Evening

 

It was the evening of the following day, and Ayleah lay comfortably in her bed, reflecting on her feelings, sorting them before sleep. From how she lay she could see the others in their bunks of the communal traveler's-inn room. Jaen faced away from her on the far side of the room, breathing softly. The others were mostly asleep, with only Fen and the man Nathan missing. The two of them had been getting along well, and must be sharing a nightcap somewhere. She looked back at the sleeping young captain, and thought again about their conversation. She hoped she had let him down easy enough.

It had happened earlier that afternoon, when they were stopped at the balcony ledge. It was a small but tight-knit community that perched near a north-facing edge of mountain. It offering respite and a good general store, but no promise of an overnight stay. Ayleah had strayed to an overlook on the cliff, taking in the new northerly views. Below her lay a gorgeous field of forest, rich in dappled greens and promising magical depths, but the air was not as it had been on the higher peaks. Here there was a more ready presence of humans. It was barely distinguishable, but her studies of late had brought a finer tuning to her senses. There also seemed to be a darkness to the land before her, and it was not a clean darkness, but a muddiness; a feeling that the mixture was unbalanced. It was in the middle of these thoughts that Jaen had approached. He stood by her and remarked on the view.

Jaen had little of her awareness of the world, but he was tactful enough to be an un-intrusive companion. Their conversation had flowed easily and casually, as was usually the case. This time though, he eventually expressed his true sentiments, and asked what Ayleah planned to do once she had reunited with her mentor. The underlying deeper feelings he must have were left unspoken, but Ayleah had responded to them anyway.

“I have so much admiration for you Jaen, and probably always will. You have set yourself upon a path that is good, and good for you as well. I have to tell you though that whatever path lies before me, I fear it is a different one. I don't know where I'll go once I find Telon, but I can't go back with you. I don't deny that your path would bring me happiness, but I feel that my...destiny is elsewhere.”

Although she could tell a part of him hurt, he gave a weak smile. “Can anyone be sure of their own destiny?”

She put a hand on his shoulder. “You must return to your mountain and your duty, and I must return to the sea. I really look forward to seeing who you become- are already becoming. I do care for you Jaen, as any one can care for another. If the story had been different...and I know we'll meet again someday. Plus, Burnt Rock is still a couple days away at least, so we're not parting ways quite yet.”

Jaen looked away from her, but his tone was relaxed. “You're right, we do still have some time now. I'll do my best to not be too disappointed in the moment. You are an amazing jewel Ayleah, brighter than any I have seen in these mountains, but I knew your destiny might lie somewhere else. If I can count you as a friend at least, I can find satisfaction on my path.”

Ayleah kept looking at Jaen, though his eyes were still on the horizon. “To be truthful I don't know if destiny exists, but I know you will find many jewels in your lifetime, and eventually one will seem brighter even than me. I do hope we're still friends when that time comes. Despite what you might tell yourself, you do shine pretty brightly yourself.

She stepped closer to him and lightly kissed his cheek. “If the story had been different.” she said, and walked back to their vehicle.

---

The ride down to Birch Glen from the balcony had been quiet, and Ayleah had worried, turning over the conversation in her mind. She had wondered if she had done or said the right things, and if Jaen's relaxed air was merely a front for some inner turmoil. She was a little assuaged over the course of the evening however. There had been a jovial mood about the group as they made camp, and by suppertime the young captain seemed fully himself again. She had kept socially away from him, but felt he didn't really mind her presence. That was good. It was important that they all get along for these few days, being packed into one vehicle as they were.

Of course a positive mood was easily infectious when around their new traveling companions. Thomas, Nathan, and their sister Meral were as friendly as could be, and highly resourceful at wilderness living. They belonged to a sort of subculture that liked to travel the long wilderness routes for adventure and sightseeing. This road that Ayleah and the others had followed from Abrahim and Battell was part of a route that followed the entire mountain range from south to north. As folks like these three traveled, they would encounter the various cultures of the mountains, and see vast regional views from peaks all along the way. They had crossed many miles of rivers and peaks in their travels, venturing further and further into the northern mountains.

The three siblings were somewhat quirky, but overall good people, and commanded a vehicle larger than their needs. Though their van was a heavy-duty mountain hauler, the gear inside was shaped by a preference for the ultra-light. As a practice, the little group did with as few possessions as possible, relying on commerce with the villages they passed through and their general know-how to get by. The repulsars had also been modified, and provided the heavy grip of a mountain vehicle while being about half the size.

Fen and Jaen were enthralled by the lifestyle and knowledge of the three long-route travelers. They were fast becoming friends with the two brothers, excited by the sharing of knowledge. Heln had remained fairly quiet again that day, but seemed to enjoy the social atmosphere of the group in his own way. By the time they reached Birch Glen they had all become, at very least, close acquaintances, and shared in the gladness of a comfortable place to stay the night.

The township was expansive, and more well-outfitted than most of the villages Ayleah had seen in the mountains. The structure and central square were well below the ridgeline, on a gentle leafy slope. The woods felt light and friendly here, a reflection of the accommodations they found, and the group looked forward to a pleasant sleep and an easy morning in the cathedral of green.