Episode 162 The Way He Looks at Her
The Way He Looks at Her
Viala leans against the wall as Tharios knocks on the door of Cerian’s little cottage. It’s a sweet place, with a bit of romance about it.
He clearly grew it with one person in mind.
Hopefully, Taliel and Jonas survived what was probably an awkward night.
Thoughts of Viala’s first nights with Tharios make her smile. The more she tried to distance herself from him, the more her panic grew until there was no slack to the cord left. Did Peravyn sleep at all that first night as Tharios lay beside her because her elf prince had no choice?
It’s a wonder her older brother didn’t restrain Tharios. Whether he could have held Tharios or not is impossible to say.
Not that Tharios wasn’t the perfect gentleman, other than the bickering.
For that night, at least.
“What are you smiling about?” Tharios whispers.
“Just thinking about our first nights together.”
“Before or after our binding?”
“Both.”
Before he can respond, the door opens, and Taliel appears in her warrior leathers.
They converse in Nunian, and Tharios holds out the clean but tattered guard clothing.
“Thank you,” Taliel says.
Viala understood that. She’s picking up more Nunian every day.
She tries to make out the rest. It sounds like Tharios is apologizing. His words—or what she understands of them—warm Viala’s heart. Never afraid to learn. That’s her elf prince.
“Tharios, no,” Taliel says. Followed by more words Viala doesn’t understand.
Probably telling Tharios it wasn’t all his fault.
And it wasn’t. So many unwise decisions were made last night, by all of them.
As they speak, Jonas appears beside Taliel, and he looks a little uncomfortable in his current state of dress. It’s doubtful he wanders around with his chest bare often. Not in Nunia, at any rate.
But he stands far closer to Taliel than he ever has before. Such a powerful magic, the heartbinding. Pangs of jealousy fill Viala, but she pushes them away.
She loves her elf, even without magic speeding up the process. They had to work for their love, which just makes it all the sweeter.
At least that’s what she keeps telling herself.
Jonas says something about Cerian, and Tharios grins.
What in the world are they discussing now?
Soon, the door closes, and Tharios reaches for Viala’s hand.
“Cerian was wandering around shirtless yesterday, according to Rafelis,” Tharios whispers. “I have so many questions.”
Viala laughs. Cerian will probably not be happy Jonas told Tharios that.
“They seem to have survived the night,” Tharios says more seriously. “Thank the fates.”
“I think they did more than survive. Did you notice how close he stood to her?”
“I did.” Tharios sighs. “I hope you’re right.”
“You know what I think?”
“I’m hoping you’ll enlighten me, faerie.” He squeezes her hand, and she laughs.
“I think Jonas had feelings for Taliel already.”
Tharios stops walking and looks at Viala. “They barely know each other.”
Viala shrugs. “There’s something in the way he looks at her. Even before the heartbinding. It reminds me of how you looked at me when we first met. You still look at me that way sometimes.”
Tharios glances back at the cottage.
“His heart chose this, my love,” Viala says softly as she lets go of Tharios’s hand and wraps her arms around his neck instead. “He’s been in shock, but never once has even a flicker of disappointment crossed his eyes. Hold on to that.”
Tharios slides his hands around Viala’s waist. “I’d rather hold on to you.”
“I’ll allow it.”
Tharios laughs before finding her lips, and Viala focuses on her safe place.
On him.
“Once you’re done reminding us all how much you love each other, get inside,” Rafelis says as he wanders past. “We have things to discuss.”
Viala shakes her head as Tharios sends a swirl of air magic after Rafelis, but Rafelis just waves Tharios off and disappears into the stone shelter.
“I suppose we’d better face this.” Tharios reaches for her hand again, and they follow Rafelis inside.
“So Viala was the only one awake when they approached?” Mother asks.
“As far as I know,” Tharios says as Elowyn translates for Rominy and Jonas. “I only woke because she fell on me.”
Rafelis stands with his arms crossed as he addresses Tharios. “And that’s when you sensed Fenoral’s magic?”
“Yes. Viala heard what she thought was an animal, and I reached out with my life magic to check.”
“You sensed nothing before that?” Corivos leans over the table with maps strewn on it.
Tharios sighs. “It was the first time I checked. I was trying to keep my magic strong for Uncle Quilian. I realize now that was a poor decision.”
No one castigates him this time. Thank the fates.
“So we know how he snuck up on you,” Father says. “The question is, where was he hiding, and how did every other tracker in the warrior bands miss him?”
“If he stayed near Tharios and Taliel, he would have been difficult for all but your strongest trackers to detect,” Uncle Quilian says weakly from his bed. “The combination of her destruction magic and Tharios’s overwhelming power may have been possible to hide behind.”
Tharios needs to examine Uncle Quilian soon, but he looks much improved.
“And our strongest trackers were here or searching the woods.” Corivos sighs as he straightens. “You were not the only one who made mistakes, Tharios. I should have left one of our elite trackers at Windhaven.”
“We didn’t know what we were facing here,” Mother says. “Questioning ourselves now is unhelpful.”
“But we can learn from our mistakes,” Tharios says quietly.
“Indeed.” Father looks thoughtfully at the map.
“What are you thinking, my love?” Mother asks him.
“Last time we talked, we agreed Fenoral would most likely lie low, did we not? And that he would make for Celesta rather than approach Darlei. So what did we miss?”
Viala glances around the room, and Tharios lays a hand on her back. “What is it?”
“Fenoral was injured.”
That gets everyone’s attention, including Tharios’s. “He was? Are you certain?”
“Remember when he attacked us the first time? I broke part of him. An arm or a rib. At least, I think it was him.”
Tharios frowns. “I assumed Werithen was the elf you injured, but now that I consider it, Werithen didn’t have any broken bones.”
“Was Fenoral injured last night?” Mother asks.
“I didn’t sense any injuries, but my magic wasn’t at its best,” Tharios says.
“Someone must have healed him,” Taliel says as Jonas stands quietly beside her.
“And then he followed us from Darlei?” Elowyn asks. “Why?”
“That you have lived an existence where you need to ask is a beautiful thing,” Uncle Quilian says.
Rafelis squeezes her shoulder. “It is, indeed.”
“I see,” Elowyn says. “It’s because of Tharios. Because of me and because of Rominy. Isn’t it?”
“It’s because we made Lostariel a different place,” Mother says.
“So why did they run off?” Elowyn asks. “Why not finish what they started?”
“I’ve been wondering the same thing,” Tharios says.
“My best guess is that their goal wasn’t to take us down.
They were vastly outnumbered and overpowered, even with my magic not at its best. And they must have known they couldn’t win against us.
What they could do was scare us. Terrorize us for a time.
Pick off one or more of us to avenge their fallen comrade. ”
“Am I correct in assuming we’re all lucky to be alive?” Jonas asks in Nunian.
Rafelis claps him on the shoulder. “You especially. How’s that wound, Third?”
Third?
Jonas just shakes his head. “The pain is much improved since you used your magic on it this morning, sir.”
Taliel looks like she’s trying not to smile.
Did Rafelis conscript Jonas into the warrior bands? Tharios barely holds back laughter.
“I’m sure this goes without saying, but it’s my job to keep Rominy safe,” Jonas continues, “and I find myself with a shortage of guards to help me. I’m formally requesting assistance from the warrior bands during our sojourn here.”
“You have it,” Rafelis says more seriously. “I’m making Taliel’s assignment to assist your guard unit permanent for the duration of your stay, and I’ll get you more warriors to assist.”
“Thank you, sir,” Jonas says as Tharios translates their exchange for Viala.
No one says what they must all be thinking.
What happens for Taliel and Jonas after Rominy and Elowyn end their stay in Lostariel? But that’s a problem for another day.
“So either we have a traitor in Darlei, or Fenoral coerced someone into healing him,” Corivos says.
“Healers heal,” Tharios says. “Regardless of how we feel. It’s the oath we take.
That said, any healer approached by Fenoral should have reported his presence to Windhaven.
To me. And no one did, which leads me to believe your conclusion is correct.
Someone in Darlei helped him, whether willingly or not. We need to find out who.”
“Is Quilian ready to travel?” Corivos asks.
Before Tharios can respond, Uncle Quilian answers, “He is. And I dare any of you to say otherwise.”
All eyes turn to Tharios, and he chuckles. “I’m not sure it’s wise to contradict that. I’ll examine you, but as long as you don’t mind a bit of discomfort, I don’t believe the ride to Darlei will damage you.”
“Have the warrior bands ready to move out within the hour,” Corivos says as he gathers his maps, and Rafelis nods and strides through the doorway.
“I suppose you’ll want your horse back,” Rominy says to Cerian. “He’s a pleasant guy.”
“You rode Lightshorn?” Cerian asks.
“That’s the horse they gave me. I hope that’s all right. I’ll figure something else out for the ride back to Darlei.”
“No, it’s fine. Go...go ahead and borrow him while you’re in Lostariel.”
Tharios looks at Cerian in surprise. He’s usually very possessive of his horse.
“I...I have Starfire,” Cerian adds.
“Starfire?” Elowyn asks.
“He’s a unicorn. He chose me.”
“You have a unicorn I haven’t met yet?” Elowyn is already pushing him toward the door.
“Food first,” Grandmera says. “Then you may all go admire Cerian’s unicorn.”
Elowyn slumps, and Tharios smiles as he shakes his head.
Then he leans close so only she can hear. “I’m planning to eat fast, so try to keep up. I want to see a red unicorn.”
Elowyn spins toward the food. “Eat fast, Rominy.”
“I’m pretty sure you’re going to be the death of me,” Rominy mutters, but he doesn’t argue as they all hurry to find plates.