“No,” Damien said to him, almost bored. He gave Amma a shake. “This is mine.”
The creature cut his next hiss off short when his eyes fell on the blood mage. He recoiled, pulling his tail in, the cut along it still oozing.
Damien swept away from him and continued on as if he had not just cast a spell that sliced through a stranger in the middle of a busy street. The act had garnered a few looks, but no interference by any kind of authority or even any other villagers. “Sanguinisui, you may speak again since it seems useful for the time being. Do not get yourself eaten,” he said, still dragging her by the arm.
Mouth dry, she managed to croak out, “How is that up to me?”
“Just don’t. The talisman will likely end up inside whatever devours you, and a lamia would be exponentially more difficult to travel with. Stop trailing behind and stay beside me for darkness’s sake.”
“Thanks for your concern,” she mumbled, though not quiet enough. He cast her a withering look then finally released her. Of course he didn’t truly care, he only needed her for smuggling, but at least now she could let him know if she were about to be devoured by another beast.
Rubbing her arms, she tried to wipe away some of the blood. “I can’t believe you just attacked that snake-man, and no one stopped you.”
Damien chuckled then, a low sound that climbed up her spine and made her straighten. “Right, well, I’m sort of the lord around here. I tend to do what I want.”
Then it was Amma’s turn to scoff, his words making her forget the blood, the danger, and even her predicament. “Oh, of course you do,” she muttered.
“What was that?” His voice pressed in on her, suddenly close as he leaned near.
Her stomach clenched, and she bit her lip, staring forward and avoiding the angry gaze she could feel boring into the top of her head. She knew men just like him, and it didn’t matter if they called themselves evil or not, they were all the same. She swallowed, injecting as much sweetness as she could into her voice. “Did you say we were going to Eirengaard?”
The man’s eyes finally turned back to the street. “Yes.”
That was the capital city of the realm. Massive and sprawling, she had visited on plenty of occasions, and it was much more lawful than this place. His actions wouldn’t be tolerated there. In fact, his entire existence probably wouldn’t. “You won’t be able to do whatever you want when you’re in the realm, you know. What are you going for exactly?”
Damien huffed. “You don’t need to worry about that, you won’t be around for it.”
Amma drew in a sharp breath, heart hitching—he still intended to kill her as he had threatened in the Sanctum. Her eyes flicked to his cloak and where she knew he was harboring the Scroll of the Army of the Undead. If nothing else, the travel southward would give her an opportunity to get her hands on that as she waited for the most apt moment to flee.
Night had fallen, torches and glowing stones from the taverns and shops along the main road lighting the way. Damien seemed to have no desire to stop, but Amma was exhausted. Her body ached, stomach panged, and her mind was so overfull she could scarcely think of much else. Damien never veered off the main road though, taking them the way she had become familiar with, past the market as it was being closed up, and along the steady incline that would lead to the city’s exit and then the gates through the mountain pass, likely much less safe in the dark. It was only when she recognized the way out of the city ahead that he finally came to a stop.
Damien stood in the middle of the street, Amma at his side, glancing up at him and then nervously at the those who diverted their own paths to give him space. She would have liked to at least crowd him out of the way of the others, even if they were scaled and fanged, but he was unbothered by the obstruction he’d created. He looked down a connecting road and exhaled hoarsely. “I need you to tell me something.”
Amma tipped her head, waiting.
When he glanced back, his face had changed, the pinch to his brow still there but in contemplation rather than annoyance. “You weren’t sent here to thwart me, and I hadn’t answered your query when you did this.” He held up his hand where the cut she had wrapped once was. Both the handkerchief and wound were gone. “So, why?”
“Um, you were bleeding?”
“Yes, obviously, butwhy?” Narrowing his eyes, something flashed in them, a deep bewilderment from their stunningly violet color.
Amma thought on this for a very long moment, much longer than the answer she was about to give warranted, but it was a question she hadn’t pondered, not in regard to what he was asking nor to much else she did. “Well, I suppose for the same reason you gave me those bad directions.”
“Because you’re just a bastard sometimes?”
She clicked her tongue. “Okay, maybe not that. I guess I should have said for the same reason you helped that cat.”
Damien wrinkled his nose. “You thought I was pathetic?”
Amma shook her head. “Because it just seemed like the right thing to do.”
“Of course you’d say something like that.” Hands on his hips, Damien grunted. “We’ve a stop to make before heading out of town.” He turned, leading her away from the path out of Aszath Koth. She began to follow when he whipped back to her, halting them both once again. “We have a rat problem.”
“Rats?”
“In the city. Cats are helpful in controlling vermin that would otherwise spread disease, so…” He gestured vaguely to the street.
“Oh, so healing that kitten was just your way of helping your city.” She grinned and nodded, understanding.
