II - Sigh of Smoke

Chapter 13 - Fathers and Fields

-Atlanta-

The Barren Wastes were just as she expected. The air and the summer mist made her sick, and she had found herself giving Lucan bitter looks every now and then to prove it. Luckily, they had encountered no savage clan with the intent to skin them all, but instead only discovered countless bodies laid scattered along a forest road. She could tell Zarkarians were the ones to kill them, especially with the precision of the cuts and the sureness of the blows. The Outlanders were killed in a way, not to extend any length of excrutiating pain, but to destroy instantly.

They wanted to be quick.

After hearing that Aleksandra and the other Wielders had attempted an escape, she understood why. She wasn't sure whether or not she was pleased or angered at the fact Aleksandra had nearly escaped from her brethren's skilled control.

Though now it seemed there was some hope in retrieving her. They all now had horses.

Lucan had said a girl he had spoken to last night had ensured they would have horses. Strangely enough, they were given four of a kind of breed she had never known about. They seemed stronger than the Zarkarian javlan, and they proved to have superior stamina. Not even Dareon, nor Piper had seen anything like them before.

When Atlanta asked about whom Lucan had spoken to, he had given her no answer. A girl, he had said.

She was also angry he had slept and nearly endangered them all having not appointed someone else to stand vigil.

But that was hours ago.

Now, they were much further into the Barren Wastes. She had no clue when it would end, but the shadows were playing with her, and the strange insects and the sour scents made her feel weary. Dareon was having trouble identifying which plants were poisonous, and all Emiloseph could do was urge them faster.

They were camping for the night, though the fact Aleksandra was already going to have her first fight in the morning made them restless. Dareon, be it due to the Barren Wastes' atmosphere or his own mind, could not stop twisting in his sleep. He often mentioned whether or not they were all in their right mind going after the Wielder girl, but soon enough Atlanta's curiousity had gotten to her and she asked him a question.

"Why do you not like the witch?" She had spoken over the crackling firepit, gesturing to him with the stalk of some edible plant they had come across on their journey.

"What?" Dareon had blinked at her, partially confused.

"I understand her habits from her past irk you, and that her spiteful words bother you, but why do you not like her?"

Dareon had just stared at Atlanta for a moment, shocked at her asking him this question. "I don't hate her."

"Ah, but you don't trust her." Atlanta bit into the stalk, feeling the strange sweetness spill into her mouth. "I trust her neither, but I am not as wary of her as you. You were getting along just fine besides your lack of trust. Is it because she was a killer that you are questioning whether or not we should go after her?"

"No. I'm fine with going after her, but do we really care like we shou—"

"—I know," Atlanta interrupted. "You believe we must think of her fondly to save her. My question is why you treated her so spitefully. I am aware she had lied about her spell once so you would act proper to torture—" Dareon flinched "—and that she had hurt you before without an apology. She was a killer, which causes your wariness. However, your current company is made of killers, as well as yourself."

Dareon straightened. "No—"

"Is it because she enjoyed it?" For some reason, Atlanta had no idea why she was rambling. Mayhaps she was tired of Dareon's constant mentions of the Wielder and how she was cruel, how he couldn't understand her, and just how concerned he was about the state her midn was in.