It took quite a bit of coaxing, but Faye and Jyri managed to lead the hodag out from the village. With one hand on its leg, Faye guided the it along, while Jyri rode on Holger. Holger was surprisingly calm, being near a beast that could eat him in three bites. The hodag seemed disinterested in its surroundings, and focused its gaze on the dirt path.
"What do these things eat, if not humans?" Faye asked.
"Forest animals, mostly," Jyri said. "And whatever enters their caves. They'll eat humans if they're desperate, but that's a rare occurrence."
"Why'd this one leave its cave?"
Jyri shrugged. "All I can think of is water. They can go a long time without, but everything needs a drink eventually."
"But why haven't the Arlua seen it before?"
"Who knows. All that matters is, we can leave them."
The hodag growled. Faye leapt back, but the hodag sniffed at the air, then charged forward. Jyri urged Holger after it, and Faye followed. A massive lake loomed ahead, and they stopped. Faye bent forward, panting.
"Found the lake." Jyri patted at Holger's side. Holger yawned, a whine escaping him.
The hodag sniffed at the water, then drank. Without warning, it jumped in, landing with enough force to splash water over the bank. It swam off towards the horizon, leaving a trail of ripples behind.
"They swim?"
"I guess so." Eyes sweeping the lake and the surrounding trees, Jyri dismounted Holger. "This seems like a good place to rest for a bit."
Faye agreed, and they strolled to the edge of the lake. She made herself comfortable on a boulder, and watched Holger lap at the water. "He's been acting good. What happened?"
"He trusts us now." Jyri patted the estin's back. Holger whipped his head around, growling. He withdrew his hand, and Holger flopped down on his stomach. Jyri took a seat on the ground across from Faye, and pulled his notebook and pen from his pack. He flipped open to a blank page, and began writing.
"What are you writing?" Faye asked.
He barely glanced up. "Things I learned, before I forget."
"Why?"
"So I don't forget." Jyri furrowed his brow, his pen hovered over the page. "And you just made me forget."
"Sorry."
Jyri tapped the side of his pen against the notebook a few times, then jotted something down.
"You have a pen?"
Head still down, he nodded.
Faye leaned forward. "And it's one of those new ones, where you don't have to refill the ink?"
Jyri stopped, and looked up. "I still have to refill it on occasion."
"But not every time?"
"No." He held his pen back up, and continued.
"What's it made of?" Faye squinted at it. "It looks like silver."
He closed his eyes, gripping the pen in his fist. "It's nickel."
"I've never used a pen before," Faye said. "Only quills, back at the orphanage."
Jyri let out an audible breath, and slammed his notebook shut. "You know, it would be nice if I could have some quiet time."
"We're quiet all the time."
Jyri slid the cap on his pen, and shoved it, along with the notebook, back in his pack.
"I think we need to talk more," Faye said. "I know nothing about you."
"You know too much about me."
"I know you're a rich snob who can afford nickel-plated pens," Faye said. "And that you committed a crime, and Lyon sent guards after you for it."
"Like I said, you know too much." Jyri fiddled with the strap of his pack, avoiding her eye.
Faye absentmindedly rolled her foot over the gravel, then glanced up at him. "How old are you?"
"24."
"So you're around my age." Faye smiled. "I think I'm 21, but I don't know for sure. Nobody at the orphanage kept track."
Jyri nodded.
Faye waited for him to say something, to perhaps ask a question of his own. But he didn't. She continued picking at the gravel with her foot. "What did you do for work, before you ran away?"
Jyri gazed at the lake in deep thought, as though pondering the mysteries of the universe. Faye thought he was ignoring her, but after several moments, he spoke.
"Have you ever gone camping?"
Faye shook her head, frowning. "You camped for a living?"
"No, the lake just reminded me of how I used to go camping with my best friend." Jyri smiled. "Almost every weekend in the summer."
"You used to go camping?" Faye gaped at him.
Jyri nodded, his eyes brightening. "We used to build a bonfire and everything. It was great. Especially at night, when we'd tell stories."
"I would've thought you'd be above that, spending time in the dirt."
Jyri tilted his head. "I've spent these past few weeks in the dirt."
"Not willingly. I thought you were all rich and high maintenance. But you do... this," Faye gestured towards the scenery, "for fun? You?"
Jyri snorted. "Just because I'm 'rich and high maintenance,' doesn't mean I can't camp. What did you think I did?"
Faye looked him over. Despite everything, he still looked as wealthy as he had the day they met, though his clothes could use a good wash. She shrugged. "Rich people stuff, I guess." Jyri gave her a questioning look. "You know," she said, gesturing with her hand. "Go to grand balls... and eat fancy cocktails."
Jyri let out a laugh. "I hate cocktails. And I've only been to three balls."
"That's three more than I've been to."
"You're not missing much. They're boring." Jyri scrunched his nose. "I had to dress up in uncomfortable clothes and dance with girls."
"Sounds terrible."
"So was the food."
"The food?"
"I didn't like anything," Jyri said quickly. "Garlic bread was good though. I used to sneak some home to my friend. He was never allowed at balls." Faye furrowed her brow at him, and he explained. "He was an elf."
"Really? Where is he now?" Faye asked.
Jyri didn't answer at first. He had his arms around his legs, with his chin on them. His eyes had a faraway look as he stared off into the horizon, and he squeezed them shut. "Dead," he whispered.
Faye's hand flew to her mouth. "I'm sorry."
Jyri eyes remained closed. Faye wanted to know how it happened, but figured it would be insensitive to ask.
Surprisingly, she didn't have to. "King Lyon..." Jyri's voice shook. "He got ahold of him. And... you know what happens to non-humans, when he gets ahold of them."
Goosebumps ran up Faye's arms, and she shivered, pulling her knees to her chest. She swallowed. "It was one of those medical experiments, right?"
Jyri looked at her with teary eyes. He opened his mouth, but only managed to nod.
A burning sensation overcame her, and her jaw tightened at the thought. She'd heard rumors of the horrors that went on in those labs. One story in particular always stuck with her. A half-fairy, like herself, was tortured into using her magic. They just wanted to see how it worked. She ended up dying. Faye gritted her teeth. "I can't believe people will do that. It's disgusting."
"It's not like they want to," Jyri said, his voice trembling. "But, you can't go against King Lyon."
"Like you did?"
Jyri smiled weakly. "Like I did." He rubbed his palms on his pants, then stood up. "We should continue onwards, in case those guards come back."
Given that Faye had gotten more information out of him than ever before, she didn't pursue the conversation further. Instead, she watched Jyri collect Holger, and followed him back onto the trail. He didn't speak another word, or even look her way. Instead, he kept his head down, hair shielding his face from her. Faye kept a respectful distance as they continued their journey.
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