"I don't want your pity!" Revilo snapped.
Chapter 14 — Visions. Mark of the Shadow — Book 1 of the Phantom Lord Saga.
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Ned crouched by a small clearing, gathering twigs and dry leaves to kindle the fire. He thought about asking Nyra to light it with her magic, but the fatigue etched on her face deterred him. She sat beside Revilo, her head cradled in her hands, the weight of their mission evident on her shoulders. In truth, it weighed heavily on them all.
As he tended to the fire, Ned’s thoughts drifted back to their encounter with the serpent, Grondell. He had been so focused on getting Ivel, Nyra, and Revilo out of the cave that he hadn’t had a chance to determine where the creature had disappeared to. I suppose it doesn’t matter as long as it’s far away from us, he mused. Yet, the thought lingered, unsettling him. Grondell was undoubtedly one of the ancient champions like Marzana, and it was evident that Marzana knew more than she revealed. Now that he knew for certain the otter could speak, he was determined to question her—assuming she really did return to them alive, as Nyra had assured him.
Ned shook his head as if to clear away the thoughts. There was no point dwelling on something they couldn’t change or understand at the moment. He needed to get this fire going, they all needed some time to rest, relax, and bond if they were going to make it through this journey together.
His musings were interrupted by the sound of rustling leaves and twigs snapping underfoot. He stood up, turning around just as Ivel emerged from the woods, carrying a pile of branches on his shoulder.
“More kindling?” Ivel asked, a wan grin on his face.
“Thanks, big guy,” Ned said. “Just drop them over there.”
With a spark of flint, Ned coaxed the flames to life, the flickering warmth contrasting with the morning chill, then set to work skinning the rabbits.
“Use my dagger,” Revilo grunted through the pain. “It’s sharp and much better suited for the task than your axe or sword.”
Ned raised his eyebrow at Revilo’s unexpected kindness. They had been fighting over that dagger since the journey began, and now Revilo was offering it to him? Revilo, still groggy and in pain, pulled himself up against a nearby tree, his eyes squinting at the light. He pulled the dagger from his belt and held it out.
“Take it,” Revilo insisted. “Just be sure to clean it when you’re finished.”
“Thanks,” Ned said, retrieving the dagger and setting to work on the rabbits.
“You should skewer the rabbits for roasting,” he murmured, his voice laden with fatigue and his eyes drooping. “It’ll make cooking easier. And be sure you massage them with a little salt, oil, and spices, if you have any. A little garlic and ginger can go a long way.”
“I’m not sure we have any of that,” Ned began, but his words were cut short as Nyra pulled a small bottle of oil and spices from her bag.
“Here,” she said, holding it out to him. “Dornton kept all kinds of things in his secret supply room.”
“Thank you all,” Ned said, genuinely touched by their thoughtfulness. He swiftly fashioned skewers from sturdy sticks before threading the rabbits onto them. Using the oil and spices, Ned gently massaged the rabbits as instructed before finally placing them over the fire.
As the meat began to sear over the flames, the rich aroma wafted through the air, stirring Ned’s appetite.
“Smells good,” Ned noted with a grin.
“Yes, but you’re rotating them too much,” Revilo said. “Allow them to cook a little longer on each side. You’ll know they’re done when the juices run clear.”
“Look at us working together,” Ned said, laughing and shaking his head. “Who would’ve thought?”
Ivel chuckled as he sat down next to Nyra, handing her a water skin.
“To our little band of survivors,” Ivel said with a wink.
“To surviving one more day,” Ned echoed with a grin as they clinked their water skins together. “And look at that, the foods ready.”
“About time,” Revilo said, cocking his head and groaning as he attempted to stand up. “My stomach is eating itself.”
“Sit down,” Nyra insisted, pushing him back down against the tree. “We’ll bring the food to you.”
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