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Interlude 6: Separate Ways
"Are you alright?" Rei asked, helping Sara to stand.
"Yes, I'll be alright..." The troubadour nodded, looking around slightly groggily. "What happened..?"
"Assassins. One of them hit you with a sleep spell, I think. Wallace is chasing them down. We're okay now."
"That's good... I'm sorry. I'm so useless..." Sara grimaced. "I've been on the road with you for nearly a year now, and... I can't help but feel I'm holding you back."
"You're not. You've saved me a couple of times, haven't you? I wouldn't have survived that wound in Badon without your magic." Rei reminded her.
"I guess... but... I don't... Please, don't be disappointed in me, but... I can't keep up with this life. I guess I just don't have what it takes..." Sara didn't look at her, just staring at the floor.
"If you want to go back to Caelin, that's fine. You're a good friend, Lady Sara, but I've noticed it too. You're wilting out here. I'm happy and flattered that you thought it was important enough for you to keep forcing yourself to come all this way, but I won't hold it against you if you leave... we're not far from Caelin now, you could probably make it back in under a week."
"Thank you, Rei... I'm sorry. I'll stay until Wallace gets back, though..." Sara smiled, and Rei nodded.
"It's nearly dark. If he's not back by morning, you should leave anyway. Without him around, you'll just be in danger if you stay with me anyway."
"Until the morning then..." Sara nodded. "How about we make camp up there?" She asked, pointing to the edge of a nearby wood.
"No, that's no good. Further down that way, there's a stream." Rei smiled, indicating and almost managing to keep the teasing from her voice.