— Chapter Five —
Iadrawyn’s Secret
Valanandir and Iadrawyn fell into a comfortable routine over the next several days. He would sleep late while she gathered more food and deadfall for their fire. When he woke, they would sit together for hours, swapping stories of their people. It soon became obvious other than their natural affinity for different elements, their tribes weren’t so different. Valanandir would eventually fall asleep again only to wake in time for supper. Then Iadrawyn would inspect and treat his many healing wounds until he fell asleep once more.
Valanandir could feel himself getting stronger. His injuries were healing, but he was still weak. He didn’t know what he would have done without Iadrawyn to take care of him. He tired too easily to help her with any of the daily chores. For the first few days, he barely had the strength to leave their shelter to relieve himself.
Today he had sent her away so he could finally bathe. He was sick of his own sour stench. He was sure it was only politeness that prevented Iadrawyn from saying anything about it. She had given him one of her long, penetrating looks before agreeing to leave him on his own.
Valanandir had also insisted on doing all the work for his bath himself. He was tired of being an invalid. After Iadrawyn left, he stepped through the branches of the shelter to fill the cooking pot with snow. His muscles ached as he moved and the skin around his wounds pulled, but it still felt good to be outside and moving about. He stood with his eyes closed for several moments, breathing in the crisp air.
He opened his eyes. He was surrounded by trees of all types. Most of the branches were bare, save for the evergreens. They blocked out most of the dark, empty sky overhead. It was unnerving to feel so surrounded. He knew if he decided to go off on his own, he would soon become lost. Even though he was free, he was still Iadrawyn’s willing prisoner as long as he remained dependent on her knowledge and wood skills. He knew it should frighten him, but it didn’t. He trusted Iadrawyn. She would teach him what he needed to know once she knew he was ready.
Valanandir shivered, breaking his reverie. Without Iadrawyn’s comforting presence, he suddenly felt vulnerable and alone. Who knew what lay hiding in the darkness under the cover of the trees?
He knew he was being paranoid. According to Iadrawyn, no one knew about her hidden refuge and her village was nowhere nearby. He was clearly imagining things.
Valanandir filled the pot and made his way back into the shelter, trying to shake the feeling of being watched.
Light Chasers (The World of Lasniniar Book 0) Page 5