The scent of roasting meat and smoke fanned into the cave. Pallik and Tella stirred at the smell of breakfast. Jonen groaned as he lifted his head from the ground. Just past the entrance, Mira lazily poked at the skinned rabbits cooking above the small campfire. The sun barely shined in the sky.
“Breakfast!” Tella yawned, “My favorite.”
“Every meal is your favorite,” Pallik jokingly elbowed her, “Can’t we sleep a few more hours first?”
“You can go back to sleep when we travel today,” Mira shrugged, “I’m hungry, so I’m cooking now.”
Jonen glanced the bags of sleeplessness under her blank gaze into the fire. He eased himself closer to the fire, fearful of what she felt about the night before. Arrows skewered four delicately skinned rabbits into the ground surrounding the fire. The fur of the grey-brown animals laid over the wall of the cart.
“When did you go hunting?” He asked.
“After everyone was asleep.”
“Did you sleep at all?” Pallik lifted an eyebrow, “You said you would.”
“How many days is that now?” Tella’s face flooded with concern, “Mira, my books say that’s not healthy. You need sleep to heal.”
“Tella, you know I am a bit,” Mira closed her eyes and took a deep breath, “—different. I may sleep today. If not, I will sleep when we get to the temple.”
“Promise?” The young girl gave her a pleading look.
“Yes, Tella,” She chuckled, “I promise.”
“What did you do after our chat, then?” Pallik asked, “More bandits or just hunting?”
“Practicing,” She dismissively waved a hand, “No need to talk of it.”
“You two talked last night?” Jonen asked.
“Pallik had never taken a life before,” Mira pulled an arrow from the ground and took a bite of the cooked meat, “We discussed some things surrounding that.”
“I see,” Jonen pulled a chuck of meat off and popped it into his mouth, “I can help, as well, if needed.”
“You?” Pallik snorted, “You’ve killed someone?”
“Pallik, be nice,” She said in between bites of food, “In fact, you two should take the mare on a short ride to graze and stretch.”
“On it!” Tella ripped a chunk of rabbit meat off the skewer and trotted towards the horse.
As if the horse knew what Mira said, she stood from the hard ground and stretched its muscular legs. She shook her mane as she stirred awake. Mira reached into the pouch on her belt and pulled a round fruit. She tossed it to Pallik.
“She likes these, doesn’t she?”
“Yes,” He narrowed his eyes at the apple, “Where’d you find it?”
“A few days ago,” Mira grinned, “I thought it looked familiar.”
Jonen watched the children coo at the horse, though he couldn’t understand what they said. Their chipper attitude surprised him, especially after what happened yesterday. He looked back to see Mira yawning and wave a buzzing fly away from her face.
“Why don’t you sleep on the way to the temple today?” Jonen asked in a hushed tone, “I’ll keep lookout.”
“No,” She gently shook her head, “I’ll be fine.”
“I know you don’t necessarily trust me, but ---”
“You’re right,” Her icy yellow eyes focused on him, “I don’t want to bet the children’s lives on it. I can stay awake until we get to the temple. If I’m asleep and can’t react quick enough—”
“Mira,” Jonen raised a hand to interrupt her, “I know I overreacted last night. But I am a knight. I’ve been trained for scouting, hunting, and protecting. I can take a shift. If I see or hear anything, I will tell you.”
He placed a hand on her knee, and she flinched. Jonen ripped his hand back quickly, not expecting that reaction. The two looked at each other for a while before he set his hands in his lap instead.
“I promise you. I will protect them,” Jonen watched her amber eyes unwavering gaze, “On my father’s grave, I will keep them, and you, safe. Just as I did for you after you fought that beast.”
Her eyes rapidly examined him. The look he gave her reminded her of the first night they met. The kindness, concern, and truthfulness convinced her. She wondered what spell he could possibly have that made him this trustworthy, but it annoyed her when he used it this way. She held his sapphire gaze for a few more moments before she yawned.
“Very well,” She nodded, “I can get some sleep once the sun is all the way up. Pallik and you should be a suitable replacement for me while I sleep.”
“Thank you,” He reached to squeeze her shoulder lightly, “You deserve sleep.”
“I deserve nothing,” Her flat tone broke his heart.
“Mira, I’m sorry you feel that way, but you’re wrong.”
She blinked and looked at him incredulously. He smiled softly and shook his head. The trills of a terrified girl caught both their attention. As Jonen looked over to see Mira, she was already gone. The woman practically disappeared before him. He looked outside the cave and saw Tella up a tree with Mira sitting on the branch above her. Jonen leaned a makeshift cane to carry his weight and walked towards the group.
“This one?” Mira pointed to the odd fruit not far from her grasp.
“Yes! The healers at the temple love these!” Tella clapped her hands, “Sorry I got caught in the tree again.”
“You both need to be more careful,” She shook her head, “And Pallik, quit lifting her into the tree if you can’t help her down. You’re going to hurt yourself.”
“She insisted!” He threw his hands up in defeat, “She’s hoping to get a lesson for the fruit. I told her that isn’t how it works.”
“Maybe Healer Irae will at least let me sit in on one!” Tella looked at the pointy fruit.
“What is that, exactly?” Jonen leaned against a rock, “I haven’t seen it before.”
“It’s a nectarberry!” Tella grinned.
“They don’t usually grow outside of Agrowl,” Mira plucked the fist-sized fruit from the tree, “I haven’t seen one in ages.”
“I haven’t heard of them before,” He scratched his chin, “Nectarberry?”
Mira hoped to Tella’s branch and grabbed the girl by the back of her dress. Pallik moved to under Tella as Mira held her from the tree. Once Pallik readied himself, she dropped the girl. Tella giggled as her brother caught her and looked back up.
“Is there a second one?” She scanned the branches, “I don’t see any.”
“Let me climb a little higher,” Mira called down, “The tree has dense leaves, so I may be a minute. Go get breakfast.”
Mira dropped the nectarberry to Tella. The girl squealed gleefully at her prize. She sped over to the cave as soon as Pallik dropped her. He laughed and chased after her.
“Do you see any?” Jonen called up to her, “I haven’t seen many fruit baring trees in Zrud.”
“I think I see one, but I can’t reach it yet. I’ve got to go a bit higher.”
“Be careful!” He tried to follow her form.
Though there were more leaves than the average tree in Zrud, Jonen could still see Mira traveling across branches. To him, it looked like she jumped from branch to branch without a care and moved weightlessly across the leaves. He couldn’t think of anyone that hadn’t slept in at least three days that could move that gracefully.
And just as a different type of thought crossed his mind, he heard a coy laugh from above. Mira’s legs wrapped around a tree limb as she dangled upside down to look at him.
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“Are you watching me?”
“You’re in a tree by yourself,” He smiled at her, “It’s nice to see you have some fun. You’re too serious.”
Mira rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him. Before he could respond, she swung upwards, grabbed another branch, and hoisted herself up further. Jonen did not understand how her brain worked. One minute she distrusted him, the next she was almost flirtatious. Though, with the view he had, he wasn’t sure if she was flirting, or hoped she was.
“Let me know if you need help!” He grinned as he leaned against the tree.
“Maybe when you don’t have a broken ankle.”
After a few minutes and the shaking branches getting further away, Jonen heard her whistling again. He listened intently to them and tried to copy the tone.
“Ah, found one!” She victoriously called out, “Just a moment while I –got it!”
Jonen heard the excitement in her voice. Then, he heard the snap of a tree limb beneath her. His eyes widened as he looked upwards. Cracks of broken branches and falling leaves closed in on him. He watched for her and held out his arms.
“I’ve got you!” He called out as he saw her.
Just as his hands grabbed her, her free hand grabbed a thicker branch. With his grasped around her waist, she catapulted them from the tree. Her momentum caused the two to topple over. Her legs wrapped around his waist and she grabbed his head to stop it from striking the ground The pair roll a few times before coming to a stop. Both breathed heavily for a moment and Jonen’s face turned red as he realized where exactly he landed.
“Oh, Great Goddess! I’m so sorry. I didn’t –I mean I couldn’t’ve –” He immediately pulled his face from her breasts and backed away from her, “It wasn’t on purpose.”
Mira grabbed her sides as she fully laughed at his embarrassment. Confusion spread across his face as his previous injuries started to scream in pain at him. She took a moment to calm her breath.
“Oh, please,” She wiped the wetness from her eyes, “Jonen, I know you didn’t mean to. I was protecting your head.”
He sighed in relief then laid down to recover his breath. She laid down next to him and broke the fruit into fourths. She offered him one.
“Here, try it,” Mira smiled, “Thanks for catching me. Not necessarily needed, but you’ve at least proven you’re more trustworthy today.”
Jonen looked at her terribly scratched up arms and face. Her pleasant smile distracted him from the cuts and thorns embedded into her skin. His eyes widened when the cuts on her face started closing automatically. If a piece of bark or leaf was stuck in one, she plucked it away.
“How does that work?” He twirled a finger around her face, “The spell, I mean.”
“I don’t remember,” She touched the healing cuts, “I’ve known it a long time. I just do it subconsciously now.”
“What else can you do?”
Mira summoned a simple throwing knife to her hand and twirled it between her fingers, “Some spells I don’t have to use much energy to do.”
Jonen thought of another question as he bit into the nectarberry. His face scrunched at the absurdly sour taste in his mouth. Mira smirked as she bit into her own portion. Within a few bites, their half was devoured.
“It’s got healing properties. It might help with your injuries,” Mira got to her feet and held out her hand to help him up, “It will ease the pain a bit. Come on, let’s get breakfast.”
Once Jonen swallowed the last bite, his skin tingled with a strange energy. The pain in his ankle eased and the throbbing in his arm stopped. Pallik stared at Jonen as Mira wrapped an arm under his shoulders to help him walk back to the cave. Mira ignored the scowl on the teen’s face and handed the children their half of the strange first. Pallik groaned.
“Eat it,” She commanded, “It’ll help your wound.”
“Fine,” He begrudgingly took a bite and squinted in disgust, “It’s gross though.”
“No, it’s yummy!” Tella giggled and took an eager bite, “I’ll have yours if you don’t want it.”
Her face puckered but quickly fixed to a smile. Her brother rolled his eyes and handed her the remaining chunk of his fruit.
“I’m not a fan of the taste either,” Jonen agreed, “But Mira fell out of the tree to get that. I had to at least try it.”
“After breakfast, get your things sorted so we can head out,” Mira ripped another piece of meat from a skewer, “Jonen will look after us at first so I can get some rest.”
“You’re letting him,” Pallik pointed to the half-elf, “Watch over us while you sleep? Did you hit your head falling?”
“Well, if you don’t trust him,” She shrugged, “Then you can stay awake and make sure we are properly protected.”
“I’ll gladly sleep more,” Tella stretched, “I’m tired from breakfast.”
“Okay, I’ll take first shift with him,” He nodded to her, “And I’ll wake you up if there’s any funny business.”
Mira quickly finished the rest of Tella’s roasted rabbit. Jonen nibbled on his, but the sour fruit ruined his appetite and upset his stomach. As the four packed their belongings back into the cart, Mira tied the horse back onto its leads. She walked the horse and cart back onto the dirt path and looked up at the sky.
“We are continuing down this road,” She noted the dark grey clouds above, “It will rain today. Did either of you bring something to keep water off you?”
The brother and sister shook their heads. Mira unbuckled her cloak and wrapped it around Pallik’s shoulders. He fastened the clasp as she pulled an odd fabric from a bag. Jonen saw water repellant fabrics before, but her blanket had dozens of patches of fabric.
“Where did you get that?” Jonen looked at her.
“I made it. I either bartered for scrap pieces or –” She winced and rubbed the back of her neck.
Mira wrapped Tella in the blanket. She looked between them and nodded at her work.
“There. You shouldn’t catch a cold with these,” She glanced up again, “We may have to share if it rains too much.”
“We can share,” Pallik winked, “I can keep you warm.”
“Child,” She rolled her eyes, “I meant with Jonen. You two are keeping watch first, so I’ll share the blanket with Tella until I wake up. I can keep myself dry after that.”
He tsked, “I was only teasing.”
“I’ll be fine,” Jonen nodded to Mira, “Don’t worry about me.”
“Pallik, you’re navigating. Make sure you stay awake,” She turned to Tella, “Find us a comfy spot to sleep.”
Mira pulled herself into the cart and rubbed her wounded shoulder. Jonen grimaced as he remembered the bolt.
“You okay, Mira?” Tella asked, “I can heal it!”
“It’s just sore,” She reassured the young healer, “We can look later today. Let’s get going.”
Tella rapidly rearranged the bags on the cart. Jonen chuckled as she tested for softness and put all the softer bags and blankets in a pile. Mira shook her head and joined her. She stretched her arms and sat in the corner piled with bags. Tella crawled into her lap and pulled the blanket over them.
“Tella, Mira might want to get comfortable,” Pallik shook his head.
“It’s fine,” Mira yawned, “I usually sit up to sleep when I travel. The little one is okay.”
Tella grinned triumphantly and snuggled into Mira. When she wrapped her arms around the girl to pull her closer, it surprised Jonen. She held the girl protectively as Tella nestled herself further.
“What?” Mira asked the staring, curious Jonen.
“I didn’t think you’d let anyone be that close to you,” He shrugged, “You don’t seem like the affectionate type.”
“This isn’t affectionate,” She shook her head, “My master does not allow affection. If we sleep in this position, I can shield Tella in case we are attacked. Keeping the healer alive is advantageous. Plus, she is warm, and we can both fit under the blanket this way.”
“If that isn’t explaining away affection,” Pallik laughed, “I don’t know what is. I could fit under the blanket too.”
“You have the cloak and are taking first watch with Jonen,” She narrowed her eyes, “Plus, Tella won’t try anything while I’m asleep.”
Jonen turned his head to see the teen flush with color.
“It was one time!”
“Clarifying after last night.”
“What?! Again?” Tella giggled.
“Shut up!” He groaned and covered his face, “It wasn’t like that!”
The three laughed at the inside joke. Jonen looked at Mira to explain. She simply waved the thought away. She whistled, and the horse trotted down the path.
“I’m going to rest. Pallik can explain if he wishes,” She rested her cheek on top of Tella’s head, “Wake me when anything happens.”
Jonen looked to the embarrassed teen and waited for him to explain.
“It’s not that big of a deal. I can’t believe she brought it up,” Pallik rubbed his forehead, “When Mira first found us, she took us to the temple. Our parents were killed. I just wanted something normal.”
“And that lead to?” Jonen raised an eyebrow.
“Listen, living at the temple was hard. I worked with the guards, the blacksmith, and attended lessons,” He placed his head in his hands, “We never had the money to do anything like that before. It was so much –too much, too quickly.”
The teen looked over to see if the woman was sleeping. He waited a few more moments before he continued.
“Mira paid for everything. Every lesson, every meal, everything. I never understood why… until last night,” He whispered, “We’re orphans. Ones that few people gave a second thought. We were useless to them. They only let us stay because Mira paid them.”
“I’m sure that’s not true,” Jonen patted his shoulder, “The temple is accepting.”
“Yes, but it’s not an orphanage. Do you know how that feels? Nobody wanted us there,” Pallik sighed, “If Mira hadn’t shown up, we would have starved, been forced into enthrallment, or worse. Tella almost didn’t make it. We owe so much to her.”
“That’s a lot of complicated feelings,” The half-elf nodded, “Especially at your age.”
“You’re not that much older than me,” Pallik rolled his eyes, “My life –our lives –are so much better because of her. Even if my parents lived, we wouldn’t have everything we do now. Now, I know I can go to the temple and get anything I need. I have two people that make sure I’m well-loved and well fed. And a beautiful woman that cares deeply enough about me and my little sister she would kill herself to protect us.”
Pallik’s face heated in embarrassment.
“That’s all someone could ask for.”
“You’ve seen how she is with other people. Bloody void, she’s even opening up to you now,” He sighed, “She only treated us that way once. Once she realized we needed help, she’s been nothing at kind.”
Pallik’s hands shook as he remembered her actions in the past. Now that he knew the truth, it made more sense. She did love them, even if she couldn’t admit it. Her initial coldness as he waved the small knife at her to protect Tella. Her carrying the girl to the temple and checking on them multiple times. It wasn’t guilt, it was his mother’s request that drove her.
“And… you tried something?” Jonen playfully elbowed him to lighten the mood.
“We were walking around the temple. Tella ran off to pick a flower. Mira pulled me aside to ask a question,” His face turned cherry red, “She leaned in to whisper something and I, well I thought –”
“Oh!” Jonen got it, “You tried to kiss her?”
“Most embarrassing moment of my life. I was on the ground faster than I could blink,” The teen pursed his lips and shook his head, “I just want her to be happy, you know? I want to make her happy.”
Before he could ask a question, Pallik interrupted him.
“I didn’t try anything last night!” He covered his mouth after he shouted, “We just had a heart-to-heart. She’s teasing me because of that.”
Jonen followed the teen’s gaze to the sleeping pair. Tella wrapped her hands around one of Mira’s arms. She held the girl closely against her. Pallik sighed.
“Tella rarely smiled after our parents died. She barely remembers them, but she was so young. She didn’t speak for months to anyone. Not even me,” He looked back to Jonen, “Mira always cheered her up. They’d play pranks at the temple just so Tella would giggle. I’d do anything for either of them. I just want them to be happy.”
“Pallik,” Jonen held a hand to the teen, “Thank you. I appreciate you sharing with me. I know that can be hard.”
He cautiously shook his head, “Mira wants me to be better at sharing what I’m feeling. Especially since yesterday. So, I’m trying. It’s nice to have another… guy to talk to.”
“Well, as long as I’m here, I’ll talk about whatever you want to,” He grinned, “It’s nice to have a friend.”
“Yeah… it is.”