The Severaine

Chapter Ten The Cursed Blades-4

“Well…” Eiji stated, looking to his friend, he could almost sense the raw nerve the conversation had touched.

“Very well, I understand.” Ashley looked to Daniel, also aware of the wound his curiosity seemed to have opened. It had been a while before he had spoken of his battle himself, and clearly from the atmosphere they had lost someone very dear to them in the struggle. “By the Gods, I didn't realise it had grown so late.” Ashley yawned, breaking the morbid silence. “You are more than welcome to stay before your journey to the mountains. We have little room, but our floor is as comfortable as the grass, and the roof will provide shelter.”

They thanked him, accepting the offer. He helped them to move the table aside, making room for them to lay their blankets in front of the low embers of the fire, before disappearing to the double room blocked from view by the door. Chrissie followed him, with her here Fiona would get a full night of sleep. She only hoped the same could be said for Daniel.

Morning seemed to arrive all too quickly. The first light of dawn sending its warm orange glow through the window to embrace them as it roused them from their slumber.

Eiji gave a sigh thinking about all that awaited them today. He turned to bid his friends good morning, as he did so he noticed just past Acha lay Daniel's backpack, already packed and placed where they had hoped to see their friend sleeping.

Acha moved quietly to the window as they cast their vision across the area in search of him. He was fairly easy to locate, he sat in a nearby tree, one which was not quite part of the forest allowing it to be bathed in the burning light of dawn.

He stared out across the horizon, his blanket wrapped tightly around his shoulders to ward off the morning's chill. Despite the magnificent view which stretched before him, his vision was fixed on nothing. The rise and fall of the land spanned before him, the darkness fled across the horizon from the light's touch, yet all went unseen by his gaze. He had thought better than to tell his friends of the strange shadow, after all, they hadn't seen the creature stalking them, even when it had stepped from the darkness into the light. They would just say he needed to rest.

It was true that he had not slept much lately. Like most nights, he had lay with his friends, waiting for sleep's embrace to take them, before seeking out a place that would protect him from his fatigue. The cold night air had made the most sense.

It had taken everything he had to stay awake. Sleep had tried to claim him as dulcet tones from the crackling fire became a warm lullaby as he waited for his friends to fall asleep. Screams had woken him, his eyes wide as he tried to decide if they had been real, or sounds carried from Darrienia. The house was still, his friends were sleeping, and so slowly, quietly, he crept from the warmth into the bitter night air.

Soon the frosts would be upon them, but even the icy chill of the wind only combated his fatigue to a degree. He had to ensure he remained awake, and before him stood the ideal solution. He scaled the tree, sitting against its trunk on one of the thick branches. If he were to sleep gravity would prove a welcome escape. He sat dozing in and out of slumber, the sounds from unformed dreams as real as any around him. From his position he appeared to keep vigil on the horizon, waiting out the darkness until the morning chorus filled the air.

In his treetop nest he had cast his mind over the events of the last few days, trying to determine how much of the threat he perceived was real, and how much was brought on by his exhaustion. The last time he had really slept was in Collateral, the night before he had visited Zo's homeland. Until he acquired more of the foreign herbs to stop his dreams, sleep was an option.

It was rare that anything but nightmares crowded his dreams. They weren't always the same, sometimes they were strange images he could not quite define, bloody wars and battles, horrific creatures, and of course, Marise. She was a common factor to most of his dreams, even those he could not make sense of.

He cursed silently under his breath. It seemed dawn's light had roused his friends earlier than anticipated. There was no time to sneak back and maintain the pretence he had not long woken. He could feel their eyes upon him, and quickly descended the tree to head back. There was little point delaying, they would only come to him.

“Planning on leaving so soon?” Acha and Eiji both jumped at the sound of Ashley's voice. As they turned to focus their attention on him, they saw both he and Chrissie stood behind them just inside the door. Ashley looked to the bags within their grasp, it seemed they had intended to retrieve their friend and continue walking.

“The sooner the better really. We can't afford to stay too long or we'll never want to leave.” She gave a warm smile. “We were planning on saying goodbye though, we appreciate the hospitality.”

“He left late last night, not long after you'd fallen asleep.” Ashley fell silent as Daniel approached.

“Thank you again for your hospitality.” Daniel offered Ashley a smile as he reached them. “It's nice to have a warm roof over our heads.” Eiji and Acha exchanged glances; he was obviously unaware they all knew he had not slept inside, if at all.

“Don't mention it, any friend of Chrissie's— well you know the rest.” He glanced towards her with meaning, and seeing her wanderlust he knew there was no doubt she would be leaving soon as well. There was an obvious chill in the air, one which saw she wrapped her arms around herself in order to preserve what little heat remained. She saw Ashley looking at her and smiled. “We'll look after her so you don't need to worry, no one will get past me.” He placed his arm protectively around Chrissie who now shivered slightly, a look of concern clearly crossing her brow as he spoke.

“I'll be seeing you then.” She raised her hand in a wave as they began to fasten their cloaks while saying their goodbyes and giving thanks. She watched as they vanished from view before turning to Ashley. “You know I can't stay,” she said softly. “I can't risk endangering your family.” She took his hand in hers. “Fenris was so powerful, I can't risk him coming here. If anything were to happen I could never—” Ashley pulled her close into a warm embrace. For but a moment she allowed herself to be comforted by his warmth as he held her.

“Chrissie, shh… it's okay no one will get through me. You'll be safe.”

“I'm sorry, Ashley, I don't want them to try. You know I have to leave too.” She pulled away from his fatherly embrace. He opened his mouth to object but already knew there was little point. Her mind was clearly made up.

“Well, I guess there is nothing I can say to make you change your mind. Stubborn to the end, you're your mother's daughter all right. Be safe Chrissie, you know there is always a home here for you.” With those words of parting he watched as she followed in the steps of her friends, pulling her cloak around her as she faded into the forest. “Be safe,” he whispered again before closing the door behind him.