Page 42 of Runes To Rain
I can’t wipe the grin off my face. At least, that is, not until we finish eating and are readying ourselves to go. I realize Dio is walking toward me and Lent, and my stomach knots again. I grimace and turn away as I fasten my boots. However, even hispresence can’t destroy the joy I’m feeling at the prospect of a book-related mission.
However, the joy does crack when I hear him say to Lent, “I think I’ll come with you.”
Even Lent seems surprised, pausing in lacing his boots and peering at Dio.
I can’t bring myself to look at him, but I watch Lent, who glances over at me hesitantly.
I realize belatedly that he’s waiting for something from me, and despite myself, I say, “It’s a free world, not like we can stop you,” while carefully concentrating on my boots.
My shoulders tighten as Dio grinds out simply, “Right.”
An awkward silence descends over the room, the simple joy from before gone.
The joy reemerges, though, as we leave the mansion and walk down the side of the street. Lent and I walk shoulder to shoulder, and Dio trails behind. I can feel his gaze against the back of my neck, but it’s easier to ignore him when I can’t see him, so my mood immediately improves.
As we walk, I ask Lent what we’re looking for.
“Hmm,” he says and looks around the street before leaning towards me and conspiratorially saying, “I’m hoping maybe your luck will help because it’s pretty broad. Anything weather magic related, specifically rain, but we need more. Maybe wind, lightning, thunder,” he says. His already quiet words trail off as he says “lightning” and “thunder,” so I need to strain to hear them.
The words are unfamiliar to me, but so much of this world is unfamiliar still that it doesn’t really matter.
“Not here,” Dio growls from behind us.
When I hear his voice, I realize he’s closer than I thought. Goosebumps travel up my spine at how near he is. I walk faster for a moment, trying to put more space between us.
Meanwhile, Lent is looking back at him, and out of myperipheral vision, I see him roll his eyes. “Where am I supposed to tell her then, wise guy, huh?”
Dio doesn’t respond, or if he does, I don’t hear him, and Lent speeds up to stay beside me.
Suddenly, I feel a different type of attention on me and look around only to see a pair of horses. They’re fastened to the side of an ornate carriage, but they’re being fed and watered, so their bridles are off. Since they’re off work, I don’t hesitate to go to them.
As I approach the horse nearer to me, he lowers his head, wuffling his breath against my hair as he examines me with his nose. He’s telling me about how the hay isn’t to their liking, and do I maybe have a carrot or two? I let him down softly that I don’t have any carrots, and then I remember I grabbed an extra biscuit from breakfast and reach into my pocket.
Pulling it out, I break it in half and give some to each of the two horses. The one who is further from me butts her head ever so gently against my torso in thanks. She seems to sense that I have an injury and is trying to avoid causing me additional pain.
I wrap my arms around her massive head and breathe in the calming, musky scent. Suddenly remembering our mission and Dio’s impatience, I thank both of them for their time and comfort and then walk back to Lent.
Lent is looking at me with a grin on his face. “You really have a way with them,” he says.
From the glance I catch of Dio, he’s staring down the street away from me, looking uncomfortable even for him. Surprised and slightly emboldened that he’s not scolding me, I link my arm through Lent’s, which is a stretch since he’s so much taller, and lead him down the street towards our destination.
“I nearly forgot that you know where you’re going for this one,” he says.
“After being here twice, I'm pretty sure I can find my way back,” I respond with a grin.
“Wait,” Lent says, pausing and turning toward me, “twice?”
I flinch, remembering suddenly that I hadn’t asked permission for the second time.
“Yes,” I say hesitantly, “I went once on my own.”
Then I remember how I paid for the books and feel my cheeks flush. Looking down at the cobblestones beneath my feet, I say, “I may have put the books on your tab.” I look hesitantly up at Lent, but his face is split with a grin.
He chuckles and shakes his head slightly, “Well, that explains some things. Reem wondered how I’d run up a tab I didn’t remember.” He meets my eyes and must see my hesitation because he just grins at me as he says, “You’re a clever one, Shorty.”
I can’t help but laugh at that, and my chest feels light again until I hear Dio speaking behind us. “Wait, what? You find out she left the mansion without your knowledge or permission, bought books, and ran up your tab, and you call her clever?”
I hesitate, but Lent pulls me forward as he looks over his shoulder at Dio and sticks his tongue out at him.
