* * * * *
Behind them, Elryia and Grahamas only watched, their hands synced with one another.
Further back, Jeralyle caught up to Merial—unprepared to make the entire trek in silence, “Hey Mare. What’re you up to?”
Merial looked up, a knife in her right hand and a leather patch in the other—a good portion of it cut into thin shreds, “Working,” she stated with a grin. “Cutting leather to bind my herbs together.”
Jeralyle only nodded, knowing very little about what she did, “What do you use them for?”
Merial quirked, “The ties?”
“The herbs,” Jeralyle laughed.
“Oh,” Merial turned her gaze down and blushed slightly, continuing her work as they walked. “Several things. Cooking, salves, and they worked well for wounds,” she nudged him with her elbow, “until you came along that is.”
Without warning or intention, Jeralyle laughed. Both suddenly caught off guard that it happened—Merial even more so. “Ow,” she winced and looked down at her finger.
“You well?”
She pouted slightly and held her finger up, showing him a small cut near the tip. “Ironic eh? I’m talking about healing wounds and I give myself one.”
Jeralyle smirked, taking her hand in one of his own. He raised the other and stuck out one finger, pressing it to the scratch, “Ravexes…” He whispered and a tiny fire flared between the fingers. He pulled his away and allowed one hand to fall to his side, the other continued to hold hers. From his pocket he retrieved a handkerchief and brought it up to wipe off what little blood there was. Beneath it was unscathed flesh once again. “You’re saved.”
Merial raised her hand to her forehead, mock swooning, “My hero.”
Both of them chuckled as Carsis walked up, though he didn’t seem amused. He held a bundle of berries and leaves in his large grip, “Here you go,” was all he said as he handed them to Merial.
She turned and hugged him, “Thank you darling.”
Carsis simply nodded and hugged back, “You’re welcome.” With his head over her shoulder she was unable to see the rather hard glare he gave to Jeralyle.
In A Time Of Darkness Page 62