Arthur's Point of View

Dwarven Deserts

She eyed me again. “Did you really tell me all this because of the poison?”

I bobbed my head back and forth. “Yes, and no.” Gesturing to her, I explained. “I definitely don’t like talking about any of this, but the Priestesses have been forcing my hand. Alwin is… Difficult at the best of times and is entirely faithful to the Priestesses.”

“And I’m not?” Kheri questioned back in an offended tone.

“You are, but I think you’re more likely to believe me. I’m not the best person in the world. I don’t deny it.”

“But I don’t think you’re quite the issue that the Priestesses make you out to be. You have plenty of issues, don’t get me wrong, but you’ve done a lot for this kingdom.” She then gestured to me. “After all, not many would remove such a powerful demon from Priestess Elincia and end up dying to free her from such a terrible creature.”

My shoulders deflated as I sighed. “That was more along the lines of me making up for past mistakes.” With that, I drank the last of the water I received, but it didn’t feel like enough.

“What do you mean?”

“There’s a reason I’ve been lenient with the Priestesses and tried to be understanding. Their position is partially my fault. Although, neither were supposed to be thrust into such positions.” Then I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter now, though.”

“I’m surprised you told me all this. Part of me expected you to just ignore me, like you do most other people.

My eyes met Kheri’s and I chuckled. “That is all I will say on this matter. You can report all this to Elincia if you want, but just know, one wrong word-“

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She frowned. “And her headache could become more severe.”

I nodded with a smirk. “You’ve seen the results, and the signs. That’s why I told you. You won’t risk Elincia’s life unnecessarily.

“I take back what I said about you being a good man.”

“Most people do.”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic.” Reaching across the cart, she patted my arm. “You’re not the villain you make yourself out to be.”

Tell that to the tens of thousands I murdered recently who just wanted my help. “I suppose we’ll eventually find out in the end. One way or another.” A few coughs escaped my chest as I groaned. “Do we have any more water?”

“You could probably go for some grub too.” She said, and I nodded at the rhetorical question. “We had some stuff set aside for you. I can go fetch it real quick.”

“’The’ General Kheri fetching food for me?” I held up a hand to my chest. “I’m honored.”

Kheri nodded. “As you should be.” I rolled my eyes and she chuckled. “I’ll be back in a bit.”

I gave her a small wave as she used her wings and flew off to another part of our little convoy. “I shouldn’t’ve done that. I should not have done that.” I repeated before I shook my head.

Lurching forward, I coughed more extremely as some blood came up. Not the copious amount of before, but still enough. Increasing my energy output, some of the pain subsided, and it felt easier to breathe. Relaxing was difficult in this state. It felt like I was constantly on edge from my energy being so low. Not enough to be alarming, though.

Looking up, I squinted at the blaring sunlight shining down. “Fuck you, sun.” Raising my hands, my middle fingers stuck up as I gave the ball of fire my favorite salute.

Several were starting to look at me as many were running up and down the wagon train. News was spreading, and I felt my eyes growing heavier.

“Maybe if I go back to sleep now, I’ll wake up on the ship…” I mumbled.

Kheri landed with two sacks and tossed them at me. “Not likely. We’re still a few days out.”

One was water, and the other contained more mundane food such as bread and cheese. A delicacy given what the Dwarves and Druids just went through. Drinking some more water, I quickly took a bite out of the food as well. Just to get some in my system.

“I feel confident enough I could sleep that long. It definitely feels like it.”

“Why would you want to?” She asked back.

“So, I don’t have to deal with any of this. All of you are handling my body well enough, it’ll be like time travel. Boom! Goodbye desert, hello ocean.”

Kheri snorted at that. “Glad to see you’re doing better. Once we get to the coast, we can get some more food as well. A few other runners went to several of the Dwarven cities for supplies. Most of them are still waiting on news from the Queen.”

I shrugged. “Then they’ll be fine.”

“I do worry for the Queen, though. She’s had no time to grieve.”

“Most people aren’t given such luxuries. She handled herself well enough. Once they get settled, I’m sure she’ll have a moment, as will the Prince.” Taking another swig of water, we came to a silence as I paused for a moment. “All of them will. We’ve had our fair share of run-ins with Demons, but they definitely got the worst of it.”

“That’s probably why they were so receptive of your idea for a summit. Although, there is a lot of hate among many of the different kingdoms and races.”

“Nothing like a common enemy to unite them.” Then I shrugged again. “People are still gonna be racist, though. Accept it. Embrace it. Be the bird you know you are.”

She playfully kicked me. “Greigh and Ziah told me about how you refer to us, but this is the first time you called me that.”

“To be fair, I do it to everyone.”

Rolling her eyes, Kheri sat down. “I know.”

I smirked. “Take comfort in the fact that I treat everyone equally.”

“I don’t.”

“That sounds like a ‘you’ problem.”