Defying Equilibrium: Book II

Chapter 15: Memories are fleeting, reality not so

 "Stop!"

Chase may not have held the rank of commander any more, but his voice still carried the air of authority. He was a man to be listened to,not ignored. The wagon driver, Lex, listened to him and yanked on the reins of the horses leading the wagons, bringing them to a sudden stop.

Chase jumped down from the wagon with a thud, wincing as he landed. He normally healed fast, but even he couldn't heal in just a few hours of sitting around and worrying. His injuries pained him.

He glanced around. "It's getting dark. We'll stop here for the night."

"Stop?" Oscar asked, incredulous. "Are you serious? They'll be following us, and we'll be lambs for the slaughter if we stop now! We have to keep going."

Chase shook his head. "They won't find us. This road is hidden from all but those who know where to find it. It's a secret path, used only by us Malachi."

Oscar frowned. "You really think they can't track us?" Oscar gestured to the deep gouges in the dirt road that the wagon's wheels had made. "These tracks seem pretty conspicuous."

"That's why we have a decoy wagon. Another wagon left the forges at exactly the same time that we did, in the exact opposite direction.They won't be following us."

"That's....really well planned. And smart."

Essie snorted, jumping down from the wagon beside him. "Don't sound so surprised. We're not amateurs at this, you know."

Oscar frowned, but said nothing. Instead he helped unload a few supplies from the wagon and started to prepare a fire for them. The wind was cold, they would freeze without one. He gathered wood and hefted it into a large pile, then beckoned Dakora over.

"Have you got enough strength to light this?"

She had dark circles around her eyes and she suddenly seemed smaller. But she mustered a nod and a half-smile, and rubbed her temples like she had a headache. She was about to light it, when Oscar remembered something.

"Wait! Is there any way you can make a fire that won't smoke? Theymight be able to see the smoke and find us."

That half smile again. "Oscar, you forgot that I've been on the run in these forests for years. I think I know what I'm doing."

"Sorry," he said awkwardly, feeling foolish, embarrassed at his paranoia.

He felt a hand on his shoulder, and it was Dare. He smiled. "It's alright, Oscar. We're in good hands now, we're safe. You need to learn to have some faith in other people, my friend."

He sighed. "I know, I know. It's just..." He was at a loss, unable to put his fears to words. His worry, his inability to accept safety after the panic he had felt. His guilt.

Dare frowned. "You know that it wasn't your fault." Without waiting for a reply, Dare turned and left to help Essie with cooking.

How does he always know? Oscar didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so he settled for neither.  A small, sad,tired smile. How does he always know what I'm thinking? I don't even have to say a word, he just knows.

Dare was wrong though. Oscar knew that this was all his fault, all of it. It was him who spoke so carelessly when he thought no one could hear. It was him that stood by while Dare got stabbed by that guardian in the forest. It was him who involved Liana and Sansu. It was all his fault.

Liana seemed to be recovering rapidly, which was a good sign. She had grown a little thinner, a little paler, her hair matted and lank. A wave of guilt hit Oscar every time he looked at her, because she had nothing to do with this. And yet she had been caught up in it as much as he had.