Chapter 84: Good Morning
Zarian and Naomi were sitting side by side on the kitchen counter, their shoulders leaned up against each other. They were trading boot camp stories and laughing at the hilarious or embarrassing moments they’d faced during their formative months as basic Marines.
There wasn’t anything left in the kitchen. Everything was packed up, sold, or donated to a new charitable effort Arnold of Ambrose was setting up.
Zarian rubbed his hand over the fancy marble counter as he and Naomi had a comfortable lull in the conversation. Golden dawn light peaked through the windows in the gray, hazy morning. Another day arrived, and both Marines could hear the great commotion of soldiers, acolytes, and friends stirring to action.
Thankfully, everything they needed for the caravan journey north was already prepared. The noble soldiers only needed to hitch up wagons to the hexaoxen and travel drakes, the latter being large, scaly beasts of burden who were sometimes easier to work with.
Apparently, there was no such thing as horses in this world. At least not the type that the Floridians would know.
“I thought you wanted to avoid all of this responsibility,” Naomi said, knocking her shoulder into his.
“I was a boy then. Now, as a man who can carry mountains on my shoulders, I don’t mind as much. It’s a new game to play.”
“Yeah?”
“Can I get a perfect score by keeping them all alive? At least until it’s time to part ways.”