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He puts his hand against it, stopping me. “Just give me another chance, Mira,” he begs. “Okay, I shouldn’t have come here this late. But tell me you’ll talk to me tomorrow or something.”
“I won’t be here tomorrow,” I tell him, satisfied to see the look of shock on his face. “I’m going away for the weekend with some friends,” I explain, relenting a little when I see the hurt in his eyes.
He takes a deep breath. “After that, then?” he says. “Just hear me out, will you, please?” There is an edge of frustration in his voice. I can tell my reluctance is making him mad, and an immature part of me relishes it.
“I’ll think about it,” I tell him coolly.
“Fine,” he says and stalks off into the night.
I sit down on the couch, my hands shaking. Should I have blown him off like that? Yes, I’m angry with him.
Still, now I’m stuck wondering just what he really came here for, and I think my own desire to make him suffer just punished me along with him. Did he mean what he said? Does he want reconciliation?
It must have taken a lot of nerve coming to see me like that. A guy like Renxel doesn’t let down his guard so easily. I hope I haven’t ruined things by shutting the door on him.
I’m simply not ready to forgive him and allow him back in just like that.
Sleep is not my friend tonight. All my excitement about going away has been drowned out by the arrival of Renxel at my door. When I do finally slip into a fitful slumber, I dream of him.
He is far up on an icy cliff face, clinging by his fingertips.
“Mira,” he calls. “Help me, I’m going to fall!”
I want to go to him. But I’m stuck.
His fingers slip one by one from the crevice. Even though I’m so far away I can see them in minute detail.
Again, I try to move, but my feet are rooted to the spot.
“Renxel,” I call. “Renxel, hang on!”
But it’s no use. I scream as his last digit loses its grip.
Suddenly my legs are free and I run toward him. I have to catch him as he tumbles from the sky. My feet are thudding so loud on the ground I can hear them, but I can’t run fast enough as I watch him tumbling head over heels down, down.
I jolt awake to a hammering at the front door.
“Renxel?” I ask in confusion.
“Come on, Mira, we’re ready to go,” yells Trish.
“Fuck.” I must have overslept. I throw myself out of bed and run for the door.
A cold blast hits me as I throw it open. My nightdress is no protection against the icy tendrils of mountain air that blow straight through it.
“Huh, I like your outfit,” says Trish. “You may need a jacket, though.”
“Trish, I’m sorry, I must have overslept.” I kick myself. I was so hung up on Renxel’s visit, I forgot to set an alarm.
“Five minutes,” she says. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
“Shit. Say sorry to the others. I’ll be as quick as I can.”
“You’d better! And dress warm, it’s a long ride to Plume Valley.”
Ten minutes later, I’m standing outside in the cold and feeling utterly unprepared for a long Chordata ride. The massive beasts are waiting placidly for us outside the Inn, their long horns polished and gleaming in the morning sun.
I’ve only ridden them a few times in my life before, and the prospect is making me nervous.
