Chapter four
Rin
So peaceful. I think I'll stay here for a while. She thinks. The breeze is just so nice and the trees, so soothing. I feel no harassment. Have the trees gone back to hating me?
"Rin?" a heavy voice asks. Maybe the trees still like her. A man stands on our roots. A man holds you our lady.
"Rinna? Come back to me." The voice is distinctly male, laced with a thick Kellish accent.
"Scandlan." She groans, rolling on her side, in pain. He reaches under her warm small body, holding her to his chest.
"Shh." He says rocking her as she breaks out in sobs. "I am here now, little speaker." He sooths as he strokes her hair. "You are safe. The wind blows strong and the tree next to them groans. Rin shudders and Scandlan tightens his hold on her, as he pulls her into a cradle in his arms. He walks with her to his horse and comes up short. He looks down. Tree roots are spun around Rin's ankles. The tree that they're connected to groans again. Rin lets out a painful sob.
"Make it go away." She murmurs. "MAKE IT GO AWAY!" Then he realizes. The trees are hounding her the same way, the wind did Isi, and the water did to Dasha, and the fire did to Enna. She needs to learn how to balance them.
"Shh. Shh." He soothes. "It will be over soon. I'll make it go away." He lays his lips gently on his forehead. The second they make contact, Scandlan sees everything. Everything Rin can see. Not see, but feel. He feels the delicate network of roots beneath the ground. He feels which one is holding Rin. He moves to the side, lips still against her skin, and stomps hard. The roots instantly retreat into the ground. He holds her tighter to his chest, and moves quickly to his horse. He jumps on and holds Rin as still as possible, cradled in his lap.