Rael and Ismayel had been in the library for about half an hour, now. There wasn't much else to say after they had exchanged names, although Ismayel had tried to start up a conversation or two, to no avail. It was an awkward silence for the Vaykan initiate, but he respected someone else's need for quiet, especially in a library.
The chair beneath him made a loud crack, and then snapped. In a moment's notice, Ismayel had fallen unto to his rear, with broken bits of wood around him. He looked like an enormous child that had just broken something.
He was confused at what had just happened, at first, but then he let loose a laughter that swept up the room.
The door slowly swung open in front of Evan to reveal to him one of their newer men sitting in a pile of splintered wood . . . and he was laughing as if the best joke in the world had been told. Evan simply cocked an eyebrow and smiled. How else could he respond to it? Then he remembered why he had come to the library in the first place: Rael. Sure enough, the young man was there, like usual.
"Um, Rael," Evan began. "I have come to the conclusion that we should probably head north now, but I am at a dilemma as far as how we should do it. I can think of three routes, but none will be easy, and if you are willing, I'd like to have your opinion on this. And, I guess that since you're here . . . um . . . forgive me, Ismayel, was it? If you want, you can off your opinions as well."
"Sure." Rael closed the book in front of him. Ismayel had just started picking up the pieces of his late chair, but he seemed all ears, as well.
"Alright, the first plan is that we head out to a port town and take a ship from here into Jinn. I don't want to be on the sea more than necessary, though, as I feel we are most vulnerable there. The second is going through Exotria to enter Jinn, where we will be less likely to encounter Geraden, but there are also the beast people to watch out for. Then the last one: charging straight over the border. That one may be crazy, but Geraden would think the same, right? Would they really expect us there?"
"Jinn, as a country," Rael began. "is important enough for Geraden to be watching it. Even if they don't expect us there, they probably have someone looking over who goes in and out. With a group this large, we won't be able to slip by unnoticed. Especially since some of us tend to stand out."
Ismayel laughed at that.
"Guess that's me." He said, with a grin and a hand scratching the back of his head. "The only way I can move around with my gear is by wearing it, and seeing me alone in full armor would raise a few eyebrows."
"As for the port," Rael began again. " even if that isn't watched, they must have an eye over the waters surrounding this land. They just won a war here, so some of their navy should still be nearby."
"And it's not like we can just commandeer a ship large enough to carry us all. Not in this condition, that's for sure." Ismayel voiced his own opinion, particularly about the wounded among them.
"Which leaves us only with the path through Exotria." Rael said. Ismayel had just finished picking up all of the scraps of wood, and he set them aside in a neat pile by some corner. "I'm not familiar with what type of danger would lie there. After all, I've lived only a quiet farmhand's life, until now." Rael finished his thoughts. "What do you think, Evan?"
Evan raised his eyebrow for the briefest of moments when Rael mentioned that he had been a farmhand. The scarf said otherwise, even if it was his sister's. And this man was far too intelligent to have lived on a farm. But Evan would let him play at this game. Instead, he merely considered their odds at making it through Exotria. "A group of beasts is much more dangerous than the Geraden warriors, but the beasts aren't looking for us, so that may be to our advantage. Either way, we have to get moving. I guess it's our best bet. Ismayel, do you agree?"
"Sure. It sounds the most reasonable." Ismayel said, as he closed his own tome and heaved it off of the table. He tucked it under his arm and began making for the door. "I'll see you guys a good night, I have to attend to some prayers before it gets too late." And he left with a wave.
"When do you intend for us to move?" Rael asked Evan from his seat.
"As soon as possible. We can't waste any more time here. We've given Geraden a lot of time to figure out our location, and giving them even another second is dangerous. I'll go tell those that are in the mess hall to pack up after eating. Would you mind letting whoever's in the infirmary know of the plan?" Evan was anxious now; they had their plan. It wasn't failproof, but it was better than where he had been a few minutes ago.
"I'll let them know." Rael said.
On his way to the infirmary, Rael faced his own, personal doubts. He was fighting for the Edeans now, and he still didn't know why. He remembered signing up for the Edean military the day after his parents were killed on their travel here, but he couldn't remember why he hadn't just gone back to his homeland, Aurora. That would have been the smart thing to do. Even if it wouldn't bring his family back, Rael was still guaranteed some place in that society, perhaps at a desk job. But, instead, he had chosen this path.
Had it been anger, it was gone now. Any sense of confusion in his head seemed a bit clearer, save for that one question. He was even coming to terms with the fact that his family wasn't coming back... but he couldn't sit by when those who had killed them were still walking this earth.
That was it. As simple as it came, it all boiled down to vengeance. From the day Rael had taken up this old sword by his hip, he knew he could not return to his old ways. There was only one purpose in his life now: to set things right.
He had even interrogated a bandit on the battle of the nearby village. He had learned of the group who had attacked him. The Black Scorpions, they were called. His existence revolved around them, now. Helping the Edeans was the only way he had to get to them.
Although he wasn't proud of his reasons for helping the Edeans, this inwards reflection had left Rael feeling a bit better. He was aware of his own intentions, and that cleared up a lot for him.
Before he knew it, Rael was already at the infirmary's door. Two girls, Sephora and Lillth, were by a bed, tending to a sick patient. They seemed to be focused on their tasks, especially Sephora, who was chanting some sort of spell. So he watched.
After a while, Lillith was the first to notice him, since she was only attending to keeping the place tidy.
Lillith had barely finished her food after taking bites between helping Sephora when she realized Rael was standing in the doorway. Going over to him, she spoke quietly so she wouldn't bother the other two. "Hi, Rael. Anything you need? I mean, we've kind of got a lot to do, but I'm sure we can spare a few seconds. As long as you don't need that scarf washed again," she smiled.
"Wait, how do you know about tha- ...Never mind. " Rael whispered back. He'd rather not have the whole company know he was too spoiled to wash his own clothes, but that concern would have to wait. "I've come to let you know that we will be moving. How soon can you be ready to set out?"
Lillith thought for a moment. "I think both Sephora and I would prefer it if this girl--yes, she's a girl--was conscious when we leave. Of course, I'm just helping around here. I don't understand all of the ins and outs of healing. You'd have to ask her. I wouldn't expect her to agree through."
Sephora finished her incantation and looked up at the pair discussing things by the door. She was frustrated that the girl had not woken up yet, blaming herself, and she partly wanted to just leave the girl at the fort and continue onwards. Missing her father was beginnning to cause her physical pain, but she knew that her father would be disappointed in her giving up. She sighed and joined Rael and Lillith at the door.
"We need to move out, when is that possible for you?" Rael asked as Sephora approached.
"U-um... the girl needs to wake up f-first." Sephora glanced back at her patient. "It would be, uh, d-dangerous to move her."
From what Rael had understood, the girl had been in a coma for a week. It complicated things.
"Is there any way we can transport her?" Rael asked. But even he thought that was a bad idea. The road to Exotria sounded dangerous enough as is.
Sephora thought for a moment, not seeing a solution as she was not an expert in travelling. "I-if something were able to s-stop her from bouncing..."
Rael thought for a moment, and Lillith was silent. If he recalled correctly, Dalton's horse had a wheelbarrow attachment. Maybe it was large enough to carry the patient. If it wasn't, it could always be built upon.
"I'll try to think of something." Rael finally said. "Regardless, you two should pack up what you have and be ready to move by tomorrow."
Sephora nodded at Rael and returned to her vigil at the girl's bedside.
