— Chapter Eight —
On the Run
Valanandir struggled with the pain of his injuries. He followed in Iadrawyn’s wake as she led him through the forest. As she had predicted, the light faded as time wore on. Eventually, it was safe to remove their blindfolds. They spoke seldom as they walked through the ancient trees that were now in full foliage, with broad, green leaves.
They followed no clear path, but weaved between the trees in an easterly direction. Iadrawyn left often to backtrack and lay false trails for their pursuers to follow. When she returned, she led Valanandir onward as quickly as he could follow, trying to make good time while there was still light. Valanandir stumbled along behind her, his injuries throbbing.
His face was painfully swollen from Eruvalion’s vicious attack, and his chest and abdomen were mottled with bruises. His left ankle was tender, making him grimace in pain with every step. The only thing that kept him going was Iadrawyn’s presence. She had sacrificed everything to help him escape after knowing him for only a few days. He didn’t want to let her down. If he had run away on his own, he would have long since collapsed in defeat.
When Iadrawyn slowed her brisk pace, he nearly wept with relief. She began looking around for something. Curious, he followed her movements, but could see nothing unusual. Finally, she seemed to spot what she was looking for.
“Over here,” she said. They were the first words either of them had spoken for the last few hours. She led him toward one of the ancient trees. Its trunk was enormous. It was surrounded by low bushes. Iadrawyn pushed one aside to reveal a hollow in the tree’s base. Drawing her knife, she crouched and went inside. After a few moments, she emerged looking satisfied.
“This is one of my shelters. I almost missed it. These bushes didn’t have leaves before, but they will help protect us now. I was afraid an animal might have taken it for shelter, but it is undisturbed. We will rest here for the night.” She gestured for him to enter.
Valanandir crouched and walked through the dark entrance. It took a few moments for his eyes to adjust. It was large enough for two people to fit somewhat comfortably. There was a wrapped bundle leaning against the inner wall of the tree. Valanandir took a closer look. It was basic survival gear, presumably left by Iadrawyn. He admired her forethought.
Iadrawyn’s face appeared in the opening. “Make yourself comfortable, but please do not make a fire. This shelter isn’t made for it, and we will need to keep a cold camp if we want to avoid being found. I will be back soon.” With that, she disappeared, leaving him on his own.
Valanandir unpacked his bedroll and blankets, making himself comfortable in one half of the shelter. He groaned as he settled on the ground, leaning his back against the inside of the trunk. He pulled off his left boot with a hiss. The ankle was definitely swollen. It felt good to have it out of his cracked, water-damaged boot. He took a deep breath and tried to relax.
It was almost completely dark inside the tree, but it was dry and warm. The bushes outside created a natural windbreak. Other than its small size, it was the perfect shelter. If Iadrawyn hadn’t pointed it out, he would have never known it was there. He pulled some berries and dried meat from his pack and allowed his thoughts to wander as he ate, washing them down with water from his waterskin.
Outside, the light was beginning to fade, becoming a strange, fiery color before fading to the familiar velvet darkness. What had happened to create such a phenomenon? According to Iadrawyn, the light would reappear in several hours’ time. Valanandir could understand why her people were afraid. He knew his own tribe was probably experiencing the same fear of the unknown, as were all the creatures of Ralvaniar. He didn’t know what the source of the strange light could be, but he found it unlikely anyone was the deliberate cause behind it. What would be the purpose? It was a mystery. One that he and Iadrawyn would try to solve.
The adventurer in him was excited by the prospect. He was selfishly glad she had come with him. Not only did he enjoy her presence, but he knew he wouldn’t survive long on the mainland without her. They had some sort of connection he couldn’t explain. He knew she must sense it too. She could have easily left him behind, or suggested they go separate ways after freeing him. His thoughts formed an unbidden echo of Eruvalion’s words: They belonged together. Valanandir shuddered at the intensity of his realization and tried to push it away.
He was startled from his thoughts by the sudden reappearance of Iadrawyn in the entrance of the shelter. His eyes pierced the darkness to scrutinize her expression. She appeared tired, but calm.
“I have cleared the area of any traces of our passing and laid false trails elsewhere. The village will send trackers after us. I have long thought myself the best tracker in my tribe. Now we will see.” She unslung her pack from her shoulder and began to set up her half of the shelter.
“Did you find signs of anyone following us?”
“No. I don’t think anyone from my village would travel during the light hours. They will have discovered our disappearance by now though. It won’t take long for them to organize search parties. They will use the dark hours for tracking. We will need to sleep in shifts.” She pulled some food and water from her pack and settled across from him. Their knees were almost touching in the small space.
“You think there’s a chance they might find us?” Valanandir’s heart gave a leap of fear at the prospect. During his captivity, he had protested his innocence. The Wood Elves hadn’t believed him to begin with, and fleeing wouldn’t help his case if they were caught.
“No, but I would rather err on the side of caution. If they are clever, they will know I can disappear in the woods easily, and will use organized search parties in addition to trackers. They might stumble on our hiding place if they are persistent.” Iadrawyn’s voice was calm, but her words alarmed him.
“What will they do if they capture us?”
“My brother thought there was a chance my people would have killed you once they worked up the courage to do it. I am not so sure. No elf has ever killed another. It is taboo. But they could still find a way for someone else to do their dirty work if they were convinced we are truly evil. The drakhal emissary made an impression on them. My guess is they would hand us over to him. It is possible that even now they are requesting his help in their search.” Iadrawyn shuddered at the thought.
Valanandir had never seen a drakhal up close before, having only attacked them from a safe distance at sea, but he had heard the stories. Now one might be hunting them. He felt a chill go through him at the thought and winced as a fresh stab of pain shot up from his ankle.
“Your ankle is hurt? Why didn’t you tell me?” Iadrawyn was already unpacking her medical supplies.
“It only seemed a little tender when we left the village. I didn’t know how bad it was.”“If you are injured, I need to know,” she said as she gently rubbed some herbs onto the skin around his ankle before binding it. Whatever the herbs were, they felt cool and tingly. “We need to be able to rely on each other, which means being aware of all our strengths and weaknesses.”
“I’m sorry,” Valanandir said, chagrined. “It won’t happen again.”
“Good.” Iadrawyn sat back on her heels. “I should have noticed you were injured, but I was too wrapped up in what I was doing. I am not used to traveling with others. I will try to pay more attention. Now try to get some rest. I will take the first watch.” Packing her supplies, she leaned against the trunk.
Valanandir didn’t argue, knowing it would be foolish to do so. He curled up under his blanket, lying so he was facing Iadrawyn. It felt comforting to go to sleep knowing she was within arm’s length. All his cuts and bruises stung and ached, but he was so exhausted from his ordeal that it wasn’t long before sleep claimed him. The last thing he saw before closing his eyes was Iadrawyn’s still form in the darkness.