Page 17 of As Darkness Fall
“Fascinating.”
I stared silently out at the city, picturing what it must have been like in its heyday a thousand years ago. An overwhelming sense of sadness filled me that I hadn’t been able to witness such a thing.
At some point, it became clear that I wasn’t alone. The person didn’t make any sound, but I felt their presence behind me, nonetheless.
“Not now, Vir,” I said. “I’m sorry. I’m just not–”
I fell silent as Aaron stepped up on my right, also looking out at the stone city. I’d been so distracted, so lost in my contemplations, that I’d missed the gentle cooling effect he had on my mind anytime he was nearby. Now that I was looking for it, though, I could feel it, dampening the call of the Soulbond.
For the moment, I let myself bask in it.Thiswas what I’d expected things to be like without a Soulbond. A return to that peaceful bliss that had been my mind for most of my twenty-one years. Nearly twenty-two now, actually. Only a few more months to go, and then another year would have passed.
It had definitely been the longest, most strenuous, most revelatory year of my life. It would be hard to top this going forward.
I noticed, thankfully, that Aaron had taken advantage of Vir’s magical trunks and found some clothes that fit.
“How are you doing?” Aaron asked at long last.
I didn’t detect any malice or humor in his question. As far as I could tell, it was a genuine, honest attempt to inquire about my well-being.
“I’m,” I started to say, then stopped. “I have no idea.”
“Sounds about right,” he said, and this time, there was a chuckle.
“Physically, I’m fine,” I said. “Healing up nicely, though it’ll be a day or so before I’m back to full health, I think. But up here…”
I raised a hand and tapped a finger to the side of my head.
“It’s a lot,” Aaron agreed.
“You don’t seem fazed,” I pointed out. “Nor surprised.”
He didn’t respond.
Okay, so we’re not going there just yet. Fine.
“It’s a lot to take in,” I said at last, agreeing with him. “I’m, um, overwhelmed.”
Aaron chuckled. “Being Soulbound to a god seems like an overwhelming thing.”
I stiffened. “You know?”
He nodded slowly but didn’t elaborate, leaving me to wonder if he knew abouteverythingthat had happened in the chamber or just the Soulbond. Had Vir told him? Or was this just an educated guess on Aaron’s part?
But if he wanted to talk about deeper things, then he needed to own up to some truths as well.
“What are you?” I asked, turning to look at him. I didn’t want him to think I was asking flippantly.
Aaron considered his answer for nearly a minute before speaking. “I am your guide and, if need be, your protector.”
“Even from Vir?”
He stiffened, his head turning slightly toward me. “I would…prefernotto do that, if at all possible,” he said. “After all, he is agod, Dani, and I, most certainly, am not.”
No, you’re not, but you’re much more than you say you are, Aaron.
“But,” I pushed, “what if Vir became…dangerous? To me?”
Aaron bowed his head. “If necessary, I would do my best, though I fear it would buy you no more than a bit of time. Even in this realm, Vir is powerful.”
