"Now" was a strong word, but it was still only a short wait. Maybe a few hours had passed when an entourage approached me. The first familiar face was Miss Chin, followed by a few of the soldiers I'd seen earlier with Diane. None of that surprised me.
What did catch me off guard was Dutchmund. I would have assumed he'd been taken captive or something along those lines but here he was, walking with them. He must have noticed my raised eyebrow, because he gave me a half nod, as if to say he'd explain later. I wasn't very familiar with the man, but that was what my common sense told me, at least.
Diane walked from the hall behind them, dressed more comfortably than before. It looked as though she had bathed since the last time we spoke. She still carried that poised, commanding air, but now it seemed more human and less like the pure Deva she had first appeared to be.
Ironically, I probably looked more otherworldly than her at that moment. Her wings hugged her body tightly, barely visible from the front, while mine seemed bulkier and refused to fold close to my back, jutting out awkwardly. And then there were my eyes with the faint glow that was noticeable whenever the light reflected off metal surfaces.
"Little brother, are you ready? I made sure to procure some horses for your travel, along with a few city guards to make your journey seem less suspicious. I'm not entirely sure of your destination, but you'll have about ten days' worth of food and water. If your journey lasts longer than that… you'll need to figure it out."
She said city guards, right? I mean, why would she do that?
"Sister… Why the guards? I know it helps to look more like official travel, but I can't imagine they'd help you willingly. Couldn't you have just dressed your own men up? Also… you're really not going to ask where I'm going?"
I didn't want to press my luck, but I had to ask.
"Oh, it's a simple answer to all of that," she said. "First, the guards as my men don't know the culture of these lands, and they don't have the faces or the skin to pass if they were stopped. These men, though, are loyal to Thorne, and he in turn holds favor toward you. So it shouldn't be a problem.
"As for where you're going, I really don't mind if you don't tell me. Our God will show you the right path. If that path leads you to us, then good but otherwise, who am I to stand against Their will?"
She did have a point. While I hadn't truly seen the God of Rebirth or even a statue of Them, it was hard to deny that I was tied to it now. I could see the souls of the dead, and my own body had been reshaped by something far beyond human after the first steps. Her words carried more weight because of that.
As for Thorne's men, I hadn't known he held me in such high regard. I figured he liked me well enough, but I always thought it was only because I had been Kushim's apprentice. Either way, I could speak with him later and find out the truth of it.
For now, I didn't want to waste any more time.
"Then I will take your goodwill and make to leave now. I don't really have anything to pack…. well, other than my sword…" I looked at her expectantly.
She let out a silvery laugh.
"It will be with the horses and the city guards. I won't give it to you right now. I trust you, as we share blood but the other officers don't, so there's no need to stress them further."
I bit my lip, thinking it over, and it seemed acceptable enough. I moved past it. I really should have been more concerned with my plan moving forward as I would need to rely heavily on the guards to help me reach the city Heather had told me to meet her in.
"Very well. So… are you going to escort me, or will someone else be the one to do it?" I looked around her to see if anyone else would step forward, but it seemed to be just her.
"I would love to, if you would have me. It would be nice to speak more with you and if you'd be kind enough get to know my new little brother better. Granted, I won't force you."
She turned slightly, then began to walk. With a small wave, she motioned for me to follow. I obliged and walked after her.
As we walked, I breathed in the dusk air. It carried a faint metallic tinge, the kind that lingered after a long day of fighting. I had grown up for most of my life smelling, tasting, and living in that air… and now I was free.
This was it, each step I took was a step on my own path, my own adventure. And when I found Heather, it would become ours. I wasn't even sure what to do, and that uncertainty twisted my gut in a way I hadn't felt in so long. It was like walking out to be chosen by an instructor again.
Part of me thought it would be simpler to just give up and stay here, to carve out my own little corner of the world. But I knew if I did that, I'd never be anything more than an interesting show, something people looked at for a moment, then moved on from. Still… I wouldn't lie and say the thought didn't tempt me. A simple life was always appealing.
I guess ultimately it didn't matter for now. First, I would find Heather, and then we would figure out what to do from there.
Diane walked in a way that made me realize just how graceful and lithe she truly was. Her head didn't bob at all, it stayed perfectly level, which unsettled me slightly. I hadn't seen anyone move like that before. It was as if she were gliding over the ground and when I thought about it, I noticed I couldn't hear the crunch of dirt beneath her feet either.
The amount of training it must take to move so casually at that level made me nervous. I knew she would be strong, but this suggested she was keeping most of it hidden. It was a relief that she wanted to remain amicable with me and build a positive relationship. Still, I wished people would stop calling me family without asking me first. Though, I supposed I preferred her over my so-called undead "brother."
Actually, I wondered if Diane knew who that had been. Maybe I should ask her…
While I was lost in my own thoughts, Diane kept her steady pace. Together, we left the arena and moved into the long hallways that made up the interior. It struck me just how familiar she was with these halls. She didn't slow for a moment as we walked.
"You know, Edric… I had hoped you would have asked me something by now. I'm sure you don't realize this, but I am a people 'person'. So please, indulge me and ask your question. I know you have them, and I'm certain there are many."
She lifted her hands and curled her pointer fingers when she said 'person'. It seemed the Deva didn't consider themselves human at all and or at the very least, Diane didn't.
I sifted through the many questions in my mind, sorting them carefully before speaking. I wanted to make sure I started with the most important ones.
"…You're right, Sister. If you could, would you tell me about your home? And about our God? I feel like those are things I need to know before I can make my choices later."
She glanced back at me over her shoulder, gave a small nod, and with a slow inhale and exhale, she began to speak.