Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Aftermath ❯ Chapter Four ( Chapter 4 )

a/n: Wow! Terribly sorry for posting chapter five twice. I never even noticed. Here's the proper chapter four, with chapter seven as a bonus!

 

Thanks to Ida Cippo and Kaesydian for reviewing. I really, really, really appreciate it. Very much! I've been craving feedback on this so badly. *sheepish look* So I hope you both enjoy this chapter as well.

 

Aftermath

Chapter Four: Of Responsibility

 

Trahern's home town is located on the furthest border of Umbra, where the land meets the sea. His fellow townsfolk are mostly fishermen, and it is with great luck that they escaped most of the madness brought about by the ruhin. The invading foreigners hadn't traveled so far and only a few ever made it to Rista. They had been quickly dispatched however, so the village had emerged unscathed.

 

“He's already returned to the smithery,” Haiden explains as they ride up to the town, Gaelin sharing Rai's horse and seeming content to do so. Rai still can't understand why the boy seems so attached to him.

 

Rai inclines his head, his attention grabbed by the townsfolk who are watching their entrance with open distrust. “I seem to remember a promise he made,” he comments, wondering if any of the villagers will be disposed to point them towards Trahern's home. “New blades was it?”

 

“Something of the like,” Haiden replies, and a smile tugs at his lips. “Though I'm quite content with my current weapon. As you should be as well.” He shoots a pointed look over his shoulder at Rai's weapon. “It isn't often that a human is allowed to bear a bone blade.”

 

“It was meant for you,” Rai grumps, still not in the most pleasant of moods. For the past few nights, he has been attacked by those nightmares. To the extent that he is beginning to wonder if the proximity to his fellow companions might be reminding him of things he'd rather forget.

 

Haiden shifts his attention back to the road in front of him, smiling pleasantly down at one of the townswoman, who immediately flusters. “Ah, but I'm quite satisfied with the one I have now, thanks,” he replies, patting the blade that hung on his left side. “Excuse me, good sir...”

 

Rolling his eyes, Rai listens only half-interestedly as Haiden flags down one of the villagers to inquire about directions. A hand tugs on his sleeve and he looks down to see Gaelin glancing up at him hopefully.

 

“What?”

 

The boy points at a nearby vendor, something pleasant smelling wafting from his stall. A hefty dose of smoke pours out the roof from his cooking fire. As Rai watches, the man sets out two trays, both filled with pastries. Though by the smell of them, half are fruit and the other half are meat. Rai's own stomach grumbles in agreement.

 

“You want one?” Rai asks, thinking that he might like to have one himself. He also remembers that Gaelin has always had a large appetite, a subject that had been very amusing to their entire group.

 

Gaelin nods, practically salivating. Chuckling to himself, Rai carefully dismounts from Flynt, handing the reins to Gaelin. His horse is disciplined enough not to run off with the boy, especially after he pats the stallion on the neck. Silent communication. Chancing a glance at Haiden, who is having too long of a pleasant conversation with the stranger, Rai returns his attention to Gaelin.

 

“Watch after him for me,” he orders gently, and is rewarded with a beaming smile, as though Gaelin is proud to be given that responsibility. “I'm guessing you want something with fruit, right?” It's really trying to have a conversation with a child who can't speak, Rai realizes.

 

The kid nods in agreement, his fingers curling with determination around the reins. Unsurprised, Rai dives into the press of people and makes his way to the stand. The smell is even stronger here, and his stomach - free of breakfast since Haiden had made gruel again - demands to be fed immediately.

 

He looks over the selection, and half-considers not getting Haiden anything. After all, the bastard keeps serving things that he knows Rai doesn't eat. But his conscience wins out in the end and Rai emerges unscathed with a bagful of pastries - several of the apple and cherry for Gaelin and himself, and a couple meat pies for Haiden. His friend doesn't like sweet things.

 

S'raiya returns to where he has left the others and finds that Haiden has also dismounted. He lifts a brow at Rai's approach, probably wondering just where S'raiya had been.

 

“Hungry?” he teases, and there is a touch of amusement in his voice.

 

Rai rolls his eyes, and hands up a few of the fruit-filled pies to Gaelin. The boy eagerly dives into a cherry one, though careful not to get his face too dirty again. The two men had been successful in getting him cleaned the day before, though it had taken one holding him down while the other fought with a wet cloth.

 

“Serve me gruel again and see what happens,” Rai grumbles, tossing the meat pies at Haiden, who catches them easily. “What'd they say?”

 

Biting into the flaky pastry, Haiden grins his approval. “It's not that far from here,” he explains after he swallows the first bite.

 

Tugging on the reins, they start down the street, preferring to walk the rest of the distance, though Rai continues to let Gaelin ride. It seems to make him happy and right now, he'd do nearly anything to get that hollow look out of the kid's eyes.

 

For the most part, Gaelin has been subdued for the past few days, since Loka lost control of her magic. He is normally quiet, but the clinginess is something new. Rai can hardly go anywhere without the kid trying to latch onto him, a fact which amuses Haiden greatly.

 

“His smithery is in the town?” Rai asks with some surprise, knowing that the heat and smoke of the forge fires usually forced smitheries to the outskirts. He unwraps his own pie - cherry he thinks - and bites down into it, pleased by the delicious flavor.

 

Haiden shakes his head, struggling to speak around the mouthful of pastry. “No, his house is. They said should be home today.”

 

“Ah, that makes sense.” Rai focuses on eating, wondering how Trahern will react to their sudden dropping in on them. And then he realizes that Haiden seems to have known exactly where Trahern will be, despite the fact none of them had known that much about each other. His brow furrows.

 

“How did you know he lives here?”

 

Haiden chuckles, wrapping up the last of his pastries and putting it in his saddle bag for later. “Unlike you, who plays the ghost, I've heard from everyone else, excluding Maro. They write letters. Though Ryn is really the one who corresponds. I just read over her shoulder.”

 

“Rynneth,” S'raiya automatically corrects, shifting his attention to Gaelin. “Good?”

 

The boy nods, a bit of apple filling stuck to one cheek as he munches on what appears to be his third pie of the afternoon. Rai digs in a pocket and produces a relatively clean piece of cloth for him to wipe his face.

 

“I heard from Lathe, too,” Haiden adds quietly, instantly grabbing Rai's attention. “From my family and your father.”

 

Rai snorts, his fingers curling tighter around the reins. “How's the family?” He carefully avoids discussion of his father, a topic he doesn't particularly want to think about right now.

 

“Proud,” he replies with a shrug. “My mother wants us to come back for a big meal. I planned on taking Ryn in a couple of weeks.” He pauses, and looks back at Rai. “Don't you want to know what your father had to say?”

 

“Is that Trahern's house?” S'raiya abruptly questions, pulling forward and leading Flynt with him as he stops in front of one of the homes. It looks like something that would suit Trahern, austere but with a dash of decoration.

 

He can feel Haiden watching him with a look of exasperation before he sighs. “Your intuition is uncanny as always,” he replies, and moves to hitch Kender's reins to the fence.

 

Glad that the topic has been escaped, Rai follows Haiden's example and reaches up to help Gaelin down. The boy grabs his arms and Rai easily hefts him out of the saddle, setting him on his feet. He frowns when he notices the crumbs dotting the boy's face, but leaves them be. He isn't Gaelin's mother, after all.

 

Haiden is already weaving his way towards the front door, and barely knocks twice before it swings open in front of him. A woman, pleasant-faced and a bit rotund, smiles up at them.

 

“Hello,” she greets kindly, one hand wiping over the other with the edge of her apron. Some flour dusts the front of her clothing. “Can I help you?”

 

Haiden smiles, flashing her his usual charming grin as Rai appears behind him, Gaelin clinging to his side. “Yumi, isn't it?” he questions kindly and holds out a hand of greeting. “Trahern has told me much about you.”

 

She allows him to take her fingers, pressing a gentle kiss to the inside of her palm. “Trahern...?” she repeats with some confusion before her brown eyes light up in recognition. “I see! You must be the friends he spoke of!” Her gaze flickers between the three of them, probably matching their faces to what she remembers her husband describing. “But... you're so young!”

 

Haiden laughs. “That's the same thing Trahern said to us when we started our foolish adventure. Is he home?”

 

“Of course,” she answers, and then flushes as though ashamed of herself. “Forgive me, prattlin' on like that. Come on in.” Yumi steps aside and gestures them within, holding the door open to prove the invitation.

 

“Thank you,” Haiden replies politely, and Rai can't help but wonder who this suave and charming man is.

 

His friend has so many faces that he asks himself just who Haiden is and why he hasn't noticed this before. Haiden has always appeared like this to everyone, what he needs to be for any situation. The Haiden that he knows has always been so different than the Haiden that everyone else sees. He wonders if that makes their friendship truly something particular, or if he is just seeing another face as well.

 

And then Gaelin is entering ahead of him, pulling him along by a firm grip of his hand, and Rai stumbles out of his thoughts. It is something he will save for another time. For now, he is too busy taking in his surroundings. Homey and comfortable, that is his first impression of Trahern's home. There is a smell on the air, of something home-baked and delicious. It feels like how a home should, or at least, how Rai has always imagined a home should feel.

 

“Trahern's in the back room,” Yumi explains, shutting the door behind them and tucking a stray curl back behind her small ear. “I'm sure he'll be happy ta see you two. He talks about you all the time.” The faint accent, noticeable in short intervals, is almost cute on her.

 

Haiden simply smiles. “Sorry for intruding without any warning,” he tells her. “It was kind of a spontaneous decision.”

 

She waves him off, as though this sort of thing happens all the time. “Don't worry about it,” Yumi responds, and her gaze falls on Rai and Gaelin, the latter of which is peering around the taller hunter like he were a human shield.

 

Her eyes brighten and she moves to lower herself to eye level with the boy, letting her kindness show in her expression. “You must be Gaelin,” she says gently, every inch of her aura practically exuding mothering instincts.

 

He nods in answer, relaxing slightly as she presents a very non-threatening picture. Yumi holds out a hand, not reaching, but simply offering.

 

“Why don't you let the adults talk, hmm? You can help me in the kitchen. Does that sound good?”

 

Unexpectedly, Gaelin looks up at Rai, as though seeking his permission. Though confused, Rai gives him a little push forwards.

 

“It's all right,” he assures the brat, still not understanding the boy's dependence on him. “Yumi won't hurt you.”

 

After several moments of hesitation, Gaelin finally takes her hand and Yumi straightens, shooting both men a reassuring smile. “Don't worry. I'll take care o' him. You two just go see Trahern.”

 

Rising back to her full height, the woman gently tugs Gaelin along with her, all the time chatting to calm him. The prospect of food, more than anything, is what likely encouraged the boy but Rai is just glad to see him clinging to someone other than himself.

 

Left to their own devices, the two men continue down the hall, Rai allowing Haiden to lead the way. He takes the time to admire the house around him, the whole home giving off a welcoming approach. Warm and comfortable. As though many generations of families have lived in this very same house. And perhaps that is true, but Rai would have to ask to learn.

 

At the back of the house is a door, as Yumi had directed, and Haiden knocks on it loudly. From within, Trahern's deep baritone bids them entrance and Haiden pushes open the door. To the both of their surprise, they find themselves stepping into what appears to be a small library. Books and papers are crammed onto wooden shelves in the tiny room, and two small windows provide ample light with the brightness of mid-afternoon.

 

Perched at a small desk, Trahern appears to be rifling through a stack of papers, occasionally dipping quill to ink well as he scribbles something down. “Lunchtime already?” he questions, without even turning around.

 

Haiden chuckles. “I wouldn't know but does that mean we're invited?”

 

At the sound of his voice, Trahern turns, single brown eye widening in shock as the other lay hidden behind a thick, black leather patch. “Haiden? And Rai, as well? Surprise, surprise.” He rises to his feet, grasping Haiden's hand in greeting, and then S'raiya's as well.

 

“We were nearby. Thought we'd stop in and see you,” Haiden explains easily and moves to prop himself up on a desk, nearly setting a careful stack of books to toppling. “Though I didn't expect to see you here.” He looks around pointedly.

 

Trahern chuckles, scratching a finger under the edge of his eye patch and revealing the pinkish-white of scarred flesh. “What? I didn't mention that I was a bit of a scholar?”

 

“A bit?” Rai raises one brow, glancing around them once more. There has to be at least several hundred books crammed into the small space. “You're on the verge of starting your own library.”

 

His face crinkles with amusement. “My mum's fault, I assure you. All those fairy tales in my youth gave me a passion for fiction.” It sounds familiar to Rai, who remembers his own mother telling him much the same stories when he was young. It is nostalgic.

 

Haiden scratches at the back of his head, making his hair spike even more than usual. “But a blacksmith and a scholar?” He chuckles, spreading his hands helplessly. “It just doesn't mesh well in my head.”

 

“What? A man can't be both?” Trahern reaches behind him and swivels his chair around, lowering himself back to it. “Such double standards.”

 

Rai rolls his eyes at their banter. “Something like that,” he drawls, and hurries to change the subject before everyone gets off track. “By the way, we caught several odd looks on our way here. I didn't think we looked that intimidating.”

 

Trahern winces. “The locals don't like strangers period anymore,” he explains, sitting back into his chair and balancing on elbow on the arm. “We've had a problem with bandits lately. Especially since the guard is pretty much nonexistent now.”

 

“Trust some idiot to take advantage of the situation,” Haiden grumbles, twisting his jaw. “Do you know if they're affiliated with a group calling themselves the 'Marauders'?”

 

The blacksmith shakes his head, though his eye takes on a contemplative gleam. “I really haven't stopped to ask them who they are while they're pilfering my neighbor's shop.”

 

Haiden sighs, tugging at his cloak with a curved finger. “They're everywhere,” he explains, sounding very much like the captain he hasn't decided to become just yet. “Spreading more quickly than the ruhin. Lord Tennyson's hard pressed to find a way to stop them.”

 

“With the guard in tatters, its no wonder why,” Trahern responds, nodding knowledgeably. But the solemn expression quickly shifts into a grin as he changes the subject. “But come, you say you were just stopping by but I know the both of you. What's the real reason?”

 

“We actually came to ask a favor,” Rai explains, choosing to lean against the wall in the clearest spot he could find. He's had to navigate around a few stacks of books to get there.

 

The blacksmith scratches at his beard. “A favor, eh? Of what sort?”

 

“We've been to see Loka,” Haiden begins quietly, his tone losing all hint of joviality as the both of them recall the scene they'd unfortunately witnessed. “I'm not entirely sure what happened, but the short of it is, she's gone now and Gaelin needs looking after.”

 

“Gone,” Trahern repeats, disbelief and sorrow intermingling. “But... how?” He pauses, and thinks about it, brow furrowing. “Wait... did it have something to do with her magick?”

 

Rai gestures vaguely, remembering the press of the arts against his skin, the way it had stolen his breath. “Something, yes. We just don't know what. She had gone mad, Trahern.”

 

The blacksmith sighs, leaning back into his chair with a defeated expression. “And so we lose another,” he murmurs sorrowfully. “How is the lad handling it?”

 

“As well as can be expected,” Rai answers, and Haiden shoots him an almost amused expression, as if planning to tease.

 

“He is clinging to Rai as if he's found a new father,” he jokes, lending an air of humor to the sober discussion. “It's really almost cute.”

 

S'raiya growls under his breath, annoyed by the reminder. Gaelin's admiration of him borders on hero worship and he doesn't like how heavy it falls across his shoulders. He's done nothing that requires such esteem and prefers the boy chose a worthier champion.

 

“Shut it, Haiden,” he orders, and focuses his attention back to Trahern, trying to divert the conversation to their original intention. “In any case, the favor we were going to ask was if you would be willing to take Gaelin in. He needs a good home, someone to look after him.”

 

Forge-calloused fingers raked through blond hair, scratching at his scalp. “Gaelin's a good kid,” Trahern comments, and there is a touch of fondness in his voice, as though remembering something from the past. “I would gladly take him in, but I have to ask Yumi.”

 

Haiden smirks, folding his arms across his chest. “I don't think you have to worry about her. She's wooing Gaelin with food as we speak.”

 

As if cued, a knock echoes on the door behind Rai. He moves aside but before Trahern can even answer, it is being pulled open, revealing Yumi standing in the doorway. The smile on her lips is for her husband alone.

 

“Lunch is ready,” she explains, and then turns her welcoming look onto the other men. “Haiden, Rai, you're invited as well.” Accompanying her invitation is a wonderful smell, like roast beef and mashed potatoes slathered in gravy. It makes Rai's stomach grumble.

 

Trahern rises, stretching out with one arm so that the muscles in his back pop and crackle. “Ah, thank you, love,” he replies, and Rai half-imagines that the man would've winked, had he his other eye. “You and Gaelin been getting along well?”

 

“Of course,” Yumi answers brightly. “He was all too eager to help me mash the potatoes.”

 

Haiden laughs at that comment, edging past Yumi to precede her out the door. “Mostly because he's always hungry. He was probably thinking that the faster he mashed them, the faster he could eat them.”

 

The blacksmith shakes his head. “That boy's appetite never ceased to amaze me. He could pack away more than the two brats here combined,” he explains to Yumi, jerking his thumb in Haiden and Rai's direction.

 

“I think we're past the brat stage, Trahern,” Haiden replies, his voice echoing as he disappeared down the hall. Though his haste wasn't disproving his point, all too eager to sit down for a home-cooked meal that smelled unarguably delectable.

 

“Not ta me, you aren't,” Trahern calls back, and kisses Yumi on the cheek as he passes her. “I'm sure it's delicious.”

 

She grins, giving him a gentle push out the door. “Better than yours anyways,” Yumi teases, and then her gaze catches Rai's as she moves to follow him. “Coming?”

 

“I wouldn't miss it,” he replies honestly, the tasty smells assaulting his nose making his stomach grumble again. He shuts the door behind them and heads down the hall, remarking to himself that this visit isn't so bad after all.

 

* * *

 

Thin arms wrap around his body, hugging him tightly. Not knowing what else to do, Rai ruffles Gaelin's hair clumsily. “Be good,” he suggests awkwardly, never suspecting that the kid would be so disappointed in seeing him leave.

 

He and Haien had stayed the night however, and imposed on Trahern long enough. Not to mention asking a favor out of nowhere. Rai is ready to get back to business, and even Haiden has a look of wanderlust in his eyes.

 

Gaelin looks up at him, smiling brightly, and nods in agreement. His eyes are practically sparkling before he unwraps his hold and takes Yumi's hand. “Come back and visit,” she chirps at Rai. “We'll always be glad to have ye.”

 

“Thanks, Yumi,” Rai replies, and watches as she walks with Gaelin back to the house, the boy looking up at her with the beginning of devotion in his gaze.

 

“She means it, too,” Trahern inserts, moving to stack one last bag onto Rai's saddle. “Especially if you come to see Gaelin. The lad looks up to ye.”

 

Rai shifts uncomfortably, not liking the direction the goodbye has taken. “I question his judgment then.” He drops his gaze, turning to adjust the saddlebags that Trahern helpfully stacked, one nearly stuffed full from the homemade provisions Yumi packed for them.

 

Trahern looks at him oddly, that one eye full of questions, but he doesn't voice a one of them. “I think he made a good choice,” he replies, something strange in his tone. “You're not as unreliable as you think you are.”

 

And somehow, he gets that feeling again, the one he had grown wary of in their journey. It had always seemed to Rai that Trahern had tried to be a father to him, in his own subtle way. Perhaps the blacksmith had seen something in him, or perhaps he had just been able to tell. One moment in particular stands out in his memory.

 

Rai hissed, flinching away from the pain that radiated across his back. A large, calloused hand grasped his shoulder, stopping his retreat as more of the cold, stinging liquid slapped against his injuries. He was surprised by the force behind it. But then, Trahern was a blacksmith and physical strength was a bit of a necessity.

 

“Quit moving,” Trahern said gruffly from behind him, and only let go when Rai froze, forcing himself to stop fidgeting. “You don't want these to get infected do you?”

 

Sucking in a breath through his teeth, Rai clutched his knees and dug his fingers into his legs in an attempt to bear the pain. “Just have Loka heal them already,” he demanded, a hot fire spreading across his back.

 

Trahern was picking at the large, deep wound. Pulling off the scab, flushing out the injury and removing the traces of infection that had been developing. For a blacksmith with rough hands, he was surprisingly gentle.

 

To their left, the others were sitting around the campfire as Ryn attempted to cook something passable and was thankfully, being aided by Haiden. Rai could only glare at the woman, who after seeing the injury, had blanched and backed away. Lot of help she had been.

 

“You know that she can't until it's clean, Rai. And even then, she can only heal the surface,” Trahern replied with some impatience. More water was poured over the wound, soaking his trousers. “You're going to have a scar, I'm afraid.”

 

Rai gritted his teeth. “That's fine,” he grunted, fingers clutching tighter, until his knuckles were white. He closed his eyes, hoping that he wouldn't relive the past forty-eight hours in the darkness. “It won't be the first.”

 

The blacksmith was quiet for a moment, working in silence and trying to be as gentle as possible. Though it was nearly hopeless considering the breadth and state of the wound. Rai's captivity had not made it any better, and there were numerous other markings on his body. He knew when Trahern noticed when a finger brushed over something that must have resembled a burn on his lower back.

 

“It surprised us,” Trahern began slowly, returning to flushing out the original injury. He managed a faint chuckle. “Here we were hurrying to rescue you, and it turned out there was no need.”

 

He snorted, and shifted slightly, causing the muscles in his back to shift and the blood to flow a bit more freely. “I can't believe I got caught in the first place.”

 

“Rather difficult to run away with a wound like this, I imagine,” Trahern replied, and the burning sensation eased as he switched herbs, from an antiseptic to a thicker salve that would help Loka's magic seal the injury.

 

“Shouldn't have had to run away in the first place,” S'raiya grumbled, trying for slow and steady breaths. He could feel the trembling beginning again and wanted to get away from Trahern before the other man noticed. He just wanted peace and quiet for a few minutes.

 

Another moment of silence followed, as though Trahern were searching for the right words. “I saw what you did for him,” he commented quietly. “Though you can relax. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one.”

 

Rai stiffened, which made every sore muscle in his body ache. He didn't like his actions being pointed out to him, especially since he didn't quite understand them himself. “It was an accident. I stumbled.”

 

“Liar,” Trahern accused, but it was without any heat. “You don't have to explain anything, I just thought I'd let ye know.” He slapped more of the cold paste onto the wound, having nearly covered the whole thing. “I don't suppose you want to talk about the ruhin either?”

 

Licking his lips from a mouth suddenly gone dry, Rai's head dipped towards the ground. Talk about it? He scarcely wanted to remember it much less put voice to the nightmarish reality. Nor would he ever blame Haiden for it. Sure it was the injury that caused the weakness that put him in their clawed clutches. But he never should have been so powerless in the first place.

 

“Didn't think so,” Trahern replied for him, not needing a verbal acknowledgment. “Though I really think--”

 

“Don't tell him,” Rai interrupted, and hated how hoarse his voice sounded. “I'm not a hero. I'm not. I just did it without thinking. Stupid of me.”

 

Dropping his hands from Rai's back, Trahern began to gather up his supplies. “It wasn't stupid, it was brave,” he corrected. “You're too humble.”

 

“I really don't think humble is the word I'd use,” Rai retorted, and released the clenching hold on his knees, flexing aching fingers. He watched them move, and stared at the lifeline in his palm. “There is nothing heroic to me.”

 

Behind him, Trahern rose to his feet, boots snapping a few twigs. “I wonder if you've told yourself that enough that you believe it, or if someone else has to make you accept it,” he replied, and Rai shot a look over his shoulder, grey eyes darkening with anger. Before he could speak, however, Trahern shook his head. “I'll send Loka over here in a minute. But just so you know, I've got two perfect ears that are great for listening.”

 

Rai frowned, shifting back to face the dark forests because he felt safer that way, watching for himself and keeping alert for the ruhin forces. “We're not friends,” he muttered. “None of us are. Coincidence is all. Nothing but coincidence.”

 

He could feel Trahern watching him, those brown eyes incisive, before the man moved past him, heading to join the others at the campfire. “My offer still stands,” Trahern mentioned as he passed. “Whenever you need.”

 

He was still brooding on it several minutes later when Loka came to heal the wound, or at least advance the healing enough that he could move without wanting to scream in agony. The other injuries, which he had no plans to show anyone, could heal on their own.

 

“I'll try and stop by,” Rai mutters in acquiescence, forcing himself out of his recollection, and when Trahern grins, he hastily adds, “If I'm in the area. I'm not promising anything.”

 

Trahern claps him on the shoulder and takes a step back so Rai can pull himself into the saddle. “You're a good kid, S'raiya. Don't tell yourself any different.”

 

Grey eyes shift towards the blacksmith, but Trahern is already turning towards his house, calling something out to Yumi and Gaelin. The boy is waving energetically in Rai's direction, farewell in his expression. He looks generally cheerier than he has in the past few days, a spark of life returning to his sorrow-filled gaze.

 

Inclining his head, Rai grabs the reins and turns Flynt after Haiden, who is already riding away, waving farewell. He quickly catches up to his best friend, pulling alongside him as they take a different path out of town than the one they had entered with. Trahern had suggested it to them.

 

“He's right, you know,” Haiden comments after a moment, filling the silence previously only broken by the horses hooves over the earth.

 

The smell of sea air is thick, and Rai breathes it in deeply. Haiden's words make his stomach flip over itself. It is a topic he doesn't want to talk about again and he tries to steer the conversation away, into territory a lot less focused on him.

 

“Trahern is doing well, despite his eye,” he comments, not even making an effort to relate it to his friend's previous subject.

 

Beside him, Haiden shoots him an annoyed look and adjusts his grip on the reins. “It is easier to adjust to having one less eye, than having no sight at all.”

 

“Mmm.” Rai shifts in the saddle, senses on alert for the slightest chance of attack from the bandits Trahern had mentioned. “Where to now, captain?”

 

Haiden snorts. “I haven't accepted the position yet and you're already snarking about it.”

 

“You know you're going to,” Rai counters, giving him a knowing glance. “Not only can you not say no but you also fancy yourself in love with the twit.”

 

“S'raiya!” Haiden reprimands immediately, using his entire name as though he were Rai's father or something. “I know you don't like her but for Solan's sake, have some respect.”

 

Rai twists his jaw, squaring his shoulders in defiance. “Are you saying that because I insulted your future wife or because it's the right thing to do?” he counters, knowing just how Haiden operates. And knowing just as well that Haiden doesn't love her.

 

Stormy eyes flash in annoyance. “I'm saying it because you could stand to be taught some manners,” he responds, avoiding Rai's given choices entirely. “Why don't you like her anyways? I never got that.”

 

“Because she's a useless, flighty noble who just wants a trophy and not a husband,” Rai responds easily. “Oh, she's kind enough. And I don't doubt she thinks she has a heart for the people. But she didn't know what she was getting into back then and she doesn't know now.”

 

“You can't hold that against her. She can't help being naïve.”

 

“Can and will.”

 

Haiden releases a noise of frustration. “Stubborn mule.”

 

“Likewise,” Rai returns, and smirks faintly, finding that it is easier to see who the true Haiden might be beneath the surface if he pushes him past that calm facade. “So where are heading, captain? You never answered me.”

 

Haiden doesn't answer, taking a moment to dig out his water pouch and drink deeply from it. After wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve, he shoots Rai a cocky grin. “Home,” he replies simply.

 

A part of Rai groans internally at that thought. Back to Rynneth, oh joy of joys. “What? Can't go a week without seeing your precious love? Has the joy of the open path been lost to you?”

 

“Rai, shut up.”

 

Chuckling under his breath, Rai returns his attention to their surroundings. They have a good few days before they make it back to Weirth and though ruhin numbers have been dwindling, he has no attention of being caught unawares.

 

* * *