identical frowns and he realized that their argument had gotten quite heated. “Gwyrtha and Yntri have followed the basilisks’ trail all the way back to the plains. Yntri is confident that the two of them came alone.”
Hilt let out a sigh of relief and nodded. “Good. Please tell her that they can come back now. We have a lot of preparations to see to if we are to leave in the morning.”
“Okay,” Justan said and relayed the message. Without passing the message on to Yntri, Gwyrtha turned on her heels and galloped back towards the academy as the elf cursed and clung to her saddle.
“Perhaps it is best that we wait,” Jhonate said. “We should make sure that there is no further danger before we travel to Malaroo.”
“You think so?” Hilt said, eying her with suspicion. “Yntri just said the basilisks were alone.”
“Nevertheless, it would be a wise course to take,” Jhonate replied. “In fact, it would be better if we waited until the spring to leave. We should not chance being caught in a storm.”
Hilt smiled. “I was waiting to hear something like that from you.”
“It is foolish to travel such distances in the winter,” she explained. “Especially with my brothers in tow. They know nothing about how to handle cold temperatures.”
Justan raised an eyebrow. Jhonate had never shown any qualms about winter weather before. Besides, her argument didn’t hold water. Her brothers had made the trip up to the academy safely after all.
Sir Hilt wasn’t fooled either. “Your father foresaw that you would want to delay. That’s why it is written in the contract with the academy that our group would leave within two days of the agreement.”
Jhonate scowled.
You never did tell me why you have been so intent upon delaying our departure , Justan said to her through the ring.
“What route are we taking?” Jhonate said to Hilt, ignoring Justan’s question.
“We’ll be traveling east over the mountains,” Hilt said.
Jhonate gave him a snort of derision. “Over the mountains? This time of year?”
Hilt rolled his eyes. “Again with the weather.”
She folded her arms. “Did father’s contract specify the route we should take?”
“No, but I’m familiar with those mountain passes. We can-.”
Jhonate cut him off. “Since father did not specify, I demand we take the southern route. We can travel to Sampo and then journey down the Grandriver Road from there. The temperatures will be milder that way.”
“But it will also add at least two weeks to our travel time,” Hilt complained. “I already did that on the way here since your brothers were so ill prepared for the cold. Now they are properly fitted.”
“Justan and I are in no hurry,” Jhonate said.
“Look, you may not be eager to get there, but I have a wife and child to get back to,” Hilt said, anger entering his voice. “I have no desire to take the longer road just because of some whim of yours.”
Jhonate’s expression grew pained and Justan felt a twang of guilt coming from her once more. “I am sorry, Sir Hilt. I must insist.”
“Oh, you insist, do you?” Hilt said through gritted teeth.
“I don’t understand,” Justan said, looking Jhonate in the eyes. “Don’t you think you’re being a bit unfair? I understand that you are dreading seeing your father, but why should Hilt have to wait to see his family? What is your problem?”
“We discussed this yesterday,” Jhonate said, cocking her head at him slowly. “Must you continue to question me on this?”
“Yes! I must!” Justan said. “I love you and you know I trust you, but you need to get used to me questioning you from time to time. I am to be your husband. Not your servant. I will follow you anywhere, but I refuse to be left in the dark!”
“But . . .” Jhonate blinked for a moment, taken aback. “Justan, I need you to be patient with me.”
“I have been patient.” A long pent up frustration began to boil up from within him.
Hilt let out a sigh of relief and nodded. “Good. Please tell her that they can come back now. We have a lot of preparations to see to if we are to leave in the morning.”
“Okay,” Justan said and relayed the message. Without passing the message on to Yntri, Gwyrtha turned on her heels and galloped back towards the academy as the elf cursed and clung to her saddle.
“Perhaps it is best that we wait,” Jhonate said. “We should make sure that there is no further danger before we travel to Malaroo.”
“You think so?” Hilt said, eying her with suspicion. “Yntri just said the basilisks were alone.”
“Nevertheless, it would be a wise course to take,” Jhonate replied. “In fact, it would be better if we waited until the spring to leave. We should not chance being caught in a storm.”
Hilt smiled. “I was waiting to hear something like that from you.”
“It is foolish to travel such distances in the winter,” she explained. “Especially with my brothers in tow. They know nothing about how to handle cold temperatures.”
Justan raised an eyebrow. Jhonate had never shown any qualms about winter weather before. Besides, her argument didn’t hold water. Her brothers had made the trip up to the academy safely after all.
Sir Hilt wasn’t fooled either. “Your father foresaw that you would want to delay. That’s why it is written in the contract with the academy that our group would leave within two days of the agreement.”
Jhonate scowled.
You never did tell me why you have been so intent upon delaying our departure , Justan said to her through the ring.
“What route are we taking?” Jhonate said to Hilt, ignoring Justan’s question.
“We’ll be traveling east over the mountains,” Hilt said.
Jhonate gave him a snort of derision. “Over the mountains? This time of year?”
Hilt rolled his eyes. “Again with the weather.”
She folded her arms. “Did father’s contract specify the route we should take?”
“No, but I’m familiar with those mountain passes. We can-.”
Jhonate cut him off. “Since father did not specify, I demand we take the southern route. We can travel to Sampo and then journey down the Grandriver Road from there. The temperatures will be milder that way.”
“But it will also add at least two weeks to our travel time,” Hilt complained. “I already did that on the way here since your brothers were so ill prepared for the cold. Now they are properly fitted.”
“Justan and I are in no hurry,” Jhonate said.
“Look, you may not be eager to get there, but I have a wife and child to get back to,” Hilt said, anger entering his voice. “I have no desire to take the longer road just because of some whim of yours.”
Jhonate’s expression grew pained and Justan felt a twang of guilt coming from her once more. “I am sorry, Sir Hilt. I must insist.”
“Oh, you insist, do you?” Hilt said through gritted teeth.
“I don’t understand,” Justan said, looking Jhonate in the eyes. “Don’t you think you’re being a bit unfair? I understand that you are dreading seeing your father, but why should Hilt have to wait to see his family? What is your problem?”
“We discussed this yesterday,” Jhonate said, cocking her head at him slowly. “Must you continue to question me on this?”
“Yes! I must!” Justan said. “I love you and you know I trust you, but you need to get used to me questioning you from time to time. I am to be your husband. Not your servant. I will follow you anywhere, but I refuse to be left in the dark!”
“But . . .” Jhonate blinked for a moment, taken aback. “Justan, I need you to be patient with me.”
“I have been patient.” A long pent up frustration began to boil up from within him.
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