Page 23 of The Scouts

Sabre followed suit, so they ended up with their noses almost brushing. “No,” the Northerner snapped back, “you got it wrong. Fuck you, Marbles.”

After a spot of silent impasse, Marbles conceded with a gruff, “All right, then.”

“What?”

“You’ve heard me. One-time offer, if you’ve got the balls.”

Sabre made an odd gurgling sound in his throat. He grabbed Marbles by the front of his clothes and dragged him inside the tent. The flaps flung shut behind them.

That should keep the idiots from arguing for a time, at least.

I continued on with a raised eyebrow.

Daylight began to fade, but things looked cosy around the campfire.

The wood crackled, devoured by the steady flames and accompanied by the lyrical flute of Lieutenant Javyés’, who had a fancy for ballads. Kudiyés and Diéyes knelt over a chess game, the board set between them on a tree stump. Chips fell from a piece of pine under Lieutenant Breaés’ clever knife as he carved another animal figurine to add to his collection.

Three more people were about. The yojihito had settled against a larch at a slight distance from everyone else, his eyebrows lowered in a mighty scowl. Opposite him, Naoki and Ervyn sat cross-legged, engaged in a lively conversation.

A frown creased my forehead. When I thought about it, I’d spotted Naoki chatting to Ervyn twice that day already. I pricked up my ears.

“Interesting.” Naoki’s large eyes rounded all the more. “And afterwards, still as a child, were you checked for magical abilities?”

Ervyn nodded. “I was. They found nothing out of the ordinary. A basic flow in the meridians, just like you’d expect for any Elf.”

“Apart from this.” Naoki pointed at Ervyn’s braid. Staring, he moved closer to him. Way too bloody close. “That’s exceptional. An old trace, granted, but still clear as day. I’ve never seen a long-lasting residue of human Magic quite as strong.”

I wondered if he’d seen his balls hanging off a tree before.

“Fascinating, indeed. I can’t wait to discuss it with my old Master. May I touch your hair?” the Mage asked.

“Fuck, no,” I barked in unison with Raiden, who jumped to his feet and darted forward.

He got there fast, but I beat him to it by a breath.

Naoki and Ervyn turned their heads our way and blinked up at us looming over them. They stood, wearing identical, oddly knowing and pleased expressions—puzzling and out of place, in my opinion.

“Gods.” Naoki held his palms up in a placating manner. “I only meant that for research purposes.” His gaze flickered from Raiden to me and back again. A grin broadened his face and he let out a chuckle, covering his mouth with his hand like a courtier. “Is there any chance you two are related? Because right now, you look like first cousins.”

“Hm. I see what you mean.” Ervyn smirked as he nodded.

Well, that made two of them. A gander at Raiden confirmed he seemed just as clueless as I felt.

The yojihito squinted back at me and for a while, we took each other’s measure in silence.

The mellow tones of the flute halted mid-note. “Do we have a problem over there, lads?” Lieutenant Javyés asked in a deep baritone.

“Not if people keep their hands to themselves,” I said under my breath.

“Not if people quit flaunting their residues,” Raiden hissed back.

Ervyn and Naoki both snorted.

I found myself exchanging a bemused look with Raiden, of all people.

“There’s no problem, Lieutenant,” Ervyn said. “We’re just getting acquainted. But perhaps there’s been enough of that for the night. It’s getting late and we’re riding out tomorrow.” He dipped his chin towards the Mage and his guard. His warm fingers wrapped around my hand. “Shall we?”

We walked off, leaving the pair to whatever matters that needed resolving.