Warrior of the Wild(76)
“Aros?” I ask.
He throws himself at me, squeezing me against his chest. For one so short, I hadn’t expected such strength.
“Thank you,” he says, “for bringing this one back to me. I heard what you did, and I can’t ever repay you for it.”
I think to shrug off the words. To tell him it was nothing. Instead, I say, “You’re welcome. It’s nice to meet you.”
He steps back. “I apologize for delaying them, but I wasn’t about to let Iric out of my sight again.”
I look at Soren. “I can understand that. I’m glad you decided to join us, Aros. I’ve been wanting to meet the man who willingly puts up with Iric.”
“Hey, now,” Iric says.
Aros grins and slides an arm around Iric’s waist. “He can be an ass, but I love him anyway.”
Iric glares down at him, but he can’t hold it. Soon it morphs into a goofy grin.
“Why don’t we give you two a moment to get yourselves situated,” Soren says. “Rasmira and I are going to head to the tree house.”
Iric and Aros don’t hear a word he’s saying. They’re already drawing closer.
Soren threads his fingers through mine and leads me down the trail.
“Sorry we kept you waiting,” he says. “I couldn’t leave the two of them to make the trip here on their own. They’re too busy looking at each other to keep an eye out for danger.”
“You made the right choice. I should have been more patient. You both just took so long, and you seemed so happy to be with your parents again. Iric had Aros. And you—I saw a girl. Anyway, I thought you’d both have to be mad to want to come back out here anytime soon.”
We stop at the base of the tree house, and Soren pulls me close. “My girl is right here in front of me. The girl you saw in Restin?”
“The blonde.”
“Yes, the blonde. She was looking to get some attention. Iric and I were declared village heroes, and she was looking for fame by association. I never spoke to her, except to assure her she was unwanted, and her attempts were petty.”
I squeeze my eyes shut tight, a wave of embarrassment taking me over. “I’ve never been jealous before.”
“You never need to be again.”
The smile feels so good against my lips. I feel as though I could stand here in this spot with him for an eternity and never be bored.
He leans his forehead against mine, and I relish the closeness. “We should probably go get Iric the metal for my ax.”
“In a moment. I want to kiss you first.”
* * *
SOREN AND I MAKE several trips to and from the mountain, always on the lookout for Peruxolo. Either the goddess is watching out for us, or Peruxolo doesn’t leave his lair, because we don’t run into trouble. We gather buckets and buckets of lodestones for Iric over the next several days. It’s tricky, because Soren isn’t able to get too close to the metal while wearing his armor. He drags the lodestones behind him in a net and carries both of our axes on his back.
When we’ve delivered more than enough of the stuff, Soren says, “It’s time for me to go.”
I know this, and I know I need him to deliver my invitations to the villages, but I hate seeing him go.
“We’re all going home,” he reminds me, and he places a kiss against my forehead.
“You be safe,” I say. It somehow comes out as a threat instead of a plea.
“I promise.”
I watch his back until it disappears to the south. He’s going to Seravin first to tell my father I’m alive and I’m going to challenge the god. From there he’ll head north to all the other villages.
I return to the forge to take my mind off of worrying over him.
It’s fascinating watching Iric work. He melts down the lodestone and separates it from all the other minerals. He patterns my new ax after the one my father gave me, spike and all. I help by pounding at leather hides, dyeing them black, and then wrapping them around the newly finished handle. Aros helps by checking the traps and cooking our meals so we can focus on the work.
It takes a good deal of time and sweat, but in the end, I have an ax that can wage battle against Peruxolo.
* * *
I THROW MYSELF INTO Soren’s arms when he returns. After weeks of going sick with worry, of toiling over the hot fires in the forge, I have him back.
“Are they coming?” I dare to ask. “Is it done?”
He’s covered in weeks of travel grit, but I don’t let that stop me from holding on to him. “They’re coming. All the leaders seemed quite eager to attend.”
“And my father?”
“I spoke with him.”
I swallow.
“Torlhon was happy to hear you were alive.”
“Happy?” I ask skeptically.
“He may not have said as much, but I could see it in the way his face changed. I told him what you did for Iric and me—how it was because of you we found the strength to complete our tasks. I told him you will make a great leader when you return with glory to Seravin. Torlhon will be at the battle. He is looking forward to it.”
I don’t know if things can ever be the same for me and my family. After the way my father turned his back on me, I don’t know that I could ever welcome him in my life, even if he wants to mend things.