Chapter 17
We found the caravan late the next morning, disturbingly close to the bandits' cave. It had been another sleepless night for me, watching over Layne as she slept fitfully on the stone floor of the cave for a few hours before dawn. We'd taken advantage of the water supply to wash the blood off ourselves, then raided the bandits' supplies for any foodstuffs and found some unidentifiable jerky that hadn't smelled like poison that had made a suitable breakfast. Then, tired and grumpy, we'd set out to find the others.
Well, I was tired and grumpy. Layne had gotten to sleep. I was too worried about a scouting patrol or something returning in the night, so I'd spent half the night pacing and the other half dragging the bodies away from the water so they wouldn't bleed in the reservoir and pollute it.
Honestly, at this point it was beginning to feel like I'd never get to actually sleep again. You know, really get settled and get a few good hours of rest. But, that went with the territory, I guess. I mean, really, who needs sleep anyway? I'd read once that the only reason humans actually slept at night was because we get tired. If there were a better way, some kind of meditation where you remain fully alert, I don't think anyone would ever sleep again. Because, realistically, we spend nearly half our lives sleeping. Let that shit sink in. Fifty goddamned percent of our lives, spent unconscious. Imagine what we could accomplish with that time!
I stopped and blinked a few times, giving my head a little shake. Behind me Layne halted, too, my sudden cessation of movement making her almost walk into me. She was on guard instantly, though, her hand drifting to her sword as she looked frantically around.
"What is it? What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing that a long nap won't solve," I mumbled, starting to walk again as I continued to mutter. "Or a bottle of scotch… scotch solves everything… I miss my dog…"
Apparently, the road we'd left the caravan on had done some winding through the craggy peaks, judging from their position in relation to the cave. The man leading the front wagon had stood up on his seat as soon as he spotted us, shouting something behind him and causing the whole caravan to stop.
I didn't even bother trying to stifle my yawn as we approached the caravan, a small crowd gathering to greet us. Mikhail stepped to the forefront, looking us up and down with a concerned expression. I couldn't blame him, honestly. I'm sure that in the daylight we looked like shit.
Layne was doing far better than me, only having walked away with some minor scratches and bruising. Her armor had taken a beating though, and would need mending from an actual smith. Not that I couldn't do small field repairs but there were a few deep rents that I doubted I'd be able to do much more than patch with duct tape and foul language.
Wait.
We didn't have duct tape.
Scratch that.
I'm sure I looked a whole lot worse, though. My last shirt was basically rags at this point. There were holes in my jeans. I had discovered when we'd washed that I was covered in cuts and bruises from the brutal melee in the caverns where I'd killed a lot of people.
I blinked a few times, correcting myself.
Not people. Bandits.
Bandits were bad. I was allowed to kill bandits.
It was an important distinction to make.
Or Grima would get mad at me.
I blinked again.
Raven.
Raven would get mad at me.
"You have returned," Mikhail said slowly. "You left without warning. We were concerned."
"Don't be," I said, blinking a few more times and tilting my head slightly to the left. "Bandits are all dead. I mean I'm sure there's a few stragglers like extra patrols we didn't account for but they'll be easy pickings with the main group dead. Did I mention that part?"
"Er… yes," Mikhail nodded. "Are you… well?"
"Tired," I sighed, tilting my head to the right now. "Very, very tired. If you don't need me for anything, I'm crawling into the back of my wagon and passing out for a few hours. Questions can be fielded to Layne. Ben go sleep now."
With that I shuffled past the surprised crowd of nomads, leaving a very confused Layne on the spot. I didn't care. All I wanted was to find those familiar, beautiful camels, maybe kiss Raven a few times, then pass the fuck out.
The camels were only beautiful because they meant wagon.
Unsightly creatures, otherwise.
Allowing myself to relax enough to go into a light haze I shuffled through the rows of wagons, looking for the familiar one that would mean rest. Of course, Anna and Raven were still tagging along at the end of the procession, but at least it wasn't a particularly big group.
A few nomads asked me some questions, or just outright thanked me for helping them, but it all went right over my head as I zeroed in on those beautiful, hideous visages of the camels.
Anna stood up on her perch, smiling brightly.
"Ben! We were so worried about… by the gods, what happened to you!?"
I stopped, blinking up at her as I struggled to comprehend what she'd just asked.
"Bandits," I said simply.
I glared at the wagon, remembering suddenly that this wasn't Anna's wagon, it was Anna's. Anna's had a canvas cover over the entire bed. Anna's was open to the sun. I turned, looking up to where Deneia was sitting on the shady spot next to Anna.
"You. Move or I move you," I growled.
She quirked a brow and crossed her arms. This was enough resistance for me, and I clambered up onto the lip of the wagon. Ignoring her shouts of protest, which I'm sure were words I just wasn't processing right now, I grabbed Deneia by the upper arm and flung her behind me off the wagon and into the dirt. Then I parked my ass where she had been, got comfortable, and closed my eyes with a satisfied little hum.
"You bastard!" Deneia screeched.
"Raven? Kill her please," I yawned, not opening my eyes.
There was a throaty chuckle from behind me as Raven wrapped her arms around me, resting her chin on my shoulder.
"Aren't we supposed to be trying not to kill anyone?" she whispered in my ear.
"Maim her?" I offered instead.
"I'm standing right here!" Deneia shouted.
"Then I suggest you get in the cart, dear, or we'll end up leaving you here," Raven all but purred.
I could practically hear the little self-satisfied smirk on her face. Whatever Deneia had done while I'd been gone had pissed Raven off royally.
Clearly deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, I heard Deneia slink off towards the back of the cart, muttering obscenities. Raven shifted on my shoulder, giving me a once-over, before settling against me again.
"You look like hell," she commented lightly.
"Sleepy," I mumbled.
She gave a small laugh, pecking me on the cheek and shifting so I could rest against her. I took the hint, leaning back against her soft warmth with another satisfied hum, Raven giving another little chuckle. With a lurch, the cart began to move again and I drifted into that hazy realm of half-sleep, Raven warming my back as I hoped that Layne had given the nomads directions to the water source.
That evening the caravan set up camp in the killing ground I'd made the cave opening into the night before. The mood was high, despite having to dispose of a number of mutilated corpses, and Layne and I were being hailed as heroes.
Well, Layne was. I think once she'd told them about how I'd handled the situation that they collectively became a little scared of me.
Raven had also told me about how she had defended the caravan from a scouting party the previous evening, but had been evasively scant on the details. I'd been too tired to press her, but had made a mental note to find out more later.
Rubbing at my tired eyes, I watched the nomads jovially go about making camp outside the caves from my perch atop Anna's wagon. Unfortunately, even with Raven as a pillow, I hadn't been able to steal more than a few hours of broken rest. I felt better, but only marginally. At least the ground wasn't tilting at odd angles anymore, though. Baby steps, and all that.
I glanced over to my right, Anna and Raven laughing together as they set up the tent they shared. I frowned as Raven made some casual physical contact, Anna grinning and blushing lightly as the older woman stroked her arm.
I put it up to my brain being tired and playing tricks on me.
Layne and Sune were lingering around the wagon, feeding the camels and watering their pegasai. I felt bad for the two creatures; even though we had plenty of water for them now, I'd still given explicit orders that they not be fed; we'd be pushing things close enough just trying to ration the feed for the camels properly. Now, I was no vet, but I didn't think Sune's mount would last much more than a few days. Layne's seemed stronger, though, but it was still hard to tell.
Deneia, for her part, had disappeared as soon as we'd stopped. She was off in the camp somewhere, which suited me fine. The little bitch had been moody and huffy all afternoon, like she wasn't still alive thanks to my very slim good graces. Her, I was looking forward to being rid of, and I wasn't afraid of admitting it. She was still young, full of that naive belief that the world was somehow 'fair'. It made me sick.
The nomads, for their part, were busy filling every container they owned from the underground spring. Some were even beginning to set up bathing tubs, the children excitedly hovering around at the idea of getting to actually sit in water.
I gave a small grin as I looked out over the camp idly, wondering if anyone would have a weapon I could pilfer before we left. It was clear to me that the nomads would be staying here for some time. Probably not long, given the general lack of resources aside from water, but too long for my taste. We'd wasted enough time in the desert as it was, and, for good or ill, I was itching to get on to the capital.
My gaze was drawn back to the girls as Anna gave another odd, high-pitched giggle. I had to remind myself that this wasn't unusual, given the fact that she was still, technically, quite young. It was a telling kind of giggle, though, and did make me think that maybe there was some nice nomad bachelor who had caught her eye. It wouldn't surprise me to find Raven playing matchmaker, especially if she still had all of Robin's memories; that had always been one of the tactician's favorite pass-times. I'd have to put my foot down if Raven started making 'relationship charts', too, though; it had been creepy enough when Robin had done it…
"What's up with those two?" I asked Sune, nodding towards the pair.
She glanced over, before looking back to me with an apologetic expression.
"I am sorry, milord, but I am unaware," she said. "All I know is that they were up late last night talking. Shall I make an inquiry?"
"It's fine, I was just curious," I sighed.
Sune was beginning to grate on me, too, but for different reasons than Deneia. Ever since Layne and I had returned, the Chon'sinian expat seemed to be determined to 'prove' herself to me. Admittedly, Layne had acquitted herself admirably in the fight the previous evening and I was being a little nicer to her, but Sune hadn't struck me as the brown-nosing type. Maybe she was worried that, if she didn't prove herself, we'd leave her behind?
I watched as Raven lit the cooking fire out front of the little tent with a small flourish of her hand, and Anna clapped appreciatively. Then the redhead said something that actually made Raven blush, and my eyebrows crept upwards.
Even I hadn't made Raven blush yet.
"Must be a woman thing…" I muttered to myself.
"What was that, milord?" Sune asked.
"Nothing," I said, glancing up. "Layne! You're taking second watch. Get some rest, I'll wake you later."
The Plegian woman jumped a little when I addressed her, blinking in confusion before comprehension dawned and she nodded.
"I will take first watch," Sune offered.
"No, I will take first watch," I told her. "If Layne wants to split her shift with you, fine, that's her business. Bring the cart over near the tent when the camels are done eating."
With that, I slid off the cart and headed towards the tent. I winced as I hit the ground, the pain and stiffness of too many sleepless nights combined with the battle the previous evening beginning to catch up with me. I shook it off, making for the tent.
Anna was already setting up a pot, no doubt to make a stew of pegasus jerky, travelling rye and the curry spice that Raven had bought back in town, and I was feeling a bit peckish anyway. As I approached, Raven looked up with a broad smile.
"What's got you all smiley?" I asked with a small grin of my own.
"Can't I be happy to see you?" she asked.
I stopped short, quirking a brow, my grin instantly dropping as alarm bells started ringing in my head.
"That question is equivalent to 'we need to talk'," I said slowly. "It never ends well."
Anna and Raven exchanged a glance, and I sighed and ran a hand down my face.
"If you wanted to change our destination you could have at least waited for me to get back," I said. "I mean, I don't really care where we go, but I would like to feel like I'm a part of the decision making process. And don't we have a contract to deliver that water?"
"Er, no, we're still going to the capital," Anna said awkwardly. "It's… uh… just that…"
"Anna and I had sex and I liked it so I intend to keep doing it if she'll let me," Raven blurted out.
…
has stopped responding.
…
"Okay," I eventually managed when my brain was finished blue-screening. "I was… admittedly not expecting that."
"Oh gods," Anna groaned, blushing bright red as she buried her face in her hands.
Raven was blushing a little, too, but stood her ground and looked at me with an unashamed expression.
"Was… was she better than me?" I asked with a grin.
This made Raven laugh, and with a grin of her own she sauntered up to me and wrapped her arms around the back of my neck, planting a kiss on my lips.
"She is still young," she laughed. "Perhaps with time and practice…"
"Oh gods!" Anna repeated with more desperation.
"Huh, funny, that's exactly how you sounded-" Raven started.
"Do! Not! Finish! That! Sentence!" Anna pleaded.
"Real talk, am I being replaced?" I asked Raven.
"I hadn't intended on replacing you, no," she chuckled.
"So this is, what, some kind of weird open relationship?" I enquired.
Raven gave me possibly the most confident, arousing grin I'd ever seen on any being, human or otherwise, before she answered.
"I am a former god," she said. "I'd say that entitles me to more than one consort."
"Okie dokie," I said slowly. "So… we're sharing?"
"I guess so," Raven shrugged against me.
"Oh gods…" Anna moaned.
"This got weird," I sighed. "Let's just eat for now. We can figure this shit out some other time. Preferably when I'm a little more rested and… coherent."
"I like you when you're tired, though," Raven chuckled, placing another kiss on my lips before drawing back. "It makes you more agreeable."
"And grouchy," I added.
"Not to us," Raven winked.
"Yeah, well, I like you two," I shrugged.
"And I… like you, too?" Anna said through her hands.
"I'd be more likely to believe that if you hadn't phrased it as a question," I snorted.
The three of us settled around the fire, laughing and joking and teasing Anna, the blushing redhead serving out bowls of thin gruel with partially rehydrated pegasus jerky in it to us, before unveiling a small stack of flatbreads she had allegedly traded some spices for. Before long Layne and Sune joined us with the wagon, the other two women joining us around the fire, and I suddenly found myself surrounded by estrogen. Not that I was complaining, I was just acutely aware of the lack of any other male company.
Deneia, for whatever reason, didn't deign to join us. Which was, honestly, no skin off my nose. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if, when we eventually split off from the nomads, she stayed with them.
Again, no skin off my nose. One less mouth to feed.
That evening, after an uneventful guard shift, I'd kicked (gently, she was growing on me, after all) Layne awake for her turn at the night watch. I found myself yawning as I shuffled back towards the embers of the fire we'd all shared earlier. Layne was already perched in her position atop the wagon, her sword drawn and laying across her lap ass he scanned the surrounding area. I'd give her this, she was professional, at least.
I shivered, tightening my jacket around myself a little more as I hunkered down near the embers. They still gave off a little warmth, but it was goddamned cold, and I could see my breath. Layne had her bedroll wrapped around her like a blanket, Sune was bundled up in her own bedroll with the remaining pegasai and the camels, and Raven and Anna were no doubt canoodling in the tent. Again, I hadn't seen Deneia, but the caves offered shelter that more than a few of the nomads had chosen to make use of, so I figured she was probably in there. I debated the idea of heading into the caves for some warmth myself, but found myself too lazy to bother.
As I began nodding off, sitting next to the remains of the fire, I heard a sound behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see Raven kneeling outside the tent, illuminated by moonlight, smiling at me.
"Come here," she said.
Tired as I was, I obeyed, coming up on my knees and shuffling over to her. She smiled, genuinely smiled, at me, stroking my now-bearded cheek for a moment before gently kissing me.
"Come," she repeated.
Raven then turned, disappearing back into the tent. I knelt there in confusion for a moment, wondering what she was playing at. I'd told her earlier during dinner, in no uncertain terms and much to the amusing disgust of the others sharing the fire with us, that I was far too tired to get it up for her tonight. She hadn't phrased it as an order, but as an invitation…
Deciding I had nothing to lose finding out what was going on, I gingerly crawled into the tent.
Raven and Anna sat, a decent amount of space between the pair, on the woven blankets that the nomads had supplied us with as bedding. Anna was blushing, but she wasn't hiding her face this time, and Raven was just grinning expectantly. Then the tent flap closed behind me, and the girls were reduced to mere outlines.
"If you're about to suggest a three-way, I'm still way too tired," I warned them. "And no, I can't believe I just said that, either."
Raven chuckled a little as Anna spluttered, no doubt blushing in the intimate darkness of the tent. Instead of answering, the former goddess reached up and stroked my face again for a moment, before resting her forehead against mine and closing her eyes.
"You work so hard," she whispered. "For us. For me. You ask nothing."
"I get to fuck a goddess, I wouldn't say that's nothing," I pointed out.
Raven grinned, pulling back and shaking her head.
"You are not my servant," she said, her voice still soft. "You may ask to put yourself first. We will not hold it against you."
"We?" I repeated, glancing at Anna.
"I… uh… feel like I've been a little hard on you," she mumbled. "I'm sorry."
Raven smiled again, reaching up and pulling the coat off my shoulders. Anna came forward, her movements nervous and jerky, but she managed to assist Raven in stripping me of the garment. Then they began to pull off my shirt, again working together.
"Still too tired for a three-way," I reminded them as my shirt cleared my head.
"So sleep," Raven shushed me. "That's why we've brought you in here."
"To sleep?" I repeated dumbly.
"Yeah, I don't like you that much," Anna said, her tone joking.
The two women pulled me down with them, and I suddenly found myself very comfortably nestled between them. Another of the nomad blankets was pulled over us, and Raven sighed as she took her favorite position, resting her head atop my chest as she curled around me. Anna watched this, and after taking a deep breath moved to imitate the other woman. It was an almost ethereally intimate moment, both of them laying against me, warming my tired and sore body with their own, Raven gently tracing her fingers against my chest.
"Uh," I said eloquently.
"Shh, just rest," Raven said softly. "Sleep. You've earned this reward. So rest."
I glanced down at Anna, who blushed and looked away.
"You heard her," she mumbled into my chest.
"Just for tonight, though?" I asked, my eyelids already growing heavy.
"My consort deserves better than sleeping out in the cold," Raven chuckled. "They both do. My bed is yours."
"Uh… what she said… I guess…" Anna agreed, somewhat awkwardly.
I smiled, letting my eyes finally drift closed.
And so, I had my first good night's sleep since arriving in the desert. No sex, no expectations, no negativity. Just cuddling.
Just rest.
I hadn't realized at the time just how much I'd needed it until I woke the next morning.
Unfortunately, despite the pleasing way I'd gone to sleep, waking was utter hell.
"Oh god…" I wheezed as I opened my eyes. "I hurt. Everything hurts. Why? What did I do to deserve this…? Oh. Wait. That's right…"
I couldn't move. I was so sore after everything that had been happening the last few days that I legit couldn't even sit up.
Sitting at my shoulder, Raven chuckled and brushed her fingers across my forehead. Anna was nowhere to be seen in the tent, but judging from Raven's state we were in no hurry or anything. She was sitting, one knee up with her chin propped on it, hand resting on her shin as the other stroked my head. At least she was fully dressed this time.
"How long was I out?" I asked.
"Almost all day," Raven said softly. "You looked like you needed the rest, so we let you sleep."
I groaned, struggling to sit up, but she stopped me with a hand on my chest.
"Just rest," she told me.
"We cannot lose an entire day because I'm tired," I told her.
Despite my protests, though, I let her push me down.
"And we cannot lose you because of your pig-headedness," Raven chuckled.
As she spoke, she moved her hand back to resume stroking my head, softly running the backs of her knuckles against my jaw with the movement.
"You're really being cuddly lately," I said. "Anna have that much of an effect on you?"
"I am learning that it feels good to physically express my feelings," Raven said.
"Welcome to humanity," I sighed. "Speaking of, where is Anna, anyway?"
"She went to talk to the nomads," Raven explained. "It appeared that they were going to camp here for a few days, at the least. She wanted to…"
Raven trailed off as the tent opened, the particular redhead in question stepping in with an odd little wooden container in her hands. She stopped, though, when she realized we were both looking up at her.
"Good morning," I said evenly. "Can you distract Raven? I need to get up."
"You need to rest," Anna huffed.
She entered the tent properly, kneeling down at my shoulder opposite Raven. I rolled my eyes, huffing.
"Ah. A conspiracy, I see," I said. "I'm on to your games!"
"Yes, how dare we wish to ensure you remain alive to spend time with us?" Raven drawled sarcastically.
Anna glanced down at me, frowning as she studied my bare torso. I glanced down, too, sucking a breath through my teeth. It hadn't felt so bad at the time, but now I was covered in some pretty nasty looking purple and yellow bruises. At least the cuts all seemed to be scabbing over nicely, none angry and red with infection. A small miracle, that. Probably thanks to washing myself off as soon as the fighting was done.
Suddenly, I really began to miss travelling with a dedicated healer.
"Did you manage to come to an agreement with Mikhail?" Raven asked over top of me.
"No," Anna sighed, glancing up. "I told him the offer stands, but now that they've found water they want to take the time to rest and recover a little before anything else."
"Hmm, imagine that," Raven muttered without looking at me.
"I told him the offer stands, though," Anna went on, grinning. "He promised to come find me in the capital if the tribe decides to work with my family."
"Well, that's promising, at least," Raven smiled. "So, what is in the box?"
Anna perked up, grinning a little herself.
"I traded some information to get this," she explained. "Some of the women of the tribe offered it to me in exchange for telling them how to make Ylissean soap."
As she spoke she held the little wooden box up to the light. It was nothing special, seemingly carved from a single chunk of wood except for the lid. Unadorned, and even untreated, it was utterly unassuming.
And just looking at it sent a chill up my spine, my finely honed danger senses screaming a warning at me.
"Okay. But what is it?" I asked slowly.
"It's a healing balm," she said brightly, ignorant of my aprehension. "A native recipe. They said it would help with the cuts and bruises, and before you freak out, I already tested it on Layne, and she's fine."
I closed my mouth, protest dying on my lips as I settled for frowning at this thoughtfulness. Raven chuckled again.
"That's very thoughtful of you," she said.
"Yeah, well, I don't want Ben to think I'm trying to muscle in on his territory or something like that," Anna said, devolving into embarrassed mumbling as she looked away. "With… you, I mean. So it's like a peace offering. And, like I said, I do kinda like him, too, and I don't want to see him suffer, and… ugh…"
"If you are trying to kill me with cuteness, you are succeeding," I deadpanned. "Just… slop some of that stuff on me so I can get up, please. Did they say it works on muscle pain, too?"
Anna perked up again, nodding.
"It's supposed to be good for everything," she said. "It's made from various desert herbs and flowers, so it's rare to come across this much. They said it was also partly a reward for all the help we've given them lately."
Now back in merchant-mode, in comfortable territory again, Anna brightened considerably. I sighed through my nose as she lifted the lid of the container, revealing a mass of pale green paste.
"Is it gonna hurt?" I asked.
"Layne didn't have any problems with it, you big baby," Anna laughed.
She slipped her fingers into the goo, and without any further warning, began to slather it across my shoulder-
"DEAR SWEET MOTHER OF FUCK!" I shouted.
I shot into a sitting position as Anna rubbed the salve into one of the cuts on my arm, the white-hot burning sensation such a shock I almost shot to my feet. Anna practically leapt back from me, and Raven was laughing so hard she had fallen onto her back. I blinked, before hissing at the persistent burning ache I felt in the cut. The very familiar persistent, burning ache.
The salve was fucking Plegian Tiger Balm.
Once again, my finely-honed danger senses had been right on the money.
"Do not put that on any more cuts!" I warned Anna.
"But they said it would help!" she insisted.
Raven sat up, chuckling and wiping tears from her eyes. She then grabbed me, and with surprising strength forced me down onto my back again.
"I'll hold him down," she said, her voice still tinged with laughter.
"Conspiracy!" I shouted. "I call shenanigans! Dammit, Raven, how did you get so strong- no! Not there, there's another- AGH! ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO- STOP, DAMMIT, THAT HURTS- OW! OW-OW-OW-OW!"
At this point, Raven and Anna were both in hysterics as the redhead 'treated' my injuries and the former goddess held me down. It got so bad I began to kick my legs, ineffectually, I might add. At one point Sune stuck her head into the tent with a worried expression on her face, but ignored my cries for help and left just as quickly. She probably thought it was some kind of weird courtship ritual…
By the end we were all gasping for breath and covered in sweat. Me, from the pain. The girls, from the laughing.
"I hate you," I groaned. "I hate you both."
"No you don't," Raven chuckled, leaning down to kiss me on the forehead. "Just be grateful you don't have anything on your back."
"I'm really sorry," Anna said, utterly unapologetic. "I guess Layne didn't have any cuts."
"Well, at the very least I feel like I can move again," I said, slowly pushing myself up. "Let's break camp and start heading out."
"Aw, we can't even take one day?" Anna whined, closing the box and setting it aside with the rest of the luggage.
I stopped halfway to reaching for my shirt, casting a sideways glance at the redhead.
"Are you sure you're an Anna?" I asked.
She just poked her tongue out at me, and I rolled my eyes as I pulled on my shirt.
"We can't dawdle," I reminded them. "That water won't keep forever."
"It's water, it doesn't go bad," Anna said.
"It's unpurified water, and it could end up contaminated and unpotable," I argued.
"As much as I would like to rest, he is right," Raven sighed. "We should make ready to leave."
"Fine," Anna huffed.
I came up on my knees, ready to crawl out of the tent, but paused and turned back to look at Anna.
"Thank you for the salve," I told her. "Even though it hurt like a bitch, I do feel better."
"Well, you're welcome," Anna mumbled, blushing a little as she fiddled with the container.
"Would you like me to leave you two alone?" Raven chuckled.
"No, I'd like you to come help me find out what the pegasus riders are planning to do. Come on," I deadpanned.
"Why do you need me?" she asked, following me out.
"Because you have tits and a vag and I don't," I explained slowly. "I figure it'll make them more comfortable, more likely to talk agreeably."
"You say the sweetest things," she said, her voice sickly sweet.
"I regret teaching you sarcasm," I sighed as we started walking.
"I would have found it in Robin's memories sooner or later," she chuckled.
As she spoke she came alongside me, lacing her fingers with my own as we walked. I glanced down at where our hands were connected, but Raven kept looking forward without taking any notice.
We found the pegasus rider trio nearby, clustered around what I'd learned was Sune's pegasus. The Chon'sinian woman wore a sad look on her face as she stroked the beast's neck, Layne inspecting the wings beneath the feathers while Deneia watched on impassively. The pegasus itself was panting, something I didn't even know horses or pegasai could do. There were flecks of foam at the corners of the creature's mouth, too, which was most assuredly not a good sign. As we neared, Raven dropped her grip on my hand, recognizing now was serious time.
"Ladies," I said in greeting.
The three of them looked up, Deneia looking away after only a few seconds with an obvious pout.
"Milord," Sune bowed.
"Good afternoon, sir," Layne nodded from beneath the pegasus' wing. "You look much better today."
"Thank you," I nodded. "What's the problem?"
"My… mount is exhausted," Sune said forlornly. "I fear she will no longer be able to travel."
"Guess we'll have to kill this one, too, huh?" Deneia muttered.
"Deneia, mind your tongue!" Layne snapped.
"While she is right, I don't approve of how she said it," I said, glaring at Deneia for a moment before looking back to Sune. "You knew that this was coming when you threw in with us."
The woman nodded, sighing once.
"I know," she said. "I have not had her as long as the others, but… this still saddens me."
"Well, give me your sword, and I'll make it quick," I said.
Sune drew her sword slowly, looking at it for a moment. In a flurry of motion she spun, slashing upwards from beneath into her mount's throat in perfect Chon'sinian form.
Given how thick a pegasus' neck was she didn't cut all the way through, but she did sever all the important arteries, and in moments there was a sizeable puddle of blood. Layne yelped and leapt away as the pegasus beat its wings, and Deneia went pale as she backed up. Raven and I exchanged a glance as Sune knelt in the blood next to her fallen mount, stroking it's muzzle as the creature's last spasms of life played out and its eyes darkened.
"Sune…" Layne said tentatively.
"Well. That was… intense," I commented.
"She was my mount," Sune said, without looking up from the dead pegasus. "My responsibility. I thank you for your kindness, though, Sir Ben."
Deneia took another step back, shaking her head.
"Insane," she muttered, before looking around at all of us and speaking louder. "You're all insane. Absolutely. Utterly. Insane."
"Well, that's not very nice," I huffed.
"You're the worst of the lot," she said, her voice oddly calm. "You play at being this… this… man with a plan, but you're just mad, and you're dragging us all down with you."
"Deneia!" Layne hissed in warning, rounding on the younger girl.
"No! No, I won't stay silent any longer!" Deneia protested, actually stomping her foot for emphasis. "You can all go along with this insanity, but I'm not. I'm out. I'm staying with the nomads."
She took another step back, watching as if waiting for one of us to protest. She was sorely disappointed, as Sune didn't even look up, and Layne watched with a neutral expression. When she looked at me, Raven just smiled, and I quirked my brows up as if asking what she was waiting for. Without another word she spun, marching off back to the nomad camp.
"Well, that's one down," I muttered to Raven.
"Yes, but I am quite fond of the other two," she responded under her breath. "Like pets, you know?"
"God damn you are scary," I snickered. "I love it."
We ended up wasting a few more hours while the nomads butchered the pegasus, acquiring a fairly decent share of the meat for our own travels. Many of the nomad women now wore pegasus feathers in their hair, or had taken to decorating their own wagons with them. It was kind of weird to me, but, hey, outsider.
As I was getting the last of our meagre supplies loaded onto the back of Anna's wagon the redhead approached where Raven was loitering atop the barrels, and I wiped the sweat from my brow with the back of my hand.
"I'm going to speak to Mikhail one last time," she said. "I'll be fast, I just want to make sure he knows the contact protocols for my family if he can't find me in the capital."
As she spoke, Anna pulled the desert robes she'd left sitting on the driver's seat back on over her clothes. She jumped a little when the camels began to hoot and honk at her.
"What's up with them?" she asked.
"Probably just eager to be back on the road," I shrugged. "I know I am."
"I'll only be a few minutes," she promised.
She had to jump aside as one of the camels swung its head around at her, backing up a few steps as Raven and I chuckled. With a huff, she began to pet the creature like someone would a dog.
"I'll be right back, be patient," Anna admonished the camel.
With that, she headed back towards the nomad camp, the camels both hooting after her, pulling ineffectually at their restraints against the cart.
"What is with the camels?" Raven asked, swaying as the cart jerked a little.
I grinned as I rounded the front of the cart, moving to the straps that held the camels in place.
"I snuck some herbs that Mikhail gave me into Anna's pocket," I explained. "Apparently the local camels go apeshit for the stuff."
"Why?" Raven laughed.
I looked up at her, completely innocently, as I tugged the restraints free from the backs of the creatures, and they sped off after Anna.
"Because it's funny?" I shrugged.
Anna gave a blood-curdling scream as the camels caught up with her, and Raven and I burst into laughter as the pair of them began trying to fit their entire faces into the pockets of her robes. Anna, for her part, looked equal parts terrified and annoyed.
I glanced up at where Raven was now leaning over the edge of the cart, and reached up to kiss her.
"Also, I needed to assert my dominance in the hierarchy," I added with a grin. "I'm claiming Prime Consort. Pecking order, baby."
AN: I would like to remind everybody that my stories update on a 'when it happens' basis right now due to health problems. You can keep up more frequently on (P)atreon for only a buck, which makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
Thanks for reading, and Nagaspeed!