Chapter 36: Through head
"Why are we given one tent to share again?" Kaedros asked with a yawn as he looked around the small enclosure.
Taria shifted beside him, still wrapped in a blanket. She squinted at him through one eye, then shut them again as the sunlight filtered into the tent. "They probably thought we were couples," she mumbled.
’..or they want to keep an eye on us..’ Kaedros thought, but he didn’t say it aloud. He shoved the tent flap aside and stepped out into the morning light. "The sun rose quickly today."
They hadn’t dared light a fire the previous night, monsters were too active in the dark, but now a fire crackled between stacked logs. Han, the broad-shouldered warrior, was turning meat over the flames. "I thought you wouldn’t wake up again, newbie. Long night?" he sneered.
Kaedros frowned. What was he talking about? Was he referring to their journey yesterday? He didn’t feel tired. "Rauk said we wouldn’t be moving until the sun came out anyway."
"Good morning, Kael," Rauk called from the far side of the camp, eating from a wooden plate piled with meat. Knight Vexa stood behind him, one hand on her sword.
"Good morning," Kaedros returned the greeting. Then, glancing at the figure behind him, he asked, "Are you tired from last night too?"
Taria froze mid-motion, and when everyone except Kael turned to her with knowing smirks or lifted brows, she flushed. "I’m just tired from all the walking!" she snapped, storming off to the bucket to wash her face. Seriously. Kael didn’t know how to talk sometimes, he could seem... innocent to her.
The White steel gathered around Han for their portion of meat, and Taria quickly collected hers.
"We’ll continue like yesterday. Minimal noise. Stay alert," said Thandor after breakfast. "We’re going deeper today, keep your senses sharp."
They gathered their belongings into one pile. Rauk swept his ring over the gear, and it all vanished into storage.
Their journey resumed. Thandor led, followed by Rauk’s group, with the White steel bringing up the rear.