A Legacy of Dragons(16)

Adrina resolved herself to her choice, her body shaking as she fought to contain herself. "I don't care. Bring. Him. Back."

The lady elf touched a hand to Xith's chest, her eyes though remained fixed on Adrina's. "He's not gone completely. He's holding onto the last few threads of the weave. There's still a chance."

"Then do this thing and be done with it."

The lady elf touched her other hand to Adrina's chest, near her heart. "The new mark will go here, but it doesn't have to be."

Adrina grabbed the lady's hand and pushed it tight against her. "Do it. Do it now!"

The lady closed her eyes. "Will you ever learn? Will you ever ask the right questions?"

A flow of magic stirred the air.

Adrina pushed down more firmly on the lady's hand. "Bring him back to me."

The lady whispered words Adrina heard but couldn't quite understand.

The flow intensified.

The air swirled.

The hearth fire flared.

The lady gasped. She opened her eyes.

"It is done," she said.

Adrina looked down at Xith, expecting him to open his eyes and look up at her, but he didn't. She beat her hands against his chest. "Xith? Xith?"

The lady tried to calm her. She pushed the lady elf away, ripped open her own shirt.

She watched the mark burn into her flesh, bit her tongue to keep from crying out.

She looked back to Xith.

Xith's eyes were closed.

She checked his breathing.

She shook him.

She pushed her hands on either side of his cheeks. "Breathe," she implored. "Breathe."

Her eyes wild, she turned on the lady. "What's the meaning of this?"

Angrily, slapping the mark on her chest, she shouted, "That's three. Three. Tell him!"

Lady Adrynne turned away, tears in her eyes. "Zanzes sees and knows all where you and I are concerned. There's no need to tell him anything."

"Oh, yes there is," Adrina said haughtily. "Tell him recompense is due. Tell him, I've paid, for here is my mark."

All of a sudden, the lady looked as immaterial as material, wispy again. She doubled over in pain. "He's angry… Oh, so angry… Angry with me for telling you what I shouldn't have."

Adrina's heart went out to the lady. "Tell me what to do. Tell me how I can make it right. Tell me how I can stop your pain. Tell me how I can bring him back."

"But I did already," The lady cried out as pain took her to the floor.

"But I paid," Adrina said, sobbing.

A shimmering haze surrounded the lady. She became increasingly translucent, started to disappear. First her feet, then her legs. "You didn't listen. You never listen."

"But I paid," Adrina repeated.

Right before her light winked out and she disappeared, the lady said, "There are no guarantees with magic. None. Know that I tried."