- 5th day of Hanotë

Part 1 - Doing the Right Thing

Elipson took a deep breath and, tired of trying to wake up the Knight sleeping at her feet, gave him a quick kick, to which he immediately raised his voice in protest.

“Get up, you lazy bum!” she replied and Arkel opened one eye to look up at her.

“Really. This is starting to feel like you have some personal grudge against me!” he grunted, turning to the other side, and Elipson turned to the other bundle of blankets.

“You too, Mahel! Get up or I’ll kiss you until you choke!” she threatened and the boy sat up immediately, his face bright red, as the others laughed at his embarrassment.

“You see what I mean? Him, she offers kisses. Me? I get a kick in the ribs!” Arkel complained, pushing his blankets back.

“Something smells good …” muttered another sleepy voice and Elipson went back to her place, beside Elian.

“At least to wake up Denar all is needed is the smell of food,” Lamar remarked, stirring the pan placed over the flames, filled with boiling cinnamon scented porridge.

They were back on the road as soon as they finished eating.

Although it had been cold and humid before daybreak, as morning advanced the weather became warmer. If all went according to plan they’d reach the first affluent of the Silver River during that same day, where they’d look for a place to make camp for the night.

Arkel spent the morning telling them about one of his late night adventures, including all the dirty details that would certainly redden any lady’s face. The others listened attentively as he described his night-time adventures.

Elipson sighed and her gaze caught sight of Elian’s distant expression, his unseeing eyes lost on the horizon as the rest of world simply passed him by. She’d learned the meaning of that expression a long time ago, she thought as she led her horse to his side.

“You’re thinking about her …” she guessed, lowering her voice to a murmur, and he looked up with a startle, as if he’d just woken up. His first instinct was to deny it, she saw it in his eyes, but then, as he faced her, he simply sighed, and went back to his contemplation of the endless horizon.

“I wanted to talk to her … to explain …”

“Explain?!”

“She wanted to come with us.”

“Oh … And you think it would have done any good? Explaining, I mean.”

“Is it so hard to understand?”

“Hum, I know I’m not one to talk. But, as I see it, it’s not like she can’t understand. However, she knew she couldn’t stop you from leaving. And since she worries about you the only obvious solution would be to come along. I’d done the same.”

“Yeah. I know. But still. The way we parted … I guess I’m not used to fighting with people I … that are important to me. And now, just thinking I may never see her again … Lidya would have wanted me to bring her …”

“So why didn’t you?”

He looked at her in disbelief, as if she’d just asked something completely ridiculous.

“She has no experience whatsoever … it would be too dangerous.”

“None of us has much experience. And where safety is concerned, she’d be as safe here as in Mithir.”

“It’s different, Elipson. She’s … she’s …” he repeated, trying to find the right words, and Elipson smiled.

“You know what? You’re starting to sound like Denar, one-sidedly deciding things on his own, just because. And from where I’m standing it sure looks like you’re the one who didn’t understand, Elian.”

“What are you saying?! That I should have brought her with us? A child like her?”

“Again with the child thing …” she contested and he frowned.

“I promised to protect her!”

“Please don’t get mad at me,” she asked as she saw his dark eyes filling with anger. “I’m not saying you should have brought her with us. And I know you promised … But where are you now, should she need you?” she asked and he remained silent, not knowing how to answer. “Just see it this way. You did the exact same thing that everyone in her life has ever done, deciding things concerning her life without even consulting her. And yes, you probably did the right thing. But please be honest with yourself. Your choice to leave her behind had nothing to do with her abilities, her age or her safety …”

“I just … couldn’t stand it any longer … having her so close to me … and not being able to touch her …” he admitted in a faint whisper and Elipson nodded in approval.

“And when you put things like that I totally agree with you. You did the right thing.”

* If you want to know more about this book or simply access earlier updates, please visit the official site at http://carpersanti.net/arnae/