Page 40 of The Healing Dragon
I ponder that, and the longer I think about it, the more clearly the answer becomes.
“Me.” The word drops from my lips, and I feel like I can breathe easier. “It may sound crazy, but I need to do it. I need to stand up to them for the young girl I used to be.”
“I haven’t heard anything more sane.” His words make me smile.
We aren’t too different at the end of the day. Two souls tortured by the whims of the same man.
A genuine smile, the one you can only share with a friend. That’s what Matias feels like he could be. A real friend. I never had one of those, not outside of Jesse, and even then, our friendship has always been different.
“Care to clue me in on the joke?” Jesse asks us with a grunt. He is standing there with his arms on his hips.
Matias gets to his feet. “No,” he says easily and leaves.
I don’t have to look in Jesse’s direction to see the scowl on his face, mostly after he utters “asshole” under his breath.
Using Matias’ directions and my experience in the forest, we cross from the human lands to the edge of Fierno by nightfall. We are hours away from the Black Castle, but continuing is impossible. We have been walking for hours. If it wasn’t for my gift to heal, everyone in this traveling party would be limping. Unfortunately, I can’t heal myself.
Jesse starts a fire in the middle of a small clearing. Matias finds a spot under a tree and settles back. We settle in and share the small number of belongings we have among us. The flavor of dry food packets becomes incredibly satisfying after hours of hunger and non-stop walking.
It doesn’t take long before soft snores come from Matia’s side. The boy can sleep quickly and just about anywhere. The position his body is in doesn’t look comfortable, but I’m sure he has experienced worse. I find a spot to sleep too and just lay there for a bit.
As Matias sleeps the night away, I toss and turn.
“Hey,” Jesse whispers.
I roll to my side so I can face him.
“When Matias said the book wants revenge. He was lying. I’m not sure why, but I heard it in his voice. It did not ring true.”
The Lord of Wisdom is what people call Jesse. The gift of truth was given to him a long time ago by an angel of the land of the bless. I have personally witnessed him hear lies from people and if he says Matias did, I’ve no doubt he is right. Even if it doesn’t make sense. Matias looks genuine and trustworthy. He has gone through enough already and being called a liar is not what he deserves after what he endured.
“Why would he lie?” My question is not meant to question Jesse’s accuracy but the intention behind.
“I can’t say.” His words are soft. Jesse rises to his elbows and moves closer to me. “Stay vigilant. Whatever his motive might be doesn’t change the fact that he is keeping secrets.”
“I will,” I agree without hesitation.
His breath is so close to me and it might be the chill of the night, but goosebumps spread all over my arms.
“Jesse,” I say but stop when a bush begins to rustle.
He is up in a blink of an eye, and I’m right behind him. A second after, Calaca steps out of the bushes with an unreadable expression. It looks over at Matias’ sleeping form before turning back to us.
“You will make it to the King. They have taken a different route to search.” It moves to Matias and plumps down next to him. Not close enough to touch him, but close enough to guard him.
Jesse and I share a look.
“Well,” I say to Calaca. “If that was your doing, we appreciate it.” I gesture in the direction of the Black Castle. “We have a six hour walk that way and we will be at our destination.”
It doesn’t move.
“You don’t have to accompany us.” Jesse crosses his arms with unease.
“I’m not leaving my sire,” Calaca grunts.
Matias stirs. He doesn't seem surprised to see Calaca next to him.
“What’s going on?” Matias asks.
