Chapter Five #2
“We’re going to need to dry our stuff now as well.” Hunter says.
“There’s a spell stone that the earth witches make but I don’t usually bother with them sorry.” Kysen says as we nudge our horses into a trot.
“Spell stone?” I ask curiously.
“Wow they really didn’t teach you anything did they?” He says incredulously.
“Nope, although we had only been there for a few days before we had to leave so some of this stuff they might have covered.” I reply.
We gave him the short version of events on the ride into town earlier but left some things out that weren’t necessary for him to know.
“I seriously hope so.” He says shaking his head, “Spell stones are well stones, depending on what type they are depends on what sort of spells they can hold. The drying spell is quite common but not everybody can do it, it’s stored in a stone made of citrine, you say a word that triggers the spell and that’s it.
They have them for all sorts of things but they can be quite pricey so its normally easier just to do it without magic if you can. ”
“That is so cool!” I exclaim unable to help myself.
“Citrine is a kind of gemstone, so I assume that different gemstones are able to contain different spells?” Maverick asks, his eyes alight with happy curiosity.
“Yeah that’s right. Some kinds can be good for more than one use as well but that depends on the strength of the caster. They are also extremely rare so very expensive.” He grins. “The clearing is just through here.”
He leads off of the dirt road and down a path only big enough for one horse at a time even then I have to duck underneath the odd branch.
We take a couple more small side paths before we finally get to a small clearing this one is a lot smaller than the one we slept in last night but there’s just about enough room for what we need.
Everyone gets off their horses and sets about tying them securely and getting on with the tasks that they all did last night, Kysen fitting right in.
It’s obvious that he’s used to this sort of thing.
I stay atop Dave for a second longer just staring up at the incredible trees, I can’t see the top of them not even a hint that’s how tall they are.
They’re so beautiful, with their wide jewel green leaves.
My smile widens as I spot Knot swooping through the high branches towards me, Ghost’s much larger form flying behind her.
Not able to take the same route as Knot’s more slimline form.
They both dive down towards me before smoothly coming to a land on each of my shoulders. Ghost nuzzles the very top of my head with his own, gently pulling at my braid as Knot nudges my cheek gently with her soft head.
“Just where the hell do you think you two have been!?” I exclaim.
I’ve gotten used to Knot disappearing on me but Nyx made out that Ghost wouldn’t want to since he’s new to the whole familiar thing.
“Erm what!?” Kysen asks sounding semi hysterical and just about done with all the new surprises now.
“They’ve been gone since just after we came through the portal, highly unhelpful since Knot at least should know more about this realm than I do.” I reply giving Knot a raised eyebrow look, she nods once and Kysen makes a strange choking noise.
“I think what he meant was more along the lines of, how and why are two massive ravens sat on your shoulders, Titch.” Hunter says sounding amused as he watch me and Kysen.
“That . . .” Kysen says pointing to them as if that will give me more information about what he’s confused about.
“They’re my familars.”
“You have two!?” He asks his voice filled with shock and curiosity before a wide grin crosses his features and he moves closer. “That is so cool, may i?”
He stretches his hand out towards Knot.
“Sure one second let me get down first.” I get off of Dave, Knot and Ghost moving off my shoulders whilst I do so and then settling themselves back down.
You’d think that I’d find them too heavy especially since neither of them are average sized ravens but surprisingly they aren’t at all. I can feel the reassuring weight of them both perched on either shoulder but it’s not uncomfortable and it certainly doesn’t hurt.
I wonder if its my magic or their magic as familiars that has that effect. I hope someday I have someone who I can ask all of these questions because to be honest I’m getting sick of it, please Nyx? I silently beg.
“Soon Daughter, it will all make sense.” Nyx’s voice whispers through my mind a fills me with at least some reassurance.
I smile softly.
“Can I?” Kysen asks.
“Huh?” I reply unsure what he’s talking about.
“Stroke them, is that ok?”
“Oh sure.” I reply and chuckle as they each nuzzle his hands.
“This is nuts, no one has had a familiar for decades some of the older supernaturals, like really really old ones have them but they were the last generation.” He says absently.
“I knew it was rare but I had no idea that it was that rare.” I reply.
“I’m going to go and catch us some dinner.” Hunter says, transforming in seconds into his wolf form which is as big as the horses.
“Whoa.” Kysen exclaims, before turning to me and grinning as Hunter darts into the forest, for a big animal he can move bloody fast and silent. “I wonder if I’ll ever get used to the surprises that you guys keep throwing my way.” He muses and I grin.
“I think we have a couple more shocks to give you before we’re done.”
“You say that like you know something?” Kysen says his eyes sharpening showing his more serious side.
I just shrug.
“So are you going to tell me where you were?” I ask Knot effectively changing the subject.
“Scouting and training.” She speaks into mind.
I look between her and Ghost.
“Training Ghost?” I ask and she nods. “That’s great. Can you show me something?” I ask Ghost and he caws once rubbing his face against mine and then winking.
The others stop the various tasks that they’re doing and watch Ghost. He takes off from my shoulder and starts to circle like he’s warming up. Maverick comes over to me and puts his arm around me. I feel like I haven’t seen him properly in forever and I snuggle in sighing happily.
“I missed you.” I hum quietly.
“Missed you too, Sweetheart.” He replies quietly kissing the top of my head.
We watch as Ghost continues his circles before he suddenly changes direction and flies straight towards one of the giant surrounding trees. He doesn’t slow down the closer he gets and I know for certain that he’s not going to stop in time and he could really hurt himself.
Before I can call out to try to stop him, although I’m not sure how, he evaporates into black and purple mist, finer than the smoke that my Nyx swords appear in but similar in a way.
“Holy fuck.” I exclaim as he bursts out of the other side of the tree and reforms.
He did something similar when the Creep nearly got him again but I sort of thought it was a one off sort of thing.
“That’s nuts.” Jax says excitedly.
“I second that.” Kysen agrees.
“I wonder what else he can do?” Kai asks.
“I guess we’ll find out together, to be honest I still don’t know everything that Knot can do. She’s not new like Ghost though.” I say thoughtfully.
“New?” Kysen asks sounding confused.
“It’s a long story.” I chuckle.
“Come on dude, lets go get some firewood and I’ll explain it.” Kai chuckles, slapping Kysen on the shoulder as he moves past.
“Wait up, I’ll come too.” Jax calls following them in.
Whilst they’re gone everyone else gets on with their jobs and Hunt returns with enough rabbits for us all.
“Where are they?” Levi asks sitting next to me on one of the logs surrounding the unlit fire pit.
I tilt my face up to him and dips his, kissing me long and slow making my toes curl.
“No idea, it doesn’t usually take them this long to get fire wood.” Maverick answers once me and Levi finally part.
Rustling in the undergrowth has us all turning in that direction and I’m honestly not sure that I believe what I’m seeing.
“Where the fuck is your shoe?” Levi asks Kai incredulously making Kysen and Jax burst into loud laughter that they were barely containing.
“The bog demanded a sacrifice.” Kai answers seriously, “my boot was an unwilling one.”
That does it, we are all instantly in fits of laughter.
“I told you, you should do your laces up properly.” Maverick chuckles, “I meant because of the disadvantage it gives you in a fight but this works too.”
Kai sticks his middle finger up at him.
Fortunately he also got a pair of boots in his pile of clothes from Kysen just like I did but he chose to keep his other ones on. At least he’s not going to be riding barefoot tomorrow until we get to the next town.
We all settle around the fire and start to prepare our rabbits.
I glance around just appreciating that all my guys are with me.
It’s crazy to think how far we’ve come. As my gaze lands on Kysen I notice he has this glazed look on features before he smiles slightly and his face clears.
Something about the look strikes me as familiar but I can’t put my finger on why.
“You know Centre’s don’t normally fight. Their bonded fight but they never do. Soulmate Bonded groups are so rare now that they protect them as much as they can.” Kysen says distracting me from my thoughts.
“Well we’re a team, we’re equals.” Levi starts, “Sage has our backs just as much as we’ve got hers.”
“I can see that. It’s impressive.” Kysen smiles.
The rest of the evening we spend talking before we decide who is doing the watch shift first and the rest of us all settle down.