A Hero With/Out Time

Chapter 16: Our way forward. (Part 5)

She was right but I didn't like the way she said that. My leg kicked up and covered her in water. "That's payback."

"Really now?" her presence beside me began to fade and just as I realised something pushed me forward. I whipped my hand around and grabbed her pulling the both of us into the river. The two of us fumbled on top of each other before Taylor splashed to the surface and laughed, "Great now we're both wet."

"That's your fault," I smirked.

"To be honest I didn't think you'd be able to grab me. You're getting more perceptive."

I splashed more water on to her, "It comes from hanging around with you too much. Now let's get back to Axel. The water here might be warm but it's still cold outside...." Hopefully we wouldn't catch a cold.

*

Lara stood above us overbearingly, "Just what were you two thinking going for a swim on a cold day like this?" We were in Mattias' home in front of the fire place. Lara had spotted us on the way in.

I sniffed and rubbed my nose, "Lara if I needed to be scolded like this I could ask half the women in Axel for that." I really didn't need another mother like figure.

"If Rain had agreed to my plan we could have warmed ourselves earlier," Taylor mumbled.

My eyes narrowed at her, "Like hell I'd do that."

"It would have worked," she sneezed. "Trust me. Nothing beats the cold like bare skin rubbing together."

"Enough both of you!" Lara glared at us. "Getting sick now doesn't help us."

"Something like this I could blow away in a few minutes," I rubbed my nose again. In fact there was already some premade potions we could take.

Lara sighed, "Just don't make it any worse."

Like I had said after getting warmed up and drinking medicine our sniffles were quickly expelled. In fact I felt even better than before. After a few more minutes by the fire I left to look for Ronalt. He was in the inn drinking alone. I could see why, from the atmosphere around him no normal person would come close. It felt like he could snap at any moment. By now I realised it was just because he was in deep thought.

"Yo Ronron," I sat down next to him with an extra drink for him.

He turned to me with a thick glare, "Ronron?"

"Too much?" I asked.

"Yes," he replied bluntly with no room for negotiation. "Did you need something or are you just here to drink?"

I looked around the inn. It was practically empty and our table was far from others, still it would be safer in a private room, "Follow me we need to talk."

Ronalt stood up glass in hand as I lead him to the back of the inn. He didn't say anything but from the tone of my voice he knew it was important. I opened a solid door and gestured Ronalt to enter. Inside was a small room with a single table and booth. The walls here were thicker and although not many people used it, it was always nice to have somewhere to hide away from others.

Ronalt sat down and I opposite of him. Each of us stared at the other and slowly sipped at our drinks. As the seconds passed the tension grew making it harder for me to start.