been amazing, sister. Thank you.” He smiled and was glad to see a small one returned to him. The source of their new bond was from the last few seasons. She had been so ill and drained, but he was the only one who could really comfort her because he understood the cause. “Blessings on you,” he whispered, an Elvasi saying for good tidings.
She smirked now. “Skies be with you.”
He faded back out and found himself in his home again. He was so used to the trip, he didn’t immediately collapse from exhaustion. He turned to his brother and sighed.
“Are you ready to write?”
“Yes. Go.” Alchan looked away, holding a quill with a jar of ink ready.
Luykas rattled off the numbers his sister told him. Alchan scratched them down just as quickly.
“That’s all she knows. She also told me Shadra is hoping to defeat us by the end of next year. We need to push that off. We have to push that off.”
“Thank you, brother. Go to sleep.” Alchan stood, patted Luykas’ shoulder as he walked by, then left.
Luykas found his bed and closed his eyes. He couldn’t go home to Mave. He didn’t want her to see him this vulnerable, and he didn’t want to be questioned by her. He was too tired to keep up pretenses any longer.
I can’t tell her I think we’re going to lose. We’re fighting a rising tide, and there’s no way to stop it.
24
Brynec
Bryn barely slept. For just over a week, he traveled the mountains in the direction of Mat and Zayden’s mission objective, hoping to catch them on a route home. And for eight days, he found no evidence of them, which made him certain they hadn’t gotten close yet. Neither of them were the best at leaving tracks behind, no matter how much they tried.
Bryn stopped on a cliffside on the eighth evening and sighed, looking down at a narrow ravine that ran between two sheer cliffs. It was a freshwater source, so he watched to see if any life was at the bottom. Most ravines could be dangerous, so the Andinna naturally avoided them, but a desperate group of warriors would use it if they were out of supplies.
When he realized there would be no one and the sun was gone, he went to make camp. He kept a fire going each and every night in the hope that someone would see it. Sometimes warriors traveled at night for safety. He had to do everything he could.
I can’t leave them out there. I promised I would bring them home.
He was running out of days. He knew at dawn, he would have to push out further and pray. He risked pissing off both his wife and his king because he was already supposed to be turning around, but he would accept that risk. If he found them on day fourteen, when he was supposed to be back in the village, it would be worth it.
He was nearly done setting up his camp when he heard a twig snap. He straightened, pulling out a dagger, ready to throw it at whatever target appeared before him.
“What did the rogue say to the priest?”
Bryn frowned for a second before a smile formed. He knew this joke, but it had been centuries since he’d heard it. He racked his brain to remember the answer. Before he could, Nevyn entered the light of the camp with a grin.
“Finally, someone else who knows their way around in the dark,” the warrior said with a grin.
Bryn laughed. It was a joke only Nevyn could tell, and it was about Varon and Bryn. Once, a long time ago, Bryn had found healing from his past with the priest and sometimes, the warrior. Varon’s particular brand of prayer made him very good at knowing his way around the dark.
As Bryn laughed, Varon appeared behind his lover and smiled. Bryn watched for his hands, but Nevyn was the one who spoke.
“Our team was settling down when one of them caught your fire on the other side of the ravine through the trees. What are you doing out here?”
“Lookin’ for Mat and Zayden,” he answered, accepting a short hug from him, then one from Varon.
“Skies, they still aren’t back to the village? It’s been over two-and-a-half months,” Nevyn said, disbelieving. “They were supposed to be back ages ago.”
“Aye and…” Bryn sighed. “Seanev was defeated by the Elvasi. When I left, the village was a bit tense.”