Eight Intertwined

170 - Reliance

After the travelers finished their business in Bolderfall, they decided to make their way back to Wellspring with the Warp Staff. They hadn't yet outlined what their next steps would be, and Olberic realized a bit too late that it was because none of them had even considered the idea that they could fail to find the emerald dragonstone. Now that the gem was out of their reach, they had no clue of what to do next. Staying in Bolderfall felt wrong to all of them though, like they were lingering just a bit too close to the sun of their own failures. On top of that, all of their supplies were still gathered in Wellspring's inn. And so, they returned to Wellspring for one more night to talk about everything they could do from there. 

Olberic was glad to be given a bit more time to sit with his thoughts before the group got back on the road. He needed it desperately, and he knew he wasn't the only one either. Therion had promised to talk to the travelers about everything that happened that day with Darius, but Olberic could tell he needed a bit more time first. Olberic didn't want to leave Therion alone with his thoughts though, so once the travelers had settled back in the inn, he decided to find out where the thief had gone so they could talk. After all, he felt as if he understood Therion a lot better now. 

It had hit Olberic all at once as Therion was speaking with Cordelia and Heathcote on the steps of Ravus Manor. The vague way Therion referred to Darius and the talk of betrayal struck just a bit too close to Olberic's heart, and it reminded him of a conversation he had shared with Therion the day before. Therion had seemed shocked that Olberic was willing to give Erhardt another chance. Something about the conversation told Olberic that Therion wasn't exactly thinking about Erhardt when he expressed his concern, and at long last, Olberic understood why. Therion had thought Erhardt would be just like the person who had betrayed him so long ago. He hadn't breathed a word of Darius' existence to any of the travelers before that point, desperately trying to bury the truth of the treachery of the past and hide it from any prying eyes... But Olberic knew the old grief of loss through betrayal, and he could only hope Therion was willing to trust him enough to discuss it. 

Therion was sitting on a bench just outside the inn when Olberic found him. As per usual, Therion had an apple in his hands, but he didn't seem to want to eat it. Instead, Therion just entertained himself with tossing the apple a short distance from his fingertips before catching it again. The rhythm was hypnotic enough to distract Therion from realizing Olberic was there until after the knight sat down at his side. Therion snapped out of his haze slowly, looking up at Olberic as the tension in his shoulders multiplied. "Do you need something?" Despite the recent edge to Therion's voice and demeanor, he was not angry when he spoke. Olberic felt the anxiety leave his body at the realization. At long last, Therion was starting to come back to the rest of the group. It was long overdue, and Olberic was certain the rest of the travelers would agree. 

"I was hoping to talk to you... About what happened today," Olberic began. Therion looked away from him pointedly, but Olberic continued anyway. "You weren't sure of how to feel when I spared Erhardt because of Darius. He betrayed you in a significant way, and when you heard about Erhardt... You thought he would be the same way."

Therion let out a loose snort, almost taking a bite of his apple before thinking better of it. "Was it really that obvious?" Olberic said nothing, and Therion leaned back against the bench a bit more. "Yeah. You're right. My relationship with Darius is... It's complicated, and I..."

"You'll be ready to talk about it soon," Olberic finished for him, and Therion nodded. "Whenever you're ready to talk, you know I'll be here to listen. All of us will be."

"I know," Therion whispered, his voice a ghost of a whisper against the skin of the apple in his hands. "I appreciate it."

Olberic was halfway tempted to leave the conversation there, but he couldn't bring himself to stand up and walk away. Instead, he offered the thief a small smile. "I'm proud of what you did today," he told him, and Therion's eyes widened ever so slightly. "Facing the past like that is hard, and... I'm proud of you for not killing that man."