Chapter 25 #2
Glaring, I continued climbing until I finally pulled myself up and over the last ledge.
Cynthia was still climbing, and I smirked as I stepped onto the wide, arching path.
It was wide enough for an ogre to walk comfortably, and I didn’t bother waiting for Cynthia as I started to walk up it.
Cynthia’s curses floated to me, and smug satisfaction rose in my chest as I heard her panting breaths as she ran after me.
“Dick,” I heard her murmur again as she finally caught up and my hand twitched at my side in annoyance. Cynthia must have seen as she once again started talking.
“Your constant twitching makes me believe you need to talk about something, Theo.” My name on her lips sent a shiver running through me, but I kept my gaze forward, mouth tightly shut.
“You kept squirming the entire journey here, and the muscles in your jaw keep flexing, which means you are carrying a lot of pent-up emotions. You can talk about them if you like. I mean, how long is this journey anyway? Might do you some good.”
Did this girl ever shut up? Rolling my shoulders, I continued to ignore her, hoping my silence would be obvious enough that I did not want to talk.
“Keeping your emotions locked up like that will only cause your cock to shrivel and fall off.”
I stumbled, my eyes widening as I stopped short. My head snapped towards her. Cynthia was grinning, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she laughed, her hand going to her mouth to stifle another giggle.
“You should definitely see your face right now. It’s pretty priceless.”
Her smile was intoxicating, and I almost let out a laugh with her. I had to hand it to her… she knew how to break the tension. I merely shook my head at her, a small laugh leaving my lips as I stepped forward again.
“The moment you mention a man’s dick, they freak out. It’s so predictable, you know? Anyway, as I was saying, you don’t want your cock to fall off, so you might as well talk about it. I can see you are upset about something. I know when I have a lot on my mind, talking helps me, maybe it would—”
I spun around and stepped in front of her. Her sparkling brown eyes widened as she nearly ran into my chest.
“Do you ever stop talking?”
She rolled her eyes, and my stomach did a flip, every nerve in my body buzzing as my gaze drifted to her lips.
Cynthia raised an eyebrow, as if waiting for something, and I let out a long, frustrated breath. “What?” I growled, and she scoffed as if I should know why she was looking at me like that.
“You know you are a real prick. You really don’t listen.
Do you treat everyone this way or just me?
” Her hand flew in the air between us, and I took a step back as she swatted at air.
“You know what? Don’t even answer that, I already know the answer.
That stick up your ass must be real splintery by now, must be why you are always so tense, can't handle all the—”
“Stop. Talking,” I groaned, closing my eyes in defeat. I took two steadying breaths as silence finally settled around us.
When I opened my eyes, however, Cynthia was no longer in front of me. My chest tightened, and I spun around to find her lumbering up the path. She glanced over her shoulder, her plump lips lifting into a half smile as she shouted, “Looks like it’s you slowing us down, not me.”
This girl was going to be the death of me.
A small smile crept its way onto my face but I quickly replaced it with a scowl. Damn it, no. Theo, you can't like this girl.
A roar shattered the silence, sending a flurry of pixies and birds scattering from the surrounding forest in alarm.
I sprinted toward Cynthia, reaching behind and drawing one of my axes from my back.
Cynthia produced twin daggers from fates knew where, and I cursed under my breath at the sight of them.
Where the fuck did she get those? I had made it clear that she couldn't have a weapon.
“What was that?” I heard her breathe, and I shook my head, scanning the treeline.
A massive oozing daka crashed down onto the path in front of us.
I ran forward, placing myself in front of Cynthia but the daka didn’t move, and my brows furrowed as I watched its green blood flow over the dirt.
Glancing to the right, I spotted Mortimer, the ogre clan leader, emerging from the towering pines. The trees groaned as he pushed through them, trunks bending aside to make room for his massive form, and a grin broke across my face as I sheathed my weapon.
Mortimer grinned back, but it fell when his gaze landed on Cynthia. I could tell Mortimer didn’t know what to make of her, and she still held her weapons high in the air towards him. I cleared my throat loudly. Ogres were very easily offended, and she needed to put her weapons down.
Cynthia shot me a sharp look, but after noticing my weapons were put away, she reluctantly lowered hers—though she didn’t sheathe them.
Mortimer was one of the elder ogres, far less insecure than most. He was covered head to toe in thick green moss that blanketed nearly every inch of him except his pale gray face and some small patches on his hands and feet.
He wore the usual deerskin outfit like the rest of his people, though he only wore a skirt around his waist, leaving his mossy chest bare.
“Looks like we made it just in time for dinner,” I called, keeping my grin plastered in place as I nodded toward the daka.
This had been lucky, really. We still had a considerable journey to their encampment at the summit, and Mortimer's arrival just saved us the trip and from having to stay the night.
Now we could return to camp and continue our journey back home.
We would now reach Blackrock much sooner than expected.
Mortimer’s gaze flicked back to me, weariness still heavy in his gaze.
“Always a feast with these beasts sulking around,” he boomed, his voice deep and rich. “What do we owe the visit, Theo? Good news, I hope?”
My grin faltered. “I’m afraid things have gotten worse, friend.” I scratched the back of my neck. “I’m here on orders from the King. He’s requesting more of your men join us at the front. Things have escalated, and we fear the battle will happen soon.”
Mortimer nodded, his stone-like face falling as his eyes drifted to the lifeless daka. “So much death these past centuries,” he murmured, voice low and somber.
“I know.” I clenched my fists. “But we need all the help we can get, Mortimer. Your clan is the strongest we have and this is our best shot at defeating Morgana once and for all.”
Mortimer did not reply, only continued to stare at the dead daka.
I stepped closer, my throat constricting.
“I’m afraid I also come with other news.
” Mortimer met my gaze, and every muscle in my body went taught.
“Flynn,” I managed to choke out, shaking my head as I stared at the ground.
It was the first time I had said his name out loud since it happened, and something in my chest cracked.
“Flynn is no longer…” I whispered. “He fought in the attack at Blackrock… and he didn’t make it. ”
A ringing filled my ears, and I felt a tear fall down my cheek as I raised my gaze to meet Mortimer’s.
Mortimer let out a wail that filled the air, his face twisting in pain as large drops of water fell from his eyes.
Cynthia was suddenly at my side, her hand resting gently on my shoulder.
I made the mistake of glancing her way. She didn’t know Flynn, but her brown eyes were wide, full of concern.
I stepped back, her hand falling away, yet I could still feel the heat of her touch, like a brand.
I cleared my throat, trying to pull myself together but the grief had already flooded me.
I felt like I was drowning, flailing for something solid that was no longer there.
By sheer force of will, I straightened and looked up again.
Mortimer was hunched over, head in his hands, his deep sobs echoing through the woods.
I stepped forward, placing a hand on his moss-covered shin.
“I’m sorry, Mortimer. The funeral is tomorrow, but Xavier needs you and your clan to start heading toward the ward.
We are unfortunately out of time. He knows how close you were to Flynn, and wanted to make sure you were told in person. ”
I winced as I said the words… Dedra had been told in a letter. Xavier hated it, too. But we needed the ogres’ respect, their loyalty. Delivering the news in person mattered—it was the only way to keep their trust, to get Mortimer and his clan to agree to fight. Dedra would forgive me. She had to.
I pulled my hand away from Mortimer's shin, and he looked down at me from between his fingers. His voice cracked as he said, “For Flynn, you will have my men. I'll send them there as soon as they're ready.”
I just nodded, a faint, sad smile on my lips. “I will see you on the battlefield then, my friend.” And with those parting words, I turned, grabbing Cynthia's arm and headed back down the path.
“Do you—” Cynthia’s soft, whispered voice sounded, but I cut her off.
“No. I don’t want to talk about it.” The words came out sharper than I intended, and I let go of her arm.
“I'm sorry that you lost someone,” she breathed, and I felt her gaze on the side of my face.
“Me too.”