Chapter 16: Through the Darkened Forest
As the night closed in around them, the forest seemed to swallow them whole, leaving only the faint light of the lamp Eirik had pulled from his saddle. He carefully lit it and tied it to Marsa's saddle, casting a warm glow in front of Aeryn as they ventured deeper into the darkness. Aeryn, who had rarely been out after nightfall, even back home, felt a gnawing unease growing within him. Every rustle of leaves, every distant sound made him flinch, and Eirik could sense it immediately.
To ease his husband's nerves, Eirik kept close to his side, making light conversation as they navigated the shadowy woods. "How are you feeling?" he asked gently, hoping to keep Aeryn's mind off the vast unknown that surrounded them.
Aeryn shifted nervously in his saddle, casting quick glances around. "I'm fine, just... not used to this much darkness." His voice wavered slightly, betraying his anxiety.
Suddenly, an owl hooted in the distance, and Aeryn jolted, his hand gripping the reins tightly. "What was that? Was it one of those wolves?" he asked, his voice laced with fear.
Eirik smiled softly, shaking his head. "No, Aeryn, that was just an owl—a night bird. It only hunts small critters. Wolves don't come this close to the estate, especially not now. It's not winter, and they're not desperate for food."
Aeryn visibly relaxed at Eirik's reassurance but still drew his coat tighter around himself and nudged Marsa closer to Gauroth, seeking the comfort of being nearer to Eirik.
"What kind of night creatures do you have in Babnoose?" Eirik asked, trying to keep the conversation going, his deep voice calm and soothing against the backdrop of the night.
Aeryn's face darkened slightly as he thought back to his homeland. "We have wolves, though they're not as thick-furred as the ones I've seen in the Felgon libraries. But they're vicious—dangerous. And desert dogs, too. Sometimes they attack cattle owners' huts, dragging people into the night. No night owls, though. Birds rarely fly in our skies, except for vultures and the occasional eagle."
Eirik nodded, understanding now why the night unnerved Aeryn so much. "I see. Well, perhaps we'll take a walk by the estate pond one night. It comes alive with fireflies. The whole place lights up—it's quite beautiful. You'd love it."
"Fireflies?" Aeryn asked, curiosity sparking in his voice.
Eirik smiled. "Yes. Little bugs with lights on their bottoms. They flash on and off as they fly around."
Aeryn chuckled, the sound a soft, welcome relief. "That sounds silly."
"Yeah," Eirik admitted with a grin. "I guess it does when I say it like that."
Finally, they reached the edge of the forest, and through the thinning trees, the faint glow of the manor lights came into view. Aeryn let out a sigh of relief, his earlier tension melting away. "We made it!" he exclaimed, his voice bright with joy at leaving the looming night behind.
Eirik chuckled at his husband's enthusiasm, casting a glance toward the manor. "The house staff will be worried about us. We've been gone longer than expected."
As they broke through the treeline and approached the stables, the sight of riders preparing to leave greeted them. The head guard, Marury, a stern man with a weathered face, turned as soon as he saw the two lords approaching. His tense expression softened with visible relief. "We were about to send out a search party for you, my lords. You've been gone for much too long."
Eirik dismounted gracefully, patting Gauroth's flank before turning to the head guard. "I'm sorry to have worried you, Marury. We lost track of time. Call off the search party and have the men return to their posts."
Marury bowed, relieved, and quickly turned to relay the new orders, his voice sharp as he dismissed the riders preparing to leave.
Aeryn slid off Marsa's back, handing the reins to one of the stable boys, who hurried forward to tend to the horses. He and Eirik exchanged a glance, both tired and hungry after their long day. With a nod, they walked toward the manor together, their steps in sync as they made their way inside.
"I could eat a whole roast right now," Aeryn muttered, his stomach growling in protest.
Eirik chuckled softly, his arm brushing against Aeryn's as they entered the warmth of the manor. "I'll settle for whatever's hot and waiting for us." They shared a quiet smile as the comforting smell of cooked food greeted them, both eager to leave the dark night behind and enjoy a well-earned meal together.
