Page 84 of In Darkness Forged

“I suppose,” she said plaintively, “I’m going to need to ask for directions. I was blindfolded when they brought me here, so I have no idea which way is home.”

“West,” Tal said, and tugged her after him as he headed off through the winding paths of the settlement. The sun was growing brighter, and he longed for the darkness of the forest. But even more than that, he did not wish to give her a chance to leave him behind. Not yet.

They passed by groves of emberwoods, now dull and gray by the pitiless light of the sun, and crossed a narrow bridge over a sparkling stream. The path diverged, and Tal took the northernmost route, as it seemed likely to leave the settlement the soonest. Already the houses were fewer and set deep beneath the trees, so they were likely close to the edge of where civilization held sway.

He was considering how long he must wait to call for Cuan when Aislin shrieked and jumped behind him.

“They followed us!” she cried, sounding utterly horrified. “Tal, we have to warn Vanadar!”

Warn him of what?

Drawing his dagger, Tal searched the path warily, but there was nothing in sight except…

“It’s just an arantha,” he said calmly, relaxing as he caught sight of the small, dark-furred creature.

“Just a…” Aislin looked as if he’d lost possession of his senses.

“If you look closely, you can see that it has purple eyes rather than red,” he pointed out. “That means it is domesticated. Night elves have kept them as pets and producers of silk for centuries. This one is probably just loose from its colony and will be rounded up sooner or later.”

Aislin’s cheeks flushed red, and she glared at him, probably with more embarrassment than anger. “And you never thought to tell me this before?”

“No.” And even if he should have done so, he was now rather glad that he had not. She was beautiful when she was flustered, and he loved watching the color spread across her face. Loved to see how her expression changed, her eyes danced, and her lips pressed together before curving up again with amusement.

“Tal,” she said firmly, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring, those beautiful eyes nearly throwing sparks.

“Yes?”

“I would like very much to go home. Right now.”

“If that is your wish.” Hiding the beginnings of a smile, Tal threw back his head and gave voice to a wild cry—a long, searching howl that echoed into the trees. And a moment later, an answering cry came from somewhere to the east.

Cuan had heard him and was on his way.

“He will likely meet us along the main road,” Tal told Aislin. “That should be slightly to the north of here, and once we find it, the way should be clear.”

“But it is day,” she reminded him.

“And?” Perhaps she did not yet understand that he meant to stay with her. That whatever was required of him, he intended to do. “You have spent this entire journey awake each night and sleeping during the day—adapting yourself to this world without a word of complaint. Why should I not do the same?”

At her brief sound of protest, he shook his head. “Recall if you will that I was raised by my grandmother, who was of the day. I am more at home in the night, but I do not require it.”

Aislin shot him a stubborn look that said the conversation wasn’t over, but continued on down their path, which wound its way deeper into the forest where the morning light could only enter in brief patches. The woods were quiet except for the song of an occasional bird and the rustling of diurnal creatures going about their lives.

Tal did not mind the silence. It allowed him space to consider how to approach Aislin with his request. How to ask his question so that she could no longer deny him an answer.

The trail they followed crossed through the center of a glade, where grass grew thick, and tiny blue flowers winked up through the blades. Aislin stopped to gaze around in wonder, then stepped off the path to lean down and pick one of the blossoms. She rolled it between her fingers before turning her face to the sun and closing her eyes.

“It’s beautiful during the day, too,” she murmured.

“Yes, it is.” Tal was not referring to the forest or the flowers, and somehow Aislin heard the difference in his tone.

Her eyes flew open. She looked up at him, uncertain but somehow hopeful, and that hope gave him enough courage to try again.

“Aislin, please tell me. What was it that you feared you would never have a chance to say?”

She instantly went pink, and her chin dropped to her chest. “I wish you hadn’t heard that,” she muttered.

“I did hear it,” he returned, “and I know you are not afraid of me, so why do you fear telling me the truth?”