Snippet #2812945

Moving through the underbrush was considerably easier on the outskirts of the forest and near the path, yet Eilin set her course away from both. No sooner had the command to not let them escape was given, than they lost sight of the gate completely, obscuring themselves within the density of the evergreens that dotted the landscape.

So much for the guards being able to do their duty for the village.

Sverre's words were met with a side glance from the dark-haired woman, her lips pressed together in what could only be described as silent concentration. It was baffling to her how he could take such glee from what they were doing and have fun with a task that she, herself, deemed only a forced necessity. She wasn't a stranger to humanity's naive nature. She, herself, had once been naive as well. And she knew full well that simply walking up to a guard and trying to explain the dangers that lay in wait would result in a lot of mock laughter, for people thought themselves advanced and far above anything the world could throw at them. It was a frustrating burden she had taken on herself very early in life.

And then there was Sverre, fleeting through society with what seemed to be no care for the rise and collapse of communities. Sverre, who professed to care for her and her family and who had aided in killing of demons on her watch, yet seemed to take just as much joy in plotting against humans. She had yet to sort her feelings out about him, muddled as they were in their twisted past, and she knew it would be a good long while until she was able to figure them out.

"Not the word I would have chosen,” she replied, tearing her gaze from the demon.

The further they got away from the gate, the easier it was to relax about not being overheard. As the voices of the guards faded into the distance behind them, Eilin eventually took to the path, gingerly readjusting the sling around her arm to sit more securely. It was quickly becoming apparent that she had no plan to return to the inn just then as she headed squarely into the dark forest, following the same path that almost ended in her death just a couple of days ago.

The moonlight as the only guiding light, Eilin moved carefully yet decisively as she retraced her steps, casting glances to Sverre from time to time. She had questions, yet every time she thought of voicing them, they would be stopped before she could form the actual words.

It wasn’t until a fork in the path split and she remembered to go to the right that she finally spoke up with yet another side glance to her rather unexpected companion.

“Why did you follow me?” she asked.