Chapter 41
Brecilian Outskirts
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It was dark, gloomy. Nothing dared to move, nothing could be heard. Noah was feeling light, free of those heavy emotions that for hours, had prevented him from sleeping that night. He slowly opened his eyes, but didn't want to get up. Content to do nothing, he didn't want to question anything. He didn't care to know where he was, if he was alive or dead, asleep or delirious, or why on earth there was a giant bird right before his eyes, staring patiently at him. He didn't want to ask - he was too tired to sketch any reaction, too tired to care about anything at all.
He was exhausted and decided to stay down, waiting for something to happen. What he specifically wanted that to be, he didn't know.
If the creature weren't so completely bizarre and frightening, it would have been a very beautiful image of a rugged and serene bird standing quietly near him, whose orange and red feathers glittered in the gloom like the stars in the sky. They created a a golden glow that seemed warm in the presence of such darkness, like the one which surrounded them.
"You look comfortable," the bird said without moving his beak, facing the human before him with a calm curiosity. "It hurts me to ask you this, but I 'd rather talk to you while you're standing, if possible."
Noah 's eyes widened. "You can talk ... "
"Indeed." The bird bowed his head, the long, blood-red feathers from the top of his head bobbing majestically with the movement. The mystic creature stared at Noah with careful contemplation, his big golden eyes studying the human's every movement as he stood.
Noah, on the other hand, couldn't say that he shared the same excitement - the human just sat up slowly in lazy leisure, while trying to recognize by touch where exactly he was.
"... Are you a demon?" Noah asked defensively, unconsciously searching for his sword.
The bird seemed to think a bit before answering. "According to your limited human conception... Yes, I could be called that."
According to human conception... It sounded strangely contradictory, and at the same time, so true.
Noah's eyes narrowed, his mistrust building as his awareness strengthened. "And in a more general concept?"
"In that case," the bird said, and cocked his head, as if he was very proud of his next few words. "You can think of me as a spirit of the Fade."
"And what's the difference?" Noah asked, feeling strangely vulnerable. After all, he was unarmed in an unfamiliar place, before a creature so menacing and yet so strangely peaceful that it was driving him crazy.
It was not like he was in an advantageous position.
"It's an interesting question, because from certain perspectives, both can be considered the same." The bird calmly took a deep breath, shaking his feathers like a canary would to relieve tension, except for the fact that he was not at all tense. It seemed more like a tic than a physiological need. "I merely exist in this timeless land, whose beginning and end I do not know, as an entity detached from ambition. I do not seek possession, power or privilege - only the strengthening and maintenance of the forces and beings that exist under my domain."
The spirit's answer was insufficient and did not seem to convince Noah. He knew very well that no creature of the Fade could be trusted, no matter how friendly they seemed to be. "How do I know if you're telling the truth?"
The bird looked him in the eyes, staring intensely, deeply exploring Noah's reactions. It was difficult for the warrior to sustain his gaze - that pair of bright, deep yellow eyes - and at the same time, it was impossible to deflect.
Fascination and terror equally ruled the domain of Noah's heart. Yet what could he do but listen to what the bird had to say?
He had no choice.
"I expected that, at this point, you might be able to discern that for yourself." The bird extended his long wings, exposing tongues of small flames at the tips of his feathers. Sparks flew into the darkness with such brilliance, it hurt Noah's eyes just as if he were staring into the heart of the sun itself. Golden threads floated in the air, while the mild heat emanating from the spirit's body gently touched the warrior's cheeks.
It was comfortable, and not threatening.
The feeling that the mysterious bird radiated was a kind, pure - both light and fire at the same time. Harder than trying to describe the amazing sensation that overwhelmed him, was to find a proper explanation for why he felt so strangely familiar in the presence of this entity, which had already visited him once, a while ago.
"You were here before," Noah said in awe, recalling his strange nightmare of a large abyss and the chains that had pulled him into the heart of the darkness. "In my dream with the dragon. You became the sun, and revealed the abyss before I could be swallowed." While Noah spoke, the bird just comfortably closed his wings and lowered his head, studying his words. "Why?"
"The Archdemon," The spirit said, his throat making a shaking sound of disgust, as if reacting to the name he had just spoken. "An Old God, a powerful, constant force asleep in the deepest core of the earth that, once corrupted by the impure, became the living embodiment of chaos and terror, whose conscience no longer remembers the true nature that previously guided its ways." He pondered, his big golden eyes lost in the distant past." Your question, however, is two-pronged. To which should I respond?"
"Both," Noah said without conviction, still unsure if it was wise to continue the conversation. "I think."
"If I extinguished the darkness of the abyss of death once, why is this place still dark?" The spirit paused, as if giving himself time to find an answer. "Dreams,nightmares - the Fade is, as a rule - an inconstant place. Extremely variable, and as such, oddly manipulated." He shook his head this time, as if to get rid of a troublesome drop of rain that had fallen on his beak. "This environment is extremely sensitive, and directly proportional to the state of mind of the dreamer."
Noah thought it strange the way he spoke. Not the enigmatic way he used the words, but how he spoke them. It was a serene, calm tone that inspired confidence even when everything around him incited fear and mistrust.
It seemed that his voice had some kind of magic power, that penetrated Noah's defenses and touched him directly in the heart, causing the words to become truth, even when the rest of his body begged to deny it.
"The darkness of your mind reflects the image of your dreams. The darkness of your heart, creates the abyss," the Bird continued slowly, pausing for Noah to absorb his words. "The more fragile the spirit of the dreamer, the weaker the invisible wall that protects your nook becomes, This, of course, makes your dreams more susceptible to external influences."
"Such as the Archdemon's..." Noah whispered, almost as if it finally all made sense. But still, he was not mage. How could a demon, or spirit, or whatever that bird-like thing was, have reached him so easily? And why exactly did he feel as if he were awake, when he had no magical powers at all? This should feel no more real than any other dream - but it did.
"Precisely." The bird shifted, flapping his wings twice before continuing. "As for your second question - I saved you from the abyss, Noah Cousland, because your existence has a unique purpose." Again, the bird paused strategicly, to ensure the human's comprehension. "Perhaps a bit selfish on my part, considering that your life is your own and I am not the maker of your destiny - yet I assure you my intentions were good."
"Purpose?" Noah stood up, confused. The idea of some purpose on his life that he did not choose himself stirred his anger again. His life held no purpose anymore, and he did not want anything to replace what was stolen from him. Nothing could ever take the place of everything he'd lost. "What do you mean?"
"Empiricism remains the most efficient form of knowledge." The bird released another roar from his throat, but this time it was a fun sound, like an unofficial chuckle. "Having someone instruct you to discard parts of your armor to gain movement at the expense of your protection would sound ridiculous - if it had not been a predominant factor in your failure to save your sister in that accident." Noah listened with attention, and he'd rather the bird would have hit him with his long, strong wings instead of being reminded of that. "If I tell you what to do, you will only ignore me. Instead I will wait patiently for you to discover your purpose yourself, and judge its importance accordingly."
"Who are you?" Noah asked, astonished, and retreated two steps back defensively. What else did this creature know that it could use against him? No one had ever been able to penetrate his very soul in such a way. "What exactly are you?"
"I have many names, but do not claim any of them as my own." The bird closed his eyes, increasing the flames that burned on the surface of is feathers. "I have no inherent form, only the one that circumstance deems necessary." When his eyes opened again, only the fervor of compassion shone, with no hesitation or villainy. "Your mind projects me in the form of a bird - the phoenix, a symbol of rebirth and renewal. It's exactly what your mind needs, and for what your heart yearns." He unfolded his majestic wings again, as if embracing the immensity of the world for himself. I cannot do this for you - the rebirth of your very soul - without violating your free will as demons are wont to do. Choose suffering, or choose to overcome suffering. That choice is yours alone."
"Wait ... " Noah called, but the bird was decided - He jumped into the night, beating his wings intensely, ignoring the human completely. Frustrated, Noah took a few stumbling steps forward, as if to follow the bird into the sky.
The spirit had considered everything he'd said, and concluded that it was enough for now.
Noah would have to find his own way to emerge from the darkness of his heart.
"You cannot be sucked to the depths of despair, Noah Cousland." His figure slowly grew hazy, before turning into a massive energy ball where only his silhouette revealed his previous form. "There shall be no Darkness in the domains of Light ..."
With these last words, the bird cut the air in a orange flash and crashed into the pitch black, transforming into a gorgeous, blazing sun, just like he had done at their last meeting, illuminating the human's surroundings completely.
It was the same place where he'd been the last time - the flowery fields, broken chains and the abyss at the end, all the same. But instead of beautiful scenery, the sky was yellow, cold. The vegetation was dry and the flowers, dead. There was no life here, just dry trees reminiscent of a distant past, where it had once been the perfect place for a pleasant dream.
Not today, though.
And contemplating this truth, the scene around him disappeared as he regained consciousness, while the dried petals of the rose in his hand shattered the air upon being caressed by the wind...
Kallian
"Thank you for everything you have done for us, Wardens," Elzer said, bowing slightly. He, along with his sister and another group of Templars and guards, were one of the last groups to leave us in the morning. "Wesley, don't be a jerk, they saved our lives ..." She poked the ribs of the tall templar beside her tightly.
"Thank you," he replied through gritted teeth, visibly annoyed, glaring at Morrigan. And there was a Templar who seemed to love his job, wanting to kill the mage that helped to save his ass. His words were polite and soft, but the intention in his eyes was very clear.
Incidentally, Morrigan was better. Her arm was still bandaged, but after a long night of resting, Bethany was able to restore the fractured bone almost entirely.
"We will spread the word," Natasha said, smiling. "We will tell everyone about what the Grey Wardens did for Lothering, and for us." She reached out to me. "Ferelden will know the truth."
"Thank you." I replied as earnestly as my limited stock of energy allowed. "What will you do now?"
"Redcliff," Martin said, handing a small package to each of us. "There's an extra for you inside. I think it suits you well." He winked upon placing tha large sack in my hands." Most of us live either in Denerim or in Redcliff , so we decided to stay together for now."
"Martin will host us for a while, since our house was destroyed," Elzer completed, turning to Noah. Not that he had been a well of sympathy, shaking the hands of a Templar, but at least he was not rude. "Goodbye, my friends. May the Maker protect and guide you through your difficult journey."
"May he watch over you, as well," Alistair said in farewell, raising his fist to his chest.
With a final wave, they took a few steps back, before turning their back to us and making their way north. Honestly, I hoped that they would get there safely. They were skilled people ... Surely they would make it.
As I watched their goodbyes, I stifled at least three yawns. Well, I was awake for nearly thirty-six hours, without counting the sleepless nights and nightmares that had kept me more conscious than unconscious throughout the last week.
I felt a generalized fatigue spreading through my body with every step, and was aware that my exhaustion was plastered on my face as if it had been painted with Dalish ink. Mahariel was already glancing me warning looks, and Alistair had made several comments about my dark circles, so it was only a matter of time before someone hit me on the my head to force me to rest.
But I didn''t want to sleep, not when I knew the lion was nearby. Okay, he was always nearby, but never before had he tried to bring down the ceiling on my head. At least, not while I was still awake.
I could feel that he was waiting for me, and I was willing to stay awake for the rest of my life if needed, just to avoid that fateful encounter.
"You didn't take the medicine I gave you," Mahariel said, but it took more than a few minutes to realize that it was not a question.
"I saw you sedating Leliana," I said, crossing my arms. She was standing near me, looking nonchalantly at the contents of her package. "The thought was well meant, but I was fine. You all needed to sleep more than me, and I still had some energy left."
"What disturbs your night?" she asked me directly, and though I kept my neutral expression on the outside, deep inside I choked. "There are no simple ghosts or memories. Your denial of last night was not normal. No one under the same conditions would have the desire or strength to resist that way."
I tried to shrug. "I said I was - "
"No, you were not agitated." She spoke firmly, as a healer does to impose the respect needed to get the truth from the patient.
"It's the truth," I complained, but was cut off again.
"Kallian." She pronounced each syllable of my name with emphasis, slowly, making it clear that she wanted the truth she knew I was hiding, but that I was not willing to give. So, when Carver and Lenna approached us, I was more than relieved to be interrupted.
"Are we interrupting?" May your God bless you, Carver. May your God bless you...
"No, not at all. What's the matter?" I conceded, watching Mahariel moving away from the corner of my eye, telling me quietly that this conversation was not over.
"We have decided to leave Ferelden," Carven said, with a kind of silly smile on his face. I wondered why…. "Our best option would be the port of Gwaren, at the eastern end of the Brecilian, so I kind of wanted to know if we could stay with you for a while, until our paths diverge at least."
While Carver spoke, his sister just looked at me with that same glimpse of distrust still hid in her dark blue eyes. Before I could give them my answer, however, she decided to add something to the discussion, "I'll cooperate, Warden, if that's your question." She crossed her arms." We are not asking for favors, we are offering a temporary alliance."
"Lenna... " Carver growled through gritted teeth, elbowing her sister in her ribs. "We already talked about it," he added, but his sister remained with that "I don't give a damn" expression on her face, without taking her eyes off me. Definitely, Carver had not the last word in these kind of discussions.
"As long as you can keep your sister on a leash, Carver, I see no problem with that." The mage clenched her fists with such force that I was pretty sure she had cut her own palms. A massive ball of energy was focused on her fists, and I already could see small sparks in the air near her fingers, but she did nothing. " I don't want to have someone threatening me, or anyone else in my group again. Are we clear?"
"I won't strike first if you do not," Lenna said, still through clenched teeth. She was angry, but also had sincerity in her eyes, and while we fought this silent, particular conflict, Carver became increasingly restless, and his face looked like he was unsure whether to be relieved at my permission or worried that we would start a war we both were eager to fight. "But if you keep insulting me, I'll rip your tongue out."
I giggled, and both threw me confused looks. "I like your eyes, Hawke."
"I just said that I'll rip your tongue out and you tell me you like my eyes?" Lenna asked, visibly angry. But it was true, there was no provocation in my words - it was hard, very hard to find someone whose look was compatible with her words in this world full of masks and corruption. She wanted to kill me, that was clear, but at least she was being honest.
I shrugged, "Sincerity is easily underestimated." I stepped forward, putting me so close to her that our faces were almost glued to each other." But do not confuse things - I'll still kill you if I think you are a threat."
"Maker ..!" Carver said, pulling his sister by her elbow. She soon broke away from him and threw her hands up, in a clear sign of "To the Void with it ", to put it lightly, before returning to the other Hawkes.
"Don't stress over it, Carver," I said, after noticing him pulling his hair back in a gesture of frustration." She is not the type of person you can control."
"Of course," It was his turn to throw his hands up. "Leave her on the loose, great suggestion. Almost as clever as my father's idea to give her a sword for her name day." He pulled all the strands of hair back before throwing his hands in the air once more. "Obviously, a moody mage alone is not dangerous enough - teach her how to use a sword as well ...! What?"
It was hard not to giggle at his outburst, so much so that I was biting my own lip to not be impolite. "You look like a hedgehog." I pointed to his messed up hair.
Carver blinked twice before smiling awkwardly, running a hand through his messy hair. I had the impression that I saw a slight flush on his cheeks... He must have been embarrassed or something.
"You are really amazing, you know?" he told me, to my surprise, taking a step closer to me "After everything that happened, you still manage to find something to laugh at amidst all this misery."
I smiled unconsciously - After all , if we cannot hold onto something good, or at least more lighthearted than everything that reality throws on our backs, madness was only a matter of time. But I had no chance to answer him.
"She is our leader for a reason," Alistair interrupted, with a not very friendly expression on his face. He was staring intensely at Carver, his serious face totally atypical from his usually relaxed stance. Hawke's smile faded, and soon the two were facing each other in the same threatening way, and suddenly I felt as if I'd been left out of something big.
But again, I couldn't say anything - Noah was the one that interrupted me this time. I was starting to wonder if there was some kind of supernatural power working against me that day… Well, considering my past with demons, that was a terrible joke.
"If you're going to travel with us, you will have to learn to walk faster. We've already wasted too much time in this place."
You know, when someone suffers a strong shock, it is very likely that it will change this person. By either making one stronger, smarter or better prepared, the tendency is always toward improvement. You hardly expect it to worsen substantially.
The moodiness of Noah, you see, had grown exponentially and it was pretty damned unbearable. I concluded that no one could ever say that the grumpiness of that man had reached its limit, not when with each day that passed, he surpassed himself more negatively. The stock of his disdain seemed to be a bottomless pit, and I suspected that it was almost a portal to the Void itself.
He awaken in a thoughtful mood, and spent all morning frowning and silent. Nothing unusual so far, since he was always quiet and always frowning. After noon, when the other groups began to follow their own paths, he basically changed from the lethargic and weak man to the good and old terror of the trees, at least superficially.
Perhaps it was partially how he had learned to deal with the pain. Some prefer to deny, others prefer to ignore, but some prefer to simply be a pain in the ass to the people around them.
"You heard the man," I said, pulling Alistair by his elbow. He resisted a lot before he stopped staring at Carver, almost as if Carver Hawke had some sort of gravitational field pulling my companion close to him. "Come, Templar, help me pack the rest of the things."
"Okay," Alistair agreed, but not before casting one last withering look at Carver over his shoulder, putting his hand on my the small of my back to encourage me to keep moving.
What the hell was going on with these two?
The three days that had passed since then have been very long and exhausting, filled with plenty of walking and little rest. The pace of the Hawke family wasn't a problem at all, as Noah had thought it would be. In fact, thereinforcement of mages had made their progress much easier, with the restoring magic of Bethany, allowing them to keep walking for long periods of time, and Lenna's primal magic, which make it easier to cut through the tangled ravines and other obstacles that, under normal circunstances, would have oblidged them to waste more time finding an alternative route.
"Can you see the river?" Mahariel asked at the top of the cliff, pointing to a thick blue line that cut the trees below them." Brecilian Passage. As soon as we cross to the other side, we will be officially in the Brecilian territory."
The vast knowledge Mahariel held about the area was the most important factor to their success. The blonde elf seemed to knew every tree and every leaf along the way, so that Kallian suspected she could guide them even with her eyes closed if she wanted. This allowed the group to begin their travels from hours before the sunrise until well after dusk.
As a result, a journey that would have taken five to seven days on the Imperial Highway, took only 3 days through the forest path.
"And without getting lost, " Morrigan said evilly, stopping right next to the Dalish. She knew very well that Mahariel disliked her presence, and sometimes she did these things just for the pleasure of provoking. "Now Tis' a surprise."
Mahariel just grunted, ignoring the witch while looking for a safe place to descend. There were a lot of huge, spiked rocks that would be mortal at the first false step, which Noah seemed determined to take.
"Do you want to jump on your own and break your neck on the jagged rocks?" she asked, opening one of her arms to challenge him to jump. Noah only snorted, watching as her long, blonde hair gracious swayed slightly from side to side as she walked, trapped in a high ponytail, meticulously tidy. "Be my guest."
Mahariel returned to her anti-social state not long after they started their journey, and the voice of the Dalish was hardly heard, except when she was leading them through the vicious curves of the forest. In her mind, she had already been too involved with the humans, so all she wanted was distance. Even so, more than once she had caught herself peering at Noah over her shoulder.
And the strange thing was that, more than once, she had caught him looking at her, too .
"Is that safe?" Leandra asked her eldest daughter apprehensively, seeking guidance. Her advanced age prevented her from committing certain follies, and rolling down the cliff did not seem like a healthy option for her weary bones.
The mage did not answer, though, just crossed her arms and huffed.
Lenna Hawke was spoke to no one, and sometimes not even with her own family - at least not when the wardens were around. She did not trust her temporary allies, much less that red-haired elf who always seemed to be watching her, measuring her. Even Leandra, who was more reserved and cautious, was carried away by the lighthearted and casual conversations with Leliana , and approached of Kallian slightly through her drawings.
"Do not worry, Mistress Hawke." Kallian said with a yawn. "Mahariel know what she's doing."
Incidentally, the little elf had never drawn so much in her life. Still keeping her distance from her own bedroll, the redhead had held onto her sketchbook as if her life depended on it, and everything was an excuse to try to get lost in her own black and white world. The new game of the Lion terrified her, and she had no desire to meet him anytime soon.
However, she was still a living being like any other, and more than her willpower and fear were strong, her body failed after fourty-four hours awake, and she was forced to sleep, even against her will.
As soon as she closed her eyes, the image of the Archdemon and the red eyes of the Lion welcomed her into the darkness of the Fade. It was the same situation that terrifyed her while still in Lothering, caught again between two of the most vicious predators in all of Thedas, except for the fact that there was no warm and cozy sunset, nor that familiar, warm, yet unknown presence that made her felt so good.
Only darkness and panic prevailed, which made her wake up a few hours later in a puddle of sweat, only to begin a new journey of thirty six waking hours.
"I suppose you're worried and everything," Carver said, approaching Kallian. "But if you stay awake the way you have been, you'll end up getting sick."
"I'll have plenty of time to sleep when I'm dead," said the elf, already irritated with everyone trying to say what she should or should not do. She was tired of inventing a thousand excuses to justify her aversion to bed, and reached such a sensitive state of nerves from the lack of sleep, that sometimes her bad mood could surpass Noah's.
Alistair smiled discreetly behind the two.
"Okay, nevermind. " He raised his hands in a sign of peace. "I was just worried, sorry."
Kallian sighed, I know Carver, I know." She put a friendly hand on his back. "There's a lot on my mind at the moment. Things that need to be addressed first before I can really relax " she lied, smiling, recieving another flush from the youngest Hawke.
Maker, he was completely enchanted by the little elf. Maybe it was the contrast of her white skin with that hair of hers, redder than the most intense flame, and how the strands waved carelessly on her back, only a few inches above her shoulders, or the atypical color of her golden eyes that, according to Carver, looked like two topaz meticulously polished, as shining as the sun itself.
To him, she was beautiful in every little aspect, from her slender waist to how her clever, fast fingers wielded her daggers, and he could not help but wonder, more than once, what other magic those fingers were capable of doing.
"Kallian, care to come here for a moment?" Alistair called, almost guessing Carver's mischievous look, filled with desire and second intentions toward her.
The Templar didn't like Carver, not at all. The way he talked to the little elf, his hungry eyes, his intentions... Alistair could be a silly man, even a fool sometimes, but he was not stupid. There was something happening between them, and it was smelling like trouble. All he wanted was that the time of their departure would come soon, and the Hawke family get as far away from them as possible once and for all.
No, he did not like seeing Kallian near Caver, despite not knowing why that was. In fact, he hated it. He known that he liked the little elf, and wanted to protect her from danger the same as he'd done with his fellow Wardens, but this time it was a little stronger feeling than he was used to. It wasn't only a matter of protection anymore, it was almost an obsession. His instincts tingled every time he saw them together - they nearly screamed in his ears whenever he saw the young Hawke approaching Kallian.
No, he definitely did not like Carver, and everything was reason enough for trying to get her out of reach of his claws, even though he had no proper excuse to justify it.
When Kallian stared with that questioning look of hers, he gasped. The templar had not thought of a plausible excuse to have called her to him - he just wanted to get her away from Carver at all costs, so he was more than grateful when Noah's irritated voice cut through the air.
"Nothing yet, Tree hugger?" He crossed his arms, tapping his foot impatiently.
"There, Noah, there!" she spoke with the same impatience, pointing at a smooth edge near Leliana. "We just needed one of you two to create a barrier on those two stones there, and the path will be smooth and safe. Also it willl save a half day of walking." She explained to the two agressive mages, but did not bother to look them in the eye.
"What's the matter?" Kallian asked, realizing that the Dalish was hiding something.
Mahariel waited patiently for Lenna to raise her stone wall on the cliff, blocking the spiked tip of the rocks, as she had commanded. She also made sure that Noah was already slipping down the slope of the ravine, out of earshot, to reply softly. "The forest is restless," she said, rubbing her arms as if she'd felt a strong shudder running down her spine. "There has been a strange stirring in there, something I cannot explain." She waited for Carver and Lenna to follow Noah before continuing. "I've felt this before, when I was travelling to Ostagar with you. I felt it as well as I walked alone through the Brecilian, and even stronger when I was with Zathrian's clan."
"Bad feeling?" Kallian asked, watching the group, one by one, sliding down the side of the cliff.
"More than that," Mahariel added when finally there were only the two of them and Alistair remaining. "It is almost a certainty. The forest doesn't lie." She shifted her feet nervously. "I thought it was just me, that it was death playing tricks on me as I struggled against the taint, forcing me to fall, but the sentiment remains the same." She walked to the edge."There's something very wrong going on in the Brecilian."
"So we have to be extra careful," Alistair said, and Mahariel stopped suddenly.
"And since when do you care about the ways of the forest, human?" she asked, annoyed that he had intruded on the conversation.
"I trust you," he said casually, shrugging, with such sincerity in his caramel eyes that it made Mahariel blink twice. "Never good to ignore instincts, right?"
She just shook her head before launching herself at the cliff.
"Do you think that one day she might like me?" he asked Kallian, who just shrugged.
"She didn't point an arrow at your head this time." Kallian positioned herself to slide. "I would consider it a breakthrough."
Alistair chuckled softly, following Kallian towards the Brecilian.
A/N: Important question: Which one do you prefer: Short chapters (2k-3k words) or Long Chapters like this one?
RL is keeping me too busy to finish these long chapters in time to post them weekly. I write my chapters following a script - which means that I have a list of events set to happen in each one, it's not a random matter. I can continue on this way, following my original plan, which will delay my publishing schedule. Or I can end each chapter when it reaches the 3k word mark and post it, to stay with the weekly schedule.
Your choice will decide the future of my updates. Thank you!