Elven Legacy

Chapter 104

Jaden

They crossed the Chyulin border north of a small town called Chamchi, guiding their horses along a path through the woods, lush and green from the day's rain, nothing like the golden and crimson leaves claiming Fellera's forests this time of year.

With only enough space for one horse on the path, Noah was their dutiful lead on Bolt, Fenek riding Chestnut close behind, then Dharkan on his black stallion Strider, and finally Jaden.

Occasionally he would lean forward and pat Silver's shoulder and neck, whispering sweet little things. He knew Silver looked forward to being unsaddled and brushed down, which Jaden did every evening. Hopefully they would find a farmer willing to spare some hay, as they had the day before. Jaden had just enough coin left for it, and then a little bit more for emergencies.

Worry coiled inside him, an agitated pattern that drained a great deal of his energy. Noah's master plan was to arrive in Chyulin, lie low for a little while, investigate somehow, figure out who was now the lucky owner of the crescent stone that used to be in Jaden's skin, and kindly inquire about their intentions.

Jaden could envision more or less a thousand things going terribly wrong, especially since they were running out of money. However, it wasn't like Jaden was renowned for his brilliant plans, now was he? And so, he kept his mouth shut and followed Noah like the others. Truthfully, Jaden would most likely follow Noah anywhere in the world should he ask him to, and that scared him. It scared him a great deal.

At night fall, they set up their camp across a mostly uncluttered stretch of woods. No campfire tonight, Noah didn't want to be too easily spotted from the sky so close to Chyulin.

Which, Jaden suspected, would not stop a demon eagle's keen eyes from detecting them. He kept his thoughts to himself, whereas Dharkan had no such qualms. He said out loud what Jaden had been thinking. Noah ignored him, lying down on his messy blanket and rolling to his side. So Dharkan and Jaden did the same, whilst Fenek had first turn staying up and keeping guard. Soon, Jaden heard Noah's even breathing, until eventually Dharkan's snores drowned it out.

Meanwhile the wind rose, ever so fierce deeper into the night. Sometimes it would lash out so powerfully that Jaden couldn't hear anything else. Only the night wind sweeping over him as he looked up at the stars and the moon with watery eyes. A waxing gibbous moon tonight – it would be full in a few days. Jaden shivered; he'd washed himself in a small river earlier in the evening and his hair was still damp.

He folded his legs on his blanket and threw one arm over his head, letting out a heavy sigh that was instantly carried away by the wind. He couldn't sleep.

Too much uncertainty, too much at stake, too many scenarios roaming about in his thoughts. And then, of course, the undeniable longing – quite possibly stronger than everything else – to crawl over the other side of their little camp, join Noah on his blanket and—

Something tapped Jaden's shoulder, startling him, and he gave an embarrassing gasp that thankfully Fenek could not hear.

Jaden sat up and looked questioningly into Fenek's eyes, barely visible in the night. The young Nimisian was crouched beside him, his slim braids untied and falling on his shoulders. His dark, moonlit skin and braids briefly reminded Jaden of his ex-lover Bryani, though he swiftly shook off the memory.

Instead, he looked at Fenek's hands as they moved. But he couldn't recognize the signs he made, especially not in darkness. Jaden shook his head, sitting up straighter, crossing his legs. The wind yanked his hair in random directions, and Jaden ran a hand through it in an attempt to keep his eyes clear.