A Rapid ride

Victoria sighed as she faced down the halfling. 

"You're SURE this is safe for the horses?" She asked him again. 

"Your animals are too slow. It would take weeks to get to Klain at your pace," Tom said stoically. If he could be called stoic. This could be him insanely happy and excited, for all Victoria could tell of his emotions… if he had any. 

"What's wrong with that?" She pursed her lips. 

"We should be there sooner, and we can be if you will allow us to feed your horses," Bran frowned. 

"I'm asking if it will hurt them," The woman glanced at Bessie. "I don't want to see them injured." 

"As far as we know, it is perfectly safe. Of course, we only have a little, but the properties are such that we should reach there quickly. The portals are increasing in frequency now and we would rather be amongst humans who will fight the dangers that come through." Tom insisted. "The sooner the better. The giants' portal ripened sooner than we expected and it does not behoove us to continue to rely on our calculations on when these things will happen." 

"So, you feed our horses the last of your quickening herbs, and they go faster? That's it?" Gabriel interjected. 

"They will be thirstier. You will want them to drink much before we begin," Bran pointed to a clean stream they had just come across. "It is why we waited until now to suggest it." 

"If your herbs kill my horse, you'll buy me a new one, right?" Walter eyed the halflings uneasily. 

"That will not happen," Bran glared at the man. 

"Then you shouldn't have any qualms about making the promise," The old man argued. 

"Fine, have it your way," Tom rolled his eyes. 

"That's all I ask," Walter leaned back on his heels, apparently satisfied. 

"Won't it shake the wagons apart, to go so fast?" Victoria pointed out. Kyler was driving his own cart, while Walter was now driving the halflings'. 

"You may load the most important things directly onto the horses, just in case, if you wish," Tom said, "but it shouldn't be a problem. Are humans always this afraid?" 

"It's not fear, it's caution," Victoria explained. "We're cautious of losing our animals or possessions just to get somewhere faster." 

"Your friend's message seemed to indicate time was of the essence." Bran pointed at Gabriel. "The larger number of portals we've seen these past days has indicated increasing danger. The dog had to kill another Scaraf yesterday! Should we not be far from this place?" 

Victoria sighed. "We simply want to properly weigh the risks against the advantages of your plan." 

"You mean we are small like your young ones and so our plan must be stupid," Tom's tone wasn't angry, but it wasn't pleased. 

"We would question Gabriel's or Walter's plans just as thoroughly," Victoria sighed. "Don't take it personally." 

"Then we can go now?" The female halfling, who to this day had not let Victoria know her name, spoke. 

Victoria and Gabe exchanged a glance. He looked a little nervous, but gave her the barest nod. 

"Let me load some things while the horses drink." He said to Tom. Victoria moved with him, determined to keep close the scrolls and maps Simone had given her to care for. 

"You really think this is a good idea?" She whispered, anxious for his real opinion. "You're an animal doctor, you think they'll be all right?" 

"I'm not officially an animal doctor, I just do my best to help them. The halflings seem confident, and their horses seem healthy," He replied with information rather than answering the question she asked, and Victoria frowned at him. 

When had things become awkward between them? She yearned to go back to their days of easy camaraderie. 

"You know you didn't answer what I asked." The woman said pointedly. 

"I know," He gave her a half-smile. "The most I can say is, whether it's a good idea or not, it's the one we're going with." 

"Your lack of confidence concerns me," She fretted. 

"The halflings have enough confidence for all of us." He tilted his head. "Shouldn't you be pestering Tom about it instead of me?" 

She drew back, a little wounded, and he winced. 

"I didn't mean that the way it came out," He said hurriedly. "I just meant, I don't think I'm going to be able to talk anyone out of this. I don't have any authority over this group. Walter would probably be closest, since he's oldest, but since it's the halflings' idea, Tom's your best bet for getting out of the thing if you don't want to try." 

"No, I understand the logic," She said tightly. "You're not in charge, and I'm not your blood sister, so I've no right to pester you about anything." 

"That's not–" He began, but she held up a hand to silence him.

"It's fine, Gabe. I'm past that. I've decided I don't want to be your sister anyway." Victoria's eyes were traitorously wet, and so she turned away to gather up the maps to load into Bessie's pack. 

Gabriel stood, frozen, for several moments as she worked. It was unnerving, and she wanted to look at him, to better guess what he was thinking, but she was mortified that he might see the tears pooling in her eyes. 

"Victoria," He said softly as she climbed into the wagon to retrieve more papers. She ignored him. 

"Victoria, look at me." Gabriel commanded with more authority than he rightfully had over her. She had her back to him and quickly blinked, letting her tears fall onto her sleeve rather than running down her face where he would see them. 

Drawing in a deep breath, she composed an irritated expression and turned to comply with his soft order. 

"You just said you're not in charge," She accused, going on the offensive. "And now you're ordering me around." 

"Tori," He said, reverting to a childhood nickname he knew irritated her. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at him. "What do you want of me?" 

She considered the question, and her eyes lingered on him. She wasn't entirely sure what she wanted. The title of Brother had become a way to keep him close without driving him away. A safety net, a barrier against rejection. 

And yet, she'd gotten rejected anyway. There was no good answer to his question. What did she want of him? She wanted forever, she admitted to herself. And not as a sister. 

"I want you to do whatever is best," She said vaguely, and turned away again. 

"What kind of answer is that? Are you going to tell me what is best, or do I have to keep guessing until I find the 'right' answer?" He scoffed. "Come on, Tori, that's not fair." 

She inhaled deeply and counted to three before letting the breath go and facing him. 

"You've been yearning to be a man since we were little. To have adult knowledge and responsibilities. Why are you suddenly so concerned about what I want? Just be the man you've always wanted to be," She forced her lips into a smile, but Gabriel frowned as he leaned closer. 

"I'm sorry I haven't been enough of a man to live up to your expectations," Gabriel clipped. 

"That's not what I meant–" She stuttered.

"Ha! See how it feels? I can do it too!" He said triumphantly. "Can we stop it now? Can we just say what we mean and not take the other's words so… rudely? You know I don't want to hurt you. My words just get clumsy sometimes." 

Victoria paused, a little shocked by his declaration. It was on the nose of several of their recent interactions, and the blame sat squarely on her own shoulders. She was the one constantly reading bad motives into his words, and it was terribly unfair to him. She didn't do that growing up, what had changed to make her so disagreeable?

Swallowing her words, she just nodded in response to his question, and his shoulders sagged in relief. 

"Thank you! It's terrible trying to watch my mouth so closely and still failing." He shook his head self deprecatingly. "Friends again?" 

She looked at the hand he now stuck out for a handshake, and then up to his eager face. His eyes were bright and alert, but didn't hold what she wanted to see. If she were going to be brutally honest with him, she didn't want his friendship, but she had no idea how to phrase such a thing without alienating Gabe and humiliating herself. 

His smile faltered, and he lowered his outstretched palm. "Or not, I suppose." 

The hurt in his eyes made her stomach clench, and she rushed to try and heal the cut her lack of response had made. 

"We were never just 'friends', Gabe," She grinned at him, but it felt a bit empty. "I'm sure you can think of a better title than that." 

He regarded her seriously for a moment before hesitantly smiling back. "As long as we're something." 

"Of course," She assured him. "We've always been something."