Flinching at his touch, I start to pull back, but then a gentle warmth flows through me, quieting the fear, as if the air itself is soothing.
“There.” He pats my cheek, then turns and continues walking.
Fingers brushing the petals of the flower, I stare at his back as we walk down the river. Are all Reans like this? He has such a calming presence, it’s almost tangible. And it’s as if I keep forgetting how close I was to losing my life before he showed up. Every time I try bringing the wolf encounter to the forefront, it slips like a piece of soap in wet hands. Is he using magic on me? The thought turns my stomach, but Llyr mentioned Rea has lots of magic, so I don’t dismiss it entirely.
“Why did the wolf kill the three men but leave me alone?” I finally manage to sort my thoughts enough to ask the question.
“It knows you,” he says matter-of-factly, as if that makes any sense.
“Knows me as what, exactly?”
“That is for you to know.” He goes back to his happy whistling.
I scowl at him. So much for getting any answers. We continue on in silence once more, and I wonder if he has any particular destination inmind. Father willing, he will bring me to a settlement. The possibility of a real future makes my heart beat faster.
“I wonder . . .” I start.
“Wise decision, that. Wisdom begins in wonder.” Ero points to a brown shell on the forest floor—it looks like a large nut. He hits his staff over the top of it until it cracks, revealing a type of vivid purple fruit inside. “See? If I had not wondered what would be inside that otherwise mundane shell, I would never have found it.” He parts the fruit in two with his hands and offers me half of it.
“Right...” I say, taking the piece of fruit, my mouth instantly watering. It smells delicious.
“So, what was it you were wondering?” he says, his eyebrows raised in an inquisitive arc.
“I wonder if you know where the nearest settlement is?” I say.
“I do,” he says, but doesn’t elaborate.
“Well, would you care to let me know?”
“I would.”
“Andwhereis it?” Forcing a smile, I do my best to stay civil, but my voice betrays my frustration.
“At the mouth of this river.” He taps my head with his staff. “There are great powers in words, Laïna. Be careful how you put them together.”
“You make no sense,” I mutter, studying the strange piece of fruit in my hand. I bite into the soft flesh. It's sweet and tangy, unlike anything I've tasted before.
“Who said I need to make sense?” He cocks his head again. “The one who can laugh and appreciate the many absurdities of life is more likely to find enlightenment than the person burdened with seriousness.”
“Well, not everyone is born with that luxury,” I snap, but Ero simply blinks and appears as peaceful as ever.
Wiping the sweet fruit juice off my face, I shake my head and gesture for him to continue walking.
“Why don’t you tell me something useful?” I say, walking up next to him. “Like...” I pause. “The settlement down the river. Can you tell me what I need to know before I get there?”
He studies me for a moment. “You seem to know very little, so no, I cannot.” He chuckles at his own joke.
This man. I roll my eyes at him. “Just tell mesomethingthat’s good to know, then.”
He considers my request for some time. “It is named Bowen,” he finally says. “And it is more of a city. In fact, it is the capital of the province of Tierra—that is where we are right now—and it is located at the mouth of the Teine, which is this river”—he points with his staff toward the river—“if you were wondering. Which I assume you were. You seem to be wondering a lot. Which, of course, as I stated previously, is a good thing. Especially when you do not know much. Which you do not.” He chuckles again. “However”—he spins to face me, staff lifted—“as long as you know that you know nothing, you are wiser than most indeed.”
I lift my arms, only to have them drop with an exasperated sigh. I don’t understand half of what he’s rambling about. “Are you always this difficult?” I blurt before I can control myself.
“No,” he says matter-of-factly. “But I must admit, I find your frustration rather amusing.”
I gape at him, then snap my mouth shut before he can make another rude comment.
“Do not dismiss the wisdom in my words though, Laïna. It may all sound like nonsense to you, but they are all truths. You know what is good to know?”
