Page 20 of A Soul to Guide

Raewyn tried to tie up her boots faster. “I really am slowing us down, aren’t I?”

Once she was fully ready for their travels, they finally started back on their journey. He led her outside, and she firmly held the rope and followed his steps.

The forest was quiet save for the odd bird chirp, but the wind was light and warmer than the previous day.

“You’re right,” Merc eventually sighed.

“People often say that about me,” she answered in a playful tone, hoping to erase whatever misgivings they both had about each other. “You’ll have to be more specific.”

“I haven’t really shared much about myself.”

“Makes it hard to trust someone you barely know.”

We’re as bad as each other.

Raewyn then stayed quiet, hoping her patience in not poking him further would get him to finally reveal something.

It paid off.

“So, like I said, I come from the north. Rivenspire is far from here, but it’s pretty big. I live about two days’ walk from it – at least, it’s a two-day walk for me. I grew up with my mother and father, who, thankfully, died of old age. I’m not quite sure where my brothers are, but I’m sure they’re around, or dead – who knows these days.”

“How old are they?” she asked.

“Now? One would be... thirty? The other thirty-four or something.”

The smile that spread across her lips was real. “What about you, then?”

“Twenty-nine. You?”

“Ah.” Raewyn almost giggled when she realised in human years, she would be nearly four hundred and ninety. “I’m thirty-two.”

“Have any siblings?”

Raewyn’s smile died as a cold, painful lance stabbed her heart. “I have an older half-brother, but I don’t know how he is doing. I haven’t seen him since I was really young.”

“I haven’t seen my family since I was young either. I left home after my parents died. Guess I started travelling as a way to grieve, especially since my brothers went off to do their own things. I wanted to figure out my place in the world and haven’t really stopped travelling since.”

Holding the guiding rope connected to him, she raised her hand nearest the end and rubbed her chin in thought. What else could she ask him?

The question that came to mind made her grin like a deviant.

“Ever had a lover?”

His steps faltered and stumbled. “What the fuck?”

She grinned. “Is that a no?”

“Of course, I have.”

Her expression softened. “What were they like?”

“All of them have been nice enough.”

“But I’m guessing the traveller in you couldn’t stay with them?”

“You can say that. I’ve broken a lot of hearts on my travels.”

Their day continued with a general back and forth, and Raewyn spun as many truths as she could into her lies and evasions. She felt terrible lying to Merc, but the trust required between them for her to reveal what she was, where she came from, was just too much of a risk.

---