Arothena awoke to Salene standing over her, grinning. She squinted, the sun half blinding her, blocked only by Salene’s towering form.
“What?” she said. Salene just grinned harder, and moved out of the way. Arothena sat up to find that the tents had already been packed up - along with everything else. She rubbed her eyes. Someone grabbed her shoulder. Ronan pulled himself up into a sitting position, using her as an anchor. She rolled her eyes. Salene clapped her hands at them.
“Come on, lovebirds. We’ve gotta move,”
Arothena frowned as Salene began to walk away from them, into the forest. Salene always used cheeriness to cover up hurt. Always. But, she hadn’t realised she had liked Eloise that much. Maybe it was just the thought of her walking out, the thought of her very probable death. She stood up, Ronan with her. He trudged forward, shouldered his share of the bags, and marched onwards, towards Yuhnig. She took a deep breath, and hurried on. Ronan had already overtaken Salene, and was again setting the pace, marching them at unrealistic speeds.
Arothena stumbled over a log, hurrying to catch up with Salene. She leant against her shoulder, panting. Salene just laughed, that melodious sound suddenly irritating.
“What?” she demanded, “I haven’t had breakfast, I barely slept, and you wake me up grinning like a demon, and then this crabby immortal,” she ranted, gesturing at Ronan, whose ears twitched at her description of him, “forces me to half sprint my way across countries!”
She swore she could hear Ronan chuckling faintly as he slowed his pace. Barely. Salene just shook her head, still smiling knowingly.
“What!” Arothena demanded again.
“Nothing!” Salene laughed, “it’s just, well.”
Arothena stared at her, eyes wide and exasperated. Salene laughed again.
“Trust you and Ronan to do it all wrong. You’ll sleep with each other without having slept with each other,”
Arothena gaped at her.
“That’s why you woke me up with the grin of a damned hellhound plastered across your face?!” she said incredulously. Salene clapped her on the back, and turned forward.
“Yes it is. Come on, we can get you breakfast when we reach the stream.”
Arothena wrinkled her nose. She hated fish. Salene laughed again, giggling so hard she was almost hanging off Arothena’s shoulder.
“Oh Aro. You’re ridiculous, you really are,”
Arothena snorted, knowing full well that of the two of them, Salene was definitely the most ridiculous. She gave her a look that said as much. Salene refused to acknowledge it, looking ahead, towards Ronan, who, in turn, refused to acknowledge the pair of them.
“Forward!” Salene declared, mocking his military manner, “to Yuhnig! The land of the demons we must purge from our sacred country!”
Arothena shoved her aside and pushed onwards, her head shaking with laughter at her friend. Salene caught up again, and strode along by her side. She smiled. It didn’t matter what happened, Salene could always make fun. Arothena grinned.
"Besides," she said slowly, "who's to say we haven't slept together?"
"Me." Salene replied, "You're both too…"
She trailed off. Arothena raised an eyebrow at her.
"Too, too, too," Salene spluttered. Arothena pursed her lips and turned away. Salene gasped.
"You have?"
Arothena stayed quiet, grinning.
"No. No," Salene continued, "No, I just don't believe it."
"Why not?"
"You're just so, I mean, you're both…"
"Both what?"
"I don't know! You're like parents! Parents don't have sex!"
A moment of silence passed. Arothena burst out laughing. Salene gaped in indignant horror as the assassin doubled over, howling with mirth.
"What? What?"
"Nothing! Nothing." Arothena replied, then sniggered again, descending back into laughter. Salene turned away, making a good show of pretending to be hurt. Arothena took no notice.
A comfortable silence fell between them as they walked, following Ronan. He'd heard everything they'd said - it was impossible that he hadn't - yet he kept walking. Arothena chuckled. Surprisingly, it wasn't that difficult to embarrass a Rellae warrior.
Suddenly, inspiration struck.
Arothena nudged Salene, who turned to her, raising one perfect eyebrow. Arothena leaned in, her voice barely a breath it was so soft - a caution necessary due to Ronan’s Rellae hearing.
“Do you still have those grapes?”
Salene’s answering grin was purely evil.
{**}
YOU ARE READING
The Sprinter
FantasiaShe'd been running her entire life. Now, it might not be enough. Hounded day and night by unearthly men, Eloise has never stopped running. But now, running is not enough, and she needs protection. A twist of fate places her in the hands of the assa...
