Chapter 35
Tuviel stepped forward, glancing towards dane in distain. It was clear to the girl that they still didn’t get along very well, despite all that he had done for astria and her mother. She had missed tuviel’s beauty, her hair the shade of the setting sun, and her curved shape more prominent in the trousers and tunic that she wore.
“if what astria says is true, then we welcome you; but i must also apologise as now you are going to have to travel with us to miake.” The girl’s mother said strongly, leaving no room for an argument.
“you swear that he has not harmed you?” Dane scowled back at panett, still distrusting as he did not know the man.
“yes, i swear.” Whispered the half-breed, her arms wrapping around dane in a loving embrace. She had missed her friend dearly. “he is a healer. He treated the wounds that tarian bestowedupon me, with our him; i would most certainly be dead.”
“i know that you do not trust me, and why would you? I am a stranger that you know nothing about.” Panett began, pausing slightly as he turned to look down at astria, his eyes filled with nothing but warmth. “but i would not harm a hair on this girl’s head, she pulled me from a place i thought i would die in, a place within myself i had found shelter against my own actions. I see now that all i did for tarian was a mistake. But i cannot change the past, i can only see to the future and make it a brighter place.”
“those are some strong words, stranger. But believe when i tell you that if you so much as look at astria in distain, i will end your life. Is that understood?” Dane growled, quickly sheathing his sword.
Tuviel sighed, shaking her head in annoyance towards dane and his rudeness. Did no one ever teach him manners? “yes. I think we all agree that we need time to trust the stranger, but standing here is only going to get us caught. Now please, all of you. We must begin our journey.” She warned, knowing that the deus that escaped would be sending for help; and this time, there would be more than astria could handle alone.
Astria nodded, for once agreeing with her mother, even though they couldn’t yet trust panett, they would allow him to accompany them on the journey they now faced. But the half-breed knew that it would not be easy, not now the deus would know where they were, and where they had been. The lands around them were dangerous on their own, never mind adding the threat of the partial gods into the mix.
“very well.” Dane growled, turning towards the medical man. “but if you so much as blink the wrong way, i will have your head.”
“how does one blink the wrong way? Please tell me, i am curious to know.” Panett said bravely, smiling slightly at his own joke.
Astria's friend drew his sword, gently placing it against the man’s throat. “would you really like the find out?”
The half-breed sighed, quickly becoming annoyed with their tedious pride. “that is enough, we have more than your petty squabbles of pride to worry about, now please; as my mother said, we must move. We are not safe here.”
Tuviel bobbed her head, “i have an idea where we can rest for the remainder of the day, we will move quicker and safer under the cover of night.”
“are you sure that is wise?” Asked dane, his misty eyes shrouded in something that none of them could understand. “these parts are filled with bandits, and they won't pass up the nice bounty that is on our heads.”
“would you much rather travel by daylight and be seen, or use the cover of night to try and get a head start on those that pursue us?” Panett asked him, seemingly knowledgeable of this type of situation, though the girl suspected that the reasoning behind his logic was that he spent over half a life time working for tarian, one of the biggest bandits around the dense wood that surrounded them.
“i would much rather you hold your tongue, i will not allow you to lead us into an ambush!” Dane snarled barbarically, striking the medical man with the butt of his sword.
Panett grunted in pain, stumbling back a few steps before he lifted his small dagger in defence, on causing the half-breeds barbarian friend to chuckle, he knew that he would not be defeated by a small thing of a man and a singular dagger, his laugh echoing through the large clearing.
“enough!” Atria shouted, moving to stand between them. “dane if you persist on trying to harm the man that saved my life when you couldn’t, i will have to release you from your oath. Is that what you want?!”
the barbarian sheathed his weapon once more, knowing that if he continued down this path, he would never get what he came for, he wouldn’t be able to return home with a woman by his side, a woman of great power. For now, he had no other choice but to be kind to Tuviel and panett, even though it was only temporary; it was all for a reason, a reason that perhaps made him the unseen evil, but he did not care, he knew what he wanted, and he would take it, should he be given the chance.
Dane shook his head, his tone low and stern. “no dear girl, that isn't at all what i want.” He finished with a smile, before continuing; indicating that they should get onto the horses that they stole. “you know that i wish to remain by your side, i wish to help you.”
“then why can you not trust my judgement? I have told you that panett saved my life, that i owe him, you of all people should understand that. It’s a matter of honour.” Astria sighed, quickly climbing onto the horse that she stole from tarian during her escape; the medical man by her side.
Tuviel nodded, seeming to agree with her daughter, something that seemed to be becoming quite regular, when a few weeks ago, they could barely see eye-to-eye. She jumped onto a brown stallion, quickly overpowering his will to struggle and taming him. He was used to the rough aspects of a deus, but that did not mean she would treat him as they did. She loved all creatures, well, that was; except for those that wished to kill her daughter.