Chapter 30

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Serenity rose from the water and smiled at Kelton. Her beauty drew him into the water. Ignoring the flood over the tops of his boots he pursued his desire. Her eyes sparkled, reflecting the soft morning sun as it danced across the surface of the pond. He heard his name from her lips, a song that dissolved into his soul. Her welcoming arms reached out to him, and his stomach lurched, bile rose to burn his throat.

Kelton snapped to a sitting position and his innards slushed in his skull. The smell of stale fermented honey accosted his nose. He covered his mouth with his hand and struggled to hold the contents of his stomach.

"There's a bucket at your feet," Rolic said. Kelton turned his head too quickly, and the world swam away from his eyes, sending a pulse of pain ricocheting behind his eyes. He rose from the chair he had slept on and rushed for the door of the cave. "Or you can take it outside." Rolic chuckled as Kelton ran.

Kelton fell to his knees on the hillside. Small bursts of better followed each bout of heaving. His body wanted the undigested curse out of his system, and Kelton was more than happy to help it along. He promised himself to never touch or even smell the horrid liquid again. His head was throbbing as if its insides no longer fit properly and were trying to squeeze themselves out. Death, at that moment, would have almost been welcome.

"Water," Rolic said, holding forth a skin. Kelton shook his head, sure that his stomach would revolt. "Drink it. Your body will recover faster." Kelton sat back on his heels and took the skin because Rolic wasn't smiling anymore.

"I don't like you right now," Kelton whispered and took a tentative drink from the skin. Rolic nodded and sat cross-legged on the ground, well away from the mess Kelton had created.

"The feeling is well deserved, though not mutual." Rolic waited as Kelton took another sip. "You are unique, Kelton. Very different from others I have met in this land."

"Do you poison everyone you meet?"

"Sorry. I wanted your story, and you were making it difficult to get it." Rolic shrugged. Kelton closed his eyes to block the morning light. The water did feel good going down. He wouldn't risk a big drink, but small sips were sitting well.

"Did I tell you everything?" Kelton asked. He remembered saying too much. It was the total quantity he wasn't sure about.

"I thought you had, but now I'm interested in this Serenity." Kelton opened his eyes part way and squinted at Rolic's curiosity. "You called the name in your sleep. Passionately, I might add."

"A curse, like that mead of yours."

"A curse?"

"My stomach has quieted. Can we go back inside, away from the light?" Rolic nodded and helped Kelton to his feet. Kelton's head relaxed some when they escaped the blinding sun. It still throbbed, but it was more pressure as opposed to stabbing knives.

"It is an awful thing you did to me," Kelton said as he rubbed his eyes.

"It will pass soon enough." Rolic waved away Kelton's words. "Consider it a lesson for the future, when your opponent has more nefarious motives."

"I don't know your motives."

"True," Rolic said. Kelton had hoped he would elaborate. Instead, Rolic sat in one of the intricately carved chairs and waved Kelton to another. Kelton sighed, resigned to the fact he was outclassed and would never know much about Rolic or his motivations. Kelton sat slowly, not wanting to jar his head any more than necessary. He chose one of the long cushioned seats that allowed his muscles to relax into a slouch.

"From what I have been able to assemble of your tale, you have made some errors." Rolic spoke down to Kelton, much in the same way Gossamer had in the past. "Leaving this Gossamer behind is one."

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