It’s like dropping into a trance. Or maybe out of one.
I blink in shock as I crash back into myself, stomach plummeting like I’ve dropped off a cliff. I turn and find Mo munching on a patch of grass by the road. My eyes travel up to where Olbric and Cancassi wait at the top of the hill, peering across the distance curiously. The wind kicks up around me, scattering fallen leaves over my boots.
“What are you doing?” Olbric calls.
I don’t remember getting off of Mo. Don’t remember walking over here.
“Just had to piss,” I call back, forcing the tremor out of my voice. I turn back to Mo before another gust of wind kicks up, and the shaking branches make Tara flinch under Cancassi.
The sky overhead is already starting to darken, clouds accumulating over the mountains. It’ll snow. Likely the first real one of the season. And I don’t doubt it’ll be a blizzard.
I hurry back to Mo, stepping up into the saddle as quick as I can. “Storm’s coming. We should head back.”
“Was just about to say,” Cancassi says as another, stronger gust makes Tara dance nervously.
Cancassi leads us back down the trail, and I’m quick to follow as Olbric falls into line behind me. I can almost feel his eyes boring into the back of my head until he finally calls out, “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. It’s nothing,” I say quickly, even as the wind tries to snatch my voice away.
We fall into a tense silence as we hurry down the path, picking our way back to the Crux. Even though I know it’s coming, I still flinch as freezing rain hits my shoulder.
The storm only gains strength. By the time we reach the gates, the Chokehold looks pissed that we’re making him come out into the rain to lower the bridge for us. We hurry past him without a word and duck into the stables.
“Well, a trip to the baths is almost as good as a trip into town for lunch, right?” Cancassi asks breathlessly.
Olbric chuckles, his teeth chattering. “Agreed. Dom?”
The thought of going to the baths nearly sends me spiraling again. As it is, I’m just barely keeping it together. I’m not meant for company.
“I think I’ll pass,” I say. “I’m starving.”
We finish getting the horses settled before Olbric comes to meet me. The concerned pinch of his brow tells me he knows something’s changed.
“You’ll be alright?” he asks gently, his hands coming to rest on my hips.
Gods, but I’m grateful he doesn’t pry. I nod as I cup his face, just to be sure he’s really there. Without thought, I press a kiss to his forehead only to remember the lips that weren’t mine brushing Lucien’s forehead. I pull away quick.
“I’m alright. Just... need to be alone for a bit.”
That does nothing to ease the worry from Olbric’s face. “I understand. Can I still come to your room tonight?”
“Of course,” I say before I pull out of his grip. “I’ll see you later.”
I retreat into the Crux and swing by the mess hall to grab a plate, if only to keep up the lie. Then, I head to my room to let it go cold.
No one bothers me as the afternoon passes. I try to busy myself with some chores I’ve been neglecting, like darning my socks, carefully cutting fletching for some new arrows. On the road, having a bow and a stocked quiver came in handy, so I still like to keep some at the ready.
It’s times like this that I almost miss Airedale. Fall was never an idle season in the mountains. I’d be preparing the cabin for winter or helping my da salt and preserve our food stores. The late season hunting trip is something I miss dearly, and I wonder if I could get permission to go on one now. The idea of just... disappearing into the mountains for a week sounds more appealing than ever, even with the rain currently pelting my window.
But that thought brings others with it. This storm proves that winter’s come early to the mountains. But even if this is the storm I saw on our ride, that vision of Lucien... doesn’t make any sense.
Lucien has been in the King’s prison since the Tower. He was brought back with Demica and the others, along with Diran’s body. So why am I seeing him in the mountains? Unless I’m seeing something that hasn’t happened yet?
I shake myself, tossing my half-finished arrow onto my bed as I get restlessly to my feet. “Talking like it’s fucking real in the first place. Like you aren’t losing your godsdamned mind.”
A sudden knock on my door makes me jump, and I rush to open it. Arlon peers into my room before looking at me curiously.
“Were you talking to someone?” he asks.
