At these words, the young man slowly slipped out of his hiding place.
“Good evening, I was ...” he tried to say, but his words were muffled by a gesture.
“Be quiet, the horses are already scared enough by this storm. If you want to talk, whisper.”
“Excuse me ...” Viktor replied in a low tone.
“For the horses, or why were you trying to follow me in an inappropriate way?”
“Oh ... both, I think. Actually, I was just intrigued by your ways.”
“It was not a good reason to meddle, was it? Anyway, you can use a familiar tone with me. Your formal expression almost reminds me of every year that I carry on my shoulders, and it’s not nice. The feeling of being inept in front of the folds of time is a horrible sensation.”
A flash of light illuminated the contours of the rubble and of the houses that dotted the square, also radiating the outlines of the two. Finally, a flash exploded in the sky echoing to the west.
“Let’s go away!” the stranger snapped.
The two made their way under the rain.
“Looks like someone noticed your absence.”
Viktor saw the lights in his bedroom, then he looked up at the wayfarer.
The man must have been about thirty, with a sturdy build and his face marked by some scars near his right cheekbone. The intense eyes flashed the colour of the fire when they were hit by a small fireplace lit in the entrance.
“I’m Devanorth, but you can call me Dev,” he held out his hand.
“Viktor.” and he shook the man’s hand.
“We’ll have time to talk, tomorrow. Maybe you can introduce me to your friend ... but now go ‘, I think she’s worried,” and he grimaced.
Viktor bent his head and headed for the top floor of the inn.
The girl was waiting with her legs crossed on her bed. “Where were you? I was worried!”
“Yes, I’m sorry, but I didn’t think you’d wake up. I noticed the chap we saw this morning from the window and followed him. Admit it: he seemed strange to you, too,” he replied.
“He seemed...”
“Yes, he seemed strange. I met him, he’s a person like any other.”
“Curiosity was not a reason to go out under the rain at night to follow someone you don’t know.”
“It was not raining before and anyway I didn’t have anything to do, I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t do anything wrong, I just tried to verify what kind of people we meet on the road. Within the city walls it’s safe, anyway.”
“Are you referring to the walls that were almost completely razed to the ground during a magical attack by who knows who? Yes, they are guarantors of security.”
“Oh, come on, don’t take it so hard for this idiocy. I’m not hunting in the woods at night!”
“Viktor, perhaps you are not clear about the role and position you have. A deity wants you dead and his army of Dark Creatures is waking up to look for you. Your every rash move, even the most trivial one, can be dangerous.”
Selene had become irascible and Viktor didn’t dare reply. If necessary, they would resume the conversation the next day.
******
The following day, the youngsters got up early.
Selene opened the window of the room and Viktor sat down on the bed, rubbing his eyes, as the morning freshness began to permeate the room.
Beleth was covered by dark clouds that left no hope for better weather conditions.
“Many clouds are looming on the horizon. They thicken and move quickly, I’m afraid we’ll have to wait a while for the next sunny day, “Selene predicted.
“Looks like she’s not angry anymore,” Viktor realized. “Do you think it’s better to continue the journey when the weather gets better? I remind you that we have no time to waste.”
“I don’t know, you need to get to your destination as soon as possible, and it’s almost certain they’ll decide to make you continue training. Waiting care is a risk ... every second that passes, Zergh becomes more powerful: the seal will not last long and when it breaks you will have to be ready to create a new one with Arald.”
“I don’t know if thinking that we’re still batting zero should motivate me to do more or…”
“Make sure it motivates you! We cannot go back now, some people count on you.”
“And when chaos begins, there will be many more to count on me.”
“Well, then let’s move. Let’s go down for breakfast, we’ll continue talking downstairs.”
There were many people and a handful of tables were still occupied by those who had to have breakfast.
Viktor turned a couple of times before seeing Selene, who motioned for him to join her.
The young man sat down quickly at the table and began to eat the biscuits that his companion had ordered shortly before. She sipped a tepid glass of milk and lost herself staring at an empty spot beyond Viktor. “I was wondering if we can get to Placym with the money we have left.”
“I think the Star will have no problem in supporting us economically.”
“How do you think they’ll take the situation?”
Viktor swallowed. “What kind of situation?”
“I mean ... the fact that there is also me. They know nothing. “
“Whether they know it or not, it doesn’t matter. I tried not to let you come with me to avoid ...”
“Yes, I already know,” she interrupted.
“Well, now you cannot go back, I think it’s obvious. I don’t think they’ll tell you to go back to Lezhen alone ... and I wouldn’t let you anyway. “
Selene smiled and sipped her milk again.
“Anyway,” continued Viktor,” I found a lot of coins in my bag, I think it’s a part of Trust’s winnings. A gift, I suppose. It means that for a while we won’t have to worry.”
Selene seemed enthusiastic about the news and Viktor returned her serene look before turning back to the front door of the inn.
The sound of the door had caught his attention, and he saw the familiar outlines emerge from the gloomy brightness outside. It was the traveller of the previous evening.
Viktor nodded to him and he started towards them.
“What are you doing?” asked Selene, not appreciating the invitation that Viktor had made to the traveller.
“He said he wanted to meet you and we would talk today.”
“Viktor, did you sleep well?” asked the newcomer.
“Better than the last time,” he replied, pointing to a seat next to him.
“This is your friend, if I’m not mistaken.”
“Selene, very pleased,” she held out a hand.
“Devanorth. Enchanted,” he replied, accompanying the words with a quick kiss on her hand.
Two red spots on the girl’s cheeks revealed an unexpected embarrassment.
“As I told your friend, you can simply call me Dev,” he added immediately.
“Um ... Dev ... So, where are you going?” Viktor asked, calling his attention, serious and annoyed.
Selene gave him a fleeting glance, then turned and smiled.
“I was in Finamir to trade and I went to Placym to negotiate with another client. The life of a street vendor is busy ... “
“And yet we saw you cut through the trees in the forest before Beleth,” Selene reported immediately.
Viktor would have liked to avoid telling Devanorth he had already seen him on their way, but it was too late.
“Oh yes ... I cut through the forest to shorten the way ...” Devanorth explained.
“You could have cut from Finamir to the East; you would have arrived much sooner,” the girl observed.
“Let’s say the best way for a caravan was the one I took. I’ve known these roads for a lifetime, I know how to orient myself. Where are you headed instead?”
Selene didn’t speak and Viktor understood her silence. Both didn’t know whether to tell about their destination or not.
“We too are going to Placym,” Viktor said.
&nbs
p; “You too? You have relatives there or ...” Devanorth inquired.
“My uncles live there. I’m going to visit them and Selene is coming to keep me company.”
Devanorth studied Viktor’s expression for a long time before replying: “The short cut through the trees allowed me to have some time to rest in Beleth for a few days, at least until the end of the bad weather. If you want, you can travel with me in the caravan”
“Great! As I thought!” reckoned Viktor, realizing that he had done well telling Devanorth about their destination.
Selene realized that Viktor was hoping for an invitation from Devanorth from the beginning. She didn’t know how safe it could be to trust a stranger, but if all went well they would save time, money and effort.
“We accept the invitation with pleasure, Dev!” Viktor and Selene said in unison.
”Perfect, then. I checked the horses and the rest a little while ago, I was thinking of going to stock up on food for the trip.”
“We can think about it this afternoon, Selene and me,” said Viktor.
“Well ... as far as I’m concerned, I think I’ll go and rest a bit. See you for dinner,” he said, rising from the table.
“Aren’t you going to have lunch?” asked Selene.
“I ate late last night, I’m not hungry,” and walked away to the stairs.
She stopped to look at him for a moment, then peered at the plate of cookies with empty glasses of milk and smiled at him.
“You could avoid throwing those looks, anyway,” Viktor shouted from behind.
She reached him under the gaze of the innkeeper. “You’re jealous? For what reason don’t you like him? Come on, he even offered us a ride in his caravan! “
“He does not inspire confidence, maybe I’ll change my mind over time.”
“You got angry because he turned to me in ways you don’t even know about!”
“The kiss? Are you telling me that he is better than I am just because he kissed the back of your hand? Come on, it’s old-fashioned!”
“You’re just jealous ...”
“Again?” Viktor snapped.
“Come on, I’m just kidding!”
“Ways I don’t know ... I could see she didn’t like it. She can’t like him just because he has prehistoric ways,” the young man repeated.” Anyway, I’m not jealous of him at all!” he snapped as they came in.
Selene was silent and looked at him for a long time. He turned. “I’m not jealous. Why should I be? “He repeated, looking her straight in the eyes.
THE CAROVAN
G abriel and First returned from the cultivated fields at the edge of the village at the first light of sunset.
While they were undressing, neither spoke, tired and upset both from work and from Viktor’s absence.
“Is everything alright, Daddy?” asked the young man.
“Yes ... yes ...” he answered with a faint voice, looking away.
“We both miss him, don’t worry. He’ll come back,” Gabriel encouraged him.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door.
“It must be Trust, I’ll open it,” he guessed, approaching the door. Trust had an unusually restful air and bright eyes under his thick disordered eyebrows. “I brought some wine for dinner and some food,” he said in a loud voice.
“Well, at least we’ll have something to do,” said First, maintaining his grim expression.
“Tired?” the blacksmith asked.
“We’ve just come back from the fields! You, on the other hand ... are strangely euphoric,” answered Gabriel.
“I just managed to catch up on some sleep. In addition, work is booming.”
“I’ll go wash,” said First, ignoring the guest.
When the family man disappeared, the blacksmith came in and attracted the boy’s attention. Gabriel approached him.
“I know he’s worried about the kids, especially Viktor, but at least you must try to be happy, distract him, I don’t know ... in some way. Just do it.”
Gabriel looked at him nodding. “Sometimes it’s difficult for me to pretend and find the strength to go on too…”
“Your father is getting old, he’s not like he used to be. Now that Viktor isn’t here, you must be the one to take the wheel. You and your brother are the ones he cares most about. Be strong and try to smile. In doing so, perhaps, you will make him smile too.”
Gabriel hugged him and Trust patted him, making him back off.
“As soon as your father finishes, go and wash up. I don’t think I’ll be able to stay near you for long.”
Gabriel laughed.
When both First and Gabriel were ready, with Trust’s help they began cooking, singing an old popular song.
Gabriel began, as to make the blacksmith understand that his message hit the mark; then his friend followed his example and soon First joined in too.
After dinner, Trust went home and Gabriel went to bed; First went out to get some air.
He gazed at the moon in the North and remained contemplating it until his eyelids became heavy.
A smile, together with a wisp of wind, appeared on his face.
“They’ll return,” he said to the stars.
And he saw a falling star leave the leaden sky.
******
“Everything’s ready, I checked several times,” Selene told Devanorth.
“Did you check the food supplies?” he asked.
“Yes, I think it will be sufficient up to Placym ... I don’t think it will take us long.”
“The important thing is to have more than necessary. We must think ahead, in case there are any hitches. Where is Viktor? “
“He’s coming, he went to get his baggage at the inn. Oh, here he is!” she pointed to a spot beyond the busy square of Beleth.
The rain had continued for a long time and, although it was still cloudy, the three had decided to leave, taking advantage of the lack of rainfall.
“Here I am,” said Viktor, joining his friend.
The boy patted Devanorth on the shoulder as he placed his saddlebag and scabbard with Siride in the back of the caravan.
“Ready to leave?” asked Selene.
“Up you get. I’ll take care of driving the caravan,” Devanorth replied.
“I wouldn’t be able to handle it,” observed the chosen one “I have driven a cart at least half of this, if I had to drive the caravan I wouldn’t know where to start.”
“It is not particularly difficult, apart from the manoeuvers and the greater weight you are dealing with... you get used to it soon.”
Viktor replied with a lazy grimace and helped Selene climb up with him, but was stopped by Devanorth.
“If you want you can sit next to me,” he invited.
Selene remained unabashed for a fraction of a second, then she chose to accept the invitation of the new member of the group and sat down beside him.
“Let me get this, I’ll be alone back here for the whole trip?” Viktor burst out, visibly annoyed.
Not having received an answer, he assumed his usual prone position with his head protruding beyond the cart. He put his head on his forearms and emptied his mind, looking around.
Unlike the wagon he had in the countryside, this one didn’t have a curtain on the back that covered the visibility outside and it allowed him to see the surrounding area in a more comfortable and easy way.
The neighing from the horses in front covered the speech of two people sitting on the remains of a wall for a moment.
On his right, the caravan was passing in front of the church where he had first met with Amir and Kanda, his first acquaintances of the Members of the Star.
He reawakened from his thoughts because he was captured by Selene and Devanorth’s chatter. He was curious to hear the conversation, but he could not make out their words well because of the noises and the distance.
Dejected, he laid down on his back and closed his eyes.
“I don’t care. Why should you care about thei
r chatter? Instead, it seems that you do care. Perhaps I’m telling myself that I don’t care only because I am looking for a justification for the fact that I am becoming too morbid towards Selene. Or maybe I’m just thinking too much.”
He drove everything out of his head and looked back at the debris, which grew smaller and smaller as they drove away.
Arriving at the gates of the city, the guards searched them. Selene was happy to have avoided other explanations on the transportation of weapons, realizing that the sentinels had not noticed her dagger nor Viktor’s sword.
Grey rounded rocks set in the damp soil bordered the path.
For a long time only the puffs of the wind were heard.
“Viktor, are you all right back there?” Selene called back to him.
The boy woke up, as if recovering from a state between sleep and wakefulness. “I was about to take a nap, in fact.”
“It’s because of the weather, I suppose. My eyes close by themselves, “she said.
“If you’re tired, you can go in and rest,” Devanorth said, not taking his eyes off the path.
Selene nodded and went inside the caravan, where she found her friend in the same position he was in when they left. “Have you ever thought we would have gone so far from home?”
“No ... never,” Viktor said apathetically.
“Are you okay? You sound strange.”
“Yes fine.”
“Maybe...”
Viktor didn’t speak.
“It isn’t because of Dev ...” she whispered in the boy’s ear.
“Absolutely not. I don’t care about him, on the contrary, I like him,” Viktor lied.
“Ah, really? And now you like him?” Noticing that she was not receiving answers, she added:” Okay, Viktor Agonar. You can go on staring at nothing while ignoring me and hiding what you think!”
“I’m not thinking anything, I’m just tired! I’m not ignoring you.”
“Yes, you are. I’ve known you for a lifetime, we’ve grown up together!”
“It’s not like that, I’m fine. Do you think that with all that is happening, I can waste time thinking of you? You insist on saying that I am irked because of Devanorth: why should I be? Because it seems that with him you are better than with me, perhaps? Because you don’t do anything but talk to him as if I didn’t exist? You think I’m jealous, don’t you? Well, then let me answer you: I don’t care what you or he have in mind, all that counts is being able to accomplish the task that has been entrusted to me. Now ask yourself a question: do you think I’d waste time with a feeling like jealousy? Stop being egocentric and rest, if you have to.”
Viktor Page 22
