Chapter 23
An hour after the sudden detour, Alistar had to stop to rest. His bare feet were sore and bruised from stepping on fallen branches and countless twigs. There were many bushes in the area, especially where the light broke through the upper canopy. After wading through dozens of sprawling thickets, both he and his uncle were covered in tiny cuts and scratches.
Every time they had forced their way through a fresh wall of bushes, Alistar had clutched at his secret pocket to make sure that his dirty clothing didn't snag and tear open. The crystal hidden within was his only belonging, a beautiful yet deadly stone that commemorated the day that he and Kaila had found that tiny cave within the crevice. Growing up in a crystal mine, he'd learned that magic crystals could fetch high prices, and although he was reluctant to part with it, he fully intended to sell it once he and his uncle finally settled down. In order to free the rest of his family, he couldn't afford to be selfish.
Throughout their walk, Alistar had spotted two more barkwood spiders, three robins, a blue jay, several squirrels, a fox—which he'd mistaken for a dog—and dozens of other birds. Despite the dire straits of their situation, he never missed out on a chance to learn more about the wondrous world around him. He voiced every question that came to mind, and committed every response to memory.
Even as they idled within a tiny clearing, nibbling on foul cheese and hard bread, he continued to unload all of his curiosities. He could tell that his uncle was growing tired of playing teacher, but the contrast between his current surroundings and the ones that he'd left behind was too stirring. He couldn't help himself. Still, he knew that his uncle had a lot on his mind, and so decided he'd finish off with one last question.
"Uncle, where are we going?"
"To the nearest river," sighed Raidon. "The river will take us to Malford, since the village is built around it. We can catch fish once our rations run out, and there'll be no shortage of water, so long as we don't stray too far."
Fishing!
Alistar had always wanted to try catching a fish. He wasn't sure what he found more exciting, the thought of seeing a fish, or the prospect of trying to catch one.
His mood drained away once he saw the sombre expression on Raidon's face. He didn't have room for excitement. This was a matter of survival. Although the world outside of the mines was nearly too amazing to handle, he had to keep a level mind and had to make sure that his sudden bursts of enthusiasm didn't get the better of him. Less than an hour ago, he'd carelessly stood next to a spider that could have easily killed him had it felt threatened by his presence, all because he'd been curious.
"I see." Alistar ran his fingers over the soft earth beneath him. "How do you know where the river is?"
"It's vaguely parallel to the trail we were just on, though it's a few leagues away. It's a lot easier to walk along the riverbank than through the forest, but there's still a chance of running into other creatures that've come to drink from its waters. Other animals know this too, so it isn't uncommon to encounter predators in the area around it."