Chapter Eight
Carleone was our first destination, and it was less than a day's travel west of Bastianville, so I expected us to arrive before dark. Riondale and Bellona sat on the bench of the heavily-laden wagon while the rest of my entourage rode horses in front of or behind the cart. Mahini, Elissa, and Eva took up positions near the front of our caravan, and I rode between them with a proud grin on my face.
With how many good people I had at my back, this was sure to be my easiest journey yet.
Jaxtom trotted his horse up next to mine, and the blacksmith flashed me a cheeky grin across the distance between us.
“What’s next, boss?” Jax growled as he eyed the road ahead.
“We’ll reach Carleone before the end of the day,” I informed him as I mirrored his infectious happy expression. “We’ll take some time to stop and say hi to Mak, too.”
“Aye, I haven’t seen the ‘ol boy in a long time.” Jax nodded thoughtfully.
“Keep your guard up, though,” I instructed as my gaze flicked to the scrub brush on either side of the path. “We were attacked by kobolds the last time I came in this direction.”
“I’d love a chance to get my hands dirty.” Jax let out a loud belly laugh, and then he clicked his tongue to his horse before he trotted forward to ride beside Mahini, and a moment later, I heard the two of them discussing the various qualities of leather armor. Jaxtom seemed to be having the time of his life already, and the walls of Bastianville were still visible behind us.
It made me happy to see him so pleased with himself, and I was glad I’d decided to end the last event of my impromptu tournament with a tie. Having the blacksmith and Riondale both with me meant my fighting force was strong enough to handle anything we encountered.
“I finished our first flag,” Bellona announced from her seat on the wagon, and she flourished the fabric with a flick of her wrist.
Embroidered on the face of the flag was a griffon and a dragon, both rearing up and facing each other as though they were fighting. The dragon was crimson-red, and the griffon a burnt-gold color, but the background was black like a pirate’s jolly roger.
“It’s perfect.” I grinned. “It will surely cast fear into the hearts of our enemies upon the mere sight of my standard.”
“Good.” Bellona returned my smile. “I’ll stitch the same crest onto the breast of all of our uniforms. That way everyone will know we serve you and only you.”
“Plus, you’ll be given free range of the palace and all the power of being in the presence of a god,” I reminded the seamstress with a smirk. “You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours.”
“I can’t wait to see the big city,” Caelia breathed in a low voice. “Is it really made of solid gold?”
“The walls are painted a gold hue,” I said. “But when the sunset rays strike the walls of Vallenwood… It does look like it was built from pure gold.”
“I’m pretty sure the glow of dragon fire added some to the effect as well,” Riondale pointed out.
“True,” I chuckled. I was glad I didn’t have to deal with Smiguel the great crimson asshole anymore, so this time I could focus all my attention on the summit of nobility.
I still wasn’t entirely certain what would be expected of me once we reached the palace in Vallenwood, but I was curious about what I could learn while playing dress-up with some nobles. There were far more important and more interesting things to do, but being a god brought its fair share of responsibilities.
“Wait.” Bellona frowned. “We won’t have to face any dragons this time, right? You killed it, didn’t you?”
“Fair and square.” I nodded. “No, the worst we will deal with will be bandits, kobolds, or something like that trying to attack us along the way. We are well-protected, though, so I don’t think anyone will be brave enough to step up to us.”
I had to be careful saying things I couldn’t back up, but with half my team being heavily armed and the other half constantly keeping a lookout, I felt confident enough to assure the seamstress of her safety.
I lost myself in thought for a while after that, and I entertained myself by taking in the scenery. I’d traveled to the north during my last quest, so while the landscape was still familiar, it was more inviting than the road to Arginold had been. I was looking forward to seeing the two snow-capped mountains that held Carleone nestled in between them, though, and I was even more anxious to speak with Carlisle, the town leader.
Carleone was one of my new holdings, and I wanted to make sure it was thriving just as much as Bastianville was. I wouldn’t have a lot of time to spend in town during this journey, but I could find out information I needed to help them out on the way back home.
The evergreens were thick and lush in this part of Sorreyal, and the road was wide enough for us to ride four abreast. The air was brisk and chilly, but it held aromas of the woodlands that teased my nostrils. Pine needles crunched beneath our horses’ feet and the wheels of the wagon, and birds chirped in the distance.
It was peaceful, and serene, but a part of me didn’t trust the serenity. Danger could be lurking beneath the shadows of the trees, or around the next bend, but I shook off my paranoia with a shake of my head. Then I reminded myself to trust in my own power and abilities.
I was the God of Time, after all.
Having more people to protect did amp up my adrenaline, but I knew they would lend a helping hand, so it all balanced out in the end.
The rest of the day passed by without incident, and the sun crept steadily across the sky as we rode at a decent pace. With the afternoon rays beaming brightly down onto the road ahead, I spotted the snow-capped mountains first, and then the walls of Carleone bloomed in my vision through the mist like it had just been created before my eyes.
Carleone was tucked between two mountains, and the walls filled the distance between the slopes. I spotted far less blurry dots moving about on top of the walls this time than I had during my previous visit, and I wondered why their guard forces had diminished.
I nudged my heels against Goliath’s flanks to urge him forward at a quicker pace, and I took the lead of my little caravan. Everyone tightened their formation around the wagon behind me, and out of the corner of my eyes, I saw shirts being straightened and hair combed with fingers. My team wanted to make a good impression on their neighboring town, and I didn’t think there was anything wrong with that at all. In fact, I held my chin up proudly as I approached the closed gates of Carleone.
The guards at the front of the town looked familiar, and I wracked my brain for the memory of their names.
“Greetings, Sergeant Jack!” I called out in a friendly tone, and I waved to the man on the left.
Jack stepped forward, and he squinted up at me for a long moment before recognition bloomed on his face.
“O Great One, you have returned!” the sergeant gasped as he swept into a low bow. “We have heard tales of your deeds throughout the land, and everyone has been wishing you would come back to Carleone soon.”
“My duties have kept me away for a while,” I said with a sympathetic smile. “I’m actually just passing through this time as well, but I need to speak to the mayor, too.”
“He’ll be up at the mines for a little while longer,” Jack informed me. “He’s up there til dark every day.”
“Working himself to death.” I shook my head. “I’ll fix it.”
“Uncle Carl loves this town,” my wife murmured as she nudged her horse up next to mine. “He’ll do whatever he can to keep it going.”
“Well, soon he won’t have to worry about anything just like your father.” I grinned. “At least his house isn’t full of homeless people anymore.”
“True.” Elissa’s vibrant eyes twinkled with joy. “And if he’s working the mines himself that must mean there is still some ore coming out.”
“We’ll figure out what’s going on soon enough.” I nodded. “In the meantime, let’s get everyone some dinner while we wait for him to return to town.”
“Good idea.” Elissa grinned, and then she turned to the people behind us. “Follow me to the stables, please.”
We would spend the night in town and head back out early the next day, but I wanted to have plenty of time to talk to Carlisle and the other people of Carleone while I was there.
A short while later, my entourage and I were seated in the tavern with full bellies. We all held half drank mugs of ale in our hands, and happy sighs could be heard all around the group. Sarah snuggled up against her husband next to the crackling fireplace, Bellona furrowed her brow in concentration as she stitched on one of the uniforms, and Caelia whispered excitedly with Celeste and Adelina.
Kylor, Corvis, Niconor, and Jeron stuck to each other like glue, and they all kept their eyes peeled in every direction, so I could tell they were taking their duties as my guardsmen very seriously.
Riondale and Jax sat shoulder to shoulder to my right, and judging from how often the big blacksmith let out one of his deep belly laughs, they were having a good time joking around with each other.
I’d have to give my people a little bit of guidance about what was expected from each of them during this quest since I’d come up with roles in my head, but I hadn’t explained them in detail yet.
“Listen up, everybody,” I said in a loud enough voice to get all twelve of their attentions. “So, you’re part of my entourage, but do you know what that will mean once we reach the palace?”
“I assumed me and the other women would act as waiting women for Elissa, Mahini, and Eva.” Bellona met my gaze, and she shrugged her shoulders.
“And we’re your guards,” Jeron supplied with a glance at the other men around him.
“That’s true enough.” I scratched my jaw as I thought over what else they would need to know. “But there may be times when I ask you to perform certain tasks. Whether that be to follow someone without being seen, or to fetch something from a far distance, I expect my instructions to be followed to the letter.”
“Of course, Great One.” Bron sat up a little straighter. “We will not fail you.”
Everyone echoed his words of affirmation, and my heart swelled with pride at their passionate insistence that they would follow my commands without question.
“I have the best damn followers in all of Sorreyal,” I insisted in return.
“Bash!” Carlisle greeted in an excited tone as he burst through the tavern door and rushed toward me with a huge grin on his face. “What a sight for sore eyes you are!”
“Uncle Carl.” I grinned as I gripped his forearm in mine, and I clapped him on the shoulder with my other hand.
“Where is Lissy?” The Mayor of Carleone scanned over the faces of my entourage until they landed on his adopted niece, and my wife, Elissa. “Ah, there you are. Of course, you are with your husband, such a faithful wife.”
“I will go with Bash anywhere until our children are born,” my wife replied with a sweet smile. “ How are you, Uncle Carl?”
“I’ve been better,” the mayor sighed, but then his worried gaze flicked to my face, and he hurried to explain. “But I’ve also been a lot worse. I’ve just been busy.”
“Busy how?” I gestured to an empty chair next to mine, and the mayor followed me back to my seat.
“Yes, please, catch us up with everything going on in Carleone.” Elissa pulled her chair closer to the two of us, and she leaned forward on her elbows and rested her chin in the palm of her hand.
“After your last visit, things have improved a lot around here,” the mayor reported in a pleased tone. “Many of our citizens moved to Bastianville to alleviate some of the unemployment we suffered, but now we are basically a ghost town. We get the travelers who come from the east to Bastianville, but they don’t stay long, and they keep their gold for your town.”
“The merchants don’t stop here and share their wares?” I frowned.
Did the hometown of a god hold that much sway?
Carleone was now my town, too, so I needed to do what I could to help it thrive. Maybe the travelers just needed to learn that fact, and then they would be just as intrigued by the neighboring town as they were by Bastianville.
“No.” Carlisle shook his head. “And without the guardsmen Bullard provided, our protective force has dwindled. I no longer have a personal guard.”
“I’m building my forces, so you’ll have more than enough protection soon enough,” I assured him. “Plus, I’m going to spread the word that Carleone is in my territory now. I’m going to the palace to talk to the other nobles, so it will be the perfect time to announce my claim to the lands the king gave me. That way everyone knows you’re within my protection.”
“This is much appreciated, Great One.” Carlisle raised his mug for a toast. “To the future.”
“To the future.” I clinked my glass to his and drank heavily until I downed the rest of my ale.
We spent the rest of the night talking to the various townspeople in Carleone. Annette brought me her fat, happy cat that she’d named Sir Bashy after me. A couple people asked me how Hal was doing, and I was pleased to tell them he owned his own stable back in Bastianville. Cliff, the tanner who’d taught me how to work hides, had more than a few drinks with me, and we joked about having plenty of piss for tomorrow’s skins.
When we were all good and plastered, we made our way across the street to the inn where Nelly provided us with comfortable beds to sleep in. Riondale informed me he was going to stand guard over our wagon, and I commanded that he assign two other men to watch shifts as well.
The girls and I shared a king-sized bed again, and we all snuggled happily together. I was almost asleep when I heard a knock on the door, but Elissa jumped up to answer it. It was the innkeeper, Nelly, with a tray of delicacies.
“I’ve been practicing some of my baking, O Great One,” she informed me with an apologetic smile. “Sorry to barge in on you so late at night, but I saw you had just come in, and I tried to hurry--”
“Don’t worry about it.” I cut her off before she could stammer out any more excuses since I wasn’t upset with her at all. In fact, my mouth watered at the thought of a sweet treat, so she had perfect timing. “I could go for a late-night snack.”
“Thank you, Great One.” Nelly curtsied low, and her cheeks flushed a deep maroon color. “I will leave you to your slumber, then. Again, my apologies for interrupting.”
It was then that I realized I was naked, and Elissa had thrown the blankets back when she’d gotten up, so I was completely exposed.
I laughed out loud as Nelly closed the door behind her, and then I swung my legs over the side of the bed.
“Sorry, ladies,” I murmured. “I know you were about to go to sleep, too.”
“You’re cute.” Mahini smirked. “I’m having some of the sweets.”
“They’re all mine,” I argued as I hurried to the tray Nelly had placed on the small table.
“Nuh-uh!” Elissa jumped in front of me, and she snatched the tray up with some ninja-like skills. “We all get an equal portion.”
“Fine.” I pursed my lips in a mock-pout. “Dole them out, then, my love. And remind me not to get between you and chocolate in the future.”
“Deal.” Elissa flashed me a broad grin before she handed me one of the sweet morsels. Then she took the tray to the other two girls and gave them each a piece as well.
“Mmm,” Eva moaned with delight as she placed the delicacy between her luscious lips. “Absolutely delicious.”
“Careful,” Mahini warned with a chuckle. “You’ll get us all excited.”
“Come on,” I groaned at the same time. “Don’t tease me like that.”
We all laughed, and then we devoured another round of the sweet chocolate treats. I wondered if I could mimic the process Nelly had used to make them briefly, and then I returned my attention to getting some rest before the next day of traveling. I snuggled in between the three women once again, and I sighed happily as I fell into a deep slumber.
Being the God of Time was fucking awesome.
The next morning, Jax and I went by the blacksmith’s forge before we headed back out on the road, and the two of us walked side by side down the main street of Carleone. The burly blacksmith glanced around at the town with a keen eye, but he let out an appreciative whistle when he saw Malakai’s forge.
“Greetings, Bash,” Mak said with a friendly smile. “How’s life been treatin’ the God of Time?”
“I’m surprised you remember me,” I chuckled.
“You’re not easy to forget.” The dark-skinned blacksmith crossed his arms as his gaze landed on Jaxtom. “Neither are you, Jax.”
“It’s been a bit,” Jax growled, and then the two blacksmiths clasped forearms. “How are ya, Mak?”
“Could be worse.” Mak shrugged. “What brings ya to Carleone?”
“Passin’ through,” Jax grunted, and I resisted the urge to chuckle.
The two blacksmiths were like peas in a pod, and while they came from different backgrounds, they had a similar gruffness.
“We brought some more copper to mint into coins,” I interjected. “Do you think you could send them back to Bastianville when you’re done with them?”
“I know the drill.” Mak nodded.
I let the two blacksmiths catch up for a little bit longer, but the exchange of grunts and growls were highly entertaining. It was like they were speaking a different language, and it was difficult to keep up with. I made a solid effort, though, and I was proud of myself for my ability to maintain a straight face the whole time they spoke.
Then Jax and I bade Mak farewell, and we returned to the rest of our entourage. Everyone waited for us in the street outside the inn, and the wagon was already hitched to a couple of horses.
“We just have to drop off the ore at the blacksmith’s forge on our way out of town,” I explained to the group as I mounted Goliath. “Then our next destination will be Castle Bullard.”
“Will we have time to say hello to my grandmother?” Riondale asked in a cautious tone. “If not, it’s fine…”
“Sure, Ri-guy,” I chirped. “I wouldn’t want you to miss out on any opportunity to see your family.”
Riondale and his three cousins, Thanor, Bryn, and Ean, had left their elderly grandmother behind when they’d left Bullard to follow me full-time, and I knew the men were all worried about the older woman who’d raised them.
I clicked my tongue to my warhorse, and we headed down the street of Carleone toward the gate on the opposite side of town. I pulled him to a halt outside the blacksmith’s shop, and Jeron helped Corvis and Kylor unload the crates full of copper ore. We waved goodbye to the people of Carleone who had gathered at the edge of town to watch us depart, and then we passed through the gates.
The road was wide and easy to travel, and this time I took a more direct route to the Duke of Bullard’s castle than I had during my previous trip to see Eva’s father. I would avoid the city of Port Kilwick and Lake Balerno, so our time on the road would be cut nearly in half. It would only take us a few days to reach the castle by taking this route, and with the wagon we would be traveling slower anyway, so I appreciated the smoother path.
We’d have to camp out over the next few nights, but we were well-prepared to do so. I had enough tents for everyone, and enough food to get us to Vallenwood if necessary, so I felt ready for anything.
We traveled for the rest of the day without encountering any other travelers, and I soon heard bored sighs among my entourage. I could fix that, though, since I was the most entertaining person in the world, at least in their eyes.
“How are you enjoying the trip so far?” I pulled Goliath’s reins until he fell back beside the dark-skinned general store owner, and I flashed Caelia a friendly smile.
“Just fine, thank you, Great One,” Caelia murmured, and she refused to meet my gaze. Her fingers fidgeted with her reins, and her shoulders slumped.
“Who’s watching your store while you’re gone?” I pressed in an effort to get her to open up.
“I just closed it up.” Caelia shrugged, but then she lifted her light-brown eyes to mine. “Elrin promised to keep an eye on it, though.”
“I’m sure everyone in town will make sure it is just fine until you’re back.” I grinned. “The people of Bastianville seem to be really fond of you, Caelia, and so are my women it seems.”
“Of me?” Caelia snorted. “You’re one to talk.”
I felt like I’d made a breakthrough in that moment, and I grinned from ear to ear.
“I’m glad you’re with me, Caelia,” I said in a soft voice, and heat rushed to her cheeks.
“Yes, sir.” Caelia’s light-brown eyes fell to her horse’s mane, and I got the hint that she was done talking for the moment.
“We will talk more soon,” I informed her, and when her gaze flicked up to my face, I flashed her a flirtatious wink.
Caelia’s cheeks burned brightly, and she sputtered for a moment, but I merely nudged my heels against Goliath’s flanks to ride away without another word.
The next person I decided to ride beside was the young girl, Celeste. She wore a stern look on her face as she stared ahead at the road with unseeing eyes, like she was watching a movie play in her head. I cleared my throat to get her attention, and she inhaled sharply as she was pulled from her thoughts.
“My apologies, Great One.” Her violet eyes filled with fear for a moment, but I gave her a warm smile, and her expression relaxed. “I didn’t see you approach.”
“You seemed deep in thought,” I observed in a kind voice. “Is everything okay?”
“You said Bullard was the next stop,” she replied in a solemn tone. “I haven’t been there since the death of my parents.”
“I’m right here by your side,” I informed her. “Plus, you seem like a strong kid. Everything is going to be just fine.”
“Thank you, Great One.” Celeste took a deep breath, and she flashed me a grateful smile. “I feel a lot better now.”
“Please, call me Bash,” I insisted.
“Yes, Sir Bash,” Celeste chuckled. “I heard you’re a knight, after all.”
“I am,” I laughed. “Good call.”
We talked about the landscape and various wildlife we spotted for a few moments before I guided Goliath over to speak to someone else, and I was really enjoying taking the time to get to know the people in my entourage.
Adelina sat on the tail of the wagon, and the older woman kicked her legs with an air of whimsy as the cart bounced down the road. I trailed behind the wagon on Goliath’s back for a while, and then I cleared my throat to get her attention.
“What do you think of Bastianville so far?” I asked in a curious tone. “You’re new to the area, so I’d like to hear your thoughts on my little town.”
“It’s a fine place to settle down,” Adelina answered with a friendly smile. Her red and gray hair was woven into a braid that hung over her shoulder, and she stroked it absently while she thought. “The tournament was fun. I think holding more events like that would draw more travelers to town.”
“That’s a good point.” I nodded. “I knew it would boost morale as well as find me the best people in town for my entourage. Maybe that’s something I can arrange for Carleone as well…”
“I’m still a little shocked I’m here with you.” The older woman smirked. “The oil hill reminded me of fishing in small mountain rivers as a young girl, though. I would hop up the boulders in search of the best spots, and the rocks were always a bit slippery from the water.”
“Sounds like you were the perfect person for the job, then,” I chuckled. “It was very entertaining to watch you smash the competition.”
“I enjoyed that as well.” Adelina grinned. “But don’t worry, I won’t let the victory go to my head. I can play a servant woman with the best of them.”
“Good.” I nodded. “There may be a time when I call upon your nimble feet since I know what you’re capable of now.”
“I will serve you in whichever way you think is best.” Adelina tossed her braid over her shoulder. “Being a part of your chosen followers brings honor to my entire family. I will not disappoint them, or you, Great One.”
“I have utter faith in you,” I assured her.
We rode until the sun began to set behind us, and then I called for a halt. My crew swiftly moved about setting up our campsite, and Riondale led the charge by directing people to various tasks.
I made a new save point, but then I set about starting the fire with some of the tinder Jeron had quickly gathered, and I used my flame spell to ignite the kindling. A few moments later, flames burned in the circle of stones we’d arranged, and I warmed my hands over the blaze.
By the time that was done, all the tents had been erected, the horses were unsaddled and fed, and the first watch shift began at the wagon. Bron brought some of the rations from the back of the cart, and soon we had a stew simmering over the flames.
A short while later, we were all seated around the campfire with full stomachs, and I gazed around at the happy faces of my crew with a pleased smile.
“What are you thinking about?” Mahini asked with an eyebrow raised as she took my empty dish from my hands. “You’ve got a weird smile…”
“Just thinking about how lucky I am to be in this world,” I explained. “Things are a lot different where I came from, and it makes me very happy to be here with you, Elissa, and Eva by my sides.”
“You honor us with your presence,” Mahini murmured as a rosy hue sprang to her cheeks. “I would be lost without you…”
“Hush.” I brushed her obsidian locks away from her face with a gentle touch. “There’s no reason to think about that anymore. I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere.”
“That brings me great comfort.” The stoic warrior woman collected herself with a deep breath, and then the corners of her lips twitched into a smile. “And pleasure.”
“There’s more where that came from,” I growled playfully.
Mahini’s ice-blue eyes danced with laughter, but her lips remained tightly sealed, so I pressed mine against them in a brief, but firm, kiss. The desert goddess gasped, and a few eyes flicked in our direction, but I merely chuckled and leaned back. She shook her head, and then she pushed herself up from her seat. Her hips swayed as she crossed the campsite to the washing station, and I stared openly at her backside as she departed.
She was so much fun to tease, and it looked like she enjoyed teasing me in return, too.
“Tell us a story, Great One,” Jeron requested from the other side of the fire. “Something from your recent adventures.”
“Hmm…” It was hard to decide what stories I hadn’t already told the people of Bastianville. “Well, since you are trusted members of my entourage, I suppose I can tell you about how I managed to empty the Duke of Arginold’s treasury. But this story must stay between us for now.”
“Oooh, yes, please!” Elissa giggled. “This is such a good story!”
“Go on, then,” Jax growled.
“Come on, tell us,” Adelina urged.
“What did I miss?” Mahini asked as she rejoined the circle.
“Sir Bash was about to tell us about the duke’s treasure,” Celeste offered with an eager grin.
“Was he?” Mahini gifted us all with one of her melodic laughs, and my heart thudded heavily in my chest.
Fuck, she was beautiful when she laughed.
“I was.” I grinned. “Get comfy. You’re in for a bumpy ride.”
“Where are we going?” Eva asked as she tilted her head to the side, but then realization dawned on her, and she held up her hand. “Never mind. Please, continue.”
I flashed her a wink, and then I scratched my chin as I thought about where to begin. I decided to start with the beginning as the girls would remember it, since I didn’t want to say anything that exposed too much about my abilities. I had to remember exactly what happened on the final run through and disregard anything that happened during previous attempts.
When I was ready, I clapped my hands together to get everyone’s full attention, and then I began my gripping tale. I recounted how I predicted every step, arranged for every detail, and then the girls added in their own details about the tasks they performed. As I listened to my women describe my powers of prophecy and strategy, I realized just how awed they were with me, and it raised my body temperature several degrees.
“You really dressed up as a servant and a guard?” was the first question I received when my story was completed, and Adelina shook her head in disbelief. “But you’re a god…”
“He’s not one to act all godly all the time,” Jax pointed out with a shrug. “I like Bash just the way he is.”
“I think at the palace things will be a little different,” Bellona said.
“What makes you say that?” I frowned.
“Why, with all the nobles around, you’ll need to act more lordly,” the seamstress said. “We will be your servants and guards, not your companions.”
“That doesn’t sound very nice.” I shook my head. “No, I think I’m gonna stay just the way I am. If the nobles don’t like it, then fuck ‘em.”
“You’ll be viewed as an outsider,” Eva observed. “Few would trust you enough to open up beyond common civilities.”
“Well, that could be a problem,” I sighed. “There’s no telling how many others are allying themselves against me, either. Arginold wasn’t going to act alone.”
“Your enemies could be lurking in plain sight,” Riondale mused. “We will have to operate as a well-oiled machine while we are within the walls of the palace. No signs of weakness must be visible from the outside.”
“I don’t have weaknesses,” I reminded him. “I’m the God of Time.”
“You care about your followers,” Corvis interjected in a somber tone. “That could be used against you. You might be a god… but we aren’t.”
“I will always keep you safe,” I assured the horseman, and I meant it.
Even if I had to go through a million lifetimes worth of attempts, I wasn’t going to let anything happen to any of my followers.
“I think we’re all here because we trust you.” Adelina smirked. “You’ve yet to steer us wrong.”
“And it’s not about to happen any time soon.” I grinned.
“So, do you promise to act more noble-like once we reach the palace?” Riondale questioned with an arched eyebrow.
“I will do my best,” I chuckled. “Do you promise to relax a little and enjoy yourself?”
“If that is your command.” Riondale nodded, but a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
“Jeron and Celeste,” Elissa called out as she approached the campfire from the direction of the wagon. “It’s your turn to watch the wagon.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the teen girl murmured as she leapt to her feet. Her gaze flicked to me, and she inclined her head politely before she darted away from the fire.
“I’m going, I’m going.” Jeron rose to his feet a little slower, and he dusted off his pants and flashed me a grin before he followed behind Celeste.
“I will bank the fire,” Corvis offered. “And keep an eye on the two of them. They’re new to all this, after all.”
“Who ya callin’ new?” Jax growled. “Ye just came to Bastianville yerself.”
“I merely meant that I’m more accustomed to being on the road than others.” Corvis shrugged, and his expression remained neutral. “I didn’t mean to offend.”
“Offend?” Jax tossed back his head and let out a loud belly laugh. “Me? No… Sorry, kid.”
“We should probably all get some sleep now,” I instructed before the banter could grow any more heated. “We leave at first light.”
Jax grumbled a little with a playful smile on his lips, and I could tell he was enjoying being outside of town on an adventure. His eyes were lit up with joy, and he moved with enthusiastic energy in every step.
I waved goodnight to the blacksmith and the rest of my entourage before I crawled inside the extra-large, custom-made tent the girls and I occupied. I was asleep a short while later, and I enjoyed pleasant dreams of pleasurable moans and sweet-scented bodies. My lovers were faceless, but I could identify them still. The three women twisted in my arms like they were made of water, and I had to chase them down.
The sound of giggles filled my ears, but then they turned to pained grunts, and I frowned.
What had I done wrong?
The noise was unlike anything I’d heard come from my ladies’ lips before, and I suddenly realized it had come from outside my dream.
My eyes sprang open at the same time that Mahini cried out in alarm, and I looked over to see a shadowy figure crouched over her with a dagger to her throat. Her ice-blue eyes met mine and filled with fear, and the image sparked me into action.
I grabbed the figure by the shoulders and yanked them toward me, and the two of us rolled against the fabric wall of the tent. My sleeping pad tangled between my legs and prevented me from getting to my feet, but it also kept the strange attacker from being able to get up as well.
Eva and Elissa scurried back as far as they could and pulled Mahini toward them, and the two girls blinked in shock at the scene they’d just woken up to.
As I held the person down, I reached behind me and grabbed the first thing my hand came into contact with: my pillow. Then I shoved it onto the dude’s face and held it down with both fists.
Now that I’d managed to get the upper hand, I got a good look at the stranger who’d suddenly appeared in our tent trying to kill my beloved. I pulled the pillow back quickly in an effort to see their face, but I didn’t have much luck. They were wearing all black, with a cowl that covered their entire face except for the dark eyes peering at me from the holes in the fabric.
“Bash!” a female voice screamed my name from outside the tent, and my head swiveled toward the sound.
Mahini suddenly lunged forward with the stranger’s blade in her hand, and she plunged it into the would-be assassin’s chest.
“Kill or be killed,” she murmured, and then she jerked her chin toward the entrance of the tent. “Go, Bash. They need you.”
I nodded before I crawled out of the tent and away from the dead guy laying in my spot, but then my jaw fell open at the scene before my eyes. Bodies covered the campsite, and the three watchers on duty when I’d gone to bed all laid dead before me. Corvis, Jeron, and Celeste stared up with unseeing eyes, and rage boiled in my gut.
Then my eyes found the owner of the voice I’d heard. A figure dressed all in black held a dagger to Caelia’s throat, and the shopkeeper sobbed brokenly as she tried to inch away from the edge of the blade.
There was no fucking way I was going to let this happen. These wanna-be ninjas were going to get their asses handed to them, and I was eager to spill their blood. First, I had to reset back to my save point, though, and then I would kill every single last one of them.
Chime.
I was back in the moment before I started the fire at the newly formed campsite, and all my followers were safe and sound.
“Everyone, listen up,” I called out in a loud voice, and my entourage quickly gathered around me. “We will be attacked tonight, but our enemies are in for a little surprise…”
The God of Time would be waiting for them.