Page 8 of Spirit Trials
I finally give in and turn around, shocked when he begins to run the comb through my hair. Surprisingly, he’s actually gentle, more gentle than I usually am when I comb my hair. The comb running though my hair takes me back to a time when I was young, and my mom was actively involved in my life. She used to comb my hair just like this. Tears at the memory spring up, but I stubbornly push them away. If I was shocked at him combing my hair, I’m blown away when he starts braiding my hair. I don’t say anything, because I don’t know what to say. His hands fall away from my hair, and I reach back to feel it. It’s more complicated than a three-strand braid and something I’d never be able to do on my own. I turn around and give him a questioning look.
“I’ve braided rope many times—same process.”
“Thank you.” My words come out a whisper. I take a step back, trying to feel my way through this situation. I’m confused, tired, and overwhelmed. I look back at the spot where theinnkeeper lay. There’s one thing I know for sure; I don’t want to be in this room tonight. A shudder runs through me.
“We’re leaving. Grab your stuff.” Without another word, he leaves the room. Since I don’t have anything to grab, I simply follow him into the hallway. He disappears into his room. When he comes back, he has two bags slung over his shoulder. I follow him without a word down the stairs and outside. Lox and Hector are waiting for us. I feel bad because it's really late.
I walk over to where the leader is loading his bags onto his horse. “We really don’t have to leave.”
He doesn’t even look at me when he responds. “Yes, we do.” He climbs on to his horse and motions at the horse I’ve been riding.
“What about the other guy?” I ask, worried when I don’t see the younger guy.
“He’s coming,” the leader says. I look over my shoulder and don’t see him, but I know it’s really not any of my concern.
They’re the enemy,I remind myself. We’re a ways down the road when a rider joins us. I can’t help but breathe a sigh of relief when I see it’s the younger dark-haired guy. The leader stops his horse and turns around. I pull the reins on my horse and turn around as well, wondering what we’re doing. I stare as the Inn goes up in flames. “There were people in there,” I gasp.
“Everybody got out,” the younger guy says so quietly, I almost don’t hear him. I stare silently at the burning Inn. Soon, there’s nothing left but a smoldering fire.
“He’ll never hurt you again.” The words from the leader are quiet, but I hear them clearly. We ride silently for at least an hour or two before we stop and make camp for the night. When they’re all asleep later, I turn and face the fire. I’m not sure I’ll sleep again...ever. Every time I try to close my eyes, I keep seeing the innkeeper’s wide eyes when he stared at me before hedropped to his knees. Frustrated, I sit up and wrap the bedroll around me and continue to stare into the fire.
“You did what you had to,” a voice reaches me from somewhere nearby. I don’t turn to face the leader. “Don’t waste sleep on somebody who doesn’t deserve it.” He’s silent a moment. Then his voice reaches me again. “If you hadn’t killed him, I would have. Think of how many other women and young girls you protected by ending him.”
I slowly turn my head and seek him out. He’s a few feet away, laying on his back in his bedroll, staring up at the sky. “You really think so?”
“Yeah. Those kinds of guys don’t change. They just get worse.” It’s quiet for a minute, and I turn back to the fire. “Usually, they turn to kids.” A sick feeling fills me.
“Then I did the right thing.” I’m not sure if I’m convincing myself or him.
“Yes. Now, sleep.”
He doesn’t say anything after that. I stare into the fire a little while longer and then lay back down. Sleep finds me because the next thing I know it’s morning and time to get moving.
The next few days pass slowly as we continue traveling. At least now we’re not traveling in circles. We travel North; that much I know because each day is colder than the day before. Yesterday, we even rode through an area that had snow on the ground. The guys wear furs now as they ride; they graciously gave me one to wear as well. I’m incredibly grateful for the warmth.
“Is this how it is where you live?” I ask as we ride in the afternoon.
“Yep.” It’s Lox that answers.
“How do you guys stand it?”
He smiles. “We’re used to it; it doesn’t bother us.”
My teeth chatter, and I wrap the fur tighter around me. “Well, I’m not. This is so cold.”
“You ever get snow in your village?” Lox asks.
“No. Never.”
He smiles at me. “We’ll have to teach you all the fun things to do when we get a good snow.”
“No, thank you. I just want to be inside when it snows.”
“Nah, you’ll love it. You just need warmer clothes.”
I think to the shirt and pants I’m wearing. “Whose are these clothes that I’m wearing anyway?”
“Mine,” the younger guys says.
