The Stone-bearer

Part 5

Alright; Either this guy was really stupid or really stupid.

I mean really? He's gonna pack his bags and come along with me to die and kill his sister with grief. I don't think so!

"You're going to the Council. I have a score to settle with them. Besides you'll need help to get there through the forest and beyond. It'll be dangerous," he said still not taking his eyes off from the sky in front of him.

I couldn't hold it in any longer. "You're going to leave your sister here alone just cause you think Im puny and can't stand up to what's coming? So you think I can't handle it? Is that it?" I said louder than I wanted to. Kai tensed and got on his feet.

"Do you think you can handle it?", his face still fixed far away, hardened- like it'd been when 'Melia left him at the doorway earlier. "Why do you do that?"

"Do what?", I raised an eyebrow.

"Bring yourself down so low to hit the ground every time you talk about yourself. For heavens sake! You took that thing down in the forest! I saw you do that. I have no doubt that you can handle it." He looked right at me; his face gaunt in the starlight.

I looked away. Kai grazed his head against my arm. Aiden shifted and sat closer to me. "May I?", he asked as he put out a hand. I nodded and he put his arm around my shoulder. There was nothing romantic in the gesture. But I didn't know how much I needed that till he did it. My chin slumped against my chest and I felt relieved when the first tear rolled down my cheek. Sometimes holding something in for a long time makes you so used to its heaviness that you don't realize how bad it was until its gone.

He said nothing. I fixed my eyes at the endless sky in front of me. Thousands of stars dotted the pitch black veil. The cold air filled my lungs when I took in a deep breath. I coughed.

I looked straight ahead. He spoke again, "She said I was brave. I was terrified out of my mind. But that doesn't mean I know what you are going through right now. Only you know that. And it's okay." The wind dried my last tear against my cheek.

I straightened up and brushed my hair away from my face. He lifted his arm.

He took out a little black book out of his pocket. It had a golden spine. "It fell out of your bag when we carried you into the room," he paused, "Im sorry, I didn't know what it was till I opened it. But I promise only I know of this; not even 'Melia."

"What are you talking about?", I asked.

For a second he was as puzzled as I was. Then I think he seemed to understand that I genuinely had no idea about what he was saying.

"This book; Its a Života of the Valtic Priests. The Elders are their descendants. I read about it in one of the random books from the grove. It records the life of the person its tied to. And this one's tied to you." He handed the book to me.

"Kai, did you know this?"

"Hey! Im just five years old and I'd only finished a wall of books when they took me to that tiny library at your place," he spoke in my head.

"Okay- okay, just askin'!"

"They use it to record the lives of heroes. So no wonder you have it," he smiled and nudged my arm. "Yeah, you're making it really hard for me to not snicker uncontrollably right now," I said. He glared, "You're doing it again!"

"Fine." I rolled my eyes.

I checked out the book in my hand. "So you're saying my entire life is written down in these pages as I go along living it?"