In the Absence of Light

Chapter 10: The Merchant

Chapter 10: The Merchant

I opened my eyes and saw clouds. They were pretty, but the jolting kept making me lose my focus. I turned my head slightly, and I could feel the massive headache that was promising to come and swallow me whole. A moan of pain and frustration escaped my lips.

"I think she might be waking up!" I recognized that voice. It was, it was... familiar. No, it was Darin's voice. I turned my head some more until I was looking upward, and there above me was Darin's face leaning down over me. I tried to sit up, but my muscles wouldn't move. I couldn't sit up.

"It's ok Dyrana, You're in the wagon. You used to much energy, and Kyra had to give you some energy just to keep you alive. What happened to the powers the goddess gave you? Why didn't she help you with the energy for your stone tree project?" Why was he leaning over me? Actually, why was he there and not Kyra. Shouldn't Kyra be watching over the injured?

"Let me guess. The ways of the Lady are mysterious and not to be understood by us simple humans? Are you not planning on talking? You know, that little stunt of yours was extremely stupid. We could have just burned the bodies and moved on. I saw you turn that tree to stone, and I tried to reach you, to stop you, but I just reached you in time to stop you from hitting your head when you collapsed. What was that whole thing about the end of the world anyway? What..."

"Will you just shut up for one second," He was giving me a headache, or maybe he was adding to the headache I had. Why was he here and not Kyra? Shouldn't he be on lookout?

"Where's Kyra?" My voice sounded so tired, maybe that was part of the head ache and using all of my energy. I was surprised I even had had enough energy for that spell to begin with. Maybe Zedigrivikonola had given me extra energy when she left me. That would be the only explanation I could think of for why I was still alive.

"I'm giving Kyra a break. She's on her horse since her horse still isn't injured. We have to take turn on the horses with all the people we have and how few horses we have. We might have to take on a guard position or something to be able to afford our travel. And you are avoiding my question." Did he always talk this much?

"What question, you asked so many. Why are you determined to talk so much?"

"The question of why didn't the great Dark lady help you with your stupidity?" The light tone of banter was gone, and now he actually sounded serious.

"It was my task. It was for me to make the memorial to the warriors. It's hard to explain, but that is about the best way to put it. She helped me as much as she could by replenishing my personal energy, but that was all she could do for me. Now can I just go back to sleep?" I yawned to prove my point and turned my head to side.

His voice was quiet, but I still heard it, "I'm sorry Dyrana. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to talk so much... I just... I don't know. You worry me."

I pretended not to hear, and I continued to pretend to be asleep as his hand gently stroked my hair. As long as he didn't realize I was awake, I didn't have to complain. It was actually fairly comforting. I wouldn't say that I liked it. No it wasn't anything about liking him, just it felt good, nice, comforting. Yes that was it, and soon I really was asleep.

I woke back up, but this time I felt more like my old self, and I could sit up. Kyra was sitting next to me, but she was paying attention to the archer boy, what was his name, Falarin or something?

On the other side of me was the female fighter. Facing me were two boys and Tyva. In the front on the seat were the women from the camp. I looked around, and I could see Darin on Kyra's horse, Chrisin on his own horse, and Ollarin on Tyva's horse. Gegarat and Varadill were tied to Tesa who was tied to Sarak. Guess Kyra's rock was rock solid for leading as well.