The Winds of the Past [Rune Factory 4]

Chapter 15

I gradually became aware of voices, though I couldn't resolve them into words right away, and I felt a terrible pain in my head and chest. As I became more cognizant of my surroundings, I noticed I was lying on something cold and hard and damp, though my head seemed to rest on something softer. I felt a hand stroking my head gently, and after a moment, I recognized Avani's voice, sounding strange and shaky. I realized where I was, then, and that my head was lying on her lap as she cast a healing spell on me. I opened my eyes, and heard her exclaim with evident relief, "He's coming around!"

Dylas's voice came from above and behind her, saying, "See? I told you, he's tougher than you gave him credit."

"What... what happened?" I groaned. "I feel terrible."

"That'll keep until later," Dylas said, coming over and crouching down next to me, peering into my face. "His eyes look fine, Avani. He must be even more hard-headed than you."

I felt droplets of water land on my face and brushed them away, only to discover my cheeks were wet. As I looked up, scowling, for the source of the drops, I realized that they were tears falling from Avani's eyes as she silently wept. "Hey," I said, trying to sound natural, "No drowning your patients."

"I'm sorry... I couldn't help myself," she said weakly, wiping her eyes with her arm. "I was just so frightened when I saw you lying unconscious and bleeding, and it's such a relief that you're okay."

"What's considered 'okay' must have changed somewhat since my time," I groaned, closing my eyes again. I felt her quiver slightly with a repressed laugh, then she continued healing me.

When she stopped, I sat up, still groggy but much improved. She looked drained, probably from the effort of healing me as well as from combat. She still had tears in her eyes, suddenly reminding me with a pang of other tear-filled eyes from long ago. I never could bear it when women cried, yet I seemed doomed to be the cause of their tears time and time again.

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I looked around me, and seeing that the clone of Terrable was gone, again asked what happened. Before either of them could fill me in, though, Arthur appeared in the doorway to the chamber, Forte standing behind him. We looked at him in surprise, and he explained that after Avani's report the night before, he'd decided to follow us, to see for himself what was going on, and that Forte had insisted on accompanying him as his guard.

Avani filled him in on the confrontation with Ethelberd, and Arthur looked grave. "I see. I hadn't realized just how serious the situation had become. I'll inform the capitol at once... but for now, I've been ordered to find you and bring you back to Selphia, to assist with our defenses there until reinforcements arrive—which, knowing how things work at the palace, will likely take some time." He paced for a few minutes, his brow furrowed in thought. "But if I bring you back now as ordered, we may lose track of Ethelberd. He already has the advantage in terms of time and planning. And we desperately need those rune spheres."

Avani stood before Arthur, saying, "Is the town safe right now, Arthur?"

"Oh yes, Forte has been doing a splendid job," he assured her, and Forte smiled a half-smile at his praise.

"Then I'll continue the chase!" she exclaimed, a look of steely determination in her eyes. "If I can keep them running, that will buy time for the reinforcements to arrive, won't it? And besides—I promised Venti that I'd recover the spheres. I... I miss her. I want to goof around with her again, argue with her, tell her silly jokes and funny stories. I... want to see her smile again. So please, Arthur, let me go."

Arthur smiled, and said, "That's exactly what I'd hoped you'd say. You never disappoint, Avani. We need more information on what the Sechs are up to, and you are the warrior best suited for this task. I know I can rely on you. Therefore, I ask you—as your prince, and as your friend—to accept this task."