Bound to Be That Way (Day 132)

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The noonday sun was little comfort from the still prevalent chill in the air. Casnie felt a not insignificant amount of sympathy for Terakiel, whose lack of clothing might soon become a problem. She wondered how long the man had been wandering the woods in that state. She drew her cloak more tightly around her as she advanced down the mountain path.

The ledge outside the cavern had gradually fed into a much wider and safer pathway that snaked its way through the mountains. Although Casnie had slowed her pace considerably after reaching safer ground, the two men had not yet caught up. She could make them out in the distance as they carefully navigated the more treacherous terrain she had put behind her. She chuckled. They certainly weren't the most graceful men she'd encountered--but then, in her experience, it wasn't uncommon at all for men to be clumsy.

It certainly was a strange situation she had landed in. She couldn't help but wonder why she hadn't yet given in to panic. She hadn't the faintest idea where she was and it was clear Aisen knew nothing about it himself. Without a moment's hesitation she had allied herself with a man who--a man who had killed his father! What kind of person could be capable of such a heinous act of violence?

As much as she condemned what Terakiel had done, she couldn't help but feel he wasn't at fault. Perhaps their momentary communion had muddled her judgment. It felt so safe and natural to trust him--but was that really the best course of action? It might be better to keep him at arm's length, she thought. He's dangerous, even if he won't acknowledge it himself.

Working together with those two was an act of necessity--nothing more. Terakiel would inevitably lead them to another planar stone. Casnie's best course of action at that point would be to enter the Exod before the rogue Strander had a chance to destroy it. After she made her escape, he would be alone once more. . .but maybe that was her only choice. She wished it wasn't, but what other options did she have? He did not seem at all receptive to learning how to control his powers. What had happened in that cave would happen again. They'd summon some other unfortunate stranger and the four of them would be stranded once more.

There was no telling what other things that man might be capable of. She could tell his powers were immense. That kind of power without discipline was unspeakably dangerous. What if the next person that came hurtling through the Exod didn't make it one piece? She recalled how she felt in that cold black world when the communion began. She couldn't move. She felt as if she was no longer in control of her own body--as if her consciousness had been divorced from reality. It had been terrifying.

Terakiel had also put Aisen in grave danger. That man was a danger to both of them. It wasn't necessarily his fault, but. . .

Casnie did not want to abandon him but it seemed like it might be her only option. She desperately hoped she could find a better way. A poor fate had befallen that man--and although he had made a grave mistake, he did not strike her as a villain. She hoped there was a way to resolve all of this.

She quickened her pace in an effort to put distance between her and the two men. Suddenly, she did not feel up to conversation.