the fire just beside her, a deep pit entering his stomach. He sighed as he peeked up, taking in her features once more before he cleared his throat.

He should say something.

"Sabele. Don't take this wrong way, but please go change." He looked away, hoping to hide the blush that coated his cheeks.

"What do you-" she stopped mid-sentence when she noticed the reddening of his cheeks that stretched down to his neck. His hands were fisted together until his knuckles were painfully white and he kept his gaze elsewhere.

Looking down, she remembered what particular article of clothing she had on and came to the conclusion quite quickly what he had been referring to. Silently, she changed into a long, less revealing skirt along with a long sleeve top.

It certainly left more to the imagination but did nothing to stomp the fire out. Ev sighed, he’d have to live with it.

"Sorry, I hadn't realized." She continued to stir.

His bitter laugh shocked her just as much as his words.

"Hadn't realized what? You're a beautiful woman? Any man would fight to the death to just be in your presence for five seconds let alone talk to you? Have you looked at yourself Sabele? I don't see some little, terrified girl. I see a strong woman who would rival any beauty in this entire empire.” He frowned at what he had just said.

While it was certainly true, Ev hadn’t meant for it to come rushing out. It felt good to say it, just...

Sabele looked away very uncomfortable by his words and if he didn't know any better, she was teary-eyed.

"Sabele, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." He drew close to her and laid a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry," he whispered to her, as if afraid he would offend her. Wiping her eyes, the priestess chose to smile at him instead.

"That was probably the best compliment I have ever received even if it made me feel very uncomfortable and stupid for not realizing I was still wearing that. But, as you probably noticed, I’m not around a lot of people." Sabele ruffled his hair, very affectionately, before turning her attention to the pot. "It's almost ready. Would you grab the bowls?"

Handing her the bowls, Ev replied, "I didn't mean to make you feel stupid. I understand you're not that used to visitors. I shouldn't have been looking anyway."

"You haven't looked when I..."

"No! I wasn't raised by wolves in some den..."

"You don't have to be raised by wolves in a den, Evåinic. It's called being a perverted demigod, that's all." She dumped the stew into his bowl and handed it back to him.

"Ha. Ha. Ha. I'm just dying of laughter." While he wasn't laughing, he did smile. They sat on the cold floor by the fire and ate. Evåinic filled the silence with funny stories and jokes that had Sabele choking a few times.

"You’re supposed to protect me. Not make me laugh to death!" But even then, she still laughed.

"I know, I know. Here, have some water." Evåinic couldn't help but grin at her.