Chapter 76 - Questioning

The night became darker when the clouds became dense overhead. Anastasia looked at Darla who was now sitting along with Aidan, huddled up in a fur. They both looked pale. At first she thought she should talk to her as to why she ran towards the red flowers when she was cautioned not to go there. Anastasia had an inkling that Darla knew that she shouldn't have ventured into the field. Then why did she go? Drops of rain hampered her thoughts. Thankful that the rain would subdue the light scent of the flowers, she walked to her tent just in time. Soon big droplets pelted the ground. It became absolutely dark except for the lightning that occasionally flashed and streaked its glow across the field. "Zlu… come back…"

Ileus and Kaizan rushed inside.

"What about Zlu?" she asked, staring at their tense faces.

"He won't come, Ana," Kaizan replied.

"Why?" She realized that Kaizan had started calling her 'Ana' too… fondly. He used to call her princess or Anastasia. "It's raining outside!" she said in an exasperated voice. And now she wished that it stopped raining.

Instead of replying to her, Kaizan spread his fur and lied down on it. He covered his eyes with his arm. Ileus also spread the fur next to him and waved her to come and sleep. Feeling awkward, Anastasia rubbed the back of her neck and then slid beside him.

"Just sleep Ana…" he whispered when he felt her fidgeting around.

The rain stopped as soon as it started, surprising Anastasia. It was as if it worked on her command. Her lips tugged up in a warm smile when she remembered that her father's mood affected the weather in Vilinski. Was it happening with her right now? She smacked her head and let the thought pass. Before going off to sleep, she wished that Zlu was fine and that he came back. She would talk to him in the morning.

When Anastasia woke up in the morning, the first thing she did was to go out of the tent and look for Zlu. As soon as she came out, she stretched and yawned. Cool breeze blew, and the flap of their tent flailed slightly. She noticed that Guarhal and Tadgh were also awake.

"Is Zlu back?" she asked.

"No! He didn't come for the entire night. We were just going to check up on him," said Guarhal.

"I will come with you," she said.

"Are you sure?" Tadgh asked.

"Yes!"

"It's highly unlikely he would talk."

"So what? I need to see him!" She snapped and started walking towards the falls.

Seeing her enthusiasm to meet Zlu, the men shrugged and followed her.

What they saw next was petrifying.

Zlu lied in the morning light, his body still, eyes half open as if questioning the heaven, with a dagger in his heart and blood splattered over his chest and around.

Anastasia's hand flew to her mouth. She ran to him. "Zluu!" she shrieked as a shudder passed through her body. "No, no!" she trembled like a dry leaf in the summer breeze.

Zlu's lips were blue, skin pallid and eyes were dull. The pupils had dilated. Dry leaves had gathered around him. His one hand was on the dagger and the other over Carrick's grave.

Guarhal walked with his lips trembling and knelt beside him. "Oh god! What have you done Zlu?" He stared at Zlu for a long time and then closed his eyes. "In this gentle sleep, he will dream of a new and a better world," he murmured.

Tadgh walked to where Anastasia was and wrapped his arms around her for she was shaking a lot and had gone pale. They heard footfalls from behind, which halted at the sight.

"Wh— why did he do that?" Anastasia couldn't understand.

"They were mates, and a mate-bond is too strong," Tadgh replied. "Yesterday I heard Zlu wishing to every god in the heavens that he died on the spot, that he could trade his life for Carrick's." He gulped. "Where your mate goes, you follow…"

The mate bond was so strong? Did she feel the same bond towards Ileus? As her tears fell, she looked at Zlu's dead body. Only one thought came to her mind. 'Hate me Zlu! I deserve it!' Suddenly she broke down. Her body sagged in Tadgh's arms. "I need— I need— I need— I need—" she couldn't speak after that. She didn't know what to say after that. She thought that if she spoke, she wouldn't know what to say or it might break the rhythm of her grief. Over the past few days she had bonded with all of them so well that it was impossible to understand the loss.

Ileus came after her and then walked to where Zlu was. "We need to bury him next to Carrick," was all he managed to say.

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The group rode hard to pass Virgine Falls as soon as possible. They were now two people short. She didn't consider Nyles at all for she was a good riddance, but Zlu and Carrick?

Though Kaizan was of the idea to leave their horses behind, Ileus didn't listen to him. They tethered the horses to Tadgh's and Guarhal's. The group moved fast and all the while Ileus was very quiet. He didn't speak a word to Anastasia.

Darla and Aidan also didn't speak at all. There was a rising discomfort between all. The last incident had left them broken and shattered.

Guarhal led the way along with Kaizan.

Though extremely uneasy by their behavior, Anastasia tried her best to stay quiet and was anxiously waiting to reach Óraid. She just wanted to disappear the moment she reached there.

When they rode even through the dusk, she asked, "Are we going to stop for the night?"

"No," Ileus had replied and that was all the conversation they had. It was as if he had distanced himself from everyone. She wanted him to ask her questions or say anything, but he remained quiet.