Chapter 779: Road to Olduun (Patreon)

After what seemed like countless hours of walking, the dunes gave way to patches of grass and packed earth, dusted with thin layers of sand. At the edge of the horizon lay the Aurum Sea, its blue waters carrying a cool breeze across the land. A city guarded by stone walls sat at the shoreline, obscured by waves of heat. Olduun, the heart of sune civilization. A hub of trade and the stronghold of the oldest of sune noble houses.

Tauri took a deep breath and exhaled in satisfaction. The fresh salty taste of sea air reinvigorated her muscles. The walk had taken them longer than expected and the dawn light was already shining across the desert. Finally, their destination was in sight. Hopefully, Stryg was already there, waiting for them.

“I can’t believe we actually made it. I’ve gotta say,” Tauri glanced back at Evander, “For a thief-turned guide, you’re not half bad.”

“Thanks,” Evander said wryly.

“She’s right. You kept your half of the bargain. We will not forget this.” Gale smiled.

Evander dipped his head in a quick show of gratitude. “Um, thanks. We should hurry before the sun rises any further. Don’t want to be caught in the heat.” He walked ahead of them without looking back.

Gale’s smile fell. “Right…”

Tauri watched the short exchange with a knowing look. She skipped over to Gale and fell in step beside her. “Someone looks a little down. Itching for a snack of blood, hm?”

“I’m fine,” Gale ignored the taunt and kept walking, eyes pointed straight ahead.

“You don’t look fine,” Tauri said.

“I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night, happy?”

“Day,” Tauri corrected. They hadn’t slept at night for almost a week now. The scorching daylight was for sleeping and the hours after dark were for walking. “Don’t vampires function better at night? I thought you’d be doing better than the rest of us.”

“I can still do my job if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“I’d never doubt your efficacy to protect me, Gale. You just seem a little out of it, is all.” She nudged her friend’s shoulder. “What happened? Had a nightmare?”

“I don’t get nightmares.”

“Right. And I bet you don’t bleed either.”

Gale stopped in her tracks and bared her fangs. “Wanna try and find out?”

Tauri put a finger to her lips and pretended to think about it for a moment. “Hm, maybe later.”

Gale rolled her eyes and kept walking.

Tauri followed after her. “So, if it wasn’t a nightmare, what was it?”

“I was training.”

“All day?”

“I did some meditation, too.”

“Was this after or before you took first watch?”

“Before. Why all the questions?” Gale twisted her lips in suspicion.

“Nothing. Just that it seems like you had a very interesting first watch.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing, nothing at all. Anyways, we’re almost there. Once we reach Olduun, we’ll rent the nicest room in the nicest tavern and you can take a long nap while I soak in a hot bath.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“You know, I had my doubts about our thief, but it looks like he pulled through in the end.” Tauri stared at Evander’s back in the distance.

“Don’t call him that. He’s not a thief,” Gale said the word as if it were poison.

“Well, sorry, I didn’t know that his morally ambiguous occupation was a sore spot with you.”

“It’s not,” Gale said curtly. 

“Well, then I hate to inform you, but he is indubitably a thief. In fact, we quite literally met him as he was about to be hanged by a noose for his crimes of thievery.”

“It wasn’t like that. He wasn’t trying to steal for some petty reason. He was trying to get his sister to the Ivory Realm.”

“And you know this how?”

“He told me.”

“When?”

“Last night—” Gale stopped herself. “It doesn’t matter.”

“You too must have had quite the long and interesting conversation last night, huh?”

“We didn’t.”

“Really? What did you talk about then?”

“Nothing,” Gale said a little too fast.

“Oh,” Tauri gave her a knowing look and pulled her lips inward, as if she were trying to hold back a smile. “Is that so?”

“What is that? Why are you looking at me like that?” Gale frowned.

“Oh, nothing,” Tauri said, before she bolted away. “~Hey, Evanderrr!”

“What are you—? Tauri, stop it!” Gale dashed after her, but it was too late. Evander turned at Tauri’s voice just as the mischievous orc arrived.

“Lady Tauri?” Evander gave a little frown of confusion as he saw Gale stumble to a halt a few paces away behind them. The two locked eyes for a moment. Gale broke off her gaze first, a faint blush on her face as she muttered something inaudible and pretended to find something interesting on the ground.

“Don’t worry about her.” Tauri wrapped her arm around Evander, despite him being taller, and pulled him forward. “So, how have you been?”

“I’m— alright, given the circumstances,” Evander said.

“What circumstances? Did something happen?” Tauri asked innocently.

“My sister and friends were killed. I’m the only survivor of my crew.”

“Oh… right.” Tauri winced. “Ahem,” she coughed. “The weather’s nice today.”

“For now. The sun will rise soon enough. We should hurry.”

“You seem awfully keen to get to Olduun. And don’t tell me it’s just the sun. You’re from this land. A little bit of heat is nothing to you.”

“It’s not the heat I’m worried about. Sunlight is harmful to vampires,” Evander said.

Tauri blinked. “You’re worried about Gale? This is about her?”

“Is that odd?” Evander ran a hand over his hair in a nervous manner. “I didn’t mean to overstep. Gods, is she angry? Is that why you’re talking to me?”

“No, it’s nothing like that— You’re fine, really. I just… I thought you were angry with her.”

“Angry? Why would I be angry with Lady Gale?”

Tauri squinted with amusement. “My mistake. Carry on.” She patted his shoulder and walked back to Gale.

Evander gave Tauri a strange look, but looked away when he met Gale’s eyes again.

“Well, that was interesting,” Tauri said.

Gale grabbed Tauri’s arm and pulled her in close. “What did you do?” she hissed.

“Reconnaissance. So, good news. You still have a chance,” Tauri said.

“What?” Gale shook her head. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, don’t be like that. I know you like him.”

“What?” Gale stiffened. “No, I don’t. Did he say that?”

“Not in words per se, but fortunately he hasn’t lost interest in you despite yesterday’s debacle.”

“Yesterday…? You were awake!?”

“Duh. You two couldn’t stop talking. How was I supposed to get any sleep?”

“You could have said something!”

“And ruin your chances? Eh, actually, on second thought, you kinda did that on your own with that whole ‘Stryg and I are destined to walk eternity together’ thing.”

Gale blushed furiously. “It wasn’t like that.”

“Look, it’s fine. You meant one thing and meant something completely else. We all fuck up sometimes, you more spectacularly than others. But the important thing is you’re Stryg’s family, which makes you my family. In other words, I only want what’s best for you. And if having a little fun with the handsome rogue over there helps you enjoy yourself for once, then all the better. Point is, I’m on your side.” Tauri rocked her hand back and forth, “And maybeee it might bring me immense satisfaction to see you squirm a bit.”

“I’ll kill you.”

“Can’t. Your oath forbids you from harming a Veres.” Tauri smirked.

Gale punched her in the face.

Tauri’s head snapped back and she stumbled a few steps. “Ow, what the fuck!?” Tauri held her nose and grimaced.

“You’re still alive, aren’t you?” Gale held her head up high and kept walking.

“Okay, fine. Maybe I deserve that one.” Tauri hurried to catch up with her. “Doesn’t change the fact that you need my help.”

“No offense, but I don’t need the romantic advice of a woman who stole her sister’s betrothed. Actually, offense intended.”

“Gods, you’re a bitch.”

“Fuck you, too.”

“You know, Gale, you could learn to relax every once in a while. You’re always so stiff. Honor this. Oaths that. Of course, Evander is going to think you’re not interested. You’re fucking scary. If I were him, I’d be fucking scared of you, too.”

Gale did a double-take. “Wait, he said he was scared of me?”

“No, but you did threaten to kill him multiple times. You also told him you killed the only other snow elf you ever met. So, I mean, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was.”

“Shit. I didn’t mean to— Well, I kind of did, but—”

“Things changed. Yeah, I got that.” Tauri touched her nose gently, checking to see if it was broken. “Look, my advice? Go talk to him. Clear the air.”

“I didn’t ask for your advice.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t expect to get punched in the face either. Life’s a bitch.”

“...You really think he’s scared of me?”

“Emphatically yes.”

“Fuck,” Gale muttered. She took a deep breath and shook her head, then nodded. “Okay, I can do this.”

“Aw, that’s what’s charming about you. You could chop a giant spider’s head clean off without batting an eye, but you’re worried about talking to a commoner.”

“Keep talking and I’ll punch you in the throat.”

“You got this.” Tauri gave her two thumbs up. “And if you don’t, I’ll still laugh at you all the way to the tavern. Then I’ll buy you drinks and you can cry on my shoulder all night if you’d like.”

“Gods, I wish Stryg were here,” Gale muttered.

“Why?” 

“Because he isn’t a lightweight. A few drinks in and you’re out like a candle,” Gale said.

“And where might Stryg be?” asked a cold voice.

Gale immediately drew her sword and spun on her heel towards the source.

A hooded stranger sat on a large rock half buried in the sand. “Oh, you brought a sword. I brought a couple of those, too.”

The air shimmered behind the stranger and a coat of purple dust dissipated in the air as the illusion of invisibility broke apart, revealing a group of armoured men, swords drawn.

“Oh, he brought friends. Great,” Tauri said. She was already conjuring flames around her hands.

“I told you they’d come this way, my lord,” Victoria Greymark said from among her armoured soldiers.

“Indeed,” the hooded stranger said.

“You. Victoria.” Evander’s eyes went wide with murderlust. 

Victoria’s brow furrowed for a brief moment, before transforming into a scowl. “Evander? You’re alive? How? I watched you hang, sand rat.”

“You failed,” Evander said.

Gale glanced at Evander, confused, before focusing back on the enemies in front of her. “I don’t know what you people want, but I suggest you walk away before I cut you down as I did with the rest of your kind back at Red Pond.”

“I’d listen to her. She’s quite hungry for blood right now,” Tauri said.

“Oh, is that right? I’m hungry as well. Fortunately, I’m willing to overlook my hunger, if—” the hooded stranger said. “You tell me where Stryg is.”

“Stryg?” Gale’s eyes narrowed. “If you want him, you will have to get through me.” She raised her blade and aimed its point at the stranger. “I am the Shield of Veres. Be it Monster or Man, here I stand and I shall not falter.”

The stranger shrugged his robe off and stood up to his full height, towering over everyone by a meter. “And I am Sidus, son to Calamity, Lord of Death, and if you do not answer my question, I will rip your heart out and eat it as your friends watch you die, little vampire.”

 Gale stared up at the god, eyes wide in shock. She shook the surprise off and readied her blade with a resigned yet stern expression. “Tauri, take Evander and run.”

“I’m not leaving you,” Tauri said.

“Neither am I,” Evander said.

Sidus’ lips broke into an unnaturally wide smile. His teeth were sharp fangs and his lips were black. “How sweet. You brought dessert.”