has to protect the humans and help the guild at the keep, so it would be selfish to ask him to stay.
Plus, he’s right, I should be excited, but all I feel is sadness that he’s leaving again. “You can’t come with us, can you?”
“No, I have to return to the guild. They need me there. We’ve pulled all our magicians from the battlefield, so my guidance is needed,” he replies apologetically, and I know he feels pulled in two directions—to stay with the girl he has a connection with, or help protect his country. I need to do the right thing and let him go back.
Instead, when I open my mouth to speak, what comes out is different. “But you left to find me.” It must have cost him greatly to leave his fellow magicians amidst a crisis, but I know he would have waited until the magical barrier was up first. His moral compass wouldn’t have allowed him to leave until then. Except I know Grayson. Every moment he’s away will feel like a betrayal, and he did that for me, to make sure I was safe.
“I left to find you,” he agrees.
A small thrill goes through me, and I try to push it aside. “When are you leaving? Stay with us tonight?” I query quickly, hoping he’ll agree, looking for any excuse to spend some more time with him before he leaves. “It’s a long journey back, and you need to rest.”
“I suppose one night won’t hurt.”
After Naril and Tor tracked down the horses, we set up camp in the small clearing Grayson had found us in. There had only been an hour or so left of useful sunlight in the forest, since the canopy is so dense that it gets dark much quicker here. Tor was frustrated that we hadn’t made it to the mountains yet, but there hadn’t been any point in travelling much farther, as the forest becomes more dangerous to travel in at night.
An awkward dinner around the campfire had seen us eating mostly in silence, while Grayson and the two elves glared at each other over their food. We’ve now been sitting here for an hour making small talk, and I’m feeling jumpy. Although I miss the company of the rude, grumpy Eldrin, it’s probably a good thing he’s not here to see the mage sharing supper with us. I don’t think he would have been able to cope with it. I wince, just as I do every time Eldrin has come to mind since Tor told us about the attack on the elves. We have no way of knowing if he is safe, and it’s driving me mad.
Grayson shifts in his seat by the fire and pushes up to his feet. “Well, I’m going to retire for the night. Thank you for supper.” He addresses the last bit to Tor, who nods his head in acceptance. Grayson turns his gaze on me, his intense eyes locking onto mine. “Clarissa, I’ll see you in the morning before I go.” I can tell he wants to say more, but he won’t say it in front of the others. So instead, he falls back on his manners and stiffly nods at the others, even though I know being polite to elves has got to feel awkward for him. “Goodnight.”
Only Tor and I respond as he walks over to the tents. We only have four tents, originally one for each of us, but after some cajoling by Tor, Naril and Vaeril offered to share one, meaning Grayson was able to have a tent to himself. The others instantly relax once he’s left, which makes me sad, but I don’t comment on it. With the fire starting to die down, I feel my eyes getting heavy, but I have some things I want to do before I sleep, so I push up from my position on the ground and stand.
“I’m just going to speak to him for a bit,” I tell the males who are all suddenly paying me a little too much attention. “Don’t wait up for me, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Clarissa—” Vaeril starts, a deep frown marring his brow, but Tor cuts him off.
“Vaeril, let her go.”
Throwing the tribesman a grateful smile, I walk over to Grayson’s tent and gently knock against the tent post, hoping he’s not already asleep. “Grayson?” I push past the fabric entrance, my eyes flaring wide as I smack into his chest. His very tanned, bare chest.