“My four isn't only four times that I've actually... You know that, right? It's significantly more individual times than that,” the demon explained hastily and ran his hand over one of his horns.
Lori bit her lip. Why had she started this conversation? She mentally chastised herself. “I figured.”
They walked in silence once more. Lori tried to concentrate on the creaking of the snow underfoot and ignore her heart fluttering nervously in her chest.
“...Fuck, now Ireallycan't stop thinking about it,” Lephas groaned beside her.
Lori laughed, smiling shyly at the demon. He returned it briefly before looking away again. His bashfulness really was so endearing.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“The snow is really starting to come down again.” The faerie looked up into the sky and blinked her eyelashes against the onslaught of snowflakes.
They had been walking for hours. Lephas's ribcage ached him constantly and he had long since begun feeling the familiar burning of exhaustion in his muscles.
He knew they were going to need to stop again, but they hadn't made nearly enough progress. Though he wasn't completely clear on where they were, if his instincts were accurate they still had a fair hike aheadof them until they could double-back on themselves towards the main road.
He frowned with frustration He wasn't used to being the weak-link - the reason why the journey was taking longer than it should. He winced as one of his feet slid slightly in the snow, jostling the painful fracture.
“We should start looking for somewhere to camp up,” Lephas said.
The ground here was uneven, covered in dense shrubbery and brambles. He had released the faerie's hand so they could walk single-file through the undergrowth. Though they mostly managed to pick their way through it, following animal trails, it was going to be difficult to find a flat, open spot to be able to erect the lean-to.
It was rockier here, Lephas noticed. The ground beneath the snow had grown steadily harder and had become more difficult to traverse. Lori had nearly lost her footing several times already. They must be near the base of the cliff again.
He knew from his previous surveying of the forests around Banesteppe that there was a deep fissure running through the land. Eons ago, the ground had fractured, slipping away from itself and causing that steep cliff he and Lori had thrown themselves off. It ran the length of the countryside.
“I'm no expert, but I don't see many options.” Lori glanced around.
“It's a difficult area to camp in, that's for sure.” Lephas halted briefly. It wasn't helped by the thick snow falling. The visibility was so poor, he couldn't see clearly ahead which made it even more difficult to try to find a suitable resting spot.
The faerie behind him wasn't paying attention. She crashed into the back of him, unaware that he had stopped walking. She yelped in surprise, jostling them forward with the impact.
“Steady.” Lephas teased and fought not to lose his footing.
“Sorry! I was too busy looking over there.” The princess pointed across the forest. Lephas turned his attention to the direction she was indicating. “Is that a cave?”
Relief flooded him.
“Yes, it is. Well spotted.” He turned to grin at the girl.
Lori's face glowed happily back at him from underneath her hood, revelling in his praise.
“We'll have to fight our way into the brambles to get at it.” Lephas began pushing his way through, stamping down on the coarse branches in an attempt to clear a path, immensely glad his thick leathers protected him from the worst of the thorns.
“Ouch!” Lori yelped. The demon glanced over his shoulder. The girl's smaller frame was swamped as she pushed her way through to follow him. The fur on her jacket caught on sharp spines at every turn.
“Here, I’ll carry you over the worst of it.” He reached for her.
“No, you can't. Your rib–”
“It'll be fine, it's only a short distance.” Lephas shook his head, gesturing her closer.
Ignoring the splintering pain in his chest, he swept an arm under her legs taking her feet from the ground and slung her unceremoniously up over his shoulder.
The princess groaned but held still, compliant.
Lephas fought on, pushing his way through the thorns. He ached all over, but his spirits were lifted. You couldn't ask for a better shelter for the night than a cave - provided it was unoccupied. He would have to check that out, before they got too comfortable.
