Parvil, Aspen & Yefka: Trust Exercise

A few more hours passed as the five walked through the night. Relative silence save for the occasional shift of some animal in the tall grass, or birds and bats in the trees. But eventually it became more trouble than it was worth to attempt to make the whole trek to the next town in a single night. Parvil struggling to keep down yawns and Aspen shaking herself now and then to keep awake. Kanin and Anika following a distance behind keeping much to themselves only close enough to utilise the light spell Yefka had cast.

“We should stop.” Parvil said, “I need at least a few hours of sleep before I can move on or I’ll end up passed out.” he said.

With a yawn Aspen said “I agree, as much as I don’t want to let whoever we are after getting even more ahead I couldn’t fight them this tired even if I wanted to.”

After a few more long minutes Parvil managed to find a spot that was flat and looked as though more than a few people had camped there at some point or another. “There.” he pointed, “Quick nap and we’ll be off.” he said, striding off the road and onto the flattened patch.

Once the trio had shed their gear, Parvil walked a short distance into the woods to gather wood for a small fire, Kanin and Anika going to the opposite side of the road and making their own fire. Aspen and Yefka taking a seat near where a fire had once been lit. It was clear that Yefka was reaching a point where she couldn’t take not talking any longer. “So…” she started. “U-um… how long have you known him?” she asked.

Aspen’s head snapped up to attention when she was addressed, and she stopped digging in her bag and closed it again. “Who?”

Yefka paused, “You’ve known him awhile, right?…You two seem in sync.” She said, “So I assumed you two have known each other for a long time.”

“Several years.” Aspen said leaving it at that or at least trying to.

Yefka went quiet for a while before speaking again. “He’s a powerful mage?”

Aspen had gone back to checking her supplies and had barely heard the question. “Huh?”

“I’ve just…” Yefka stopped herself, thinking what she was about to say would be a clue to who she was. “Most mages need a focus.” she said, motioning to her own staff. “I mean…I know a mage can do things without them, but they are like trying to fit a river into a jar. That spell he had pointed at me…the spell taking that shape and holding it means he must be powerful. Why wouldn’t he be his own Justicar and not work under someone?”

“He’s a prodigy.” Aspen said, not lying. “You didn’t hear this from me, and no history for this exists unless you are important enough to know. He is a unique case. His family is that of a powerful mage bloodline that did experimentation with blood and magical artifacts to make mages artificially more powerful.” Aspen said, watching Yefka’s face for what parts she took in and what parts she disregarded before she continued. “This is just rumor but some speculation that he has spells engraved on the inside of his skull.”

Aspen watched Yefka’s eyes get wide. Was she taking the bait?

Eventually Parvil came back carrying sticks and small pieces of broken branches. He dropped them in a tight pile, “parvum ignem” he said, a small flame like that of a candle appeared on the tip of his finger and he flicked it onto the pile of brush and a fire roared to life.

Parvil didn’t bother to sit down, just taking his pack and taking out the folded portable hole and making a space for it to open. And one it was down. Aspen sighed and stood going over to the hole and walking its edge dragging the bottom of her staff father out than she usually would. When the circuit was complete she slammed the tip of her staff on the circle three times and a very flat dome appeared over the hole. Aspen then waved her staff over the usually transparent bubble, it wobbled and slowly tinted over. Parvil dropped into the hole and heaved a large canvas roll out of the bag, climbing out right behind it.

It took both Parvil and Yefka to set up the tent he’d gotten out for her, and it was getting Parvil to the point of frustration. But eventually it was set up.

Looking at the tent having not wanted to argue with Parvil before. “Did we really need to set up the tent for a few hours of sleep?” she asked.

“I’m not sleeping on the ground.” Parvil said, and I would feel bad using my ‘tent’ and leaving you in the elements.” he added. “Just try and get some sleep. A few hours or several we’re here for a bit might as well catch up.”

Aspen had already vanished down the hole at some point. Parvil stood at the edge of the hole and held a small stone in his hand. “Knock knock can I come in?” he asked.

“Yeah. I’m decent.” Aspen responded and she watched Parvil appear from the dark foggy surface of the dome covering the hole, well beyond any point the newcomer could trap them inside.

Parvil stripped down to just his pants and climbed into bed, Aspen pulling herself in beside him. Pressing her back against his chest, both to fit on the smaller bed but to whisper.

“Do you trust her?” she asked as she felt Parvil put an arm over her body.

“I don’t not trust her.” he said. “She’s hard to get a read on. If she’s lying I don’t know if she’s lying on purpose or because she wants to.” he said.

“You think she’s being forced?” Aspen asked. “I don’t know, it seems a bit generous of a reading.”

“Nah, I don’t think it’s anything like that.” He said. “I just think it's probably more complicated than we can deal with right now, or only knowing them a few hours in the dark.” he said. Plus if she tries to trap us in here we’ll know and she won’t get far.”

“Would you really kill her?” Aspen asked.
Parvil shrugged one arm. “I probably wouldn’t, but she’d be arrested.”

“Yeah…” Aspen yawned. “We can just watch her…and the other two…” she said, trailing off into sleep. Parvil was not far behind.