The Obsidian Pillar

Chapter Twenty-two

The night air was cold in the cave hidden behind the waterfall, but we were all happy and content in Bellan's company. A small fire in the pit frightened away the dampness, and a tasty meal of rabbit stew warmed me, filling my belly with warmth and happiness. Bellan had also arranged an array of fresh fruits onto a platter for us; the land around seemed bountiful and generous enough to live off. However, when Dalton's meek request for some ale was rejected by Bellan, he looked more than a little bit disappointed. I hid my smile behind my hand when he pouted mockingly to Ronov, who was unable to raise a smile. His moods were so changeable, and I knew so little about him, that he was still a complete enigma to me.

I sat at one end of the wooden table, wrapped in a course, thick blanket while my clothes dried by the fire. Bellan had demanded that I wash them before we ate. I watched her while she cleared her vials away into a wooden trunk and passed the fruit around genially.

From the other end of the table, I caught Sebastien attempting to watch me covertly. He blushed and turned his attention to the fire pit, his expression unreadable. I also looked away, unable to think about the sight of his body at the riverbank without flushing.

Dalton and Ronov sat to my left and Rainah and Bellan sat to my right. Rainah was oddly cheery, watching the older dryad in awe, her eyes gleaming with happiness. I couldn't understand her wild joy at meeting the lonely dryad.

As we finished our meals, Dalton lit his pipe and shared it with Ronov while he patted his full stomach. Filling a giant's belly to contentedness was a very difficult task.

'Rainah will be returning to the forest clearing tonight,' Bellan announced quietly in the lilting accent that was common to the dryads. 'She has much to explain to her mother, and her path to me is the end of her journey with you. I'm afraid that I may not be the secret threat that you were expecting to find.' She smiled coyly. I leaned back in my small chair as Bellan settled to tell her story, as she had promised to, once we had finished our meals.

'Evernore remains a mystery to the rest of the world, and I would prefer it to remain so,' she began seriously. The fire lit her features and her blonde hair shined golden. Bellan's eyes lingered on Ronov for a moment and, in response, he looked down at the pipe with sudden interest.

'I have been living here in solitude for almost twenty years without the dryads in the south knowing. Rainah will now report to Sona that which I have told her: once I have readied this area for the dryads to inhabit, they can begin the journey north, but not until I send word. Can you do this, Rainah? Can you keep the secret for as long as I need?'

Rainah could barely keep still on the bench. I slid my plate away from her animated elbows. The young dryad kissed Bellan's hand before fetching her pack, swinging it over her broad shoulders and beaming at us all.

'I will do this for you, Bellan,' she proclaimed, brimming with self-importance. I looked between them in confusion, wondering why it was such an important request to make. Then, to my surprise, Rainah offered her hand to Sebastien and whispered something into his ear. He smiled and placed his hand over hers. I scowled.

Rainah then approached me. I rose from my seat to wish her goodbye. 'I'm sorry, Rainah, for-'

'All is forgiven. I'm sorry for the way that I have behaved.' She glanced at Bellan, her cheeks blushing ashamedly and continued, 'I know now that I did a disservice to my people and, if I am to one day be leader in place of my mother, I should be protecting our people and greeting visitors with kindness. I have a lot to learn.'