A few days passed since the Cursed Devils left Rodham City. The cool wind blew through the dying trees as the road was slushed over due to the frost melting in the sun. The snowy, dead grass swayed gently as the party trudged onward. Aurora road up front holding one of the maps. Kale and Skivvy were slightly skewed to her right flank, though Skivvy was moving side to side out of boredom. Nikolai stayed close to the immediate left of the wagon. Keely was just to the right rear of it. Ator had the reigns as Audra looked tiredly around holding her repeating crossbow. Desmond was just to the left of Aurora constantly scanning the tree line. Kale was chewing on a piece of jerky as he scanned the road ahead intensely with laser focus. Aurora calmly looked ahead knowing that the road would eventually lead to a hunting village within a day.

  Audra asked Ator, “You need me to take over for now? You can sleep in the wagon if you want. Been making a small bed in there.”

  Ator ignored her.

  She shoved him slightly and he finally turned his head half a centimeter towards her.

  She asked more assertively, “You want a rest or not?”

  “No thanks,” he said bluntly as the oxen sighed flicking their tails.

  Audra crawled back into the space and threw a flannel blanket over herself. She then retorted back to him, “Alright. If you don’t want to rest in paradise here, then you can rest your back on that unforgiving driver’s seat. Be my guest! Hope your ass hurts from sitting on it. I’m going to nap for the next thirty. Wake me when it’s time to switch or something happens, okay?”

  Ator gave her an unenthusiastic thumbs up. Audra took her helmet off and instantly fell asleep snoring. Ator chuckled to himself as he grabbed the repeating crossbow from her lap.

  Desmond looked over at Kale and asked, “Any movement so far?”

  “Nothing. Just a few birds and stouts. Nothing up ahead if you’re curious.”

  “Yeah, I figured… Aurora! You good,” Desmond asked while he adjusted his cloak hood over his helmet.

  She waved her hand nonchalantly indicating she was fine.

  Desmond looked back at Nikolai who was Nervously looking behind and to the left of the road. Desmond dropped back slightly and rode next to Nikolai. Nikola responded nervously, “Sorry sir… Just nerves is all.”

  “Don’t sweat it. When things get boring like now, one can either die of boredom or die of impending fear that could never come.”

  “That’s great!”

  “Relax. We’ll be fine. It’s only been a few days. Nearly one more day til we hit the first village and garrison for resupply… Best keep your hands moving and not grip the reigns so tightly,” Desmond said as he rode back up.

  Nikolai relaxed slightly, but pulled his gaiter up a bit more over his nose.

  Desmond called out, “Keely! You okay for now?”

  “Yes sir! Just bored as fawking hell is all! Nothing but dead trees, frozen ox shite, mud, and slushy muddy shite! It’s bloody exciting!”

  “Noted,” Desmond said as he chuckled to himself.

  He looked over at Ator noticing Audra sleeping right behind him. Ator gave a slight nod with his bulky helmet. Desmond smiled and looked back ahead.

  Skivvy got closer to Desmond and asked quietly, “Sir, permission to ask freely? Have a thought.”

  “Permission granted,” Desmond sighed. “Nothing better to do now plus at this point rank doesn’t matter… What’s up?.”

  “Do you trust her?”

  “What,” Desmond said confused as he and Skivvy slowly dropped back a bit. “What’re you on about?”

  “Her,” he tilted his head at Aurora. Desmond responded, “Yes… Of course, why?”

  “I find it odd that a half-Elvan woman of her rank, experience, and noble background would join us just after we finished training and was specifically chosen to help out on this particular, highly important mission at the last second… I know I distrust a lot of people, but something in me is screaming to say it. I feel like she has a secret agenda outside of our goals. Too convenient or coincidental she was chosen specifically to join us.”

  “I know… I think it too sometimes. Maybe so… Maybe you’re just paranoid, Skivs?”

  “Possibly Dez, but you know me. I don’t lie. I just overthink everything. Still bet I could track slightly better than Kale and Aurora.”

  “Right,” Desmond said rolling his eyes. “Just keep your eyes forward, Skivs.”

  “Okay, LT… Tell me honestly… Did you really think becoming a knight, an officer, and a hero was going to be like this?”

  “No… I just wanted to serve my time and be done with it. Being thrusted into this position for all in the empire to see is not what I would call ‘glamorous.’ Just the feeling of all eyes from every noble in all parts of Evandria judging you and your every move and word. Have to constantly watch what you say and how you move. No free time to yourself… It… It gets to you.”

  “That bad?”

  “That bad.”

  “I hear you.”

  “Tell me… Before you were int this squad and the penal unit, what did you do before? Why army?”

  “I wanted out of the poor district of Rodham City. So, I joined after school trying to guarantee benefits for my family. Being a Skarin means I’m looked down upon despite how diverse the kingdom is… Still, racism presides even in the army.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Eh, it’s fine… I was part of the Light Swords. Only went into battle once, more of a slaughter of a poorly defended separatist city really… I still can’t get the smell out of my mind… I also wanted to prove to others that I was more than just another Skarin… But if we succeed here, then I know that I can hold my head high and show my brethren that you can be more than just a poor Skarin living in a human city,” Skivvy elated.

  Desmond nodded in understanding whilst giving a fist bump. He said, “Let’s hope we do. Go over to Nikolai. He needs some help.”

  Desmond rode up ahead next to Aurora to see how things were going and because he was a little bored. He couldn’t help but admire Aurora in her armor. She still found a way to look beautiful and intimidating at the same time. She noticed him staring and looked back at him with her peripherals. He quickly looked away pulling his scarf over his face. She smirked underneath her gaiter.

  “You want to say something,” She asked him as she lowered the gaiter from her face. She sensed that Desmond was worried.

  Desmond responded nonchalantly, “Just want to see how you’re doing for now?”

  “Good. We’re on the right path. Going to need to rest soon. Sun is going to set in the next hour or so. Kale is wanting to hunt for fresh meat instead of the canned stuff. Don’t blame him… Keely packed her nyckelharpa, right? ”

  “Yep.”

  “I like her music. Her and Audra have nice singing voices and Skiv’s throat singing is something.”

  “Yes it is. Wish he wouldn’t do it every damn morning… Sigh.”

  “You okay?”

  “Yeah,” he said quietly not looking at her. He thought about the mission some more and felt a little afraid of what could happen if they failed.

  She noticed his slightly off tone and looked at him and asked, “You’re afraid?”

  “Come again?”

  “Are you afraid? There’s no shame in admitting it.”

  “Yes. You?”

  “I am too. Anyone here who says they’re not is a liar. It’s a normal feeling and response, really.”

  “I know… I just fear that we will fail and…”

  “We won’t,” she said cutting him off. “We won’t fail.”

  “Okay, Desmond said quietly in agreement. He looked around a warm smile peered across his face.

  Aurora’s eyebrow bounced up inquisitively and asked, “What is it?”

  “I gotta say though, this forest does remind me of home a bit. I just wished that we could’ve journeyed during spring time and see all the green. Is it beautiful in Elvan lands too?”

  “It’s beautiful in spring. Flowers bloom, the warmth comes back, and the spring winds blow over the swaying lands. You like spring time,” Aurora asked curiously.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Desmond remained quiet for a bit. He took a deep breath feeling the wind hit his face as he closed his eyes.

  Aurora asked, “All is well?”

  “I remember the last spring I spent with my dad before I went off with the army… We were finishing picking blueberries. The cool wind felt nice on your skin. The smell of freshly picked blueberries filled the air… I miss those spring winds with him,” Desmond said in a slightly happy and saddened tone.

  Aurora said softly, “I miss those times with my father too… I still miss him.”

  Desmond remained quiet, but understanding. He then asked softly, “What was he like? Your father.”

  “A good man,” she sighed and looked forward along the path. Her voice cracked slightly as she held back any residual pain in her tone. “He was a human knight. Noble. Major in the Northern Army of King Albert I. I only knew him when I was a kid. My mother loved him dearly… He was a kind man from what I recall. He was a gentle man who never complained, but always found a way to make jokes out of everything. He never got upset or discouraged around me… That’s how I remember him.”

  “What happened to him? If you don’t mind?”

  “I was only a little girl then when…One day he had to go and fight a war on the western seas. A month later Eluthar came and gave the news that he died in combat. Silver lining was that he died killing the enemy commander.”

  “Oh.”

  “Since then, he was never there and I never had another father… Every passing day it feels like he’s nothing but a fading memory. Some days I feel like I forget what he actually looked like despite the few pictures left in my mother’s house… But I know he was real. He was present… I just want him to be proud of me,” she said sadly.

  Desmond nudged her shoulder and said understandingly, “He’s proud of you. I’m proud of you.”

  She smiled and nudged him back.

  Night came as the camp was set up. Audra was making rabbit stew with assorted vegetables that smelled amazing over the fire as she seasoned the broth some more. Ator tried to get an early spoonful only for Audra to kick him in the leg. Kale sat in a tree next to the wagon on watch as he continued to snack on his jerky. He also made a temporary firing platform out of a foldable table top he make-shifted. Nikolai was busy journaling everything that had happened thus far. Aurora was singing softly to herself as she added sticks to the fire. Desmond leaned back on the log and held his hands to the flames to feel warm. Skivvy and Keely rested in the artificially heated tent thanks to Audra’s magic with their stomachs growling for food. Skivvy was enjoying his newly made rabbit fur, foot wraps in order to distract himself from his growling stomach.

  Keely looked out of the tent and asked angrily, “How much longer? My stomach is already eating itself. Fawking starving!”

  “Five minutes!”

  “You said five minutes an hour ago!”

  “Can’t rush these things, okay? Besides, would’ve gone faster if your brother was a slightly better shot.”

  “I am still the best marksman here,” Kale yelled down from his tree. “I at least killed the damn rabbits!”

  “You’re the one who insisted on fresh meat and not the canned stuff, plus you wasted how many arrows? Six,” Audra yelled back at Kale.

  Kale shot an arrow down at Audra’s foot hitting the ground and she did not care. She picked up the arrow and tossed it in the wagon claiming it as hers. She said to Keely, “It’ll be done soon. Relax honey.”

  Keely huffed and threw herself into her sleeping bag. Skivvy chuckled to himself at her anger. She told him to fuck off cordially. He laughed and got out of the tent wrapping himself in his cloak.

  “Dinner,” Audra yelled out.

  Keely bolted from the tent knocking Nikolai face first into the ground and shoving Skivvy into the wagon. Ator was in front of her and she kicked him in the groin to get his food. Ator crumbled to the ground groaning in agony. Desmond, Aurora, and Audra were left silent by Keely’s animalistic desire for food. She had desperate and fiery eyes as she was hopping up and down like a starved animal for food. Kale effortless climbed down from the tree and calmly pulled Keely back as if he was restraining an overly excited dog.

  He said calmly to her in Elvish with his arms wrapped around her, “You need to relax sis. Everyone will get seconds. Besides, it’s your turn in the tree. You need to say sorry.”

  “I don’t care! FOOD,” she yelled excitedly.

  She wolfed down her bowl quickly burning her mouth and tongue. She didn’t care. She wanted more. Ator was on the ground riving in pain holding his crotch, but gave a weak thumbs up. Nikolai and Skivvy were shocked and annoyed. Nikolai in particular was annoyed because he was covered in dirt again. Audra looked at her concernedly as she gave her a ladle. Desmond and Aurora looked at Keely like worried parents.

  Kale mouthed silently in common to everyone, “I’m sorry.”

  He picked Keely up and threw her into the tree with the rope ladder dangling down. She sloppily climbed up and made it into the perch. Kale sighed and pinched his eyes and then proceeded to pick up Ator from the ground. He took the jerky pack from his haversack and threw it up at Keely. He finally sat down and sighed tiredly knowing that everyone was looking at him for explaining what the hell just happened.

  Everyone eventually got their food and some more. Ator got a third bowl and some of Kale’s jerky as a “sorry” for Keely. Keely was happily eating in the tree resting her rifle across her lap with no remorse for before. Skivvy stared up at the tree trying to make sense of her weirdness. Nikolai was just happy he finally got food and took his sweet time eating.

  Kale finished his bowl and said to everyone, “Sorry for her… Insatiableness.”

  “Kale… Damn, Audra that’s good stew… The hell was that about? Really,” Nikolai responded. “She never was this bad during training. I mean, yes, a few times she was desperate and crazy. Then again she is fucking crazy all things considered and that’s why we love her, but still... What the fuck?”

  “Heard that! You’re too young for that language, ya know,” Keely replied from the tree.

  Nikolai yelled back, “You’re welcome, bitch! Love you!”

  “You were saying,” Kale asked him. “About my sister?”

  “Yes… The hell was that, bro,” Nikolai asked in a flabbergasted manner. Skivvy knocked Nikolai to be nicer about it.

  Kale sighed and placed his bowl down. He grabbed a stick and threw it into the fire. He said whilst looking at the flames, “We had a terrible childhood if that wasn’t obvious enough… Despite being of Elvan nobility, our bastard father abandoned us because… We were ‘tainted’ and ‘unclean’ elves… The bastard married a human and disowned us for our mother dying giving birth to us… Fucking arsehole kept us around and didn’t even show love. Why keep us around then? The twat… Anyway we ran away one day. So, the both of us lived on the streets stealing food when we could. Hunted when we could. Lots of petty crime. She has always had that insatiable lust for food… I just hate seeing her be in pain because of hunger. Almost forgot what it was like sleeping without anything to eat since we entered the army. Even then, she would a still ravage any food she would find. Even during training in the mountains, she at least had a decent stash of food in her haversack during then… I apologize for that outburst. It won’t happen again.”

  Everyone stayed silent. Desmond felt bad for not realizing this. Aurora nodded silently in understanding as she was finishing her bowl. Skivvy nodded in understanding and so did Audra whilst she was hugging Skivvy to stay warm. Skivvy turned a little pink for a second enjoying Audra’s hug.

  Nikolai remarked apologetically, “That’s why you’re so protective of her, isn’t it? Explains a lot… I’m sorry you both went through that.”

  “It’s fine,” Kale said as he sighed and rubbed his forehead. “Besides, I’m impressed by Ator’s forgiveness.”

  Ator wolfed his bowl down and looked at everyone confused with the stew spilling from his mouth and asked, “What?”

  “Never mind big ox. Just don’t fart in the tent again,” Kale laughed.

  Audra put the cauldron away in her bag of holding after she went to check on the horses and ensured all the dishes were clean. She remarked jokingly to Kale, “You’re going soft… Haven’t heard you make a ‘I’m better than this because Elf BS’ all day.”

  “Guess I’m in a good mood… The stew was nice. Not Elvan quality nice, but nice nonetheless.”

  “There he is! But thank you anyway,” Audra said laughing.

  Kale looked up at the tree that Keely was in. He thought about the time both of them were sitting in an alley in Rodham City during a downpour. Both of them were in a dumpster finding shelter from the rain. They were only teenagers then. Keely was holding her stomach crying. Kale pulled out a piece of broken and wet bread he stole from the local baker. He handed it to her with his bloody knuckled hand. Keely broke off a piece for him, but he gave it back to her. She asked, “But… But you haven’t eaten?”

  “I’m fine. You need it more.”

  “Th – thanks… Do you think we will ever get back to father’s?”

  “We don’t need that pompous ass… We’ll be better than he’ll ever be. I’ll never leave you to starve or to struggle. That I promise,” teenaged Kale said. Keely rested her head on his shoulder and happily ate the bread.

  Kale whispered to himself as he looked at Keely taking watch in the tree, “I promise you.”

  He called it a night and went into the large tent. Skivvy followed shortly afterwards telling everyone goodnight. An hour later, Ator and Nikolai slowly went to bed as well. Audra did a last minute feed for the all the animals with help from Aurora and then called it a night in the wagon. She set up an arcane fire by the driver’s seat that was not going to burn the wood or anything in the cart. Before she passed out, she told Keely to wake her to take her spot. Only Aurora and Desmond were still awake staring into the campfire.

  Aurora kept thinking back on Tom pulling Desmond off to the side and how Desmond was refusing to tell her the truth of what Tom told him. She thought nervously and frustratingly, “Why would he not tell me? What did Tom tell you? Was he informed of my true mission or was he told something else unrelated? He said ‘personal matters.’ But what did he mean when he said that?”

  She looked over at Desmond who was throwing a few more sticks into the fire tiredly. She asked outright, “What did Tom tell you before you came out of the planning room?”

  “…”

  “Desmond… You can trust me. What was it? Something bad? What?”

  “I… I just can’t.”

  “Can’t?”

  “I can’t tell you, Aurora. I just can’t,” he said in a broken and tired voice. His scarred eye twitched slightly as he went to rub it. Aurora stared at him wondering why with a mix of skepticism and annoyance. She asked, “Something about the Dark One you haven’t told any of us?”

  “Not exactly.”

  “Then what? I think I’m – everyone on this journey is entitled to it! Why the secrecy? ”

  “When we get to the frozen mountains and after we meet the warlock… I will tell you. I swear it,” he said sternly with a slight tear from his scarred eye.

  Aurora sensed the conflict within Desmond and quietly backed off. She knew the talk with Tom had to be bad and serious. But she wasn’t sure of what or why exactly. She also felt as if her true mission was revealed to him and she worried about that deeply.

  Audra covered her mouth listening to both Aurora and Desmond. Keely was passed out in a blanket burrito in the tree sitting and resting comfortably. Desmond and Aurora finally called it a night and went to sleep in the tent. Audra quietly got up to wake up Keely. Audra shook Keely awake with Keely snapping up saying, “I’m awake! I didn’t fall asleep on watch again!”

  “Shh! My turn to take watch,” Audra said holding her scimitar and repeating crossbow. Keely said, “Remember how to shoot this thing?”

  She handed her rifle to Audra.

  Audra rolled her eyes and said, “Yes. We all took the gunners course back in training.”

  “I want it clean tomorrow morning,” Keely said handing off the cleaning kit. “She is my EVERYTHING! Understand?”

  “And us and your brother don’t count?”

  “Like I said… MY EVERYTHING!”

  “Kee… You are fucking weird, you know that?”

  “I try. Besides you love me anyway.”

  “Whatever… Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight, love,” Keely whispered whilst climbing down.

  Audra sat on the perch and looked into the darkness of the forest with only the fire shinning below her providing the only light. She sat there wondering about what Desmond and Aurora were talking about.