A Forest of Secrets

Chapter 21

"You're drunk," Jo stated, raising an eyebrow. Was that a love bite on his neck? She didn't care to ask.

"Maybe," the mage's smirk told her it had been. He stumbled next to the fire, falling graciously on a fur cushion. "Wyn had some leftover firebreath-- the faradians were impressed," he winked at both of them. "Very impressed," he wriggled his eyebrows.

"Spare us the details, please," Jo said, snorting a laugh. "We can tell you had a lot of fun."

"As you did, I see," the mage pointed at Alaric. "I saw you two escaped together into the forest-- naughty."

"What? No, it wasn't like that-- we didn't," Alaric was flustered. "We were just, we talked-- what am I doing? We don't need to give you any explanations," he crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow.

"Right..." the mage said, looking skeptical. "I'll leave you two, then, so you can keep talking," he made air quotes. "I'm going to bed, I'm completely drained."

The mage stood up with difficulty, then fixed his hair and clothes with his hands before attempting to walk straight to his room. Jo and Alaric looked at each other, then laughed.

"That was awkward," he muttered, still laughing.

"What was that about you finally daring to court me?" Jo asked, raising an eyebrow playfully; she knew Alaric had had a crush on her for quite a while. At first, she attributed it to his overall awkwardness around women, as Gerard mentioned a couple of times, but the little things he did for her made her realize there was more to it than just politeness and bashfulness.

"He probed me for information, then offered unsolicited advice on courting, among other things," he blushed lightly. "Laurentius needs to learn about boundaries... but..." Alaric sighed. "Back at the cave you took a big hit. When I woke up you were still out cold, Laurentius looked terrified. We thought... by the creators, I thought you weren't going to make it. We talked, Laurentius and I-- he told me I had to let you know, or I'd regret it forever."

"Good advice," she conceded, taking his hand. "It seems he's not as bad, after all," she smirked. "You never know... when..." she sighed. She had to tell him. But, again, she didn't have the chance: Alaric shut her up with a kiss that made her forget completely about it. Then he broke it off, almost as suddenly.

"I... think we should go to bed," he yawned in an exaggerate manner. "Alone, by ourselves," he added quickly. "Good night," he gave her a small peck on the lips before standing up. She didn't even have the opportunity to say goodnight back, he was already gone.

She sat for a moment, confounded. After some thought, she had an idea about what it could've been: the kiss had gotten a little heated back there. Maybe Alaric couldn't handle it, he wasn't as experienced as she was. She chuckled to herself, biting the corner of her lip; she wouldn't give him grief about it. She decided to go back to bed herself, after all, she was tired and achy all over. She could talk to him, about that other thing-- the death thing, she thought, cringing-- in the morning.

After wrapping herself in furs and covers she closed her eyes.But she couldn't sleep. No matter how tired she was, her brain didn't allow her to rest. Thoughts of the ritual plagued her mind, she revisited Koldo's words, the implications-- she had a feeling her brain wouldn't leave her alone until she thought about it willingly: an impenetrable barrier, she whispered to herself. Her first thought had been about the faradians, and the possibility of them not being able to get back in- which they needn't worry about since they couldn't leave in the first place. But... what about them? The tree was inside the Faradian forest, which meant... she'd be trapped after the barrier was in place. Whether as a corpse or alive, she'd be trapped in the forest forever. She gulped. Alaric and the rest could get away before the faradians erected the barrier: that meant she'd never see Alaric again, one way or another. She wouldn't let him stay, she couldn't do that to him. She felt a cold shiver run through her body, all the way up to her heart. She cocooned herself between the blankets and cried herself to sleep.