Winds to Light up the World

Chapter 23

They took the road out of the run-down town and kept going north-west. Cove kept thinking back to how Tanora and he actually took the Stone of Lum. He felt something then, something he couldn't really place, but it warmed him, and even hours later he could feel a faint echo of it. Cove had seen Tanora's questions about their methods and how to use the Stone, but he had decided to enjoy the victory and deal with the questions later. Probably not the best idea, though... He'd talk to Tanora later.

As if on time with his thoughts he heard giggling from behind. He turned back and saw Shayla and Tanora, quite a bit back, whispering and laughing. About what he had no clue, only that it had to be important, because it had been going on for at least an hour. He had experienced such behavior before with the ladies at the court. Best to leave the ladies or else... Better not think of that incident two years ago, he thought.

Next to him Rane was babbling about anything that came to his mind, so nothing new there. Cove though couldn't concentrate on what he was saying, thoughts kept invading his mind. All he did was nod and hum in agreement once in a while, which satisfied Rane, for he continued to chatter. Rane would probably be talking even without Cove next to him. His mind drifted back to that feeling he had in the Hall of Storms and the instinct he had by sending his magic to Tanora's wind. He couldn't explain it, but it had felt so right.

He felt something nudge him, looked over and saw Rane glaring at him. "Are you even listening to me?" he asked exasperated.

"Hm?"

It wasn't like he was ignoring Rane to spite him. No, in fact Cove had really grown to like him. Rane gave off similar vibes to Madron, the feeling you could trust him no matter the situation. Actually, every one of his new friends had that feel to them. How come he had found it three times in the matter of a few weeks, while in all of years at the palace only one?

"Cove!" Rane shouted to get his attention, clearly frustrated at his short concentration span.

Cove apologized quickly, really regretting wandering off with his thoughts again.

"So, I was thinking about stopping for the night soon," Rane said, "Do you think it's a good idea to camp in the Zephyrian Forest?"

Cove contemplated the options. Either go a little further to the cover of the trees or call it a day and camp in the unprotected fields. "I'm not sure how safe it is in the Forest, you'd have to ask Shayla, maybe she knows, but because it looks like rain, I say Forest."

Rane nodded in agreement. "Hey girls!" he shouted over his shoulder, "would you deign to join us? We have a decision to make."

They spurred their horses, coming closer but still talking like crazy. What was so interesting to talk about for hours? When they nearly had caught up, Cove could hear snippets of their conversation.

"But you do have to admit, he's not ..." Shayla started in a hushed tone, but then was cut off by something. Cove could see her lips moving but wasn't able to hear her.

Ah, Tanora, he thought. Though he couldn't hear their conversation anymore, he still saw a slight blush on Tanora's cheeks.

"You know, it's not polite to whisper, not to mention, excluding two people right in front of you from a conversation," Rane protested against their treatment.

Tanora just shrugged, "You're just jealous that for once you're the excluded one. I have to use all means to keep Shayla from leaking our secrets."

Cove snorted, "You and secrets. Yeah right."

"Oh, you'd be surprised", Shayla replied with a saccharine smile.

They would have gone on longer teasing each other but Rane held up a hand. "Whoa, okay, we're starting to drift off here. The reason we made you catch up is because we wanted Shay's opinion on whether the Zephyrian Forest is safe enough to spend the night."

She nodded, "Yeah, that should work. As far as I know no dangerous mythical creatures or whatnot."

That was it then. The four of them rode just beyond the forest edge and then made camp. Cove had to admit the Zephyrian Forest was a different kind of forest. The trees reached up into the rain-colored sky, only letting pinpricks of light through their dense leaves. Moss covered the tree trunk and the ground, weaving between bushes and patches of fern. The oncoming darkness made the trees look like age-old sentries, watching over them.

While Rane and Tanora set up camp, feeding their horses, setting up bedrolls and more, Shalya and Cove went to look for wood for a fire. Not because they needed light, no, more like warmth. An orb of light expelling the approaching night, they walked through the silent forest. Despite the shadowed trees and shrubs Cove did not feel frightened. It wasn't a darkness that creeped up and made your imagination go wild. And he had a feeling Shayla felt the same, because she'd often stray out of the main circle of light. When they found enough wood, Cove being a gentleman and carrying the load, they returned to Rane and Tanora who had made a quite comfortable looking camp.

During supper they decided that despite Tanora's hardened air wall around them, they should set up a watch. Rane and Shayla fell asleep quickly, their deep and even breathing contrasting the crackling fire. Although Cove had offered to take the first watch Tanora stayed up, sitting beside him, just staring into the fire. Then after a while, as if making sure the other two were asleep, she turned to him and sighed.

"I think we should go back to Crivers. I don't believe that after the Hall of Storms there could be anything more important on the way to the source," she said in a low voice, cutting straight to the point.

Cove thought for a while. "I know what you mean. There's this feeling that tells me we have the answer. But am I just imagining that? Because I'm sick of traveling? What if there really is something more important at the source?"

Tanora shook her head, "No, we can't be making this up. I can feel it too."

"Hm... Well, if we can convince the others of turning around, I say we go for it. With what we got," he said, pointing to her jacket pocket, "we might have what the prophecy said, we need to fulfill it. And it makes sense. It probably also would be safer going home. We know someone is working against us. Two attacks, form drexis, nonetheless," Cove glanced at her ripped pant leg, an angry red line underneath.

Tanora nodded thoughtfully, looking back at the fire. "Yeah, it does seem like the best solution. How about you rest though. It's been like only two days since you got knocked out," Cove winced at the memory, "I'll take the watch and think about what we could tell the others."

Thankful he lay down on his sleeping mat, pulling a blanket over him. Cove shot one last look at Tanora, her face illuminated by the fire, which made the red nuances in her hair stand out more than ever. She looks beautiful, he thought right before he drifted off to sleep.

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So what do you think of their decision to not tell the others?

Have a nice day!