CHRONICLES OF AADYA

Episode Thirty

AADYA

Gunnar never ceased to lighten up the journey with his series of tales about his recent knowledge of handling a sword and how he had reached to master some of its technics as well as how he had followed Alisdair to hunt for a deer and many more, yet in all these, Alisdair's interest in the young lad's tales only comes forth whenever I raise a question to learn a certain thing. And may the goddess guild me because his endless gaze was a thing I'm yet to outweigh. They were invariably riveting and worshipful like the orb of life in its glorious form, consuming me whole. No matter the countless occasions I had turned to glance at him, he at no time made an effort to disguise the existence that he was gazing right at me.

Whenever we dismounted for breaks, or at the end of the day, he was constantly by the flank of the horse, his oddly gentle, soothing hand waiting for mine to rest on as he assist me onto the soil.

Each morning when I woke up, just as the sky began to lighten to a soft grey, he was already awake and observing me, back glued to some tree trunk. "You're awake" He would always say and then proceed to nod gently when I responded and never uttered any word once more. I wasn't sure of his reason for being silent and that drove me to genuinely desire to hear him speak more.

He had guided me down the horse before Gunnar zoom out with Bellamy to fetch some wood as I overheard Bellamy said. The world was already covered in its blanket of darkness and the near and far buzzing of crickets waffling in the area. "Have this" He urged offering me his water pouch.

"Thank you," I sounded off as I clutched the pouch and then took some sips before returning it.

"Wait here, I will be right back" He instructed and was about to depart before I oppugned.

"I might at least do something, you know" I offered since they all tend to treat me like a delicate being that can't fend for herself.

"Yes, I'm aware of that. I would have allowed you to hunt, it would have been my pleasure to watch you hunt except I have no arrows nor a crossbow" He informed and his body soon moved nearer to me and my eyes tend to follow his face "I will make you one following our arrival to Irpinia" The words came forth of gentle longing whispers and I found myself clinging to them.

"It won't take long," He said taking a few steps back "Bellamy will soon be back so you won't have to be alone for long" He turned to face his path at the end of the words "Don't succumb to those thoughts" He let out halfway gone and a sudden smile swung onto my face. He indeed knows me so well. I made a few palm frictions to warm up my flesh as the temperature dropped down.

The campfire lit a glow in all of us that night as we settled near it, the heat warming the wintry air. Gunnar moved close, feeling the radiant warmth as he held his hands towards them and watched them glow golden. The wild meat supported above the flame I had created. Between the chatters and jokes, between the smiles and stories, our bonds became a kind of palpable ever-glow.

I know that Gunnar and I have a concealed way of communicating without anyone's knowledge although in some manner they could figure it out, and on the contrary, we could figure out what they were conveying best at the time they speak out, and here I am shifting my gaze from one wolf-blood to the other making an effort to unravel what in the gods name these men were conversing about and yet again failed Wolfley.

He dragged his eyes back to me after giving a certain reaction to whatever Bellamy had expressed and once our gazes met slightly the corner of his mouth lifted, ushering me a soft smile, his unlined chiselled countenance was recently more expressive which I am pleased. He spoke no word and refocused on Bellamy and then on Gunnar.

Thereon, the night brought a peaceful silence, the crackle of the campfire was all that could be heard along with the murmuring of the near river, a piece of natural music in the black veil of the night. Flames sent red sparks dancing into the breeze. His face shone warm, mesmerised, and relaxed as he silently watched me lay by the corner. The smoke twirled heavenward charming his worries away.

***

I have to concede the reality that I was a bit saddened as I woke up to glimpse no one gazing warmly and enticing at me at the moment. I traced my eyes across the space to where Gunnar stood by the black horse. He veered around on hearing the slight sound that arose while I got on my feet. I must have overslept as the sun already pierced lustrously through the leaves above. "Oi!” He let out.

I was on the verge of raising a question when Gunnar threw in “Alisdair asked that we should allow you nap more” He spoke up, responding to my intended query. So far we have constantly rested far gone into the night and resumed the journey in the wake of the early daylight, except today proved to be different.

“He left some fruits for you” He informed launching to my side “Though I don't know what it is called” He shifted to a corner where he picked up a wrapped fabric and excitedly uncovered it once he got before me. It was quite similar to berries in size and had a combination of red and purple though I had yet seen them not until now. I took one into my mouth and it was lush and fruity to the tongue. My eyes narrowly wandered around in search of the one male I had failed to glimpse first.

“Is it all right? May I have a taste of it?” Gunnar’s question caused me to aimlessly pull back to him.

I nodded and he instantly reached for it. “May I have more?” He blurted reaching for another. He was more enthusiastic than I was about the fruits. Perhaps the reason was that my mind has been clouded by the fact that I haven't sighted Alisdair and still had no trace of him.

Thereon I strolled down the river path to have a private sink into the water as the other two were yet to return. Alone I reach a certain length away from our location and there I took sight of the tree that had birthed those fruits. The riverbank was lined with bunches of the wild fruit I had eaten and the fruits were much red and clanged against the thin stems. It appeared that few were a mixture of red and purple which might actually be the riped ones. There were fresh and succulent. I plugged one out and again tasted its scrumptious flavour. Bending down, I scooped a hand through the water and drank my fill. It was thirst-quenching. I was about to slip off my dress when Alisdair unexpectedly and gracefully emerged from the centre of the water like a dignified deity and my heart instantly quelled yet somehow I could listen to it, throbbing loudly in my head.

His lengthy hair stretched out slightly below his shoulders while the sunrise hit hard on his fully displayed back muscles, exposing every curve it holds. There was a little pulse before he turned in my direction as if he had just sensed my presence. His gaze travelled up to my face and a breath escaped me as I took in his golden-toned firm and well-defined chest. His pecs... They speak of much power. I blinked, straining to collect myself. “I had no concept that you were here” I defended shyly taking my eyes off his chiselled chest. “I'm sorry” Even though I had apologized my body yet stood still as my gaze kept returning to the one thing I am making an effort to pry away from.

A mysterious smile crossed his face “There is nothing to be sorry about” He said smugly revealing his pearly teeth, he ought to have found my reaction comic to obtain such a comeback. His voice has a husky drawl that enfolds my mind solely to its tone. He was being ushered forward to the river bank with every slow step he took. He was all man, so macho and so full of empathy. It is the most alluring combination, the mark of a true man.

“You can have the river to yourself,” He said as he finally pulled out of the water. “Though make it quick, you wouldn't want us to wait so long,” He said with an expression I know not and with a glance that caused a flush to creep up my face, and suddenly I went cold when my gaze slightly trained on his lips. I blinked and then beamed at his words like I wasn't on the verge of breaking my mask.

And his voice settled into a gentle slow tone “Then, I will be waiting” the low bass caused me to swallow as it sends an unusual sensational wave through my entire being. His eyes were bright amber though not glowing, except they proved brighter since he stood in the opposite direction of the sunrise, barely two steps from me which was not helping as I continued to drag my gaze away from the droplet of water dripping down his bare body and yet it somehow refocused on them.

“Ali!” The call snapped me off my thoughts and we both gazed in that direction only to find Bellamy.

“I'll go see him” He informed in a whisper and switched to retreat, though turned to peek at me a couple of times harbouring a mysterious smile.