Skye's POV
"Whoa! Some pretty destructive demon must have run through here!"
My headache was getting worse with every observation Jasper made.
"Oh, wait. That was all you right?" He smugly smiled at me and then slapped my back again. There was no point in answering him. He just carried right along. "You know, summoning a Leviathan probably wasn't the smartest idea." I just shook my head. "But you didn't have your sword did you?" I rolled my eyes. "What is a hero without his weapon? Some may ask, but I have your answer already." Just keep walking. My boots were thankfully tough leather and made for easier travel. Jasper took a mocking tone, "A hero is not measured by his weapon, but by his ability to do whatever it takes to win."
A cold breeze blew past and I shivered.
I didn't realize he was like this.
Hey Bree. I was beginning to think you had left.
Bree laughed a little. I'll always be with you.
Yeah, I get that now.
"What are you thinking about?" Jasper's voice cut through the air and brought me back from my mind.
"Just wondering if you ever shut up." I half joked.
"Of course not." Jasper whipped his head back and his nose in the air. I shook my head when he winked at me.
Did you know Jasper before Nero took you?
Yes. Bree hesitated.
What do you know about him?
I know that he is powerful and rash. I know that he loves Comwen with all his heart and wishes for it to thrive. People believe him to be a God of Destruction, simply because he is the God of Earth and Flame, however; he is a God of Healing.
I know that much, he brought me back from the dead.
Bree went silent.
My gut is telling me you know more about Jasper than you are letting on.
Bree kept her silence.
Annoyed, I kept walking. Jasper followed behind me.
"You go into your mind a lot." He noted. Maybe he doesn't like the silence. I kept my mouth shut. He came up beside me, but didn't say anything more. Thank the Nexus for that. It was nighttime before Jasper said anything else. Our camp had been set up and Jasper let me collect firewood and start the fire even though he could create fire with a flick of his hand. He shrugged when I mentioned it. I groaned as I lay on the cold ground as close to the fire as I could get. Jasper took his overcoat off and offered it to me. It would be wise to not drop dead of cold and so I had taken it.
"What's your favorite color?" Jasper's voice was quiet and thoughtful.
"What?" Disbelief marked my usual serious tone.
"Favorite color." Jasper flicked me on the head. I don't know how since he was sitting across the fire from me.
"Is that necessary?"
"No."
"Then go to sleep."
"Answer my questions then I'll go to sleep." He bartered. I was really tired.
"Fine!" I huffed. "Blue, alright?"
"Favorite texture?"
"Texture? What in the Nexus are you saying?"
"Just answer the question."
"Leather or rope on metal."
"Sword hilt, interesting." Jasper understood what I meant. "It was silk for your mother."
The last part was so low that I almost didn't hear it. But I did hear it. I bolted upright.
"My mother was incredibly poor. She couldn't afford silk. You know nothing about my mother."
Jasper stared at me with pity. "I used to think I knew everything about your mother. Oh well." He yawned. "It's time to get some sleep." He then turned his back on me and lay on the ground. I lay back down slowly eyeing the deity across the flames.
What's his problem?
Bree didn't answer me.
I fell asleep with more questions I hoped I'd remember in the morning.
Jasper was back to his usual self in the morning. Loud and proud. We picked up camp and increased our pace.
"It's only another day and half if we continue at this pace." I informed him.
"Say, Skye," Jasper asked after a glorious half day of silence.
"Yes?"
"Your favorite animal?"
"Ones I don't have to kill." Jasper's eyebrows raised for a brief moment before he began an onslaught of questions.
"Favorite food?"
"Grilled beef if I can get it."
"Have you ever wanted to meet a mermaid?"
"No."
"Did you always want to be a soldier?"
"No."
"What did you want to do then?"
"I wanted to be a blacksmith when I was younger."
"Why?"
"Seemed profitable and I could look after my family that way."
Suddenly a gust of wind that wasn't a gust of wind blew before us. It turned into a party of Draconi scouts. Their leader seemed to recognize me.
"Firebird!" He shouted in his tongue. He took his helmet off and I was surprised to see an older looking Nylras smiling at me. "You're back!" He then told his scouts something I couldn't quite hear and the group left us immediately. Nylras turned back to us.
"Didn't take you as long as you seemed to think, huh?" He laughed and I smiled at him. He bounded up to me.
"Nylras, how long has it been?" I asked as I grasped his arm in friendship.
"Three months, maybe four?" He scratched his head then shrugged.
"I see you've added a goatee to your rather poor arsenal of facial hair." I teased.
"Hey! It took me two whole months to grow this out!" He whined while he petted it. "At least I'm not growing an ugly mullet. I mean honestly, you need a haircut!"
"He needs more than that, my friend." Jasper chimed in. Nylras didn't question him. He merely looked me up and down and nodded in agreement.
"I do agree. It's much to chilly here to be going shirtless." He then faced Jasper. "You are with Firebird, yes?"
"Yes." Jasper shook his head happily.
"Then come! We have huts, food, shirts, and beds you may rest on. Follow me!" He then turned around and led us further into the forest.
We arrived shortly to the Draconi's new home. Nylras was right. They had built several huts along the treeline and several campfire pits were burning with delicious smelling meat. Draconi were entering in with baskets of fruit and some had gardens beside their homes. Young Draconi children were running out of a larger hut to come greet Nylras. The scouts were coming from a different direction leading an older Draconi man that I recognized instantly. Ragorn.
"Ahh, he lives yet!" His voice carried on the wind.
"Ragorn." I bowed my head a little in a show of respect. Ragorn came and the children scattered. Nylras and the other scouts knelt in perfect unison to their chieftain.
"Who's your friend?" Ragorn stared hard at Jasper who only smiled a big grin and waved. What friend?
"This is Jasper." I didn't want to tell them what Jasper was. It would cause an uproar. Ragorn hummed in thought.
"Because he is your friend, Hero, he is welcome." Friend, right. Ragorn continued, "I will hold a feast tonight in honor of our guests." His voice carried through the tiny village. "For now, get this man a shirt!" The village laughed and jumped to their duties with merriment. Nylras pulled Jasper and I along to a small hut.
"The two of you can stay with me while you're here. And I'll get you a shirt from G. He's about your size. But for now, rest up. You look like you're going to collapse!"
Jasper and I gratefully took up his offer. There was fresh hay on the floor and we both crashed onto it. Nylras came a few minutes later with a dark grey shirt for me to wear. I pulled it over my head and instantly felt more comfortable.
"He's a kind one isn't he?" Jasper noted after Nylras left.
"He's a kid." I interjected. "He's a kid that no longer has to fear his home. He only has to fear what's outside of it."
"You turn melancholy fast." Jasper made another observation. "What about that Ragorn guy? What do you think of him?"
"He's clever. He helped me get to Linus which ultimately led to Linus' death. He's honorable."
"You respect him?"
"Pretty much." I shrugged then turned away from him to rest.
It was nighttime when Nylras shook me awake.
"What is it?!" Adrenaline pushed me to my feet faster than lightning strikes the ground.
"It's time for the feast! Don't you want to join us? It is in your honor after all." Nylras had his hands raised in surrender. Jasper was already up and dancing around the small hut.
"Oh..yes, I will join you." I followed Nylras and Jasper through dancing children, youths, and adults. Fires were blazing high and the smell of marinated meat cooking had my stomach rumbling and my mouth watering. When was the last time I ate? Well, it didn't matter. I was going to eat well tonight! Nylras ushered us into a large hut where several Draconi were seated around a large table. Ragorn was at it's head and there were three empty seats to his right and left. Nylras took the right hand seat, I took the left hand seat, and Jasper sat beside Nylras.
"You have honored us with your presence, Skye Firebird." Ragorn began. "If not for you, this village would not have been built. Our people would be suffering enslavement. For this, you have our undying gratitude and loyalty." The Draconi clapped and Jasper joined in. I rolled my eyes at him and he winked at me.
"This is why we feast in your honor. To Skye Firebird!"
"To Skye Firebird!" The voice of around twenty Draconi cheered and the feast began. Ragorn sat down and he turned to me.
"Tell me what you have been up to these past months, friend. I'm in the mood for a good tale."
Um, I died, went to the underworld, died again, was revived there and then returned to Comwen where my soul was then reconnected to my body.
Don't tell him that.
Yeah I figured. What would you have me say, Bree?
Say something like, "I went to far away lands where I was bested and then dishonored and now I return to do something I can do."
Shut up, Bree.
"I've been facing trials in order to get stronger." There not a lie.
"Without weapons?" Ragorn mused.
"Umm...I had the dagger Nylras was kind enough to give me." Not that it helped against Josephine and I couldn't take it with me into the Underworld.
"And you've lost that huh?" Ragorn chuckled.
"Actually, I had forgotten about it when I woke up." Jasper kicked me from under the table. I flinched a little, but Ragorn didn't notice.
"We have something here we'd like to give to you." Ragorn motioned to Nylras who excitedly jumped up and ran out of the room. "We hope it serves you well."
Nylras came back heaving a large chest. He plopped it down in front of me. It was locked as chests usually are, but they had also chained it, and Ragorn chanted something that made blue lights hover about the chest and then disappear. Nylras handed me the keys to open the chains and the chest. Curiously, I did so. I opened the chest to find a sword hidden within a sheath. I took it out and cautiously grabbed the hilt and pulled.
Orange light mixed with teal glowed around the blade. This was mine. I felt complete. Jasper started laughing. I joined in.