Page 13 of A Soul to Guide

“You said you found my footsteps quiet, and a cart is too noisy for safe travelling. Will you have trouble following me on foot? I don’t talk much.”

“Maybe a little...” She wouldn’t feign confidence when the alternative would be getting lost in a potentially Demon-filled forest.

He gave a rough huff, and material shifted as though he folded his arms across his chest. “I won’t hold your hand.”

Her dark complexion hid from him any redness from her flushing in chagrin, but she hoped her hands curling into fists were obvious. If her eyes weren’t covered, she would have glared in his direction.

“I’m not a child. I don’t need you to hold my hand or arm. If you have a rope, you can tie it to yourself, and I can hold it.”

“You want to walk me like I’m a fucking dog?”

Her ears flattened at him so freely swearing at her, but she puffed her cheeks and folded her arms.

“What else do you want to do? It’s either I hold it, or you hold it, and I imagine holding something the entire way will annoy you. Attaching ourselves together permanently would be foolish if we needed to be apart because of danger, or even if we went the wrong way around a tree to each other.”

“Hmm... I guess that’s all true.”

“Exactly, so don’t be so rude when you haven’t come forth with any ideas.”

“You’re quick to use your tongue. I’m offering to take you through the forest. Shouldn’t you be more cautious of the way you speak to me?”

Raewyn’s right hand curled into a fist around her bag strap. “Well? Is it the rope idea, or do you have something better?”

Without answering, he dug through a bag filled with metal, like tools and coins, as well as... bells? Yes, there was definitely the chime of little bells.

Within moments, he grunted and said, “Here.”

She tentatively reached her hand out and found a long piece of rope in his outreached hand. When she yanked on it, there was resistance, as though he’d already tied it around his waist.

Suddenly, she was hurtled forward when he walked forward without saying anything! Raewyn nearly tripped over her own feet in surprise, but skilfully righted herself and jogged a few steps to keep up.

The whirring of wheels and clanking of chains started up, followed by loud creaking. The gate was opening, and Raewyn took in a long, calming breath.

“You got a name?” he asked as they waited. “It would be impolite if I just called you woman along the way.”

“Raewyn, but my friends call me Rae. You?”

“Call me Merc, since I don’t particularly like it when people call me big fucker like you heard the other day.”

Raewyn laughed. It wasn’t that she found what he said funny – she was just so nervous about leaving the safety of this town, but also excited to finally get away from it. If she found some Anzúli, they might be able to help her get home.

When the rope went from slack to taut, she stepped forward after him. He grunted when she stepped on the back of his shoe, and she blushed as she looked down.

She spent a few moments feeling the length of the rope, then held it further down with her right hand, and grasped the end with her left. She made the rope taut enough that she could feel which way he stepped, but would still remain at a distance so she wouldn’t accidentally step on his heel again. Yes, she was always behind him, but she didn’t particularly mind that.

The less he looked at her, the less he’d pay attention to her features. It also meant she could basically walk in his exact path, and in doing so, she’d never run into anything like she might if she were next to him.

After a few minutes of walking, him in complete and utter silence while she tried everything to make sure they could walk with ease together, she lifted her head. She listened to the quietness that had fallen around her.

It’s been a month since I heard true silence.Every day, every night, every minute of both, Raewyn heard people.

She smiled slightly, taking in the earthy, rich scents of fresh trees and shrubs, even the very grass. She took in the birds squawking in the distance, and the insects that made chirping songs. It was peaceful, calm, and serene.

The tall forests in Nyl’theria were the perfect place for Demons to hide and travel in the daytime, giving plenty of cover from the three suns. For hundreds of years, her people hadn’t been able to travel through them. They were stuck, imprisoned by the very magical barrier that protected them.

When she smelt the sap of a tree growing closer, she dropped the tip of the rope and reached her hand out just to... touch it. Feel its bark. Get to know the tree on an intimate level.

Her joy grew brighter.

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