“Yes, he told me who you were just before he left. He has entrusted me to see you safely to Thelsamel.” Nym stopped talking and waited for her reaction.
Lana sat on the ground, at a complete loss for words. She didn’t know what to do with this news. Why would he abandon her, especially at this moment? Did their intimacy the day before mean nothing? What would she do without him there? He had become a pillar of strength for her, a source of comfort and contentment.
She closed her eyes and slowly summoned up all the dignity in her, the sense of self preservation that only a princess whose life was constantly at risk could know. She gathered it around her like a suit of armor and opened her eyes. Rising to her feet, her back straight, she looked down at Nym who was still kneeling at her feet.
“Explain,” she said in a commanding tone.
“I cannot,” Nym responded sadly, bowing her head in shame. “I can only tell you that he rides ahead to Thelsamel and he may ride back to meet us on the way.” She fell silent again.
“I grow weary of the things that people will not tell me,” Lana said coldly. “I will go to Thelsamel and you may follow me. I will get the answer directly from him.”
With that, she turned and gathered her things while Nym put out the fire. The balance had shifted between the women. Lana could no longer think of her as a companion, not if she refused to be honest about Clay. She could sense Nym’s deferral to her and that suited her just fine. Lana was tired of being the one who followed, knowing nothing of the world. She was born to lead, to command, and she settled back into that role easily.
She waited for Nym to gather her own things and then turned to face the east, where Eva awaited her, knowing that somewhere along that road Clay was riding hard, trying to beat her there for some mysterious reason.
I will see him soon enough, she thought grimly and started walking. Nym followed quietly several steps behind, keeping her own counsel.
* * *
The road to Eva stretched out in front of her and it was an easy path. As they traveled, Lana noticed that the land was slowly becoming fertile again. They had left the rocky, barren plains behind and were once again surrounded by grass, trees and wildlife. It was late in the year and the plants should have been sleeping, but that was not the case. It was as if the two of them were traveling into spring, the grass becoming greener with every step they took. Wildflowers had blossomed and insects were swarming around them. It had warmed enough that Lana had to pack her cloak away and remove her coat.
“We are near Eva,” Nym told her deferentially when Lana asked about it. “The elven lands are never too cold nor too warm. All things grow in perpetuity there.”
Lana nodded and kept silent. Nym was still having difficulty meeting her gaze and the women rarely spoke. It was as if she had fallen into the role of subject and Lana was the ruler, which wasn’t exactly far from the truth. After Clay had left she felt as if she had been cast out on her own and the only comfort she could find was to assume her old role.
The second night on their own, the women had come across evidence of a campfire. It could only have belonged to Clay. Lana stared at the remains of the fire for a long time, fury warring with despair but she finally settled on icy calm. She spread out her bedroll as Nym rebuilt the fire. Lana informed her that she would take the first watch and the elf woman could take the second. Nodding to her, Nym settled into her bedding and appeared to go to sleep.
Lana sat on a stone outcropping with her staff in her lap, gripping it tightly. There was something comforting about the piece of wood. Clay had left her and Nym wouldn’t confide in her but the staff was proof that there were things in this world that cared for her still. It was warm in her hands.
Feeling like she had far too much energy, Lana stood, walked a short distance away and began working on her forms. She swung the staff through the air, spun and swung it again. Over and over until her body was aching from the effort and she was sweating profusely. Every strike against an unseen opponent drained a little more of her anger until she was completely spent. She collapsed to the ground and wept, one hand still clutching her staff, allowing all of her grief to flow from her until she was devoid of any emotion.
She sat up, wiping the tears from her face and looked toward the camp. Nym was standing nearby, watching her silently. Lana stood and walked back, climbed into her bedding and spoke not a word to Nym. The physical exertion and the tears had left her exhausted and she fell almost immediately into a dark, dreamless sleep.
* * *
Nym stared up at the line of pine trees in front of her. Standing before the border of Eva was always almost a religious experience for her. She could feel the magics, weakened though they were, that flowed through this forest like veins. Everything was hushed here, there were no birds singing or insects buzzing. It was serene and peaceful.
She reached and placed a hand on one of the pines, feeling its spirit as Lana watched on in silence. The trees here were quiet but aware. They were always ready, watching for any intruders, ready to defend the elves with their lives. In this way they were kindred because she would lay down her life again and again to protect
