John woke to the smell of smoke.
Not from a burning forest.
Not from an attacking monster.
Just breakfast.
He opened one eye.
The campfire was still burning, and Aerion was standing over it with a pan.
John sat up.
"You're cooking?"
Aerion glanced over his shoulder.
"Someone has to."
John looked around.
Lythriel was still asleep inside her tent.
Sylvara was already awake, sitting beside the stream.
Darius was nowhere to be seen.
"And where's Darius?"
Aerion pointed toward a nearby tree.
John looked.
Darius was asleep against the trunk with a book still resting on his chest.
John smiled.
"Didn't expect that."
"He stayed up reading."
"About what?"
"The history of Ravencross."
John stood and stretched.
"Of course he did."
He walked over to the fire.
"What are we having?"
"Eggs."
John looked at the pan.
"They smell good."
"That's because I'm better at cooking than you."
John stared at him.
"I've never cooked for you."
"Exactly."
John laughed.
