I apologize for the huge delay with my updating. I have been very busy with college apps and such and have barely had any time to even sleep. But now I have finally gotten back onto writing so the chapters will be coming along faster. Sorry this one isn't as long. Hope you guys like it! :
IV
QUESTIONS
Cadvan had now lost count of how long they had been walking. It was at least an hour over sunrise though, and he could see that Maerad was exhausted. Her eyes would droop from time to time and she had caught herself from stumbling upon the jagged rocks that littered the road several times now.
Finally, Cadvan glimpsed what he was searching for, Irihel. He slowly increased his pace, eager to be within its safe encompassing boundaries. He explained what it was to Maerad as they came to a stop within the little grove of white-barked trees. He sat down, throwing his pack down unceremoniously, and stretched his legs. He withheld his grimace at the pain in his frozen bones, the stretching doing nothing to thaw them out.
"We are not permitted to make fire here," he explained to Maerad and also reminding himself of the fact. "More's the pity. My bones are frozen."
He watched as Maerad cautiously sat down next to him, keeping a safe distance away. She seemed to be on her guard, wary for something that Cadvan did not know. He frowned internally at the wounds she must have received from working at that wretched place. He remembered the filth that was around everything and everyone and realized that Maerad probably would like to wash up.
Recalling from his last visit to this small shelter on one of his earlier missions, he told her of a stream nearby if she so wished to wash.
"I'll show you, and leave you there briefly," he offered. "You will be within call, should you need me. If you are unable to call, shout my name in your head. I will hear you." Cadvan then left, although for some reason he could not place, he felt as if he was walking against some force, as if he shouldn't be leaving. Maerad was left alone with no protection.
He shook his head. Nothing could harm her out here except for wild animals and those were easily dealt with.
He reached out and removed Maerad's small bundle from his pack, curious to its contents. The shape was familiar within his hands, but he refrained from searching. He placed a blanket and some food out, ready for Maerad's arrival. He felt guilty for not being to offer her more sustaining nourishment. The Light knows how little she had received.
It was not long before she returned. "Eat," Cadvan told her. "I'll be back soon." This time, he left to scour the surroundings, just to make sure that there was nothing of the Dark trailing them. Now that he had brought Maerad into his dangers, he would try his best to keep her from suffering what he had already. She was very weak, so vulnerable, yet more powerful than any Bard Cadvan had met.
His thoughts began to wander to who she might be exactly. She was the daughter of Milana, one of the greatest. Had Milana known of Maerad's extraordinary abilities? He brought to mind his last visit to Pellinor. Maerad had peeked at him from behind her mother's dress, too shy to speak with him. Cadvan had not seen anything unusual then, although he had not been looking carefully. Considering with how vivid her Gift was now, Cadvan knew, that someone must have known something. Could she have possibly been the reason for the sacking? Cadvan briefly contemplated this question. It was possible. No one had seen the fall of Pellinor coming. It was a great shock to all, that such a powerful haven of the Light was assailed with such a force. Yes, there was more of a purpose than simply just bringing down the school. Someone had known something, and it might have been with Maerad.
Oh how he wished he had paid more attention now at his last visit. Perhaps then more things could be explained. He decided that for now, they would travel to Innail and he would seek the counsel of Oron on the matter as well. If she did prove to be nothing special, which Cadvan now highly doubted, he could leave her with Silvia. If not, well then he would bring her to Nelac. He had more knowledge in the ancient Lore. He would know who exactly she was.
He had returned to the
dingle by now and saw Maerad asleep on the ground, the blanket
wrapped around her. She was cradling a lyre, the object within her
bundle. This confirmed the fact that she was more than she knew. And
perhaps he had been thrown more into danger by bringing her along.
He sighed and ate some of the biscuit. There were too many
questions and he did not like it. The only option he could see right
now was to scry her. This seemed harsh, but Cadvan needed to know her
perspective of the sacking, and he needed to at least see Milana's
face in her past.
He wrapped his cloak about him and slept, pushing the questions to the back of his mind for now.
