Chapter 5: That Which Was Lost
The company set off South from Enfiris. As they rode on, Raunst could feel a stir inside him, like a wind blown draft within his hollow bones. By the end of the day they had reached the reached the shore of the Nortll river. The swift, wide water was at best fifty feet at the narrowest gaps. It would be nearly impossible to traverse in the night. The group made camp.
Seated evenly around the fire on the cool sand by the river, each of them nibbled away at a small portion of their provisions; each of them except Raunst. Jake watched and waited for some time for Raunst to eat or drink something.
“You’re going to need your strength.” Jake said.
Charles nodded. “He’s right you know, the battle with Xero will be test enough.”
Raunst shook his head, “I didn’t even realize that you were talking to me.” He scowled and looked up at the starry sky.
“I have some dried elk.” Charles extended a jerky strip to Raunst.
“I am fine, please.” Raunst heard Psydra’s lips part to speak before he finished talking.
“If you aren’t feeling okay and want to discuss this, we should. In fact, there is much that I should tell you to prepare you,” Psydra said.
Raunst continued to look through the sea of stars above, “I am sure there is, but I’d rather not right now.”
Psydra leaned toward Raunst, “There isn’t much time to get you ready.”
“I don’t know that I care to be ready. The more I think about it the less I understand why I am here.”
“You cannot say that!" Psydra jumped to her feet. "Especially after what so many people have put on the line to keep you safe. Your father and mother...my father.”
“Tell me then," Raunst put his eyes to Psydra, "Do you really believe without a doubt that I can do this?”
“You ask me after what you yourself witnessed what you did today?” Psydra hesitated, after all the fights with Xero, what would make Raunst's different?
“You didn’t answer me.”
Thinking on the question was not Psydra's intent, but she had to. Her hesitation was all Raunst needed. “That’s what I thought.”
He picked himself up from the fire and walked up the river's edge. He stopped beyond the fire's light, but where he could see it. He needed space.
The Demon Legacy Page 7