章節 24: Chapter 24: To the North (IV) Stealing Glances
The frost was covering the grass in the mornings, and Kilian stretched his tired stiff body, trying to bring some warmth to the muscles.
He then packed up the items together with the other two and got on the horse.
They were nearly at the next big town on the road to the North, but it had taken them 2 days longer than anticipated. They were traveling slowly with a horse that seemed to need more rest than Killian, after only a few hours on the road.
"I think We got cheated on this deal,"
Dante said with a disgruntled look, and pulled at the reigns, only to get an earful of horse sneeze, and a mean stare from the horse he had tried to move.
Killian suppressed a grin seeing half of Dantes's flaming hair covered in snot and tried to focus on the road ahead from the back of the horse, giving it a thankful pat.
"What happened to you?"
It was Stella, she had come up to Dante moving her hands in a circular gesture in front of him indicating his whole look.
Killian couldn't hold back, and laughed out loud, surprising both of the others.
He then moved the horse past them both and smiled down at Dante, who looked up with a startled expression, seeing the big smile on Killian's face.
"I think this hairstyle suits Dante well".
Killian smiled at Stella and moved his hand up pushing back the hair from the side of his head, mimicking the hairstyle Dante had unwillingly received.
They both just stared at Killian, that on the back of the horse, steered straight towards the city that was showing in the distance.
"Was that a joke?". Dante asked Stella, unsure what had just happened, but amazed to have witnessed it.
It had started to get colder as they had moved towards the North. and they were all relieved when they entered the city of Trishbane.
It was a well-built city with a decent road network and space between houses, as well as a big market going straight through the city, like a never-ending road of peddlers, stalls, and boutiques.
Killian looked down at himself.
When they had first set out he had been presentable, but now his clothes were covered in dust and mud, from camping and moving for several days.
He was smelling himself when Dante came up behind him, making him jump in surprise, as if he had been caught doing something bad.
"I doubt, it is that bad".
Dante was referring to the smell and leaned his head down so it was close to Killian's neck, leaning in to smell him.
Killian's cheeks flushed, he knew the smell was bad and Dante had suddenly frozen in his movement, as if the stench from Killian had pacified him.
"Ugh, it is bad I knew it, I need a bath".
He annoyingly pushed Dante away and stood up straight, turning to hide the faint blush covering his cheeks.
'When did this guy start to get this bold?'.
Stella simply grinned at the two.
"let's go there".
Stella pointed to an inn straight off the market road, and grabbed Dante who had a weird look on his face as if something precious had been sullied.
Killian followed them into an inn.
They were not getting much attention as it seemed travelers were the usual bunch in there, with several of the guests in the same state as Killian's party.
They sat by a desk with dreary looks, and a barmaid came over to take their order.
The group ate fast and hungrily, not allowing a single crumb to remain on their plates, then after the meal, left for some comfy beds in rooms Stella had gotten them.
Killian's legs were hurting as always, a pain he had gotten used to but was also making his mood worse, and the others stayed out of his way as he was cursing and swearing whenever the pain shot up through his legs.
Killian could tell the others had been surprised at first, unsure where Kilian had learned the profanities he was spouting out in angry whispers.
They had never heard many of the words before, and they decided to not even ask.
Killian sat up in the bed and took out the small golden bird, petting it on its beak which made it chirp happily.
The creature wasn't real, it was more a strange moving Golden flow of energy he couldn't quite explain, but the little creature lightened his mood.
"Stop touching that thing all the time".
Dantes's voice was surprisingly raised, and Killian looked over at him curiously.
"Why?"
He was unsure what would be wrong with it except for the constant connection it may have to Rayden, but Killian doubted that story.
"Never mind..."
Dante seemed to have given up explaining his thoughts and had turned over in his bed with his back to Killian.
Killian sighed and continued petting the little bird, and after confirming he could hear Dantes breathing getting deeper and slower, he took out a paper and pen, starting to write a small message.
"I'm in Trishbane for the next couple of days," he mouthed the words as a low whisper after rereading his short sentence, unsure what else to write.
He just wanted to let Rayden know now was a good time to receive the information he had asked him for.
'Should I write something else?'
He felt like it was rude to not add anything else, Rayden was helping him after all.
'Thank you'.
He didn't know what else to write but at least he should say thank you.
'Why was this Rayden guy so hard to deal with?'
He suddenly remembered their last meeting and he touched his lips with his fingertips.
'I guess it was... so..so'.
Something in him was no longer embarrassed about the kiss, but rather was wanting to get back at Rayden if they met again.
His body was tired and his legs hurting, but his mind was now filled with an insatiable imagination of Rayden on his knees in front of Killian.
Killian sighed, feeling his lower part already moving with the thoughts, and had to stop before the thoughts went to far.
'I need to focus on my trip... If this goes wrong, how will I provide for them?'
Killian looked over at the two silhouettes, both not far, but each in their own bed.
He felt responsible for these two lives now, annoyed at the feeling that was making him care for them.
He barely knew them, but somehow they had given up their lives for him, and for what?
'Smelly old beds and several days on the road'.
It stung somewhere inside of him.
He really had hoped he would not have to think of anyone but himself, but he needed allies, and the trust had to go both ways.
He gave the little bird his letter which grabbed it with its little claws, and Killian saw as the letter disintegrated in front of his eyes, and the little bird turned into a stream of small golden light that quickly disappeared out of the window, leaving Killian with an amazed expression.
'I wish I knew magic, what magic did Stella and Dante have again?'.
Maybe they could show him some more, he barely saw either of them use it, they simply just seemed to be like him...magicless...
But if that was the case, why did people look down on him for not having any at all, it was as if, if you didn't have any magic, you weren't even human.
It was morning.
"You stink,"
Stella stood next to Killian and handed him a wooden token with the burnt inscription of a number, then followed up with.
"Young Master…"
Giving him a smile, as if she had not just been rude to a noble.
"I...Yes," Killian replied, and walked into the bathhouse They had been standing at, walking into the men's section together with Dante.
They had been provided a small piece of soap and a towel by the place for the payment Stella had given, and they entered a room with a few benches, covered in piles of dirty clothes.
By the state of the items, there didn't seem to be any worry about anything getting stolen.
Killian went to a corner and started undressing, neatly folding his clothes. His slender body was getting cold fast, and he folded the towel around his hips to cover his lower parts.
"Are you ready?" The tone of the voice seemed nervous to Killian, and he curiously looked around to see Dante with his back to him, the tip of his ears slightly red.
He was wearing the towel in the same way as Killian, covering his lower parts and Killian was a bit disappointed, as he couldn't help but be curious about the rest, when the man was showing off a well build body, with the toned muscles tensing as he stood.
He stole another look at Dante before replying.
"Yes, let's go".
Killian turned towards the entrance to the actual bath, being met with scrutinizing eyes as there were already several men in there.
However the bath itself was bigger than he had thought, and he thankfully slid down into the hot water, feeling how it warmed up his tired aching body. His legs especially seemed to calm down, and the pain subsided some.
Dante followed without a word, bringing his body down into the water, and Killian watched how the men nearby moved a bit further away, staring at them both in disbelief.
The skinny fair appearance of Killian was almost completely overshadowed by Dante, blocking some of the curious looks that had gone his way, as soon as he had entered.
Killian appreciated it, knowing Dante had done it on purpose.
There was no hiding that Dante didn't like other people staring at Killian, and Killian felt more comfortable, focusing on resting his tired body in the warm water.
"This is heaven," He whispered leaning against the back of the basin, resting his elbows on the edge of it, while closing his eyes, taking in the damp air, enjoying how it was soothing to his lungs.
"It is not bad, but next time just shower at the inn".
"This is fine, Stella said the inn doesn't provide baths for their guests and was recommended this place instead".
"Yeah, but I don't like it…" Dante looked around staring down two men who had been stealing glances their way.
Killian instead started washing up with the small piece of soap, noticing how dirt and grime were leaving his skin, giving it more of a clean pinkish light color again.
"Oh, do they let girls in here now?"
A small low chuckle was heard and a man nearby ignored Dante, instead focused on staring Killian down.
"I don't think girls should be here, shouldn't we check to see, maybe this big man brought his lover or something?".
Even if Killian had a girl-like appearance, he was already mostly naked, and there was no doubt his body shape was that of a man.
He decided to ignore the man and focused on soaking his body, knowing Dante was between them.
Dante's body became rigid for a moment, then the muscles tensed up and Killian could see the clenched hand Dante was hiding under the surface of the water.
The man who had spoken started moving through the water towards them, his size seemed comparable to Dante's but with more soft edges and less definition.
The man had a mischievous grin smeared across his face and reached past Dante, ignoring his presence completely, as his fingers got closer to Killian's face.
創作者的想法 
Rain_Corn
Rain_Corn Uh oh... Yet another chapter!
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