Page 83 of Light and Shadow
His gaze flits over the camp where elves rest or keep fires burning. Several cook on a main fire at the center of the group. “The path ahead appears clear. I saw no signs of Venora or her creatures. The others should return soon. Hopefully, they’ll have similar reports.”
A bright red head crests the hill northwest. “There is Breck now.”
Jax turns and walks a few steps toward his soldier. He stops and looks over his shoulder at me. “Are you certain you’re well?”
“I have no idea, to be honest.” The moment I say so, I wish I’d kept my mouth closed.
Jax gives Breck a nod, then turns to face me. “Tell me.” He gestures that I should walk with him at the edge of the camp.
We’re not friends. He barely tolerates me. But I respect him. The others will soothe me by telling me everything is going to be alright. At least from Jax, I’ll get the brutal truth. We walk for more than a minute before I say, “I’m not suited to this kind of life. I have almost no training, and the magic I have is erratic and new. The most magical thing I did in my world was touch someone’s hand and know that someone was going to die young or lose a baby. And here, I am some savior who’s supposed to save a world and all its people. I don’t even like camping.”
“I prefer my own bed with my wife in it as well.” He chuckles.
The sound is so strange I stop and make sure it was really from him. “Are you making fun of me?” I can’t decide if I’m shocked or annoyed.
He shakes his head. “No. I can see how all of this is overwhelming and exhausting.”
When he doesn’t say more, I say, “I know that it sounds like I’m whining. You and your people have been dealing with this for thirty years. Your entire species is in jeopardy. I shouldn’t complain. It’s only…what if I fail?”
“You may fail.” He crosses his thick arms. “We may all perish at Venora’s hand or be turned into soulless shadow.”
“Great. That’s reassuring.”
He smiles.
I take a step back. “I had no idea you were this handsome.”
Grinning wider, he nods. “I am a fine specimen. That’s what Selina told me when first we met.” His smile dims. “I cannot predict the future, Harper. I don’t know what will happen to my people or if you and two more are the answer we’ve been praying for.”
“Honesty.” I sigh.
“Despite your lack of magical training and offensive skills, you have improved with a sword, killed a deer, and defended this party of strangers with your magic valiantly. If you had asked me when first we met if I thought you could save Domhan, I would have told you no. I would have said we’d be better off throwing ourselves on our swords now if this small woman from the human world was our only hope.”
I hold up my hands to stop him. My gut is in knots, and I’m barely holding back a torrent of tears. “Alright. That’s enough.” I turn to walk away.
He stops me with a hand on my shoulder. “Let me finish. Today, I see a woman who has overcome an entire belief system to help a people not her own, and she has won battles that mighthave been lost without her help. I see strength in you, Harper Craig. Far more than I, and maybe you, gave you credit for.”
I brush away a tear.
“Now, I think this is a woman who the oracle has predicted will help rescue us. I see the possibility of a life where my sons grow up, and perhaps my precious wife gives birth to a girl. You give me hope that there will be a future. I don’t know if you will succeed, but I will follow you to whatever end is waiting. I believe you are one of three in the prophecy.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Aaran
The sun is setting when I wake up again.
Harper sits, eating from a leaf. She smiles at me, but her eyes are distant. “I’m glad you’re awake.”
Testing my ribs, I take a deep breath. “I feel better.”
“You had a collapsed lung. It looks like you’re breathing easier.” She finishes the meat. “Are you hungry? They’ve saved you food.”
Anchoring my elbow, I ease myself to sitting. Only the echo of pain in my side, I settle against the rise behind me. “I am a bit hungry.”
In a flash, she’s up and walking away. A moment later, she has a large leaf filled with meat and berries.
I eat, but her expression worries me. “Are you ill?”
