Their camp was filled with laughter, games, the smell of delicious food and all kinds of conversations. They even took the time to replenish their supplies and update their map. They didn’t know how long it would take them to reach the Silver Orchid, so they didn’t want to run out of food if their journey took too long. As far as their map was concerned, although it was the most up-to-date when they bought it, the short time they were away, they found out that certain towns had disappeared, while others were part of the territories dominated by Calamity.

“It never hurts to get to know that, in case something happens,” Aer assured him.

Alder’s experience made them realize that any place could become a death trap if they weren’t careful. They were not going to become paranoid, but the more information they had, the better prepared they would be. Next, they decided to cast several spells around the sanctuary. They were part of their “resting traps”, hexes that would reveal the presence of strangers if they approached without attracting too much attention. They even had a mental alarm that would wake them up suddenly if there was trouble near the sanctuary. They had learned the hard way that they could be disturbed even there, so being cautious would never hurt. However, Idelya’s rune reading kept him too restless to fall asleep.

“Why don’t you get some air and stretch a bit? It always helps me when I’m like that,” Aer suggested.

His partners were in better shape than before, but he would not be the one to deprive them of well-deserved sleep. The change of location also applied to the climate. Leaving the desert behind, he had to take out the few warm clothes he had not to catch a cold, even though they were not at a high altitude. The Glacial Flower Trail was named because its flora reduced their temperature and was used for icy spells or as ingredients for potions. They had gotten their hands on a couple of them because it would never hurt to have something like that, even if they had no intention of using it in the long run. Thinking about potions, spells, or anything else in the past gave him a calmness that he did not have now. How it changes one’s perspective when fantasy becomes your reality, doesn’t it?

“It’s normal to feel that way. Knowing details of the future can disturb anyone.”

Nero decided to stay outside their tent, close to them but with more space at his disposal. Even when he could rest inside, he still preferred to remain outside. Perhaps it was a habit to sleep with the sky above him, but also what he had experienced so far. Not even Finnian would deny that staying outdoors offered him a different view. Waking up with the sunrise was more comforting than he would have imagined, even if he didn’t want to risk getting sick there.

“The same thing happened to you when they were talking about the Cloud Road, didn’t it?” Finnian said, raising both eyebrows.

“Can you tell what I think? Every last detail?” Nero said, not very pleased with such a possibility.

“Only what you want to share with me, though there are slight exceptions.”

Some details escaped him because the bond of the Signer and his companions was not in any book. They shared power, they connected their minds to talk without needing to say things out loud, but it was a voluntary act. Whatever went through his head was not heard unless he wanted it to be. With feelings, it worked similarly, although Finnian had a theory that they could understand them more easily. It was like getting to know each other better, even if there were details of their lives they didn’t share. But rather than being a problem, it was part of the charm of each of them.

“They felt my fear when Ariel captured us, and so did the idea of flying through the clouds,” Finnian smiled.

It was enough to name it, and the wolf shook, trying not to think about what it would be like when nothing had been decided yet. Life in the pack could be monotonous, or so he commented to him, but none of his kind contemplated the idea of flying. Not even Aer, Rune or Leith added anything at the time, aware that Nero had had different experiences from theirs.

“Is it that none of them can?”

“Not the ones I know, though you never know,” Nero said, sitting down beside him near the fire. “You’re worried.”

“Does our bond tell you that?” Finnian replied, biting his lip.

“Not at all,” the wolf said, shaking his head. “Magic is not an answer to everything. I don’t need it to see it in your eyes.”

“I feel I’ve contributed to that.”

Those six words came from Idelya. Hesitating at first, she ended up joining them, sitting by the fire to keep warm while Finnian shrugged. As much as she offered, they gladly accepted, knowing the consequences of such a practice. He might not be able to do what she did, or not in the same way, but that was no reason to blame her. Everyone did what they could with what they had, and as his friends had told him the day before, it was up to him how he reacted to the actions of others.

“You’re one of the most complicated I’ve ever had. I can tell you that,” Idelya said. “Your fate is subject to too many variables to know for certain what will happen.”

“I don’t know if that’s more comforting or more worrying,” Finnian admitted. “It’s a bad omen, isn’t it?”

Catching him off guard, he had received a gentle tap on the head from Idelya.

“Haven’t you been paying attention? Your destiny is not written, and that’s why you shouldn’t think that something bad is going to happen,” Idelya said.

“Although it’s coming,” Finnian said, “It’s not because of being negative, but because of what influenced the reading.”

Not to mention whatever was affecting his visions or part of them. His intuition told him that the mission hadn’t changed, but it had been modified, though the details escaped him. Not that he trusted Idelya blindly either, and he had to be wary of anyone who appeared in their path. However, it was unknown to him, but which followed him closely that worried him. Who would have such significant influence as to create a blockade of such calibre? Why was Finnian the one who had to face something like that when he had learned the magic’s basics?

“You’ll know when you have to. That’s the way life works,” Idelya said.

“That’s why you should change your route and not go east,” Finnian replied. “Nothing near the Silver Orchid.”

That did surprise the merchant, for they could not have been more cryptic about where they were going. The possibility of such information ending up in the wrong hands would always exist, not to mention that if Ariel knew his predecessor’s history, he could be waiting for them in that territory. And where Calamity was, the other demon would not be far behind either. Idelya’s caravan had been good to them, but he couldn’t leave them blind.

“Why are you revealing it now?”

“You are not bad people. On the contrary,” Finnian said, “Nor do I want you to suffer for sharing the road with us.”

The image of High Sword destroyed or Alder conquered was too much to ever happen to him again. He was aware that such things happened everywhere, especially now, but if he could help in any way to prevent it, he would not hesitate, not even when it meant that their journey would become more dangerous.

“Then you need to know that things have changed there,” Idelya said. “Life is different, though it remains just another dorean. The guardian is working hard to bring it back to its former splendour.”

Perhaps she was unaware of the real reasons why the Silver Orchid had suffered such damage. However, if the other elthean could sense what changed inside him. What could he do? How was he supposed to fix anything if discord reigned in his group?

“Trusting us,” Aer said.

“You’re not alone. You know that,” Rune said.

“Although it never hurts to be reminded, don’t you think?” Leith said.

They didn’t even have to go outside to hear to them, mind to mind, heart to heart. Their doubts would affect them. Not that they had all the answers either, not even they, a native of Elthea. Nor did he have that ability on Earth because there was always something new to learn. But they were by his side, which gave him a strength that not everyone possessed.

“Now, time to bed,” Nero said, giving him a gentle nuzzle. “You don’t expect me to carry you, do you?”

“I think you’d have to grab my clothes to get me into the tent,” Finnian admitted.

“Don’t give me ideas.”

A comment that made him chuckle at the mere possibility of such a thing. Who would have thought it, a wolf babysitting? It would be the last thing he needed! Then, as he entered once more, he was intercepted by Blanche.

“I didn’t wake you up, did I?” Finnian said.

“Not at all. I couldn’t sleep,” Blanche admitted. “I’ve been thinking for the last few days. I want us both to be all right, okay? I have a feeling it’s going to get more complicated now.”

“Me too,” Finnian said, putting a hand on her shoulder. “That’s why we need to talk things out. We won’t agree, and we won’t be happy, but we are our better allies.”

“You can count on us.”

Saying it was simple. His parents expressed that promises were blown away by the wind, words could be written, but the acts remained in stone, showing them what they were. Perhaps her negativity affected them, but maybe if they changed things between them, their luck would too.