Truth of the Whisper

Chapter Forty-Nine.

Caaln had left Myrana before I had even managed to take a bath and get dressed again. Syrion had insisted to travel with us, and Nyshard hadn't objected, since he was heading towards Wyntern Falls and the Mountains of Myrna were on his way, too. In fact, as we were directly crossing the border to High Ilryn and then intended to go to the border of Wyntern Falls, behind which the Mountains of Myrna and the retreat of the Whisperers lay, Syrion had offered to use his orb.

And Nyshard had agreed.

So, as soon as I was ready, the two of them awaited me in the small courtyard, from which we had left the castle of Myrana the night before. It was just evening again, but apparently Nyshard was either eager to go to the Whisperers, or he was eager to leave Myrna Bays behind.

Either way, I understood them both.

While I dreaded going to the Whisperers again, I also hoped a bit – like Nyshard – that a new Whisper would lead another way than my own. Maybe, it would give me more hope... because seriously, Nyshard was right – how much worse could it get?

The cut on my palm didn't need much wrapping anymore, but the grazing shot from the arrow still hurt whenever I moved, and I had to be a bit careful to not rip the wound accidentally open again. Slowly, I looked around the courtyard where we had left the night before.

Nyshard's hand was at the small of my back and it almost seemed as if he didn't really trust me with my balance, as Styslad cleared his throat and said "Nyshard, Lady Adriyele... one day, I think you'll have to tell me whatever happened on Mirtd. But for now, I believe your word, Nyshard, that you left no trace there, and that the King of Kalash won't make any connection. For your sake", he looked at me. "...and I sincerely hope, that the next time you will visit Myrna Bays, my mate and my son will be here, too, as they are currently staying on the continent with some relatives for some festivities. I'm sure they would like to meet you, as well."

I shared his smile for a moment and bowed my head in acknowledgement. "Thank you for your help, Lord Styslad. I won't forget your kindness."

"I'm sure, you won't.", the Lord of Myrna Bays answered, bid his goodbyes to Syrion and then turned to Nyshard again "On one word."

The hand on my back left me, and he and Styslad walked into a farer corner of the courtyard where they erected a shield around themselves. For a moment, I wondered what they might be talking about, when Syrion raised his voice "It's good to see you well again, Adri."

Grimacing, I looked at him "My self-healing abilities are... shit."
Chuckling lightly, he threw a glance at the two Lord's "Nyshard used his binding mark to lend you strength."

I blushed a bit upon his statement, as I had already guessed it, but hadn't been overly sure because of the fogginess in my mind and the mixed-up nightmares I had in between, but didn't remember too well anymore. "It's the binding mark", I simply said, as if it was an explanation, but he nodded "I know. And... with your low self-healing abilities, it just seemed as if that was bound to happen, you know? I mean, that Nyshard bound your life. That way, he can always protect you and if you get hurt, he can help to heal you..."
Sighing, I shrugged my shoulders "I... don't know. Maybe it's like you say, maybe not. I only know, that there's nothing that can be done about it either way. I will forever carry his mark, and I don't mind it anymore."

The flight back to High Ilryn was in almost complete silence. Or at least, I didn't follow any conversation that might have occurred around me, as I was replaying the meeting with my father in my head again and again.

The Whispers, his death, his wish, the sword and the stone, the fact that there was a weapon to help me kill the King – I shuddered at the thought of killing – the circumstance that we didn't know where the sword could be.