Page 46 of The Seeker

“It’s so far,” I said quietly, still fighting to take in everything. Something told me I would never see this view again.

His warm hand landed on my shoulder. “At least we’ve done most of the climbing already. It’ll be downhill from here.”

I dipped my head in acknowledgment, and Otho moved away, calling to the men to set up camp. I glanced behind me, spotting the few lights from Heimland poking through the night. But compared to Shianp ahead, there was very little light coming from behind us. The thought alone had something stirring in my soul. The pull I felt to move forward relaxed, and I knew I’d made the right decision.

I stood there, looking out, already planning how we could arrive at Shianp faster. Because on foot, it looked to be another ten or more days of walking—if we continued at the same pace. But this was a mountain, and I knew there had to be a way for gravity to work in our favor.

“Would you mind looking for firewood? I’m headed to search for water.” I turned to find Askel standing a few paces behind me, a bowl gripped in his fist, a forced smile on his lips.

His words gave me an idea. “Actually, can I look for the water?”

Askel frowned, and for the first time, I noticed he too looked tired, and much older than the last time I’d trained with him. While he didn’t have the dark circles under his eyes that Otho wore, he’d lost the spark I’d always seen alive in his irises. “Are you sure?” He motioned to the waterskins draped on his body and the large bowl in his hands. “I have to fill all of this.”

“I can handle it,” I assured him, reaching for the bowl and then the waterskins.

“I didn’t mean to insinuate you c-couldn’t,” Askel stuttered, a blush climbing up his neck. “I know you’re just as capable as—er⁠—”

I chuckled, remembering the Askel who had once treated me like just another soldier. “It’s fine, Askel.” I plastered a grin on my face. “Remember when you trained me in Ralheim?”

His lips split into a smile. “Yeah.” He turned to look at the view. “Feels like that was a lifetime ago.”

I could sense his sadness, and I wished there was something I could do to mend it. Best I could think of was a distraction, “I was thinking I’d like to resume that, if its convenient for you.”

His eyes lit up, and I knew I’d chosen the right thing to say.

“Of course. We all could use some refreshing; it’ll keep everyone in shape during the journey.” His gaze drifted to the campsite where Ena was helping set up tents, having to stretch on her toes to hook the rope that held the tents up over the nearest low-hanging branch. I knew that look.

“I can ask her to join us.”

My words jolted Askel back to the present, his cheeks turning a bright shade of pink. “Yes, it will be good for everyone to be trained, I think.”

I chuckled but said nothing.

We stood there awkwardly, all the waterskins already draped on my shoulders. “Well, point me in the direction you think there might be water, and I’ll be on my way.”

Askel pointed. “The foliage should grow more dense the closer you draw to water.”

I vaguely remembered Ena saying something similar when we’d started out that first day, and sadness flowed through me that I didn’t have the same experience they did in nature. I brushed the feeling away. “Thanks, Askel. See you soon.”

I ducked into the trees, taking the opportunity to walk slowly, searching for other potion supplies I might need, and evaluating the size of the trees.

Because if there was a river, it would be headed downhill, meaning we could cut our walk into a much shorter journey.

As long as the water flowed toward Shianp.

Dinner was a silent affair. I was starting to think that paying Ryle to change sides was the least of the problems the group had, as there were obviously some other underlying issues. I could see it in the way that Karl and Askel glanced at Otho frequently, before glancing at one another, having a silent conversation. In the same way, it was clear that Jase, Nel, and Ryle weren’t welcome in the group, the three of them sitting off to one side and having their own hushed conversations. Ena sat next to me, her gaze also roving over the group, though her gold-rimmed eyes also flickered to me from time to time, something I couldn’t say of Karl and Askel. Otho, on the other hand, kept his gaze down, consuming his food somewhere I couldn’t pry my way into. I frowned.

I knew this wasn’t a permanent arrangement, but I wondered if we would arrive to Shianp as a cohesive unit.

Chewing the last bites of the jerky I’d been handed, then cleared my throat. “I had an idea . . . of a way to travel to Shianp faster.”

Everyone paused their conversations and turned to look at me, questions in their gazes.

I continued. “I think we can spend a day building rafts and then ride the river downhill. That should at least cut out a day or two.”

Excitement wafted from Ryle, but one look from Otho snuffed it out. “Thank you for the idea, Runa, but it’s too dangerous. We will have to go down the mountain the same way we came up.” His voice was firm, and I knew there would be no convincing him otherwise. The old Otho was back—the one that didn’t take my suggestions into consideration.

I frowned. “But it could take us four days to climb down, and I saw the river; it’s not very steep or fast, we can climb out if that changes.”