There was no way Davina wanted to join a group of Inarians. On top of that, she didn't even know why they were here in Eris. Her mind wandered. She thought they were probably a spy and they somehow managed to pull Rianne in their plan.
Davina munched on another rabbit's leg as she made possible scenarios or explanations in her head. Each one she made seemed more unbelievable and impossible than the last.
"I'm glad someone who enjoys my cooking will join us." Kira sidled up to Davina, surprising the other girl. It's been quite a while since she's had real human company who were nice to her. Although, she was still debating the human part.
Davina wanted to protest that she wouldn't be joining them. That she didn't want to join them.
"I think we should change your bandages," Quinn said before Davina could open her mouth.
"You go do that," Kira stood up, "I'll see if I can find more food for Dana."
Kira ran out of the cave and left Davina and Quinn alone.
For some reason, Davina felt nervous around Quinn. The same could be said for Quinn. Even if he was the one who suggested changing her bandages, he stayed in his spot of the cave for a few seconds.
"If you're going to change them, do it."
"You're going to let me close to you?"
He was still not over what she said the other night.
"I can protect myself if you hurt me."
After a few seconds, Quinn came in beside her with his bag. His movements were stiff and hesitant as he tried to remove some of the bandages on her right shoulder.
"I tried to heal some of the burns and cuts you had. Also the ones in your back."
"With your magic?"
"No," he said curtly. "I did it with these." He showed herbs, creams, and potions to her. "I tried my best to heal them, but I think that many will leave scars."
"That's not a problem."
Quinn finished changing the bandage on her shoulder. Then he moved on to her arms. He was right when he said there would be scars. Davina traced her hand along the lines marring her body. Some were old and others were new.
Only when Quinn was done, he spoke once again.
"About you joining us-"
"I don't want to," she cut him off.
"I thought so. But the message says you're part of us now."
Davina wished she could understand the message earlier. Perhaps she could find a loophole. But it was nothing but symbols and drawing that held no meaning to her. She didn't have to follow it.
If she was going to be a part of this, what were they planning to do here? Why were they here? How did they cross the border? Did the princess help them with this?
During the days she spent in that cave with Kira and Quinn, she tried to ask them about their purpose. The answers Kira and Quinn would give her was that they would talk it out first with Arlo.
Whoever Arlo is, she has no idea. From what she gathered, he must be another Inarian. Since they would always say that they had to discuss it with him first, she imagined him to be the leader of the group.
"So, when can I meet him?" she asked.
"When you're healed," Quinn replied during the first night in the cave.
"When will that be?"
"Two days," he estimated.
~~~~~
True to his word, when two days passed they left the cave and were on their way to meet Arlo. Davina felt lighter and better than she did in the past few months. Although she would never admit it, it was because of the excellent medical treatment she's been given. She was also given a good amount of food and was able to rest as much as she needed. Kira was more than happy to spoil her.
Now, Davina was staring at the blue sky and let the heat of the sun touch her skin. This was the first time she saw the sun again after so many months. The waves crashing from the sea and the birds singing was what she could hear. She took in a deep breath and inhaled the salty smell of the sea.
"It's so beautiful," Felix said her thoughts. "Remember when we sneaked out here?"
"Which time?"
"Okay, I think we're all ready," Quinn said, unknowingly cutting off Felix.
Davina turned her head and saw Quinn come out of the cave.
"Where's Kira?" he asked.
"She took off earlier," replied Davina.
She was in front of the cave since the sun started to rise. She thought she was alone, but then she saw that Kira came right out of the cave. She had half a mind to just leave them earlier, but her curiosity on the situation she was in made her stay.
"She always tends to fly away," Quinn smiled.
Davina had no idea what he was talking about at first, then she remembered that Kira can turn into a bird.
During those two days the three spent together in the cave, Quinn was able to calm down beside Davina. They don't interact much unless he has to check on her wounds. It was always Kira who sidles up beside her and links their arms together as if they were best friends. Davina wasn't used to it, but she couldn't push Kira away. She thought it was all a ploy so that she won't run away.
"How far is it? The place where we're going?" She asked as they walked away from the cave.
"Not far. It's by another cave by the shores," Quinn replied.
"So, why is Arlo separated from you and Kira?"
"He's fixing our ship."
"You have a ship?"
Quinn nodded. "It got ruined while we were trying to cross the border," they must've been caught, "because of a storm." Oh.
"There were no fleets who saw you?" She felt disappointed at those who were supposed to be guarding the borders.
"We were able to sneak in without them noticing us."
That brought a terrible feeling in her throat.
She was currently standing behind Quinn and was once again following her lead. So, he couldn't see that she probably had a horrible expression on her face with the thought that they were able to sneak in through the border of fleets without any casualties.
How many more have been able to do that?
Perhaps there were more Inarians in the kingdom of Eris she didn't know about. More who were able to sneak in and were planning to overthrow the kingdom.
"How's your shoulder?" Quinn broke her train of thought.
"It feels better." It actually felt like it wasn't stabbed in the first place. Although her terrible mood prevented her from admitting that he healed her well, even more so than usual.
"Aren't you supposed to say something?" Felix seemed amused at the failed attempt of a conversation.
"Say what?" She asked in a low voice.
"You know, something one says to show their thanks." He emphasized the last word.
Davina pretended to ignore him.
"It's common decency to thank someone who saved your life. He might be waiting for it."
"Then he'll be met with disappointment."
Thankfully, the entire journey was silent between Davina and Quinn.
When they got to the shores of the Darian Sea, Davina remembered when she and Felix used to play on its white shores. The memories were still vivid in her head that if she closed her eyes she could still hear their laughter in the air.
They used to race on the shores and play in the ocean. This was when Felix's mother, the first Queen, was still alive. She would always take the two of them there when the castle would be filled with too many people.
Davina and Quinn walked until they came across the bottom of a ledge. Neither she nor Felix actually went to this part of the sea before so this was the first time she saw it. The bottom of the ledge was nothing but a dead end unless you wanted to swim. There was nothing else there, so Davina was curious why Quinn stopped there and wasn't going anywhere.
Quinn looked around as if he was searching for something. Davina tried to find out what it was he was searching for, but gained no clue. He was looking up at the sky. Then when he could find it, he whistled.
"What are you looking for?" She finally asked.
Quinn's eyes widened when he saw the figure of a small bird in the distance. Davina remembered that bird as the one from the other night. Now that she had a good look on it, she saw that it was a swallow. The bird had brown feathers with golden streaks. It sang the same melody Quinn whistled and perched on his hair. It turned to face her and tweeted a happy song to her. Davina still couldn't comprehend that this bird was the same girl she was talking to yesterday.
After a few seconds, parts of the bottom of the ledge started to disappear. Davina took a few steps backward as she watched the scene unfold before her very eyes. Those rocks that seemed so permanent and solid were vanishing like air.
There was an opening now in front of her. The bird left Quinn's shoulder and flew inside.
"Come on," Quinn said. He saw the hesitant look on Davina's face. "It's alright. Nothing bad is going to happen. We're just headed to the ship."
"It's hidden there?"
Quinn nodded.
"How?"
"There's always been a cave here, we just hid it-"
"With your magic."
"Well yes, but in a more specific term, they're illusions."
"Illusions."
She did hear of Inarians who were good with those. She usually faced those with powers of combat like Quinn who could manipulate the wind. She thought those Inarians were probably always behind the scenes.
Looking at the cave, she let out a breath and started to walk in.
"Do you want to take my hand?" Quinn asked.
Davina only glared at him until he took his hand away. She ignored Felix who was laughing behind her. He was enjoying her situation a little too much. Although she wondered what he'd do if he was in this kind of situation.
Unlike her, Felix didn't harbor any hatred for the Inarians. In fact, he was fascinated with them. He was mesmerized at the thought of people who had special powers. She would've been too if they weren't responsible for the deaths of many Erisians.
Once again, Davina thought of Rianne. Was she like her brother who held a fascination towards the Inarians that she was willing to help them? Or perhaps this was just a spell they cast on her. There were so many questions swimming in her mind about the involvement of Rianne in whatever this plan was. But she hasn't had the chance to ask them yet.
When they were already a good distance in the cave, Davina noticed the light was getting dimmer. She looked back and expected to see the faint existence of the entrance. But there was nothing behind her. Only endless darkness.
She tried to see if she could find the entrance. Even just a small sign of it somewhere. But she couldn't see it anywhere.
It's a trap.
It was all a trap.
Her hand shook as she held the hilt of her sword. Having a weapon brought her a sense of comfort. It was also a reminder that she wasn't back in the dark hole where she was taken to rot.
She turned her head and saw Quinn walking ahead of her. There was a small light coming out from his fingers. It was just like the other night with Kira. While Kira's light was golden, Quinn's was white.
Davina sprinted over to Quinn's side, fixing her eyes on the light in his hand than in the darkness right behind her.
"Oh sorry, was I walking too fast?" He asked when he saw her breathing heavily and the beads of sweat on her forehead.
"No," she panted. "Wha-what's that?"
"It's a light spell. It's one of the earliest spells we learn," he moved the light from his right hand to his left so that she could see it better. "Should I stop?" He remembered the last time she saw him doing magic.
"No," she said without hesitation. "You don't have to stop. It's good."