He shrugs. “I have my moments. Occasionally.”
“You have many moments, my love. So, wood. How do we know what we need?”
“They should be marked. Find all the pieces marked with the letter A.”
She picks up a piece of wood and frowns. “Let me see the book.”
“It looks like a peak with a line across it,” he says as he hands her the book.
“Fascinating.”
Surely that’s not new information to her. She can read some Nunian. Quite a bit, actually.
She holds out a board. “What do you see?”
“That’s an A. We just need eleven more of these.”
“You search for A’s. I’ll search for Elvish runes.”
He eyes the letter on the wood. “The heartlanding is a strange place.”
She smiles in response as they work on retrieving all the wood they need to get started.
What Is It Like?
Episode 93
Cerianstaresatthedoor leading to the rest of the hotel, and Arisanna squeezes his hand. In just one night, this suite has become a sanctuary for him. She’ll have to ask for this room if they stay in Feressa overnight in the future. Let people think what they will. It’s a haven for Cerian, and that matters more than anything else.
“You can do this,” she says softly. “I won’t leave your side.”
He glances at her before looking away. Is that embarrassment in his eyes?
“We all have our own fears,” she says. “At least you’re not terrified of the dark.”
He finds her eyes again and doesn’t look away this time, though he doesn’t speak.
“I find the darkness far less terrifying when I face it with you, my fire wielder. My light will fill your darkness, Cerian. The way yours does mine.”
“And we’ll be stronger together,” he whispers. Then he sighs. “Your mother overwhelms me.”
“You want to know a secret? She overwhelms me, too. But I love her. And she loves me. And we carry on.”
“I never know what she’s going to say next.”
“It’s a grand adventure full of surprising twists and turns.”
That draws out his smile.
“If you need to disappear for a few minutes,” she says, “return here, all right? So I’ll know where to find you.”
“I don’t wish to run from you.”
His words warm her heart.
“I know. But just in case, all right? Are you ready?”
He nods before reaching for the door.
