I reach Dahla in a few moments and throw the leather bag over her hind end and strap it down.
Caym’s stern voice comes over my shoulder and I turn to face him.
He’s looking at Kassiel, not quite trusting of him yet.
“I guess we should be thankful we don’t have to go back through the damned haunted woods this time, huh?”
His attempt at conversation with Kassiel is a vast improvement and I smile internally at the fact Caym’s trying to be cordial with a man he’s detested most of his life.
Kassiel quirks a smile, “I think it’s rather fortunate for you so you won’t have to be pulled out from sinking sand again.”
I scoff, not sure if they’re going to get along on this leg of our journey.
“I’m not sure about you, but I’m damned glad we won’t have to.” Leeson pipes in.
The sentiment is the same for me, so I nod in agreement.
“We should be off, is everyone ready?” I ask, eager to get underway.
Kassiel walks towards the horse that’s been brought for his use and inventories the saddle and checks the cinch before tightening it one more time.
Caym chuckles, his pale eyes twinkling with mischief, “I was wondering if he would be forced to ride behind you again.”
Kassiel’s face cracks with laughter.
We both look at him, questioning his sudden outburst.
Leeson also looks like she’s about to burst out in laughter.
Caym and I still continue to look at each other dumbly, before Kassiel’s laughter ceases.
“Caym,” he begins, laughter threatening to rebound, “I don’t think anyone realizes, you in particular, that me being behind Alora is nothing but paradise. In fact, being behind Alora might be one of my favorite positions now that you mention it.”
My face burns with embarrassment tinged with memories from the previous night where he made me come so hard that I saw stars.
“You rake.” The name sounds more like a compliment than a curse.
Leeson just smiles, exhaustion etched under her eyes from the hard fortnights we’ve been having.
“Where did Zedriel and Merinda go?” I shift the subject quickly, hoping to not draw more attention to my burning cheeks.
“They left early this morning, something about Merinda needing to meet someone from the southern kingdom?” Leeson says nonchalantly.
My mind threatens to chase for more answers, but I settle on one, “Where?”
Caym adds, “Down in Scyleyre, they’ll remain down there until we know that we’re safe leaving Ezmilir.”
I nod, knowing I can’t focus on their trip right now.
I pull myself up on Dahla and urge her on, not wanting to be around when Kassiel surely reveals more than I’d like to hear.
“Alright,” I rush out, “I’m going to go meet up with Jessamine, Merinda, and Naaveen.”
A smile twitches on my face before I spur Dahla, leaving the three of them to join in a chorus of laughter.
I leave the group with a renewed sense of contentness. I had lost my entire world, and oddly, due to the fates twists, built an entirely new one.
I follow closely behind Naaveen’s horse as we file along the trail that edges on the beachy cliffside of the Leith Mountains. These are a warm difference to those of The Fiordian range.
