“Where are the others?” he asked.
Hekla’s jaw hardened as she tried to gauge the time. “It’s been a full night, plus half a day. By now they’ll have freed the Forest Maiden’s other half and be well on their way to the heartwood.”
“It is just the two of us, then.”
“Mmm.” She kept her gaze on the fire, but felt him watching her.
“All I had to do to get you alone was to be impaled by a man-eating spider and go over a waterfall.”
She refused to smile at that, but could not keep her gaze from sliding his way.
“Hekla, I’ve tried to give you space, but—”
Panic sliced through her, and she pushed abruptly to her feet.
Eyvind’s exhale was long and heavy. “I thought your anger was directed at me, that you only needed time. But now I realize I was wrong. This has gone on too long for that.”
Her stomach was twisting itself into knots. “Stop,” she whispered, pressing fingertips to her temples.
But the fool persisted. “What happened between us frightened you—”
“Stop!”
Her words echoed off the trees surrounding the riverbank, but the sound was no match for her thundering heartbeat. She couldn’t do this. Couldn’t speak of it.
Hekla snatched Eyvind’s dried undertunic and flung it at him. “Get dressed.” She turned her back to him, refusing to glance his way. “Do you think you can walk?”
“Aye,” he said, his disappointment making her insides wrench tighter.
“Good,” she forced out. “We’re out of time. Three nights remain before the full Marra. It might be impossible to catch the others, but still, we must try.”
Eyvind’s breaths grew labored as he tried to work his tunic over his head. A pang of worry struck Hekla, and she turned—keeping her gaze above his shoulders—to help him slide it on.
“My breeches,” he mumbled somberly, and she felt like she’d kicked an injured puppy. “Could you help with those, too?”
Hekla’s teeth clamped together. “Fine,” she seethed. As she helped him pull his breeches on, Hekla’s body and mind were at war with each other. Why couldn’t she do this? Why couldn’t she hear him out?
Because, her stupid, logical mind informed her,you’re afraid you’ll forgive him.
After a minute or two of careful shifting, Eyvind belted his breeches in place, and Hekla helped him stand.
“Your handiwork?” he asked, nodding at the blood-matted side of his tunic.
“Aye.”
“Impressive,” said Eyvind. “Very well.” He sighed. “Lead the way.”
They trudged along the riverbank, glancing frequently at the sun to ensure they traveled due north. Their pace was slow, and they rested often. Hekla checked the gash on Eyvind’s side, replacing the moss and tearing the last remnants of her overtunic to prepare fresh bandages.
The pair quickly gave up on the concept of boiling their water, as they had no pot with which to do so. Thankfully, the river’s flow was far quicker than the thin lazy brooks elsewhere in the woods. Still, Hekla and Eyvind had shared an apprehensive look before taking the first sip. A day soon passed, though, and neither fell dead, nor did they suffer any maladies.
As darkness fell, Eyvind kindled a fire with his galdur, and they curled side by side for warmth at night. Whether by his Ashbringer skill or something else, Eyvind held the heat rather well. And sandwiched between him and a campfire, Hekla fell into an easy sleep.
The woods were wholly empty, and even more unnerving.
“Where are the ravens?” Hekla asked. Two days had passed since they’d gone over the waterfall, and her hopes of catching the others were dwindling by the hour. “Where is that…feeling that the leech is watching?”
Eyvind crouched by the river, filling their waterskins. His wound was healing nicely, his strength rebounding more each day. Now he glanced at the indigo skies peeking through the canopy above. “Perhaps it has called its attention elsewhere.”
