The Reckoning - Book Two

Chapter Thirty - Demwyn

Daella has made it more than clear that she wants no attempts at any kind of relationship between us and I have accepted her decision by avoiding ideas of conversation with her during our daily meals.

Even during training few words are passed between us, only the necessary instruction.

I have become used to the way she binds her emotions, tightening her grip on them each and every day until they are barely a whisper.

It is quiet without them and one could almost mistake her for fae. Almost.

After days of no complaints or arguing I decide she has earned a ride with Imra so I wait as she approaches, face set in her expressionless way she steps towards me and looks around.

"I have decided we should take a ride today, instead of training." I tell her and watch as her eyes widen, the slightest hint of excitement greets me.

"Truly?" She asks, still hesitant to believe me.

I nod in answer.

"Can we go into the wood?" She asks, looking to the trees in the distance that inhabit a large part of the palace grounds. I look at it reluctantly.

"You aren't that familiar with Imra, or riding in general, it might be safer to just stick to the gardens." I return and watch as determination sets in her eyes.

"We can follow the path, I can ride Imra, she's a good horse." She insists quickly, emotions spiking in eagerness.

"Alright, as long as you stick to the path." I relent, knowing there was little in the wood that could really put her at risk and she was right, Imra was a good horse.

Once we are ready I let her take the lead, Imra walks towards the wood and I follow on Aramis, I feel him restless beneath me, he would prefer to be racing in an open field, not strolling through the wood.

As soon as we enter the wood I am hit with wave after wave of excitement and exhilaration and pure joy.

It is disorienting and I struggle to keep my eyes focussed as I watch Daella, her head moving from side to side as she looks around her, eyes roaming every inch of the woods, scanning every sound and taking in every part.

It takes a moment to adjust to the assault and I find myself smiling as the emotions continue to surge.

I had never felt anything like it. Unbridled emotions in their purest form, it had been many years since I had felt anything close to what she is feeling right now and I have to remind myself they are not my emotions as they threaten to overwhelm me.

I focus on the sounds around me, sticking to the path below us and watching warily as Daella moves ahead of me.

How does someone live like that? How can one tiny person hold so much within them? It must be exhausting to keep it bound all the time. Though I suppose she doesn't usually feel like this, no instead it is anger and rage.

It is surprising how little it took to change her so fully. Going from one moment to the next and she is like a different person.

I wonder if this is the version of her that my brother's saw. Her heady emotions drawing them in, compelling them, until it was all they could think or feel.

After our long trek and the ever present company of her vivid emotions I hear the stream before we approach it and call out as it comes into view.

"This is where we turn back!" I tell her and she turns, eyes wide and bright.

"Not yet." She says, voice pleading.

"We can't stay out here all afternoon." I reply, the idea of causing her to return to the anger and rage and losing these emotions of joy and happiness has me wanting to give into her, to give her whatever she wants.