Chapter Twenty-One
––––––––
ARKAS FOUND WEAPONSwhen he searched the house while Oaklie was carrying boxes of food to the truck.He took two rifles and spare boxes of ammo.The cambion was sitting behind the steering wheel, adjusting her seat when he left the house.“We need to make a stop at the blue house,” he requested.
“No problem,” Oaklie agreed, then started the engine.The truck was a bit cramped for someone of his size.Patches of rust were beginning to set in here and there, marring the faded red paint.It ran fine when his companion reversed and turned onto the road.
Keeping a watch for insane humans, Arkas worked out how to use the rifles, but didn’t fire off any shots.“I hope we don’t have to use these, but it might pay to be prepared,” he figured.
“I’ve never fired a gun before,” Oaklie said, flicking the weapons a mistrustful look.
“I thought you hunted animals for food,” he said with a frown.
“I do,” she confirmed.“I use wood as my weapons.”
“You spear the animals with branches you coax from trees?”he guessed, having witnessed the wounds she’d left on her assailants’ corpses.
“Among other things,” she replied vaguely.She drove the short distance to his base and pulled into the driveway.“I’ll wait here,” she said, turning the truck around to face the road again.
“I won’t be long,” the knight said and climbed out.He hurried over to the house and let himself in, then climbed the stairs to the attic.Grabbing the tools and the figurine he’d carved, he shoved them into a backpack and hunted for more clothes.He loped back outside, closing the door behind him.He wasn’t sorry to be leaving the place and he couldn’t wait to find his brothers.
“We’ll stay at my place tonight and leave early in the morning,” Oaklie said, cocking an eyebrow at him to see what his reaction would be.
“Sounds like a plan,” he agreed amiably.He had to slouch down in his seat so his head didn’t brush the roof as she drove them both to her home.Proving she was as intelligent as she was beautiful, she avoided the town.It wouldn’t be wise to be spotted driving around in the truck.Someone might decide to follow them and try to steal it.
They made it to her property and Oaklie drove right up to the wide gate.The logs swung open, leaving enough room for her to drive the vehicle through.“It should be safe enough to leave it out here overnight,” she figured.“But we’d better put the tarp over the back.”
Rain was beginning to splatter on the windshield again.They climbed out and she helped Arkas tie the tarp she’d found in the barn over the bed of the truck.Leaving the boxes of food on the back seat of the vehicle, they hurried over to the house.Oaklie unlocked the door with her magic and they entered just as another storm struck.
It was almost dark by now and it would have been treacherous driving in weather like this.“What now?”Arkas asked, already bored.
“Now I want to see the carving you did of me,” Oaklie demanded, holding her hand out for it.
Arkas froze for a moment, feeling bashful.“I’m just an amateur,” he hedged.“I’m not a master artist like you.”
“Hand it over, Arkas,” she commanded, opening and closing her fingers impatiently.“Don’t make me take it from you by force.”
He smiled at the playful tone in her voice, then reluctantly opened his backpack.“Don’t laugh,” he requested, then took the figurine out and handed it to her.
