Page 62 of That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human
“Oh crap,” she cried, shoving her shoulder into the door.
I leaped to her side and pulled her to me. Then took the trident and pointed it at the door. “Move.”
Her companions backed away quickly. In an instant the door flung open, revealing dead men charging toward us. I didn’t bother to ask questions. Thunder boomed, and a ray of light obliterated every last one of them.
Alexis sighed dramatically. “Sweet shining polish! It’s over. Welp, I’ll leave the rest of the bad guys in your claws. Let me on that belt, big guy. I’m taking a nap,” she said, then slid her handle into the O-ring on my belt.
The orc threw himself on the ground and breathed deep, while the spitaur slumped beside him, gasping just as heavily.
“Are you alright?” Cherry asked, cupping my face. “I brought cinnamon if you need it.”
“I’m fine. More importantly, how did you escape?”
She tilted her head. “Escape? They never took me. I was just knocked out.”
“We told you!” a mage shouted.
Lightning shot through his chest, and he crumpled to the ground. It was rude to interrupt.
“Well see!” The king smiled wide, his posture relaxing into a state of undeserved nonchalance. “Your wife is fine so there’s no more need for concern. Now about our deal—”
“Fine?” Cherry snarled. “We just spent the past hour running through your coliseum full of zombies and enslaved demons!”
“Of course,” the king nodded. “We regret that our gladiator games have caused you and your husband distress. Please understand that any large-scale immigration comes with its trials and challenges. My advisers and I would be more than happy to discuss the reformation of the coliseum in exchange for you and your dragon’s cooperation.”
She turned back to me and jutted a thumb at the king. “The hell is this condescending prick talking about?”
“How dare you speak to me that way, I’m your king!”
“I’m from Kinnamo, you popinjay,” she snapped.
I stifled a gasp. “So your homeisin Kinnamo?”
She let off something between a grunt and squeak before shooting a glare back at me. Her voice rose several pitches. “Now is not the time for that!”
“Which part?” Kinnamo was a vast country. Its territories spanned most of the southern part of the continent. Fallon’s territory was located on the very end of the southern tip. If her home was anywhere close, then Fallon and I would have no issues forming a united territory. That being said, if her home was in the ruined city of Wandermere, then I’d have some explaining to do.
Her foot stomped. “Can you please focus on the task at hand? What does this guy want from you?”
The only task I wanted to focus on involved bending her over the railing until she talked. Yet I suppose patience had its virtues. “He’s trying to sell me his daughter in exchange for military enlistment,” I said.
Cherry simply stared at the king for a good moment, then wagged her finger at him. “Lightning. I’m gonna use lighting on your ass.” She snatched the trident from my hands and aimed it at the king. “Yala, brace me.”
“Now we’re talking!” The orc laughed and positioned his large body behind her, his hands on her shoulders. Fear pricked under my skin as sparks danced around her forearms. If it backfired like it had done in the wilderness, Cherry could blow her arms clean off. Before I could reach out to stop her, the trident absorbed her magic into its prongs, effectively saving her from death.
Wide-eyed, the king and his guards dove just before a bolt of lightning struck the wall behind them. Bits of rubble and sparks rained down on the terrified men, who wisely chose to stay prone. Seemingly mollified by their cowardice, Cherry leaned the trident against the wall and returned to my side. “Are you sure you’re alright?”
My chest lurched, seeing her big brown eyes full of concern. “Did you come to save me, princess?” It was a ridiculous question the more I thought about it. Cherry was human. With a body as fragile as her lifespan. Even if they did somehow manage to bring me under their thrall, no human mages could hold me for long. Yet here she was, charging in after me into the unknown.
Her brow furrowed. “Of course I did. Don’t look so surprised.”
I grinned, like a love-struck fool. “‘Of course,’ she says.” A sense of warmth spread over me, as if I had been dunked in the healing waters of a hot spring. I brushed a curl from her face. She flinched when my hand grazed the side of her head. A pained expression marred her features. I drew my hand away, ice freezing my veins when it came back red with blood.
Rage.
“Dante?”
Her mouth kept moving but all I could hear was thunder.
