Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 380

Chapter 380: Bee yourself
Ford blinked, confused.

“Something else?”

Mia sighed audibly, and Ford grew slightly frustrated. He was following Seth and Grandpa’s advice, wasn’t he? So why did Mia seem slightly peeved?

“I know Grandpa’s been teaching you various skills, and it seems like manners have been amongst the lessons,” Mia stared straight ahead, and Ford had to lean closer to hear her.

“Yes?” He frowned. What was the point here?

“When you first came, you tried, badly, to mask yourself behind manners. I finally got rid of that mask, or I thought I did. It’s not that I don’t like you being kind and accommodating, I just want to make sure this isn’t a new and better mask. That you’re still being yourself.” Mia’s shoulders sagged, and she leaned back against his chest as if the speech had tired her.

He squeezed her hand gently.

“As far as I can tell, this is me. I’m not trying to pretend to be better, I just actually want to be better,” He cringed. Was he doing a poor job at it? “I want to learn how to be a man like your father and grandfather, I just never had anyone to show me how.”

Saying the words out loud was a blow to his pride, but he had little use for pride these days. It had never gotten him anything worth having.

Minutes passed, and Ford grew anxious to know what Mia thought. She didn’t take her hand from his, but didn’t relax any more against him. It seemed her musings on the matter would remain a mystery.

The sun rose higher in the sky, and Grandpa was the one to announce the noonday stop in the end. If Martin was irritated by the interruption to the journey, he didn’t say so.

Ford slid from the saddle, and, though he knew Mia was fully capable of getting down by herself, raised his hands to help her. Grandpa and Seth had both emphasized the importance of offering ladies help even when the women could do tasks for themselves. It was polite!

Not just that, he admitted to himself. He also wanted an excuse to be nearer to her. A morning of having his arms around her didn’t seem enough. A furtive glance towards Grandpa and Seth let him know that, shockingly, neither seemed to be paying his gesture any mind.

Mia stared at him with wide eyes, and he wondered if she remembered helping him down from Harper those first days on the run from her family. When he’d practically fallen into her arms because he’d had no skill in the saddle and a half-healed broken leg.

She put her hands on his shoulders and let his hands meet at her waist. She was so slim, he almost frowned. Was she becoming malnourished?

He almost asked, but Seth had given a throwaway comment about never talking about a woman’s weight, so instead Ford released Mia as soon as her feet were on the ground and stepped away.

Martin retrieved his own pack but showed far more interest in the food the family had and was passing out. Ford watched Anaisa hand the man a portion, and Mia frowned slightly.

She’d declared an intent to forgive the man, but Ford couldn’t blame her for struggling with it. Mia had fished into her saddlebags for her coat after Martin dismounted, and now she now handed Ford’s back to him.

He donned it eagerly, feeling the chill of the air more than he’d been letting on. It was warm from her body heat.

“The next bit, around the rocks there, goes along a ledge. There’s evil bird-things I had to fight off and wound up hiding in the wall and tunneling through. I don’t know if they’re still around, or if they’ll go after a group like they did me when I was by myself,” Martin commented around a mouthful of lunch, drawing Ford from his thoughts.

“Evil bird-things?” Daniel’s eyes lit with interest. “Can you describe them?”

“Bigger than you, with purple and red feathers and mean faces. Big beady eyes. Long tails and feet that grab at you.” Martin chewed thoughtfully.

“I didn’t see anything like those in the books,” Daniel squinted. “You’re sure?”

“Books aren’t the end-all of knowledge, Boy,” Martin frowned. “Best you learn that sooner than later.”

“Should I go scout ahead to see if they’re there?” Ford looked at Grandpa and Seth, not Martin, for direction. Anaisa cleared her throat.

“I don’t like the idea of splitting up, even for a little while, but it might not be the worst idea,” She said thoughtfully.

“You up for it?” Seth asked, but the question didn’t feel condescending.

“Yes, Sir,” Ford said honestly. He wasn’t sure whether practicing with his magic and exercising it could make it more powerful, but it definitely helped him learn to control it more precisely. “I won’t use my magic to hide unless it becomes necessary. I won’t exhaust it again.”

He could only guess that the man’s primary worry was whether Ford would be able to cloak everyone later if an emergency arose. Seth nodded slowly.

“Don’t go too far,” Grandpa advised.

Ford smiled his agreement, stretching his arms and shoulders slightly. “I’ll be back soon, I’ll just scout a bit ahead, I’ll try to come back before everyone is finished with their break.”

Mia stepped up beside him, obviously assuming she would come along without consulting anyone at all. Seth and Ford locked eyes for a moment in their first genuinely united silent conversation.

Neither was happy about Mia going into danger again, but neither was certain that Ford could find the correct path to scout without her.

“Martin, would you mind showing Ford the path to look over?” Seth prompted, and Ford exhaled slightly, glad for the man’s quick thinking. Of course Mia would be less likely to tag along if Martin went with Ford.

The old magic user’s eyes darted between the people, and he nodded.

“Suits me, but don’t expect me to be able to save him if the birds attack. He’ll be on his own.”