Chapter 54
Darrow
The village of Tempess was small, with fewer than five hundred inhabitants. Their modest clay homes surrounded a single well that everyone shared. The Oarwar Desert was unforgiving, but an interesting mixture of faeries and goblins had adapted to living here.
Over the centuries, their bodies had adjusted to the climate.
Their hair and skin had darkened to brown tones that blended with the environment, their eyelids and lashes were thicker to protect their eyes, and the faeries' wings were sturdier than those of their northern counterparts.
They also moved as if they had the rest of their lives to complete their tasks.
The high summer temperatures must have led them to take their time with chores and to rarely feel a sense of urgency, a habit that seemed to continue for the rest of the year.
I shifted on my feet. “We need six desert cats—not three.”
“They can handle two of you at once,” the goblin replied as he led the third toward us.
“No.” I gestured at the mining gear we brought with us, sitting in a neat pile. “We have supplies they’ll have to carry as well, and more on the way back.”
He wiggled his broad nose. “You’ll be taking all my cats, then. What am I supposed to do if someone else needs one?”
“How often do you have customers?” I asked.
“Once or twice a month now that the weather has cooled some.”
Cooled was a deceptive term in this place.
By that, he meant the weather during the day was now similar to the temperature Veronna experienced in early summer—moderate heat.
The Oarwar Desert would become almost cold for about a month in mid-winter, but that was the worst it got in this region with the sun out. Night was a different matter.
“We should only be gone until tomorrow evening. If you have any customers who come before then, they can wait,” I said firmly, then I tossed a sack of gold coins at him.
He deftly caught it and inspected the bag, eyes lighting up.
High fae with wealth did not pass through this region often, so most travelers likely paid the bare minimum.
If it helped the goblin move a little faster, it was worth the price.
I’d had to pay more than that when we came to Oarwar a couple of months ago from the opposite end of the desert.
That village did a lot more trade with Veronna and the southern Andalagar territory, so their cats were in higher demand.
“For this much, you can have all six. I’ll even include something extra that will keep you warmer at night,” he said, rushing away before I could respond.
He returned with a pile of exquisitely woven blankets in various patterns, each with tassels at the ends. Aella moved toward him, touching a crimson-and-black one on top. “These are beautiful.”
“My wife and daughters made them right here in Tempess.” The goblin beamed at her. “If you like them, you may purchase them upon your return.”
I scowled. We did not need more blankets at Crystal Castle, considering we had an entire chamber full of them near the laundry.
I knew since I’d hidden from my father in there many times while growing up.
Shelves were stacked with folded linens and duvets of all colors and styles, creating perfect nooks for wayward children.
“Oh, yes. We’d love to have them all,” Aella said, giving the goblin a kind smile.
His short, stout body practically shook with excitement. “Excellent!”
Curse the nameless ones, I could hardly refuse her when she was finally showing signs of happiness after her friend’s betrayal. “If it pleases my wife, I will be happy to pay for them.”
She turned to me and winked with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
It was only then that I realized what she’d done, having forgotten she could sense my emotions.
I only blocked them if I felt something particularly strong I didn’t want to share with her, but not this time.
Aella knew very well I had no desire to buy them.
Well done. I fell right into your trap.
She kept her gaze on the goblin, with no sign she’d heard my voice in her mind. Of course, you did.
How could you be so sure I’d go along with it? I asked.
You have been going out of your way these past weeks to do anything that makes me happy. I’ve pretended not to notice, but I’m aware you’re trying to earn my trust. You’ve still got a long road to travel, dear husband, especially after how you handled our birthdays.
I inwardly groaned. And I thought you were the more merciful one between us.
Maybe I’ve been learning from an excellent teacher.
There was nothing I could say to that without sinking deeper into the hole I’d dug for myself, so I ordered everyone to prepare for departure. Another goblin arrived with the final three cats, each large feline with a patchwork of beige and brown fur.
They stretched their legs and eyed us with expressions ranging from curiosity to disdain.
Everyone took one, leaving an extra for the supplies Jax and Loden strapped on top of her.
The animals were so large that it wasn’t that much of a burden.
Their backs were almost as high as horses, so it was quite a stretch settling on them without saddles.
After we left the village, we picked up the pace. Our journey spanned a little over ten miles. The first leg wouldn’t be too terrible, but according to the map we’d brought, we’d run into the area of hissing cacti eventually.
It remained to be seen if Aella could keep the prickly flora calm, but if anyone could do it, it would be her.
The goblin had warned that should any of his animals die, then I would be liable for each one we lost. Our other option was to go around, but that would add about four miles to our journey and put us at the edge of another dangerous territory.
I couldn’t yet say what would be worse. We had survived our encounter with a giant sandworm a couple of months ago, but we nearly lost a desert cat, and it drained most of our magic to take it down. How would we fare against sentient cacti with territorial issues?
A few miles into the journey, many of us grew restless, constantly shifting on our cats.
Except for the occasional tumbleweed, pile of rocks, or scraggly tree, there was nothing to break the monotony.
At this time of year, the insects were even fewer since they required high temperatures to thrive in the desert climate.
“I can’t believe I’m complaining about how boring this trip is so far,” Jax said, sighing. “We haven’t seen snakes, lizards, or any animals to liven things up.”
Faina gave him a pointed look. “If a multitude of venomous snakes suddenly attacks us, I swear I’ll spend my entire afterlife making you miserable.”
“Most of the reptiles and amphibians have begun hibernation by now,” Loden said factually.
Jax rolled his eyes. “Did you know that before or after we began planning this trip?”
“Before.”
“Of course, you did,” he grumbled. “It’s a wonder you find any women interested in you, considering how boring you are. Do you read in bed while you’re going at it?”
“You’d be surprised how many of them appreciate those of us with brains. It means we might actually know where their pleasure centers are and can bring them to greater fulfillment.” Loden gave a careless shrug. “No female has left my bed without being fully satisfied.”
Jax stiffened and worked his jaw. “I was too drunk that one time, so it doesn’t count.”
“Oh, it counts.” Faina laughed. “That poor fairy spent weeks telling everyone how you couldn’t find her…”
“What is that?” I asked, interrupting my sister. Something ahead had caught my attention.
Unlike sentient beings, flora didn’t trigger my senses, but the odd shape ahead was definitely moving straight for us. It was too far away to make out yet.
“We should veer around it,” Loden suggested.
Aella squinted. “I think it’s hopping, but it’s too large to be a frog, and not the right shape.”
That would be her first thought.
“It is headed straight for us, so I doubt we have an option to go around it,” I said, resigning myself to face whatever threat came toward us now.
The cats grew restless, slowing their pace and swishing their large tails. We kept glancing at each other as the hopping form came closer and closer. About the time I could begin to make out its shape, Aella gasped.
“Wait here,” she said, sliding off her cat.
I dismounted from mine as well, moving swiftly to catch up to her.
“Good luck, you two,” Jax called out as we hurried across the flat sandy ground.
My wife glanced over at me. “I think it’s a hissing cactus out by itself.”
“What? Why would it be nearly two miles from its territory?” I asked.
She gestured toward the bouncing plant a short distance ahead. “They grow to about four feet high, but this one can’t be more than a foot. It’s a baby and must have wandered off.”
“Since when do plants wander off?”
Sometimes being around my wife felt like I’d entered an alternate reality.
Except when confronted by dangerous flora, I’d done my best to avoid knowing much about them.
My ability to hold them still or crush them with my mind meant I didn’t need to learn their individual characteristics. They could all be stopped the same way.
Aella gave me an exasperated look. “Any of the mobile ones can do it, but most stay close to others of their kind, so it’s rare.” She stopped and put a hand on my chest. “Stay right here.”
As she crept closer to the little green cactus, I took my first good look at it.
The plant had two straight, roundish legs with stringy brown roots curling under its feet, two arms that bent upward, and an elongated head.
Throughout its body were tiny holes. As Aella explained before we left on our trip, small needles were hidden inside that could dart out at enemies.