Threads of Fate

Chapter 26 ~ The Words of a Queen

    Their first day of travel with their new companions had gone surprisingly well following their return. Tissaia had expected some awkwardness and tension, and while there was a little, there hadn't been nearly as much as she was anticipating. The majority of it came from Azael and her brother, but Kaius seemed eager to get to know Vael and Kahari.

    He had carried most of the conversation with the female, who was again sitting astride Vael in his bear form, although they had brought along two additional horses, one of which Kaius was riding on and leading the other behind.

    Tissaia had assumed they were sticking to their previous arrangement for the sake of its familiarity, until they were accustomed to the group. After all, they were strangers to the pair too. She had made up her mind to remedy that as soon as Kaius offered a lapse in conversation, but that didn't come the first day.

    When darkness fell, they had made camp and divied up supplies for the evening meal, before arranging their watches for the night. Tissaia welcomed the chance to get more sleep but had volunteered herself for the first watch so she could avoid being woken up at some point in the night. Kaius had stayed up with her for a time, despite her insistence that he try to sleep.

    She had managed to coax a small explanation out of him at least. He had admitted that he was wary of sleeping. If visions weren't plaguing him, it seemed nightmares were. Not even the bright glow of their campfire could drive away the shadows that lined his features as he spoke, and she had noticed not for the first time the dark circles appearing below his hazel eyes.

    Eventually, Talarion had woken up when he shifted in his sleep and found Kaius's makeshift bedroll empty. Her brother had been attempting to persuade him to rest as well when Kahari, who was apparently not sleeping, rose and retrieved something from one of the satchels she'd brought from the village.

    They all eyed the small bag she produced with obvious wariness, but no one raised a protest when Kahari took a waterskin and held it just above the flames until the water was heated. She had slipped three dried leaves into the waterskin, given it a hard shake, then passed it into Kaius's hands with the instructions that he should let it rest for an additional five minutes before drinking the contents.

    Talarion had given the concoction a quick sniff before Kahari explained that it was merely a nerve-calming tea and would help Kaius sleep. Possibly even deep enough to avoid having dreams. Kaius wasn't fond of the idea, but his exhaustion eventually won out and he drained the waterskin as smoothly as he had the liquor bottle in the hidden village.

    The tea worked brilliantly. Kaius had been nodding off only minutes later, and Tissaia had assured her brother that she would just add Kaius's designated hours to her own watch so he wouldn't be disturbed. She had also been relieved to see them go to sleep beside each other, her brother very openly curling himself around Kaius in a gesture of protection.

    She was glad they weren't choosing secrecy again. She had been worried that they might, given Vael and Kahari's presence, but she wouldn't be the one to question their decision. She personally thought they could trust their new companions with this secret. Clearly they held no love for the Lord of Lochren.

    Tissaia's watch stretched on, quiet and uneventful, and when it was over, she went to wake Azael. She almost had to laugh at how she found him. He was bunched onto his cloak in what looked to be a rather uncomfortable fashion. His knees were pulled up just enough to avoid kicking Vael in the head, and his own head was tucked towards his chest to avoid Talarion's feet.

    It couldn't really be helped. With two extra people, they had to arrange their bedding closer together so they could all fit around the fire, and Azael was the tallest in the group, making his fit the most cramped. Tissaia hesitated a moment before waking him. His wavy hair was strewn across his cheek, turned the color of fresh straw by the firelight although it had grown darker in the many days that had passed since they'd fully seen the sun.