Page 60 of A Touch of Savagery

“There’s money and clothes in your pack. We have supplies and food-”

“Okay, cat boy. I think I can figure that out.”

Roth turned away from him, so Aspen couldn’t see his expression, but he felt savage pleasure either way. Oriel finally came out with his head down, and he mounted his horse without a word.

Who liked who would have been pretty obvious if anybody had been around to see them. Roth led them around Cardinal’s Brook, and Aspen assumed they had already decided on a route. Or at least for now, they knew where they were going.

Oriel and Roth rode together as they led the other horses who patiently plodded along. Aspen stayed back, not willing to speak to either. Oriel and Roth spoke with each other in low voices as he watched with a sour expression.

Roth had seemed pretty convincing when he held his dagger to Oriel’s throat, but he said he had been acting. Why the hell was he now running with Oriel? He'd mentioned his Father, so maybe he got in a fight with his Daddy, Lord Delwin. He probably didn’t like slavery either and decided to take Oriel away.

Still, how could Oriel stand him? Aspen had seen the brands and the brutal cane marks. It figured he would find someone willing to save him and come along. Aspen was only bought for an ulterior motive and dumped afterward because he was too broken.

These two dickheads would probably dump him soon. Oriel was such a fucking liar by claiming he still loved Aspen.

Before, Aspen would have liked someone such as Roth with his lithe body, red hair, and red kitty ears. It figured Oriel would end up with someone pretty who was willing to help the Crown Prince.

Roth touched Oriel’s arm once. He was too familiar. Had they already fucked? Of course, a lord’s son would be good enough for a damn Crown Prince. Damn Oriel and his lies of marrying a street whore.

“-get that cut off,” Aspen caught from Roth as his horse drew a little closer.

Oriel shifted like he was checking that his collar was fully hidden by his shirt and cloak. “Not in Meadow. If one word gets out.”

“Not all of the citizens will be okay with slaves, especially in the smaller areas, but you're right. We should wait.”

“And not in West Bay either. Who knows who’s been left behind to watch over things? I hate this damn thing, but I’m not taking chances.”

Aspen tried to picture how far inland the West Bay Kingdom stretched since he’d seen a map. He couldn’t remember too much of it, and geography wasn’t a strong point for him. Not knowing where Cardinal’s Brook was on the map didn’t help much either.

“Where the fuck are we going?” he asked.

Oriel jumped, and Roth spoke. “This way, it’ll be about two weeks by horse until we hit the West Bay border.”

“And why are we going through West Bay when the fucking Crown Prince is supposed to be a slave? If you two ran away, wouldn't they be looking for you?”

“Yes, but I think I know someone who can help if we're lucky," said Oriel.

“I killed my Father, and I doubt they think my slave and I will be running to West Bay,” said Roth. "Lord Delwin hurt me and Oriel if you're wondering why I killed him."

Like Aspen cared about the damn lord. At least he would have weeks to make Oriel feel guilty. The Crown Prince wouldn’t even look at him now, so Aspen’s presence had to be beyond uncomfortable. So much for love and keeping up his damn fakery.

They only stopped to piss, water the horses at a stream, and eat. Aspen dug through his pack for alcohol. Oriel hadn’t packed him any which figured, but some money was in there. Sira must have missed it.

“We need to stop somewhere.”

“We’re avoiding civilization right now.” Oriel sat on a rock with Roth.

“I’ll go in. Nobody’s going to know who I am.”

“The answer is no.”

Aspen clenched his fists as he stood by his horse while it ate oats from a nosebag. “You’re not above me in station anymore. You’re the same. Lower actually, considering you’re such a piece of shit, so you can’t tell me what to do.”

Oriel’s jaw tightened. “We’re not risking anything this close to Calatan. We have food and water, and if you’re planning on buying booze, you can forget it.”

“I’ll go myself.”

“I don’t want to touch you and make you panic again, but I will if I have to,” said Oriel, and the words made Aspen go cold. “The fact you’re that desperate shows you have a problem.”

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