6. Chapter 6

Chapter si x

R est doesn't come easily to the weary. Especially not when it's disturbed. I awake to Luca yelling at the top of his lungs. Bella must have also fallen asleep because she's blinking rapidly and pulling out a short sword from the pile of items on the floor. The carriage is halted as she flings the door open. Gecko, who had fallen asleep on my lap gets up, but he seem frightened by the noise.

I hear the clashing of swords and desperate to make sure Bella was alright I pop my head out of the carriage, only to be very just missed by a flying arrow. Scarcely using the door as a shield I look around. Men with masks were attacking the family, at least six that I could count from the dimly lit lanterns that hung on the carriage and what remained of dusk. It was an unfair number.

"Bandits!" Yunda yells, helping his brother up off the ground to continue a battle they had already begun. The bandits in question seemed human in nature but because of how covered they were in black garments, masks, and weapons, I knew better than to assume they were anything but Daemonaria. I look behind me to see another basket-hilted sword on the floor of the carriage, it looks similar to Corvu's, and honestly it helps me to feel better remembering that fact. I rush forward to help Bella, who is currently fighting off two of the masked figures at either side of her.

I strike at the assailant on the right with a downward motion, but he simply steps back out of my way. He was away from Bella now, although I didn't feel my chances were any better. Lunging at me I barely manage to dodge his engagement as I fall into the dirt-covered leaves. I look up at him as he prepares to plunge the end of his sword into me, but a rock that collides swiftly into his forehead forces him backward.

Say what you will about those twins, they know how to aim and that's what mattered to me. I lift myself up off the ground and lean up to see the twins were behind my attacker, still fighting their own foe.

"Hey!" A voice familiar to me calls, "You need to get up." I feel a hand grab my elbow and with unusual strength pull me to my feet to face him. It was really him, right down to the hooped earring high on the point of his ears.

"Corvu." My breath barely manages to say his name. He doesn't have time to respond as the attacker who he had knocked down gets back up, much angrier than he was previously. With the mask removed I can see his warthog-like nose flaring, locking eyes with Corvu he begins roaring as he swings his sword over his head down at us. Swiftly Corvu blocks it with his own sword, kicking him in the center of his chest which sends him flying backward into the dirt, hard .

"So, firstly, hi," he turns to me, but we're interrupted once more by a new dark figure approaching from the woods, only this time yelling incoherent words and swinging an ax around his head. This one is much bigger than the last, certainly heavier. "Hang on." Corvu sighs, taking a couple of steps forward, only to be missed by the swinging ax as the big man ends up burying it in the ground. Corvu elbows him in the face, gaining possession of the ax. Lifting it almost effortlessly out from the mud, he throws it in the general direction of the hooded man, lodging it directly into his shoulder and chest. He falls down instantly with a gurgled moan. Corvu takes a couple of steps back toward me, "Second, why did you run away?" he asks me, casually pulling out a dagger and throwing it directly into the eye of the attacker Bella had been struggling to subdue. It is a freakishly good shot.

"B-Because Patricia said people would be after the amulet." I struggle to spit out, a little overwhelmed by the fact that he was even here, so far away from where we first met. He grabs my shoulders and pulls me down, as we squat another arrow flies past - a stray from the twins.

"So?"

"So, I heard you, you're after it too!" I exclaim as he stands and pulls me toward the carriage. A bandit that has reached the carriage is pulling on Gecko's arm as the kid attempts to kick him. He is so brave. Corvu lets go of me long enough to place his hands behind the bandit, snapping his neck in a simple yet swift motion. He pushes Gecko back into the carriage and pulls me along to do the same.

"I don't know what you heard, but I don't want the amulet, it's just clearly not safe for you to have it." Giving me a thorough shove into the carriage, he slams the door closed as he's pushed against it. I let out a yelp as the whole thing moves. Corvu groans as he is collided into, only narrowly missing being impaled by the horns protruding from the masked bandit's head. At least that one I can positively say is not human. As the ‘windows' don't contain any glass, I grab the closest sharp object I can find, which is one of the long, funny-shaped needles Bella has been using earlier, and plunge it into the back of the horned man's neck. Struggling to unhook himself from lodging his horns into the carriage, he swings his arms around. Corvu lets himself drop to the ground on his back and kicks upward into its face, which does actually help him become dislodged, but he only ends up falling backward into a rock. His body spasms a little as the needle is pushed all the way through, the prick of it glistening in the last hint of light.

Luca comes running toward me with Bella, he's got an arrow strung up and ready to shoot at Corvu.

"Wait!" Bella yells, grabbing her husband's elbow, "He helped us fight them off."

"You mean cut them down to size ?" One of the twins laughed maniacally. Things were clearly very different here. I didn't feel right about what I did, but what choice did I have? Corvu was trying to save me and he needed help. And technically, I didn't kill him, the fall backward did. I'm pretty sure if I was home I'd be done for manslaughter. I feel queasy. Gecko stays by my side.

"Hush you two, why did you help us?" Bella questions. Corvu dusts himself off in a nonchalant manner and points his thumb over his shoulder at me.

"I was helping her ." He states simply.

Luca steps forward to face Corvu head to head. The exchange looked menacing. Recalling what Corvu said, never anger a Clawhop, made me worry. "Your kind usually doesn't help anyone." He stares blankly. His kind? It hadn't occurred to me that Corvu's status as a Daemonaria might be cause for concern.

"I'm not exactly what you call a normal Trickster." Trickster? It was something I'd have to make a mental note to ask about later. Luca nods and leans back,

"Well, I owe you for your assistance nonetheless. I'm Luca." Corvu and the others exchange greetings as everyone gathers to continue moving in the dark, searching for a place to make camp away from the mess we left behind.

I am surprised at the speed in which I learn. After setting up rocks and gathering certain twigs and wood pieces I was able to successfully make a campfire as the others prepared places to sleep or make dinner, even if it did take me an exceedingly long time to spark the rocks onto the wood. The horses were removed from the carriage and given water, then tied to a nearby tree. Gecko helps me by collecting more wood.

"Look, I'm Satyr." He laughs, putting two sticks to the top of his head to resemble horns. I laugh in response as Corvu approaches, completely ignoring and even bumping into Gecko on the way to sit beside me. "Hey!"

"What?" He snaps, but Gecko just pokes a tongue at him. "Go fly home or something, kid." But Gecko ignores him and sits on the opposite side of the now healthy fire.

"That wasn't nice." I mumble under my breath.

"He's a Pixie, I'm a Trickster, it's just how it is." He shrugs, unstrapping his sword from his waist and placing it beside him. I didn't know what that meant, and I'm honestly wasn't sure I want to know. Either way, I open the book he originally gave me and start taking down notes, not that I was asking for any information. I just want to make sure I remember all the little things. "Right, I forgot." Corvu sighs. I look up and watch his chest rise and fall twice before he continues, "Pixie's aren't particularly magical, but they can cast curses and spells on Elven types, but they only do it to Tricksters, likewise Tricksters like messing with Pixie's because of that fact. It's just how it's always been."

"Just because it's how it's always been doesn't mean you have to be rude to Gecko, he's been really helpful the past few days." I strategically avoid showing him what I'm writing, but that information seems insightful and even though I'm unlikely to forget it, I want to keep a record of it. Truthfully I want to ask him what a Trickster even is.

"I guess." He crosses his arms and leans up against his backpack, putting his hood up to cover his eyes. I can't help looking toward him and wondering what he was doing here. Looking at his hands closer for the first time I can see he has many scars from cuts, acquired over some time. What did he do? Did he have a dangerous job? Do Daemonaria even have jobs? Do they have mortgages or rent apartments? I haven't even seen a building tall enough to be called an apartment building. My mind is really spinning in circles .

"Corvu?" I whisper, hoping I hadn't been thinking for so long he'd already be asleep.

"Yeah?" He responds. I let out a sigh, I hadn't actually expected him to answer.

Biting my lip I question, "What do you think I shouldn't have the amulet? Patricia said people will try and trick me so they can get it and use its powers. Do you just want to use its power too? How did you even know where to find me?" As I ask the questions I touch the front of my shirt. Through the tunic, I can feel the amulet sitting there, cold against my skin, almost crisp to the touch. He unfolds his arm and throws back his hood, leaning up to meet my eyes. His deep brown ones staring back at me.

"Because you're human, and in a world like this, humans are weak, vulnerable. Yes, every being on this planet has a reason for wanting that amulet, who knows what powers it has. You can't trust anyone, even I have a reason to want it. But Patricia also told you a wizard could help get you home – there's no better place to find one than in Wanbourne so I just followed the path." I couldn't help but believe what he said, though I was worried it was just a ruse. "You know, the night I set you up at the tavern I went back downstairs to ask a couple of others hanging around what they knew about a witch's amulet. Most of it was nonsense of course but a lot said that they'd pay good money to get their hands on it, even though they didn't really know what it did. So do yourself a favor and don't let anyone tempt you into giving it to them, okay? Oh, and try not to run off again, it's really hard to guard someone when you don't know where they are." The sincerity in his voice did well to convince me that he wasn't trying to take the amulet. I had no actual reason to distrust him. Is it possible I judged too quickly?

"Okay." I nod, giving him a half-smile. Curling on the floor with the satchel as my pillow, I do my best to sleep.

I feel a muscular arm wrap around me, drawing me in closer. I don't have to turn around to know who it is; even though I am still unsure whether I trust him fully, a sense of security washes over me, along with an intense, tingling sensation that originates from my thighs.

It's a sensation I sense could become familiar.

I resist the inclination to turn around and indulge in the desires that the deepest, most instinctive part of my mind craves—longings I'm hesitant to confess. I yearn to explore him with my touch, tracing the contours of his exposed chest, venturing toward the core of his desire. I wonder about the tactile experience of his presence against my bare form—his arousal teasing that particular point on my body that hungers for him most, all while our lips fervently intertwine.

The subtle crackling of the fire echoes in the tranquil silence enveloping us, amplifying the resonance of my contemplations. It's almost as if he possesses an intuition attuned to my thoughts, for he subtly shifts closer, and I sense the firmness of his arousal pressing against me. His breath, a delicate caress on the side of my neck, induces a shiver throughout my body.

I'm certain he perceives my response, as his grasp becomes more possessive around me.

"It's okay," he murmurs against my neck, leaving a trail of gentle kisses on my skin, an act that threatens to unravel my composure. "We're alone. No one's here."

"Corvu…" I exhale, arching my back against him.

"Hm?" he whispers against my neck, gradually tracing upward to my jaw. His hand glides up my body, delicately undoing the fastenings of my shirt. His fingertips explore beneath the fabric, a tender touch that teases and stirs the heat within me. I feel as though I'm on the brink of losing my composure, consumed by the longing for him.

"Corvu, please…" I implore. I desire to guide his touch in a different direction, toward the core of my yearning.

In the next moment, he disentangles himself from our proximity. Instead, he hovers over me, gently shaking my arm to rouse me from my reverie.

"Are you okay?" he inquires. Is that concern I perceive in his expression? "You sounded like you were having a nightmare."

My cheeks flush, and I find it difficult to meet his gaze. A sudden wave of shame washes over me, prompting me to turn on my side, presenting my back to him.

"It was just a dream, don't worry about it. I'm fine," I murmur, closing my eyes. I try to dismiss the throbbing between my thighs that demands my attention. "I'm going to try to get more sleep. You should too."

Day Seve n

I hear the sounds of bickering. Opening my eyes, I see the twins throwing a bag back and forth between each other, insisting that they don't want to watch over it anymore. They are intercepted by their father, who takes the bag and throws it over his shoulder without a word. Family, it does look great sometimes; other times, perhaps not so much. Gecko and I gather our things and help each other get loaded up onto the carriage.

"Where's Corvu?" I ask him, looking around and seeing no signs of the Trickster.

Gecko just shrugs his shoulders. "He said he'd meet us at the next village." It seems a bit strange, but I guess it can't be helped. Bella pushes aside her garment scraps bag to give herself a better entry into the carriage, then turns to lend me a hand inside as well.

"That's a gorgeous necklace, dear," she says. I hadn't noticed, but looking down, I see the amulet sitting at the front of my tunic, no longer hidden inside.

"T-Thanks, it was a gift." I smile, hoping she wouldn't ask any further questions. Sitting in my previous spot beside Gecko the carriage takes off moments later. I tuck the amulet back inside my shirt. In a way, I feel like I've been exposed. I like Bella and her family but if they recognize this amulet I could be in a lot of trouble...and Corvu isn't here.

After what I assume was about half an hour later, Bella looks out the gap in the door of the carriage and checks our location.

"We are here. Keep that amulet better hidden." Pulling out a light brown thin silk scarf she leans over to hand it to me. So she did know what the amulet was, but was more interested in helping me. I smile, almost needing to hold back tears of joy, and take the scarf. "Those amulets are highly sought after by many unsavory characters. Not to mention Orcs. They won't think twice about threatening your life and those around you for it. It's valuable and powerful, not to mention they are rather vengeful against humans - especially the King. You're a carrier of a magical relic, people will try to trick you into giving it to them." It was the first time I had heard there was a King, but I didn't want to ask the question and make it really obvious that I wasn't from around here. Gecko gives me a look of concern. It didn't occur to me I could be putting him in so much danger. Would it be better for me to find someone else to help him first?

When we approach the gate, Luca instructs us to hop out of the carriage, as this particular city does thorough searches of cargo and travelers prior to letting them through the main gate.

"Tia," Luca begins, turning to me before the guards approach us, ", you're more than welcome to enter on your own. I believe this is where we will be parting ways. It was a pleasure." I don't know what the customs are around here, but instinctively I give him a hug, and he returns it graciously. The twins give me a mocking salute before they are interrupted by the guard asking them to stand clear of the carriage for checks. I don't know what they are checking for exactly but since Gecko and I were on our own they let us through without issue.