I'm so sorry for not updating! My computer went on strike... But it's now fixed, so yay!
Anyway, happy reading.
Light fell across the floor, outlining the window, chasing the shadows into the corner of the world where they would wait for right moment to move and smother every thing in its path. Life is like that; darkness covers and completes you until you feel scared and useless, but once the sun rises in life it destroys any darkness.
My animal returned when the light hit the fireplace. He laid his body on Daran, who was behind me with his arms around my waist and his head between my shoulders, and placed his head on my hip. I gently touched his beak and wings.
Daran pulled me closer as he began to wake, I smiled and instantly felt guilty. I wasn't allowed to feel happy. Fare was the friend, or family, I have ever known to die.
"Good morning, Ashen." Sleep layered his tongue.
"Morning," I said as I pulled out of his grasp and sat up straight with the tips of my toes brushing the floor. "We need to leave within the hour." I muttered, I tried to leave as much emotion out of my voice as I could, but I failed.
Daran groaned softly and pulled me back onto the bed, and hugged me. Unwanted tears streamed my face; he whispered soft nothings into my ears as he kissed my tears away.
When my tears slowed, I looked up at him and laughed, "I should be doing this to you." I muttered burrowing my face deeper into his chest.
He shrugged and kissed my head, "We do need to get out of bed." I looked up at him, "We have about half the time we started with." He muttered, the corners of his lips turning up.
I kissed his lips with a hunger he only brought about.
(~*~)
We sold Fare's horse, I demanded that Daran keep the coins if anything to send back to his mother and sister so that they could get by. The sun was high in the sky when we set out from the village.
We stayed silent and moved quickly, when the sky touched the west ground we stopped and set up camp. We ate a light dinner of dried meat and some cheese.
The day had given me enough time to think about things. I now knew I needed to tell Daran my Grace, my real one. I could only hope that he would still want me after I told him. I, also, knew I needed to give Daran his and his fathers shares for the whole journey. I think he will disagree, but I will find a way to having him accept them. Or I will send the coins to his family.
I wondered if his family would hate me, I hate me. I feel as though if he didn't come on this journey with me then he wouldn't have died, he could have lived longer before he left this world.
I had to tell him who my parents are. I didn't want him to hate me, but I feel that once I share this news to him he will. I can only hope he doesn't hurt when he leaves, I would rather feel the pain for hurting him than him feeling betrayed by me for keeping the truth. I couldn't tell him now, or in the coming weeks because the pain from his father's death would be too fresh, I would only cut the wound deeper.
Should I let him go before I hurt him? He doesn't deserve the pain that my lies and lineage would give him. No, I need him too much.
"Ashen," He mutters as he pulls me closer, "Go to sleep, you need your rest. Everything will be alright." He whispers and closed is eyes.
"I hope you're right." I whisper and close my eyes, sleep soon follows.
(~*~)
We move from our campsite before the sun has a chance to grace us with his presence every morning. When we reach the docks that will take us to Lienid, my hair has grown two inches and Daran has a slight fur across his face. We were to meet with Captain Faun, a family friend who has smuggled mother, father and I in and out of Lienid many times.
We go to the pub near the docks where many Captains and sailors spends nights and rest for a night. I leave my bird outside the pub to watch for danger or to see if she arrives.
The man operating the pub looks much older than the last time I had seen him, then again the last time I saw him I was very young.
I walk up to him, he watches me move up to him. Daran stayed near the door and watched me from afar.
"I haven't see those eyes in years. How have you been, Darlin'?" He asks, I smile.
"I've been doing good. How about yourself?" I reply, trying to keep on his good side.
"I've been pretty good myself. Saw your ma and pop not long ago." I nodded as he refilled a beer for a drunk sailor.
"Yes, I'm headed the same way, I was wondering when Captain Faun was scheduled to dock." He nodded and moved to a small chart behind him. His gruff hands flipped through the mud colored papers.
He turned back to me, "You in luck, Ma'am. She's scheduled to leave out in two days headed straight to Lienid then back here." I nodded and smiled, handing him a small gold piece for his troubles, I made my way back to Daran and to the docks.
"She's docked now." I said smiling, Daran kissed my cheek.
"That's quite lucky." He muttered, I nodded.
There were more than two dozen ships in the ports. The night sky and the barren ships did not help us in finding a familiar face, or ship. A hundred yards into the ships, I hadn't seen one familiar thing.
"Oi!" I looked to my right, as did Daran, from where the voice had come from. A young man, maybe ten years my senior, stood on the edge of his boat. "Can I help you with something? We need no thefts or murders tonight." I smiled, his voice was slightly familiar.
"We are no thieves or killers." I laughed, "I'm seeking Captain Faun. Do you know where she is?" I asked the man.
"So, you're Ashen?" He asked laughing. I replied a yes, "You're a little late. Katsa was beginning to get worried."
"I know, we ran into some trouble." I muttered. After Fare's death, we had a few cases of illness and injuries, or days when we felt like we didn't to move.
"Alright, come aboard. I'll take you to your quarters for your time on the boat." He stopped and looked at the both of us, "I thought there was another traveler." He said, I looked at Daran with sadness.
"He died on the journey." I muttered.
The man nodded, "I'm sorry to hear. Well, the Captian should be back before morning, so between now and then if you need anything let me know. I'm Jem." I smiled, I recognized his name. I shook his hand, as did Daran.
He led us below deck into the sailor rooms, the beds were decent enough. Better than the floor, Daran had put it.
I climbed in as I heard a squawk and a yell from above deck.
I whistled loudly, soon a black streak came down the stairs and landed on my cot with a little thud. A rather large man came down the stairs after my animal cursing.
Before the man could search for him, I yelled to him, "He is my grace. I am sorry he disturbed you." The man looked at me and his eyes became rather large.
"It's quiet alright ma'am. But, I ask in the future to keep the beast away from me." He said, I smiled and nodded. He left the room muttering about "looking exactly like her." and "how do they expect her to travel."
Daran looked at me, obviously hearing what the man had to say as he took his leave. "What do you think that meant?" He asked as he leaned his head back.
"I haven't a clue." I muttered as I ruffled my birds wings. "Don't do that again." I muttered to him before I smiled at Daran.
"Sleep peacefully, Ashen." He said before he rolled over to the wall.
"Sleep well, Daran." I mutter as I rolled in the opposite direction.
I frowned slightly as I realized, this would be the first time since Fare's death that I have slept without Daran's touch.
Please don't hate me for skipping so much stuff. Really nothing was going to happen between the beginning and the end of this chapter. The major stuff will be mentioned in later chapters...
But please leave me a review and let me know what you think about this chapter, even if you hate it. I mean it, I do not care if you say it sucks. (And yes, I have recieved reviews like that before.)
Well, thanks for reading!
Until next time!
-HornTippedHalo
