Page 143 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
I was shouldering off my winter coat when Pram came up behind me.
“Miss Gerda?” The selkie positively glowed with excitement when he asked, “Do you think the rainbow whales are going to come today?”
I nodded, “But I only know they’re passing by the coast; it’ll be Luck if we find them.”
“I want to try,” Pram said.
Julian reached out and took my hand. “Know any good places to eat in Drendil?”
“Benny’s Fish Shack,” I answered, remembering Henrietta’s date with Sir Phineas at the seafood restaurant during the knights’ route. “But only if Tully orders everything alone and brings it down to the beach for us.”
“Hey!” Sir Tully wore his normal full-plate paladin armor but took off a pair of fuzzy mittens he used while in the North. “Why do I have to buy lunch?”
“You’re human?” I shot back. My free hand pointed at my tusks and then at Julian’s ears for emphasis.
“Oh, yeah. Fair.”
“[Troll Magic].” The second jump dropped us at the top of a hill. A wide river stretched down to the ocean below, with a cute seaside town on their right. Off in the distance, far out on the waves, swam a pod of rainbow whales. I focused my perception until I could see them as clearly as if they were right in front of me.
They were swimming in the opposite direction.
“They are so beautiful,” Pram breathed, leaning on the small ledge of the stone bridge we were all still standing on. “I’ll meet you all here in an hour!”
With that, Pram leapt over the ledge and dropped straight into the river below. His clothing faded away, and where once there was Pram, now there was a blue sheen seal.
“Think he’ll actually be back in an hour?” Visha asked Jeffry.
Jeffry scoffed. “Unlikely.”
“Bet?”
“You’re on.”
The two shook hands.
“If you’re done.” Julian placed my hand on his arm. “Let’s go.”
Tully went into town to get us something to eat, and the rest of us followed a foot-worn path down to the ocean. I wasn’t partial to sand, so I set up a picnic blanket on the grassy hill overlooking the surf. Julian and I sat on the blanket and enjoyed a cold ice tea while Jeffry summoned a chair, a wide-brimmed hat, and a book. Below, Visha went for a walk along the beach.
The food ended up tasting great, and Pram was only half an hour late.
CHAPTER 78
I Do Love Gossip
Julian
One Week into the North
To say that travelling with Gerda was wonderful would’ve been an understatement. Instead of pushing through until they were forced to give up and go back to the fortress, they were making steady progress, and spirits were high.
The days were spent leisurely exploring, and the nights were spent in a warm bed.
“Good morning.” Julian bit Gerda’s neck playfully then sat up before she could swat him.
Fresh ocean air drifted in from the open window. Gerda had moved it to a small bridge she had at the southern tip of Sumbria. It made the summer nights bearable.
“Morning.” Gerda stretched languidly, and he wished they had more time together. He craved it … But work called, and so did the bathroom.
