Page 53 of I Ran Away to Evil
I unearthed the crate that held the eggs from the front of the horse wagon, hugging them to my stomach and said, “Sorry I can’t stay and chat, but I need tohead out if I’m going to have enough time to get everything done. Though … do you have any snacks?”
“Right here.” Sithli handed over a muffin. I freed a hand to take it and unceremoniously shoved it in my face. The lizardman saluted. “Fair-weather travelsss, Princesss.”
“Send my regards to your wife!” I finished the baked good, nodded at everyone, then kicked off again. My [Quick Step] was on cooldown, but I could go pretty fast with my stats alone.
I kept my eyes opened for a rest stop along the way and eventually found a small clearing off the side of the road. There was a fallen tree at the far end that would make for a nice windbreak and backrest. I settled in for the night.
The Spring Equinox was approaching, and the nights were above freezing, but still carried a refreshing cold. I kept the chill at bay with a sturdy woolen cloak. Hubert disappeared into the forest.
I checked on everything before I fell asleep.
The three eggs were gray with beautiful blue swirls, and I gently ran my hands over each. My [Mastery] and Perception nineteen were enough to find the heartbeat in each. I worried they would get cold overnight, so I sat cross-legged and tucked the eggs under my shirt. I let my body heat warm them as I wrapped my cloak around my legs and hugged them gently.
It wasn’t comfortable, and I didn’t mind. I nodded off under the moon and the starlit sky.
Something brushed my ear, and I came awake. Keith was nuzzling my neck. “Keith?”
Pardon me, I meant Keith’sautomatonwas nuzzling my neck. Hubert didn’t reply, simply hopping off my shoulder so I could stretch. Clearly, Keith hadn’t possessed the automaton again yet, and I blushed at my misunderstanding. And at the absolutely lurid thoughts that followed it. What would it be like to have therealKeith nuzzling my neck? I put the eggs gently back into the crate and grabbed my pack. I slaked my thirst with a swig of my waterskin, ate from a small pouch of dried strawberries, bananas, and roasted nuts, then got ready to head out. The eggs were secure, so I lifted the crate gently and hugged it to my chest.
Hubert flew overhead.
The forest was lush with early spring, and flowers bloomed all along the Great Road that stretched east to west through the Dark Enchanted Forest. I had passed the exit to Keith’s castle an hour back down the road, and I would need to travel almost all the way east to reach the dwarven stronghold’s turn off.
I could run the entire distance from Baldor’s Peak and back again with plenty of time before the griffin attack. And the war wasn’t for two weeks, so I thought it fine to slow down and enjoy some sight-seeing as I went.
I walked leisurely down the road for half an hour before Hubert flew down and alighted on my shoulder. “Good morning,” he greeted in Keith’s dark and comforting voice.
“Good morning, Your Viciousness.”
“Ha,” Keith said. “How was your sleep?”
I shrugged, careful of the bird and the eggs. “Alright. I’m thinking I’ll be out here for a few nights while I return these.”
The raven eyed the crate. “I’ll send word that you’re on your way to the dwarven delegation.”
“Thank you.”
We walked in companionable silence for a while. I had the feeling that Keith came and went a few times, but I couldn’t be sure, so I just waited for him to initiate conversation again.
“Henrietta?”
“Yes, Keith?”
“Chancellor Grimly will meet you at the dwarven outpost at our border in …” Keith hesitated. “Two days?”
“Sounds fine.”
“Well.” Keith coughed. “Have fun.”
“See you when I get back.”
The raven nodded with human flair, and then Keith was gone. Hubert took off from my shoulder perch and flew down the road.
He was right; I would have fun.
CHAPTER 34
How to Care for Carnivorous Weeds
