Chapter 40: Two paths

"I said I feel fine, Yona," Tomas sighed as Yona pushed another plate of food in front of him.

"Eat," she said firmly.

"I can't eat anymore," Tomas groaned.

"Consider it punishment for all the times you forced me to eat," Errik said with his eyes set into the fire, "You need your strength to recover,"

He had returned just at the light began to fade and after making the fire had proceeded to sit at the table with them as they ate. Though Errik himself took nothing, he had waited quietly till Tomas had finished his first bowl. Tomas stared at him then down to the plate.

"I can't," he pushed the bowl away with a moan and collapsed onto the table.

"Please eat it, Tomas," Veretta said softly.

Tomas' eyes came up viciously to her at the other side of the table.

"Don't tell me what to do!" he snapped. "Why don't you mind your own fucking business?"

Veretta flinched at his aggression but nevertheless kept her gaze steady on him, "I deserved that," she said quietly, "you're angry,"

"Angry?" Tomas drew in a breath furiously, "who do you think you are? How dare you do that to me?!"

Veretta gave an accepting nod. She knew his silence would eventually bubble forth into anger. She had prepared herself for it.

"I won't make any excuses for what I did," she said gravely, "I thought you would be safe there. I didn't think the general would hurt you. We had a deal and..,"

"He didn't hurt me, Veretta!" Tomas slammed his hand against the table, "YOU DID!"

"He obviously laid his hands on you," Errik who had since been quiet enjoined, "his magic is why you got sick. You would have been able to tell your magic had run out if he hadn't messed with your mana,"

"Stay out of it, Errik," Tomas cast him an irritated glance, "You know what I'm talking about, Veretta,"

"Yes, I do," Veretta's jaw clenched.

She knew exactly what Tomas meant. For him, the pain physical was not what hurt. It was her. She hurt him.

"What will you do now?" Veretta said quietly, "will you tell the college?"

Tomas sat back in his chair with his arms crossed, "Are you still going through with it?"

"Yes," Veretta answered.

"I see," Tomas became quiet. He turned to Yona, "do you still have it?"

Her eyes widened for a moment, but then she went to the backroom and retrieved Tomas's jacket. She pulled out the journal and handed it to him. He set it down in front of Errik.

"This is for you," Tomas said putting his jacket on.

"Where did you get it?" Errik glanced up.

"From the red general," Tomas sighed, "don't worry I didn't read. He said it's for your eyes only,"

"What is it?" Errik looked down at it suspiciously.

"You should probably read it and find out," Tomas met his gaze soberly.

"Where are you going?" Veretta's brow furrowed, "you're hurt Tomas, you need to rest,"

"I'm fine. Just worry about yourself, Veretta," Tomas replied shortly.

"What does that mean?" Veretta looked up at him confused.

"You owe the general a favour and he's going to come to collect," Tomas looked at her coldly, "If you don't intend to pay him back, I suggest you run now,"

"You're not going back there?" Veretta's breath unhinged, "NO! Tomas, you can't! He hurt you,"

"Where else will I go?" Tomas looked down at her icily, "the college?"

"Please, Tomas!" Veretta cried, "I never wanted to hurt you. Just wait a bit. I'll contact some people from the north and find a way for you to get back home. Just don't go back there, okay? I'll figure it out,"

"As I said, Veretta," Tomas turned to the door, "Don't tell me what to do,"

He left the shack and Yona followed.

As the door slammed behind them, Veretta sunk into her hands and was quiet. Errik was staring down at the book in front of him with an impatient expression. Suddenly, he snatched the book from the table. Veretta looked up surprised to find Errik staring down at it intensely.

"Do you want your glasses..." she began to say, but at that moment Errik slammed the book shut. "What is it?" she asked started.

"It's..." Errik stopped short. Veretta noticed his hand tremble slightly.

"Errik, what is it?" she asked again more persistently.

Errik flew from his chair and dashed the book into the fireplace.

"What the.." Veretta stared at him baffled. "What have you done? What was written in the book, Errik?" she demanded.

"It doesn't matter," Errik replied quickly still staring into the fire.

"Tell me," Veretta's eyes narrowed.

Errik's eyes widened as he turned to her rigidly, "it was a journal that I wrote,"

"What was written in it?" Veretta met his gaze darkly.

"Veretta, you're making me..." Errik started.

"Answer," Veretta interrupted sharply.

"I don't know," Errik frowned, "as soon as I realised what it was I threw it in the fire,"

"Okay," Veretta rose quietly.

"Veretta, what are you..." Errik's voice trailed, "why did you do that?"

"I thought I'd like to hear the truth from you just once," Veretta met his gaze, "but you've found a way around it as usual,"

Errik's jaw clenched and he turned back to the fire. Veretta watched him for a moment.

"Listen," she added quietly, "I'm going after Tomas,"

"What about Silthus?" Errik glanced up from the fire.

"Silthus can wait," Veretta stared down, "Tomas is more important,"

Errik let out an incredulous laugh, "you can't be serious,"

"You don't need to come," Veretta said slowly, "but I'm going after him,"

Errik turned abruptly on his heels and came right up to the doorway where Veretta was standing. He slammed his hand down on the frame staring down at her with irritation.

"He is protected by the Red General!" he snapped, "If you go there, he's going to kill you,"

"No, " Veretta met his demanding glare resolutely, "He and I have a deal. He won't lay a hand on me,"

"What deal?" Errik stared at her in dismay.

"None of your business, Errik," Veretta answered. She turned back to grab her cloak but Errik caught hold of her arm.

"What are you doing?" she asked severely.

"You can't go there," Errik exhaled angrily.

"Why not?" Veretta said flatly.

"Because he is..." Errik's jaw clenched, "he is dangerous,"

Veretta tilted her head to one side with a blank expression, "No, Errik. You are dangerous. At least I know what he is. You, on the other hand, I have no idea what you are,"

Errik stared down without reply as Veretta yanked her hand from his grip and began to gather her things.

She turned back to the door. Errik's hand came down barring her.

"Errik, I'm warning you. Don't me make command you," Veretta sighed.

"I'm coming with you then," Errik asserted briskly.

"You can't have it both ways!" Veretta's composure waned, "I am not some princess that needs your protection! I brought you here for one purpose. Everything else is unnecessary. You can't push me out the door then tell me to stay. I don't understand what you want from me,"

"Don't be a child," Errik stared down coldly, "This is not related. I am here to get your revenge on Silthus. How can you have that revenge if you are dead?"

"I told you, the general is not going to hurt me!" Veretta snapped.

"And I'm telling you that I don't believe him!" Errik exhaled venomously, "So, either command me to stay or shut up and start walking,"

Veretta let out a frustrated shriek. She pushed past Errik's arm and marched out the door.

--------------------------------

Across the forest, Yona chased after Tomas. He was walking rapidly through the starlit path. She caught hold of his arm quickly.

"Tomas!" she faltered, "What are you doing? You were supposed to tell them to go and see the master,"

Tomas inhaled deeply, "No, I can't Yona. He's going to hurt them. I know he is. I can't help him do that,"

"Tomas, please! He will punish you!" Yona cried.

"I know," Tomas replied sombrely, "but it doesn't matter,"

He started to walk on but Yona caught hold of him.

"You don't understand, Tomas," Yona shook her head, "he will kill you,"

"Has your master ever hurt or punished you, Yona?" Tomas asked her cautiously.

She shook her head, "no, but..."

"Then that's all I need to know," Tomas smiled.

He started to walk on, but she caught hold of him again.

"Tomas," Yona's eyes fluttered grievously, "don't go back. Just run,"

"Yona, there's something I have to do," Tomas looked at her with a weak smile, "do you trust me?"

Her eyes widened.

"I know I shouldn't ask that after what I did..." Tomas began.

"I trust you, Tomas," she interjected.

"Okay, then I'm going to trust you as well, Yona," Tomas said gravely, "I need to tell you a secret,"

Yona nodded seriously.

"I read Errik's journal. Or more accurately, I read the black wizard's journal...and now I know what to do,"