* * * * *
The moment the story had been relayed, both Elryia and Samsun wore the very look that Grahamas had during the telling. “You’re right Graham, we have to help him,” Elryia whispered.
“Aye,” Sam agreed, “What do we need to do?”
Grahamas’ face soured as he sighed, “Return to Kaldus. Or at least make our way there.”
Both of them nodded in agreement before Elryia turned towards her sleeping comrades, “And them?”
Graham looked as well, then chewed on his bottom lip for a moment. “It should not be long, a day—perhaps only half. I think it best if they remain in Sharia for the time being, safe inside its borders.”
Elryia nodded, “I will go wake Lanyan up, and maybe Gort. He loves the morning.” She grinned and giggled slightly, turning around on her heels and walking towards the group with a slight bounce in her step. No longer in shock from Graham’s visit and now having a beginning resolution for Rhimaldez, Elryia’s thoughts were once again her own. And they immediately went to what Samsun had said earlier about Grahamas in love. She stopped in her tracks, mind tumbling, heart reacting and pulsing in her chest. Was it true? How would he act now? How would she? Should she say anything? Would…
“Elryia? You well?” Graham asked, noticing her sudden stop.
She stiffened and continued to face forward, “Fine, yes. Just thinking.”
“Aye. Then Sam and I will wait here.”
Elryia took a very deep breath and then hurried towards Lanyan, who was sleeping close to the trees. She pushed her hand to his shoulder and shook lightly, “Lan…wake up.”
His eyes shot open and he sat up slightly, “What is it? Danger?”
“No. Shh… Everything is fine. We need to talk though.” He nodded slowly and blinked heavily. “I’ll give you a few minutes,” she said and stood, pushing a few feet back towards Grahamas and Samsun.
“El?” came a voice from behind her moments later.
She turned to see Lanyan, dressed and ready. For a moment, she was not sure what to say so she stepped close, resting her hand on his shoulder, Grahamas needs my help…” Her gaze turned back for a moment to look at the two, who were obviously discussing something, “He needs our help.”
“What would you like me to do?”
Elryia smiled and removed her hand, a serious tone in her voice, “We won’t be long. I want you to stay here…in Sharia, and watch over everyone, make sure that they stay safe.”
Lanyan looked skeptical for a moment, immediately his thoughts returned to his bow, and then that he lacked one. “El, I don’t know if I’m the one…”
Again, Elryia pushed her hand to his shoulder, her gaze locking on his and mirroring her serious tone, “Lanyan, you’re ready. You can do this. As long as you’re within Sharia, you’ll be safe. Aye?”
Although he still looked uncertain, he nodded, “As long as you don’t need me to come with you?”
Elryia’s face quirked as that was one question she didn’t have the answer to, so she looked back towards Grahamas searching for one. He winked at first, and then approached as he read the look on her face.
“Would it be easier with Lanyan, Grahamas?”
Graham shook his head slowly and turned his eyes to the Elf, “From what Elryia has told me, your help would be monumental. But I need to know that everyone else is safe and you’re the only one I trust to give me that faith.” Lanyan obliged as Graham held out his hand, the Elf shaking it briefly. “Be safe Lan. El, when you’re ready,” he drug his fingers down her arm as he walked away.
“You talk about me?” Lanyan chuckled, drawing a blinking, distracted Elryia back to the real world.
She scowled playfully and ignored the question, hugging him gently, “Truly Lanyan, be safe.”
“You as well,” he hugged back before they both turned to go their separate ways.
“Set?” Grahamas asked, a slight grin on his face as Elryia approached.
“Set,” she replied, moving to untie her horse, Sam already on his.
Graham nodded, then walked back to Feiron, rubbing the side of the horse’s face—thankful that he seemed to be rested. Elryia rode up, Samsun behind her, as Grahamas turned his steed towards Kaldus. “I know not how far they are, so keep your eyes open,” he suggested as he pushed forward a few steps and took a deep breath. “Let’s hurry!” With that he charged, Elryia and Sam following his lead.
Very little was said for the first few miles of travel, Samsun with the bulkier horse always remained a bit behind the others. Elryia and Graham were riding side by side and amidst the pounding hooves, they would have had several opportunities to talk, but Elryia held back—still timid from what Samsun had told her. Even though her mind was whirling, her voice remained dormant. She suddenly had so much revealed to her that it all was overwhelming. All along, at least for the past few years, she had her feelings and hopes about his emotions towards her—but it was never obvious. Now everything was in the light. She didn’t have to drown out her sentiments with fear that they would not be returned. No longer felt the need to hold herself back with “maybe.” She loved him, and now she knew that he loved her. Only she wasn’t sure where to start or what to say, so instead she said nothing.
Grahamas kept his vision forward, despite the over-whelming desire to turn to the left. A glint caught the corner of his eye, forcing him to finally give in and turn his gaze towards her; he saw a tiny pendant around Elryia’s neck, bounding about within the ties of her shirt. Grahamas could only smile. “El, I…”he said, turning back to face her, “Lo…” but he stopped both his mouth and his horse abruptly, eyes wavering as his head turned up.
Elryia came to a halt as well, her face reflecting her confusion. “What is it?”
“Footprints. A few of them,” he said as he jumped off of his horse and knelt on the ground to look at them closer. Back and forth his gaze turned, trying to gauge exactly how many there were and where they headed. Before him the road split, the left side turned south and the right went wide to the west. Graham surveyed one last time at the footprints: they disappeared far off into the horizon, where the sun teetered.
Roane.
Grahamas straightened up as he leapt back onto his horse. Samsun approached drawing the Champion’s attention. “They’re headed towards Roane, not Kaldus.”
Sam’s stared, “That’s good?” he asked, noticing Grahamas’ mood had perked up slightly.
“Aye,” he replied thinking that the chances to catch Rhimaldez had now increased exponentially. His captors were obviously traveling on foot, which meant on horseback the three could close the gap with little effort. Roane itself was more dangerous than Kaldus, and much more populated, but it was also much further. It could become a drastic issue getting Rhimaldez out of the city—if they made it. Grahamas hastened his steps, hoping he could get to them before that.