North of the clearing a track led through the
trees to a picturesque setting where one of many streams lacing the Forest
floor widened into a deep, green pool. Saska found it soon after the Guardians
arrived on Valaris, in her search for a place to bathe in private.
This was where Cristi discovered Rain before
they moved on. He squatted on the edge staring into the rippling depths as if
mesmerised. Water dripped from his face and hands and his hair was damp. Never
comfortable around people, she had come for a few minutes of solitude and,
finding it unlikely with Rain already there, she began to retreat.
His head turned. Grey eyes speared her,
immobilising her. He rose with a sigh, drying his hands roughly on his
breeches. When he finally looked away she felt released. And then
strangely...bereft.
‘I don't mean to frighten you,’ he said as he
moved past her heading for the path back to the clearing.
‘Wait,’ she said and could not believe she did
so.
He halted and to his credit did not express
surprise. If he had she might have bolted.
‘I’m ever wary,’ she said. ‘Around others. It’s
not that you frighten me...’
He gave a half-smile. ‘You’re lying.’
She stared at him, briefly nonplussed, and then
stood straighter. ‘Fine. You do scare me, but that’s how it should be. Somehow
that makes all this strangeness all right.’
He frowned quizzically, but didn’t speak.
‘What I mean is, I feel safe.’ Cristi stopped
there, putting a hand to her burning face.
‘That makes no sense.’
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