Page 23 of Heart of the Hunted
"Then please, make it today," Taredd said.
"Okay, fine. I'll be on my best behaviour for today," Dain agreed. "But for twenty-four hours only."
"I'll take it," Taredd told him.
"Well, I suppose we best get going then, if you're both ready?" Arun asked.
Taredd scowled at them. He’d been trying to get them to leave for hours. If he’d known all it would take for them to get their asses into gear was for him to show how pissed off he was getting, then he would have done that hours ago.
"Yeah, I'm ready to go now," Dain said.
"About fucking time." Taredd threw his hands up in the air. "That's it, this is the last time I'm waiting for you two. From now on, if you're not ready when I am, then I'm leaving without you."
"To be honest, I'm surprised you haven't left us behind before now," Arun said as he followed Taredd out of the cave, Dain hot on his heels.
"The thought has crossed my mind many times in the past," Taredd told him.
"Then why haven't you?" Arun asked.
"Because we're a team. You don't leave members of your team behind, no matter how annoying they are,” he said, pointedly staring in Dain's direction.
"Hey, I'm not the only one that annoys you," he said. "Arun is just as bad as me."
Taredd couldn't stop the laugh that burst out of him.
"I'm not as bad as you," Arun said, insulted.
"Yes, you are," Dain said.
"I have to agree with Arun," Taredd said. "He isn't as bad as you."
"See? I told you," Arun said smugly. "I don't know anyone that is more annoying than you are, and I know a lot of annoying people."
"If that's how you both feel, then I should just leave,” Dain said. “You obviously don't like having me around, so why the fuck am I still here?"
"That's not true. Just because you’re the most annoying creature to roam the planet,” Arun said. “Doesn't mean we don't like having you around."
"We just want you to have a day off from being a dick head every once in a while," Taredd said.
"How often is 'once in a while'?" Dain asked.
"At least once a week," Arun said.
"More if you can," Taredd added.
"I see. It's like that, is it?" Dain said.
"Yeah, it's like that," Taredd said, nodding his head.
"Fine,” Dain said. “I promise to have at least one day a week off from being a dick."
"Great," Taredd said.
"Fantastic," Arun added.
"Now, shall we pick up the pace?" Taredd asked.
"Lead the way," Arun replied.
