Truth of the Whisper

Chapter Twenty-Nine.

Chapter Twenty-Nine.

"Do you have everything?", Nyshard asked, as he held out his hand to take my traveling bag out of my mine.

I nodded.

He looked at my attire for a moment, turned to a servant and said "Bring an additional blanket", and then turned towards Brayhd, to give him instructions for the time of his absence.

"Adri, wear it.", Dylana's worried voice reached me, and a moment later I felt her fingers brush my hair out of the way. Irritated, I watched her slip the necklace with the medallion around my neck "Please. Wear it, just in case anything happens", the pleading undertone in her voice was the only reason I didn't object.

Since that evening on the terrace, which I had left after reminding Nyshard of his other promise, Dylana made sure to stay at my side. Almost constantly, for the past two days.

And I... adored her for it.

At first, I'd reacted annoyed and it had made me feel as if she felt obliged to do so, but she insisted, that she didn't feel that way. That none of them did. And I grew tired of arguing it.

Dylana's hand found my cheek, then she tugged a loose strand of hair in my braid again and pulled me in a hug "Raylahd is beautiful. Try to get some rest there, Adri", she murmured in my ear.

Caaln was the next to pull me in a bone-crushing hug "We will be back in a few days", I assured him, but he still looked rather grim "I know. But I still don't like the idea of you going there."

I knew he didn't. I had asked him about it, and Caaln had only said, that it was because of the Whisperers. They gave him an unsettling feeling and he wasn't fond of Nyshard's plan, even though he had admitted, that it was the best they currently had. The only one.

Caaln loosed his hold on me after placing a quick kiss on my head "Just stay with Nysh. The whole time, understood?"

I frowned "I'll be okay, Caaln."

Jaw clenching, he nodded.

Warily, I looked up at him "What is it?"

"Just... come back."

"Why shouldn't I?"

He didn't reply, instead, he watched Brayhd, who was stepping nearer. "Ready?"

"Yes", I answered, still a bit irritated because of Caaln.
"Good. Of course, I wasn't able to inform my father of your visit, but... don't worry."

I looked from Brayhd to Caaln, then back to Brayhd "Okay, now I'm worried."

"There's no need to", Nyshards low voice made me turn around. He'd slung my bag as well as his over his shoulder as if he was just a traveller, but his dark leathery clothes as well as the sword on his hip and his daggers told another story. And also, the six heavily armed soldiers that stood behind him.

"Let's go, it's a longer flight", he took the blanket out of Dylana's hands, strode towards me and put it around my shoulders.

I tensed under his touch.

He hadn't touched me or came close to me... since that kiss.

'Shall I carry you... or do you want one of the soldiers to do so?', he asked in my mind as he watched me with a guarded expression.

I glanced towards the foreign men for a brief moment, then I answered 'You.'

He gave a short nod, then he swiped me off my feet and I found myself in his arms again. I resented it, it made me feel weak, but I knew it was for the best. The winds up there would be incredibly cold, and I would only get a chill. Nothing, I wanted to have again.