269 Essence Remnants

"When we go into the mountains, what dangers will we face?"

As Arran asked the question, his eyes remained focused on the path at the far end of the valley. Yet whatever threats lay ahead, no sign of them could be seen from here.

"There's no need for you to know that," Brightblade replied. "All you—"

"No," Arran interrupted her. "You either tell me what the dangers beyond that path are, or I'm not going."

Brightblade raised an eyebrow. "You don't trust me?"

"I've put my life in your hands many times," Arran said, his voice firm as he met her eyes. "But I'm not blindly walking into danger. Not when there's no need to. And if you trust me, you can certainly tell me what we're about to face."

She looked at him for several seconds with an expression that held both surprise and — unexpectedly — approval. "Fair enough," she said after some moments. "If I'm taking you into danger, I suppose I owe you at least a brief explanation of what that danger is."