11. Colt

They set out early the next morning while it was still dark. Rem had managed to get them two more horses so they each had their own. While Colt was more comfortable in the saddle—and knew the horse was less strained with only one rider—he was slightly disappointed he didn't get to feel Owen next to him, and he missed his warmth as they made their way along the narrow bridle path.

For a while, they led the horses away from Glades and towards the region of Calwick, Rem in the lead. When Clove ran up alongside their horses, Colt tensed as he looked down at her. He still hadn't gotten used to having a wolf bound into his space unannounced.

As they rode along the southern backroad, the cold breeze blew in, bringing fluffy white clouds across the blue sky. Fresh dew glittered over the grass and rocks, and the path wove in and out of copses of trees until they came into a more open area, where some of the trees had roots that sprawled across the path.

By noon, they stopped to rest and eat, and afterward, Colt took the chance to try out his new bow, which he preferred to use over the sword he still carried. Swords weren't a common weapon used by folk like himself, but rather by those who were wealthy. He supposed this was a good thing while traveling into Calwick's region. While swords and fighting guilds were becoming a thing of the past, other modernizations were beginning to take over. Colt had heard talk of electric lights and weapons called firearms. Such a thing acted as a bow, but was held with one hand, and had much more power. He'd first heard them spoken of while he was still living in Avathon, over a decade ago.

After breaking his new bow in, Colt rolled his shoulders and made his way back to Owen and Brom, who were both sparring together in the field.

Good, Owen needs to be able to defend himself too.

Owen used his dagger against Brom's knife, and Brom mostly taught him to dodge and maneuver out of the way. When Owen started using bursts of his Essence to make Brom stagger, Colt rushed up to him.

"What are you doing?" Colt asked, eyes wide as he searched for Rem. He found the man with his horse, checking its hooves.

"Sparring," Gilda said, coming up beside him. "Why do you look so nervous?"

"Because Rem doesn't know you're both Astran, and Owen is using his Essence."

Gilda shook her head. "I'm the one who told him to practice with Brom. He needs to get used to doing it. Besides, Astrans are included in the group of people who travel the Silent Road."

Owen's face softened. "Colt, he already knows we escaped Milarc and that Wielders are after us."

"But he doesn't know what we've done," Colt said, his voice coming out harsher than he intended.

Sighing, Gilda moved away, and when Owen looked up at Colt, the sunlight hit his eyes, and his brown eyes burst with hues of deep amber. Those eyes always crippled him.

"Colt, it's alright," Owen said. "I thought I was using it discreetly, as Gilda told me to do."

Colt licked his dry lips and looked away. "No, it's me. I just know how it looks when you use it." He nodded at Owen. "Don't mind me."

Smiling, Owen readied his stance against Brom again, who had remained poised and silent the whole time. After several more moves, with Owen using his Essence discreetly to trip Brom or wedge his weapon from his hand, they both rested for a moment.

"Why don't you join us, O'Malley?" Brom asked, panting. "Perhaps Gilda too."

"No, I'd rather watch," she said. "I'm confident in my fighting skills. All I need is a fire lit under my ass."

Laughing, Brom nodded, but Colt put down his bow and came forward into their fighting circle. First, Brom taught Colt a few moves using sturdy sticks they'd found on the side of the road. This was much easier for him to learn with, as there was no worry of being injured.

After a while, Owen joined in, going head to head with Colt. The two of them danced around, Colt with his walking stick and Owen with his hand held out. If Rem didn't know he was Astran before, he surely did now, but Gilda was right, Astrans were also aided along the Silent Road, and if this man had a problem with Owen or Gilda, they could easily take care of him. Owen honing his skills was better than keeping Rem in the dark about what he was capable of.

As long as he doesn't know he's Shadowborn. Nobody needs to know that.

When Colt came at Owen with the stick, Owen gripped the weapon in his hands. At first, Colt thought he had him. He'd be able to push Owen away, challenging him, but he was surprised when Owen was able to push him back instead, using his Essence to run him backwards, until Colt staggered back and fell into the dirt with a grunt.

Colt gaped up at Owen with wide eyes. He'd felt the energy from Owen. It had been unnatural in a way, and incredibly strong.

"Sorry." Owen held his hand out, panting, and when Colt took it and let Owen help hoist him up, that spark that often lit his heart when Owen touched him spiraled all the way to his groin instead.

He pushed me down. That shouldn't make me feel so…

"Amazing," came Rem's voice, and Colt glanced over as their guide walked up to them, hands behind his back and Clove at his side. "I'm always fascinated by those smaller than their opponents besting them in combat."

Colt couldn't help the scowl that twisted his face. "He's not small."

Rem smiled crookedly, then nodded. "I meant no offense. Only noting the physical differences. I have observed that those who are… misjudged based on their size, are often the ones to prevail. But no matter. We've lingered much too long here. We should continue along."

As Rem turned away, Colt glanced at Gilda, who gave a smug smile, before they all gathered their things. When Owen let out a breath and staggered forward, Colt put a hand on his shoulder to steady him.

"Alright?" Colt asked.

"Yes," Owen got out. "Just a little weak after all that. The more I use my Essence, the more drained I am after."

His Essence drained him? This worried Colt, and he looked at Owen in concern, his forehead wrinkling.

Owen let out a gentle laugh and said, "It's fine, Colt. Really. I'm already feeling better. It's no different from Brom getting tired wielding that heavy sword of his." Owen winked, and Colt's eyes wandered along Owen's face and hair, down his slender body. He was lean, and he had more hair on his face than the first time they'd met in Emberton.

I'd love to see what other parts of him look like…

He grit his teeth and looked away, his body growing hot. He'd become heated from their fight, and the last thing he needed was for his trousers to tighten in front of his companions. They all mounted their horses and continued along the backroad.

The next three days brought them in and out of forests, the overgrown dirt paths weaving through areas that Rem told them weren't frequented by regional or Legion guards. They saw few people on the road, but when they did, they kept their scarves over their mouths and their hoods low over their heads.

There were times when Rem had them split up if they traveled through villages, and Colt hated the hours of separation between him and Owen, mostly for fear they would lose each other. But every time, they met that evening and either made camp on the road or holed up in a stable or barn that was part of the Silent Road. It helped that they had horses, as the Legion would be looking for fugitives on foot.

While camping in an apple orchard one night, the farmer who allowed them to stay woke them early in the morning to warn them of Legion guards who were asking about them in the nearby village. They packed up their bags and left swiftly, taking their horses along a trail that ran into the backwoods of the Calwick region.

Tensions were mounting with each close call, and Rem began having two of them keep watch each night. On their fifth day riding towards Coopersburgh, they made camp for the evening against the treeline of a forest.

While Owen, Gilda, and Brom prepared the camp, looking for kindling and putting up the tents, Colt made his way to the tall grass in the distance and looked around for game. He spotted two rabbits bounding off in alarm as he walked up, so he laid out two ears of corn and sat a good distance away, waiting. Not long after, a rabbit discovered the corn, and Colt lined his shot, taking the animal out in one fell swoop.

As he went to retrieve it, he heard a bark and spotted Clove running toward the dead animal.

"Hey!" Colt yelled in warning, but then realized Clove had gone after another rabbit that was leaping away. She caught the animal before it ran into the long grass, and then trotted towards Colt and dropped it at his feet.

He looked from the rabbit to her as she sat on her haunches, whining up at him. "Good girl," he said, patting her head, and she got up to her feet.

The rabbits were a good size and would bring them a decent meal to go along with whatever else they had, and the pelts would make good offerings to those who helped them along the Silent Road. Colt picked them up and carried them back to camp, where Brom was finishing setting up his tent. Owen and Gilda had a fire going, and Gilda used her hand to take hold of the flames, using her Essence to spread it farther to the brush within the circle of rocks.

"I want to try," Owen said.

Colt raised an eyebrow and looked over to see Owen spread his hand over the fire, and it spread even faster under the force of his Essence.

"Honestly, Owen, I would never have guessed you'd hidden your power for twenty-two years." Gilda poured some water into one of their pots before holding it over the flames. "It would be even better to make fire." She winked.

"Yeah, then we would never have to worry about being cold," Brom said. He glanced at Colt and nodded. "Catch us some food?"

They all looked at Colt, who set the rabbits down. "Right, I did. Someone want to skin them while I set our tent up?"

"I got it started," Owen said, "but then I saw two baby deer in the field as the sun was setting, and it looked so beautiful, I stopped to ask Gilda if she had anything I could draw on to remember the moment, but none of us have any paper."

Colt's brow furrowed, and he regarded Owen softly in the waning light, admiring his love for nature. It was something Colt could relate to.

Gilda handed Owen the pot and said, "Here, I'll help Colt with the tent."

"I don't need any help," Colt said, as he hammered a stake into the ground that started drooping when he moved to the next stake.

"You sure about that?" Gilda put a hand on her hip. "It's already falling, you oaf."

Reluctantly, Colt let Gilda help him with the tent while Brom skinned the rabbits, and by the time they were done, he was glad for her assistance.

They gutted the rabbits and stuck them over the fire to cook as twilight brushed the sky, giving them little light. Since the vegetable stew was already done, they all sat around the fire eating, while Rem stood nearby. When Clove looked at Colt and whined, he threw her a piece of the meat, and she gobbled it up. Then Owen took a few pieces from his own plate and set them before her.

Colt peered back at Rem, who had brushed his horse down and cleaned its hooves, and was now standing watching the road. The man seemed to fill the air with tension, becoming the killjoy to their little group. Maybe it was because he was older, or maybe it was the constant serious, often arrogant, expression he always held.

"We have plenty over here," Brom called for him.

When Rem turned, Colt groaned inwardly.

Rem was quiet as he sat with them. When Brom gave him a bowl of stew, he took it graciously. The air was silent, and Colt looked from Owen to Brom, wondering who would break the peace first.

Thankfully, Gilda was the one to initiate the conversation, saying, "So, Rem, where are you from? Avathon?"

Rem sat straighter as he cleared his throat. He glanced at her and replied, "Yes. I was born to farmers in Millstone."

"Ah, well, we share a common past there, then," Brom spoke up. "I was born on a farm also. Crops mostly."

"My father raised cows, sheep, goats, and pigs." When Clove nudged her head against Rem's arm, he scratched behind her ear. "They also bred sheepdogs. I have a particular interest in dogs, and I am fascinated by wolves. I was lucky to be able to buy Gypsy, although I can't say I did so legally."

"Well, she must be a very smart dog, to find us like she did," Gilda said.

Colt eyed her, then glanced over at Owen, noticing how quiet he was while they talked. Owen always became tense around Rem, and Colt wondered if it was because the man had talked with him before at the Crimson Petal.

After Rem finished his stew, he got to his feet, and Gypsy stood right next to him. "I will stay awake for a while. I think tonight we can get away with only one person taking watch. I will wake one of you to take over in a few hours." He bowed his head before making his way to his horse.

After they ate, they cleared away the dishes, washing them in water from their waterskins, and then Colt went with Owen to their tent. The thick covering was made of wool, and he was glad he'd bought the extra skins to go on the outside, which helped keep the frigid air out at night.

Traveling in the cold made Colt the most tired he'd been since he'd gone to Milarc with Amias. Then, he'd been younger and able to withstand the conditions, but now, he ached for a place to stay and never leave.

As they sat on their pallet and took off their boots, Colt recalled what Owen had told him earlier, about seeing the deer in the field and wishing he had paper to draw on. Back in Ivormor, he'd bought a small leather journal and pencil for Owen to give as a gift. But after hearing how badly he wanted to draw, possibly write, Colt couldn't stand not giving it to him now. So he pulled the small book out from his bag and cleared his throat.

"Here, I got you something." Colt handed him the book.

Owen looked over tiredly, then tilted his head as he took the small brown journal in his hands. It was leatherbound, with threads bordering the outside. He opened it to reveal plain cream-hued pages ready to be written on. "Where did you get this?"

"Back at the library in Ivormor. Benson had some for sale."

The moonlight that streamed into a small slit from the front of the tent gave just enough light for Colt to see Owen smile.

"You bought me a journal?" he asked, eyes sparkling.

"Well, you lost yours back in Covehaven. I was… gonna wait till Winter's Solstice to give it to you, but it seems a waste when you could be writing poems and drawing deer in it now. I know it means a lot to you to do that. I enjoy seeing you do it."

Owen brought the open journal up to his nose and inhaled the fresh, crisp paper.

Colt cleared his throat. "I mean, what you want to do with it is your business."

Owen nudged him with a laugh. "I like the smell of new paper. Thank you, Colt. This is amazing."

"Read me a poem or two on occasion, alright?"

Owen smirked and tucked the journal into his bag, smiling from ear to ear. "If you're lucky." He shivered, and Colt made him lay down.

As soon as they pulled the skins over them, their arms wrapped around each other, and Colt closed his eyes and sighed. They'd always been too tired to do anything besides sleep in the tent, but tonight, Colt felt antsy.

Holding Owen so close, Colt couldn't help but nuzzle his face into the crook of his neck. When his lips touched Owen's skin, Owen moved so that he could kiss him better, and Owen trailed little pecks along his throat.

Those slender hands tightened around Colt's waist, pulling him closer, and then Owen looked up, and the both of them stared at each other in the darkness.

"Tell me a truth," Owen whispered.

Colt chuckled low. He knew this game. If he didn't answer the truth to Owen's questions, he'd have to do something crazy instead. A childish game, but he'd indulge in it to see where it took them, though he was wary of what Owen might ask.

"Alright," Colt replied. "Go ahead."

"Do you really like Brom's cooking?" The sly smile on Owen's lips made Colt chuckle.

"Ahh… you know, I do. I mean, it's not great, but it's not the worst I've ever had." Colt cleared his throat. "Now you tell me, do you really like the hat Gilda knitted for you?"

Laughing louder than he seemed to intend to, Owen covered his mouth and said, "Of course I do, though I can't help but wonder if it looks silly."

"It doesn't. You look cute in it."

"Cute?" Owen scratched something out of Colt's beard on his chin. "I'll be waiting for Gilda to finish your hat, then, to see what you look cute in one too. Now my turn. What did you do before you left your home?"

"As in a job?" When Owen nodded, Colt said, "I worked for whoever needed things done, but I played cards on the weekend. I hunted for my food and stocked up on firewood for winter." He rubbed warmth into Owen's arm and asked him a question that he had been wondering for some time. "When did you first find out you were Astran?"

Owen hesitated, looking down before he said, "I was… five. My mother was outside, putting laundry up on the line, and I discovered that when I moved my hand over a stick, it moved without me touching it. I went to her excited and showed her, and she took me by the arms and told me never to do it again. The look on her face frightened me, and I thought I had done something wrong, so I didn't do it for a long time."

Something in Colt's chest ached, his heart constricting with it. On one hand, he couldn't blame Owen's mother for reprimanding him. She wanted to keep him safe. But on the other, he hated that Owen grew up feeling ashamed of it.

"No wonder you've held back from using it," Colt said, taking Owen's hand and squeezing it.

"It's in the past now." Owen smiled tentatively, then took in a big breath and asked, "Now one last question. Do you think I kiss well?"

Colt let out a laugh. Had he really just asked such a thing?

He's fishing for me to do it.

Leaning forward, Colt caught Owen's lips against his own and kissed him softly, trying his best to stifle any noise. His hand moved to Owen's hip, and he instinctively pulled him closer.

Owen tilted his head all the right ways, and he let Colt handle him how he wanted. His tongue dipped in and slid gently against Colt's, and their lips touched and smacked at the right moment every time.

Does he kiss well?

Judging by the way Owen's kiss made his cock stir, and the fact Colt had to break away to kiss his neck because his mouth was so damn intoxicating, the honest answer was yes.

When Owen let out a little groan, Colt traveled back to his lips and wrapped him so tightly in his arms, there was nothing between them but the fabric of their shirts as they lay side by side.

This was what he needed, the taste of Owen's lips while he hugged him, feeling his hands all over him. What an amazing feeling, to kiss and hold someone with the intention of waking up beside them the next day. It wasn't something he was used to thinking or feeling, and he never thought he'd be with someone he wanted to hold all night. It surprised him, and yet it felt so natural with Owen.

Colt wanted such a moment to last, for the heat between them to thaw the cold in his bones and shake the loneliness from his heart he'd felt for so long. When had Owen started to fill those spaces in his heart? Colt had dug in every crevice of life to find such meaning, but here it was, this man dropped right into his hands, giving him reason to live other than just surviving.

If only he could see Owen better in the growing darkness, but Owen's hands on him were enough for now, and as Owen's fingers undid the buttons at Colt's collar, the fire of desire grew brighter.

Nothing existed but the two of them, in this moment, no matter how cold it felt or how dark it was. He was kissing a man he'd been aware of for years, and yet had known for only a short time.

But here I am, wanting him so much it aches.

Owen laid on his back, pulling Colt down on top of him, and Colt took his arms in his hands, squeezing his muscles gently, ready to take this man. When Owen planted a gentle kiss against Colt's chest, Colt's body burned.

He grit his teeth, battling with himself. He wanted this with him, to make love to him and make him feel good. To hear how Owen responded to his touch, to his mouth and hands… There was also a burning in his heart that desired more than fumbling in this tent in the freezing air. He wanted a warm room with a cozy bed, he wanted to be able to see Owen's face in the light and watch him as they became lost in the throes of ecstasy.

He only hoped that Rem was far out of earshot so he didn't hear his low groans of pleasure as Owen kissed his neck.

I already don't like that guy. The thought of him hearing us…

As Colt pulled away, ready to tell him they may need to wait, Owen leaned up on his elbows, following him with sweet kisses, and Colt nearly moaned at the blazing impressions it left on his skin.

"I'm ready for you to teach me a few things, as you promised," Owen said against him.

Dammit, those words coiled in Colt's stomach. Owen was the good boy here, and he was aching for more intimacy? Now he couldn't pull away at all…

Colt raised an eyebrow. "And what if someone hears us?"

Coming in close to Colt's ear, Owen whispered, "I know how to be quiet."

For someone who had managed to hide his Essence for twenty-two years, Colt supposed he was right.

Colt placed his hand on Owen's shoulder. He let his fingers run along Owen's arm, and he took his hand and brought it up to his mouth. "You don't need me to teach you anything, Owen. All you have to do is look at me, and my heart starts racing."

Owen's brow furrowed, and a smile graced his lips. "Are you trying to make me swoon? Because it's working."

"Ah, Owen…" Colt kissed each of Owen's fingers, enjoying their slender feel, then he took one of them into his mouth and sucked it.

Owen drew in a breath, his body tensing, and when Colt licked the digit, Owen pushed it in deeper and made a soft noise in his throat. Something in Colt's chest ignited at that sound, a rippling fire that washed over him like a gentle wave. He slid his tongue along Owen's finger before he pulled it out and glanced down at him.

In the faint sliver of moonlight that was already moving out of their tent, Colt saw Owen faintly. Shifting on their pallet, Colt leaned up on his elbow beside him, then pulled Owen's shirt out of his trousers. When he placed his hand against Owen's lean stomach, Owen made that noise again, as if he held his breath, but then he let it out each time Colt moved his hand higher. He smoothed a thumb over Owen's nipple, feeling how firm it was and enjoying the few hairs there around it, all while Owen squirmed against him with need.

Alright, so he seems to like this.

Colt smoothed his hand back down Owen's stomach, and then Owen sat up enough to pull off his shirt. Leaning over, Colt planted his lips against Owen's right nipple, kissing it softly before he flicked out his tongue.

Owen's hand flew to Colt's hair, his fingers tightening and his hips bucking slightly.Colt could feel his cock straining against his soft bedwear, but all he wanted to do was touch Owen and pleasure him, to feel his body in more depth. When Colt's fingers slipped beneath Owen's waistband, barely touching his hair there, Owen's hand tightened against Colt's head.

Looking up, Colt asked, "Want me to stop?"

"Don"t you dare!" Owen rasped.

His heart thumping wildly, Colt smiled as his hand breached further, and when he felt Owen's stiff cock, he wrapped his hand around it and stroked him gently. Owen gasped, then clasped a hand over his mouth, and Colt's lips twitched. He'd have to take this slow with him, as Owen seemed to be full of heat and noise, but Colt was selfish, he couldn't help but want to pull those sounds from his sweet voice.

As Colt stroked him, Owen's hips moved, and his hand relaxed against the back of Colt's neck. Never had Colt enjoyed doing such a thing to someone as he did now. This man had a complete hold over him, one that had his heart burning for Owen's tenderness, for Owen's release.

Moving up, Colt kept his hand going, taking care to feel all of Owen as his lips found his mouth. As they kissed, Colt cradled Owen's bollocks, enjoying their feel, before moving back up to Owen's hard cock and smoothing his thumb over the tip, catching the liquid seeping there.

When Owen let out a soft sigh, Colt lay against Owen's side, enjoying the feel of his cock in his hand while he kissed those tender lips. Colt's body heated to a roaring blaze, and he found himself moving his hips against Owen as they kissed.

"Colt," Owen breathed. Burying his face into the crook of Colt's neck, he let out a moan. "I'm going to… You have to…"

Colt knew, and he kept going. He intended to finish what he'd started. He leaned back and looked into the moonlight sparkling in Owen's eyes just as Owen bucked his hips. Warm seed soaked his hand, and the feeling of satisfaction it gave Colt was greater than anything he'd experienced before.

It had been too long, and he had never held someone else with such passion before. His hips were still moving against Owen's thigh, and he couldn't help his own release as he listened to Owen's breathy whimpers. Colt buried his face against Owen's arm and gave a quiet puff, his eyes squeezing shut as his hips rocked and relief swept through his body.

Holding Owen close, Colt breathed in deep, trying hard to contain himself, his voice, so that no one would hear. What a rush, to have gotten Owen off with his hand alone. And dammit, how good it had felt.

As Owen's breathing slowed, Colt moved and rummaged through his bag until he found a handkerchief. He wiped Owen's stomach clean, and then changed his trousers before lying beside Owen, who had pulled his own trousers back up.

Lying on his side, Colt curled his arm around Owen's body so that he could lay against him. "Did you like it?" He brought Owen's hands up between them and held them in his own.

Owen sighed happily and said, "I definitely learned a thing or two."

Colt laughed. "I did, too."

"What?" Owen sounded surprised.

"What you like."

Owen let out a loud laugh, then he whispered, "And now I get to learn about you." His hand slid down to Colt's trousers, but Colt grabbed his wrist and stopped him.

"Not tonight."

"What? Why not? It's only fair."

"Who ever said I played fair?"

"Do you not want me to?"

Colt licked his lips. "I kinda already… did."

Owen's eyebrows popped up. "What?"

"I couldn't help myself. That's why I changed. Sorry."

"For what?" Owen seemed confused.

"I didn't mean to do that."

Owen smiled against his lips. "It's okay, I've done the same before."

Relaxing, Colt held him close. Satisfying Owen alone had given him some sort of gratification he'd never felt before, but he didn't think he'd come so quickly himself, without even touching himself.

Owen shifted his leg between Colt"s, just as he had done every night since the abandoned cottage, sending fresh warmth through Colt"s body. Yes, this was what he wanted more than anything, Owen beside him, safe and warm. Holding him close, Colt pulled the blankets over them and rested his face against Owen's hair.

"Thank you," Owen whispered.

Colt's lips turned up into a smile. "Anytime, sweet."

Yes, I could get used to this.