Put back together

10. D'cal

They only reached the bridge after dark and Roman cursed the storm that had broken the other one.
It was the first choice of most travellers because it was newer, shorter and closer to most other Islands.
This one was old, if still holding, and a lot longer.

Roman could only barely make out the shore on the other side. Not that he'd ever admit it but it terrified him.

They made a fire again, this night, feeling safe enough to do so for the moment. Patton roasted a bird Roman had shot earlier and the latter told him about the time Theresa and Nico had tried to steal a Potion of Growth from Remy.

Roman only realised how long it had been since he had had a warm meal when the smell of cooked meat filled the air and made his mouth water.
Dry bread was good against hunger but was nothing against warm, soft, juicy meat.

They both dug in hungrily.

The prince whipped his mouth on his sleeve: "We should sleep now. Tomorrow we will reach D'cal and then climb Natica to reach the Library."

"Are you sure they will let us in?", Patton asked and yawned.

"They will. They have to."

Both men were too tired to come up with anything else to say. Roman curled up against a tree wrapping his coat around himself and fell asleep quicker than a freezing Shanakle.

------

Patton warmed himself on the fire. He was too tired to do anything but lie there and blink but somehow too awake to fall asleep.

"You're awake."

He jumped at the sudden voice. He recognised it.

"You're the one who woke me up a few days ago."

"I'm sorry about that. Really."

"It's alright," he yawned, "but why are you here?"

"You are in danger. You know that, don't you? I wanted to warn you. Not all that glitters is gold. Not everything said by a wise, powerful person is true. Be careful who you trust, okay?"

"Okay...?"

"Good. Take care."

Patton didn't have to see them to know that whoever had spoken to him was gone.

He fell asleep soon after while contemplating what they had meant.

Patton woke up first the next morning. It was foggy and the air tasted like rain.
Hopefully they would reach the library without getting wet.

"Roman!", he gently shock the other until he woke up. They ate a small breakfast, bound stricks to the horses' bridles and began the last part of their four-day journey. Roman suggested weighting themselves down against the wind, so they stuffed their pockets with food and other things they found in the saddle pockets before crossing over.

The prince lead, pulling Elysan with him, and Patton wasn't far behind, holding Amity's strick.

After a short while he was forced to close his eyes again. He felt the pull of the wind and made a mental note to hug Roman for the weight idea.
It really helped to keep his feet firmly on the shaky wooden planks.

His hand, holding the strick felt numb. He barely noticed it slipping through his fingers until the knot at it's end tugged at his hand.
He pulled at it hoping to get Amity to move faster.

Suddenly the strick was ripped from his grip and he fell against the ropes of the bridge.
His hand brushed rough wood and he held on, now on all fours.