Carver had gotten word to his father that it was safe to come home. Malcolm Hawke and his youngest child had returned home after the Templars had moved on. They had found nothing of the mage they were looking for and had no choice but to return to Kinloch Hold to retrieve more of his blood to track him.
"I am surprised they gave up so easily. Last time they were here for weeks before moving on." Malcolm mused as he got off of Ol' Bets.
"They said without his phylactery there was no way to find him. At least that is what I overheard in the tavern."
"Is your sister back yet?" Carver stared at the ground, not wanting to meet his father's eyes. "Carver, where is Leigh?"
"I'm not sure. She took off right after you two did, but she headed towards the Wilds, not the trade route."
"Maker's breath what was she thinking? The Wilds?"
"I know Papa. You know Leigh she probably thought the legends would keep the Templars at bay."
"There are far more dangerous things in the Wilds than just the old legends Carver."
"Well at least she won't have to worry about someone trying to rob her." Malcolm arched his eyebrow in question at his son. "She left that necklace of hers here." Carver had never seen the color drain from anyone's face as fast as it did on his father's. "Papa what's wrong?"
"Your sister is in more danger than you realize Carver."
"Why? Leigh is an accomplished fighter and sneaky, the Templars don't stand a chance. Or anyone for that matter."
"There are things about your sister you don't know son. Things that had to be done to keep us all safe."
"Papa your making no sense. What things?" Malcolm put his large hand on his son's shoulder and motioned for him to walk. They walked til they were out in the main field far from the house.
"Bethany and I aren't the only mages in the family Carver."
"Yeah I know, mom said we have cousins on her side that are too, so?"
"Leigh is also a mage." Carver began to laugh thinking his father was joking. When he noticed the look on Malcolm's face he knew his father was dead serious.
"She can't be I have never seen her do magic or act all magey. She can't be a mage."
"Sit down Carver and I will explain, but you can not tell your mother or Bethany."
"Why?"
"You'll see when I tell you all of it. Now sit and listen." Carver sat next to his father and listened to him explain what his sister really was. The boy's eyes went wider and wider the more his father spoke. When his father was done all Carver could do was shake his head and stare off in the direction of the Wilds. His thoughts were now on his sister and her safety.
OoO
Dawn broke on the third day of them running. Leigh was exhausted, as was the filly Shade. They had found a ruin in the Wilds that gave a good vantage point all around them. Leigh let Shade wander so she could graze while the mage tried to walk off his sore legs. Leigh could hear him grumbling and moaning from her perch up in the ruin. When she looked down she saw he had taken his shirt off and his boots. A blush flare up on her face and she turned away keeping her eyes open for trouble. Part of her wished she had brought her amulet, not hearing Pash in her head was lonely and not having her counsel was terrifying.
"Hey do you see anything from up there?"
"No, but I will warn you with all the noise your making the wolves around here will come and get you down there." She knew it was a evil thing to do, but she could not help herself. Seeing him scramble up the ruins to her perch made her laugh. Til he was up there and she saw he was still bare chested and shoeless.
"Maker I hate nature. How are you not scared out of your wits?"
"I grew up on the edge of town. Wolves, bandits, bears, and other nasty things are a way of life. You learn to deal with them."
"How?"
"You just do." She pressed herself against the stone wall as far as she could so she did not touch him. It did not go unnoticed by the mage. He smiled and shifted himself closer to her. She had no more room to move since the perch was barely big enough for the two of them to begin with. "Do you have to sit so close?"
"Why am I making you nervous Dove?"
"No, it is just hot out here and your all sweaty."
"Hmm, most women I know would find that attractive."
"Well they need their heads examined." He snickered at her and leaned in closer. "What are you doing?"
"Isn't it obvious Dove..." His lips touched hers softly at first, she could feel his hands tug at her vest and she smacked them away before putting her foot against his chest.
"Stop!"
"I...why?"
"I have no idea who you are, I don't even know your name and I have been traveling with you for days now." This was a change from the first night he had met her. That night she had all but given in to him, but his conscience got the better of him. Now they were out in the wilderness alone and she was driving him mad again.
"I'm a mage, your a mage what's there to know. Your attracted to me, I'm attracted to you so why not act on it?"
"That's besides the point, what if I wanted more than just a tumble?"
"Ah Dove first rule of being a mage is never, ever fall in love or get attached in any way. It is just a momentary comfort nothing to do with the heart other than to get it racing." He leaned in again, but Leigh jumped up and dropped down from the perch. She needed to clear her head and cool herself down. "Hey you can't leave me here alone. Where are you going?"
"I need to get some water. Stay up there you'll be safe. I'll be back in a bit."
"Great, now what did I do? He sat down with a huff and stared out over the Wilds. He could not understand her. She gave him all the signs that she wanted him or at least he thought she did. The mage sighed and closed his eyes. The sunshine felt good on his skin. He laid back and let the warmth lull him into a light sleep.
Leigh made her way to a nearby stream and started to take off her heavy leathers. She hung her dagger belt in the tree near the stream and piled her clothes under it. She eased herself into the cool water, letting herself slip under the surface. The silt that had settled at the bottom was churned up by her movements making it hard to see. She came up for air to find herself surrounded.
"Well I have to say this is one of the strangest fish I have ever seen." All the men who were staring at her were wearing mismatched armor. Bandits she surmised by there leers and rough looks.
"Maybe it's a mermaid?" Leigh did not like were this was heading. She cursed herself for leaving her daggers on the shore. She counted the men, four against one not bad odds, but she would prefer not to have to fight them at all. "Well I was able to scare the Templars into thinking I was the Witch of the Wilds maybe it will work again." Leigh took a deep breath and called forth her mana, but one of the men got the drop on her. His large hand covered her mouth so she could not scream and picked her up out of the water.
"Whatever she is I think we could use a little fun, right boys?" Leigh struggled against her captures, but the brute holding her was far stronger and her hands where held tight against her body so she couldn't cast. She tried to scream only to find her sounds muffled by the man's fat hand. "Feisty isn't she? I likes em feisty." The man pulled a dagger and placed it on her cheek. "Now either you cooperate or I will maim that pretty little face of yours. Now be a good girl and let us have our way. You might even like it." Her struggles grew weaker and hot tears streamed down her cheeks. The man holding her eased his grip on her mouth a little and it was enough for her to bite down on the flesh between his thumb and his pointer finger. His scream rang out through the ruin. She felt his other hand go up and try to pry her off and she head butted him. Leigh felt a flash of hot liquid slash on her bare shoulders. She had crushed his nose and he stumbled back still screaming.
"Getter off!" More hands grappled with her, but had a hard time holding on with all the blood that covered her now. The man with the knife pushed the others away.
"That's it you little bitch I think you are more trouble than your worth. Let em go now or I will gut you." She glared back at the man and bit down harder. His friend whimpered and crashed to his knees dragging her with him. She saw the glint of the knife coming at her and she closed her eyes, not wanting to see her death coming. The smell of ozone shot through the air and the hair on the back of her neck stood up.
"Step away from her now!" The mage's voice was a welcome sound to her. She opened her eyes and saw his hands were crackling with lightning. "You alright Dove?" She released her bite on the man and spit out the blood that had flown into her mouth.
"Just peachy. What took you so long?"
"You told me to stay where I was, I listened."
"Well from now on don't listen to me."
"Well gents I would say this is a draw. I say we go our way and you go yours. Let's just forget this ever happened I would hate to have to hurt you." The leader sneered at the mage and moved faster than anyone thought possible. He pulled Leigh up by her hair and held his knife to her throat.
"She needs to pay for maiming my friend, and I bet the Templars would love to get their hands on you boy."
"You really don't want to do that. I am giving you one last warning let her go or you will be sorry." The man laughed and slide the knife over her throat. The mage screamed and let loose on the men. The bank of the stream was soon littered with burnt bodies, one of the men happened to get away, but did not make it far. Shade had heard the commotion and made her way over to it. The man ran at her with his sword drawn, not to attack the horse, but to defend himself from the enraged mage. The filly reared over the man knocking the sword from his hands and preceded to stomp the man to death. The filly turned her golden eyes to where the mage was kneeling in front of the still form of her owner. She whinnied softly and headed over to them.
The mage held his hand over the wound on Leigh's neck. The cut was not as deep as it looked when it happened. The bandit did nick the jugular vein, but it wasn't gushing blood. He was glad his mana had recovered from the drain the Templars had hit him with days earlier. The warm glow from his hands sank into her skin healing it from the inside out. He shook his head and let out a nervous laugh.
"You're a damn lucky girl." Once he was satisfied she was all healed he lifter her up and carried her back to the ruin. He noticed the horse was following him and it made him a little bit uneasy. The eyes on the filly looked too intelligent for his liking. Not like the doe eyed horses the Templars had. "I'm trying to help her so don't get any ideas. I saw what you did to that bandit. Nice work though." The filly snorted and threw her head up and down. "I'm glad you are happy with yourself." He was glad her bed roll was still set out from the night before. He laid her down and went to gather her clothes. A raw shot of fear ran through him when she found the bodies of the men were gone. Even the one Shade had stomped was gone. The blood pool was still there, but the body was gone. He grabbed her clothes and hurried back. "Maker why did she bring me to this creepy place. Sure the Templars don't want to come here, but no sane person would either?"
OoO
Leigh woke up with a start. Her hands went instinctively to her waist to find her daggers. When she did not find them she sprang to her feet. A hand came up from beside her making her spin around. The sight that greeted her eyes was a welcome one.
"What happened?"
"Oh not much, just bandits and throat slashing. I guess we are even now. You saved me and now I saved you. Though I wonder how did you stop him from cutting you deeply?"
"I rolled with the knife when he brought it across my throat. It kept him from being able to get it deeper. Rogue trick, but he did get me worse than I expected."
"Good thing I am a healer then."
"Yes good thing. Thank you. I tried to scream, but they stopped me."
"I heard the one scream, that is what brought me running. I'm glad your alright. I don't fancy trying to find my way out of here alone."
"Shade knows the way home."
"Yeah not trusting that." Leigh couldn't help but laugh at his expression as his eyes drifted to the dark figure standing at the edge of the camp.
"I should make sure the fire is set for the night. You better get some sleep." He stood up stopping her from walking away.
"You could have died today and you act like nothing happened. Are you sure your alright?"
"I'm fine." Her eyes told him otherwise.
"Nice try, sit."
"No."
"Please." She growled, but sat back down on her bed roll and let him take her hands. "Why didn't you use your magic against them? They would have never stood a chance."
"My hands, I couldn't move them to cast."
"I see, and your daggers, you left them in a tree?" She nodded and blushed knowing first rule of being a rogue is never to be caught without a weapon or and escape route.
"Stupid huh?"
"No I would never call you that. You kept your head. You did far better than I would have in your place. At least you know how to fight. We aren't aloud to learn to defend ourselves with anything, but our magic."
"That's because they don't want you to be able to defend yourself when they drain your mana."
"Very true, at least you can survive without yours." She gave him a weak smile and squeezed his hand. "I'm sorry about earlier. I acted like a bastard."
"Don't worry about it. I wasn't helping matters any."
"What do you mean you weren't helping?"
"I was giving you mixed signals."
"I know and you were driving me mad. So which signal were you trying to give me? Nevermind, I know which one."
"Are you so sure?" This time she leaned in to him and gave him a very soft chaste kiss. "I'm surprised you would give up so easily after only a few attempts."
"Well I did see what you did to those Templars. I just don't want to be hung from a tree somewhere." She sighed and leaned back against his chest. His fingers twisted some of her hair absentmindedly. It was somewhat refreshing to him to just sit with someone, without worrying about the Templars coming along and making things miserable. Even in this place that gave him the creeps he felt safe with her. "Leo."
"Huh?"
"You said you didn't know my name. It's Leo."
"I like it."
"So where are you taking me and please don't tell me that we are staying here?"
"Just for a few days then I am going to try to get you to Gwaren or somewhere else safe from the Templars. You could take a ship and get out of Ferelden. Just don't head to Kirkwall, I hear it is worse than here for a mage."
"You need coin to do that. I don't have any."
"I do so don't worry. Now get some sleep we have a long way to go tomorrow and the last thing we need is you falling off the horse because you fell asleep."
"Yeah don't want devil horse to trample me if I fall off."
"Be nice, she can hear you." As if to answer he heard the filly snort and paw at the ground. "See."
"Please forgive me Shade. Your a good horse." Leigh stood up and found she was not dressed other than her smallclothes. Her cheeks turned bright red.
"Where are my clothes?"
"Over there, I didn't think you wanted my pawing at you to put them on so I left them off."
"I...thanks." She quickly put on her pants and her linen shirt and caught the disappointed look on the Leo's face. "Are you hungry?"
"Famished."
"Let's see what else my sister packed for us to eat other than stale biscuits. Maybe we'll be lucky and she packed some deer jerky." Leo made a disgusted face, only making her laugh. "Have you ever tried it?"
"Andraste's tits, no it looks disgusting. I would rather starve."
"More for me then."
"You'll be safe from me kissing you then."
"Oh is that all it will take I should have thought of that sooner."
"Hey, you liked it and you know it." Leigh opened her mouth only to find his lips taking over hers and his tongue trying to make it's way down her throat. Her body felt like putty in his hands. When the kiss broke both of them were panting. "See."
"Your incorrigible."
"That I am Dove, that I am."
OoO
Leigh had given up trying to stop Leo from accosting her every time she turned around. Over the last few days since he had saved her from the bandits his hands tended to wander more often then not. She chalked it up to him being raised in the Circle. She had over heard her father and mother talk about it when she was younger. She never truly understood until she got older. She felt almost sorry for him. Even now deep in thought she felt his hands on her hips and his lips on her neck.
"Your doing it again."
"What?"
"Being all handsy."
"You haven't complained about it in a few days, I thought you liked it." She turned around in his arms and stared up at him.
"Oh yes I love being pawed at like a whore in a whorehouse." That stopped him in his tracks. His eyebrow raised at her as his hands fell away from her hips. He looked hurt from her words and Leigh almost regretted saying them. "I know in the Circle this is normal for you, but for me it is a little bit fast."
"I don't...your not..."
"I know you don't think of me as that so calm down. I am just saying it makes me a little bit uncomfortable that's all."
"Maker are all the boys in your little town pledged to the Chantry? Hasn't at least one of them tried to touch you or even kiss you at all?"
"One, but..."
"But what? Did you slit his throat for trying?" Anger flared in her and she pushed him away roughly. "Now what did I say?"
"It is complicated, alright! He...he's a Templar in training." The last part she whispered, but Leo heard it loud and clear.
"Are you mad! Your a mage! He'll turn you into the Circle the first chance he gets!"
"He doesn't know I'm a mage. I have been hiding it from him."
"That won't last you know, as strong as you are he will find out and be honor bound to turn you in."
"He's not like the others, he is a good man."
"Sure right up until he throws you to the wolves or kills you out right. You are playing with fire Dove, and you will get burned." Leo stormed off to the other side of their camp. Leigh could only stand there chewing over his words in her head. Deep down she knew he was right, but she always looked for the best in people. Cullen was not like the other Templars she had seen, he was kind, if not more than a bit awkward around the fairer sex. His stumbling over words when he spoke to her is what endeared him to Leigh. He had only ever kissed her once and it was a quick chaste kiss. Afterward he blushed bright red and excused himself, mumbling along the way. Leigh let out a exhausted sigh and flopped down on the ground. She took out her whet stone and proceeded to sharpen her daggers.
Leo tried not to watch what she was doing, his anger boiled in his blood. How could anyone be so skilled, yet so foolish? Did she not know the danger she was in? Did she not care? He knew all too well the atrocities the Templars set upon the mages at Kinloch Hold. He had watched the Templars beat one of his friends into a bloody pulp just for sassing them. He has seen what happened to the women if they stepped out of line and it made him cringe inside. He did not want to see that happen to her. She would die if she was caged, of that he was certain. He looked up and saw she was watching him. He could see the trails of tears illuminated on her face in the fire light. He felt like an ass for yelling at her like he did, but his pride would not allow him to go apologize. It would show he cared and that could be deadly for him. Her face looked so sad and everything inside him screamed to go over there and hold her.
"Dammit, why is she looking at me like that? Come on please stop looking at me like that!" When she realized he was staring at her too, Leigh jumped to her feet and walked out of the firelight. He sat stark still for a few moments trying to hear where she was. The low sound of muffled sobs echoed back to him. "Shit! I never should have opened my mouth. Irving always said it be my downfall and here it is. I have made a very pretty girl, who saved my sorry hide cry. Maker, just strike me down already before I do something else stupid." Leo got to his feet and followed the sounds of the crying. He found her not far from the camp sitting next to a downed tree. Her arms were wrapped tightly around her knees. She looked so small to him like this, so young.
"Hey there is no need to cry." She looked up ay him and it made him feel even worse. Her normally pretty face was discolored from her crying. Her eyes were puffy and her face had dirty tear tracks running down her cheeks. "Look the first thing you need to know about me is I'm a bastard. Things come flying out of my mouth before I think. I...I'm sorry I yelled at you, I just don't want to see them cage such a lovely little bird. If they catch you they will break the person you are now and it would kill me to see that." When she did not look up at him Leo sat next to her. His leg brushed up against hers and she flinched away
"Just leave me alone!"
"No." When she looked up he wished he had not said that. Her eyes narrowed at him. "Not until you come back to the camp. It is not safe out here."
"I can take care of myself thank you very much. Just go."
"Nope not getting rid of me that easily. Your going to have to make me leave." Her eyes glowed red like they did that night against the Templars. Leo mentally kicked himself for pushing when he should have just went back to the camp and shut his mouth. "What are you going to hang me from a tree now too?"
"Maker you are the most frustrating person I have ever met!"
"Ah, but I got you to look at me." Her hand flew up to hit him, but Leo was faster. "Sorry Dove I have gotten good at dodging fists aimed for my face. You will have to try better than that." He wasn't sure how he ended up on his back on the ground, but there he was with her straddling his chest. "All to easy." "I think I like it down here. I have a perfect view." Leigh's eyes nearly bugged out of her head when she felt his hands run up her backside. To add to it he gave her rump a firm squeeze making her feel like she was going to jump out of her own skin.
"Get your hands off my arse now!" Leo ran his hands up her sides quickly and pulled her down flush against him. His hands tangled in her hair moving her head so his lips could meet hers. Leigh tried to speak, but his kiss stopped her words dead. After a few seconds of struggling she relented kissing him back. Leigh rolled her hips over his making his mind turn to mush. He could feel the ache between his legs and it made him growl. Startled Leigh broke the kiss and scrambled off of him.
"What did you do that for?"
"I...I'm afraid." Again Leo wanted to kick himself. She was untouched and a novice at all this. He sat up and rubbed the back of his neck absentmindedly before standing up.
"Come on let's get back to camp then." She just nodded and turned toward the camp. He fell into step next to her and wrapped his arm around her neck.
"I'm sorry."
"For what Dove?" Leigh bit her bottom lip, trying to think of what to say. Leo stopped walking and spun her to face him. His hands cupped her face sending shivers down her spine. "I'm the one who yelled at you, making you cry. I should be the one to try and apologize again since you did not take it the last time. I'm sorry Dove for all of it."
"You don't have to apologize, your right I should not trust Templars. I just...I've known him for most of my life. He is friends with my brother, I could never imagine him turning on me or my family."
"Well there's your problem." Leigh gave him a questioning look not sure what he meant by his words. "If he is friends with your brother then you are in trouble. Your brother does not seem the type that likes the fact his family is mostly mages."
"Your right, he doesn't."
"Why?"
"We have to keep to ourselves mostly. He can't have friends come over for dinner or help out on the farm since we don't know who we can trust and who we can't. It is very lonely for him. Cullen seems to be the only friend he has that hasn't left him behind. I feel sorry for my brother, it is not his fault and I hate that he has to suffer so."
"Maybe he is a little jealous too. You and your sister are mages and he is left out."
"Maybe, I can't picture him ever being a mage. Carver rather hit something with his sword or his fists then concentrate on a spell."
"All brawn right? Maker he would make a good Templar then."
"He better not even entertain that thought or I will beat him within a inch of his life." A lopsided smirk played on Leo's lips.
"I would pay to see that." A lone howl in the distance made them both jump. It was followed by other answering the first. "That doesn't sound good."
"No it doesn't we better try to find higher ground to sleep on."
"What about your horse?"
"Shit, your right. If it is a pack of wolves she will never stand a chance. We need to pack up and move."
"Get her saddled I will get our packs." The howls got closer as Leigh saddled the filly. Leo rolled up their beds and threw water on the fire. The smoke made it hard to see so he used his staff and cast light from it. What he saw in the brush not ten feet from him was at least a dozen glowing eyes. Panic rooted him to the spot as the eyes got closer. The thudding of hooves came from behind him and he felt Leigh tug on his sleeve.
"Slowly get your arse up here. I will keep my eyes on them." He nodded handing the packs up to her and slowly pulled himself into the saddle behind her. Shade gave a shrill whinny and stomped her feet nervously. "Alright girl, let's go!" Leo was lurched backward as the filly took off like she had a fireball on her tail. The wolves gave chase for a while, but gave up when they could not keep pace with the horse. They traveled the rest of the night heading toward the Brecilian Forest. Leo fell asleep sometime before dawn and Leigh had shift their positions. She stopped Shade and quickly, quietly moved so she would be behind him, holding him up in the saddle. "Well at least one of us will be rested." Leigh chuckled to herself hearing his snore a little. "Alright Shade just another hour or two and we get to rest. I just have to find a place to hide." The horse threw her head up and down before walking on.
OoO
Leo opened his eyes and saw that Leigh was not in front of him on the horse. He felt arms wrapped around his waist and looked back. Her smiling face greeted him and he relaxed. She pressed her lips to his neck and he sighed.
"Good morning."
"Morning, where are we?"
"Somewhere near the Brecilian Forest. I think we are about a week away from Gwaren. Once we are there I will make sure you get on a ship."
"What if I want to stay?"
"You can't they will hunt you down and find you."
"Then come with me."
"I can't leave my family, not without saying goodbye."
"Then head back and we can do that."
"If I head back they might still be there. After I embarrassed them they probably brought more with them. I can't do that to my parents or my siblings. They'll kill them."
"Forget I said it then. It was just a errant thought." Leigh stopped Shade and got down. Leo followed suit and kept the horse between the two of them.
"You don't even know me other than I saved you and I'm also a mage. Why would you want me to stay with you?"
"Those Templars did not stand a chance against you. It was like their abilities did not work on your magic. Your a handy person to be around when Templars come calling."
"So you want me around just to protect you?"
"Not just to do that, I kinda like having you around. You are smart, capable and sexy."
"So if I was ugly you would not be asking me to stick around?"
"Maker's breath woman, why does everything have to be a fight with you? I can be sincere when I want to be. I'm not lecherous all the time you know."
"Could have fooled me with all the pawing you have been doing." Leo halted his walk and stared at the ground. He clenched his hands into fists and tried to fight his annoyance with her.
"No wonder none of the boys in your town want you. Your just a frigid tease!"
"I am not!"
"Could have fooled me." He knew using her words against her was low, but he had enough. Not even the girls in the Tower ran this hot and cold. "I am choosy with who I have slept with thank you. You haven't lived like I have. You were born free. You have never had to suffer under the Templars' hands. You have never been thrown in solitary confinement with your only companion being a cat. So you have no right to judge how I am. I have to take pleasure where I can, because I don't know if the next time might be my last. Mages that live to a rip old age normally take the abuses in stride and don't make waves. They have resigned themselves to their fate. I can't do that. I want a life. I want freedom. You have that, your free, you have parents that would fight to keep you safe. My father was glad to be rid of me, he was the one who turned me in to the Templars. You have no idea how jealous I am of you." Leigh's eyes brimmed with tears and she went to reach for him hand, but Leo pulled it away. "Just forget it. I don't need your help, go back home to your perfect life and forget you ever met me." He stormed by her and Shade heading back the way they had came. Leigh watched him go not sure what to do. The sound of him shooting lightning at a tree made her jump and curse. She leaned her head on Shade's neck and sighed.
"What should I do girl? If I let him go he will get himself into trouble and if I go after him he might just fry me. Ugh, I will never understand why men are so infuriating." The filly nudged her in the direction the mage had stormed off in. Leigh looked into the horse's yellow eyes and sighed. "Your right, I am the one who made him mad I need to at least apologize." She hopped up into the saddle and took off after Leo. It did not take her long to find him since he left a trail of burnt trees behind him. "Wait please!" When he did not turn around Leigh jumped off the horse and ran at him. He heard her coming and turned around to tell her off again, but she pounced on him, knocking him over. "I'm sorry."
"For what treating me like I am some lecher or for knocking me over?"
"Both. Your right I have no idea what you have been through and I'm not use to having any man around me other than my brother and my father. Cullen doesn't count because he is as bad at this as I am."
"I'll forgive you if you do something for me."
"Anything."
"Be careful what you say Dove I might hold you to it. First I need you to get off of me and help me up. The rocks from the road are sticking me in places that are not very comfortable." Leigh stood up and hauled him to his feet. "And secondly I would like a kiss."
"If you want me to kiss where it hurts forget it." She stuck her tongue out at him to let him know she was kidding. She soon found that was a mistake when his lips collided with hers. This kiss was not gentle and neither were his hands as they roughly pressed her against him. He pulled his head away only a fraction to gulp a breath of air.
"Maker you drive me crazy."
"In a good way or a bad way?"
"Both, I am trying to be a gentleman, but I don't know how long I am going to be able to hold back."
"I'd hate to see what you would be like when you lose control. I guess my clothes would be in trouble." Leo growled and gave her another bruising kiss.
"You would be in trouble if I lose control not just your clothes."
"Oh you say such sweet things." Leo snorted a laugh and pulled her up in a tight hug.
"No wonder you drive me insane Dove, you are just like me. Sarcastic as hell."
"Maker help the world."
"I was thinking the same thing. Now shall we head to Gwaren."
"I think we should, just keep you eyes open for a place for us to rest. You got sleep last night I did not."
"Only by a few hours. We need to find a building to sleep in. It will be safer."
"I agree. I would love to find a place with a bed and a tub."
"I can get behind that thought."
"Your doing it again."
"Yes, yes I am. I told you I am at the end of my control when it comes to you."
"Come on let's get going before something else happens to us..." Leo put his hand over her mouth before she could list things that could happen to them.
"Don't say it or even think about anything. We have already dealt with bandits and wolves. I am not tempting anything else to come get us." She nodded her head and gently took the hand that covered her mouth.
"We should walk and save Shade if we need a quick escape. I don't want to overtire her."
"You know better than I about farm animals. I know cats and that is about it."
"That explains a lot."
"What?"
"Cats are aloof and only show affection when they want something, just like you."
"Ouch, take the knife out of my heart. I bet your a dog person."
"I would be if we had one."
"If you never had one how do you know your a dog person?"
"We had one when I was very young. He was my father's before he and my mother married. He died protecting my father from a bear when we first came to Lothering. I have a few good memories of him. I think my father is afraid to get another dog because of what happened to him."
"See this is why cats are better they have nine lives."
"Which life are you on?"
"I have escaped five times from the tower so I am on my fifth one right now. Four more to go right?"
"Well if I have anything to do about it you will keep the rest of your lives."
"Is that a promise Dove?"
"It's a promise." The rest of the day they walked in relative silence. Leo felt her hand entwine with his. He felt the callouses on her thumb and pointer finger. He had about the same callouses from his mage's staff, but hers seemed to be from using the evil looking daggers that hung from her belt. He hoped to never be on the receiving of those things. They traveled til the the sun set. Their hope of finding a structure to sleep was dashed so they decided to find shelter in a cluster of oak trees. Leo let her sleep first since Leigh looked like she was ready to fall over from exhaustion. He watched her sleep wondering how she fairs in the Fade. He had only run across a few demons in the Fade. He had been lucky since one of the spirits he had run into marked him with a symbol on his head, demons gave him a wide berth. It was this spirit who first told him he was a healer and that he was one day going to be important. He was twelve and thought she was crazy. Sitting here free told him that maybe she had been a little bit right. Leo shook his head and settled himself against the tree to keep watch. They had been lucky so far with the weather staying mild, but luck was about to run out.