Chương 1: Chapter 11: The Merchant’s Carriage, Night (1)

We made it as far as we could, opting to avoid staying in a village and making camp by the side of the road. The merchant, now significantly less conversational than earlier, had said he wanted to reach the port as early as possible. If he was to hawk his wares in the city, then he'd be the first travelling merchant in.
I think it was more likely that since he now officially had guards for his carriage, he may as well avoid paying for an inn to do the job for him.
Still, he was looking to capitalise on his new destination, and it was hard not to respect that attitude. Few people intimidated by Magnus ever found a silver lining to things, but I suppose that degree of fortitude is what it took to make it in this world.
Evening had long set by the time we found a suitable, open space to make camp. Neither the merchant nor my party had set out thinking we'd have anything but a roof over our heads at the end of the day, but it didn't mean we were devoid of all equipment. Our professions dictated we always had enough to make do. And if we didn't, then we had the tools to make it happen.
Using the last of the evening light, I headed out with a new weapon in hand.
A woodaxe.
I easily twirled the light tool in my hand as I headed into another copse of trees. Magnus had laughed when he saw me volunteer to gather firewood with what could be the merchant's utility scarecrow. It was blunted, though likely not from overuse, but would serve its purpose of making me avoid using my precious blade to hack branches and gather leaves. Considering that I needed to find, string together and lug back enough firewood to last the night, I expected that the woodaxe was about to finally serve its purpose in life.
Collecting firewood was time consuming and laborious, even with my blessing. I wasn't naturally physically gifted like Magnus, and so it wasn't anything the Goddess of Love enhanced. My abilities were unique, which I knew was also a way of saying they were less useful. Magnus and Iris could slot anywhere. But not me. And I was grateful that I'd found a party that would not only follow me, but accept me.
Refreshed by the simpleness of my task and the solitude of my surroundings, I went from copse to copse, keeping track of the time via the dimming light in the sky. Using the skills taught to me by my first instructor, I strung together two separate bales of appropriate firewood and kindling. It was likely more than needed, but my instructor had taught me the value in redundancy.
By the time I returned, evening had passed and night had followed.
A tiny camp fire was burning, made in a hurry using whatever was close to the road. Its job wasn't to provide heating to bodies, but to prepare our evening meal. Our party had minimal provisions as we often went from town to town, but combined with the merchant's store, I honestly only foresaw a comfortable night ahead.
The problem came when there was nobody sat around the camp fire.
And that it wasn't burning. It was smoking.
My body didn't allow time for thought. Trained instincts had me immediately drop the bales trailing behind me and hurry forwards.
Approaching the camp fire, I realised that nobody had fed it. The initial scraps we'd used to set it alight were now almost ash, while the few twigs we'd found nearby sat unused. The merchant was nowhere to be seen, as were Iris and Magnus.
My eyes alert, I immediately scanned around me, my hand clasping around the pommel of my blade. The worst case scenario hit me when I was saw that even the horses had vanished. They were gone from their resting spot beneath the shade of the nearest treeline.
And then I saw movement.
From the back of the carriage, the white tarp opened, and out hopped Magnus.
Relief flooded through me. My hand left the pommel of my sword. And the breath I'd kept held in was finally released.
Seeing me, Magnus offered a broad grin and swept over, his powerful footsteps leaving the grass flattened wherever he went.
"Yo, leader," he said. "Just got back?"
I opened my mouth to reply, but the words were caught in my throat.
Magnus's smile was different to the ones I usually saw. It wasn't the smile of a lout who used it as both an invitation to women and a warning to men.
It was a smile of pure satisfaction.
My gaze involuntarily flickered at the carriage. Magnus undoubtedly noticed as well, but said nothing.
I nodded instead.
"Yeah. Just got back. Where's …"
Where's Iris, I wanted to ask.
But it wasn't something that needed to be said.
After all, I already knew the answer.
"Merchant's gone to draw water from the river," replied Magnus, rolling his shoulder. "Took the horses to let them drink, too. Oh, shit. Fire's almost out. Good thing you got firewood. That's them over there?"
I nodded again, not paying attention as the world started swaying around me. The sudden pounding in my chest made it difficult to speak. This wasn't the privacy of an inn. Of all the times and places, I didn't expect it to be so out in the open. So immediate.
It was the act of two people who couldn't wait any longer.
Just how much did Iris … ?
"I'll bring them over," added Magnus, already on the move. "Don't worry about the fire. You take a break, yeah?"
Leaving me with his genial grin, Magnus strolled over to pick up where I left off. Literally. I doubted if he'd pull them by the makeshift strings I'd created. He'd simply carry them, just because he could.
Knowing there was nothing else to do, I slowly approached where I knew Iris to be.
Announcing my footsteps ahead of time, I took in a deep breath as I walked, stopping when I was in front of the carriage.
I waited five seconds, then hoisted myself up and pulled aside the tarp.
"Welcome back. How was the firewood collection?"
Iris glanced over as I entered, offering me her usual, radiant smile.
She was standing in the back of the carriage, pouring over one of our supply bags. She had an armful of cutlery and other utensils necessary for the camp.
"It was good," I replied, dipping my head as I walked in. "We should have enough for the evening."
"Excellent. And the merchant should be due back … well, back already. But I suppose we should forgive him for not being expedient. This was hardly his decision."
"Hm? Is that a note of remorse I hear there?"
Iris beamed, looking not at all apologetic for her part in this. She could legitimately blame Magnus for everything, after all. Although she usually did that, anyway.
"It's unfortunate we won't be staying beneath a roof tonight, but I believe we have the determination to make it through a warm night beneath the open stars."
"Good," I said with a relieved nod. "This wasn't exactly planned, but it's part of the lifestyle, isn't it?"
"True. I didn't even realise I'd missed this. It's a nice change, isn't it? Going back to beginnings."
"I think so, yeah. On occasion. I'm pretty sure I'll start missing a roof once the stars become menacing clouds."
Iris softly laughed, her blue eyes shining with more clarity than even the sky above us tonight.
"It seems odd for us to already be nostalgic, especially as we still suffer from the same lack of funds. But I'm excited for the present also. And the future. We have a long journey ahead of us."
She propped the supply bag securely against the corner, then rebalanced all the utensils in her arms. As she came towards me, she paused to tap at the side of the carriage wall with her foot.
"You must be tired," she said gently. "If you want, this wall is a snug spot to rest in. I highly recommend it. If you want to sit down, would you like me to ask the others not to disturb you?"
I nodded after a moment's thought. I shouldn't need to rest for long. After all, the time taken to collect firewood had been little more than an hour.
The exact amount of time I'd also need to rest.
"Yeah, that'd be great. I appreciate it."
Iris smiled. And as she walked past me, I chose not to mention the dishevelled state of her hair. The soft sheen that glistened on her skin. The flush of scarlet tinting her cheeks. And that within this carriage was the overwhelming musk of sweat and sex.
But I didn't need to.
Not when between the crates, lying in the telltale shadow, was a small transparent stone, placed there for me by the girl who I loved with every beat of my heart.