"Shiroi is overjoyed at your return, Shiroi was worried the destroyer might still be here."

I step past her without acknowledging her. She lowers her head in a sad manner. Vene pats her exposed shoulder and shakes his head no. Shiroi doesn't deserve my anger, but it's hard not to project it in any direction I can. I sit in the wagon alone and Tiru tries to get up, but Meredith stops her.

Vene stirs the hoaram, and the wagon starts down the road away from Caldera. Meredith rises taking and takes a seat at the front of the wagon with Vene and Shiroi.

"So where are we going?" she asks.

"Nighthelm, it's the only place that will have a shadow forget that can mend Umbra."

Meredith gives him a look of concern.

"Nighthelm isn't a town, it's a graveyard."

Vene’s eyes stare a thousand yards into the distance.

"I know, it was not long ago that I was there practicing necromancy, I thought I could bring her back, feel her purr once more, what arose from that tomb,” he stops speaking for a moment and just stares forward.

When he speaks again the words leave his mouth like a cold whisper.

“Was an abomination.”

Without Meredith to stop her Tiru assaults me with her affection. It brings me a small amount of comfort, not enough to lift my spirits. Petting her soft fur is somewhat calming. I crawl into the floor of the wagon with her and close my eyes just long enough for fatigue to take me, and the nightmares to return.

"Mercy, please mercy."

I look at my blood covered hands. One clenching the cold steel blade I use to skin animals. The same blade I used to execute the young boy in Caldera.

Tiru peers up at me with her bright teal eyes as they dim, "please, mercy, I'm in so much pain."

"No Tiru I can't, I can't do it."

I drop the knife, and she smiles as blood runs over her soft lips. Her little ears fold down and blood runs from her eyes down her cheeks.

"Please, I trusted you, mercy."

I wipe bloody tears from her cheeks.

"Tiru, I'm sorry."

Tiru digs her claws into me showing her teeth as I wake thrashing in a panic. My chest rises and falls heavily as weary breaths escape through my short tusks. Tiru hisses at me frightened. Her bright teal eyes wide with fear as they stare into mine. I reach my hand out gently rubbing her ears again. After a moment she calms nuzzling her nose into my chest.

That dream, it felt so real. I need to push past it though. There is cruelty and evil in this world. I’ve ventured too far to second guess my actions now. What will be will be. I can only do my best and hope that’s enough.

"Still cuddling with kittens huh, well when you want a real woman you let me know," Meredith says grabbing a small bag out of the wagon.

I sit up and grab her arm.

"How far have we made it?"

She pulls her hand away.

"We're camping in the woods tonight, there's a stop not too far from here, half a day maybe, just stay here with your," she looks over at Tiru jealously, "whatever she is."

Meredith steps out of the wagon and Shiroi leans over the side of the bed startling me.

"Shiroi thinks Meredith has much desire for you."

I jump.

"Fuck!" I brush my hair back, "Shiroi, how long have you been there?"

Shiroi smiles, "Shiroi uses cooling incense, Shiroi cools wagon, so Shiroi stays in wagon, outside is hot and Vene tells Shiroi to remove clothes, Shiroi does not like Vene's lustful advances."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"Sorry, you startled me," I say scratching my head.

Tiru cuddles up against me trying to get me to lay back down. I look over and see Gatz curled up in the corner on Shiroi's coat.

"Shiroi allows him to lay there, Shiroi feels pain for him, he barely speaks with words, mostly with motions, Shiroi has no children, maybe small one is good for Shiroi," she says with a crooked smile on her scaled lips.

"Go give him a little attention then Shiroihana, I'm sure he'll appreciate it."

She moves over to the corner and gently pets his ear. Gatz moves a little but doesn't look up. Shiroi pets him some more and he starts to purr. She looks over at me with an emotion I've never seen on the face of a Ruksha. Compassion.

Tiru tugs on my shoulder, "more sleep, I'm tired."

I poke her little nose, "just a little more, then I need to get up."

She nuzzles against me as I lay back down. Vene used some of his spatial magic to increase the area inside the wagon so it’s nearly the size of an entire dining area. You can’t tell from the outside because that is unaffected by his spell. I am a little worried what would happen if someone destroyed the sigil on the wagon though. Would everything just implode on itself? Maybe I shouldn’t think about it too much.

I give Tiru a couple of hours then get up laying her over by Shiroi. I'll talk to Meredith. I feel she needs something from me. Exiting the wagon, I notice Vene trying to use cheap pickup lines on Meredith, he's desperate for female affection.

"Come on Vene I got better compliments from paying customers," Meredith yells.

Vene rubs his neck nervously and looks over at me exiting the wagon.

"Ah yes, Lord Zoah has come to converse with you, Vene will retire to his bed, alone."

Meredith rolls her eyes.

I sit beside her at a small campfire. The air is nice out tonight, not too humid, not too hot. Meredith brushes her long dark hair back nervously as she looks over at me. She's holding something back, something she wants to tell me. I move a little closer and grab her hand.

"How are you feeling Meredith, I try to be caring for everyone, but I feel I've shown you less affection than you deserve."

She puts her other hand on top of mine.

"Can I talk to you in private, just between us?"

Her eyes can’t hide her desire. I’ve seen that look before. Desire. A desire I am willing to give into tonight.

"We are companions, anything you need," I say putting my hand on her shoulder.

She gives me a dissatisfied look before leading me away from the fire.

I follow her to her tent. It’s hidden in the forest away from the wagon. I lay back on her bedroll and look up at the designs on the interior of the tent. They look like a map of the heavens. Stars connected by thin lines making out shapes and crude images. Constellations representing the realm lords.

Meredith’s dress slides down her firm ivory skin revealing a very appealing set of lingerie. She stands over me displaying the seductive black lace that wraps her intended desire like a present. One I am not unwilling to unwrap.

Meredith crawls over me biting her lip. Her sapphire eyes stare into mine with a longing. The words exit her soft lips with a practiced seductive tone.

“Well, don't keep a girl waiting."

I reach up and running my course finger tips across her cheek, "Meredith-."

Her gentle ivory fingers wrap around my wrist as she leans into my hand closing her eyes.

"Please, don't tell me no," she says her soft cheek rubbing against my palm.

I slide my trousers off and Meredith climbs on top of me. She leans down and kisses me passionately, like she's releasing a desire she's had pent up inside. Her passion doesn't stop with a kiss. Nails and teeth dig into my skin as she releases the full force of her pent up desire on me. One I don't think she's shared with anyone else.

After a couple of hours, I finally wear her down. She lays on the bedroll and starts to snore gently. I should lay with her, but I don't want her to get attached. I step out of her tent and sit back at the fire.

"Well, someone's been naughty, you know you could have invited me,” Umbra’s voice echoes from the shadows.

I look over at Umbra shaking my head in disbelief.

"What, I don't mind sharing sometimes, especially if it's her, she's a little firecracker."

"That's not the pleasantry she was looking for Umbra, she wanted more than sex, she wanted a personal connection, passion."

Umbra laughs sarcastically, "and is that what you gave her, passion?" She smiles and moves closer to me, "Love?"

I stare down at the small campfire outside of Meredith’s tent contemplating how to move forward. Knowing Meredith feels more than puppy lust for me complicates things. If she just wanted sex, then she would be satisfied with the pleasantries we just shared. If it is love though, love can drive a person to make rash decisions, love can drive you mad.

“So, we’re headed to Nighthelm to repair the blade forged in shadow, I’m curious though, what did your mother tell you about Umbra and Crimson Fate?” Umbra asks.

“Of you Umbra, she spoke much, of Crismson Fate, little.”

“Please, call me Sinn, calling me Umbra makes me feel like you’re addressing the blade,” she says twirling her midnight hair with her slender ivory fingers.

“Is not your name Umbra?” I ask curiously.

“It is, but everyone knows the blade Umbra, less so the Sinn that lies within.”

“Do you think that once restored, I could bring down the destroyer wielding both Umbra and Crimson Fate?”

“I think that trying is the only path that lies before you, taking down this New Dominion would be meaningless if Zurko destroys the realm,” she says looking away.

“You address him by name, you were once intimate with him, does he fault to any weaknesses?” I ask.

“Only the realm lords hold power over him, as far as I know he is just a walking apocalypse.”

I stand and head toward Meredith’s tent. Sinn stares down at the fire as it crackles in the cool night air. Fire lights her golden eyes. An all-consuming flame she’s seen before. I stop as she appears behind me placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.

“If you have the chance to kill him, don’t waste it, we are nothing to him but sick cattle that need to be culled,” she says whispering into my ear before vanishing into the shadows.