The Tales of the Wanderer Volume One: A Book of Underrealm (The Underrealm Volumes 4) by Garrett Robinson (elon musk reading list TXT) 📕

new ones hardly showed any blood at all. I walked up beside Yue and put my arm around her waist. She did the same to me.

“I am sorry,” said Mag. “I know I have said it before, but I say it again now. By my actions, I placed you in danger, and that is nothing a friend should do.”

Dryleaf straightened where he sat. His hands released his walking stick, and he placed them on his knees instead. Suddenly he looked quite regal.

“Mag,” he pronounced, “my darling girl. You really must deflate your head, at least a little bit.”

Mag’s brows arched. “I … what?”

“You are a remarkable person,” said Dryleaf. “You always have been. And because of it, others naturally look to you for guidance and leadership. That is a heavy burden. It gives you a mighty responsibility, and you must take that seriously—but you should not let it become too familiar. Sometimes it leads you to take choices away from others. You rob them of the power—and, yes, the pain—of making their own decisions.” He gestured vaguely with his hand towards me. “I think Albern was reminded today that he is your partner, not your sidekick. Yue and I are the same way. We are not your followers, and it is not solely within your power to determine our fate. Mag, it was my advice that you and Albern join Kun’s army. That is what led us all down this dark road. You are allowed to make mistakes and to feel the burden of them. But so am I. And you are not allowed to take that from me or from any of the rest of us.”

I could see the chagrin in Mag’s eyes. She, like me, could hear the truth in his words. With Mag around, it was easy to feel yourself starting to revolve around her, the way the moons spun around the world.

“You are wiser than I will ever be,” she said. “And I will heed your wisdom. In that case, let me rescind my apology.” She planted her hands on her hips like a scolding mother. “What were you thinking, you old fool, suggesting we join up with the Mystics? You sent us all headfirst and heedless into danger. I may never recover. Albern certainly will not.”

Dryleaf’s solemn countenance broke into a wrinkle-ridden grin. “There. You understand, now.”

Yue rolled her eyes. “Such pleasantries aside,” she said loudly, “what is your plan now? We cannot exactly return to Kun.”

“We cannot,” I said, smiling. “Though we sent word to him that we hope may alleviate at least a bit of his ire towards us. But as for us, now we mean to find the children.”

Mag’s expression dampened, though I did not know why. Yue only looked confused.

“The children?” she asked.

“Our friends from Northwood,” I said. “Four of them, and then there is the wizard, though he is grown. They were my companions on a long road. Last we knew, they were making for a stronghold in Feldemar.”

“Fortunately, that kingdom is not far from us now,” said Dryleaf.

“Yet they could have gone anywhere since,” said Mag. “We should listen for rumors as we go. If they have turned in another direction, we may hear of it. You remember how Gem was spreading legends of Loren. Mayhap they have spread far by now.”

“Mayhap,” I said with a nod. It seemed plausible, but I was still confused by Mag’s strange behavior. I did not know where these words came from.

“In any case,” said Yue gruffly, “if your road to this point has been any indication, I am certain something else will come up along the way. A village that needs saving from wurts, mayhap, or a farmhouse infested with imps.”

“Why, that sounds like a pleasant respite after the trials we have endured,” said Dryleaf with a broad smile. “I would be grateful to lend my advice in such an endeavor.”

“But not today,” said Mag. “Today, I would like to rest, and then to sleep for the first good night’s sleep I have had in a long time.”

“A long time,” I agreed softly.

And so we did. The day passed without incident, and then we bedded down for the night. I was too weary even to make life interesting for Yue, though of course, it would not be my last chance to do so. And the next day, we readied ourselves for another journey. Not a hunt this time, but a search for friends.

Mag and I had one last conversation that is worth recounting now. As we were strapping our saddlebags to our horses, she glanced over at me.

“We are in the after.”

For a moment I did not know what she was saying. Then I recalled the desperate words she had spoken the last time we rested in Kun’s camp. “We are. How does it feel?”

“Unfamiliar,” said Mag. “I never had a beginning in Shuiniu. Then it seemed I was in the middle for a very long time. And then, after Sten died, Kaita felt like the ending. But now that end has come and gone, and a new story has started. My first beginning. I hope we make it a good one.”

“I am sure we shall,” I told her. “As long as we take care of each other. And of Dryleaf.” I chuckled. “Especially now that we do not have Nikau and Orla to help us. I will miss them more than most.”

Mag blinked at me. “Who?”

“The lovers. From Kun’s camp. You remember them.”

Her lips parted, and I could see the lost look in her eyes.

I frowned at her, exasperated. “Sky above, Mag, we ate with them often enough. Do not tell me you—”

“I lost them,” she said, cutting me off as if she had not heard me speaking. “I lost them when Kaita …” Her voice trailed off, and she looked over her shoulder to make sure Yue and Dryleaf were not within earshot. “When I died. I lost them.”

She strapped her last saddlebag in place and went to help Dryleaf.

A