Peri rests her chin on the free arm draped over the crate with a yawn.
“Hey, your bony chin hurts!” Stein half-halfheartedly attempts to reclaim ownership of his arm, giving up when Peri wraps an arm around his waist. He sighs, not half as annoyed as he makes himself out to be.
“Sorry. I’m just so tired.” Peri yawns again and closes her eyes.
“Hey, you have to get this first entry in, you’ve promised Ayla you’d get his done four days ago.” Stein places the inkwell onto the top of the parchment to keep the parchment from curling inward, a necessary precaution as he has effectively lost the use of his arm for the duration of the conversation.
Peri vaguely agrees with him and mumbles something about needing a few minutes of sleep before camp is packed up and ready to go. Stein leans his cheek against her hair, his nose wriggling as the hair tied high on her head brushes against his skin. Peri smiles fondly, these small moments of tenderness few and far between.
“We don’t have to do this you know. I don’t want you wearing yourself out.” Stein whispers into her hair.
“Mmm, you know it isn’t that easy. We owe Mikle too much. The Auric would be goblin food without me and take their final journey too early without you. No, we have to stay.” Peri glances up at her mate. “Besides, where else do we have to go?”
“Greythorn.” Stein answers quickly.
Peri’s eyes darken at the mention of her father’s home. “No, I don’t think we’d be welcomed back with open arms. Not after leaving the way we did.”
“Hasn’t it been long enough?”
Peri falls silent, her usual exuberance nowhere to be seen.
“I see. Alright then, let’s get this entry done so you can sleep.” Stein picks up the glass pen and dips it in the inkwell.
Peri nods and narrates her journal entry, eyes closed, trusting Stein to faithfully write her words on the parchment.
Periwinkle/Peri – Night scout
Place of Birth – Greythorn
Ability – Night/shadow vision
Stein and I were some of the first to join the Auric. What else could we do after Mikle saved us from those bandits. Of course, he didn’t have to let those very same bandits join up afterwards. I still don’t trust them, no matter how much they’ve helped us out during goblin raids. Lyall can go stuff it.
In any case, the weather has finally dried the dense underbrush enough that we can move through it again. Next time we should get trapped by a storm in a more open space. I’ll have to forward this recommendation to Ryker later.
We have to keep moving, sitting still is horridly boring. Ayla waits for news from Greythorn, for some sort of sign from someone. Stein and I can’t guess who, and the only news we get are about the regent King and his “efforts” to find the missing heirs. More like efforts to destroy us. We had to avoid three patrols during the last moon cycle, which is why we ended up in such a fantastic camping spot. I get the feeling we won’t be able to avoid the soldiers much longer.
Despite this, we haunt the edges of the fairy territory, of Argentgrove, waiting for who knows what and purging the areas of goblin spore. The goblins, at least, keep everyone from turning their swords on each other.
Whatever we’re looking for, I hope we find it soon.
