Consequence Of Choice (Nekrosilisk88 & darkangel76)

Elana’s gray eyes were wide as she saw the man who’d thrown her collapse onto the ground. His body fell in a heap, half of his head next it. She shivered and looked up. Asrath stood there looking at her with an annoyed look on his face, causing her to shrink back a little and clutch her at her cape.

“I’d think you’d have more sense than to wander off alone like that. Hopefully this will be the last we see of these brigands,” Asrath spoke. His face cold and angry, he gestured to Elana that she follow him back to their camp.

Elana stood up and followed Asrath, her head hung low as she did so. She felt so stupid. She really didn’t think anything would happen with Asrath in her sights. She hadn’t gone that far and needed to calm herself to help her body relax so that she could sleep. She hadn’t meant any harm.

Asrath sat back down. His expression saying more than words ever could. Elana felt her cheeks redden with embarrassment for her own naivite. The world definitely was a cruel place at times, so she was slowly beginning to see. She wondered if this was why Asrath was so cold all of the time, so wary of others.

Elana sat down next to the fire and hugged her knees to her chest. She just stared at the flames, wishing that her body would just succumb to the sleep she knew it needed. She then looked over at Asrath.

“I’m sorry,” Elana said softly as she laid down and curled herself up into a tight ball, hoping that she would be forgiven.

"Don't say you're sorry, just learn." He wiped his blade clean and returned it to its sheath. "Feeling sorry and useless won't do you any good. Learn from your mistakes and grow strong. Refuse only your ignorance and you may yet survive." The last thing he told sounded a bit out place, and seemed almost like he was quoting someone else.

He leaned back against a tree and looked at her again. "You're stronger than I expected though. I'd have thought you'd be curled up in a ball by now with everything you've seen today. Doubt you've seen so much death before in your life."

Elana opened her eyes and turned her head to look at Asrath as he suddenly spoke. The anger she had seen on his face was no longer there. Instead it looked more serious. She couldn’t quite place it.

Sitting up, Elana tilted her head and bit her lip. “The outside world is much more different than I thought it would be.” She paused a moment. “I’ll learn from this.” She turned to look at the fire once again.

“I never knew that there was this much cruelty in the world. Not like this,” Elana added. She shook her head a little and then looked back at Asrath and smiled. “And thank you, though I don’t think I’m all that strong. I will try to be however, I promise you that.” She heaved a small sigh. “I honestly don’t know how you live such a life day after day.”

Elana suddenly thought back to the hardships and sacrifices she had to make as she’d trained to become a priestess. She wondered if there were actually some similarities in that regard. Sure, the lifestyles were completely different, but both required sacrifice of some sort. And obviously the choices they’d made left them both searching for something to live for.

“How do you cope with it?” Elana suddenly asked. “How do you manage to handle being around so much death? Killing others so easily?” Again, she shivered. And she wondered if she’d receive an answer or be told to just go to sleep.

Asrath shook his head. "All the world is cruel in its way, even your temple I'm sure if you'd look at it. Most of it just isn't this savage about it." He closed is eyes and sighed. It was truth he'd discovered long ago, before he'd event started killing. "The larger cities are more subtle about it, but if you know what to look for you can see it just as easily there. Sometimes if you're in luck you might find a small village that's free of it. Simple folks have simple needs, and there is little need for the cruelty found in the world at large."

He pulled one of knees up to rest his arm. He didn't know how to really explain how he dealt with this life. It wasn't easy, that was for sure. He was dying, every time he killed, but would she understand that. "It's because I don't care anymore, or at least I don't care as much. The first kill is always the hardest, its the one that haunts you for the longest."

"The problem is that every time you kill it keeps getting easier, it doesn't bother you as much, and eventually you stop caring altogether. Once that happens, you're no longer human, it's then that you have truly died. I've never seen anyone be resurrected from that kind of death."

Elana felt her eyes water a little at Asrath’s explanation. She was glad that he didn’t just shut her out, that he actually let her in even if only a little. Strangely, she found herself understanding what he said. She even related to some of it. The fact that he seemed to see the same similarities she did as far as sacrifice went. It amazed her and it made her even more curious about him.

More than anything, Elana wanted to soothe Asrath. It was just her nature whenever she saw that someone was in pain. And she could clearly see now that he was. He hid it well, but now, she found that she could see it there in his eyes. She knew he’d never speak of it reflexively, but she knew full well that he thought himself damned in a way.

Elana bit down on her lip and looked into Asrath’s eyes. “I think anything is possible so long as the person is aware of who they are and what they do.” She paused a moment. “New choices can always be made. And with those new choices, new outcomes. It’s never too late.” She turned away from Asrath and looked at the fire once again. “Never,” she whispered.

Elana realized that not only was she referring to Asrath and his current situation, but to her own as well. She knew at that moment that she needed to do some self-reflection. She could only hope that she found the answer she was looking for before they made it to Seras. And she also couldn’t help but wonder that if Asrath had to kill her, would it be easy for him? Would he no longer care any more?

Asrath chuckled at her naivete. If only she'd seen some the men he'd had to kill she wouldn't be so certain of it. "An eternal optimist eh? I'm sure you'll be cured of that by the time we reach Seras, though seeing someone with so much hope is refreshing. Hope...heh." With that he closed his eyes, and crossed his arms, apparently drifting off to sleep, with nothing she did seeming to rouse him.

Elana just sat there for a moment. She supposed being called an optimist was indeed correct. She hadn’t really thought about it before, but when she did, it seemed to fit. Tilting her head in thought, she looked at the fire.

As Elana allowed herself to become somewhat hypnotized by the dancing flames, she noticed Asrath lean back and find sleep once more, out of the corner of her eye. She heaved a sigh as she thought on his final words.

Hope. Yes, Elana did hope. She had to and she planned to cling tightly to that fact as well. Some may think it silly and a waste, but she couldn’t let herself think such a thing. For her, it was a means of coping. It always had been. Always would be. It was just how she was. And she hoped that Asrath was wrong. Wrong about being cured of such optimism by the time they reached Seras. If such a thing were to happen, she didn’t know what she’d do.

Still not feeling tired yet disturbed as well, Elana laid down. She pulled at her cape and pulled her hood up over her head, covering her face from view. As she laid there, she could feel her eyes prickling a little with tears. But she didn’t cry. Instead, she closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind. Eventually, sleep overtook her.

Nothing further happened that night, and Asrath slept soundly until the sun rose, its beams warming his face. His eye snapped open, and he was awake. He rose, stretching the kinks out of his body. He walked over to Elana, and gave her a light kick with the side of his boot. "Rise and shine priestess, time to get moving." While he waited for her to get up, he checked his gear making sure everything was seated properly for travel, his blades snug in their sheaths.

Elana woke with a slight start. She felt a quick jab and sat bolt upright, frantically glancing about herself. The sky was light and the fire burned low. She saw a man checking what looked to be like traveling gear and weapons. Shaking her head a little, she suddenly remembered that she wasn’t in her temple any more. And she wasn’t with her entourage either. She was with Asrath, out in the wilds.

Slowly, Elana stood up, blinking the sleep from her eyes as she did so. She stretched a little and nodded at Asrath as she walked past him toward the pool of water. She kneeled down at the water’s edge and cupped her hand, scooping up the cold water and bringing it to her mouth. She took a small sip and swallowed. She then cupped both of her hands and brought the water to her face and then her neck and chest. The chill of the water was refreshing and helped wake her up a little bit more. She glanced behind herself and saw that Asrath had put out the fire and was now waiting for her. But rather than heading back right away, Elana turned back to the water and took off her cape, laying it next to her on the small shoreline. With one hand, she scooped up some more water and rubbed it along her arm. She then repeated this with the other one before putting her cape back on and finally heading back to where Asrath stood.

Elana looked at Asrath and smiled. “Did you sleep well?” she asked him. She hoped so since she’d managed to initially disturb his sleep due to her own foolishness in wandering off a little. “Where are we heading this morning?” she then asked, curious about the next place they’d stop at on their way to Seras.

He watched her as she cleaned up, there was an elegance and beauty about her that attracted him. He'd been with women before, the occasion lady of the night warmed his bed, but there was something alluring about her. Something attracted him to her besides her being female.

Asrath shrugged his shoulders in response to her questions. "Well as I ever do in the wilds. As for our destination, we're heading back to the road, then if we're lucky we'll reach town by night fall. We've been running alongside it for the most part. Just been slowed because of the lay of the land here. Without the bandits following us we shouldn't have to hide. "

He set his hand on the hilt of his sword as he waited for her to finish. "Come on we need to get going soon. We won't be eating anything till we reach the next town. So the sooner we leave the better. I like having one meal a day at least. Once we get into town we can stock up on supplies, but until then we don't have anything to eat."

Elana nodded. She fully understood what Asrath explained to her regarding meals. It made sense given their situation. They needed to get to town as fast as they could and that meant she had to try her best to keep at a good pace. She knew she would try and without complaint, no matter how difficult the trek would be. And she wasn’t stupid. She knew it would be hard. Her body wasn’t used to such travel. Setting her jaw, she looked around the camp once more. She suddenly noticed a small berry plant that she hadn’t realized was there before due to it being dark and smiled.

Walking over to the plant, Elana kneeled down and looked at it. “I know this plant,” she said. Immediately, she began picking a bunch of the berries. “We grew these back at the temple. They’re perfectly safe.” Her hands full, she walked over to Asrath and handed him a little over half of what was in her hands. “At least it’s something,” she said with a smile.

Elana ate a few berries as she and Asrath began walking through the woods. They were sweet and delicious and she savored their taste in her mouth and on her tongue as she ate them. As they continued to walk, she began to worry about how they’d pay for food in town once they got there. Or even for a place to stay. Though, if she needed to, she’d stay outside once again. She knew this. It might not be comfortable, but she knew she’d be able to manage. She had no money with her. And the only items of value she’d had, had been her jewelry. But she gave all of that to Asrath as a down payment for escorting her to Seras.

Biting down on her lip, Elana tried not to dwell on such things. She’d figure things out once they reached the town. Maybe something would present itself. She didn’t want to bother Asrath with her concerns. She was a burden to him already and she most certainly didn’t expect him to assist her in such matters. Though she found herself wondering if he would.

Elana looked over at Asrath as he led the way through the woods. There was something about him. She found herself wanting to know more about him. His past, his current thoughts, where he saw himself going. The little they’d talked the night before had more than intrigued her. She wanted to see the man behind the icy wall. The man she knew was there but didn’t want to come out. She wondered if she’d ever get to see that man. She hoped so.

Asrath waved the berries off and pulled out a couple strips of dried meat from a pouch on his belt, and handed her one. He bit down on the other, and ripped a piece off chewing on it as his spoke. "Meat fills your gut better, and doesn't make you need to squat as much, at least it's that way for me. besides you can eat this on the move, and stow what you don't eat. Never been able to do that with fruit, 'cept apples."

With that he began moving through the woods, making his way back to the road, while making sure she stayed in his sight. She was surprisingly quiet as they traveled, especially considering how much she was asking last night. Annoying as he found it at the time, he found himself missing it now. It was nice to hear a friendly voice that just wanted to talk, and wasn't asking him to kill something or other.

He wondered what deity it was she worshiped. He doubted it was his own as he'd yet to see any temples to his faith since he'd come over the mountain. He listened to the crickets chirp for a few moments as they made their way down the road, before glancing over his shoulder at her. "What god was it you followed again?"

Elana smiled a little at Asrath’s blunt words. Though she saw the truth in them, they still amused her a little. She graciously accepted the dried meat and nibbled on it along with the berries she’d picked. The combined flavors of the sweetness of the berries and the saltiness of the meat were surprisingly good. She was glad to have a little something in her stomach as they walked. The journey would be long and she had no idea how much her body could take. She knew she wouldn’t complain about anything even if she’d wanted to, though she did worry about how she’d fare. She hoped it would be rather well.

Elana stayed a few paces behind Asrath as they made their way through the woods and toward the road. She didn’t want to bother him any more than she knew she already did. The way he cut her off the night before, had more or less told her that he wasn’t interested in conversation at all. Yes, she figured it best to talk only when needed. At least for now.

“What god was it you followed again?” Asrath suddenly asked. It took Elana totally by surprise.

Quirking up an eyebrow, Elana found herself totally stunned that Asrath would ask her such a thing. He didn’t seem interested in getting to know her at all. So why he suddenly wanted to know about her deity puzzled her.

“Girio,” Elana answered. “The city our temple was built in was named for him. The city of Girios.” She smiled a little. “Many think that because our city was named for him, that it is his most sacred city. But they don’t realize that that is not true. It is Seras that is most sacred to him. For Seras is where he was ‘born’.”

Elana remembered the story of Girio’s birth. “It was a stormy night and the land shook with a jolt causing the waves to rise up as if it would engulf Seras. But instead of the waves swallowing everything nearby, they merely lingered. A great wall of ocean. Between the walls of ocean stood a man. A man who called himself Girio. He rose up from the bottom of the sea and calmed both the waves and the storm. Seras had been saved and Girio had sprung forth from the sea.”

Elana wondered if Asrath really cared about all of the back-story. Regardless, she had told it anyway and she had felt pride in doing so. Even though following her faith in the manner she was, as a priestess-in-training, made her feel a great sense of loss.

“The temple in Seras is supposed to be much larger than the one in Girios,” Elana quickly added. “Do you follow Girio? Or do you follow another? Either way, I’d like to know about it. If you don’t mind sharing, that is.” Elana bit down on her lip as they walked. Asrath up ahead and she a few paces behind.

Asrath listened as she spoke, he'd forgotten how nice it could be to hear someone's voice. He'd grown so used to silence over the years, that listening to her was like hearing an old song that had been all but forgotten, and then feeling its movement anew in your heart.

He listened to her as she spoke of the creation of her god. Then he heard her question and he furrowed his brow. She wanted to know about his faith. He wondered if she knew about any of the other gods. He looked over his shoulder to her. "My patron is Krath. He's one third of the Bifold Triumverate. I follow the Warrior's path, and pay homage to the Tyrant." He left it there. He waited to see if she'd ask him anything more, or more to the point, to find out what she'd heard about his god.

Elana tilted her head as Asrath spoke the name of Krath. She’d heard of the deity, though only a few times and each time she could sense contempt in the tones of the speakers’ voices. She asked about it once, but her sisters and mentor had always said it was a subject best left alone. Elana respected this, but being the curious sort, she’d gone to the temple’s library to look up what she could anyway. She always liked to know and understand the beliefs of others whether she agreed with them or not. When she’d gone to the library, there hadn’t been very much. But there had been a little.

“Krath. Yes, the name is familiar,” Elana spoke. “My order deems it taboo, though I don’t understand why. All beliefs have their place.” She paused. “Then, I suppose I’m naïve to say such a thing when I don’t fully know or understand it’s way.”

Asrath stopped walking and turned to face Elana, making her stop right where she was. She looked at him and smiled, pulling at her cape a little.

“Krath had three forms, if I’m remembering correctly. One representing love, another war and a third neutrality. The roots of the faith are old, older than those serving Girio, I believe.” Elana paused, trying her best to remember. “There was a mysticism about the religion. I don’t recall much more. But there wasn’t much to read either.”

Asrath was silent. Elana wondered if she’d remembered correctly or if her mind had been thinking on something else and was merely confused. Either way, she hoped she hadn’t been offensive.

“Please, tell me more. I’d like to hear about him.” Elana smiled before biting down on her lip. The way Asrath looked at her, she didn’t know if she’d said something wrong or ridiculous.

Asrath looked at her confused. "Either you've misremembered, or your texts have our faith wrong. The triumvirate is indeed divide into love, war, and neutrality, but each is represented by a different god, who in turn is bifold, representing both aspects of their domain. Krath is god of War, Lysanda, goddess of Love, and Tenkal is the Judge. Each bares two faces, Krath represents himself as Tyrant and Warrior, and Lysanda portrays Passion and Jealousy. Tenkal has no gender per say, but he or she is Justice and Vendetta. Together they form the Bifold Triumvirate which most people worship as a whole. Its only a few such as myself who ever claim one aspect as their patron."

He stopped for a moment as he considered how to best explain why they were divided like that, in truth he wasn't sure, he just remembered the old legends. "According to our legends, there was a time when the world was flawless, there was no suffering, and all you could need was with in your grasp if you but reached for it. This was the world the Creator had made, and he loved it and all his creations with everything he was. In spite of this, paradise was ruined by one thing, greed. The people soon desire more and more, but the Creator could not understand them, and provide for their ever growing greed. They grew bitter and began to fight amongst themselves, rebelling against the Creator. War descended upon the people and they all but wiped each other from the world. The Creator tore himself apart with grief, and from these parts was born the Triumvirate. They brought order to the world once more, and in doing so realized that if they were to understand and protect those under them, they would have to be like them. So they each chose two faces, one to represent that which was good and right, and another to represent that which was wrong and destructive."

He started walking again at that point, he hadn't had to recite this for some time, and trying to remember it was proving a challenge. "They had no concept of good and evil those were terms coined by man. They see only right and wrong, that which would protect, and that which would destroy. You'll remember I said that I followed the path of the Warrior, and paid homage to the Tyrant. The Warrior fights to protect that which he cares for, and defends those who can't defend themselves. I pay homage to the Tyrant to remember what I can become. The Tyrant fights only to further his own ambitions, he causes strife to suit his petty needs and desires. It is this way with each of the three. One face is wholesome and the other despicable. One path to follow, the other to be wary of."

He drew his sword from its scabbard. "Those of us who prove ourselves strong in our faith take one aspect as patron, and conduct duties befitting that patron. As Krath is my Patron I fight, and wield the blade that was give to me. Never will you find another like it, as only one Warrior of Krath exists at any time. When I die, my blade shall be broken and a new one forged, as happened to the one who came before me, and the one before him."

“I see,” Elana said. She was utterly fascinated by what Asrath told her about his faith. Like she’d read, it truly was much older than her own faith in Girio. But she wondered why her order deemed it taboo, something to best leave alone, not discuss. She didn’t see anything wrong with it based on what she’d just heard. In fact, she found its basic teachings to be morally sound, something most should consider if they wanted to become a decent person while alive and walking the earth. It may not be Girion, but what did it matter if the teachings were sound? If they helped one reflect on who they were and what they could become?

“It sounds like a beautiful faith,” Elana added with a smile. “I wonder why my order won’t discuss it.” She furrowed her eyebrows as she pondered the many possibilities. Again she felt so naïve, so sheltered, so… stifled. It was as if her way of life was holding her back with invisible chains. Chains binding her down, preventing her from living the life she knew deep down she desired. “So little is to be found in our books. So very little.”

Elana eyed Asrath’s sword. It was truly unlike any blade she’d ever seen. She wasn’t very knowledgeable in such things, but she’d seen many swords carried by the men who protected her temple in Girios, the men who had been with her in her entourage. Asrath’s was indeed truly unique, just as he’d said it was. She found it interesting that he’d been chosen to be representative of the Warrior for his faith. It made her feel like she could relate to him on a level she never thought she would be able to.

“So, does being a wielder of such a sword make you a priest of your faith? Or something similar? I know so little save what you just told me.” Elana hesitated and bit down on her lower lip. “But it sounds like you play a major role in your faith. Much like priests and priestesses do in my own.”

As they walked, side-by-side, Elana looked over at Asrath and smiled. “Thank you for telling me about it. Your faith.” She gently touched his arm just then, her way of showing her appreciation that he trusted her enough to tell her something so personal. She then brought her arm back to her side, tugging on her cape a little as she did so.

Asrath shook his head as he returned the blade to it's scabbard. "No, I'm no priest. Priests always follow Tenkal.Being chosen as the Warrior of Krath isn't..." He seemed to hesitate for a moment as he spoke, as though searching for the right words. "It's not as glamorous as you'd think. It isn't a position of authority or power. It's something we're given to more fully realize our errors, or to rectify something that went wrong."

"In my case it was both. My predecessor had fallen to the path of the tyrant. The priests could see I was a powerful warrior, and trained me, but my rage and anger were already drawing me to the tyrant. I was sent out to find the warrior. It was their hope that seeing what he had become would avert me from destruction. I'd already been doing some work as a mercenary at that point, and to me it was just another job. When I met him though, it was terrifying. The very air about him was chilled. He looked at me and laughed, called me a puppet of the priests. When he drew his blade, and i was barely fast enough to catch his blade."

He gripped the hilt of his sword as he continued. "It was a long battle. He was stronger, but I was quicker, our strengths were balanced, for every blow i dodged, he deflected mine. In the end though I was able to slip past his defense and kill him. Terrifying as he was what i found in his lair afterward was more terrifying. He'd been drinking the blood of his victims trying to gain their strength, performing occultic rituals to the tyrant. It shook me."

"I returned to the priests with his sword, they broke it, and forged mine. They could see that though I had seen what could become of the path I walked, I still wasn't deterred. They forged a new blade for me and sent me on my journey. Those that follow the destructive aspects are often forced into seclusion, and they generally find their way into these regions."

Elana looked at the ground as she and Asrath continue walking, him telling her more about his faith and his role in it. She was astounded. He had said he wasn’t anything like a priest, but despite that, his part was important, held weight, within it. He actively supported what he believed. He tried, he strived. It made her smile.

As Asrath told her more about the path of the Warrior versus the path of the Tyrant, she found herself shivering. The story of what had happened to the previous wielder of the sword made her blood run cold, her heart feel like it would break, her stomach hurt. The fact that Asrath had to fight such a person, the fact that he won. It was so much to process. She knew there was more to him than the cold-hearted killer she’d met the afternoon prior. And that he gave her a small glimpse of the man behind the icy walls meant something to her. She felt honored. It made her glad.

“What a frightening experience that must’ve been,” Elana spoke. “I’m glad you managed to come out the victor.” She smiled as she said that. “So, is the life you live now a part of your journey then?” she suddenly asked.

Elana was curious. Asrath’s life was that of a mercenary. Killing people, even innocents in some instances. A shiver ran up her spine as she again wondered if he’d kill her once in Seras if the priests there could not pay. She then wondered how such a life fit into his journey or if it was a result of him straying a little. If he was straying, she hoped he’d find his way back. The fact that he said those who followed the more destructive path led lives of seclusion and found their way to where they were now made her worry. Was Asrath beginning to follow the destructive path? Would he become like that horrifying man he just spoke of? She didn’t want to believe. She wouldn’t.

“Is it a means to learn more about yourself? The man you are? The man you hope to be?” Elana asked. She knew she was being bold, but the worry she felt now was genuine. Whether or not he planned to kill her in Seras didn’t matter. She saw the good in him, if even only a small glimpse. The side of him that seemed to be as beautiful as he appeared to be. And she wanted to see that side of him flourish. “Is it helping you find that which is worth living for?”

Elana stopped in her tracks then, biting down on her lip. She was afraid she’d gone to far with her final question. But she needed him to know that she wanted to help him. Even if he didn’t want her help. Even if he found her to be a bother and a burden.

Asrath looked at her curiously. She confused him beyond belief. Despite everything she'd seen so far in the past couple days, she was surprisingly positive. He couldn't see how she did it, and now she was extending some of that hope to him. He wondered how well placed that hope was, he didn't know what was going to happen to him. He was still on the Warrior's path, but some day's he could feel himself slipping, becoming what it was that he hunted.

"Yes, it makes my journey more convenient. Part of my duty is hunting down those who have strayed. If i can I'm to allow them redemption, but of the three I've encountered, none of have desire to return. We are given strength, regardless of the aspect we follow. Being a mercenary gives me the money to get what I need, and allows me to travel without attracting too much attention."

He sighed as he continued. "It's the path of the warrior. I live by the sword, so will I die one of these days, either failing in my duty, or being slain by the one who will succeed me after I fall." The way he said that made it sound as if his fall to the tyrant was inevitable, and he was just waiting for it to happen.

Elana looked down at the ground, her heart feeling heavy. She could feel her stomach clenching, tying up into knots as Asrath spoke. It was as if he was accepting his own demise. Accepting that he’d either fail entirely or become twisted like the demented soul he’d just told her about.

No matter what Asrath said, Elana just couldn’t accept either outcome. Not for him. She looked up at him, her gray eyes fixing onto his. “You could just walk away. Couldn’t you?” She had no idea if such a thing was acceptable within his faith or not, but she refused to believe that there wasn’t another choice he could make. “Or choose your successor?” She wanted to add on ‘before the possibility of straying down the path of the Tyrant became inevitable.’ But, she bit her tongue. She was sure he knew what she was thinking anyway. So there was no need to say such things aloud. Plus, it only made the possibility that much more real for Elana, something she found she strangely could not bear the thought of.

To help lighten things a little and maybe even bring Asrath some hope, Elana then said, “I’m sure, if you choose to continue to live by the sword, that you’ll succeed. That your successes will be far greater than your predecessors.” She paused a moment. “You see the path before you. I know you do.” She smiled then and gently touched his arm. “And I know you’ll choose the right path. The one that will lead you where you need to be.”

Elana felt a little stupid for saying such things to Asrath. But she couldn’t help but feel that he needed to hear them. Someone needed to believe in him, and despite her own fears and worries, she found that she did. She gave him a warm smile just then before looking back and the ground, her cheeks reddening a bit with embarrassment, and began to walk once more.

Asrath stiffened at her touch and looked at her coldly. "There is no retreat from this path." With that he he began moving down the road again silently. He said nothing more for the rest of the day. Though he said nothing his mind was in turmoil. How could this woman hit every sore spot on him so easily. He swore vehemently in his mind as he marched along in silence.

As dusk approached, he could make out the village ahead. It was a small one, but if his memory served him correctly they had an inn there. He looked over his shoulder to see how his charge was doing. He'd been all but dragging her non stop to get her now.

Elana felt her breath catch as Asrath walked away from her. She closed her eyes in an attempt to stop the tears she felt forming in her eyes from falling and then let out a shaky exhale. When she finally opened her eyes, she could see him walking ahead of her, not looking back. She had angered him. It was very plain. And the thought that she had angered him upset her greatly for some reason. She’d wanted to help him, to console him, to give him hope. Instead she had failed. She had angered him to a point where he could no longer speak to her or look at her.

Hanging her head and pulling up her hood, Elana began to walk once more. She watched Asrath walk in an angry silence. The anger was rolling off of him in waves, making her heart hurt more and more with each step. She wondered if he’d ever speak to her again. The thought that he might not didn’t set with her.

The day passed on and Asrath never looked back once. Not once did he utter a word, not even a curse. Elana found herself beginning to fear what would happen once they reached the small town Asrath had spoken of. Would he just leave her there? Would he just kill her and be done with her? She didn’t know. All she could do was trust that he chose the right path to follow. She looked up to the sky, which had begun to darken as purplish and reddish hues began to streak across it, the stars slowly beginning to shine down upon them both. She said a quick prayer for him, before looking back his way once more.

Asrath peered over his shoulder. Elana could only gasp. She felt her adrenaline surge as she saw his cold eyes look over at her. They still looked angry, though the anger seemed to have subsided a little from earlier. She hoped that she was right in her assessment and just thinking wishfully.

Hesitant and afraid, Elana walked up to Asrath. “Are we here? Is this the town?” she asked. She bit down on her lip and pulled at her cape as she waited for Asrath’s response. She wondered if he’d actually answer her or just forge on ahead leaving her to follow in his wake.

Asrath nodded his head. "It's where we'll be staying for tonight. There's an inn here if I remember right." He didn't say anything more as they walked into the town. As they entered the town, night was beginning to fall. There were still a few people lingering about in the street. When they saw them, a collective gasp was released, not so much for him, as for her as a priestess.

Several of the men rushed over to help her. Asrath merely cocked an eyebrow, while subtly shifting the grip on his sword hilt should it become necessary to draw the blade. They seemed enthusiastic to meet her, and more were coming out. At first he hadn't bothered to close the distance, but as the crowd grew, he felt it necessary to stand by her. He whispered into her hear. "Popular ain't we."

As the people gathered around in swarms, Elana felt her body go rigid. She didn’t expect such a greeting. Not by anyone. The fact that so many approached her made her feel uneasy. She could feel her breath quickening, her adrenaline surging.

Elana looked over at Asrath as he moved closer to her, almost in a protective way. The fact that he did such a thing astounded her. But it also touched her and gave her a sense of comfort. She smiled at him as she saw his hand shift its grip on his sword.

“Popular ain’t we,” Asrath whispered in her ear.

Elana felt herself blush a little. She was embarrassed by the attention and a little frightened by how large the crowd was becoming. Even if they meant her no harm, it was stifling to be at the center of such a massive crowd. She wasn’t used to it.

“I had no idea,” Elana whispered back to Asrath, her voice a little shaken by the reception they were receiving. Then she recalled how back in Girios so many of the onlookers stopped and cheered and bowed as her carriage passed by them. Though it was only a couple days ago, it seemed like an eternity now.

Gently, Elana touched Asrath’s arm. Her expression was one of worry. “I need to get some air. I need…” her voice trailed, but her tone and face had said it all. She was nervous. She needed space. She needed to find someplace where she could relax for a moment. There was so much to take in that she hadn’t expected. She knew her thoughts and behavior would upset her mentor. But her mentor wasn’t there with her. Only Asrath was. She hoped he’d understand. Just then, her grip on his arm became stronger.