“Are you familiar with the capitol or castle?”
Our group has never traveled north of Dalloway in the Court of Warriors, but that doesn’t mean Cal or the brothers haven’t traveled to Gaumond at some point in their lives.
“No,” he shakes his head, “none of us are familiar.”
“Alright,” I shrug, “we’ll make it work.”
Holis flashes a small smile at my response.
We all relax in our chairs as the woman behind the counter brings us our food. She waits for Cal’s attention but ends up sauntering off with a pout, my big friend shaking his head as Holis fails to hide a chuckle. I grab my stew with a smile and watch as Mana turns to Cal, the Discerni giving him a steady but quiet nod from his seat as if goading him on.
Cal nods back, averting his gaze from the twin before he clears his throat.
“Alex…”
“Hmm?” I ask over a mouthful.
“Once we cross the border, I’d like to share your tent.”
I nearly cough over my soup.
“I’m sorry?” I stammer, “come again?”
Cal’s eyes dart to Holis and then back to Mana, both brothers giving him a stern nod to prompt him forward.
“I want to share your tent, Alex,” he repeats, “we’ll be outside Disce borders and in foreign land. I want to be present and as close to you as possible, should anything arise.”
Ah.
For a moment there…
I shake my head and look at my friend with a genuine smile. I don’t know what I did in life to meet such a giving man, but I’m more than grateful to have him by my side.
“I would appreciate that greatly,Cal. It’s a good idea.”
Our group continued north on the Great Road after lunch, passing through the sweeping orange fields as we made our way to Brierman. About halfway through the fields I brought Millie to a walk and left the group to travel ahead, planning to catch up eventually.
Holis,alwaysHolis, chose to stay behind with me.
I peer at my companion with a smile and reach out to the trees at my side. The leaves rake against my fingers, the oranges ripe and falling from the branches as I pluck a few and toss one to the Discerni. He catches it gracefully just as I bring Millie to a stop and dismount. The brown mare pushes her snout into my hands, her teeth greedily taking a few pieces of orange from my palm before we start walking again.
I don’t know for how long we walk, but the trek is slow and content in the fields. It’s different from our typical woods, an area surrounded by green leaves and rounds of orange with the forest never too far out of view. We walk until the sound of the rest of groups’ horses disappears entirely, until it’s only me and Holis riding in a casual silence that we find often happens when its just us, his brother and Cal.
“They’ll want us soon,” Holis announces beside me.
I sigh and turn to meet his gaze.
“A bit longer?”
“Yes,” he nods, “I think so.”
I smile and rest my head against Millie’s neck, walking even slower.
We reach the drunken town of Brierman a little after sundown, the lanterns of bottled moonslight glowing against the shops on the main road. Desmond leads our group straight to the Drunken Stump and announces that we’ll have some time to get situated in our rooms before meeting again for dinner, but just looking at the group tells me that no break is needed. No one here needs a rest. There’s no weary faces when we greet the stable boys and hand them our reins, nor is anyone looking sore from a full day’s ride. Everyone in this traveling crew is well-seasoned, and now I can’t help but wonder if the Master Informer initially offered because he thoughtIwas the one who would need it.
I scowl at the thought and grab my traveling packs off Millie, slinging them across my shoulder before tossing a coin to the stable boy.
“You’re with me,” a cool feminine voice states from behind.
