Hesitating, Aurem cleared his throat, readying himself to speak the Undari language. “We will be there soon,” He said, giving Turuk a cautious look, to make sure he had said it right.

Turuk blinked, and then his expression softened in a soft, warm way. Like honey. His eyes gleamed, and he grunted. “We will, and then I will show you my home,” he responded, with a tone that made Aurem shiver. He frowned, and then sneezed so suddenly, that he nearly stumbled and fell. In his usual way, Turuk laughed, and then clapped Aurem on the back, causing him to actually stumble. But strong hands kept him up, and Aurem only half glared at Turuk. He bit the inside of his cheek hard, to keep himself from joining Turuk in his smile. Really, it was all he could do, to keep his sullen personality shining. He was not a young, impressionable girl, to be made a giggling mess every time a handsome man smiled at him.

Aurem huffed, but sped up a bit, trying to put some distance between him and Turuk. He felt Turuk’s eyes follow him, but resisted the urge to glance back. That would only be feeding into…whatever Turuk was trying to establish. Which Aurem wanted no part of. He didn’t know how to feel, that being among the people who were supposed to be his enemy, made him feel more at home than the Tower. Even with most of them wary of the magic that made him what he was, he felt more comfortable in their presence. Here, he was just a mage, with magic they didn’t understand. He wasn’t a prostitute’s son, or some dirty bastard. He didn’t come in from the streets, kicking and screaming the whole way.

Aurem sighed as he walked. He might have been a prisoner, won from a battle, here- but his life before didn’t matter. It was liberating in a way he hadn’t expected. And Turuk had asked no questions about his former life. Turuk had only asked about himself, the things he liked, and didn’t like. He asked about magic, and once even asked Aurem to explain. He hadn’t been able to, of course. He wasn’t sure he could ever explain what using magic was like, to someone who didn’t have it. From the day it had sprung up inside of him, it had been a part of himself. He couldn’t even remember what it was like without it. Just a bleak, hopeless life of a street rat.

Aurem wrinkled his nose, and debated grabbing a snowball and launching it behind him. If only to dispel the heaviness that had landed on his chest. At some point, he would have to stop worrying about the specifics of his situation. He was, honestly, fairly happy where he was. Whether it was good or bad, he didn’t know. But he was a bit too exhausted to worry about all of that, on top of the walking. And this blizzard that was coming now.

He shook his head slightly, and finally gave in to the urge to look back. Turuk was looking up at the sky, a look of concentration on his face. Aurem faltered for a moment, but continued to walk, keeping his eyes on Turuk though. Distracted as he was, Aurem finally allowed himself to study his face. Without the smug grin on his face, Aurem felt relaxed enough to take everything in. The man had strong features, and a sharp look, when not softened by a smile. He was every bit the fierce Undari warrior so many Delfin feared. He walked with confidence, like a wolf prowling the woods. Even his gait was similar to Siira’s, as the wolf walked at his side.

She stood a bit taller than even Turuk, who was a few inches above Six feet. The wolf was astounding, and Aurem felt it a wonder at how close she had become to him. They had come a long way from Siira’s wary growls, and the warning flashes of teeth they had started with. He had saved her life, and felt the connection she shared with her pups, and even Turuk. They had a blind trust between each other, which Aurem found rare even in married couples. Turuk had said that the gods gave their connection a supernatural link. He might not have believed it before; but seeing the two of them walking together, he certainly did now.

With the flick of an ear, Siira seemed to communicate something that Turuk wordlessly picked up. He had caught a glimpse of the two hunting briefly, or at least on the return from a hunt. Siira had startled up a doe, and without a word, she had run it against a fallen tree, where Turuk had taken it out with one arrow. Aurem had seen the hounds in Delfin take orders and do the same thing. But without a word? And Siira had hidden Turuk from the deer’s sight, until the moment he fired, so the deer wouldn’t be able to jump away. She trusted Turuk, and knew the timing of his fire enough to jump a hair’s breadth away from danger.

Aurem shook his head yet again, wondering if he would have that sort of bond with the pup. Maybe if the gods allowed it, apparently. But would they? He, an outsider mage, and part of the enemy that had attacked the Undari without warrant. Aurem snorted softly. No matter how confident Turuk seemed, Aurem had his own doubts.

Aurem stumbled, though, nearly falling, when Turuk’s eyes suddenly snapped to his, feeling drawn into those crimson eyes. He cursed softly, and half stumbled to his knees, before correcting himself, and turning abruptly forward. His cheeks burned with an intense heat, and he heard chuckling behind him. He seemed to frequently make a fool of himself in front of Turuk, and that was more frustrating than the deep laughter it brought out in Turuk.

He grunted to himself, and focused only on walking, trying his best to ignore the feel of Turuk’s eyes on his back. Without the interruption of conversation, Aurem’s body seemed heavier, and more fatigued. A dark cloud hovered over his mood, which he wasn’t sure he could get rid of on his own. But a part of him was still reluctant to fully trust Turuk. And it would be so easy, too. He could see himself trusting Turuk completely in a matter of days, and Aurem’s instincts screamed at him for being an idiot. And the other half of him screamed at him for resisting. Sometimes he honestly wished he could just pit the two together in a physical fight, and let one side win. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t that easy with an inner battle. It was much harder when the enemy was yourself.

“Deep in thought, Aurem?” A cheerful voice called out from his side. Aurem blinked, and then scowled, giving Soren a look, as the younger mage walked at his side.

“Something like that. Sulking, I guess,” he finally admitted with a sigh. Normally, he would have grumbled and shooed Soren off. If he was back at the Tower, he would have done so. But now, he welcomed the distractions from his own thoughts. “Trying to avoid certain things.”

Soren laughed lightly, and nudged against his arm. “I can see that,” he said, giving a slight smile. Aurem eyed the mage, seeing a slight twinkle in his eyes. Whatever else, it seemed that travelling, and being with Kirma, had lightened Soren’s mood. He still seemed unsure of some of the Undari, but Aurem had seen him slowly warming to them, and the Undari returning the feeling in return. It was odd to watch, but Aurem supposed the same thing was happening with him. Though he doubted it was a fondness, so much as respect for healing Siira. They seemed to genuinely warm to Soren’s personality though, now that he wasn’t locked away in the supply tent.

The sunlight and travel seemed to be doing him wonders. He still was pale, but it was more a healthy tone than sickly, like he’d had before. The heavy Undari food had even put a few pounds on him. He doubted Soren ate any better than the gruel they served the soldiers, and with the palate of a noble, Aurem was sure it hadn’t helped him at all. But here with the Undari, once they had adapted to the different food, it was hearty, hot, and in good supply. With Siira to hunt with them, Aurem doubted they would ever run out of food.