II - Sigh of Smoke

Chapter 3 - Amid the Ash

-Aleksandra Bane-

Her nose itched terribly.

Of course, Aleksandra had lied to Dareon. She couldn't really smell blood, but she would let him believe what she wished. She had smelt something though. This newfound skill of catching onto trait scents, it was a unique ability of the Hound among the Wielder classes. The Hound class, though rare, had the ability to track anything by scent, or follow the essence of any Wielder as long as they remained on land. What Aleksandra had found was a similar Wielder essence to one that Penny had carried.

Certainly she had no idea that Penny had an "essence" per say, but only figured it out when she caught a whiff of it again. Penny was obviously dead, so what she was sensing wasn't her, but someone similar.

The moment Aleksandra realized she had developed a Hound trait, she didn't tell anyone. Who was there to tell? A Zarkarian not in favour of Wielders, a knight who spoke less and voiced nothing, who shared no opinion on any matter and seemed to care far less, or a forester who she knew didn't trust her very much?

Well, she couldn't trust him very much either. He was still cursed, but with what, she had not the faintest idea. 

Also, it wasn't as if any of them were interested in Wielder classes, or Wielders for that matter.

Lying on her back on the barn floor, she stared through the sun window. A small square that showed a small piece of sky, a fraction of the stars, a portion of the unknown darkness in the absence of daylight. Dareon rested a distance from her, arms crossed and breathing deeply as he slept with his brows furrowed. Just earlier Atlanta and Lucan had returned after searching for them. Though Aleksandra expected them to be at least breathless, they both showed up beautiful and with only a minimum amount of sweat.

If she had searched the town as quickly as they had, she would've already been on her knees.

"I told you not to move," Atlanta had said coldly. Dareon sputtered, but Aleksandra had raised her hand and spoken in his place.

"I chose for us to leave. I wanted a roof to stay under rather than a makeshift shelter, and this barn looked perfectly fine to me." She readjusted herself and sat up, "And also because we encountered someone here."

Atlanta raised her brow while Lucan strode back out and tethered the horses outside. He didn't come back for a while after, for perhaps he was feeding them.

"And you let them leave?" Atlanta began to walk towards them.

"More like they disappeared of their own accord. Don't worry, they weren't any threat."

"And how are you sure?"

Aleksandra pulled a smile, "She didn't look the type."

Dareon joined in, raising his voice, "And I think she knew Penny."

Atlanta seemed confused for a moment. "Penny?"

The forester's brows furrowed, "The servant girl from Wyvengard who was fond of you."

The assassin nodded, then ignored them.

Aleksandra was absolutely sure Atlanta felt something for the girl. Maybe she grew to like the skinny servant as well? Acting as Lillian Freewind, was there a chance she let herself favour some of the people she was surrounded by?

She shook her head.

She could never be sure.

Sitting up, Aleksandra glanced around. Lucan was taking first watch for the night and was sitting outside tending to the horses. For now she was alone, but the silence was poisonous and it left her to her thoughts, and thoughts walked a long winding road and always seemed to find the things you tried to bury from your eyes.