Ch. 7 - The Crossing, pt. 1

[chapter seven: the crossing]

The nine had trudged since before dawn without stopping, and they were just beginning to realize that it was about time for a halt. They had made good time, putting several miles' distance between them and Kirwald, but everyone was beginning to show signs of fatigue. Thorand had picked up Tyriel to carry her after the first three hours so as to keep her from fainting. Lynas was again unconscious and draped over Aonas' shoulder. Briseis was dragging her feet, eyelids drooping heavily.

"I'm bloody starving," Aranor sighed, his voice a low whine. "I haven't eaten since last night."

Adolyn cuffed him on the ear. "Quit your complaining. We'll be stopping soon enough."

Tyriel looked up, bleary-eyed, and addressed Adolyn. "Please, Lady Adolyn, don't do that."

"Do what?" Adolyn asked in reply.

"Hit him so," Tyriel clarified. "It's bad enough that you yell at him all the time. He doesn't deserve to be hit."

A large insect flew in front of Adolyn's face and she waved her hand to brush it away. "If you only knew, my lady," she answered, rolling her eyes.

Thorand shrugged, shifting Tyriel's weight in his arms. "Perhaps she's right, Lady Adolyn. Even if she wasn't, she's the sovereign of Fargion. You'd do well to listen to her."

At that moment, a sharp gasp rose from the other part of the group. The group came to a halt to see what was wrong, and saw that Lynas had suddenly arisen, his eyes wide with pain. A good-sized bit of the skin of his arm was missing and blood was beginning to seep out of the wound. Aonas set him down on the ground carefully, looking over the injury. The insect that had interrupted Adolyn was hovering around the boy, and its jaws seemed to be wet with blood.

"Lynas, are you alright?" Faraneth asked in concern, quickly rushing to examine the wound. "What happened?"

Lynas winced as she pressed a cloth against it. "I'm fine, yes. I don't quite know what happened...I just felt a strong pinch on my arm - almost like a bite - and it was enough to wake me up."

Thorand saw the bug and eyed it suspiciously. "I have a feeling it was because of that little devil right there," he said after setting Tee down and pointing to where the creature had landed on a nearby tree.

"So what? Just a big horsefly," Aranor scoffed.

Adolyn glared at him. "That looks nothing like a horsefly. I doubt you've even seen a horsefly before."

Faraneth studied the bug closely, narrowing her eyes to get a good look at it. "Well, horsefly or not, it took a good bit out of your arm. I only hope it isn't poisonous."

Brethain interjected. "Kill it, then. What use is a giant beetle that bites and may be poisonous?" he said.

Aonas took the staff in his hands and swung it hard at the insect. However, the creature took to the air seconds before impact, and the staff hit the tree instead, sending strong vibrations through the pole and through Aonas' arms. He gasped and shook the pain out of his arms. The bug flew off, disappearing into the woods.

"So much for that," Briseis sighed, placing her hands on her hips.

Brethain looked around the group and the clearing in which they were standing. "Well, while we're here, we might as well stop and take a short break. We've been walking for quite some time, and it looks like Tee could use the rest."

The rest seconded his opinion and soon they were passing morsels of food around the group, sharing what they had. They did not light a fire for fear that the smoke might be seen, but they were content with their brief meal. After about an hour's rest, the nine stood, shouldering their packs and taking to the road once more.

[to be continued...]