Alternative Life
Page 28
"I-icould-imend-iit-iinstantly-imyself-iif-iyou-icould-iprovide-ime-iwith-ithe-iright-icomponents."-iEleanor-isaid.-i"Assuming-iyou-ihave-ithem."
Marg'faz-ishook-iher-ihead.
"I-iam-isure-iyou-icould,-ibut-ilook-ihere"-iShe-isaid,-ipointing-iand-idrawing-iEleanor's-igaze-iup-ito-ithe-imantle-iabove-ithe-idoorway-iinto-ithe-ihovel.-iThere,-iset-iin-ithe-icenter-iof-ithe-ilintelpiece-iwas-ian-ielaborate-iward-icircle-icarved-iinto-ithe-iwood,-iset-idirectly-inext-ito-ianother-iof-isimilar-idesign.-iBoth-iward-icircles-iglowed-ifaintly-iin-idiffering-icolors,-iflickering-ifaint-ias-icandlelight.-i"I'm-isure-ia-image-ias-iclever-ias-iyou-ican-imake-ithem-iout."
Eleanor-ididn't-ineed-ilong-ito-igather-ithe-igeneral-iimport-iof-ithe-itwo-isigils.-iThe-ifirst-iwas-ia-iBan-iof-iGifts,-iset-ito-iwork-ion-ia-igiven-iradius.-iWhile-ishe-icouldn't-imake-iout-iall-iof-ithe-idetails-iat-ithis-idistance,-ithe-igeneral-icomplexity-iof-ithe-idesign-iand-idensity-iof-imagic-iscript-itold-iher-iit-iwas-ia-ifairly-ipowerful-ione.-iAnyone-iwithin-ithe-iradius-iof-ithe-iBan-iwould-ibe-iunable-ito-iutilize-iany-itype-iof-imagic-iwithout-ifirst-iovercoming-iit.-iThe-ione-inext-ito-iit-iwas-ia-iBan-iof-iPassage,-iwhich-itypically-iprevented-icertain-ithings-ior-ibeing-ifrom-ientering-ior-iexiting-ian-iarea.-iMost-iwere-iset-ito-iprevent-iexit-ior-ientry-ientirely,-ialthough-ithere-iwere-iplenty-iof-iother-iuses-ithat-ididn't-iso-imuch-iprevent-iaccess-ias-ithey-icaused-ia-icertain-ieffect,-isuch-ias-ipain.-iThis-ione's-icomplexity-imatched-ithat-iof-ithe-iother-isigil,-iand-iits-ieffect-iwas-iquite-iplain.-iWhoever-ithe-iBan-iwas-ilinked-ito-iwould-idie-iinstantly-iif-ithey-ileft-ithe-ihovel.
Eleanor-ilooked-iat-iMarg'faz,-iand-ithe-ignoll-iwoman-iraised-ian-ieyebrow.
"My-ison-iis-ithe-ione-iwho-iput-ithose-iup-ito-ikeep-ime-ifrom-iopposing-ihis-irule.-iDo-iyou-isee-inow-iwhy-iI-imight-iperhaps-iwant-iyour-ihelp?"-i
###-iChapter-i120-i--iSomething-iLost,-iSomething-iGained
"Before-iwe-iwrap-ithis-iup,-ihave-iany-iof-iyou-iseen-imy-iaxe?-iIt's-idisappeared-isince-imy-ifight-iwith-ithe-ichampion,-iand-iI-ican't-iseem-ito-ifind-iit-ianywhere."-iJames-isaid.
"Yes,-iI-iam-iaware."-iUrien-isaid,-inodding.-i"And-iunfortunately,-inow-ithat-iyou-iremind-ime,-iI-ihave-isome-ibad-inews-ifor-iyou."
He-igot-iup-iand-iwalked-ito-ithe-ifar-iside-iof-ithe-iroom,-iand-ipicked-iup-isomething-ioff-iof-ithe-itable-ithere.-iThen-isomething-ielse.-iAnd-ithen-ianother-iobject.-iAll-iat-ionce,-iJames-ifelt-ia-ihorrible-isinking-isensation-iin-ihis-igut.
Urien-iwalked-iback-iover-iand-ihad-ia-iseat-iin-ihis-iwooden-ichair,-isetting-ia-ilong-ibundle-iwrapped-iin-idark-icloth-ion-ithe-ifloor-ibeside-ihim.-iIn-ifront-iof-ihim-ion-ihis-ilap-iwas-ianother-ibundle,-iwhich-ihe-iuntied-iand-ifolded-iout-iin-ifront-iof-ihim-ion-ithe-ifloor.-iRose-igasped,-iand-icovered-iher-imouth.
There,-iin-ithe-icenter-iof-ithe-idark-ifabric,-iwere-ithe-ipieces-iof-iJames's-iaxe.-iThe-ihead-iand-iperhaps-ia-ifoot-iand-ia-ihalf-iof-ithe-ihandle-imade-iup-ione-ipiece,-ithe-iwood-iending-iin-ia-inear-iperfectly-iclean-icut-ithat-imatched-ithe-icut-ion-ithe-ihandle-iit'd-ibeen-isevered-ifrom-iperfectly.-iHis-iheart-idropped-iinto-ihis-istomach.-iIt-iwas-idestroyed.-iAnother-ione-iof-ihis-iwishes-idestroyed,-ijust-ilike-ithat.-iTry-ias-ihe-imight,-ihe-icouldn't-ihelp-ithe-itears-ithat-istarted-ito-iwell-iup-iin-ihis-ieyes.
"I'm-isorry,-iJames.-iWe-ifound-iit-ilike-ithis-inext-ito-iyou-iwhen-iyou-iwere-irescued."-iUrien-isaid,-iseeing-ithe-iemotion-ion-iJames's-iface.-i"While-iI-idon't-iknow-ifor-isure,-ias-iclean-ias-ithe-icut-iis,-iand-ithe-iway-ithe-ichampion-ifell,-iit-iwas-iprobably-isevered-iby-iits-isword-iwhen-iit-itried-ito-iparry-iyour-ifinal-istrike.-iI-ihad-iour-ismiths-ilook-iat-iit.-iNo-ione-ihere-ihas-ithe-iskill-ito-imend-iit,-iif-iit-ican-ieven-ibe-imended."
James-iburied-ihis-iface-iinto-ihis-ipalm,-iwiping-ithe-imoisture-iout-iof-ithem-iand-isighing-iheavily.
"Well,-iat-ileast-iI-iknow-iwhere-iit-iis."-iHe-isaid,-ireaching-iout-iand-ipulling-ithe-ibundle-iover-ito-ihim.
"But,-ibefore-iyou-idespair,-iI-ihave-isomething-ifor-iyou.-iWe-imight-inot-ibe-iable-ito-ifix-iyour-iweapon,-ibut-iwe-ican-iat-ileast-igive-iyou-isomething-ito-ireplace-iit."
He-ireached-idown-iand-ipicked-iup-ithe-ilong-ibundle-ibeside-ihim,-iand-iset-iit-iin-ihis-ilap-ibefore-iunwrapping-iit-iend-ifirst.-iAs-ithe-iwrapping-ifell-iaway,-ihe-isaw-iit-iwas-ithe-iscabbard-iof-ia-isword.-iLooking-iit-iover,-iJames-irecognized-ithe-iflowery-ihilt-iof-ithe-iGnoll-iChampion's-icurved-isword.
"Before-iyou-isay-ianything,-iknow-ithat-iwe-iin-ithe-iGreen-iCompany-ihave-ia-irule-ithat-ithe-ipossessions-iof-ianything-ia-icompany-imember-ikills-iis-ithe-iproperty-iof-ithat-imember,-ino-iquestions-iasked.-iYou-iare-inot-ia-imember-iof-ithe-iGreen-iCompany,-ibut-iconsidering-ithe-icircumstances,-iit-idoesn't-iseem-iappropriate-ito-iadd-ian-ienchanted-iblade-ilike-ithis-ito-iour-icommon-iarmory-iwhen-iit-iclearly-ibelongs-ito-iyou."-iUrien-isaid.
James-ireached-iout-iand-itook-ithe-iscabbard-ifrom-iUrien's-ihand,-iand-ibrought-iit-icloser-ito-ihis-ieyes.-iWhere-ithe-iornate-ihilt-iwork-ihad-ibeen-ibeautiful-iat-ia-idistance,-iup-iclose,-ithe-ilevel-iof-iintricacy-iand-idetail-iwas-istaggering.-iEach-ipetal-iand-ileaf-ihad-iindividual-iseams-iand-iveins,-iand-ithere-iwere-ieven-ia-ifew-ithat-iwere-ishaped-iand-iburnished-iin-isuch-ia-iway-ito-ishow-isigns-iof-istarting-ito-iwilt.-iAs-ihe-iplaced-ihis-ihand-ion-ithe-iweapon's-ihandle,-ihe-icouldn't-ihelp-ibut-ifeel-ia-ifaint-ithrobbing-ihum-iof-imagical-ienergy-ibound-iinside.-iHe-ididn't-ihave-ito-ibe-ia-igenius-ito-iknow-iwhat-ihe-iwas-iholding-iwas-isomething-ispecial.
James-ilooked-iat-ithe-iweapon-iagain,-iand-iback-ito-ithe-ibrother.-iHe-iwas-ialmost-itoo-iflabbergasted-ito-ispeak.-iFinally,-iafter-ia-imoment,-ihe-ifinally-imanaged-ito-iget-iout-i"Thank-iyou,-iUrien.-iThis-iis-ireally-imore-ithan-iI-icould-iever-iask-ifor."-i
###-iChapter-i121-i--iSomething-iLost,-iSomething-iGained-i(part-i2)
"Please,-itake-iit."-iUrien-isaid,-iholding-iup-ihis-ihand.-i"We're-ihappy-ito-ihelp."
James-islowly-idrew-ithe-isweeping-iblade-ifrom-iits-iscabbard.-iIt-ifelt-iabnormally-ilight-ias-ihe-idid-iso,-ias-iif-iit-iwere-imade-iout-iof-isomething-ilike-ia-ilighter-ialuminum,-irather-ithan-iiron-ior-isteel.-iAs-iit-ileft-ithe-isheath-iand-isettled-iinto-ihis-ihand,-ihe-icouldn't-ishake-ithe-isensation-ithat-ithe-iblade-ifelt-ialmost-ialive.-iLooking-ialong-ithe-iblade-ilength,-ihe-inoticed-ifor-ithe-ifirst-itime-ithe-ifaint-irippling-ilines-iin-ithe-iblade.-iIt-ilooked-ia-ibit-ilike-ithe-iold-iDamascus-isteel-iblades-ihe'd-iread-iabout-iwhen-ihe-iwas-istudying-imedieval-ihistory.
After-ia-imoment,-ihe-islid-ithe-iblade-iback-iout-iof-isight,-iand-iset-iabout-ifastening-ithe-iscabbard-ito-ihis-ibelt.
"Now-ithat-ithat's-itaken-icare-iof,-iwe-ihave-ipreparations-ito-imake."-iUrien-isaid.-iHe-iturned-ito-iFarien.
"Since-iyou-iwill-ibe-istaying-ibehind,-iand-iwill-ihave-ithe-isick-iand-iwounded-ito-ilook-iafter,-ihand-pick-ithe-ifighters-iyou-iwant-ito-istay-iwith-ithe-icamp.-iWhatever-itwelve-iyou-idon't-iselect-iwill-ibe-icoming-iwith-ius.-iDoes-ithat-iseem-ifair-ito-iyou?"-iHe-isaid.
Farien-inodded.-i"If-iyour-imind-iis-imade-iup-ito-igo,-ithen-ithen-iI-ican-iaccept-ithat."
"Good.-iThat-ibeing-ithe-icase,-iget-istarted.-iThe-isooner-iyou've-isorted-iout-iwho-iis-icoming,-ithe-ilonger-iwe-iwill-ihave-ito-iprep-iand-iplan."-iUrien-ireplied.
"Got-iit."-iFarien-isaid,-istanding.-iHe-inodded-ito-iJames-iand-ithe-iothers-ibefore-iwalking-iout-iof-ithe-iroom.
After-ithe-ifur-iflap-idropped-ibehind-ihim,-iUrien-iturned-ito-iFarlo-iand-iasked-i"What-iguild-ihelp-ican-iwe-iexpect?"
"Hard-ito-isay-ifor-isure.-iBest-icase-iscenario,-ithe-iCircle-iof-iSeven,-iHouse-iPendragon,-iand-ithe-iStout-iBrothers-ishould-iall-ibe-ipresent,-ias-iwell-ias-isome-ilesser-iguilds-iand-ifreelancers.-iWorst-icase-iscenario,-ihalf-ithat.-iMaybe-ieven-iless.-iWe-iwon't-iknow-iuntil-ithey-iarrive-ifor-isure."-iFarlo-ireplied.
"That's-inot-iparticularly-ireassuring."-iUrien-isaid,-igrimacing.
"Most-iadventurers-ionly-icare-ifor-ifame,-ifortune,-iand-ifornication.-iIt's-ihard-ito-iget-ia-ifirm-icommitment-ifrom-ithem-iwhen-inone-iof-ithe-ithree-ican-ibe-ireadily-iexpected-ifrom-iwhatev
er-ithey're-ibeing-iasked-ito-ido."-iFarlo-isaid.
"Well,-ilet's-ihope-isome-iof-ithem-iare-imotivated-iby-isomething-igreater,-ithen."-iAbigail-isaid.
"So,-ihow-ican-iwe-ihelp?-iYou-iknow,-ibesides-ithe-iobvious."-iJames-iasked.
"Abbie-iand-iI-iwill-ihandle-ithe-iCompany'-ipreparations,-iand-iFather-iwill-ihandle-iguild-imatters.-iThe-ibest-ithing-iyou-ican-ido-iis-ito-imake-iwhatever-ipersonal-ipreparations-iyou-ideem-inecessary-ibefore-ithe-icoming-ifight.-iWe-iwill-ibe-iready-ito-idepart-iat-idawn-itomorrow.-iIf-iyou-ihave-iany-iother-ispecial-iadvantages-ior-iallies-iwe-idon't-iknow-iabout,-inow-iwould-ibe-ithe-itime-ito-iget-ithem-iin-iorder."-iUrien-isaid.
"Alright."-iJames-isaid,-inodding.-iHe-iwasn't-ireally-isure-iwhat-ielse-ihe-icould-ibring-ito-ithe-itable,-ibut-ia-ivisit-ito-ithe-iTerminal-iwould-ibe-iin-iorder,-iat-ithe-ivery-ileast.
Urien-istood,-ihelping-iAbigail-ito-iher-ifeet.-iThe-itwo-iof-ithem-ideparted-ithrough-ithe-ifur-covered-idoorway,-ileaving-iJames-iand-iRose-ialone-iwith-iFarlo,-iwho-iwas-iappraising-iJames-iwith-ia-ipeculiar-iexpression-ithat-imade-iJames-iuncomfortable.
After-ia-imoment,-iFarlo-ishifted-iin-ihis-iseat,-ileaning-iback-iinto-ithe-ichair-iwith-ia-icasualness-ithat-ihe'd-inot-idisplayed-ipreviously-iin-ifront-iof-ithe-iothers.-iAfter-ihe-idid-iso,-ihis-iface-ishifted-iinto-ia-iwide-igrin.
"I-igotta-isay,-iJames.-iYou're-inot-iexactly-iwhat-iI-iexpected.-iThe-iprevious-iheros-iof-ilegend-iwere-ia-ilot-imore...-iheroic-ilooking."-iHe-isaid.
James-istarted,-iand-ihe-istared-iat-iFarlo.-i"I'm-isorry,-iwhat?"
Farlo-igrinned-ieven-iwider.-i"So,-ihow-iis-iold-iFrumpkin-idoing-ithese-idays?-iIs-ihe-istill-ias-ibig-ian-iasshole-ias-iever?"-i
###-iChapter-i122-i--iSomething-iLost,-iSomething-iGained-i(part-i3)
James-istared-iat-ithe-iman,-islack-jawed,-iuncertain-iof-ihow-ito-ireact.-iHe-ihad-ianticipated-imultiple-idifferent-ioutcomes,-ibut-isomeone-iknowing-iexactly-iwhat-ihe-iwas,-iand-iabout-iFrumpkin-ispecifically,-iwas-inot-iamong-ithem.
Seeing-iJames's-ireaction,-iFarlo-ilaughed-iand-iheld-iup-ihis-ihands.
"Your-isecret's-isafe-iwith-ime,-ikid.-iDon't-iworry.-iI'm-ifirmly-ion-ithe-iside-iof-igood,-ibelieve-ime."-iHe-isaid.
"But,-ihow...?-iHow-ido-iyou..."-iJames-istammered,-itrying-ito-iregain-isome-isense-iof-icomposure.-i
"How-ido-iI-iknow-iabout-iFrumpkin,-ior-iwhat-iyou-iactually-iare?-iThat's-ipretty-ieasy,-iactually.-iI-iwas-ia-iparty-imember-iof-ihis-iwhen-ihe-iwas-igoing-ithrough-ihis-iown-ichallenge.-iI've-ialso,-iunsuccessfully,-itried-ito-ihelp-isome-iof-ithe-iother-ipeople-iwho've-itried-ito-ifill-iyour-irole-ibefore-iyou,-ibut-ias-iyou-ican-iguess,-ithat-ihasn't-igone-iso-iwell."-iFarlo-isaid.-i"He-iand-iI-ikeep-iin-itouch,-iand-ihe-imentioned-ia-inew-ihero-ihas-ientered-ithe-iworld-inot-ifar-ifrom-ime.-iMost-iof-iyour-itype-ihave-ia-ihard-itime-ikeeping-ia-ilow-iprofile,-iso-iI-isuspected-iit'd-ionly-ibe-ia-imatter-iof-itime-ibefore-iyou-imade-iyourself-itoo-iobvious-ito-imiss.-iThough,-ito-iyour-icredit,-iit-itook-ilonger-ithan-iI-iexpected-ito-ifind-iyou,-ieven-iwhile-ilooking.-iYou've-idone-iwell-ito-ikeep-iyour-ihead-idown-ithus-ifar."-i
"I-iwish-iI-icould-isay-ithat's-ibecause-iI've-ibeen-ismart-ienough-ito-iknow-ibetter,-ibut-ihonestly,-iI've-ijust-ispent-imost-iof-imy-itime-iaway-ifrom-iother-ipeople-isince-iI've-ibeen-ihere."-iJames-isaid.
"There's-inothing-iwrong-iwith-ithat.-iIt's-ibetter-ito-ikeep-iyour-ihead-idown-iand-iwork-iin-iprivacy-ithan-iit-iis-ito-iimmediately-iannounce-iyour-ipresence-ito-ithe-iworld-iand-idemand-iattention.-iThat-iattention-seeking-iis-ithe-ithing-ithat-igets-imost-iof-iyou-ihero-itypes-ikilled."-iFarlo-ireplied.
"I-igotta-isay,-iI-ireally-iwasn't-iexpecting-ito-iencounter-isomeone-iwho-iknows-iwhat-iI-iam-iwithout-ime-isaying-ianything."-iJames-isaid.
"I-ican-iimagine."-iFarlo-isaid.-i"But-idon't-ifret-iabout-iit.-iThere-iare-isome-iof-ius-iout-ithere,-ithough-inot-imany.-iAnd-imost-iof-ius-iare-ion-iyour-iside."
"So-iwhat-ihappens-inext?-iAre-iyou-igoing-ito-itell-ithe-irest-iof-ithem-iwhat's-iactually-igoing-ion?"-iJames-iasked.
"Not-iif-iyou-idon't-iwant-ime-ito.-iYou're-ithe-ionly-ione-iwith-ithat-iright,-ias-ifar-ias-iI-iam-iconcerned.-iYou've-itold-ithem-ienough-ifor-ithem-ito-ihave-ia-iclear-iidea-ithat-iyou-iare-inot-inormal,-icome-ifrom-ianother-iworld,-iand-ihave-ipowers-ithat-imost-iothers-idont-ihave.-iThat's-imore-ithan-ienough,-ias-ifar-ias-iI-iam-iconcerned.-iI-iwould-ikeep-ithe-ifiner-ipoints,-iincluding-iyour-iultimate-ipurpose,-ito-iyourself,-iat-ileast-ifor-inow.-iI-ipersonally-ibelieve-imy-isons-ito-ibe-itrustworthy-ibeyond-ireproach,-iand-iI-icould-isay-ithe-isame-iabout-iAbigail-iand-imany-iof-ithe-iCompany,-ibut-idiscretion,-iespecially-iuntil-iyou-ihave-itruly-igrown-iin-ipower,-iis-iparamount.-iYou-ican-ialways-igive-ithem-imore-iinformation-ilater,-ibut-iyou-ican-inever-itake-iback-isomething-iyou've-ishared,-iso-ibe-icareful.-iUnderstand?"-iFarlo-isaid.
"Understood."-iJames-isaid,-inodding.
"Now,-iI'm-igoing-ito-imake-imy-iown-ipreparations.-iI-isuggest-iyou-ifollow-iUrien's-iadvice-iabout-igetting-iany-inew-iadvantages-ior-icalling-iin-iallies.-iOnce-iwe-idepart,-iyou're-inot-igoing-ito-ihave-ithe-iprivacy-ito-ibe-iable-ito-idisappear-iwithout-idrawing-iattention."-iFarlo-isaid,-istanding-iand-iwalking-itowards-ithe-iexit.-iBefore-ihe-iwalked-iout-iof-ithe-iroom,-ihe-iturned-iand-iadded-i"Oh,-iand-ifor-iwhat-iit's-iworth,-iFrumpkin-iused-ito-italk-iabout-ibeing-iable-ito-isell-imagical-iitems-ihe-iobtained,-ieven-ibroken-iones,-iin-iwherever-ihe-iused-ito-igo.-iWhile-iyour-iaxe-imay-ibe-ibroken,-iyou-imight-ibe-iable-ito-itrade-iit-ifor-isomething-ielse.-iJust-ia-ithought."
And-iwithout-ianother-iword,-ihe-ideparted,-ileaving-iJames-ialone-iwith-ihis-ithoughts.
###-iChapter-i123-i--iPreparing-ifor-iDeparture
It-itook-iJames-iseveral-ilong-imoments-ito-iwrap-ihis-ihead-iaround-iwhat-ihad-ijust-ihappened-iand-iget-iback-ito-ireality.-iHe-icould-ionly-ihope-ithat-iFarlo-iwas-ias-ihe-isaid,-iand-ihad-ino-iill-iintents-itowards-ihim.-iNothing-ihe-icould-ido-iabout-iit-inow-ibesides-ipay-ivery-iclose-iattention.
Leaving-ithe-icave,-ihis-ifirst-iorder-iof-ibusiness-iwas-ito-ifind-iRose-iand-irelay-iwhat-ihad-ijust-ioccurred.-iHe-ipulled-iher-ioff-iinto-ithe-iwoods-ia-ishort-idistance-ifrom-ithe-icamp-iand-itold-iher-iwhat-iFarlo-ihad-isaid,-iand-iher-ieyes-iwidened.
"He-iworked-iwith-iFrumpkin?-iBut-ihow-"-iShe-istarted.
"I-idon't-iknow.-iBut-iwe-ineed-ito-ibe-icareful.-iI-itrust-ihe-imeans-ius-ino-iharm,-ibut-iwhat-ihe-iknows-icould-iexpose-ius-ito-ithings-iwe're-inot-iprepared-ito-ideal-iwith-iif-ithat-iinformation-ifalls-iinto-ithe-iwrong-ihands.-iSo-ibe-icareful-iwhat-iyou-ido-iand-isay."-iJames-isaid.
Rose-inodded-iearnestly.-i"Of-icourse.-iI-iwouldn't-ithink-iof-idoing-iotherwise."-iShe-isaid.
"I-iknow."-iJames-isaid,-ismiling.
The-inext-itask-iwas-ito-icheck-ion-iMadeleine.-iHe-ientered-ithe-imedical-itent-iand-imanaged-ito-iwheeze-ihis-iway-ithrough-ithe-ieye-watering-istench-iuntil-ihis-inose-iacclimated.-iWhen-ihe-imade-iit-ito-ithe-iback-icorner-iof-ithe-itent,-iMadeleine-iwas-iawake,-isitting-ipropped-iup-iby-ia-icouple-ipillows-iwhile-ia-ihealer-ispoon-fed-iher-isome-istew-iout-iof-ia-iwooden-ibowl.-iShe-iwas-istill-ipale,-iand-ia-ifaint-ishimmer-iof-isweat-ihung-ion-iher-ibrowline,-ibut-ishe-ilooked-ihealthier-ithan-ihe'd-ilast-iseen-iher.-iWhen-iJames-iapproached,-iher-iglance-ishot-ihis-idirection,-iand-iwhen-ishe-isaw-iit-iwas-ihim,-iher-iexpression-ibrightened-islightly.-iShe-isaid-isomething-ito-ithe-ihealer,-iwho-inodded-iand-irose,-ibowing-iher-ihead-igently-ito-iJames-ias-ishe-ipassed.
"Hey-iMaddie."-iJames-isaid,-ilooking-idown-iat-iher.
"Hey.-iYou're-ialive."-iShe-isaid.-i"I'm-iglad."
"I-icould-isay-ithe-isame-iabout-iyou.-iHow-iare-iyou-ifeeling?"-iHe-iasked,-iplopping-idown-ibeside-iher-icot.
"Terrible."-iMadeleine-isaid-iflatly.
"I-ican-iimagine.-iYou-ilook-iterrible."-iJames-ireplied,-ismirking.
"Thanks."-iMaddy-isaid,-ipouting.
"I-iwant-ito-ilet-iyou-iknow-ithat-iwe're-imoving-ion-ithe-ignoll-iencampment-itomorrow.-iUrien-iand-isome-iof-ithe-ifighters,-ias-iwell-ias-isome-iguild-iadventurers-iare-iapparently-igoing-ito-
ihelp."-iJames-isaid.-i"We're-ileaving-iat-idawn."
"I'm-icoming-iwith-iyou."-iShe-isaid.
"No,-iyou're-inot."-iJames-isaid-ibluntly.
"I'm-icoming-iwith-iyou.-iYou-ican't-istop-ime."-iMadeleine-isaid,-iher-iexpression-ihard.
James-imet-iher-igaze,-ithe-isoftness-ifading-ifrom-ihis-iface.
"You-iso-isure-iabout-ithat?"-iHe-isaid.-iThe-ivoice-ithat-icame-iout-iwhen-ihe-isaid-ithe-iwords-iwas-inot-ione-ihe-irecognized-ias-ihis-iown.-iIt-isounded-iolder,-iharder.-i"You're-inot-ieven-iable-ito-ifeed-iyourself.-iAnd-iyou're-isick-ibecause-iof-ibeing-ialmost-iraped-iby-igoblins.-iThat's-inot-ia-isituation-iyou're-igoing-ito-iend-iup-iin-iagain,-isick-ior-inot.-iI-iwon't-iallow-iit.-iI-ican-ibarely-ikeep-iyou-isafe-ias-iit-iis,-iand-iI'm-inot-iabout-ito-ilose-ianother-ione-iof-iyou.-iYou're-istaying-iput,-iand-ithat's-ifinal.-iDo-iyou-iunderstand?"
Madeleine's-iexpression-iwas-idifficult-ito-iread.-iAfter-ia-imoment,-ishe-ilooked-iaway,-iher-ijaw-iclenched-iin-ifrustration.-i"Fine."
"Good.-iI-ihope-iyou-ido-iget-iit.-iBecause-iI-ireally-idon't-iwant-ito-ihave-ito-iexplain-ito-iFarien-iwhy-iI've-ichained-iyou-ito-ithis-icot-iif-iyou-idon't"-iJames-isaid,-istanding.-iHe-ilooked-idown-iat-ithe-ifrowning-igirl-iin-ifront-iof-ihim.
"I-itell-iyou-iwhat--iafter-iwe-ireturn-ifrom-ithis-iraid-"
"You-imean-i'if'"-iMaddy-iinterjected.
"After-iwe-ireturn-ifrom-ithis-iraid"-iJames-icontinued,-iignoring-iher-icomment,-i"I'll-imake-ithis-iup-ito-iyou.-iHowever-iyou-iwant.-iThat-ifair?"
Madeleine-ilooked-iat-ihim,-iher-iexpression-iunreadable.-iSlowly,-ian-iunsettling-igrin-ispread-iacross-iher-iface.
"Oh,-iyou-idefinitely-iwill."-iShe-isaid,-inodding.
###-iChapter-i124-i--iPreparing-iFor-iDeparture-i(part-i2)
After-ia-ifew-imore-imoments-iwith-iMadeleine,-iJames-iset-iabout-imaking-iwhatever-iother-ipreparations-ihe-icould-imake.-iThat-imeant-ia-itrip-ito-ithe-iTerminal.-i