"I have too, there is no choice. Veron will be weaker now, we must catch him while he is unprepaired." Jaden replied as he pulled himself to his feet.

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Eleshna got to her feet and took Jaden's arm, offering to support him as he got to his feet.

"If you insist... but if you need rest, just tell us... I'm sure we can spare some time..."

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

Jaden leaned lightly on Eleshna's offered suport.

Reaching Syndar the horse kneeled down as Jaden moved onto his back.

"How long will the ride be back to the cave?" Jaden asked, his mind slightly disoroiented he had forgoten how long it took them to reach there curent position.

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Eleshna helped him onto Syndar, then went to her own horse.

"Around two days if we do not stop... but I think we'll need to pause now and then so you can rest," Eleshna answered as she lightly leapt upon her mare.

She started at an easy pace, being sure she was paced next to Jaden, so she may assist him if need be. Her face still wore a guilt ridden look.

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

"It's not your fualt." Jaden said, looking over into Eleshna's face. "It was my choice, I take what comes of it."

"What I recieve will in no way mesure to what I deserve, and your life is by far more worth saving than my own." he insisted as they rode.

Behind them knox followed quietly, riding his horse.

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Eleshna looked at him questioningly at first. "There is nothing worth saving in my life. I have no future in this world, no destiny, since my past has stained my reputation forever."

She suddenly realized what she had been saying, the very words Veron had drilled into her, that she had no future, no destiny, without his guidance.

Eleshna paled slightly in the realization of what her mind had come to, and kept her gaze forward as they rode.

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

"Your wrong." Jaden said with a confadence in his voice.

"Your wrong!" he repeated as he leaned down, laying his head on Syndar's withers.

Jaden drifted off into sleep again, but Syndar was carefull to keep him on as they traveled slowly onwards.

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Eleshna looked in surprise at him as he said the words, for he seemed so sure, then bowed her head, ashamed she had let Veron's words get to her.

She kept an eye on Jaden to be sure he wouldn't fall from the horse.

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

Before long the sun was sinking low in the sky, the sunset blazing in briliant colors of dark blue, purple, red, and yellow.

Jaden opened his eyes slowly as they turned into the sun.

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Eleshna watched the sunset with a heavy heart, still dwelling over her innermost thoughts, casting a glance over at Jaden ever so often.

She should be joyful at being freed, why wasn't she? why? she asked herself, letting out a sigh. why am I not relieved, like I thought I would feel...

A heavy mist began to gather in the mountains and the valley ahead, encircling them in a blinding fog.

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

The fog grew thicker as they stopped for the night.

Syndar went down on his front knees as Jaden pulled himself off the horse.

He walked tieredly over to a tree, using it for suport as he moved to the ground.

"How long will Veron be sick?" Jaden asked Eleshna.

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Eleshna pondered for a moment, remaining standing and looking away, in the direction which they had been travelling, as she watched the fog.

"Perhaps a few more days... I remember reading a scroll I had taken from him, and it spoke of the bond, and how the one who instilled the bond would become sick but would not die, if the lesser died, but the bond would be broken until the sickness was over, even if the lesser somehow returned... but if the greater were to die, then both would die, and could never return" she went silent, her hood pulled down and her features somehow relaxed and more at ease than they had been before.

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

"So if we don't kill him soon you will die allso?" Jaden asked her.

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"If we do not kill him soon, the bond will reinstate, and he would be sure to kill me then, since I have now caused too much trouble for his liking no doubt," she again replied, though now she smirked slightly.

"But yes... if he is better by the time we arrive there, and the bond reinstated and we kill him... I will die, but if that happens, I will not fear death... as long as he dies as well..."

"After all this time..." Eleshna let out a sigh, "I'm so close to being truly free..."

She turned and looked at him with a slight smile, "Thank you, for getting me this far, and even continueing..."

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

"Don't thank me, I am not worthy of your prais." Jaden chided.

"Veron is not an elf... he came here with the rest of us. And It was me who brought us here. I will not let him kill you I can assure you of that." Jaden informed her.

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Eleshna sat down, her expression that of disbelief. "But... that had to have been... a long time ago... I myself am concidered a well aged elf, but I was a mere child at 17 when I met Veron... how old are you then?..."

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~