Chapter 33
Benny
The darkness of night had fallen as they walked down the path, gradually putting more distance between themselves and his sister and Roya with each step.
Benny didn’t really want to go on this trip. Fucking Ojore. Why did he have to split apart from them like this?
He understood his wish to reach his people and protect them, but advancing without any plan? That was senseless.
He also could not shake the overwhelming feeling that something was wrong.
Fucking fool, he thought, and chuckled to himself, knowing those were Roya’s words.
The scenery had slowly changed from green, rolling hills to semi-arid with strange, thorn-filled plants he had never seen before. Askold had—of course—been the first to touch one of them and had a welt on his fingertip now as a result.
Askold prattled on beside them, trying to flirt with both of the new Corvids.
Vira and Sepher were courteous to him, though their replies remained brief.
He hesitated to ask them to check in with Roya because, although he knew she was strong and capable, he still felt worried for her.
He would ask them to check in later. He knew if something happened to the other group, Roya would say.
Unless… Something happened to Roya, and they had no way to communicate.
They should have found another Corvid to go with them.
Benny realized he was smitten with Roya from the moment she appeared in his apartment and threatened him while he sat in that chair. She was incredible. He trusted her ability to handle herself, and her dedication to Seda made him smile as he walked.
“What are you thinking about?” Vira asked, pulling away from Askold and leaving Sephyr behind with the wooing idiot.
Benny felt the heat of a blush crest his cheeks. “Roya,” he admitted.
Vira smiled. “Roya is quite special, isn’t she? She’s been the Corvid leader since her father passed away a long time ago.”
“Yeah, she really is,” Benny replied.
“You’re lucky to have her as an ally.”
He was. But he didn’t just want to be her ally. He wanted more. He didn’t just want brief moments of passion between them. Could he ever get more from being with her?
“We should stop before we reach the wall,” Vira said. “In case the Jotnar are still lurking there.”
“That’s a good idea,” he said and held his hand up, stopping the others. “We make camp.”
They set up a small camp between two large cacti, as Sephyr called them, and built a fire. Vira and Sephyr shifted into their Corvid forms and circled the area, watching for any activity, as Benny and Askold sat down in the rough dirt.
“You should stop trying to flirt with them. They aren’t interested,” Benny suggested.
Askold chuckled and feigned shock by placing his hand over his heart. “I’m offended,” he said. “My flirts are the best thing since sliced bread. I think Vira might like me.”
“I highly doubt that,” Benny replied and shook his head.
“Do you think they’re okay? Do you think they’ll be able to get the stone from the monster?” Askold asked of the others, his voice taking a serious tone.
Benny was silent for a moment before he admitted, “I really hope so.”
Sephyr suddenly flew down and shifted into her small human form. She pointed to the far distance.
“Unipacas,” she said.
A few miles away, they could see bright blue lights streaking through the darkness.
“W-What’s a Unipaca?” Askold asked as he stood and reached for his sword.
She held her hand over his, lowering his sword. “Magical beasts with two-toed feet. They have a horn on their head. Not known for attacking unless provoked.”
Benny watched the glowing blue lights streak across the distance. “We need to sneak past any Jotnar we come across. We’re not strong enough to fight them,” Benny said, shifting the focus back to their journey.
Sephyr nodded in response and sat between the two men, offering a hesitant smile to Askold. He perked up and puffed up his chest, readying himself.
“Don’t,” Benny said, holding up his hand. “I don’t want to hear it anymore.”
Askold deflated and muttered something like “jerk,” then lay down in the dirt and rolled over to face away from them.
Sephyr chuckled and shook her head.
“I can only imagine how you feel,” Benny said to her.
“I can hear you,” Askold responded with a groan. “I’m literally right here.”
Sephyr smiled at him and looked across the distance, watching the Unipacas move across the land. A bright beam of light made the darkness of night abate for a brief moment.
“What did it do?” Benny asked as he pointed.
“Who knows. But you don’t ever want to be on the receiving end of that,” Sephyr said.
He nervously watched as the light receded into itself, and darkness once more descended around their camp. But before the light was gone, a dark shadow in the far distance moved.
“Fuck,” he said as he stood. “There’s a Jotnar out there.”
Vira swooped down from the sky and shifted forms, quickly stamping out the campfire. “Jotnar in the distance. No fires,” she said.
Askold shot up and looked around warily. “Are we okay here?”
“Maybe… It was far off. One was fighting against the Unipaca herd and went down with that light. But another was closer to us. It’s concerning that they’re over the wall.”
“FUCK!” Askold shouted.
“Shhh!” Sephyr scolded through a seething whisper. “We need to be quiet. The campfire might already have given us away. We’re moving. Now.”
They quickly grabbed their belongings and moved away from the blazing embers, quietly heading closer toward the wall.