#might change some thing later like what exactly lynn and avery were doing before this

[pen-of-roses]

Broken Fates Excerpt

Pt. 10 From Chapter 1: The Lost, Lynn

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9

Why had he agreed?

It’ll be fine, it has to be fine. Years had passed after all, surely no one would or could remember him? Right? Or would they still try to kill him? For being a failure to the Gods, for not stopping all of this, for—

The tent disappeared around him, trees taking the place of fabric, leaves, grass, and dirt overtaking the mat. Twigs decorated the light brown hair and clothes of a stranger. The same stranger from earlier with the hazel eyes, who now knelt before him, but the fear was replaced by a tilt up of the chin and brows set in a look of defiance. There was something familiar about them too. But they had never met.

“Who?” He was back in the tent alone almost as soon as he’d opened his mouth.  

Speaking of problems. At least he could return knowing he wasn’t a failure. Just late. But who knows, maybe that’ll be enough of a reason for them to still hate him?

His head dropped back into his hands, palms pressing into his eyes. He could do this. Well, had to do this, considering they hadn’t left much of a choice. But as she had said, they were helping people, it had to be done. And they were the best.

The stranger’s face still lingered.

Finding his notebook in his bag, he opened it to first blank page and started to draw. He wouldn’t be able to get any of the colors right, but the sketch alone would be enough of a reference if—if what? Somehow, he met them? What would he even say?

“Hello, you’re the stranger I’ve been having visions about. No, I don’t what they mean, but they, and therefore are probably, well, important?”

“Who’s important?” Avery stood in the entrance in her bright pink coat, with two cups of—

“Please tell me that’s not coffee.”

“You’ll thank me later, just drink.” Handing the cup off, she sat, hovering, but not quite touching, over his shoulder. “Now who’s important? And who’s that?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“Oh, one of the newbies then?”

“No it’s--who made this?”

“If it’s that bad, just give it here! See if I do anything nice for you ever again.”

“No, no it’s good! Go away!”

“Fine, fine!” She took the book while he drank, studying the picture. “You still haven’t answered who this is. Wait, they kind of look like that kid we met in the apothecary. Did you draw him because he tried to steal your dagger? Or is it a parent or sibling?”

“What? No, I mean, well. It was a face from a—” vision, but he couldn’t say that. Not yet. Looking at it now, they did look a lot alike, as if the kid had grown up several years. “Yeah, maybe that’s it, I had a dream about that kid because he left such an impression on me from that.” That had to be it. He had said he wanted to fight too so that was why he was seeing the sword. Maybe it was guilt too. It seemed like his fault after all.

And the other one?

“Whatever you say Goldie.” He jumped slightly at her voice, causing some of the coffee to spill. Which naturally earned a snort from her and a curse from him. “Come on let’s get this tent down.”

“What about my shirt?”

“What about it?”

“I hate you.”

“No, you don’t!”

The tent came down easily enough. Hours later, they had gathered most of the needed supplies and had acquired horses alongside a rough idea of the direction to head in. It only took that long because of his own agitation. Of course, the whispers hadn’t helped anything. Avery had taken over, and he had gone to wait at the gate in peace. Well, that had been the plan, though Marcus seemed to have other ideas.

“So, you’re finally heading back there, huh?”

“Rumors get around here fast. Who told you?”

“Does it matter? It’s true anyway. Question’s on if you’re coming back.”

“Well, what did you bet on?” He crossed his arms, staring him down.

“Yeah, but only ‘cause she’s going with you. Everyone knows she’s the reason you’ve gotten this far.”

“Thank you, for your utter lack of faith in me.”

“Just sayin.”

“I have no intentions of staying there. Or breaking down for that matter. That place means nothing to me, it’s just a job.”

“Whatever you say.”

Avery’s braids were a comforting sight after that. Whatever he said didn’t matter. It didn’t matter what any of the people here said, he’d be back in time and prove that everything was fine. He was fine. He was.

“Wait.” They had started down the same path he took to the beach, and that earlier pull had returned in full force. If not stronger now. And she had just made to turn down that path. “This is where we’re heading?”

“According to the oh so specific directions I got! Why?”

“Isn’t this known Fae land?”

“Don’t tell me you’re scared?”

“No, of course not. It’s just...” his legs moved on their own, guiding him and his horse further down the path.

“Hey, how do you know where we’re going?”

“A feeling?”

“Even your memory’s not that good—”

“No, it’s, well, I think it’s time we had that talk finally.”

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