Chapter 318 - A Plan for all Parties (2/2)

Rima rose up in order to dress.

***

”It's nearly dawn,” Tigin sighed, ”We've missed an opportunity and were sitting ducks out here”.

”Just give him a few more minutes,” said Sevis.

”He can cross the f.u.c.k.i.n.g Hava Rastellan in a few minutes, Sevis, face it, he's either gone, or dead,” said Tigin.

Sevis opened his mouth to reply when a loud clap rang out, like thunder, only much, much closer. Sevis and Tigin both turned away and braced themselves as a gust of wind beat down on them.

There was a short beat of near silence as the sound of footsteps just a few metres from them reached them. The young warriors both drew their blades quickly as they turned, only to see Aegin standing there.

Only, it wasn't exactly Aegin. He folded enormous wings behind his back before they seemed to shrink and vanish, then looked at them both with a smile that appeared far more calm than how the two of them were feeling.

”If we're being technical, it takes me more like a few hours, probably closer to a day or two to cross the entire Hava Rastellan. I haven't actually tried it so I can't know for sure,” said Aegin.

Sevis, coughed lightly to clear his throat and straightened slowly. Tigin followed, though was not nearly as smooth in covering his shock.

”You have wings”.

Aegin grinned, ”Yeah, cool huh? How was my entrance?”

”Have you always had wings?” asked Tigin.

”I-”

”Okay, wings and entrances aside, what do we know about Rima?” Sevis prompted.

Tigin and Aegin paused, then thought better of it, though Aegin in particular looked rather disappointed in their lack of response, ”Didn't see her, but I think I may have found the Vessel. I'm ready to go in now. I think I can get it”.

”You think?” asked Sevis with a raised eyebrow.

”I know,” Aegin replied, ”I'm unsealed now. Nothing holding me back, and way more power at my disposal. My next fight with Yashi won't be so one sided”.

Sevis took a long look at Aegin before he sighed, ”Congratulations, but you still need us”.

Aegin frowned, ”What?”

”With all due respect, you are one individual, and newly unsealed. Have you had any practice with your new abilities in the last, I don't know, hours? Minutes?”

Aegin opened his mouth, then closed it again, then responded, ”I can do it-”

”Shut it, we're helping,” said Tigin, ”I'm not going to be left here again. She's my best friend, my sister in all but blood”.

Aegin took a long look at Tigin, then at Sevis. Was this what Rassa had felt like? Knowing how weak he and Ebony were yet forced to bring them along at their insistence? He suddenly had a new understanding of how much of a burden and a liability they'd been to him. But Rassa had kept them with him anyway. Even seemed happy about it at times.

Eternity. That's right. He'd told them once that he had eternity and insisted on them choosing their destination. Eternity was an awfully long time to live alone. No doubt it was worth the burden of humans. No doubt it was worth it to risk losses that may only last a couple of years.

Aegin found himself smiling, ”Fine, you can come, but wait until dawn to come into the city so I can clear a path. I'll keep Yashi distracted and try to get to the Vessel. You go and find Rima and get her out”.

Sevis looked at Tigin who nodded, then Sevis turned back to Aegin and held out his hand, ”We all come out together, agreed?”

Aegin took the young Tribesman���s hand, ”Of course, tribe, brothers, sister, friends, family, whatever you want to call it, we go in and come out as one”.