Chapter 16 #2
“The name is Crag.” The leader reached around Al, offering a soiled hand.
“Eager, are we?” Al mumbled.
“Not every day you see a beautiful witch on the road.”
“Where are you coming from?” she asked.
Al raised a brow at her.
“East.”
The shink of daggers being sheathed surrounded her. The squad members shifted side to side, seemingly ready to move on.
“Near the Deadlands?” she asked. “Have you heard of any movement beyond?”
Crag furrowed his brows at her. His curious look told her she’d maybe said too much, but Sera didn’t care. She needed information, and if the squad had been near the Deadlands, near anything that might resemble a doorway, she needed to mark it on her map and find more of them.
“We have.” Crag turned from her and looked at Al.
“You may speak freely. We’re on a mission for the Council.”
The stained fabric of Crag’s coat crunched when he crossed his arms. “There is talk that Ceasefall has been reoccupied. Rumbles of marching hordes have reportedly been felt below the surface. Something is brewing.”
So she was right. The demons did move their armies through tunnels underground.
It had only made the most sense. She’d read texts discussing the first battles; though speculation was minimal, they’d hinted at it.
Most of the relevant pages were missing, as if the authors of those diaries didn’t want the information leaked.
“Thank you, that’s useful. Can you tell us exactly where you felt the rumbling?” she asked the squad leader. He sucked on his teeth before answering.
“South of Ironoak. Can’t quite say how far south—maybe a day or two’s travel?”
“Thank you, that’s helpful,” Alistair said, crossing his arms. Clearly, he was ready for this conversation to be over.
“We’ll be off, then.” Crag saluted Al.
The troop walked past them, and Sera released a breath when the clawing around her memories ceased.
“Crag,” Al called out to the squad leader. “Be mindful. A demon lord is hanging around Crowpass.”
“Aye, Captain. We’ll journey south, then.”
The two soldiers nodded to each other in farewell.
“He’s below you in rank, then?” Sera asked Al, who’d already started eastward.
“I’m the youngest captain in the Legion,” Alistair said so matter-of-factly that she would have thought the rank didn’t mean anything to him. But she noticed a tightness to his shoulders, a more stilted way of walking.
“He’s so much older than you. How do they determine rank?”
Alistair glanced at her over his shoulder, and his jaw flexed. Then he said, “By the depth of your well… and the number of demons you kill.”
At mid-sun, they’d taken a break. Alistair was hunting for their evening meal somewhere deep in the forest. Sera settled at the trunk of a tree, the damp from decayed leaves seeping into her trousers.
She leaned against the bark and took a moment to open her journal, enjoying the tweets and chirps of faraway birds.
I have successfully seduced a lifeline reader to spy for me. You’re welcome. Also, let’s keep away from the demon lords for now? I really can’t handle losing a second Wildrick. Actually, that’s not true. Your mother could turn to dust for all I care.
Sera responded.
And here I thought you’d go through a dry spell without me to wing-woman for you. Funny how you don’t share your details.
She could almost picture Dom’s indignation through the page. And oh, how she wished she could see it.
A crashing of branches, breaking sticks, and whipping leaves had her snapping her barrier into place.
Alistair emerged from a thicket holding a screeching green creature high above his head, then dropped the thing at her feet.
The creature curled into a tight ball, its ears enormous compared to its tiny head. Large brown eyes almost bulged from their sockets, above a button nose and wide mouth.
“I found it sniffing around.” Al crossed his arms, disgust on his face.
A sickly-sweet smell of fear rolled off the creature.
“A goblin?” Sera kept her voice low so as not to startle him.
“You know what he is?”
“I’m a keeper, remember?” The goblin held itself tighter and shivered.
His brown eyes barely peeked over his protruding kneecaps.
“It’s okay,” she said, softening her features.
“Come here.” She extended her hand, holding out the piece of jerky Al had given her that morning.
The goblin straightened his neck, and Sera dared to move closer.
“It’s all right, little one, I won’t hurt you. ”
The goblin eyed the dried meat in her hand, then swiped it.
“He must have been following us for a while,” Alistair offered. “I’ve been sensing demon magic for miles.”
“I don’t know what’s more concerning, the fact that you can now smell demons or that you haven’t told me you’re sensing them.” She lifted her brow at him, and he glared at the ground.
“Don’t feed it,” Alistair said.
“He’s half starved.” Sera reached into her pack, looking for more food. “What’s your name?” she asked the little creature.
“I doubt it speaks. They aren’t known for being the most intelligent beasts.” Alistair picked up his pack and swung it onto his shoulder. The wind swayed the crowns of the trees along the skyline.
The goblin looked at Alistair and hissed.
“I think he’s smart enough.” Sera giggled and patted his head. “Do you have a name?”
“Sssssnnnnnnkkkkk,” the goblin sounded.
“Ssnnkk?” Sera tried to repeat.
“Sssnnniikkkk.”
“Snik?” Sera asked. The goblin smiled. The corners of his mouth almost reached the base of his ears in an expression she assumed was supposed to be endearing.
“All right, Snik. I can’t give you any more. We have to leave now.” Hoisting her pack onto her shoulder, she followed Alistair into the forest.
Snik followed them for hours, prompting Alistair to comment multiple times on how terrible an idea it was to have him around. Whenever they heard a rustle, Sera would turn back and wink at the green beastie.
“Stop encouraging him.”
“Stop saying that,” Sera responded, her voice echoing through the dense forest as they continued on a deer path.
“We don’t have time or resources to keep a pet,” Alistair countered while lifting a tree branch above his head and holding it for Sera to pass under. “Plus, he is considered a demon.”
“He’s a creature in need. Not a pet. A being of Shadow.” If she had to insist on it, she would. She glanced back at the goblin, and he mimicked her wink from earlier and closed the distance between them.
Snik seemed determined to accompany them along their path, and she wouldn’t turn him away.