Chapter 112
"When the first flame is reclaimed, seek not the heights where fire once ruled. Turn from the mountains and follow the path where silence drinks the sky. Look not to rivers that rush, nor seas that rage, but to waters that keep what heaven leaves behind. Where roots drink from the drowned earth,
and moonlight rests upon unbroken glass, where stars seem to sleep beneath the surface, there waits the second fragment. Let only the steadfast proceed."
"So that means no more mountains. That's a relief," I said as I read the clue aloud.
Then I looked back at the map.
"Judging from all this, our next fragment lies beneath a body of water?"
"Most likely," Rhaevan said. "Look not to rivers that rush, nor seas that rage. Drowned earth. Unbroken glass..."
He read the clue again, his eyes moving over the words.
"Something that doesn't rush. Something still."
He looked at the map again.
"Like a lake."
He was quiet for a moment before adding, "I think our next fragment lies beneath a lake. But where?"
He read the lines again.
"Where roots drink from the drowned earth..."
"Trees around the water," I said. "Or vegetation growing along the water's edge. Which means it isn't some barren mountain lake."
Rhaevan reached into his bag and pulled out another map, the one he had borrowed from Benedict.
"A lake away from the mountains. Not connected to a rushing river. Not the sea. Surrounded by trees or vegetation."
I frowned.
"How many lakes are there around here?"
Rhaevan studied the map.
"Seven. But if we eliminate the ones that don't match the description, we're left with three."
He marked the three locations on Benedict's map before pointing to the first.
"This one is the closest. We can search there tomorrow."
"Very well," I said, a yawn escaping me. "I think my brain has tired itself enough for today."
The faintest hint of a smile appeared on his face.
"Get some sleep, Cassiane."
I nodded and started toward the tent before looking back.
"And you?"
"I'll manage."
I noticed the reluctance in his voice.
He was probably planning to sleep outside again. The last time, he had kept watch through the night and ended up dozing off outside the tent. I had felt guilty about it ever since.
After reconsidering for a moment, I sighed.
"You know, there's enough space in the tent for two people."
Rhaevan looked up at me.
"Last time, I noticed you kept watch and ended up dozing off outside. It's cold, and you have an injured arm. You should come inside."
His expression softened slightly.
"I promise I don't kick," I added.
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
"Come on. You could use some sleep too."
He studied me for a moment before finally nodding.
"All right."
He carefully folded the map, placed it and the compass inside his satchel, and slung it over his shoulder before getting to his feet.
I crawled back into the tent and took the farthest corner on the right, leaving as much space between us as possible. A moment later, Rhaevan followed and settled on the opposite side.
There was still plenty of room between us, which was exactly what I wanted.
This was perfectly normal. We were sharing a tent because it was cold, and Rhaevan needed to rest his injured arm. There was nothing awkward about it.
I pulled the blanket over myself.
"Good night, Rhaevan."
"Good night, Cassiane."
I closed my eyes and tried to sleep, although I was suddenly far too aware of the fact that he was only a few feet away.
Eventually, I drifted off.
---
When I woke, the first thing I noticed was the warmth.
It was different from the warmth of the blanket. Something warm and solid was beneath my cheek, rising and falling with a slow, steady rhythm.
Still half-asleep, I shifted slightly, expecting to find the blanket beneath me. Instead, my cheek pressed against the unmistakable movement of a chest.
My eyes opened.
It took several seconds for my sleep-heavy mind to process what I was seeing.
Rhaevan.
At some point during the night, I had apparently abandoned the perfectly reasonable corner I had chosen and crossed the entire tent in my sleep. I was lying on his chest, with one hand resting against it as though this were the most natural place in the world to sleep.
I slowly lifted my head, intending to move away, but then I made the mistake of looking at him.
He was still asleep.
Without his usual alert expression, he looked surprisingly peaceful. His dark hair had fallen across his forehead, and the faint shadows beneath his eyes made it obvious how exhausted he had been. There was none of his usual composure or vigilance in his sleeping face.
I had seen him injured, angry, irritated, worried, and frighteningly calm in the middle of dangerous situations, but I had never seen him this unguarded.
Unfortunately, he was also very handsome.
I knew I should move away before he woke up, but instead, I remained there for a few more seconds, shamelessly watching him sleep.
Then his breathing changed, and his eyebrows twitched.
He was waking up.
Shit!!
I immediately lowered my head and closed my eyes, hoping that if he opened his eyes, he would assume I was still asleep. It was a ridiculous strategy considering that I was practically lying on top of him, but at that point, I had no better plan.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
I cautiously opened one eye.
Still asleep.
Good.
Time to commence the exit strategy.
I carefully began moving away. I had barely shifted my head when Rhaevan stirred. Before I could retreat any farther, his arm moved instinctively and settled around my waist.
I froze.
He was still asleep, but apparently, some part of him had decided that letting me escape was unacceptable.
His arm tightened just enough to pull me back against his chest, leaving me with my back pressed against him. His body was warm, his breathing soon settled into a steady rhythm again, and his breath brushed against the back of my neck.
There was something unexpectedly peaceful about being held like that. I had spent so long trying to maintain a careful distance between us that I had never considered how easily that distance could disappear when neither of us was awake to maintain it.
For those few quiet moments, I felt completely safe.
So, instead of escaping like any sensible person would have, I closed my eyes and quietly settled closer against him.
We remained that way for some time.
Eventually, Rhaevan stirred again. His breathing changed, and his arm slowly went still before withdrawing from my waist.
The warmth behind me disappeared, leaving an unexpected emptiness.
I kept my eyes closed, pretending to sleep as he shifted away.
I waited for an awkward cough or a quiet apology. Perhaps even a horrified, "Cassiane, why are you here?"
Nothing came.
Instead, he carefully pulled the blanket higher over my shoulder and tucked it around me before getting up.
The tent flap opened a moment later, and his footsteps gradually faded outside.
I waited until I was certain he was gone before opening my eyes.
I stared at the empty space beside me for a moment before pulling the blanket over my face.
Of all the things I had survived since arriving in this world, waking up in Rhaevan's arms might somehow be the most difficult one to recover from.
What bothered me most, however, was not the embarrassment. It was the fact that before I remembered where I was, I had felt completely safe in his arms.
Apparently, even my sleeping self had started making decisions without consulting me.
---
By the time we had finished packing and were ready to leave, I had changed into something a little nicer than my usual travel clothes.
There was no particular reason for it. I simply wanted to look a little more presentable after several days of travelling through the mountains.
It certainly had nothing to do with what had happened that morning.
I was adjusting my sleeve when Rhaevan glanced over.
His eyes lingered on me for a moment.
"What?" I asked, suddenly feeling a little self-conscious.
"Are you... wearing that?"
I looked down at myself.
"Excuse me?"
He shifted his gaze away for a moment.
"Are you sure you'll be comfortable travelling in that?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"I just thought you might want to wear something..."
He paused briefly before adding, "More practical. Something easier to move in."
Oh, this jerk...
"My clothes are practical. I can move perfectly well in them. I can fight in them, too. I could even take you down if necessary!"
Rhaevan blinked.
"I... I was just-"
He took one look at my expression and apparently decided that continuing would be a poor survival strategy.
"Let's go."
I picked up my satchel and walked past him, trying very hard not to think about the fact that he hadn't said a single thing about how I looked.
Of course he hadn't noticed.
Why would he?
I had only changed because I wanted to.
It wasn't as though I had dressed nicely for him.
Absolutely not.