188 Travel (2/2)

”A thought that I have long considered.” Launcelot looked shaken, and Li was surprised. He had never expected the man, a stalwart proponent of justice who had risked his life many times, to look so pale.

”I should not have wasted away my years,” said Launcelot. ”I should have committed myself to what I knew was truly right and saved as many heroes as possible. I should have pried further into the duchess's matters and found true evidence against her.”

Launcelot leaned back with a sigh. ”And yet, in truth, I must admit that I was simply too afraid. Afraid of having my noble titles stripped by the duchess, for that would have destroyed my frail and dear old mother.

But now, in light of a threat that rears its head to raze us all, my titles seem so very small.”

”Stop moping, it's not like you,” said Faye, Launcelot's fire-wielding companion. She nudged his armored side with an elbow. ”You've saved us, haven't you? Took Ava and myself out of the slums of Trieste and Celeste from the chains of a crazed mage.”

”And I could have done so much more, but after saving you three, I felt it too dangerous to act further, that it would draw too much attention.”

”Do you think your fate sealed, Launcelot?” asked Li. ”That there is no hope?”

”No,” replied Launcelot after a deep pause. ”But never have I faced threat like this. Threat that looms so large it has the potential to wipe out everything. You are mighty, I know that, but surely even you with the power and blessing of a god are but one man standing before a flood of destruction.”

Li could see that Launcelot, though a hero by any person's standards, was still human. He still feared for his life and the lives of others. He still held onto his nobility in some measure, even if he would never normally admit it.

Though it took what seemed like a world-ending threat to evoke that fear, it was still fear, nonetheless.

Li knew that Launcelot would still fight to the very last breath, that the man could push his fear down to do as much as he could for those he loved and wanted to protect, but right now, the fear was drawing up his regrets.

”Every single generation that faced the demonic invasion before you must have felt the same thing. They must have felt their regrets pouring out of them too because they feared death, and yet, they managed to live.

I know you believe things are different this time, but trust me, a god's strength is more than enough for you to live. Mine-,” Li glanced at the bronze shield by Launcelot's side. ”And yours.”

Launcelot took in Li's words for a few seconds and then nodded to himself. ”Forgive me, I showed an unsightly side to myself. And a temporary loss of belief in your success. I hope your confidence in my guidance through the forests is not broken.”

”Not at all,” said Li. ”It is natural to fear death and loss. That you can process it and steel yourself to this extent is a comfort to me.”

=============

Two hours later, near noon, they reached the edges of the Chattering Forest. The roads here were distinctly less traveled, and in fact, at the edge of the forest, the roads actually ended. Only a few signposts acted as general markers to guide people through the forest, and it was questionable whether they remained readable and in good condition further into the woods.

Li and Bulwark left the carriage at that point, and Li bid goodbye to Valery, driver of the carriage.

When Li approached the forest, he felt a distinct chill. It was far heavier and colder than that of the Winterwoods before Li restored it. The life signature of a forest that was not dead, but diseased. It was an unpleasant sensation, but one that was still familiar to Li in a way, for there was a side of him that this rot and death belonged to.

A side he had not yet become accustomed to, but hopefully, that was to change very soon.