Page 25 of The Tricksters Deception

I jerk awake and open my eyes. Barely lit by the moonlight I see Corvu sitting at the end of my bed.

“Corvu, what-” He shushes me, putting a finger to his lips then pointing over toward his original bunk. It seems that the additional guest we were sharing a room with had decided to come in and roll himself, his very large and round self, half onto Corvu’s bunk. We probably should have tried to separate them further when we had the chance earlier. I try not to giggle as the round man shuffles further to the side and takes up both bunks.

“Sorry.” Corvu whispers, “I didn’t mean to wake you. I just didn’t want to get flattened.” I don’t know how long he’s been sitting by my feet, but he needed more rest than he was getting. I slide across the bunk, giving an equal amount of room and pat down next to me. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

“Suit yourself. But don’t blame me when you fall off your horse tomorrow because you fell asleep.” I smirk, turning around and lying down on the side. I hear his deep inhale before he lies down next to me. Our backs are touching but that’s okay. It actually makes me feel better. The silence that wraps around us doesn’t last long – I’m the one that interrupts it. “Corvu?”

“Mm?” He murmurs sleepily.

“It’s not super comfortable like this. If you spoon me, we might both be a bit more…comfortable?” He falls silent for a few moments, and I want to take my words back or palm it off as a silly joke as embarrassment washes over me.

“I… I don’t have any spoons here with me, Tia. You know that. I’ll have to get up and get some.” He sounds genuinely confused, and that only makes his words that much funnier. I’m unable to hold back a laugh that will likely wake up the people around us, and it is only when Corvu hushes me that I fall quiet.

“You don’t need any spoons to spoon me, silly,” I murmur, still smiling. “It’s just…an expression. Turn around.” I’m not sure he’s fully convinced he’s not going to need any spoons just yet, but I do feel a shuffle around the bed as he turns around so he’s facing me. Still, he keeps a bit of a respectful distance in between us. Wriggling a little closer to him, I get comfortable in my position – feeling his chest against my back. My hand reaches back, finding his, and drawing him in even closer. His arm is wrapped around me now, as his hand rests over my stomach. At last, he snuggles in a little closer as he gets comfortable on his end, and I feel like I never want to move again.

He’s so close to me now, I feel his breath against the back of my shoulder as he nuzzles his face in. “Goodnight, Tia.”

“Goodnight, Corvu.”

Chapter fourteen

Day Seventeen

The next morning, when I wake up, I decide to let the boys sleep a little longer. Normally, I wouldn’t venture out on my own like this, but I just want some fresh air and a little extra time to practice.

Dawn barely breaks through as I reach the back of the lodge, where I’m surrounded only by our horses under a makeshift shelter, hay, and an empty cart. It’s kind of Corvu to get me a rapier to protect myself with. Buckling up properly, I unsheathe it and practice my footwork, lunges, and retreats. Corvu told me it’s important to keep distance from my opponent, but just as important to strike when the opportunity arises. The dry dirt kicks up small dust clouds as I lunge forward and pull back. I’m actually starting to enjoy the idea of swordplay, and I realize my fantasy novels didn’t have enough of it included. I should also ask Gecko to teach me how to use a bow and arrow. Archery is unique for him, and he’s genuinely skilled, so I doubt anyone would be better at showing me what to do. I wonder if the slingshot is a common weapon here. Corvu uses one, and so do the twins.

Thinking about Bella and Luca, I trip over my own feet—a dash of purple smoke escapes my hands, then the cart explodes! Seeing a faint purple light, I look down at my chest. The amulet is glowing. Scrambling to get up, I hastily look around. I hope no one saw that, but with so many houses around, how can I be sure?

We needed to leave. Now.

I run back into the lodge, up the stairs and into the room where Corvu and Gecko are, shutting the door a little too loudly. Luckily the man that had taken over Corvu’s bed continues to snore. Gecko stirs and rolls off our bags, Corvu is turned around facing where I would have been and has a momentary panic when I’m not there beside him, but remains just as concerned when he sees me by the door.

“We should go.” I whisper loudly. WIthout question the boys start grabbing their backpacks and throwing mine over to me.

As we begin to descend the stairs Corvu asks me, “What happened? Why are we in a hurry?” I don’t answer until we’re outside and around the lodge where we can saddle up the horses while talking.

“I think I accidentally used the amulets power, I don’t know if anyone saw it, so I think we should just leave.”

“Wait.” Corvu comes around the horse to meet my eyes, “You were able to use it? How? What happened?” Without answering in words I point to the nearby cart, which was now shattered and mostly just splinters in the dirt. “Never mind, I don’t want to know.” He returns to his horse to finish preparing.

Before I have the chance to finish saddling my horse, I hear footsteps approaching. Turning around, I see a man, or somewhat a man, standing beside me. Past his long brown wavy hair and bright blue eyes, I notice short pointed ears—he has to be an Elf of some kind. His chiseled chin would make the girls in my college class absolutely swoon. He wears a black cloak with bright blue markings around the collar and boots to match. The whole setup really suits him. He takes a few steps toward me, and I instinctively back away.

“My,” he begins, a smirk barely hidden, “what a misfortune that a stone such as that should fall upon your neck.” He continues to get closer when Corvu comes around the front of my horse, poking his sword into the stranger's back.

“I think you’re lost.” Corvu states.

“Oh no, I know where I am.” The man turns around to face Corvu. Gecko comes to Corvu’s side with a small dagger in hand, the one he mostly used to cut up fruit. “I am Talon Luc'k Galanodel, and I shall ask you once and once only to sheath your weapons.” The name alone shocks the boys and they immediately do as he asks. What are they doing?

Whilst slightly bowing Corvu responds, “I’m sorry, my Lord.” Lord?

“Oh, it is quite alright, I don’t expect everyone to know who I am by my face alone, although it would be nice.” Turning back toward me I stand perfectly still as he places a hand under my chin to lift up my face. “Now, as I was saying, it’s dangerous for you to carry that amulet around.” So someone did see me blow up that cart. That’s awkward. Letting go of my face he begins to walk away. “You do have a choice, though.” He remarks, stopping to overlook the exploded cart, “If you like you can hand the amulet over to me and you can go about your lives, or you can keep going on your path and probably die, you might not, but you probably will.”

“She has us to protect her.” Gecko more or less hisses at him. Talon laughs, in the kind of way you expect someone to laugh when they’re trying to make you believe the joke you just told them was actually funny when it wasn’t.

“Poor child. He seems delusional. My condolences.” Normally it was Corvu that said those kinds of things to Gecko and thought it was funny, now Corvu just seems pissed.

“Unless you’re planning on escorting us, we have a long journey to make to the Capital.” Corvu simply says. Talon looks him up and down a couple of times.

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