Page 20 of Feral Guardian
“If you want to chance it, I suppose. Might not be able to get the most important bits of you back to normal again.”
She’s making a crude joke; I can tell by her tone.
“Even if it’s half the size, I’ll still be twice most men,” I mumble.
Lily laughs. “Did you just…? You did! You made a penis joke!”
“What have you done to me?” I shake my head and grab hold of the oars once more. I feel just enough energy for this last task.
“I sort of like half-dead Alastair.”
“Yes, well…inhibitions diminish when Nol’Ther calls.”
She settles her cheek against my shoulder, her lips brushing my neck. “I’m so sorry this happened.”
“I should say the same. I should’ve protected you better. I should’ve—”
She headbutts me gently. “Stop. You didn’t send those pirates. Nothing is your fault.”
She’s wrong.
Well, she’s right. I didn’t send the pirates.
Trask did.
And he fucking escaped.
But thisismy fault. I should’ve demanded my guard escort her. I should’ve slit Trask’s throat when I saw him dealing with those shady fucks in the tavern. I should’ve taken Lily on a different path. I should’ve…
“Stop it,” she says, headbutting me again.
The oars brush the rocky bottom and my arms give out. Kor’Tar stomps into the water and turns around, waiting for me to mount. Lily unwinds from my waist and holds onto Kor’Tar as I slide into the saddle. I pull her on the horse in front of me and grab the reins.
Kor’Tar drags us out of the water and trots to the downed carriage. It’s freezing, the middle of the night, and pouring rain. The carriage is mostly destroyed and there’s no other shelter. The forest beyond holds terrors I wouldn’t want to face in my best state.
“Where to?” Lily asks, thinking the same as me.
I don’t know.
“We’re north of Yelesna,” I say, buying time. “If we travel south along the coast, we’re likely to find a lighthouse or run into town.”
“Sounds lovely,” she says. “Onward then.”
I nudge Kor’Tar around the carriage and we continue up the rocky cliffside.
“Who sent them?” Lily asks, her teeth chattering.
I turn my garnet ring and pierce my thumb on it. The rune-warded gem soaks up my blood, but there’s not enough magic left in it to power the ward. I bite back another curse. We’ll just have to make do.
I pull Lily against my chest and wrap both arms around her. “It was Trask.”
Kor’Tar climbs the slick hill with difficulty, but he’s a strong horse and pulls through without slipping. Under the cover of trees, the biting wind and rain is a little less cold. Lily shivers quietly, saying nothing else.
We keep to the coastline, the chill blowing through to my bones. I cover Lily with my body, hiding as much of her as I can from the elements. Eventually, I lay her flat against Kor’Tar’s neck and cage her in.
My body is hot again and I’m not sure if it’s Lily and the horse or something else. My awareness drifts as we wander. The crashing waves lull me despite my best attempts to remain alert. I’m trying. I’m fighting it.
“You must hone your curse into a weapon. Protect her at all costs. Sacrifice anything and anyone to ensure her survival. The future of our country and Gaien depends on it.”
