I looked over my shoulders and saw the lady righteously following...as she had for the past eight days. There was no going back now. 

From the start, it seemed strange...wrong if I may. But then it became reality. There was no going back. Our course was South...my destiny was South.

Such a charm. It twisted my understanding and changed my resolve as easily as a pin succumbs to the hand of a man.

Rina. Eyes hotter than fire. Her dark green forest orbs held mystery beyond understanding.

Its alright boy. I encouraged my stallion. It felt betrayed -- the feeling that I was keeping things from him.

Each day at the farmers stable, when I'd fed it, and brushed its fine hide, and inspected its hooves...I promised it!

I told him some day we would ride far -- as far as the wind could take us. I promised him an adventure, one sure to birth glory. I told him of a name each day. Dakor! At the mention of the name it shared same distaste for the man. I told him I would chase and kill that man someday. I told him we would do it together!

Now we were heading South. This was nothing alike to the promise I had made to him each day. I was sorry for what seemed like deceit. But this was bigger than what he would understand.

I turned back again. Rina was still uprightly following. She smirked!

"You'll twist your neck soon if you do not repent from turning and inspecting me."

That was it. That guts! That arrogance! All of it packaged in a being that should appear delicate. Wasn't it a mystery? Wasn't it something worth understanding?

We would still have our adventure boy. I rubbed its rich black crest. But now we must satisfy first this strange fire tempting to raze me down.

I looked to the heavens. They hadn't been ultimately fair to me. I would fare without their opinions howbeit...as I have for countless times.

They may disapprove. What did I care. I had grown beyond waiting for their permission. They no longer listened to me even.

Their was a time when they would hear my voice and would recognize who in fact spoke. Those times when they had made me their champion. But those times were gone and the gods had left me. They had abandoned me. I knew it would eventually be my fate from the day when I resolved to leave the Mountain Plains.

They were angry with me. I knew. I knew how to appease them and gain back their favor, but I refuted. I would not bend to any man nor god, lest they say I triumphed...even over Dakor by their aid.

I was a legend just as I was. I didn't need the help of men nor god. Besides, the gods had their time to help me, and yet...they allowed my Keiya die so worthlessly, like she weren't the beloved of their favored champion.

A gentle breeze swept through the steppe. I looked up the sky again. Night was coming. Alas the gods would punish me again this night with darkness.

Darkness wasn't good for our faring. We had many grounds to cover still. The night had come too soon. Was it still the gods way of reproving me? If it was, I feared our sojourn wouldn't take form as I had planned...for more insane reprimand would follow.

What did I care...we would reach anyways. I couldn't reverence the gods anymore. Strangely, I found them now scheming with fate. And fate....oh, she was a naughty one.

Kieya laid many feet's beneath the earth. Her flesh by now devoured ultimately by the earths little creatures. In my beloved's damnation I promised her justice. Well justice was North and here I was charging South with a strange woman.

Was it selfish? Or was it still fate and the gods crafting? Their contrive to ensnare me and bring me to ruin?

I would prove them wrong. Too many time had fate brought ill experiences...one's even unto death. Too many times had I denied her the pleasure. This wouldn't be different.

This was bigger now than the strange fire I felt by Rina. It was now a challenge against the gods and fate. If it be my life's mission, I'd take it, and use it to prove them wrong. My every existence would be one to disregard them -- spite them.

Arrogance? No. I was merely preserving my ego. It wouldn't be bruised by betraying gods. For they were the same ones who had empowered another dark legend and allowed him triumph over me. They were the ones who allowed my Keiya be taken away from me for eternity.

"We need to pause," Rina's weary tone broke my monologue.
"It's getting dark. We should set a camp."

"We need to press on." I told, waving off her complaint.

"We have been at a steady pace for hours."

"And we would maintain that steadiness for even more hours."

"Then your sojourn down South would be useless, for you would have no one to deliver home. Not while am already dead of stress."

I grunted. She was right. She was almost always right.

I frowned to myself. It was difficult admitting a woman right over me. I swallowed my pride however, been defeated to rationality, and then with a low voice conceded.

"Aye, we need to take a break. Its been long enough," I sighed.
"Come. We would set camp there." I led her unto the spot I perceived a camp be fit.

We came by the spot, and without hesitance began preparation for the fast drawing night. We set down the saddle and our pack.

I went off to get kindlers, while the woman meticulously brought out our snugly fit possessions.

Setting up a campfire was the easiest of job for a wild man as myself. In a moment, the flickering fire was bold and ready to eat as much wood as could be offered.

The woman was useful. More useful than I anticipated even. She took the meat -- a lambs cut Darah had prepared and ensured we went with. She would heat it a little, as she would make arrangement for bread and ale.

In a moment she was done. Each person was to his little feast --bread, meat and ale to flow it all down.

We ate silently. It was absurd, but it was expected...as it had been the same happening for the past four nights. I and this woman barely knew a thing about ourselves. How then could we speak freely to each other?

I wouldn't begin a conversation. It made me think less of my myself. I was a prideful man. I wouldn't step from my horse -- not for man, not for the gods and certainly not for this woman.

I spared her no gaze, though once in a while I felt her steal quick glances. I smirked inwardly feeling self impressed. Women were always women...they break eventually.

Suddenly I looked up...perhaps it was a bad idea. Her eyes were up at me too -- each of our pair in a lock. In the flicker of the fire, I took keen appraisal of this being. Her frame was perfect, and her eyes shone brightly. I peered into the green orbs and all I saw was mystery. I loved the fire and strangeness this being held in same measure.

"So where would you go after you deliver me home?"
Suddenly her voice cracked through the night air. It broke the insane stare. I smiled to myself. She was feeling uncomfortable as much as she was impressed to have found a way for a conversation to begin.

Well this was going to be an interesting night -- a long interesting night!