15. Chapter 15
Ishook off the sight as we continued walking, massaging my hand where new scars had begun to form from pushing my power, a stinging pain freezing and stiffening the joints.
Malik panted next to me, frowning as he noticed my movements.
"Is that what you saw in your dream?" he asked.
I nodded, my eyes continuing to scan the forest around us.
"Yes," I said. "I hadn't seen them before then, but now…" Now they were here, not just confined to my dreams, but on Wellea, controlling the rot. Where they had been before, I did not know, but one thing I could not deny was that the rot was changing, and Wellea with it.
A warm mist began to permeate the air as we continued to walk, enough to cause a drop of sweat to form at my brow and my dress to stick to my back, bringing my attention to just how dirty my dress was, the sudden feel of dirt, grime, and sweat making my skin crawl.
I looked down at the dress I was wearing—the same one I had been wearing when we left Sorrel.
It was one of my brother's creations, a dark green smock with purple and gold thread embroidering, turning what normally would be a plain dress into something of splendor.
While it wasn't the best dress for traversing through the forest as we were, I was happy to have a part of home with me, covered in filth as it was.
I looked over to Malik and found him in a similar state of disarray, splatters of blood from Therian and the king's men coating his tunic and hair, a layer of dirt covering the once pristine leather.
I was tempted to dive into the river as we rounded its bend, the undeniable chill of the water my only deterrent, when I spotted pools of water dotting the forest, the soft steam billowing out of them showing their warmth.
I felt a wave of relief at the pools, for it had been too long since I had properly washed, not to mention the ache that had settled into my bones.
"Thank Rida." Malik sighed in relief next to me.
We approached the pools swiftly with the same objective in mind, me settling my bag against a nydle as I bent to remove my shoes.
I did so carefully, knowing my feet had swollen, when a splashing of water caught my attention.
I turned, finding Malik emerging from underneath the water, my eyes catching on the hair plastered to his head and the tanned skin of his chest now dripping with water.
I looked away, my eyes landing on the rocks I was sitting near, which were piled high with his clothes. All of his clothes.
How he had undressed so quickly, I would never know, but I understood why he did not hesitate to jump in the water. I wanted to do the same but now found myself hesitating.
I wasn't unfamiliar with a man's body—there was no shame in such things in Sorrel.
Everyone used the same group of warm springs to bathe, so Malik and I were familiar with one another growing up.
Still though, it had been years, and nothing prepared me for the sight of him in that moment.
I watched as he stood, droplets of water cascading down his body, the sunlight glinting off the contours of the muscles that now lined his back.
I turned away from him out of instinct, my status as a married woman not lost on me. Even deep in the forest where no one would find us, I didn't wish to risk someone seeing us together in this way. It was wholly inappropriate and I had already done enough to my reputation.
So, I remained quiet as Malik bathed, observing the trees around me, wondering if I should wait until Malik was asleep to get in myself. But it didn't take long for him to notice my absence in the water next to him.
"Are you not getting in?" he asked.
"I can wait," I answered, taking great interest in the centennial tree before me. "You enjoy it. You had a long journey to Wellea, and I'm sure you could use the—"
"Get in the water, Lyra," he cut me off, his voice firm but coaxing.
I turned, meeting his eye, and knew from the look on his face that he would not let this go.
The winter had been long in Sorrel, and it had been ages since I had been able to fully immerse myself in a warm body of water.
"You need to ease your muscles. They've been strained ever since we've been on the road," he said.
Malik was right. The warmth of the water would ease the ache that had spread throughout my body, a reprieve that was much needed and one that would make the rest of our journey easier. I sighed as I stood, giving into both him and the desire to slip into the water.
Malik turned as I shed my layers, giving me a small sense of privacy as I removed my dress, every drop of my clothing onto the ground seeming to boom around us.
I made quick work of stepping into the water, a sigh escaping me as the warmth sank into my skin.
My muscles relaxed as I submerged under the water, letting the sweat, dirt, and grime that had made a home in my pores melt away.
The heat of the water unfurled my muscles the further I submerged, a tingling going from the crown of my head to the tips of my toes.
Something about the pools felt otherworldly, like silk over my skin as I soaked. And for a moment, it felt as though the past few days hadn't happened, as if I'd found a piece of the bliss and safety I'd sought for so long.
The moment passed quickly as I broke the water's surface, the sway of the nimids and nydles setting me on edge. I scanned the surrounding forest, searching for any dark form that could be a reveler or mainland man stalking us through the Alesi.
"Allyra," Malik said, catching my attention. I turned to face him and found his eyes shining with concern.
"I won't let whatever that thing was find us. And if it does, I won't let it get near us."
I ran my hands through the water, watching it ripple with my movements. "What if you can't stop it?"
I had no idea the true power of the revelers, what they even were, or what they were capable of.
"I can," he said. "And I will."
I smiled at his determination. Always the valiant fighter, willing to put himself on the line for anyone.
His words steadied me, and I let myself relish in the water, turning around and grabbing the soap I had brought with me out of my bag.
It was a special blend made by the town herbalist, and as I dipped it into the water, scents of blackberry and violets filled the air, bringing me some semblance of peace and remembrance of home.
The sound of Malik moving in the water next to me lulled me into a state of contentment as I ran the soap over my skin, breathing in deeply.
The soap’s scent had spread through the mist of the pool when I heard Malik turn in the water, the weight of his gaze heavy on my back.
It was then I became all too aware that he was there, just as bare in the water alongside me.
His sudden attention prickled my skin, as nothing about his gaze was ever anything less than intense. The water suddenly felt heavy on my skin, every crevice it touched now alight with awareness.
I sunk down into the water and turned to face him, a questioning look on my face as my eyes met his.
His skin was damp from the steam, much like mine was, hair clinging to his forehead, bringing my attention to the dark brown of his eyes as they studied me.
"You still use the same soap," he stated quietly, his eyes tracing down my face to my shoulders, following the line of my hair to where it floated atop the water.
There is a certain sort of gentleness and vulnerability that comes with bathing with someone you once knew so well.
There was nothing to hide, but I found myself stripped bare, catapulted back ten years as we studied one another in the spring.
I remembered when Malik would forget his own bar of soap and had to use mine, returning to his training smelling of blackberries and violets.
And now, the thought of that happening once more lit something inside of me that I couldn't name.
I took a closer look at him then. Malik was strong before he left, but it was nothing compared to what I saw before me in that moment.
The water glistened off his body, highlighting the contours of his chest and the pure strength that was now so evident.
There was no denying he was a man now, the smile lines and faint dusting of facial hair after days traversing through the forest indicators of just how much time had passed since I last saw him.
I liked seeing him older and more mature as it ignited something deep within me that I could not shake.
The mischievous glint that always painted his eye was missing in that moment, instead replaced with something much more serious, something that made me lose my breath, and hold up the bar of soap in an effort of distraction.
"Would you like some?" I asked. "You could use it."
Malik laughed at my jab, reaching towards me to grab the soap from my hand, but the moment he got close enough for his hand to brush mine, he shook his hair at me, sprays of water hitting me in the face.
A small shriek escaped me as he chuckled, forcing my own laugh in return as I splashed back at him, the water becoming icy as it hit the air.
"Finally, something other than a frown from you."
His words made my laugh fade to a soft smile, because he was right. It had been a long time since I was able to jest with someone, to let myself relax, if even for just a moment.