Page 44 of Horns & Heart
Chapter16
We were scheduled to leave early the next morning, and Inkiri started to fuss over me as soon as I’d woken up.
“I can carry you when you get tired,” he told me for the umpteenth time while I put on my boots in his room.He was already fully dressed and wearing his three swords.
I was busy making sure my laces were even and not too tight.Then I put another knot on top of the tie and tucked the ends into the boots in case we had to run.
“I’ll be fine.How long is this trip going to take, anyway?I’m not sure where we are, if I’m being honest with you.”
He clicked.“Three to four days, but we’ll take a break if you need it.”
“Jeez, I won’t need it, Ink.I’ll be fine.I’ve been walking more or less nonstop, you know?”
I’d had a car, or at least I’d stolen a car, early on, but with so many people gone, the sound of a car in the abandoned places had been noisy.And the monsters—the ones that would eat your face off—were often attracted to noise.
These days, most car batteries were dead, and I had no other option but walking.The commune had had four trucks and been working on getting a fifth running when I’d bolted.I’d be good walking though.Even if I didn’t want to go where we were going.
Inkiri nodded, but he didn’t seem convinced.“When we return, you can rest.We’ll have time for you to tell me what things please you.”He leaned in to lick my neck.“Both in the pillows and out of them.”
I blushed.“Closed windows while we’re in the tub is on the top of my list.”
Inkiri clicked.“Sweet thing, you need fresh air.”
I groaned.“Okay, I need fresh air.Which is why we’re going out for a hike.Let’s go.”
I stood and grabbed my backpack, then walked downstairs ahead of Inkiri.I could do this.Just because that flat brown monster had been there that day two years ago didn’t mean it still was.Just because something bad had happened at the Stone of Destiny once didn’t mean it would go the same way this time around.
The others were waiting, Nokim and Fellisse tugging their backpacks closed in the living room area.The glass doors were half barricaded by a metal and wood contraption Nokim had made, and we’d be leaving through the front door.
Vergis was leaning against the wall next to the windows, looking supremely bored.When he saw me, he quickly narrowed his eyes until he looked hostile.
Great.A hiking trip with someone who wanted me to fall and break my neck, or at least an ankle.That was going to be so much fun.
Inkiri came up behind me, clicking softly.“How about you let me carry your pack, just for a little while?”
I tightened both shoulder straps.“It’s my apocalypse backpack.It and I have been together longer than you and I, Ink, and you’re not getting between us now.”I was overacting, probably, by the way Vergis rolled his eyes.
“I think he’s funny,” Fellisse said as he walked up to Inkiri.“It’s good to have a funny mate.”He inclined his head until his horns were almost brushing Inkiri’s.
Inkiri sighed.“It’s been only two days since he took my barb and three since a monster almost ate him.You can see why I don’t want him to overexert himself.”
My jaw dropped, and I turned cabbage red.Vergis sniggered.
Lissir handed me a canteen, then took my hand.“Inkiri, your barb is not as terrifying or as impressive as something that wants to eat you.Because you know how to use it, I’d hope it helped to take Rory’s mind off the monster.Vergis, I believe everyone is ready now.”
I turned to Lissir.“Thanks.”
He walked outside with me, hand in hand.He was very touchy-feely, not that I minded.
He inclined his head to fix me with his orange gaze.“Repay it by telling us to rest as soon as you need to.I understand how annoying care is when you’re not used to it, but it’s even more annoying for others if you do need it and don’t ask for it.It makes a person feel useless when they’re not asked to care for their family.”
I blinked up at the bright sky.“Deal.I’m actually pretty whiny, so you don’t need to worry about that.You know, the last thing I posted before the relationship update was how I found new shoes, and they gave me a blister.”
I stopped talking before I could tell Lissir, who was wearing an assortment of short daggers and two sickle-like swords on his belt, that I had nearly cried at the prospect of lancing said blister.I’d been ridiculously proud of myself when I had, in fact, lanced it.Taking aspirin for the pain after the lancing had been well deserved, in my book.
I wasn’t going to tell them about my blister experience.It might make Inkiri demand to check my feet for blisters every few hours.Although, come to think of it, maybe that would be nice, his careful fingers running over my sore feet?—
“Good,” Lissir said, oblivious to where my mind had wandered off to.
