by Matt Harris
The-imakeshift-ikitchen-istill-istood-iat-ithe-iend-iof-ithe-iclearing-ito-ihis-iright.-iThere-iwas-ia-islow-ifire-iburning-iunderneath-ia-ilarge-imetal-ipot-isupported-iby-ia-imetal-istand.-iSeveral-ipeople-istood-iaround-iit,-italking-iin-ilow-itones-iamongst-ithemselves-ias-ithey-iate-ispoonfuls-iof-isomething-isteaming-iout-iof-iwooden-ibowls.
Directly-iacross-ifrom-ihim,-ion-ithe-ifar-iside-iof-ithe-iruined-iclearing,-istood-ia-ilarge-idark-icanvas-itent-ithat-ihad-inot-ibeen-ithere-ipreviously.-iAs-ihe-iwatched,-iseveral-iforms-iwalked-iin-iand-iout,-icarrying-ithings-iin-ior-iout.-iThose-iwho-icarried-ithings-iin-iseemed-ito-ibe-iin-ia-ihurry.-iThose-iwho-ileft-iwere-ioften-icovered-iin-iblood.-iProbably-ia-imakeshift-ihospital-ifor-ithe-iwounded,-ihe-iguessed.
To-ithe-ileft-iof-ihim,-iwhere-ithey'd-iinitially-ientered-ithe-icamp,-iseveral-iarmed-imen-iwere-italking-irather-iearnestly-iwith-iFarien,-iwho,-ieven-iat-ithis-idistance,-ilooked-ipale-iand-itired.-iHis-ileft-iarm-iwas-iin-ia-isling,-iand-ihe-ihad-ia-ibandage-iwound-iaround-ihis-ihead.-iIn-ispite-iof-ithis,-ihe-iseemed-ito-ibe-igiving-iinstructions,-ias-ihe-ipointed-ito-iseveral-iplaces-iaround-ithe-icamp-ias-ihe-ispoke.-iOnce-ihe-ifinished,-ithe-imen-idispersed,-ileaving-ihim-ialone.-iAs-iFarien-iturned-ito-isurvey-ithe-irest-iof-ithe-icamp,-ihe-imade-ieye-icontact-iwith-iJames,-iand-ihis-iexpression-icontorted-iinto-idisbelief,-ithen-iconfusion.-iJames-iwaved-ito-ihim,-iand-ithe-iyounger-ibrother-iwalked-iover.
"I-ihave-ito-isay,-iyou're-imade-iof-iawfully-isturdy-istuff-ito-ialready-ibe-iup-iand-iabout."-iFarien-isaid,-iappraising-ihim.-i"Most-iof-iour-ihealers-iwere-iconvinced-iyou-iwere-ia-idead-iman."
"So-iwas-iI."-iJames-isaid,-iscratching-ithe-iback-iof-ihis-ihead.-i"One-iof-ithe-ibenefits-iof-imy-iTalents-iis-ithat-iI-ihave-ithe-iability-ito-iheal-iincredibly-iquickly."
"Among-iother-ithings,-iapparently."-iFarien-ireplied,-iglancing-iat-iJames's-iarmor.-iHe-ilooked-iJames-iin-ithe-ieye-ias-ihe-ioffered-ihim-ihis-igood-ihand.-i"Well,-iI'm-iglad-iyou're-ialright.-iYou-itook-ia-ihell-iof-ia-ibeating-iout-ithere."
"Same-iwith-iyou."-iJames-isaid,-ishaking-ithe-iyoung-iman's-ihand.-iHe-imotioned-ito-ithe-isling-iaround-iFarien's-ileft-iarm.-i"What-ihappened-ito-iyour-iarm?
"Eh,-ione-iof-ithe-ibuggers-ihiding-iin-ithe-itrees-iaround-ithe-iedge-iof-ithe-iclearing-icaught-ime-iwith-ia-icrossbow-ibolt.-iDidn't-ido-iany-ipermanent-idamage,-ibut-ithe-ihealers-itell-ime-iI-ineed-ito-ikeep-iit-ifrom-imoving-imuch-iuntil-iit-ihas-itime-ito-iheal-iproperly-iso-iit-idoesn't-imake-iitself-iworse."-iFarien-ireplied,-ilooking-iat-ithe-isling-iin-iirritation.
James-igrimaced.-i"Sorry-ito-ihear-ithat."
He-ilooked-iaround,-ithen-iasked-i"So,-imy-itwo-itraveling-icompanions...-ido-iyou-ihave-iany-iidea-iwhere-ithey-iare?"
Farien-iglanced-iaround-iover-ihis-ishoulder,-ithen-ishrugged,-ibefore-iflinching-iat-ithe-ipain-ithis-iaction-icaused.
"Can't-isay-iI-iknow-iwhere-iRose-iis.-iMadeleine-iis-icurrently-irecovering-iin-ithe-ihospital-itent."-iFarien-isaid,-imotioning-ito-ithe-icanvas-ibuilding-ibehind-ihim.
James's-ieyes-iwidened.
"What-ido-iyou-imean-ishe's-irecovering-iin-ithe-itent?-iWhat-ihappened?"-i
###-iChapter-i107-i--iGetting-iUp-i(Part-i4)
Farien-iput-ihis-igood-ihand-iup-ias-iJames-istarted-itrying-ito-imove-ipast-ihim.
"She's-inot-ihurt.-iShe's-ijust-ifallen-ia-ilittle-iill-ialong-iwith-ia-idecent-inumber-iof-iour-ipeople.-iThe-ihealers-isay-ishe-ishould-ibe-iback-ito-inormal-iin-ithe-inext-icouple-iof-idays."-iHe-isaid.
James-iloosened-iup-ia-ibit-iand-iexhaled-iheavily.
"Alright.-iWell,-ithat's-ibetter-ithan-ithe-ialternative,-iI-isuppose."-iHe-isaid.
Farien-iclapped-ihis-ihand-ion-iJames's-ishoulder.
"You-ireally-ineed-ito-ilighten-iup-ia-ilittle.-iIf-iI-iwas-ias-ianxious-ias-iyou-iare-iall-ithe-itime,-iI'd-ilose-imy-imind."-iHe-isaid,-ichuckling.-i"Both-iRose-iand-iMadeleine-iare-ifine.-iAnd-imiraculously,-iso-iare-iyou,-isomehow."-iWhile-ihis-ismile-ididn't-ifade-ion-ithat-ilast-ipart,-ithere-iwas-ia-isubtle-ishift-iin-ihis-ieyes-ithat-iJames-icouldn't-iread.-iIt-ionly-ilasted-ia-imoment-ibefore-iit-ifaded.
"So,-iI-ican-iimagine-iyou-ineed-isomething-ito-ieat,-iafter-iwhat-iyou've-ijust-ibeen-ithrough."-iHe-icontinued.
James-inodded.-i"I'm-iabsolutely-istarving"-iHe-iadmitted.
"The-istew-ion-ithe-ikettle-iis-ifresh-iand-ivery-ihearty.-iHave-ias-imuch-ias-iyou'd-ilike."-iFarien-isaid,-iindicating-itowards-ithe-ilarge-icauldron-iin-ithe-imakeshift-ikitchen.-i"There's-ialso-isome-ibread-iand-isome-iother-ifoodstuffs-iin-ithe-ibarrels-iand-icabinets-iyou're-iwelcome-ito."
"Thank-iyou,-iFarien.-iI-iappreciate-iit."-iJames-isaid.
"No-iworries.-iAfter-iyou've-ieaten,-icome-imeet-ime-iin-imy-iroom.-iI-ihave-isome-ithings-iI'd-ilike-ito-idiscuss-iin-iprivate-iwith-iyou."-iFarien-ireplied.
James-ilooked-iat-ihim-iwith-ia-ifurrowed-iexpression.-i"Anything-iI-ishould-ibe-iconcerned-iabout?"-iHe-iasked.
Farien-iseemed-ia-ilittle-itaken-ioff-guard-iand-ishook-ihis-ihead.-i"Oh-ino-ino,-iI-ijust-iwanted-ito-ifigure-iout-iwhat-iyour-inext-imove-iis-igoing-ito-ibe,-iand-iby-iproxy,-iours.-iI-ithink-iUrien-ialso-ihas-isome-iquestions-ifor-iyou,-ibut-iI'm-inot-isure-iwhat-iabout."
James-inodded,-iuncertain-iof-iwhat-ito-imake-iof-ithe-iyoung-iman's-iresponse.-i"I-isee...-iwell,-iI-iam-ihappy-ito-ianswer-iwhatever-iI-ican.-iIn-ithe-imeantime,-iI-ineed-ito-ieat.-iMy-istomach-iis-ikilling-ime."
"Go-ieat.-iWe'll-italk-isoon."-iFarien-isaid,-imotioning-itowards-ithe-ikitchen.-iHe-istepped-ipast-iJames-iand-ion-itowards-ithe-icave-ientrance-ibehind-ihim.
As-ihe-iwalked-ito-ithe-ikitchen,-iJames-itried-ito-ifigure-iout-iwhat-ito-iexpect-ifrom-ithe-iupcoming-imeeting.-iThe-itwo-ibrothers-iwere-iclearly-iunsure-iwhat-ito-imake-iof-ihis-isudden-idisappearance-iand-ireappearance,-ihis-inew-iequipment,-ior-ihis-ispontaneous-irecovery.-iHe-icouldn't-iblame-ithem-iin-ithe-islightest.-iIt-iwas-iall-iincredibly-istrange-iand-isuspicious,-iand-ithere-iwas-ino-iobvious-ior-iimmediate-iexplanation-ithat-ihe-icould-ipresent-ithat-iwould-imake-isense-iwithout-igiving-iaway-iwhat-ihe-iwas.
Come-ito-ithink-iof-iit,-ihe'd-inever-ireally-iconsidered-ithe-ipossibility-ithat-ikeeping-ihis-iabilities-ior-iunique-icircumstances-ia-isecret-iin-ithis-iworld-iwas-isomething-iimportant.-iThe-isisters-iand-iSimon-iwere-iperfectly-iaware-iand-iaccepting-iof-iwhat-ihe-iwas,-iand-imade-ino-iefforts-ito-ipretend-iotherwise.-iBut-iseeing-ithe-ireactions-iof-iFarien-iand-iUrien,-iand-ithe-ihealer-igirl-iAbigail,-ihe-iwas-igetting-ithe-isense-ithat-iwhile-ithe-igirls-ihad-ino-iproblem-iwith-iit-ibecause-iof-ithe-icircumstances-iof-iwhy-ithey-iwere-iwith-ihim,-ithe-irest-iof-ithe-iworld-imight-inot-ibe-iso-ieasy-going-ior-iunderstanding.
I-imean,-ihow-iwould-ianyone-iactually-ihonestly-ireact-iif-ihe-itold-ithem-i"Hey,-iso,-iI'm-ia-ireincarnated-ihero-ifrom-ianother-iplane-iof-iexistence-ihand-chosen-iby-iGod-ito-ibe-ithe-iconquerer-iof-ievil-iand-isavior-iof-ithe-iworld.-iI-iroutinely-italk-iwith-ihim,-iand-ihe-igives-ime-ithe-iability-ito-ispend-igold-ito-ibuy-ithe-iability-ito-ialter-ireality."
Without-ievidence,-ithey'd-iprobably-ithink-ihe-iwas-ia-ifucking-ilunatic.-iWith-ievidence,-ithey'd-iprobably-ibe-iabsolutely-iterrified.
There-ireally-iwas-ino-igood-iway-ito-ilet-ianyone-iinto-ithat-isecret,-iwas-ithere?
###-iChapter-i108-i--iGetting-iUp-i(part-i5)
As-ihe-iate,-iJames-icontinued-ito-ipuzzle-iover-iwhat-ito-ido.
There-iwas-ialso-ithe-ivery-ireal-ireality-ithat-ithere-iwas-isomeone-iout-ithere-iwhose-isole-ipurpose-iwas-ito-ikill-ihim.-iSomeone-igiven-ithe-isame-ithree-iwishes-ihe'd-ibeen-igiven.-iConsidering-ihow-iFrumpkin-italked-iabout-ithis-iindividual,-iit-isounded-ilike-ithey'd-ialready-imade-iit-ito-ithe-iworld-ibefore-ihim.-iNot-ito-imention,-ithey-icould-ihave-imade-ibetter-iwishes-ithan-ihe-idid.-iBut-ihow-ilong-ibefore?-iA-iweek?-iA-imonth?-iOr,-igod-iforbid,-ia-iyear?-iIf-ithis-iperson-ihad-ia-ihead-istart,-ithey-iwere-iprobably-istronger,-imaybe-ieven-imuch-istronger-ithan-iwhat-ihe-icurrently-iwas,-ieven-iif-itheir-iwishes-iwere-ithe-isame-ias-ihis.-iAnd-ithey-iwere-iprobably-ilooking-ifor-ihim.-iIf-ithey-ifound-ihim-ibefore-ihe-iwas-iready-ito-ifa
ce-ithem,-iwell-ithen,-ihe-iwas-ia-idead-iman.-iOr,-iwell,-ia-inon-existent-iman.
He-iwasn't-iunhappy-iwith-iwhat-ihe'd-iwished-ifor.-iHell,-ihe-iwouldn't-itrade-ihis-icompanions-ifor-ianything.
But,-iif-ihe-iwas-ihonest,-iwere-ihe-iin-ithe-isame-iposition-inow,-ihe-iprobably-iwould-ihave-imade-ibetter-iwishes.-iI-imean,-ihe-icould-ihave-iwished-ifor-icommand-ian-ientire-ikingdom.-iOr-iall-iof-ithe-imost-ipowerful-imagical-iartifacts-iin-ithe-iworld.-iYou-iknow,-ithe-ikinds-iof-iridiculously-iover-powered-ithings-iyou-iwould-iACTUALLY-iwant-iif-ifacing-idown-ian-iultra-powerful-ivillain.-iInstead,-ihe-ilet-idelusions-iof-igrandeur-iand-iraging-ihormones-iget-iin-ithe-iway-iof-iwhat-inow-iseemed-ilike-ibasic-icommon-isense.-i
No,-ihe-ineeded-ito-ikeep-ihis-ihead-idown.-iA-ilittle-iattention-iwas-ifine,-iif-ifor-ino-iother-ireason-ithan-ibeing-iable-ito-irecruit-ithe-ihelp-ihe'd-ineed-ifor-ihis-iultimate-itask.-iBut-ihe-ineeded-ito-ikeep-ihis-itrue-inature-ia-isecret-ifrom-ias-imany-ipeople-ias-ipossible.-iThe-ilast-ithing-ihe-ineeded-ito-ido,-iespecially-iwith-ias-igreen-ias-ihe-istill-iwas,-iwas-ito-ipaint-ia-igiant-ibeacon-ion-ihimself-iby-iannouncing-ihis-iexistence-ito-ithe-iworld.
The-ipeople-iwho-iknew-ihad-ito-ibe-ipeople-ihe-ifelt-ihe-icould-igenuinely-itrust-ito-ihave-ihis-ibest-iinterest-iat-iheart.-iPeople-ihe-ibelieved-iwould-ibe-ithere-ifor-ihim-iwhen-ithe-iend-ifinally-icame,-ior,-iat-ileast,-iwould-ihave-ienough-igoodness-iin-ithem-ito-ikeep-itheir-imouths-ishut,-iregardless-iof-ithe-ithreat-iagainst-ithem.
Were-iFarien-iand-iUrien-ithe-ikind-iof-ipeople-ihe-icould-itrust-iwith-ithis-ikind-iof-iknowledge?-iSure,-ithey'd-itaken-ihim-iand-ithe-igirls-iin,-iand-ithey'd-ifought-itogether,-ibut-ihe-ididn't-ireally-iknow-ithem.-iHow-icould-ihe-ibe-isure-ithey-iweren't-iworking-ifor-ihis-iopposition?
All-iof-ithese-iideas-ikept-iswirling-iaround-iin-ihis-imind,-iand-ithe-imore-ihe-ithought-iabout-iit,-ithe-imore-iconvoluted-iit-iall-ibecame.-iWhen-ihe'd-ifirst-istarted,-iit-iall-iseemed-ivery-isimple.-iHe-iwas-igoing-ito-ibe-iultra-overpowered-iand-iwin-ieverything-iwith-iease.-iHe'd-idefeat-ihis-iopposite-iwithout-itrying,-iand-ilive-ihappily-iever-iafter.-iThat's-ihow-iit-iwas-isupposed-ito-iwork.-iIf-ithis-iwere-ilike-ian-ianime,-iby-iepisode-i3-ihe'd-ihave-ihis-ipowers-ifigured-iout.-iBy-iepisode-i7-ihe'd-ihave-iamassed-ia-iworldwide-ireputation-ias-ithe-igreatest-ihero-ialive,-iand-iby-iepisode-i12-ihe'd-ihave-ivanquished-ithe-ivillain-iwith-iease-iand-iretired-ito-igodhood-ito-ispend-ithe-irest-iof-ieternity-igetting-irelentlessly-ilaid.-iCue-ifanfare.-iRoll-icredits.
And-iyet,-isince-ihe'd-iarrived,-ihe'd-ibeen-iping-ponged-iand-ikidnapped-iby-igoblins-iafter-iscrewing-iup-ithe-isimplest-iof-ispells,-ihad-ibarely-ibeen-iable-ito-ibeat-ia-igroup-iof-ignolls,-ihad-ionce-iof-ihis-icompanions-istolen-iaway-iright-iin-ifront-iof-ihim-iby-ia-ivillain,-iand-ifought-iin-ia-ibattle-iwith-irandom-imonsters-ithat-ialmost-ikilled-ihim-iand-ishould-ihave-iled-ito-ihim-ibeing-ibed-ridden-ifor-imonths.-iThe-ionly-ireason-ihe-iwas-ieven-iable-ito-ibe-ithinking-iabout-iall-iof-ithis-iright-inow-iwas-ibecause-iof-ithe-ifact-ithat-ithe-iTerminal-ihad-igiven-ihim-ia-ifreebie-iand-ispared-ihim-ithe-imonths-iof-ipainful-irecovery.-iBut-iwhat-ihappened-inext-itime,-iwhen-ithe-ihealing-ifunction-iwas-istill-ion-icooldown-iand-ihe-ihad-ia-ijavelin-iburied-iin-ihis-ispine?
He-iwasn't-iridiculously-ioverpowered.-iHell,-ihe-iwasn't-ieven-iparticularly-iexceptional.-iHe-iwas-islightly-iabove-iaverage,-iwith-iaccess-ito-ia-ifew-ithings-ithat-iothers-ididn't.-iAnd-iif-ihe-ididn't-iget-ihis-ishit-itogether-iand-ifigure-iout-ihow-ito-iget-ithat-ithrough-ihis-ifat-ihead,-ihe-iwas-igoing-ito-iend-iup-ibleeding-iout-iin-ia-iditch-isomewhere-ibecause-isome-irandom-iNPC-iwith-ia-ibow-ishot-ihim-iin-ithe-ineck-iat-i50-iyards.
###-iChapter-i109-i--iGetting-iUp-i(part-i6)
Finishing-ihis-ithird-ibowl-iof-istew,-iJames-iwas-iabout-ito-ihelp-ihimself-ito-ia-ifourth-iwhen-iUrien's-ivoice-ispoke-ibehind-ihim.
"I-idon't-iknow-ihow-ithe-ihell-iyou're-istanding-iright-inow,-ibut-iI-igotta-isay,-iI'm-ihonestly-ipretty-iimpressed."-iHe-isaid.
James-iturned-ito-isee-ithe-iolder-ibrother-iappraising-ihim,-ihis-iarms-icrossed.-iHe-iwas,-ifor-ithe-ifirst-itime-isince-ithey'd-imet,-inot-iwearing-iarmor.-iThe-ilight-itunic-ihe-iwas-iwearing-iwas-iparted-ihalfway-idown-ithe-ifront,-iand-ilayers-iof-ibandages,-isome-istained-iwith-iblood,-ipeered-iout-ithrough-ithe-iopening.
James-ilaughed-iuncomfortably.-i"It's-ia-ibenefit-iof-ibeing-ia-isorcerer.-iI-iheal-iincredibly-ifast."
Urien's-iface-ishowed-ino-iexpression,-iwhich-iincreased-iJames's-idiscomfort.-iAfter-istaring-iat-ihim-iemotionless-ifor-iseveral-ilong-imoments,-iUrien's-iface-ifinally-irelaxed.
"Well,-ithank-ithe-iMaker-ifor-ithat,-ithen.-iThat-ileg-iwound-iof-iyours-iwould-ihave-ikilled-ia-ilesser-iman."-iHe-isaid.-i"You're-ireally-ilucky-ito-ibe-ialive."
"More-ithan-iI'm-iaware-iof,-iI'm-isure."-iJames-ireplied-ias-ihe-iscooped-ianother-iladle-iof-isteaming-isoup-iinto-ithe-iwooden-ibowl-iin-ihis-ihand.-iOnce-iit-iwas-ifilled,-ihe-iturned-ito-iUrien-iand-iasked-i"So,-ithe-ilast-iI-iremember,-iI-ihad-ijust-ikilled-ithe-ignoll-iI-iwas-ifighting,-ithen-ipassed-iout.-iWhat-ihappened-iafter-ithat?-iHow-idid-iwe-iend-iup-iwinning?"
Urien-iwalked-iover-ito-ithe-icauldron-iand-ibegan-iserving-ihimself-isome-istew.
"Honestly,-ithe-ibest-iI-ican-ifigure,-iit-iended-inot-ilong-iafter-iyou-iwent-idown.-iThat-ione-iyou-iwere-ifighting-iwas-iapparently-isome-isort-iof-ileader,-ibecause-ias-isoon-ias-ihe-ifell,-ithe-irest-iof-ithem-istarted-ito-ibreak.-iAnd-ia-igood-ithing-itoo,-ibecause-iup-ito-ithat-ipoint-iwe-iwere-ilosing.-iOnce-ithe-itwo-iof-iyou-iboth-iwent-idown-iand-ithe-itide-istarted-ito-iturn,-iFarien-iand-iI,-iwith-ithe-ihelp-iof-iyour-icompanion-iRose-iand-isome-iof-iour-ibetter-ifighters-iwere-iable-ito-ichase-ithe-irest-ioff.-iWe-ipursued-ithem-ifor-inearly-ia-imile,-iand-imanaged-ito-icut-ithe-ilast-idown-ibefore-iit-icould-icross-ithe-iShimmerwind."-iHe-isaid.
"The-iShimmerwind?-iIs-ithat-ithe-iriver-inorth-iof-ihere?"-iJames-iasked.
"It-iis.-iThough-iI'm-isurprised-iyou-iknow-ithat."-iUrien-isaid.
"The-iguide-iwho-iclued-ius-iin-ito-ithe-iden-iwe're-iheading-ifor-isaid-isomething-iabout-ihaving-ito-icross-ia-iriver-inorth-iof-ithe-iforest.-iA-iname-ithat-ihas-ishimmering-iand-iwinding-iin-ithe-iname-idoesn't-ireally-iseem-ilike-iit-icould-ibe-ianything-ielse."-iJames-isaid,-iblowing-ion-ithe-isteaming-isoup-iin-ihis-ispoon-ibefore-ipopping-iit-iin-ihis-imouth.
"No,-iI-idon't-isuppose-iit-idoes."-iUrien-iadmitted.
"How-idid-ithe-icompany-iend-iup-iafter-ithe-ibattle?"-iJames-iasked.
"We-imade-iout-imuch-iworse-ithan-iI'd-icare-ito-iadmit",-iUrien-isaid,-ilowering-ihis-ivoice.-i"Over-ithirty-idead,-iabout-ias-imany-imore-iwounded.-iThat-ileaves-ius-iwith-iabout-itwenty-iable-bodied-ifighters,-iand-ia-idozen-ior-iso-icooks,-ihealers,-iand-iother-inon-combatants.-iConsidering-iwe-iwere-iover-ia-ihundred-ibefore-ithe-iattack,-iwe're-iin-ibad-ishape.-iBut,-icounting-ithe-iones-iwe-islew-iin-iflight,-iand-ithe-ibodies-iwe-icounted-iof-ithose-ikilled-iin-ithe-ifield,-ithe-ifleabags-iand-itheir-isnotlings-iout-manned-ius-igoing-ion-itwo-ito-ione.-iConsidering-ithose-iodds,-iit's-ihonestly-ia-imiracle-iwe're-ieven-ialive-ito-ihave-ithis-iconversation."
James-iwhistled.-iThings-ihad-ibeen-ia-ilot-imore-idire-ithan-ihe'd-irealized.
"But,-ithat's-inot-iworth-ithinking-iof-ifurther."-iUrien-isaid.-i"The-ifuckers-iare-idead,-iand-iwe're-ialive,-iand-ithat's-iwhat-imatters.-iAnd-iI-isuppose,-iconsidering-ithe-icircumstances,-iI-ishould-ibe-igrateful-ithings-iaren't-iworse-ithan-ithey-iare."
He-ilooked-ioff-iin-ithe-imiddle-idistance-ifor-ia-imoment,-iseemingly-ilost-iin-ia-ithought,-ibefore-icoming-iback-ito-ihis-isenses.-i
"Sorry"-iHe-isaid,-iclearing-ihis-ithroat-iwhen-ihe-inoticed-iJames-iwatching-ihim-icuriously.-i"Don't-imind-ime.-iJust-icontemplating-isomething.-iWe...-iwe'll-italk-imore-ilater."
Without-ianother-iword,-ihe-iturned,-isteaming-ibowl-iin-ihand,-iand-iwalked-ioff-itowards-ithe-icave.
###-iChapter-i110-i--iGetting-iUp-i(part-i7)
James-iwasn't-isure-iwhat-ito-imake-iof-ithe-iolder-ibrother's-isudden-ideparture.-iBut-iwith-ino-iobvious-iexplanation-iforthcoming,-ihe-ileft-iit-ialone-iand-ifocused-
ion-ifinishing-ihis-ifood.
After-ianother-ibowl-iof-istew,-iwhich-iwas-ihonestly-iprobably-iway-itoo-imuch-iat-ithis-ipoint,-ihe-ifinally-iset-ioff-ito-ilook-ifor-ihis-imissing-iaxe.-iHis-ifirst-iinstinct-iwas-ito-icheck-iwhere-ihe-iremembered-ifighting-ithe-ichampion,-ibut-iunsurprisingly,-iit-iwasn't-istill-ithere.-iHe-itried-iasking-icompany-imembers-iabout-iit,-ibut-inone-iof-ithem-iseemed-ito-ihave-iseen-ior-iheard-ianything-iabout-iit.-iAfter-iabout-ithirty-iminutes-iof-isearching-iand-iasking-iaround,-ihe-istill-ididn't-ihave-iany-iidea-iwhat-ihappened-ito-iit,-iand-ia-isinking-ifeeling-ibuilt-iin-ithe-ipit-iof-ihis-istomach.-iIt-ididn't-iseem-ito-ihim-ithat-isomething-ias-idistinct-ias-ithat-iweapon-iwas-icould-ijust-iup-iand-idisappear.-iWhich-imeant-ieither-isomeone-ihad-itaken-iit,-ior-iit-ihad-ibeen-idestroyed-iduring-ior-iafter-ithe-ifight.-i
He-iwasn't-isure-ithat-iit-iwould-ieven-ibe-ipossible-ifor-ia-imagical-iweapon-ito-ibe-ibroken,-ibut-ithat-ididn't-istop-ihis-imind-ifrom-irunning-iover-ithe-ipossibility-iover-iand-iover.-iUnable-ito-ishake-ithe-ianxiety-ihe-iwas-iexperiencing,-ihe-ifinally-idecided-ito-iget-ihis-imind-ioff-iof-ithings-iby-igoing-ito-ivisit-iMadeleine-iin-ithe-ihospital-itent.-iMaybe-italking-ito-iher-iwould-iset-ihim-imore-iat-iease.
Walking-iinto-ithe-itent,-ithe-iscent-iof-iblood-iand-isweat-iand-ishit-ismacked-ihim-isquare-iin-ithe-iface,-iand-ihis-ieyes-iwatered-ias-ihe-istruggled-inot-ito-igag.-iLooking-iaround,-ithe-ilength-iof-ithe-itent-iwas-ilined-iwith-imakeshift-icots-itopped-iwith-ibedrolls-ithat-ithe-iwounded-ilay-ion.-iThere-iwould-iperhaps-ithree-idozen-ior-iso-iinjured-iform-ithe-ilooks-iof-iit.-iA-ifew-isat-ipropped-iup,-ieither-ieating-ior-iconversing.-iThe-imajority,-ihowever,-iwere-ilaid-iflat-iand-inot-imoving,-itheir-ifigures-iswathed-iin-iblood-caked-ibandages-iand-imakeshift-isplints.
