Tiff and I surveyed the field of corpses in front of us, and while we were both sweaty and covered in splashes of bluish blood, both of us were grinning from ear to ear.
I had to admit, fighting side by side with the Goddess of Death had been fun.
“What should we call them?” Tiff asked as she gestured toward the dead creatures. “It has to be something creepy.”
“Hmm.” I scratched my stubbled jaw and gazed at a nearby spider-horse monster’s body. “Underbeast? You know, because they were coming from underground?”
“Maybe.” Tiff flashed me an amused smile. “We should probably check those holes to make sure there isn’t still a nest underneath our feet.”
“Good idea.” I led the way to the crumbled piles of dirt, and we both gazed around at the total destruction the battle had caused.
The ground had caved in along the edges of the openings, but I didn’t see any movement in the earth. “Looks pretty secure to me.”
“If I know Plague, then there’s a lot more where these came from.” Tiff crossed her arms as she glared at the holes. “If there’s
one thing he’s good at, it’s spreading horror and terror.”
“Has he made monsters like this before?” I asked.
Tiff’s eyes snapped to my face, but I could see an internal battle waging in her emerald gaze. I’d asked about the God of the Plague, and in doing so, reminded her about the invisible line in the sand drawn between us. We were supposed to be enemies, and Plague was supposed to be her friend, but it seemed like she was feeling confused.
“Plague has a thing for wizards,” Tiff allowed. “And a lot of them are summoners.”
With the experiences I had in the Kotar Desert, her statement checked out, but it still didn’t explain why this horde of creatures had attacked us. It could be evidence of Plague’s betrayal, or it could be a coincidence, but in any case, it wasn’t enough to stop us.
“If you think your ally is capable of something like this, then I believe you,” I said as I gave the goddess a comforting smile. “That’s why I’m here, right? To make sure you survive this mission?”
“Well, yeah,” Tiff muttered, and she seemed to struggle to find the words she wanted to say for a long moment. Finally, she sighed and threw up her hands in surrender. “To be honest, I don’t really
know what to think anymore. I keep expecting to find out you’re not who you say you are, but you continue to prove me wrong. That doesn’t mean I trust you yet, but you’re obviously not an idiot. If you can believe Plague would do this, then I need to open my eyes to the truth.”
“We won this time,” I pointed out. “We make a good team.”
“Maybe,” Tiff allowed, but her cheeks flushed a pink hue.
“Anyway, we should make camp for the night so you can demonstrate your culinary prowess.”
“Let me take a few notes about these weird monsters,” I said.
“And we still need to find the horses.”
“I’ll find our rides while you do your studying,” Tiff suggested.
“You better be done by the time I get back. I’m hungry.”
“Duly noted,” I chuckled.
We went in separate directions, and Tiff headed into the forest in search of Goliath and her mare. I didn’t think the warhorse would have wandered far, and his female companion would probably stay near the stallion for protection. But I didn’t have much time to examine the remains of the strange creatures, so I got right to work.
I looked closely at the bottoms of their feet, and it almost looked like a split hoof covered in coarse hairs. It was very similar to a spider’s, but upon closer inspection, there was a keratin hoof beneath the fur. Their mouths were held slightly open by two protruding fangs, and the essence seeping from the tips definitely looked venomous. The bodies were all sunken and emaciated like the things hadn’t eaten in weeks, but they had ribs beneath their flesh that closely resembled a horse’s.
They were such a weird combination, I knew it would be hard to describe to Zenda, but I was determined to try.
When Tiff returned with the horses, Goliath was tugging on the reins she held in one hand, but the mare appeared to be following along in a docile manner. I smirked as I took the leather straps from the goddess, and the white stallion calmed bit by bit as I stroked his face and neck.
“He really likes you,” Tiff observed. “He fought me the whole way here.”
“We’ve been through a lot together,” I said.
“Are you ready to go?” Tiff asked.
“I want to write down some of my observations on paper,” I said. “And maybe attempt a drawing. Zenda will have so many questions, it’ll be easier if I’m prepared.”
“That’s the blue one, right?” Tiff asked in a curious tone.
“She’s Zaborian,” I corrected. “She was a historian when I met her, but she’s always been a scholar. If there’s anything unknown out there, she will find it.”
“So, she’s a nerd.” Tiff’s emerald eyes twinkled with mischief.
“The word you’re looking for is smart,” I countered.
“Alright, whatever, take your notes.” Tiff rolled her eyes and searched for a comfortable place to wait. “But I am kind of good at drawing if you need my help.”
“Thanks,” I said, and I fetched some writing materials from my packs.
I was glad I’d thought ahead enough to remember a journal, and I knew Zenda would be pleased with my findings. The beautiful historian reacted to knowledge the way others drooled over a juicy steak, and I was excited to see her response to these strange monsters we’d encountered.
It didn’t take me very long to complete my notes, and I had Tiff sketch a basic drawing of the creatures. She actually was really good, and she made it look easy to create a realistic representation of the beasts. The goddess handed me the journal with a self-satisfied smile, so I knew she was well aware of her artistic skill. At least she wasn’t overly braggadocious about it, and I was sure I’d find a lot of use for her talents in the future.
We rode a ways away from the battlefield before we stopped to set up camp, and I unpacked the horses while Tiff gathered firewood.
Once the tents were set up and the flames crackling, I dug through our saddlebags for ingredients. I came up with a savory stew, and a few moments later, we were both sipping the broth in contentment.
“Not bad, Bashy,” Tiff complimented. “Although, it could use some saltines on the side.”
“Or cornbread,” I added. “But I did the best I could with what we have. We’ll have to hunt soon to replenish our store of meat, but we still have plenty of vegetables and spices.”
“I have a confession,” Tiff said with a shy smile. “I never learned how to use a bow, so I’m not the best at hunting. I can kill easily, but the remnants never look very appetizing.”
“I can teach you,” I said without hesitation. “It’s not that hard.”
“Deal.” Tiff grinned. “It has really sucked sometimes. I’ve had to resort to stealing more than once.”
“That’s no way to live,” I agreed.
We exchanged a warm smile, but then Tiff seemed to suddenly realize how close we were sitting to each other, and she stiffened as her blasé mask returned to her face. I didn’t want to push her, and the threat of death at a single touch definitely made me hesitant to breach the invisible boundaries between us. She would have to come to me willingly, but I was patient.
Soon, the Goddess of Death would see for herself exactly what the right side of this war was like. If she truly wanted to survive and remain on the winning side, then she had to prove to me how trustworthy she was. I had to admit, it would be a lot easier to face off against the God of the Plague with an alliance with her, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t handle it by myself if she chose wrongly.
“I should get some sleep,” Tiff said in a quiet voice, and she pushed herself to her feet before she dusted off her black pants. “I’ll see you in the morning, Bash.”
“Yeah, of course.” I watched her go for a moment before I turned my gaze back to the crackling fire, but I was quickly lost in thought once more.
The Goddess of Death was beautiful and tempting, and it seemed like she found me just as irresistible. She had to overcome her fear of rejection before she’d be able to receive any affection from anyone, but I could tell she wanted companionship, even if she didn’t want to admit it.
Would we be able to form an alliance?
Or would I have to face her in a battle to the death?
I worked the muscle in my jaw as the thought of hurting her made my stomach clench into a tight knot, and I sent out a silent wish for her to make the right decision when the time came.
I could only do so much, and in the end, it would be up to her.
I crawled into my bedroll a short while later, and Nameless curled up in the dirt in front of my tent. I could barely make out the outline of the dragon’s sleeping form through the opening flap, but it set me at ease to have my flying friend nearby.
Morning dawned earlier than I anticipated, and I groaned as I stretched my arms over my head. Nameless shuffled into the tent on
his belly, and the growing dragon climbed onto my chest. The weight of him pressed into my ribs, but I didn’t mind. It was rare to get morning cuddles with the dragon, and it wouldn’t be long before he would be too big.
“Good morning,” Tiff greeted in a cheerful tone as I emerged from the tent. “I made breakfast.”
“Oh, really?” I yawned and rubbed my eyes. “Did you get much sleep?”
“Yeah, a bit.” Tiff grinned as she handed me a bowl full of scrambled eggs mixed with vegetables. “I went for a walk when I woke up, and I found some big eggs. I’m not sure what kind of bird they’re from, but they look delicious.”
“I agree.” I gave her a grateful smile as I accepted the food, and then I found a comfortable seat beside the fire to eat.
I could feel Tiff watching me out of the corners of her eyes, but she busied herself with breaking down the tents while I ate. When I finished my meal, I helped her pack up the rest of the campsite, and we hit the road again soon after.
We were making good progress for most of the morning, and Nameless stayed fairly close overhead. The horses’ hooves clomped
against the forest floor, and we navigated around trees and shrubbery in a general northward direction. Every once in a while, we stumbled onto a deer trail that wound through the forest, and the dirt paths were easier to maneuver the horses along. I wasn’t sure how much further we had left to go, but Tiff seemed confident in her ability to lead us.
The Goddess of Death had described our destination as a network of caves along the northern boundary of Sorreyal, but I knew enough about the map of the realm to know we were getting close to the edge of the kingdom. The mountainous region of the Northern Reaches lay on the other side, and the terrain would become way more treacherous the further north we traveled.
I fell into a routine with the goddess, and we switched out tasks each evening with such ease, it felt like we’d known each other forever. I still hadn’t let her touch me, but she hadn’t made any attempts to do so, either. The moment beside the fire seemed like a distant memory, or maybe I’d imagined the whole thing.
It could just be wishful thinking, but I had the feeling that Tiff was starting to like me more than she’d anticipated. I was certainly enjoying her presence more than I could have predicted, but I’d
known I was attracted to her ever since the first moment I laid eyes on her.
The path eventually widened, and the trees fell away to reveal a large meadow full of tall grass. I rode Goliath up beside Tiff’s mare, and I flashed her a smile. Tiff gave me a tight-lipped smile in return, but she didn’t seem eager for conversation, so I let her be. Instead, I occupied myself with hypothetical scenarios for our current mission.
If the God of the Plague wasn’t conspiring to eliminate Tiff from this world, then there was a chance she would still side with him.
I would have to be prepared for either outcome.
Find caves, I said through the bond I shared with Nameless.
The iridescent dragon sent a wave of understanding before he flapped his wings to rise higher into the clouds, but I saw him dip below the fluffy blobs every so often. If Tiff wasn’t going to tell me where exactly we were going, then I would find other ways to get the information for myself.
With Nameless on the task of finding possible caves in our area, I turned my focus back to getting Tiff to open up. The more she talked, the more knowledge was placed in my arsenal, but I had to admit, I was simply curious about the mysterious goddess.
I cleared my throat to get Tiff’s attention, and she shot me a quizzical look before returning her gaze to the path ahead. I didn’t want to push her back into her protective emotional bubble, but maybe a little prodding wouldn’t hurt.
“I remember you saying you had a village like Bastianville before,” I said. “What was that like?”
“It was alright.” Tiff shrugged. “It was close to the coast of the Eastern Ocean, but it was far enough away from Mistvale Keep to help me stay incognito.”
“You had friends there?” I asked, but Tiff shook her head.
“No one knew who I was,” she explained. “It was more like a safe haven where I could nurse wounds and people-watch. I liked to sit in the tavern and eavesdrop on their trivial problems because it seemed like the closest thing to a TV show available.”
“So, you didn’t talk to anyone?” I raised my eyebrows. “That had to be very lonely.”
“Yeah, well, we can’t all be welcomed with adoration.” Tiff shot me a sideways glance. “Every town you visit is buzzing about it for months. You’d think the Beatles had shown up or something.”
“Have you been researching me?” I chuckled. “Things go more smoothly if people like you. Besides, I can’t find it in me to deny innocents a few moments of my time.”
“That’s why you’re different.” Tiff snapped her fingers as her eyes lit up with realization. “You care.”
“And others don’t?” I arched an eyebrow. “I have a hard time believing I’m the only goodhearted immortal in this world.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” Tiff shrugged. “But from what I’ve seen, everyone else is only interested in increasing their own power. They don’t care about who they hurt in the process.”
“That’s why they lost,” I pointed out. “I win because I do the right thing.”
“We’ll see about that,” Tiff countered.
“You have a chance to do the same,” I reminded her. “I know you’re not an idiot, or you never would have come to me for help in the first place. You see what’s really going on, and you don’t like it.”
“How do you know I’m not like all the others obsessed with themselves?” Tiff asked. “You don’t know what I’ve done or what I’m capable of.”
“I have an idea,” I argued. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t choose to be a better person here and now.”
“Whatever.” Tiff rolled her eyes and rode ahead of me, and it was clear the conversation was over.
I could tell I’d hit a nerve, but each time I triggered her emotions, she started to open up a little more once she calmed down. Now, it was up to her to take that step. I would show her she could trust me, but it would take some time.
Fortunately, time was always on my side.
We rode hard for the rest of the day, and the sound of the horses’ hooves thundered in my ears. The landscape became steeper and uneven, and the mountains in the distance drew ever closer. Soon, it would be difficult to navigate our way through the rocky passes, but I had a feeling we were getting close to our destination.
The sky suddenly darkened over our heads, and I looked up at the clouds in alarm. A strong storm was brewing, and judging by the angry gray covering the air, things could get challenging really quickly.
“We need to find some shelter,” Tiff said as she came to the same conclusion. “We’ll have to wait out the storm before we keep going.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I said.
I sent out a mental call to Nameless, and the dragon swooped out of the storm clouds a moment later. A crackle of lightning a few miles away reflected off his iridescent scales, and I had to admit, he looked right at home in the middle of the pending deluge.
Lead me to the closest cave, I instructed.
Nameless immediately flapped his wings and swooped through the air in front of us, but he stayed close enough for us to follow.
“Follow Nameless,” I said to Tiff as I gestured after the dragon.
“He knows where a cave is.”
“Oh, really?” Tiff’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “I didn’t realize you two could communicate like that.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” I countered with a wink.
Tiff blushed and looked away, but I could see the corners of her lips twitching as she resisted the urge to smile.
We raced after the shiny dragon as the rain started to pelt down upon our heads, but he led us on a winding path between hills until the dark opening of a cave came into view. We rushed the rest of the distance to the stone shelter, and I was pleasantly surprised to find it was large enough for both the horses and dragon to join us beneath the stone ledge.
“How did he know this was here?” Tiff asked as she looked around the dark cave.
“He can cover a lot of ground rather quickly,” I pointed out. “I’m just glad this one was close enough for us to avoid getting caught in the downpour.”
The back of the cavern disappeared into shadow, so I had a feeling there were connecting tunnels leading further into the ground.
If there were more caves in the area, there was a chance they could be connected together, but exploring the darkness could take more time than we had to spare.
I held up a flame in the palm of my hand as I gazed around, and I noticed a pile of firewood tucked into the back of the cavern.
Someone used this place as shelter before, but it had been a while since anyone was here judging from the dust and debris gathered.
“I’ll start a fire,” I said as I headed toward the woodpile.
“Then I’ll handle the horses,” Tiff said.
We went about our tasks in silence, but each movement we made echoed against the stone surrounding us. Once I had a warm fire burning, I went to help Tiff dry the horses, and after the space started to heat up, we spread our bedrolls on either side of the flames. The horses and dragon settled into comfortable positions near the entrance, but they didn’t seem to be bothered by the occasional splash against their rumps.
I removed my wet clothes until I was only wearing a pair of boxer-like underpants, and I could feel Tiff’s eyes on me even with my back turned to her. I stretched the damp fabric in front of the fire, and I pulled my backup outfit out of my pack. I couldn’t help glancing over my shoulder to gauge her reaction, and I was met with her dilated emerald eyes burning with desire.
Tiff swallowed and cleared her throat in an awkward manner as she turned away, but I couldn’t keep the satisfied grin off my face.
She’d already seen me completely naked when I was making love to Zenda, so I wasn’t embarrassed by my near nudity in this situation.
When I sat down on my bedroll dressed in clean, dry clothes, there was still a blush darkening the goddess’ cheeks.
“What’s for dinner?” Rather than confronting the Goddess of Death about her feelings for me, I decided to play it cool and act like I didn’t notice. “It’s your turn to cook.”
“Um, yeah, sure.” Tiff avoided my gaze as she fetched the cooking supplies.
I resisted the urge to chuckle at her distress, but I wasn’t expecting the deadly goddess to be so shy. Tiff had been in this world far longer than me, and yet, she still had an air of naivety about her like she was still that teenage girl who drowned in a fountain. The deadly goddess carried herself with a confident, nonchalant demeanor, but there was so much more to her once you scratched beneath the surface.
After we ate, I sharpened and cleaned my weapons, and Tiff stared absently into the fire like she was lost in thought. I was beyond curious about what was going on inside her head, but maybe someday she’d tell me.
“I should check on Bastianville before we arrive at our destination,” I said into the silence. “It won’t take me long, and now
seems like a good time. We’ll be stuck here until the storm blows over, and flooding could slow us down even more.”
“Go do what you have to do.” Tiff pressed her lips into a tight smile. “I’ll stay here and keep watch.”
“Cool.” I grinned, and I made a new save point just in case something bad happened in my absence. “Back in a blip.”
I went into the shadows at the back of the cave to perform the ritual required to activate the fast travel amulets, but a moment later, I was standing in the corridor of the castle in Bastianville. Akina was leaning against the doorway of the nursery with her back to me, and I could see the gold chain of the amulet around the nape of her neck.
I snuck up closer and wrapped my arms around her waist from behind, and Akina jumped before she turned and kissed me. Then she held a finger over her lips as she gestured at the sleeping children inside the nursery.
We crept down the hall away from the sleeping babies, and we joined the other two ladies in the study. Mahini and Elissa looked a little tired, but they seemed to be in good spirits.
“Celeste will be here soon,” Elissa said after she greeted me with a kiss. “We both decided we needed a good night’s sleep.”
“I think that’s a great idea.” I grinned. “We can even talk to Celeste about keeping a room here for her.”
“How goes the mission with Miss Death?” Mahini asked in a dry tone.
“She’s not that bad, actually.” I settled into an armchair. “I don’t want to leave her alone for too long, though.”
“It is nice to see you regardless of how long you can stay,”
Elissa said. “But I’m glad you’re here. We received some letters from Vallenwood that I think you’ll want to read.”
“Oh, cool.” I found the stack of papers sitting on a nearby shelf once the women pointed them out, and I smiled as soon as I saw the familiar handwriting of my two queens.
Dearest Family,
Vallenwood is doing as well as we could hope, but there remain several challenges ahead of us. The nobility residing in the palace are causing some issues with the staff, but we are handling the situation personally.
My belly continues to grow each day, and I am getting so excited to meet the young one I’m carrying. I’ve already been
thinking about names, but I won’t make any final decisions without Bash’s input.
My thoughts are with all of you in Bastianville and on the road, and I look forward to being together again soon.
With all my love,
Evangeline
I smiled as I folded up Eva’s letter, and I couldn’t help imagining what it would be like to be a father for a third time. The blonde queen would make a fantastic mother, and I kind of hoped we had a girl so my wife could show her daughter the acceptance she always craved herself. I knew without a shadow of doubt that our daughter would be allowed to do anything she wanted to do, even if she wanted to learn to fight.
Then I opened the next letter, and the sight of Caelia’s curly script instantly brought a smile to my face.
To my sisters and husband,
Life in the palace is strange for me. While I thought I would be accustomed to such a lavish lifestyle because of the many adventures we’ve had in the capital and other cities, being here day in and day out is quite a different experience altogether. I don’t want
to let anyone down, so I’m doing my best to adapt, and Eva has been a wonderful guide through all of it. I don’t know what I would do without her.
The market is thriving, and it brings me much joy to stroll through the clean streets lined with vendors from all over the realm. I even saw a merchant who had traveled all the way from Arajah, but I was disappointed he didn’t have any updates on Risthan and the rest of our friends. The frequent trade routes from Bastianville to the capital keeps us up to date with everything happening at home, and it sounds like everything is well.
I can’t wait until we are together again, and I’m excited to hear about everything that’s happened since we separated.
Love always,
Caelia
I took a deep breath and folded the co-queen’s letter up, and I tucked them back onto the shelf before I rejoined the three women.
The letters reminded me how much I missed the two beauties ruling the kingdom, and I was even more eager to master the memory spell so I could blip anywhere I wanted in the world. I wouldn’t have to miss anyone else ever again.
A minute later, Zenda entered the study with an open book in her arms, and she nearly bumped into the furniture as she found a place to sit. She didn’t even notice my appearance until I cleared my throat, and she gasped in surprise before snapping the book shut and flinging herself into my arms.
“I didn’t know when you’d blip back,” the historian said. “I’ve been working hard, but I still haven’t figured out the spell. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I reassured her. “We have plenty of time.
I’m keeping Tiff busy until we crack it, so take all the time you need.”
“How is the Goddess of Death?” the Zaborian asked with a curious tilt of her head. “Has it been difficult to get along with her?”
“Not at all,” I said. “She’s actually really easy to travel with, and we’ve gotten pretty good at working together. We even defeated this crazy infestation of weird monsters we called Underbeasts.”
I described the adventures Tiff and I’d had so far, and I enjoyed the facial expressions on their faces as I described the creepy spider-horse monsters. When I told them about stripping out of my wet clothes, they all giggled and pressed me for more details.
“So, have you kissed her yet?” Elissa asked.
“No,” I said. “Not yet.”
“She obviously wants to,” Zenda said. “Anyone with eyes can see she is drawn to you.”
“Well, that will be for her to decide,” I said.
“I hope she makes the right choice,” Mahini said in a low voice.
“What if she kisses me?” I asked as I scanned over each of their faces. “Would you be willing to spend more time with her?”
“The Goddess of Death would make a strong ally,” Mahini pointed out. “Bringing her over to our side before facing the God of the Plague could give us an advantage, and I think it’s worth it to find out.”
“I agree,” Akina said, but her tone was somewhat reluctant. “If, and that’s a big if, she shows she can be trusted, then we can work on making an alliance. She is powerful, so gaining her support is a good idea.”
“We support you, Bash,” Elissa added.
“I’m sure she’ll figure it out soon,” Zenda said.
After I spent a little longer talking to my Bastianville women, I blipped back to the cave where Tiff and Nameless waited for me.
The fire cast long dancing shadows against the stone wall, and it looked like Tiff had already gone to sleep. Her back was turned to
the fire, so I couldn’t tell if her eyes were open or not, and I crept over to my own bed as quietly as I could.
“They hate me, don’t they?” Tiff’s voice was flat, but I could still hear the hidden emotion in her tone.
I could only assume the goddess was talking about my women, and I sighed as I considered the best way to reassure her.
“No, they don’t hate you.” I sat up in bed and stared across the fire at her back. “They actually encouraged me to trust you.”
“Really?” Tiff rolled over to face me, and her emerald eyes were full of conflicted emotion. “Well, what did you guys talk about, then?”
“A lot of things,” I said. “We talked about our children, updates since we last saw each other… and you.”
“I assumed so.” Tiff pushed herself into an upright position, and she hugged her knees to her chest. “I wouldn’t expect them to like me after everything I’ve done.”
“Why do you care what we think?” I countered. “You’ve made it pretty clear you’re happy to go it alone.”
“I don’t know.” Tiff met my gaze across the fire, and the flames reflected in her emerald eyes. “I guess because I’m starting to like
you.”
“Oh, yeah?” I arched an eyebrow and patted the bedroll beside me. “Come here so I can tell you everything we talked about. I bet you’ll see we have good intentions.”
Tiff hesitated for a moment, but then she reluctantly pushed herself to her feet. She sat down gingerly, and I noticed she was careful to put a safe distance between us. I wasn’t sure if it was meant to protect me or her, but it was still progress.
“Did you tell them about the Underbeasts?” Tiff asked in a casual tone once she was comfortable.
“Yep.” I nodded. “And I told them all about how awesome you were. It was pretty incredible to watch you raise an entire army of dead monsters like it was nothing.”
“It feels like old news to me,” Tiff said. “Most people are more terrified than impressed.”
“I think you’ll find we are all difficult to scare,” I assured her.
“Working alongside the Goddess of Death is proof enough of that,” Tiff snorted. “I don’t think I need to say how many people would refuse me just because they’re scared of my powers.”
“So, you can kill with a touch and raise the dead,” I summarized. “Is there anything else you can do?”
“What, that’s not enough for you?” Tiff laughed. “I have some other tricks up my sleeve, but I’m not sure how much I should tell you.”
“How do you do the invisibility thing?” I asked as my curiosity got the better of me. “I blinked, and you were gone.”
“It’s just a combination of magical artifacts,” Tiff said, and she held up her hand to show me a ring. “It’s hard to obtain the necessary ingredients to recharge the enchantments, but it’s definitely worth it.”
“You just rub it and become invisible?” I asked.
“Basically.” Tiff nodded. “Although, it doesn’t last very long. It gives me a few seconds at a time, but I’ve learned to work with it.”
“That’s how you were able to sneak into our castle,” I surmised. “And follow me and Zenda without being easily detected.”
“To be fair, I didn’t care if you knew I was following you.” Tiff cast me a sideways glance. “I was just trying to work up the courage to ask for your help. I thought it would be easier to approach you if you were alone, but every time I got the chance, I chickened out.”
“I know,” I said in a comforting voice. “But you told me eventually, and now look. You got the help you wanted, and maybe even a friend.”
“You seriously think we could be friends?” Tiff scoffed.
“Why not?” I countered with an arched eyebrow. “I can tell you like me.”
Tiff’s wide emerald eyes flicked to my face, and she reminded me of a deer caught in headlights. It seemed she thought she was being more subtle with her feelings for me, but I felt like it was time to clear the air.
“I-I-I do…” Tiff bit her bottom lip, and the urge to kiss her filled my entire being.
The Goddess of Death leaned ever so slightly closer to me, and her face tilted up at just the right angle. My heart thudded in my chest as I slowly matched her movement, and we paused with less than an inch between us. I could feel the heat of her breath and smell her floral aroma, and I sensed her lips part in anticipation.
I closed my eyes and closed the rest of the distance between us, but the moment our lips touched, Tiff jerked back in alarm. She
scurried away from me until there was at least a foot separating our bodies, and she hugged her knees again.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I thought you wanted to.”
“No, I… It’s whatever.” Tiff pushed herself to her feet and returned to her own bedroll. “Can we just pretend this never happened?”
“Sure,” I sighed.
I contemplated chiming back to my save point so this actually never happened, but something told me not to. I could see how conflicted the small kiss had made the goddess, and that could work to my advantage. Maybe now that she’d had a taste, Tiff would be more inclined to join me.
It took me a while to fall asleep, and it was only once I heard Tiff’s breathing become slow and regular that I managed to close my eyes. While it might seem like I’d failed to get the reaction I wanted, I knew we had made a lot of progress. Her walls were coming down, and I could tell it was scary for her, so I reminded myself to be patient.
There was an awkward silence hanging over us as we continued to travel the next day, but the soggy, muddy ground
required a lot of attention to navigate. Goliath’s hooves got stuck in a few places, but the mush started to dry once the sun came out. The ground was still wet when we camped that night, and the temperature dropped drastically when the sun went down.
We continued in much the same way for a few days, but Tiff continued to avoid conversation. She spent most of her time staring off into the distance with a wistful look on her face, and she blushed almost every time I looked at her. If I didn’t know any better, I would say she had never kissed anyone before, but that seemed ridiculous considering how long she’d been in this world.
“There it is,” Tiff finally said as she suddenly pulled her mare to a stop.
It was almost midday, and we had just climbed to the top of a ridge. There was a ravine before us that cut through the mountains like a scar, and I could see cave openings dotting the rock walls.
“We’re here?” I asked, and the goddess nodded.
Now, we just had to get through the caves.
Nothing two immortals couldn’t handle.