Exile's End: Day 20

Word Count: 120,005

Summary of Events:
Chapter 39:
Thårijn got frustrated by the people's relaxed approach to the journey and discovered signs of wolves being in the area. He wondered what kind of precautions the people were taking in regards to keeping the camp safe from wildlife looking for easy food. Thårijn then went to Æliyäu and told him that the people weren't taking adequate precaution and blamed it on Æliyäu before getting quite upset at Æliyäu.
Chapter 40:
Bæjern was woken up by wolves howling and found that wolves were in the camp. All of the men woke up and drove the wolves out before they could do much damage and Thårijn then scolded the men for their foolishness which allowed for the attack to happen. Thårijn and Æliyäu then discussed Thårijn's reluctance to lead the people, but even Thårijn couldn't find a reason why he was unwilling.

Excerpt of the Day:
""I was investigating," Thårijn replied. "And as much as you think it not wise that the people should hurry and make haste to get out of this foul country, they have become too much at ease, one would think that we had a barricade of stone around us at all times so as to make us indomitable."
"Thårijn," Æliyäu said. "It is not my task to lead the people."
Thårijn grasped Æliyäu's collar tightly and wrapped it around his fingers, his icy eyes ablaze with ferocious anger. "Now you throw excuses at me!"
Æliyäu winced at the saliva which came out of Thårijn's mouth. He said nothing. But he felt he had an understanding now. Thårijn thought that he ought to be doing Thårijn's love.
"If it is not your task then why do you do it?" Thårijn demanded.
"You know well," Æliyäu said, giving Thårijn a cool gaze. "I do it because you refuse to do it. I do what you wish to be done being as you refuse to do it — lest you become a leader of these people as has been foretold to be your calling by the word of Göd."
Æliyäu staggered backwards at Thårijn's thrust and stumbled over the hem of his cloak, landing on his back hard. He went to get up, but Thårijn placed his foot onto Æliyäu's abdomen, digging his heel in sharply — making it difficult to breathe.
"You know 'tis true Thårijn," Æliyäu said. "It is your job, and no other's, but you do not–"
Thårijn dug his heel deeper into Æliyäu's insides, cutting him off. Thårijn's eyes blazed a frigid flame in their icy depths, he took deep, sharp breaths. Æliyäu was sure that Thårijn was in wont to kill him.
"How many times must I tell you that you are wrong?" Thårijn hissed, resting his weight onto the foot which dug into Æliyäu's abdomen with excruciating pain of such ferocity that it brought tears to his eyes and bending himself down closer.
"Until you realized that the contrary is true," Æliyäu gasped.
Thårijn's eyes blazed, his left hand seized the handle of his sword and drew it out, turning it around, he wrapped his right hand underneath his left and drew the blade back over his shoulder.
"Thårijn," Æliyäu gasped. "Helännä!"
Thårijn froze, the ferocity of his gaze tempered suddenly.
"You promised to your mother," Æliyäu said — each word a desperate breath. "You would not take a life except in defence of yourself, or others dear to you."
Thårijn's sword slid back into its sheath quickly, but he moved down closer to Æliyäu's face, adjusting to rest his weight on his toes — which sent an excruciating, tearing pain throughout Æliyäu's abdomen that would've made him shriek like a hawk if he had possessed the air with which to do so.
"But I said nothing about beating them," Thårijn said lowly."