Once everyone had their say they left to enjoy the
respite here at the lake as I sit alone, contemplating and searching my thoughts for the hope my friends left me with, once the words are heard and that dull flame burns brighter, it soon extinguishes, the darkness and hurt crawls its way back up, telling me it's all my fault. Orien doesn't pry as he can see I'm dealing with problems at the moment, he knows if I need help I will ask.
I push myself up slowly, trying not to tear my healing scars plastered all over my body. It is time to leave once more, and this time we won't be stopping until we reach Crownspire. It should take another full day's travel if all goes well. I just hope I can dissociate myself from the world and wake up in my own bed, away from everyone and everything. Rel appeared immediately, attached to my side like a persistent insect with terrible boundaries.
''There he is.'' Clapping my shoulders a little too hard. ''The man, the myth, the forest's favourite snack.'' Rell bantered.
''Please Rell, stop.'' I mutter.
''I absolutely will not, I have been awake too long to have compassion. All the remains now is cruelty and charm, mostly cruelty.'' Rell winks.
He kept talking, as if his voice could chase the ghosts away.
Rell points at Seras while she helps with the departure, Rell leans in as if sharing royal secrets. ''Careful Scarless, she's been watching you the whole time you sat alone. I think she likes you.''
Seras flickers her eyes towards us, letting us know she can hear us.
''That was the goal, my lady. Veyrin is very sensitive right now. Emotionally compromised and spiritually fragile. Possibly cosmically damaged.'' Rell declares.
''I'm fine, Rell'' I grumble back.
Seras adjusts her cloak and blade, walking towards me and Rell slightly out of breath from helping out. ''He looks a lot better today.''
Rell's face lights up. ''That was praise, actual praise. Mark this day forever. Seras of Wrath has complimented a human being!''
''It was an observation, shit for brains.'' she retorts.
''I gladly accept it anyway.'' Rell answered, he straightens. '' Veyrin, make sure you write that down before she regrets it.''
Seras picks up her satchel and walks away, she did not hide the tiny twitch at the corner of her mouth. Rell grinned like he had won a battle no one else could see.
We set off along the road, heading towards Crain village which is a few hours walk from the lake. The sky was washed in pale blue, the clouds drifting lazily. The path was wide and lined with grass, with distant farmland visible beyond low ridges. It should have felt open and safe, but the world tilted strangely as we walked. My feet moved but my mind was elsewhere.
The further we walked, the less anchored to reality I felt, the shapes of the group blur in and out of clarity, they became silhouettes and their voices echoed as if from inside a tunnel.
''...Keep him between us…''
''...watch his step…''
''...tell me if he stumbles again…''
Sometimes Rell gripped my arm, to make sure I'm okay and sometimes Seras steadied my other side to keep me balanced. Even Lira walks by me, telling me historic facts to try and keep me awake. Still no Thorne, he marched with Lucien in the front.
By midday the path sloped towards Crain village, I remember the smell of smoke, the outlines of rooftops and the gathering of strangers in our path. They look at us, children pointing and laughing. Instructor Athea arguing with some of the villagers. I try to keep my eyes focused but the world keeps drifting. The pain in my stomach from walking too long has taken its toll on me.
Another road stretches out before us, another long walk. I'm hoisted up onto a horse after falling to the floor after my legs collapse from exhaustion. Lucien and his lackeys cause an uproar, asking why I'm allowed onto the horse when he's not. It's my fault that we're all tired and depressed so I should be made to walk. Instructor Athea shuts him down and he sulks, wining to his friends that this is all unfair and just wait until his father hears about this.
I blinked, and saw the figure far down the road, tall, thin and unmoving. The blink after the figure vanishes. Time folds, hours disappear and my breath gets caught in uneven pulls. My heart seems to stumble every so often like it is forgetting its own rhythm. A hand rests on my leg, keeping me steady and then it is gone. Blue eyes meet mine and disappear into the fog, and through it all, beneath the haze. The name pulses again like blood against stone.
Fàolán
The woman from the vision flickers into my mind. Her eyes meet my own, a reflection of violet. Her hair as dark as Ink and her hand reaching towards me.
Fàolán
I don't know if I was hearing the name or remembering it, I only knew it was getting harder to pretend it meant nothing. The towers of the academy rose beyond the window, sharp, familiar. I wasn't ready to be back. I wasn't ready to face reality.
A great sadness fills me when I wake, A tear rolling down my cheek into my mouth, the taste of salt forcing my eyes open. Crownspire. I'm… Home. A woman appears looking down on me, I can't understand her, no sound leaves her mouth despite its movement. A healer. I must be in the healers quarter.
How long have I been here?