Blue flames burned in the twilight hours. With a blink, the familiar found Adrian before long. It perched on his pack. Without so much as a glance, Adrian Giarmund spoke.
“Found anything yet?” He asked, curbing his sarcasm. They had made little headway in the first few days.
Indeed, but it is far worse than this Caed you spoke of.
Adrian bristled. Bad news.
Raker is hunting in this area.
“You have got to be shitting me.” Adrian dropped everything in his hands. Arrowheads tumbled into the grass before him, twine unraveled from its container. “Why the fuck is Raker here? He can’t…He can’t fucking know, can he? Shit, Cromwell, we can’t mess with him—“
I can hold off Raker if I must. However, we may be hunting the same target. Caed is not a servant, and if he has the Eye of Istvar then he is highly desired.
Gathering his things up, Adrian eyed the bird. He raised a brow, “you keep saying that, but who is Istvar and why is this ‘eye’ so important?”
Istvar is the goddess of recollection. As she can experience past events through her chosen bearer, she may even have had a hand in Veleria’s capture. She wouldn’t let such an opportunity go to waste.
An actual bonefied goddess may have wanted the girl. Almost absentmindedly, Adrian touched the mask on his belt. Things were getting crazier by the minute.
Do you believe you acted of your own free will? Or did your Dark Stranger manipulate you into saving her?
Adrian saw that the bird appeared to be looking at the mask. He grimaced, not wanting to believe that. Surely he had grabbed Veleria because it was the right thing? More than anything, he wanted to believe that he was acting on his own will. He also knew more than anyone that the gods acted subtly, deliberately. The God of Many Faces—his Dark Stranger, often manipulated his father Reaver into pursuing their will prior to his death. Adrian was likely no different.
“She’s really just that important.” Adrian mumbled, his eyes averting from Cromwell’s triple flames.
Consider this, Adrian Giarmund. Even if it was your deity guiding you, that Veleria was safe during her time of need is still a good thing. She was still vulnerable at the start. The bird looked out into the distance. Soon she will be in less need, but may require guidance as she adapts to the changes she is experiencing.
Adrian sighed, peering in the same direction Cromwell was. He was in over his head. Yet, he had no intention of backing down. To be with Veleria again…It was all he wanted.