Page 72 of The Demon's Delight
Seir
We lingered longer than we should have breaking camp in the morning. It was clear neither of us wanted to leave the pretty little meadow where so much between us had changed. But we were too close to our destination not to go.
I made breakfast while Hailon packed away our bedding. We were down to our last changes of clean clothing again, and being in the grasslands with limited water was an excellent argument against staying.
As was the ticking clock for me to return to Hell.
When we finally started down the road, Hailon grabbed for my hand, linking her fingers through mine.
“Did you want to try flying?” I asked.
She shook her head gently. “We don’t have to. We’re pretty close now. We could glide a little, but…” She hesitated, the road ahead of us stretching out both long and short.
“I understand.”
“We should probably fly while there’s nobody else on the road to save time. I’m both anxious and afraid to get back.” I squeezed her fingers.
“We can in a bit. We’ve got time enough.”
“Hailon, I have to go back.”
She nodded solemnly. “You said. When?”
“I have to return before sundown two days from now, if my calculations are right. My unit leader probably won’t summon me the moment the sun sets or anything like that. I do feel pressed to go voluntarily, however. He made it seem as though if I did, he would be able to help me quicker.” I swallowed, already trying to figure out a loophole, not wanting to leave. “If it comes to that, if he summons me?—”
“It won’t,” she said firmly. “We’ll get you back on time. I don’t want you to be punished for no reason. I want you to come back as fast as possible.”
“I would bear it though. For you.” The temporary pain of whatever consequences Keplar would enforce would be worth being sure she was safe before I went. “I’ve likely already faced something similar. If I need to stay a bit longer, I will.”
Hailon sighed. “There is no need for self-sacrifice, Seir. We’ve established I can mind myself well enough.” She wasn’t wrong, but I hated the very idea. “How long will you be gone do you think?”
My heart sank. “I honestly don’t know.”
“What if I banished you, then immediately summoned you again? That would restart the clock, right? What could they do then?”
I stared at her, awed at her thought pattern and doing my best to think of the most accurate answer.
“Never mind. I’m being… I don’t even know what this is.” She blushed and looked down at her feet.
“Hey. Don’t do that.” I lifted her chin with my finger. “I can’t promise it will be easy, Hailon. Or how long it will take to sort things out. I wish I could. I wish I didn’t have to leave you here to do it at all. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I still would have chosen the same.” She gave me a gentle smile. Her words quelled the building storm of fear and worry in my chest.
In the silence between us, I ran through what felt like the most implausible of proposals to take back to Keplar. Nothing seemed the right fit, though.
It wasearly afternoon when Ravenglen proper loomed into view beyond the pastoral outlying farmlands. First came the needle-like church spire, then the other tall buildings clustered in the village center. It was a bustling place, the people busy, smiling. It appeared on all counts to be thriving.
Hailon had been quieter than normal most of the day despite my efforts to woo her out of her thoughts. It was clear she was anxious over returning on top of dealing with our new bond and needed some time.
I understood that just fine; going home was never a simple prospect, even when it was somewhere you wanted to be. Somewhere you belonged. I didn’t know if that described Hailon’s relationship to Ravenglen or if home was simply wherever her aunt was. She had explained to me more than once her concern over her aunt’s well-being in her absence, and I hoped Sal was as hearty as Hailon, and that they could be reunited quickly.
In truth, I was nervous too. I didn’t know exactly what this meant for us, but I did know I was not looking forward to sayinggoodbye to this woman, even temporarily. Hell as a whole held little appeal for me after my recent adventures topside, and without her by my side, I worried I’d be terribly bored. Lonely. I enjoyed everything about her company even before the mate bond and the complications it added. I didn’t want to go back to the bland life I’d had before she’d disrupted my routine, not even part time.
Her stride took on more speed once we passed through the broad, tall lintel welcoming us to Ravenglen. There was not a wall nor a fence, but rather a welcoming archway woven from tree branches over the road at the edge of town. Little ornaments made of flowers hung from it, and some bits of colored glass. It was quite charming.
“Everything looks incredible,” she commented as we got into the bustling town center. “It’s cleaner, brighter almost. No more empty storefronts—there were several when I left.” Her head tilted. “Memory is an odd thing.”
Hailon had a singular focus as we walked through the busy village. Several people stopped to stare; indeed, a considerable number did a double take when they saw her. I was not altogether pleased with the way so many faces pinched in recognition. It looked like they’d tasted something sour which made no sense at all. A healer with her gifts surely should have been missed all this time. Nobody came to offer their condolences, however, which seemed positive. Hailon didn’t acknowledge the behavior at all, though I’m sure she saw as much of it as I did.
