59 Chapter 59: This and other things (1/2)
Salem: You can never be sure about what a woman is thinking. Even after sitting next to her for three days. Or knowing her for three years. What is inside that head will always be a mystery.
Which makes things interesting. Or dangerous. Or both.
We left Larose behind. Back on the road, under the sky. It felt good in a way. To be away from the smells and sounds of humanity. To feel like you are alone in the world.
But I wasn't alone. Elina sat next to me. Or behind me. Whichever struck her fancy.
I was used to it. Or at least as used to having a live witch around as possible. I've slept next to her, eaten with her. Which felt odd in a way. But a lot of things in life were odd, so I choose not to think too much about it.
Rustling sounds behind me. She hasn't said much since we left Larose. But silence between two people can never last.
She yawned and stretched. Gnawed on the hard bread I packed at Larose. Drank water. Slept.
I didn't turn around. Didn't look at her.
She was usually never this quiet. Which meant she was thinking something. Thinking what? I didn't know. But I was still breathing. Still alive. Which was good enough for me.
But silence never lasts.
”Where are we going to sleep tonight?” Elina asked.
I shrugged.
”We are going to camp?”
”Probably.”
Elina got up. She leaned forward, her weight against my back. Her chin resting on my shoulder. Her silver hair tickling my cheek.
I said, ”What are you doing?”
”Looking.”
”Looking for what?”
She breathed in. Breathed out. I could feel the warmth.
”Hmmm...”
She was thinking something. Couldn't really tell what.
Eventually she said, ”I'm looking for someone like Anja.”
I sat very still. Because now I knew what she was thinking. I could see where this conversation was going. And it wasn't good. Suddenly the cart, the open plains, the blue sky became a prison. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. Nothing to distract her. There was little I could do to avoid the worst.
I said, ”Why would you want to look for someone like her?”