* * * * *
Morning peered over the horizon, the companions looking towards the hazy sunrise peeking through the heavy clouds—the air cold and wet, rain seeming almost imminent. The mugginess had put nearly everyone on edge. “What a gorgeous day!” Gort said, vigorously charging ahead of the group and taking a deep breath.
A grumble came from them, though it was hard for the Dwarf to tell from whom exactly. Then one came from the Dwarf as the tips of Sharia peeked over the hill. Lanyan was just thankful that he did not see smoke coming up from the trees—as he had worried of previously. Now all that settled on him was relief. His home was intact, and though he was weary from traveling all night, his pace quickened. Deep down he knew they were safe, at least for now. When Idimus recovered, he would most certainly turn his soldiers to the one place he did not yet rule. If word spread of the barrier being down, then Sharia may be overrun with vagabonds, stragglers, and thieves. Lanyan hoped that the elves had seen what occurred and already informed Rasonius. Perhaps a temporary solution had already been put into place. But he would not know until they arrived, and Lanyan hurried even more so.
Grahamas expected as much so he kept pace. The Champion remembered that feeling, though he had not had it in so long: the feeling of returning home after months, even years away. What it felt like to have a home, somewhere to go, something to protect. As he walked his mind wandered to better things aside from dreary clouds. Wondering what it would be like. Curious if he would re-create Highlace as it was or if he would build something new. As thoughts circled his mind, his eyes drifted to the sky. He tried not to think so far ahead that he lost himself in it. Dreams often smoothed the way to making them a reality though. And Grahamas, for the first time in a long while, had hope. Now he had someone to share a future with.
Slowly, he felt a small hand slip into his own, “What are you thinking about?”
Graham turned to her and smiled, “The future,” he said. When he saw a slight look of concern on her face, “You?”
Elryia blinked, “Sam… Estophicles told me something when we spoke. Though I had no doubts of its integrity before, I’ve now been wondering if it was true ever since Sharia.”
Graham let out a long breath and shook his head, “I think everything that came out of his mouth was a lie. What did he say?”
Since the moment Estophicles said that Grahamas was in love with her and had never been before, the impact of that statement had grown more and more. But that had been under the guise of Samsun, a man who had known Grahamas in the past. Estophicles did not—at least not in a personal sense. Elryia wondered if what he said was even accurate. Perhaps Grahamas had a loved one, maybe even a wife and family he lost and was too pained to ever mention it. Elryia could never bring herself to ask. It had been eating away at her ever since. Perhaps Estophicles meant to deceive her or he was just trying to cover his tracks. And Elryia was driving herself mad wondering. So when he asked that, a part of her wanted to just blurt it out, desperate to know if it was true and to simply deal with the consequences whatever they may be. Another side of her wanted to remain quiet, knowing the answers but fearful that they may not be what she was hoping for, “He told me that…”
“Everyone is welcome to stay here. I won’t be long. Hopefully.”
Elryia looked to Lanyan as they approached the entrance to Sharia. The Elf was carrying on a discussion with one of the guards, who first shook his head and then nodded as he focused on the group. “It’s been a long night. The guards are willing to stand watch if you would all like to get some rest. I’ll try to be back as soon as possible. I know we have a long journey ahead of us.”
Each of them filed into the forest as Lanyan bowed to them. Grahamas looked to his left, Feiron and the other horses were right where they had been left. Then he faced Elryia, “You were going to tell me something?”
Elryia watched as well, thinking for a moment. “We can talk about it later,” she said, pulling playfully on his hand and leading him into the forest.
“Sure?”
She nodded quickly, “Aye.” The interruption had reminded her that now may not be the best time for such discussions.
Lanyan bid farewell, then rushed through the corridor and disappeared into the forest as the others settled down. Grahamas lying back, his eyes on the canopy as Elyria laid next to him. He extended his arm and she tucked under it, her head resting on his chest. Graham stared up, the sound of rain tapping on the leaves drifted down, and that was the last thing he heard before falling asleep.
In A Time Of Darkness Page 66
