Page 193 of Sword & Shadow
Though Rafferty had made the same pronouncement half a dozen times already, Hewitt’s attention caused Deckard’s heart rate to spike. He hurried to the edge of the hill, squinting at the thin tan line of the road stretching into the distance. Four horses paced into view, their canter slowing. One rider broke away from the rest.
“That’ll be Loxley,” Rafferty said excitedly, “coming to find us.”
Deckard’s breath caught even as he smiled. “I imagine you’re right,” he said.
Dropping out of the tree, Rafferty landed with acrobatic precision. “Let’s go!” he exclaimed, taking off down the hill.
Deckard moved to follow, then hesitated. He turned back to Hewitt. “I can’t keep you with me,” he whispered. “I know you want to see her, too, but—”
“Go,” Hewitt said. “You can’t waste your energy maintaining my presence when it could mean her life or death later.”
Appreciative of the man’s understanding, Deckard let Hewitt lapse back into the ether. Though he’d practiced enough that it took negligible thought and strength to hold Hewitt’s ghost in the present, it was still a feat of magic. Upon the rest of their troop’s arrival, they would head straight to the Time Keep. With the threat of Blount’s writ and Mages looming ever closer, they wanted to spend as little time in Wauld as possible. They would retrieve the Relic, leave Vaura Reach, and abandon the country as fast as their horses would carry them.
Following Rafferty down the hill, Deckard struggled to keep his nerves in check. The steep decline enabled a fast descent, but the roots and rocks could send him tumbling if he missed a step. He was anxious to see Evylin; his whole being was charged with anticipation. Just the thought of being near her again sent his heart spiraling. But he couldn’t allow himself to forget the way they’d parted. He couldn’t be so overcome with her return that he abandoned her desires.
No, Deckard promised himself that no matter how much he wanted to embrace Evylin, no matter how strong the urge to hold her close and kiss her, he would refrain until she gave him some sign that she wanted it too.
Rafferty beat Deckard to the camp with ease. When Deckard broke through the trees, his companion stood in the alcove, foot tapping impatiently. “They’re not here yet,” he grumbled.
Auden stood by, anxiously pacing. “Rafferty said you saw them,” he said at Deckard’s appearance.
“We did,” Deckard confirmed, catching his breath. “Ethenn broke away to find us. They should be here any time.”
A joyful smile crossed Auden’s face. “They’re safe, then,” he murmured. He looked over their meager camp. “We should prepare. We want to leave immediately.”
“We’ve been apart for two weeks,” Deckard objected.
“And we’ll have a true reunion once we’re safe in Ephria,” Auden insisted, beginning to pack his saddlebags.
Deckard and Rafferty exchanged a disgruntled look. “Some celebration,” the weasel muttered.
Though Deckard agreed, he moved to help Auden. They tore down the tent, put out the fire, stored the cooking supplies, and packed the last of their personal possessions. And yet, the others still hadn’t arrived.
“Shall we clip the grass while we wait?” Rafferty asked, perturbed.
“Shh.” Deckard held up a hand, listening. The faintest rumble met his ears. He smiled. “I hear horses.”
Deckard turned toward the sound, heart in his throat. The sound grew louder, filling the alcove with its steady beat. The flash of four horses appeared in the trees seconds before they burst into the clearing. Deckard’s hands shook, his feet taking him an unconscious step forward.
“Auden!” Ilain called, her horse charging ahead of the others. She practically jumped from the saddle and into her brother’s arms. They laughed in relief, clinging to one another.
The three Ephrians showed more decorum, though they all bore large smiles as they dismounted. Rafferty dashed forward to greet his friends. He punched Thom on the arm, slapped Ethenn on the cheek, and swept Evylin into a fierce hug. “Allore, I’ve missed you three!” he said with a wily grin. “It’s been the most boring two weeks of my life.”
Deckard’s heart filled at the sound of Evylin’s laughter. Cautiously, he joined the group. “And here I thought we’d become such good friends,” he said to Rafferty.
“We are friends, Colonel,” Rafferty said with a flippant wave of his hand. “But even when you’re fun, you’re not as fun as this lot.”
“I believe that,” Deckard replied, barely registering his words or the others around him. He was too intent on meeting Evylin’s gaze. An indistinguishable expression crossed her face, a guarded smile on her lips as she held his stare. She looked just the same as he remembered. Her dark brown hair draped over her shoulder in a braid, little wisps dancing around her tan cheeks. Her black coat was cropped at the waist, fitting her sculpted figure immaculately. Knives clustered around her belt, the one with rosettes closest to her hip. She was every ounce the Warrior he remembered, every bit as perfect as before.
A long silence hung between them.
Auden and Ilain stepped over. “Good to see you, Jonn,” Ilain said cheerily.
The moment broken, Deckard turned to Ilain. “It’s good to see you as well. All of you.”
“We’re glad to be back,” Thom replied, a nervous edge to his voice. There was something in his expression, a harried look that made Deckard wonder what had occurred to put it there.
Despite feeling the distance between them and even knowing his brother’s offense, Deckard couldn’t find it in himself to be angry. He closed the gap between them, pulling Thom into a hug. A reluctance marked the men’s embrace. But then Thom relaxed, returning the hug as he hadn’t since he was a child.
