“Yes, please,” Leander replied quickly.
Once again, Leander reached out with Aesthesia to locate the child who was suffering the most intensely. He approached that child.
Some children didn’t need much, others took longer. They did what they needed to do and did not rush any of the children in their processing of their shock and grief.
It turned out that Leander and Jarryn worked well together. With his mind open to the feelings of others around him, Leander didn’t feel the same level of animosity radiating off of Jarryn as there had been on the ride to Green Tryst. There was still a mistrustful sensation lingering, but there was also... was that admiration? Whatever it was, it wasn’t negative.
When the midday chime resonated through the village, Leander and Jarryn were making their way back to the tavern. After exhausting their arcane and mental reserves, the pair had nothing left to safely channel the residual negative feelings around them, so they both erected their own mental defences in an effort to limit the suffering from around them that they had to endure.
“Do you like being mortal, Leander?” Jarryn asked as they walked.
Leander pondered the question for a minute. “I didn’t. But that’s because I felt wasted as a mortal. Right now I like I have a purpose. I like that.”
Jarryn inclined his head, understanding what Leander meant better than most. “And being a demigod? What’s that like?”
“Indescribable,” was all Leander replied.
“I know you won’t tell me what you did but... what I want to know is whether or not it was worth it? Knowing what you now know, I mean, that they would strip you of your divinity?” Jarryn’s voice wavered slightly, his wordshesitant as he tried to articulate his thoughts without revealing too much.
“I… ask me again in a few months?”
“Sure,” Jarryn agreed amicably. “I won’t deny that I, much like the rest of Caisa’s court, am curious about your presence here. But I see now that I have misjudged you, at least in some respects.” The prince cleared his throat. “No one without compassion for their fellow man could get through what we just did. So I know now what Caisa wanted to discover: you are responsive to the plight of the common man, and you bear no ill will towards us.”
“Is that an attempt at an apology?”
Jarryn glanced towards the demigod. “Yes, I suppose it is. I just mean to say that I understand now you have never done anything to justify my prejudice against you. I am sorry.”
For the first time, Leander was glad that the mental barricades protecting his mind were already slammed right up, because there was nothing he could do to stop the guilt threatening to bubble over.
It took all his self-control to brightly respond with a cheerful affirmation. “Apology accepted.” He then, spying their other travelling companions, swiftly moved the conversation on. “Look there’s Verin and Lucien. I wonder if they have discovered anything new.”
The other two men were sitting on a bench table outside the inn. They were swigging ale from pewter flagons and were deep in conversation, which stopped as Leander and Jarryn approached.
“How has your morning been?” Lucien asked softly ashe straightened his back and raised a hand to his eyes to block out the sun’s rays.
“Children successfully healed,” Jarryn reported.
“And both of you are dry. No flinging each other into the river, I see. I’ll call that a win too.” Lucien grinned.
“How about you two? Did you have any luck in your efforts to find out more about the soldiers?” Leander asked quietly, even though there was no one around to overhear them.
“No, as with the wyvern attack, no one is admitting anything.” Lucien sighed and dragged his hand through his hair in evident frustration. “I have decided to leave a small section of soldiers here, ostensibly to help with the clear up and rebuilding of the destroyed buildings, as well as for protection against further wyvern attacks. And if there are Desannian forces encroaching on our lands, we will find out in short order.”
A reasonable plan, Leander thought.
“That will only bait Nevari,” Jarryn said, a frown creasing his features. “‘Strength invites challenge’ is something our father would always say, and Nevari was father’s most attentive student.”
“What else would you have me do, Jarryn? Winter is upon us and without our help, these people will freeze.” Lucien was more than a little exasperated and Leander got the distinct impression that Verin had just been playing devil’s advocate and making the same arguments just before they had shown up. “It is fifteen soldiers. I am only leaving fifteen soldiers behind. If Nevari views that as ‘strength’, then this will be an easy war to win.”
“I’m just saying?—”
“I know what you’re trying to say. I understand, I really do. And your knowledge of Desanne has been unprecedented in its helpfulness, but I know your first loyalty is to a kingdom you think is yours, and my loyalty is to the kingdom that will one day be mine.”
Jarryn swallowed, an expression on his face like he had just sucked on a lemon.
“If there are mistakes to be made, let them be my mistakes,” Lucien finished. Picking up his flagon, he downed the last few dregs and slammed it down on the table. “Right, if we’re done here, I suggest we eat, restock, and get back on the road.”
More welcome words had never been spoken. Leander was not looking forward to more blisters on his backside, but he did want the comforts of his father’s opulent home as soon as was practical.
