Chapter 13

The following morning was spent doing repairs in equipment and helping restock the caravan. Laufey spotted Leah and Dante having a quiet conversation which ended and brief handshake. The wizard assumed the two had buried their dislike for each other and decided to move on. He smiled pleasantly to himself about it and returned to securing provisions for the remainder of the trip. The even came faster then expected and they all once again gathered in the tavern. Halfway into the night Leah saw Kasler excuse himself and head up toward his room. She checked and saw that Laufey, Dante and the other members of the caravan were engrossed in their party. She ducked through the back part of the crowd and darted up the stair after Kasler.

She saw Kasler enter into the last room at the end of the hall. Leah slowly walked up to the door and hesitated to knock. She was about to walked away when Kasler's wolf stopped her by biting onto her skirt. Leah gasped a bit louder then she had hoped and was embarrassed when a shirtless Kasler swung open the door.

"Who goes...oh, Leah." Kasler relaxed, and waved his wolf to release her. He held the door open. "Did you need to talk? Come in."

Leah swayed nervously and took the offer. She moved past him and stood against the wall by the door. "..."

Kasler returned to sorting his shirt and soft armor pieces. He turned to see her face was red. "Is everything alright?"

"...I...can't say...I" Leah fidgeted where she stood and couldn't keep eye contact with him. "I was wondering..."

He noticed she was struggling with herself and he walked up to her. He stood waiting. "What is it? What's wrong? Did Dante say something stupid?"

Leah shook her head. "No, no. It's not him or Laufey either. I just..." with trembling hands she placed them on either side of Kasler's neck and brought her face slowly up to his.

Leah's lips barely touched against Kasler before she suddenly back up and pleaded for forgiveness. Kasler was wide-eyed at her reaction, he wasn't sure if it was the mead or his own desire that taking hold of him. He put a hand to the back of her neck and brought her back to his face. Leah gave in, her mind racing as she felt his body against hers. His hands slide across her flesh as she tugged at the strings of his pants. A few more minutes of fumbling and Kasler broke off from Leah's lips and kept his forehead to hers.

"Leah. You have to stop." Kasler groaned, hating his words.

She groaned back and tried again for his pants string. "I know what I want."

Kasler gently took hold of her hand and brought it to her chest. "Leah, please. You deserve more then a man that's drowning in corpses."

Leah leaned back against the door. "There's something wrong with me? You don't want me?" She looked up at him with confusion.

"By the Gods, no..." Kasler rubbed his forehead hard against hers. "I want you, Leah. I just can't. Things in my past bar me from you. And even if that wasn't it." He looked into her eyes with longing and pain. "I am not worth your graces. I'm shrouded in too much death."

Leah slowlynodded and adjusted her clothing. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she stole one last gentle kiss from Kasler. She left the room without a word and went off to her own room. Kasler cursed quietly to himself and kicked the bed hard before tossing himself into it.

He starred at the ceiling and sighed deeply. "...Damn you Cor."

The mornings departure left off without any problems. Dante saw that Kasler was being especially distant that day and smirked when Laufey mentioned the disheartened mood of Leah. Dante pulled his horse back a bit as Laufey mounted the one next to him. They slowed until there was well away from Kasler and Leah.

"What's with the two of them?" Dante asked as he passed water over to the wizard. "They've been gloomy all morning."

Laufey adjusted in the saddle and grinned darkly. "Oh I think some intentions were foiled last night."

"When you say intentions I'm thinking, late night company." Dante smirked. "Am I right?"

"Indeed. Leah looks like the worst of the two and so I believe Kasler cut things off." Laufey tied a white sheet to his head to guard from the sun. "I wonder why."

Dante considered his helmet for shade. He decided against it as it clunked loudly against the saddle. He checked his coin pouch. "I'll bet you fifty gold that I can keep them apart. Leah's been at him for while now."

Laufey examined his own purse. Smiling he looked at Dante. "A hundred. We have quiet a bit of time till we reach Lut Gohlien. Let's make that our deadline."

"Easy enough. I can keep them apart." Dante shook Laufey's hand firmly.

Laufey didn't release his demon hunters hand right away. "But I am going to talk Kasler into it. I don't need to work on Leah."

Dante nodded. "Then let's play shall we." Dante spurred his horse on and approached Kasler's wagon.

"..." Kasler saw Dante ride up and nodded a silent greeting.

"Well my friend." Dante said cheerfully. "Seems you've had a bad night. What's troubling you?"

Kasler sneered at his friend. "I'd rather not talk about it. But yes, my honor took a jab at me last night."

"Honor? Oh dear." Dante smiled warmly. "Not something you'd ever want to break. Could be bad karma."

"You have a point. Again, not something I am willing to discuss right now." Kasler hopped down out of the wagon and tried to walk away from Dante.

Laufey watched Dante begin his work and laughed to himself as Kasler shut him out. The caravan hauled itself through the mountain pass. By the end of the second day they stopped for a rest at a small outpost just at the edge of the desert. They resupplied and put up the tents for the night. The desert was a long five day trip of blistering sun and bandits roaming free. The harbor city had once been overrun by a demon lord, it was saved by a band of heroes that came through. Fires were lit and the variety of travelers banded together in groups. Laufey, Dante, Kasler and Leah sat by a fire together while Tyrael offered his services for the first watch. Leah kept her eyes down as the three men talked and laughed together about old jobs and adventures. Laufey told tales of the ancient world and explained the basics of some magic. The caravan master came over with a large jar of wine and offered it as payment for all the work they had done for Tristram.

Laufey took the jar and sat it between the four of them. "Well this ought to make for a lovely evening."

Kasler waved it away. "I'm fine without. We're near bandit lands and I much rather not have a clouded mind."

Food was passed around and Leah left, returning with a cloth brimming with dried meats. "I thought food would be best with drinks." She offered the meat to Kasler first.

Kasler licked his lips and gratefully ate what he took. Laufey and Dante shared their portions and with the pets. Laufey and Dante leaned back against the log they had been sitting on. Kasler and Leah remained seated, tense and silent.

"Kasler it's a shame you don't subscribe to the physical pleasures of another human being." Laufey commented aloud, making Kasler tense up even more. "I can say, it's very relaxing."

Leah cleared her throat. "I have been wondering..." She looked at Kasler. "You and Dante are always together. Are you two..." Her voice trailed off.

"What? Do you mean is Dante my partner? My companion?" Laufey watched Leah's nervous face through the fire. "On my behalf I can say yes. I do not however speak for Dante."

Dante merely nodded in agreement, pointing from himself to Laufey and back again. He tried to chew his food faster but to no avail. "..."

"Aren't you concerned about what others think? Some would have both your heads for that." Leah whispered, looking around, fearing someone might over hear them.

"Afraid? No." Laufey crossed his ankles and folded his arms behind his head as he stretched his body. "No, dear girl, I am not. I couldn't care less what the past laws have and I can't predict what future ones will do. At present, I am happy with this delightful monster." He roughly patted Dante on the back a few times.

Kasler swallowed his food and scoffed. "What if it was your principles that held you back?"

Leah hid her glance at him as Laufey sat up. "Well that's foolish to be honest. Would you deny your body food and water simple because it was against your beliefs."

Kasler wasn't able to hide his look of confusion. "What does that have to do with this conversation?"

"You crave food and drink, do you not. You also crave the warm touch of another don't you?" Laufey smiled at Leah. "So why 'starve' yourself and disappoint someone with mutual feelings."

Dante stood slowly and kicked Laufey's boot. "I've had enough of this. I'm off to our tent if you care to join."

"I am feeling a bit peckish now that you mention it." Laufey rose and followed after Dante.

"..."

Kasler and Leah remained seated, she tossed bits of grass she had plucked into the fire. "They're an...open...pair."

"Much to my distaste at times." Kasler sighed and kept his eyes focused on the fire.

"Kasler..." Leah began, a silence crept in and she didn't start again till he looked at her. "I'm sorry for last night."

The black demon hunter rose and looked at her with the same eyes from that night. "It's not your fault. If things had been different for me..." He looked away. Kasler hesitated before he walked off to his own tent, his pets following reluctantly.

Tyrael hadn't seen the women creep by. She blended in with the shadows as she moved through the camp. Stopping at the first tent she found. A black haired pale man lay on his back, next to him was a dark brown haired man with a Mempo of Twilight staring at her. She considered a moment and moved on. She checked a few more until she came to Kasler's tent. She peered inside and saw Kasler in a deep sleep. His pets stirred as the women slowly made her way inside. She loaded a bolt onto her crossbow and quietly pulled the drawstring back. She aimed the bolts tip between his eyes and inhaled. She waited to make sure the night was left undisturbed. She exhaled as she gently squeezed the trigger. Kasler's eyes shot open and in that fraction of a second moved so that the bolt buried itself into his shoulder and he threw the women into the side of the tent.

"Wench!" He yelled at the top of his lungs, springing the entire camp to life.

Laufey and Dante came running, Leah was right behind them with Tyrael. Kasler stood and held up his Raven's Wing at his attacker, arrow pulled back. He and the women circled each other as the pets struggled to free themselves from the fallen tent. The women saw as she moved, Laufey and Dante aiming their own weapons at her back. She groaned and slowly lowered her weapon and raised up her free hand.

"Well this is an unexpected change." The women scoffed. "Kasler, traveling with friends. I'd say Hell has frozen over."

Kasler focused his eyes in the moonlight and lowered his bow. "Katie. It has been an age."