The Heart & The Heir

Chapter 4

Azkin devoured the fish. The first solid food he'd had in days filled his belly and carried him off into a deep sleep.

Something woke him with a start, eyes wide, peering into the dark, his ears straining for any sign of danger. The soft hum of a girl carried on the breeze.

The events of the last day came flooding back, his body sagging in relief against the ground. "Rhycilla?" he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep, the words hardly carried. Brushing the sleep from his eyes, he pushed back his mossy bedding, climbing to his feet.

He paused, scanning the forest for danger, but the woods themselves had settled into night. The insects chirping, the night birds calling, with the added tones of a soft female voice. His nimble feet passed soundlessly over the carpet of pine needles, leaves, and forest moss. Stepping through the trees and onto the riverbank.

"Did you sleep well?" Rhycilla asked from the water's edge. Sitting up, she shook her hands dry, wiping her chin on her sleeve.

"Aye, I did," Azkin said, turning his gaze to the stars, trying to gage the time.

"Don't worry, the sunset was but an hour ago; we have plenty of time before we must leave." Rising to her feet, she came to stand next to Azkin, peering up at the stars.

"Let me freshen up, and we'll be on our way," he said, sinking to his knees at the water's edge, cupping the cool liquid in his hands and splashing it across his face.

"As you like."

Drying his face on his shirt, Azkin peered over at Rhycilla. "Earlier. How did you know?"

"Know what?" she asked, meeting his gaze.

"You implied I had something to do with the moss, that you knew I could do it. How?"

"Well, that's because I'd already seen it happen." Averting her eyes, her gaze fell to her hands, where she picked at her nails.

"You're not making any sense."

"I see things in my dreams, then they come true. The night before we met, I'd seen our retreat through the woods, our desperate search for someplace to hide. Somehow, the forest heard your plea, responding to your call. Protecting you and me along with." Rhycilla glanced up, with something akin to gratitude rimming her eyes and edging her words.

"I've wandered these woods most of my life. Not once has it even whispered my name," Azkin said, his skepticism losing its strength.

"I can't tell you what you haven't heard, but let me ask you this. When something ill befalls you, has it ever happened inside the forest or only when you're beyond its borders?"

Azkin turned away from her, setting his gaze on the dark eddy of the stream, swirling but a few feet from the water's edge. There was truth to her words, lending a certain gravity to the situation. Shaking his head, he pushed the implication away. He'd revisit this discussion another time when he knew they were somewhere safe.

"If we're going to make it by dawn, we'd better leave," Rhycilla said softly.

"Make it where?"

"The tavern by the shore," she said like it was obvious. "There's someone you will meet. If we don't hurry, you'll miss them."

With a deep sigh of acceptance, Azkin got to his feet, meeting her gaze head on. "You're certain it was the tavern by the shore?"

"Yes, why?"

"Because that's further east, not north. Deep in the heart of Milnarious territory." She remained silent, her throat bobbing in the shadows. "Fine," Azkin said dryly. Without another word, he climbed over the stones lining the river's edge, closing the distance between them. "Stay close, keep quiet, and keep up."