16 Bonding

To Brightise's surprise, Clober actually took a liking to Rayvad. Or to be more precise, she took a liking to getting Rayvad riled up. She would follow him around whenever he went for a walk and hug him goodnight, even though she could see that it made him extremely uncomfortable. Actually, she did it because it made him extremely uncomfortable. As Rayvad had noted, she and Brightise were very much alike.

The four of them traveled for two days inside the endless forest. Every time they would camp for the night, Rayvad would light a fire, and he and Syd would take turns keeping watch while the girls slept. Brightise had cautioned Clober once again about not touching the flames. She knew how tempting it was. She could feel it herself now, that undeniable, almost physical warmth. The closer she got to the flames, the better her mood got and the more powerful she felt.

"Why would someone from a small village in Selgonfield go to the Amazon camp?" Syd asked her on the second day of their journey.

Rayvad and Clober had gone to look for food, while she and Syd took care of the hungry horses.

Brightise had been expecting that question for some time now. She was surprised Rayvad hadn't been the one to ask it.

"The Amazons accept commoners," she said.

"The Amazons accept anyone who can go through their extensive, painstaking training successfully," Syd corrected. "That doesn't explain why you would take your little sister, leave the village where you both grew up, and set out towards an unknown land."

Brightise turned to look at him. For once, he looked just as serious as his unpleasant brother.

"Paldagor was attacked by a Fire Demon last week," she said.

Syd looked back at her in surprise. Apparently, news didn't travel very fast to Robenrain.

"We were not safe there anymore," Brightise said. "Extensive, painstaking training sounded like a good way to fend off demons."

Syd nodded silently.

"What about your other sister?" he asked a few moments later. "The one who can skin rabbits?"

Brightise had to think of a lie. She couldn't say that Morral had been abducted. The only reason Fire Demons abducted humans was if they were half-bloods. If Syd knew Morral was a half-blood, he would realize that so were Brightise and Clober. Brightise didn't want him to make that connection.

"She died in the fire last week," she said.

She didn't have to fake the sadness in her voice. She had lost Morral in a way, even if she had hope of getting her back.

"I'm sorry," Syd said sincerely. "I had no idea."

Brightise shrugged. "I have Clober."

When Clober and Rayvad came back from their search, Clober was on Rayvad's shoulders. Brightise and Syd looked at each other in surprise.

"What kind of Elemental Magic did you work on him?" Syd asked Clober.

Although Brightise knew it was a joke, her heart still stopped for a moment.

"She promised she wouldn't kiss me goodnight," Rayvad said grumpily as he got down on his knees so Clober could get off.

"I crossed my fingers," Clober said with a cheeky smile.

Syd started laughing heartily.

"That is not how promises work!" Rayvad told the little girl.

"Yes, it is," Clober fired back. "It's how you break them without getting into trouble."

Then she sauntered off toward their horses proudly.

Rayvad watched her go speechlessly until Syd walked up to him.

"I think there is a storm coming," he told his brother.

Rayvad nodded with a frown. "How far?"

"A few hours away."

"Think we have enough time to disperse it?"

"We might as well try."

Brightise watched their exchange with shameless curiosity. She didn't want to spend another night in wet clothes, but this was about more than that. Rayvad and Syd were talking about manipulating the weather to avoid a big storm. Brightise knew all about the Slorigans' special abilities, but this would be the first time that she would be witnessing one of them using them.

Actually, it was the first time she would be watching anyone use any kind of Elemental Power.