And What I Found There - Book Two

38. Give Me Something That'll Haunt Me

It's several hours later. We've been training on the road, and I think we've actually been having some fun. I mean, I've been secretly having fun, swinging swords together, ducking and dodging around trees, climbing anything to get the high ground, and of course throwing in some martial arts to keep it interesting.

In my opinion, the time has just flied right by while we were sword training. I'm well worn out by now, gratefully excepting Vyndren's hand as we navigate through this neck of the woods.

The forest is incredible dark, and all kinds of creepy sounds ring out in the night like sadistic lullaby. The mist makes everything look smoky, and yeah, creepy. But I hardly notice when my Dark Rider is at my side. The darkness doesn't even slow us down, I just hold onto his hand as he leads us along.

That is, he was. Now he suddenly stops short and looks around.

"What's up?" I ask, slightly breathless. We have really been in high gear since nightfall settled.

"It's your...Knights." His lip twitches with annoyance. "They are just a quarter mile up ahead, beyond that bend there," he nods at the rocky outline of a hedge made of dark stones, the rock wall bends and curves and disappears from view by a tangled mess of trees.

"OMG, that's awesome!" I smile, feeling excitement renew my energy. "What are we waiting for then?"

"Well..." Vyndren looks around with no small amount of disgust. "They have a spirit sensitive border up."

"Whoa. How can you tell and what's that?" I ask, terribly curious.

"A spirit sensitive border is cast by a charm, it can detect and identify whoever crosses it, and some of the most powerful are used as boundaries which can prevent certain persons' auras from crossing."

"This one isn't that strong though, right?" I ask anxiously.

"Hardly," he scoffs.

"How can you tell?"

He snorts. "I can sense it."

I smile, trying to keep from laughing as I say, "that's your answer to everything!" He rolls his eyes and now I can't help but laugh. "OMG, you sense everything."

He huffs. "Trust me, even the things I don't want to. Now then, oh yeah, they'll be notified of you and me and...well, I'm not much for a welcome wagon so..."

"But they know I need you."

"I know...but still, let's just do whatever we have to do here and now and then you can cross over and meet up with your Knights and I'll be out of the way."

"Yeah but -"

"It would be better for everyone if no one sees me." He says softly.

"Yeah but I...I don't want to say good-bye right now." My heart aches at the thought of another good-bye.

"Not to sound like a jackass, but in a realistic life it is seldom that we get what we want. We strive more for what we need. And you and I need to part ways here if you still wish to keep me from ripping persons heads off with my bare hands. So," he goes on briskly. "What do you need me to do for this cure of yours?"

I frown with disappointment. I can't believe we're parting ways so suddenly; it feels like I'm always saying or on the verge of saying goodbye to Vyndren. It breaks my heart.

Nevertheless, I summon the vial I need to collect the venom in. In a flash of white light, I feel the cool glass vial in my hand. "Okay," I look it over. There is nothing fancy or cool about it, it's just a plain glass vial that has a narrow opening along the side with hard, firm black rubber stretched over the gap. "Um, this is it," I nervously hand it to Vyndren. "So, err...all you have to do is bite the rubber and if your fangs are the same as snakes and spiders -" He scoffs. "No offence, then the pressure the rubber will put on your fangs should release the venom."