Chapter Twenty-Eight

“T hat’s great and all, but we still have to find it and then convince it that we aren’t going to harm it like everything else in this Realm has tried to do,” Reaper says.

“Has anyone ever been to the Crimson Court?” Killian asks, looking around.

When everyone answers no, it’s pretty clear that the lack of information is starting to frustrate us.

“Farren, Love, I have to ask, how do we know that this is the right thing to do? We only have a certain amount of time to get the job done, or we fail the level.” Loki asks, genuinely curious and not harsh at all.

“Because we don’t just kill things. Granted, a lot of our job is killing. It has to be because of what we do, but we also save things, and I truly believe that this time the thing that needs to be saved is the one that is being perceived as a threat.” I explain.

“She’s right,” Zev says into the silence.

“I agree, I hadn’t thought about it like that, and that’s narrow-minded. We all know that not everything is as it appears, and it would be foolhardy to assume that this is just because it's been causing some trouble. Farren makes some good points.” Storm replies sincerely.

“Well, holy fuck, I never thought I’d see the day that you admit I have good points,” I tease him, and to my utter shock, he sticks his tongue out at me like I usually do to him.

He smirks, “If I knew all I had to do to stop you talking was use my tongue, I would’ve done it a long time ago.”

There is no doubting the double meaning of that sentence, and while I remain staring at him in bemused shock, the others, including Zev, burst out laughing.

The laughter is abruptly cut off when eight horses appear in a flash of purple, and a satchel is dropped at Storm’s feet, appearing in the same flash of magic.

“Revel!” I exclaim once I get a good look at the horses. He immediately moves over to me and starts inspecting me. “We’re on a level of the Warrior games. What are you doing here?”

All of the guys go to their horses, happy to see them, and I watch as Zev walks up to the pearlescent mare that must belong to him because I don’t recognise it and starts stroking her nose. Despite having been transported here via portal, they all seem extremely calm, even Revel, which is practically unheard of for him, but then again, he’s a Fae horse, and he was brought here by the Fae Realm. They have no reason to be afraid of the thing that created them. As far as we know, it could be able to communicate with the Fae horses. I have a feeling that if I asked Revel though, he wouldn’t answer. Just like some of the questions I ask Poca, he doesn’t answer.

“I think,” he starts, looking over at all of us just in time for us to see his eyes flash white briefly, “that if we make the right decision while we are on a level that the Fae Realm gives us rewards, things to help us along the way.”

Killian watches him closely, “You think? Or you know?”

Zev’s lips tick up into a grin, “I know.”

“Having the horses here is going to make travelling to the next village a hell of a lot easier, and it means we’re on the right track with not killing the Void beast. Good call Farren.” Reaper compliments.

“Thanks,” I reply. “What’s in the bag?”

Storm walks back to the bag, having left it to say hello to his horse first and crouches next to it, lifting the flap and peering inside.

He pulls out a piece of parchment, and a pouch of what looks like coin, “Coin and the parchment is a map with one of the villages marked. I’m assuming that’s where we need to go.”

“What’s the coin for?” Loki asks with a frown.

“To pay for something,” Zev replies with a sarcastic grin.

“Thanks, fucker,” Loki chuckles.

“I guess we’ll find out when we get there,” Killian adds sensibly.

“Good point. I’ve got the map memorised. Let's go.” Storm instructs, and we all load up on our horses and set off following Storm.

“Do we have any idea how long it’s going to take to get to the village?” Rival asks and then adds, “and are we assuming that someone in the village will have the information we need to locate the Void beast?”

“I’m assuming it’s going to take a few hours, and we can either cross through a village on the way or go around the outside. If we go around the outside, it will take longer though.” He explains before answering Rival’s second question, “as for the village, I think that’s a fair assumption.”

“So, tavern again then?” Killian asks.

“Probably the best bet. It worked well enough on the last mission.” Storm replies.

“How many hours left of daylight have we got?” Reaper asks.

“We’ll probably get to the village as the sun sets. That’s if we go through the first village and not around.” Storm replies.

“I say we go through; we might hear some information we need, and I’m not familiar enough with the area to know the threats that surround the villages,” Killian suggests, and everyone quickly agrees.

“Hopefully, the tavern in the last village will have rooms too. We’re going to need to eat and rest by the time we get there.” Mayhem adds as we slowly progress along the dirt road, the sound of the thud of the horse’s hooves on the packed dirt strangely calming.

“That will only give us a day to reach the location of the Void beast and try to convince it we want to help, not harm before we run out of time and we fail the level.” Killian frowns.

“We don’t have much choice; we’ve been on the go for hours, and I don’t want any of us to make a silly mistake because we’re tired. We’ll get it done, and we won’t fail. On that note, though, I think we should pick up the pace so we can make it to the first village in good time.”

He doesn’t wait for an answer as he orders his horse to pick up the pace, and all of our horses automatically follow his lead.

The ride to the first village passes quickly, and what Storm described as a village is actually a bustling town. It’s just past midday, so the cobbled streets are busy and lined with merchants but thankfully because it’s such a big town, no one pays us any mind.

“Keep your ears peeled as we go through the town. We might be able to find out some information here without directly asking anyone.” Storm orders.

I don’t really hear much as we walk through the town and then the houses on the outskirts, at least nothing that’s relevant to the Void beast. Eventually, we get to the part of the town where houses become more spread out, and it turns into farmland, and we get stuck behind a cart. There’s a steep bank on either side of this part of the road, so we just stay behind until we can pass. I tune into the conversation as soon as one of them mentions something about a beast.

“Have you heard about all the trouble, Triunea are having?” one of the guys driving the cart of vegetables asks.

“Oh aye, something to do with a giant beast if the stories are to be believed.”

“I doubt it's true. They’ve been trying to get some extra funding for years now. Besides, they’re known for their tall tales.”

“True that, boy. I wouldn’t believe it unless I saw it.”

Their conversation starts to fade away as they take a turn and finally free up the rest of the road.

“Well, that was interesting. Is Triunea where we’re headed?” Killian asks.

“Yeah, it is. Let’s kick it up a notch again. The sun is already starting to set.” Storm suggests.

“Yeah, and I’m hungry,” Loki groans.

“You’re always hungry,” Reaper replies, rolling his eyes.

“I could eat,” Zev adds in.

Loki reaches over, and fist bumps him. “I knew I liked you.”

Zev just chuckles in response, and then his eyes flash white again, “We should probably pick up the pace now.”

“Doesn’t that ever get too much; Killian doesn’t get them nearly as often as you do?” I ask him.

“Don’t forget, it's not my main gift,” Kill points out.

“It’s been the same my whole life, and I don’t know any other way,” Zev explains and then nudges his horse to speed up.

Taking the hint, we all do the same. If the future Head Seer gives you advice, then it’s probably best to take it.

We’ve only been riding for an hour or so when the clouds decide that they’re going to grace us with a drenching of rain. Within seconds I’m so wet that the water is practically streaming off my nose, and I’m relying on Revel’s extra senses to guide me because I can’t see shit. We don’t slow down and try to find cover; there’s not much point; judging from the blackness of the overhead clouds, it’s not stopping any time soon.

When lights start to appear, signalling that we’ve got to the edge of the tiny village, I’m wet, cold, miserable and starving. We don’t bother stopping; no one is about to ask questions anyway. Everyone smart enough to be tucked up in their nice warm homes and most likely eating hot meals right now, my stomach grumbles.

Because it’s such a small village, the tavern seems to double as an inn as well and is set right on the edge of the village, almost separate from it. I keep everything crossed that they have room for us all; we aren’t a small group. We follow the path around to an area by the stables that are covered, and a stable boy runs out to meet us.

“For the night?” he asks.

“Yes, please, so long as there are rooms inside.” Storm answers.

The boy giggles, “No one comes to our village, sir. There’ll be space!”

He then immediately starts to lead the horses away, and I wonder how a small boy barely over fifteen is going to convince Revel especially to do as he asks, but instead of going to Storm’s horse and grabbing the reins to lead him, he just turns back towards the stables and starts talking asking the horses to follow him, and he’ll get them fed and warm. They simply follow after him eagerly.

“I don’t think I will ever get used to seeing a fae with the true gift of animals communicating with them,” Rival says from beside me, and I nod in agreement.

It doesn’t take long for the novelty to wear off though, and I practically run to the tavern to get warm. I really hope the kid was right; I think as I follow the guys through the door.

The place is small, cosy and warm. I instantly let out a breath of relief. There are only a couple of patrons in here who pay us absolutely no mind as they try to find the answers at the bottom of their pints.

“Oh my, you must be freezing!” a plump woman with a kind face suddenly exclaims.

“Yes, ma’am, we were wondering if you had some rooms spare and if the cook is still about?” Storm asks pleasantly.

“Yes, of course,” she grabs some keys from under the bar and then calls over the shoulder, “Ted, I need eight bowls of soup, bread and cheese!”

“Thank you,” I reply.

“Let's get you up to the rooms so you can change into some dry clothes. Your food should be done by then.” She smiles and leads us further into the building and then up a set of stairs, “now, this is only a small place, so you’re all going to have to double up.”

“That’s fine, anything to not sleep in the rain,” Loki grins.

She nods and then hands over the keys. I don’t bother asking who’s going to room with me because I wouldn’t mind if any of them did.

“You guys pick who’s in my room. I’m going to get changed, so give me five minutes.” I say, turning around and opening the closest door.

As soon as it shuts behind me, I strip. I grab one of the towels in the room and dry off quickly. Even my underwear is wet. I change that and then pull on some thick fur-lined leggings and a long-sleeve top as I wish I had brought a jumper. Highly aware that someone is waiting to get changed, I quickly lay my fighting leathers out to get dry and then nearly curse myself when my brain kicks back on, and I realise I could’ve avoided that and dried everything with my magic. I use it to dry my leathers so they’re ready for tomorrow and then pull the door to the room back open; shaking my head; I open it to a very bemused looking Loki.

“Ah, so you remembered that you had magic then,” he teases, bone dry and then looking past me to see the room.

I turn back around since I was so concerned about getting dry that I didn’t even really acknowledge the room. It’s a decent size and well decorated, although things are slightly worn. You can tell that it's well taken care of, someone clearly taking pride in the space. There’s a washbasin in the corner; the fire is already blazing and warming the room nicely. Off to the right is a dark wood chest of drawers, and the bed has matching side tables on either side.

One bed.

I turn to Loki, “Did you draw the short straw and get to share a room with me?”

His smile turns from innocent to decadent in a blink of an eye, “I don’t think I’d call it drawing the short straw. We had to play for it, and I won.”

“You look very pleased with yourself,” I chuckle.

“I am. I’ll sleep in the chair though, don’t worry.” He finishes on a serious note, and there’s no hint of a hidden agenda, and I can’t decide if I’m pleased or disappointed by that.

“Don’t be silly. The beds big enough for both of us,” I scoff and then start to walk out of the room, the smell of food calling to me. I pause as I go to brush past him and pat his chest, “don’t worry, I’ll keep my hands to myself.”

I giggle as he sputters and quickly catches me up in the hall. None of the guys are out here, but I figure they either realised they could all use the magic or at least those that could helped those that couldn’t and are already downstairs, or they can meet us down there. I’m too hungry.

“Hey now, Love, who’s to say that I want you to keep your hands to yourself?” he asks just as we get to the table of the others.

“Loki!” Rival snaps, looking at me to make sure he hasn’t offended me.

I burst out laughing. “He’s fine. I was messing with him.”

The conversation is quickly forgotten as the food and drinks arrive in a flurry of movement, and it smells divine. Storm must’ve already used the coin that we got out of the Fae Realm delivered bag. When the last bowl is laid down in front of Storm, the cook also hands him an envelope, a knowing glint in his eye.

“Thank you.” Storm’s confused voice rings out in the now empty tavern as the previous people must’ve decided to get home before the weather worsens even more.

“No, thank you, all. We’re closing up since it’s unlikely we’ll get any more visitors tonight. If you leave your plates on the table, one of my boys will clear it.” He replies and then moves back around the bar and into the kitchen.

“Read it then,” Loki urges, already tearing into his bread.

Storm sighs as Loki practically inhales his food and gestures to everyone else, “Why don’t you all start eating while I read?”

Everyone is obviously hungry because they don’t even make a single sound of protest.

Storm clears his throat as he opens the envelope and pulls out the parchment inside, “The Void beast is about an hour away, and it gives us another map.”

“Is that it?” Killian asks.

“Well, it’s written in fancier words, but yeah, look?” he hands the parchment to Killian.

As soon as his fingers touch the parchment, it goes up in purple Fae flames.

“Fuck,” he curses as he curls in his fingers, and his tail whips up and starts smacking the piece of paper that’s still alight to put it out.

“Shit, please tell me you already memorised the map?” Reaper asks Storm.

“I got a glance at it. It should be enough for me to get us there.”

“Are you alright, mate?” Zev asks Killian.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I think it just caught the end of my fingers.” Killian answers with a wary smile.

“So, I guess it's safe to say that if something gets given to one of us specifically that the rest of us can’t touch it, we risk it disintegrating and could potentially lose important information.” Zev summarises.

“It could just have been that particular piece, but I think you’re right. We shouldn’t risk it.” Mayhem agrees.

“The cook touched it, though?” I point out.

“He probably had permission and wouldn’t have been able to open it anyway. He was literally just the delivery system for the Fae Realm.” Mayhem tries to explain.

“That makes sense, I guess,” I reply.

“First thing in the morning, we’ll set off, I don’t think it’s too far from here, but I would’ve needed a longer look to be sure.”

“It’s really impressive that you have that skill,” I compliment him.

Shadows flash through his eyes, and not the shadows of his magic, “It can be a curse.”