Chapter 6
Adelaide woke to a sharp pain in her lower back, the hard ground offering no mercy. Groaning, she rolled onto her stomach, struggling to lift her head. Before she could fully gather herself, firm hands gripped her shoulders and shoved her upright, forcing her to meet the steel-gray eyes of the one responsible for her rude awakening.
He crouched to her level, a smirk tugging at his lips as he said something in a tone dripping with sarcasm. Adelaide glared at him, her annoyance bubbling over as she stuck her tongue out in defiance. Her reaction earned a chuckle from him before he straightened and sauntered off toward the others, leaving her to stew.
Taking a moment to gather her bearings, Adelaide scanned the clearing. Golden-eyes was deep in conversation with the archer and the robed man, their exchange appearing friendly enough. She could only hope they were discussing something that might benefit her. When Knife-jerk rejoined the group, the robed man’s expression soured, a clear reminder of last night’s knife stunt. Adelaide smirked to herself.
Her attention shifted as the archer tapped the robed man’s shoulder, saying something that made him pause. He took her hand in his, and she giggled softly before pressing her palm to his face. Adelaide blinked, realization dawning. Her suspicion was confirmed when the robed man blushed and kissed the archer’s palm. Adelaide wrinkled her nose in disgust.
She wasn’t alone in her distaste. Knife-jerk rolled his eyes and muttered something to the archer, who nodded before turning her gaze toward Adelaide. The sudden attention made Adelaide’s heart skip. The archer began walking toward her, her cheerful demeanor disarming. Crouching to meet Adelaide’s eye level, she spoke in a bright, friendly tone. Perhaps it was a greeting?
“Uh… H-hello?” Adelaide stammered, her voice uncertain but hopeful. She prayed her intentions would come across clearly. So far, the archer had been the most approachable member of this strange group, and Adelaide found herself clinging to that small comfort.
The archer pointed to herself and spoke a foreign word. Adelaide’s puzzled expression betrayed her lack of understanding. Seeing this, the archer repeated the word, pressing her thumb into her chest with more emphasis. Her purple eyes searched Adelaide’s face, looking for any sign of recognition.
“Selyna,” the archer said again, slower this time.
Adelaide realized, her face lighting up with understanding. “S-selyna,” she repeated, her smile tentative but genuine. She had understood. Selyna’s face broke into a beam of approval, and she pointed to Adelaide’s chest.
“Adelaide,” she said, introducing herself. This time, Selyna’s brow furrowed slightly, her expression puzzled.
“A-ah…del…aide?” Selyna repeated, her finger still pointing at Adelaide’s chest. Adelaide nodded enthusiastically, her smile widening.
Selyna’s face brightened, and Adelaide felt a flicker of relief. This was, by far, the most positive interaction she’d had with anyone in the group. But her smile faltered as she noticed Selyna drawing her bowie knife. Adelaide’s heart raced, her eyes widening in alarm.
“S-sel…lyna?” Adelaide pleaded, her voice trembling as she tried to look as defenseless as possible. Her gaze begged for mercy. Selyna didn’t respond, her movements deliberate yet hesitant. She flinched slightly when her eyes met Adelaide’s, then leaned in, almost embracing her, and cut through the restraints binding Adelaide’s hands.
“Oh!” Adelaide exclaimed, heat rising to her cheeks as she realized the misunderstanding. Selyna sheathed her knife with a gentle smile, her tone soothing as she spoke words Adelaide couldn’t understand. Rising to her feet, Selyna extended a hand toward her.
Adelaide hesitated, rubbing her sore wrists as she glanced up at the archer. After a moment’s pause, she reached out and grasped Selyna’s hand. The grip was firm but steady, and Selyna pulled her upright with ease. Adelaide landed gracefully, but the motion sent a sharp pain shooting up from her blistered feet. She gasped, the forgotten agony rushing back to her.
Selyna’s expression shifted, concern flickering across her face as she studied Adelaide. She said something, her tone questioning, but the meaning was lost on Adelaide.
A sudden shout broke the moment. “Selyna!”
The robed man stormed toward them, his face dark with anger. Before Adelaide could react, he shoved her back into the dirt. She landed hard on her backside, her hands catching her fall and sending fresh pain through her wrists. Glaring up at him, she saw his body positioned protectively in front of Selyna, as though Adelaide were some kind of threat.
Selyna’s eyes widened in shock. She shouted something sharply, stepping forward to shove the robed man away. He stumbled back, his hands raised in a placating gesture as he muttered a response. Adelaide watched the exchange, her frustration simmering as she pushed herself back to her feet.
Rubbing her wrists in an attempt to ease the ache, she barely noticed Selyna stepping closer until the archer’s hands rested gently on her shoulders. Selyna’s gaze swept over Adelaide, her purple eyes narrowing as they landed on her feet. Her expression darkened, and she turned to the robed man, shouting at him with renewed intensity.
Caught off guard, he nodded meekly before jogging away toward the edge of the clearing. Adelaide’s eyes followed him, her brows knitting together in contempt as she watched him retreat.
Just then, the fighter approached the two of them, resting a hand on Selyna’s shoulder as he asked her something. Selyna shook her head in response and replied with a few words, her tone calm and measured. The fighter crossed his arms and nodded, his demeanor steady. Then his golden eyes shifted to Adelaide, locking onto her with an unreadable expression.
He said something directed at her, his voice steady but expectant. A pause followed, as though he were waiting for her response.
“I’m sorry. I still don’t understand…” Adelaide admitted, her gaze darting to Selyna in hopes of rescue. Selyna offered a gentle smile, turning to the fighter and speaking to him again, her tone patient. Something she said seemed to click for him. His eyes lit up with recognition, and he gave a small nod.
He pointed to himself, saying a word deliberately and slowly. Then he gestured toward Adelaide, waiting for her to respond.
“Adelaide,” she said confidently, placing a hand firmly on her chest. Then, with a smile, she pointed to the fighter. “Eryndor,” she repeated, carefully mimicking the word he had given for his name. Beaming, she looked up at him, relieved to finally have a normal interaction amidst the chaos.
Eryndor smiled back, a gesture so warm it caused her heart to skip. Her eyes wandered over his features—his golden-blonde hair tied messily in a bun atop his head, with intricate braids hugging his scalp on either side. A well-kept beard framed his strong jawline. She couldn’t help but admit to herself:
“Adelaide?” Eryndor asked suddenly, his tone slightly confused. Realizing she’d been staring, Adelaide’s face burned with embarrassment, and she quickly turned away.
Selyna chuckled, her purple eyes sparkling with amusement as she said something to Eryndor. Whatever it was, it made him flustered. His cheeks reddened as he replied to her in a defensive tone, though the argument lacked any real heat. Selyna’s laughter only deepened, leaving Adelaide standing there, thoroughly puzzled.
While the moment had lifted her spirits, a lingering sense of alienation crept in. The language barrier was still a wall between her and the group, no matter how kind they seemed.
Adelaide shook the thought away. There was no telling how long these people would tolerate her presence, but for now, she had to rely on them to get to civilization. She couldn’t fight by their side or contribute much to their efforts, but that didn’t matter. For now, she was determined to stick with them—and once they got her to safety, she’d figure things out. She always did.
The robed man reappeared, this time holding a small canister and a roll of bandages. He muttered something to Eryndor and Selyna, shoving the items forward as though hoping one of them would take over. Selyna stepped forward without hesitation, taking the supplies from him before turning her attention to Adelaide.
“Adelaide,” Selyna said, her voice calm and steady. She pointed toward the ground, and Adelaide’s gaze followed the motion, realizing Selyna was indicating her battered feet. Looking back up, she saw Selyna miming the act of wrapping bandages while speaking in her usual foreign tongue. Though the words were incomprehensible, the gesture was clear enough. Adelaide nodded in understanding.
Relieved that their rudimentary form of communication was working, Selyna knelt down and began tending to Adelaide’s feet. She tapped the top of Adelaide’s left foot, saying a word Adelaide couldn’t decipher. Taking the cue, Adelaide lifted her foot. Selyna brushed away the sand clinging to her sole and applied a bit of the canister’s contents to the cuts. A soothing coolness spread over the wounds, and Adelaide sighed in relief as the sting faded.
Selyna worked quickly and efficiently, wrapping the foot in cloth bandages before tapping the other. The process repeated until both of Adelaide’s feet were snugly wrapped. The bandages felt more like makeshift socks than proper shoes, but they offered protection, and for that, Adelaide was grateful.
“Thank you, Selyna!” Adelaide said, her smile bright and genuine. Selyna stood, returning the smile with one of her own. She spoke a phrase that Adelaide guessed meant something like, With the supplies in hand, Selyna walked away, the robed man trailing behind her like a shadow.
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Adelaide marveled at her newly wrapped feet, testing them by walking in place and even bouncing lightly. Whatever salve they had used worked wonders—her feet felt almost brand new, with only a faint soreness remaining.
A wave of motion caught her eye. Eryndor was waving a hand to get her attention. “Adelaide,” he said, his deep voice carrying a soothing warmth. She looked up at him, her faint smile lingering as the joy of relief still coursed through her.
He handed her the makeshift belt she had been stripped of earlier and draped her red cloak over her shoulders, securing it in place with her wolf-head cloak pin. Adelaide’s fingers brushed over the belt, noting that her pouch was still attached, but her hatchet head was conspicuously missing. A pang of sadness hit her as she glanced around the campfire, hoping to spot it. Eryndor’s watchful gaze followed her movements, but the hatchet was nowhere to be seen.
she thought, her shoulders slumping slightly. It made sense—why would they let a hostage keep a weapon? Still, it stung. Carefully, she felt inside her pouch, relieved to find her journal and berry pouches intact. Satisfied, she tied the belt around her waist, even without the hatchet head.
Brushing debris from her cloak, she looked up to find Eryndor waiting patiently. With renewed energy, Adelaide trotted up to him. She hoped they would let her stick with them for a while longer. The robed man might not be her ideal travel companion, but she didn’t have much of a choice. She needed to find more people. She needed to survive.
Eryndor nodded at Adelaide as she approached, then paused, his expression thoughtful. She sensed he was carefully considering his words, so she waited patiently. His golden eyes scanned the clearing before he gestured to it broadly, said something unfamiliar, pointed toward a direction leading away, and spoke again. Adelaide tilted her head, confusion evident as she tried to piece together his meaning.
Eryndor’s gaze shifted briefly to Selyna, as if considering her help, but he seemed to dismiss the thought and refocused on Adelaide. He tried again, pointing to each of the group members as he said their names one by one. Repeating the earlier word, he gestured toward the clearing again—perhaps indicating “everyone”? He pointed directly to the ground, said another new word, then gestured to the clearing’s edge, repeating the earlier word.
Adelaide thought, grappling with the puzzle in front of her.
she ventured tentatively, pointing toward the clearing’s edge where he had gestured earlier. “Adelaide Selyna… go?”
Eryndor’s face lit up, his grin gleaming as he clasped Adelaide’s outstretched hand. He nodded enthusiastically, practically beaming with delight. Adelaide thought, warmth blooming in her chest.
Overcome with joy, Adelaide broke free of his hands and threw her arms around him. “Thank you! Thank you!” she exclaimed, jumping for joy as she bounced around his shoulders. She released him, her grin wide and full of genuine happiness. she repeated, her voice bubbling with excitement.
Eryndor blushed slightly, his hand rubbing the back of his neck as he nodded. Saying nothing more, he turned toward Selyna and the robed man, who were finishing up packing a few knapsacks nearby. Adelaide followed closely behind him, her arms swinging with exuberance.
When they reached the others, Selyna glanced up at Eryndor, speaking a few words to him. He stepped aside, revealing Adelaide fully. Gesturing between her and Selyna, he said, “Adelaide,” his voice urging her to understand.
Adelaide stared at him, puzzled. Selyna stifled a laugh while the robed man scoffed quietly. Eryndor cleared his throat, his gaze steady and insistent. Adelaide thought.
she said shyly, her voice uncertain but hopeful. She could only imagine how broken the phrase must have sounded, but the response was immediate. Selyna’s smile warmed as she elbowed the robed man playfully, earning only a grimace from him.
Selyna exchanged a few words with Eryndor, then turned her gaze toward the clearing. Adelaide followed the motion, her eyes catching the bloodstains where the beast’s carcass had been the night before. The sheer emptiness of the space stunned her—something so massive had seemingly vanished without a trace. The campfire was extinguished, leaving only soot in its place. To the casual observer, it might look as though nothing had ever happened there at all.
It was then that Adelaide realized she hadn’t seen Knife-jerk in a while. A puzzled look crossed her face as she turned to Selyna. How could she ask about him without saying his name? After a moment’s thought, she turned toward the robed man. As much as she disliked him, she figured she needed to learn his name.
Adelaide pointed at Selyna. “Selyna,” she said, then gestured to Eryndor. “Eryndor.” Finally, she pointed at the robed man and waited expectantly. Selyna quickly caught on and spoke to the robed man on Adelaide’s behalf. He scoffed, rolling his eyes, but after a beat, he gave a curt nod. Selyna turned back to Adelaide, speaking deliberately and slowly. “Aelorin.”
“Aelorin,” Adelaide repeated, nodding in understanding. She repeated the name silently in her head a few times, determined not to forget it. Selyna and Eryndor were easy to remember—they actually talked to her—but Aelorin felt like a name that might slip away if she wasn’t careful.
Adelaide began counting on her fingers, assigning a name to each one as she raised them. “Selyna. Eryndor. Aelorin…” She paused, raising her pinky, and looked at Selyna again for help.
“Zayric,” said a voice behind her, causing her to jump. She spun around to see him standing there, draped in a black cloak over the leather armor she’d seen earlier. Adelaide froze, her hand still raised, staring at him. Slowly, she pointed at him and repeated, “Zayric?”
He smirked, giving an exaggerated bow that made Adelaide chuckle.
Zayric straightened, flourishing his hand toward her. He waited a moment, raising an eyebrow when she didn’t respond. It took Adelaide a second to realize he was asking for her name.
“Ah! Adelaide,” she said quickly.
“Ah-Adelaide?” he teased, drawing out the syllables. Adelaide’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she shook her head. “Adelaide!” she said firmly, pointing to herself. “Adelaide!”
Zayric stepped closer, smiling as he placed a hand on her flustered head. Adelaide grimaced, swatting his hand away.
Zayric withdrew his hand, glancing at it briefly. For a moment, Adelaide thought he looked taken aback, but the expression vanished as quickly as it appeared. With a dramatic flourish, he conjured her hatchet, now fitted with a smoothed branch handle and a sharpened blade.
Adelaide’s face lit up. But before she could grab it, Zayric held it just out of reach.
“Hey!” she shouted, reaching for the hatchet. Zayric expertly kept it at the tip of her fingertips, smirking all the while. He said something to her, his gray eyes locking onto hers with a playful glint.
Exasperated, Adelaide muttered, “I can’t understand you…” She turned toward Eryndor, Selyna, and Aelorin, who were watching the scene unfold with varying degrees of amusement.
Zayric extended a hand toward the group over Adelaide’s shoulder, saying something that made her shift her attention back to him. His face was much closer now, forcing her to look up to meet his gaze. His smirk widened as he slowly repeated the phrase he’d said earlier.
Adelaide stared at him, her annoyance growing by the second.
“Adelaide,” Eryndor whispered behind her, his voice soft and halting, “S-sank y-yew. Sank yew.”
Realization dawned on her.
she thought, glancing back at Zayric. Her eyes wandered over him as she tried to make sense of his demeanor. He was as tall as Eryndor, though slimmer and undeniably agile. His wavy, shadow-dark hair framed a face that seemed perpetually mischievous, his gray eyes twinkling with a charm she begrudgingly admitted was attractive. she wondered idly. The persistent five-o’clock shadow only added to his impish allure—a look that somehow managed to annoy her every time he smirked, which was, infuriatingly, all the time.
Zayric stared back at her, clearing his throat as though to prompt her further. With a shrug, he lowered the hatchet, his patience for waiting apparently wearing thin. He opened his cloak and began moving to tuck the hatchet away, sealing it out of her reach.
“W-wait!” Adelaide called, instinctively grabbing Zayric’s arm before he could hide the weapon for good. He turned to her, his inquisitive look making her cheeks flush under his attention. “Th-thank you, Zayric. Thank you,” she managed, her voice shaky but earnest.
Zayric responded with a few words she couldn’t understand and a light pat to her head before offering the hatchet toward her. With relief, Adelaide took the weapon, her fingers wrapping tightly around the handle. She knew it was silly to be so attached to it, but she couldn’t help herself. She had claimed it, and now it felt like hers. Tossing the handle gently in her hand, she let herself appreciate the weight for the first time—it felt right.
Though she lacked any skill in fighting or wielding a hatchet, having it made her feel just a bit safer. Knowing Zayric had repaired it only strengthened the connection. “Thank you,” she said again, her smile genuine as she glanced at him. She truly meant it this time.
Zayric nodded and patted her back. His teasing demeanor softened as he turned his focus to Eryndor, speaking in a more serious tone. Adelaide tried to follow their conversation, hoping to glean some understanding of the situation, but their words were too fast, and the discussion ended abruptly.
Eryndor’s gaze shifted skyward, as though gauging the time. Adelaide couldn’t be sure what hour it was, but something told her it was time to move.
Eryndor took his place at the head of the group, starting forward with a steady stride. Selyna and Aelorin followed closely behind, each carrying knapsacks stuffed with supplies. Adelaide guessed one of the packs might contain monster parts, but she couldn’t be certain.
As Zayric moved forward, he gave Adelaide a light pat on the back. “Go. Adelaide,” he said, urging her ahead while ensuring she stayed in sight. So onward she went, hatchet in hand, Zayric bringing up the rear and watching over the group from behind.
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Hours passed as the group made their way through the dense forest. They didn’t stop to eat, instead nibbling on mystery meat and sipping water as they walked. Adelaide didn’t mind the pace. She shared some of her blueberries with Selyna, which Aelorin made a fuss over, and in return, Selyna offered her jerky and water.
During the journey, Adelaide managed to learn a few more words from Selyna. The process was slow, but Selyna’s patience and clear gestures made it easier. Then there was the word she’d learned the day before that didn’t seem to have an English equivalent: The strange jewels everyone carried that absorbed light.
Adelaide’s gaze fell to the Zynarith around her neck. “It’s definitely pinker,” she murmured, turning the stone in her hand. “But what is this exactly? Is it alive?” She watched as it twinkled faintly, catching the sunlight. Two days ago, it had been colorless. Yesterday, it was pale pink. Today, it was a deeper pink. she thought. “Do I have to keep feeding it?”
She held the jewel up to catch more sunlight, marveling at its beauty as it sparkled. At first, she’d thought she could sell it for money once she reached a town, but now she wasn’t so sure. There might be more to it than just a pretty piece of jewelry.
“Adelaide,” a deep voice called from behind her. She turned away from the necklace to find Zayric’s face uncomfortably close. Startled, she jumped.
“Zayric! Personal space!” she exclaimed, pushing his face away with her free hand. He chuckled, straightening up and pointing toward the front of the group. Adelaide sighed, feeling both exasperated and amused by his relentless teasing.
Her gaze followed his gesture, and she gasped. Selyna was holding a bundle of writhing roots.
Adelaide’s stomach sank as worry crept over her. What Selyna held was unmistakably another monster. Its body was a tangled mass of roots, with two thorn-covered tentacles flailing wildly. Deep within the writhing mess, Adelaide spotted two amber-colored spheres—its eyes.
she thought, guilt gnawing at her. She’d let her guard down, feeling too comfortable within the group.
“Adelaide,” Selyna said, raising the creature higher. Its thorny vines lashed out desperately, occasionally catching Selyna’s arm and leaving scratches.
Adelaide’s eyes darted between Selyna and the monster, then shifted to the faces of their companions, hoping for some clue about the situation.
Aelorin looked grumpy, clearly annoyed by the interruption. Eryndor’s expression was tense, his hand resting on the pommel of his sheathed sword. Zayric, however, seemed thoroughly entertained by Adelaide’s confusion.
He pulled out his knife, miming a throat-slitting motion before pointing to Adelaide and then to the creature. His gestures were deliberate, and Adelaide followed each one carefully.
Her heart sank as realization hit.
