Eir's POV
I dragged my feet over the open grass field like a sulking teenager.
There wasn't a single cloud in the bright blue sky, and the sun bathed the world around us in its warm light. It felt so surrealistic because chaos reigned inside of me. My heart still bled, and the sun's rays could not penetrate the dark shadows looming in my mind. We had been walking for a few hours already, and I'd long given up trying to find an explanation. I could no longer come up with a logical reason why Amond would hide this for me or lie to me. I know he will make it all right, and I know there is more to this situation than this Orm makes it out to be. But still, I felt drained, empty, and numb.
"Is this really the safest way?"
"No, but it is the fastest."
I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at him for the first time since we started walking.
"What?"
"This is the shortest way, you know, so that we will get there faster."
"I know what faster means! "
"Then why make me explain it?"
"I didn't..."
I bit my words in, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath before I started over again.
"You spent over ten minutes ranting about the importance of not being detected! You know, don't let Nida see us, not Huldra and all those other names I have never heard before. And here we are, walking straight across every open field we can find, in open view for everyone and everything at all times."
"Hah! Good on you, girlie! You used your head-nice! But it took you nearly two hours, and as I said in the beginning, you move like an elephant. So why would walking through the thick bush help? Trees and leaves can hide a moving elephant."
My jaw dropped. Slowly, I turned back around and started walking, and my mind went blank. I had no words. And in a strange sense, I knew there was no use discussing anything with this guy. I'm not sure I want to either; I felt no need whatsoever to get to know this man. Then I stopped in my tracks again and turned, only to see him roll his eyes before he stopped with a sigh and crossed his arms over his chest.
"What now?"
"Why are you walking with an elephant?"
"Eh...?"
And I almost laughed. Who knew this guy could be funny when caught off guard, that is.
"Didn't you understand the question?"
"I... Of course, I do! But what kind of question even is that!?"
"A fair one, considering how you complain about it. Don't you think?"
"No, no, I don't think it is. I think it is a weird one, not deserving an answer."
I shrugged and started walking again. Smiling by myself, I felt a little victory in this strange scenario. That little victory helped me keep my energy and mood up. Every now and then, I smiled, thinking about his baffled face and stuttering answer before he brushed it off as unworthy of an answer. Clearly, it is a poor attempt to avoid it all without losing face.
"This IS a dangerous place, you know!!"
Now, he began sounding like a scorned teen, and I had to hold back my laughter. Then we continued in silence, and thoughts came back to haunt me. However, this time, I managed to push my doubts and questions toward Amond and his alleged parents. So, I got a moment of silence and peace, even in my mind, and it felt like I could breathe easier. Then, a lightbulb shone bright like a switch flipped in my mind.
"What does Nida want? You know her, right?"
I didn't stop and look at him this time, so I just threw the question over my shoulder nonchalantly.
"No, not really."
"You are a terrible liar, and that level of disgrace doesn't suit even you."
"And what is that supposed to mean?!"
I heard him stop dead in his tracks before he increased his speed, walked right past me, and blocked my way. With both brows raised, he gave me an annoyed stare. Before he childishly aped my words with an incredible cringy light voice,
"Doesn't suit even you. What is that supposed to mean? What are you insinuating?"
"Nothing, but you know, if the shoe fits!"
This time, I didn't even try to hide my smile from him; I met his gaze straight on. Unfortunately, he didn't bite. He just stood there waiting for me to feed him information with a tiny-winy silver spoon. I took a deep breath, lifted my hand, and started counting each of the things I knew on my fingers very matter-of-factly. Deep down, I hoped he would at least see how unpleasant and rude he had been from the moment we met. Not to mention creepy.
"Well, first of all, you have no problem stalking women and following women through the woods, doing who knows what. You have no problem humiliating and being rude to complete strangers or vulnerable girls alone. To add to all this already creepy behavior, you have no problem literally jumping on me and knocking me to the ground. Hold me down, even rob me of my ability to move or even talk. Even now, you are following me. You are creepy, and some might even argue you are a pervert. Do you want me to continue? I am sure there is more, despite the short time I've had the pleasure of not knowing you... You know, like the fact that you smelled me!"
"Don't flatter yourself! I am not a perv! If I really were, you would know! Believe me!"
"Oh, I do believe you. I know, you are a pervert."
"No, no, I am not!"
"You are."
"You... I...! Screw this. Walk and shut up! I don't have time for this crap!"
I rolled my eyes and followed as he stomped away towards the edge of the forest. We went through the dense, overgrown jungle until we reached a wild, rumbling waterfall. It wasn't like an open clearing, but the bushes and trees spread out. Making the area feel lighter and easier to walk through. We walked right up to a steep edge and looked down on the foaming water.
"We are resting here. Be quiet, and don't fall down!"
Then he walked off towards the waterfall before disappearing into the forest again. For a couple of seconds, I waited and listened. The sound of snapping twigs and breaking branches before he came walking out with a bunch of firewood. Throw it on the ground and walk off again. I didn't wait. I turned around and ran in the opposite direction, alongside the raging river. Away from him as fast as I could. My lungs burned, and my heart slammed against my rib cage until I reached a calmer section of the river and jumped over the edge. The stream was much stronger than expected, and I fought to hold my head over the water. My nose and mouth filled with water, and my grip slipped no matter what I grabbed.