It’s well past noon when I feel like I can relax. We’ve been pushing ourselves with the help of Silver’s music, and I figure that if they’d intended to chase us, someone would have caught up to us at this point. We’re far enough they won’t be able to catch up anymore.

Not that I’m particularly worried. The first time, they had overwhelming numbers. The second, they had surprise. They can’t chase us with all those people—I hope. And out here, we are always somewhat on our guard.

“Let’s stop for food. I think we’ve earned it.”

We step off the road for the shade of trees.

“How do you know what lightning burns look like?” Helen asks.

“My dad built a cabinet out of wood that had been hit by lightning. I don’t remember the details of how or what got hit, just that this guy showed up at the shop with a cart full of them. Dad explained what had caused those burns. That kind of branching pattern stuck in my head.”

I look at Brandon. “You think it worked? That the kid’s not going to suffer for helping us?”

He shrugs. He doesn’t care. I mean, at this point, that’s probably the right attitude to have. We did what we could. Worrying about it isn’t going to change anything.

It’s just not that easy for me.

The sky turns gray not long after we set out, then it rains. It’s not bad rain, it’s warm, and not particularly hard, but it means we don’t have the benefit of Silver’s magic.

We might have grown to rely on it.

The rain tapers off a few hours later, and I call an early end to the day not long after that because walking in wet clothes gets not fun after a while. Brandon finds us a clearing not too far off the road and he pulls me into the woods until we can’t see the clearing, and before I can ask what that’s about, he starts to undress and hang his wet clothing on branches.

I’m taken by surprise. I know he has another equipment set of slots. He could move his dry clothing in there and just switch. I could have done that while walking, but the sky’s remained gray and I didn’t see a point of storing wet clothing in my inventory.

Of course, this is Brandon, so the fact he’s doing that specifically to make me uncomfortable can’t be ignored. I mean, he’s not exactly putting himself ‘on display’. All he’s done of take pieces off and hung them until he’s not wearing anything.

And I want to look away.

But I don’t.

“Enjoying the view?”

Okay, now I know he did it on purpose. But that’s the question, isn’t it?

I like guys. I’ve known that since I was ten. Fuck, if I didn’t, Rich couldn’t have lured me away from town. Just like I realized then that I like girls too. The fact I liked both took more getting used to than the fact I liked either. Grandpa Louis is gay, dad’s straight. So I was well aware either was normal.

Wrapping my head around liking both? That was a trip.

But Josie’s the only one I like, like.

“You’re good looking.”

He stares at me in surprise, and that doesn’t help deal with my blushing.

The fact I am forcing myself to take him in doesn’t make it ‘easy’, or ‘natural’. Being naked around others, or seeing naked people, isn’t common for me. Even going swimming stopped being a place where that happened when we turned twelve and we became body conscious.

“Thanks?”

That I’ve unbalanced him helps, and I chuckle at the situation.

Then I ask myself the big question as he stands there, still not posing, but not doing anything to cover himself up.

Would I have sex with him?

My gut reaction is no. I have Josie back home. She’s the one I want to be with.

Except…I know that’s not all of it.

I was willing to do it, back in Denver, if that was the price to be able to rescue Brandon. And I don’t think I’d have felt bad about it. If not for the fact I wanted out of that city immediately, I know I was ready to take Malcolm up on his offer.

So, if this isn’t that I’m adamant about keeping myself for her, what’s it about?

So, if I ignore Josie, would I have sex with Brandon? How about Helen?

Okay, with her it’s a no. She’s good looking enough, but that ‘I have to push myself so people with know I’m good’ attitude isn’t attractive.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

Silver?

Okay, but this is about Brandon. Well, guys, in general, I guess. Because of Josie, I never really thought about it.

So, would I?

Under the right circumstances, yes.

And knowing that is surprisingly freeing.

And, while it takes some effort on my part, I undress and also put up my clothes to dry.

I don’t have to ask if he likes what he sees, the way he smiles as he takes me in tells me. The thing is that I’ve seen him look that way at fully dressed guys. I’m pretty sure he has that same expression anytime a naked one comes in sight.

Unlike him, I’m naked only long enough to pull another set of clothing from my inventory and put it on.

Only once I’m dressed does he put on a pair of worn shorts, and nothing else.

The way it pulls his package, I have no problem imagining that’s gotten a lot of guys into his bed.

“You took your sweet time,” Helen says when we return. There’s a firepit with a fire in it and a kettle is on a rack over it.

“Unlike what you seem to think, Hel. I do know how to take my time and make sure he enjoys himself.”

The horrified way she looks at him is actually funny. She overreacts way too much to anything he says or does.

“That didn’t happen,” I say. If I let her think he did something to me, she might blast him. “Not going to happen.” I add, for emphasis.

“Oh, really?” There’s challenge in his tone, and I laugh.

“You’re good looking, and you can be a nice guy, Brandon. But that self-destructive streak of yours doesn’t appeal to me.” I shrug. “Maybe if you start believing you deserve to be okay, I’ll change my mind.”

He has no idea how to take that. Helen doesn’t seem to know what to think of me right now. Silver is the only one who smiles, and I wink at her.

And she blushes.

I’m going to have dreams. Definitely going to have dreams.

*

Silver’s a lot more comfortable sitting and just…feeling for her magic. She makes it look downright easy.

Not that I know if it is easy for her, or if her skill level’s going up any faster than mine, but unlike me, she doesn’t seem to be straining about it.

It feels like it’s been a month since I reach level thirteen. It’s only in combat situation that reaching a treen is supposed to slow things down.

“Relax,” Silver whispers. “Tensing doesn’t make it happen faster. Just feel for the flow, breath in, and out. In and out.”

“It’s easy for you to say that,” I grumble, and she chuckles. Still, it’s not like I have anything else to do until Helen says we’re done.

*

Louisville is… I want to say rustic, but that’s not accurate. Different, that’s for sure.

I kind of lost track of how long it took to get here. I gained levels in a bunch of skills from the daily training, including the hunting part. My butchering gain and cooking, that was already decent, means that I, again, have more jerky than I know what to do with. Might be time to upgrade to something less basic to train on. Aether Training finally went up to fourteen, so, there is that.

Standing here at the top of the hill that leads to the bridge, looking at the city, well Brandon says it’s a city, I only really see trees. There’s a clear definition in the trees that are within the city and those outside of it. I can’t put my finger on what it is, but I can almost make out a line where, on one side, the trees are…better? And on the others just trees.

“You’re going to love it here, Sis,” Brandon says, then he’s walking again.

The bridge was definitely made with magic. Even with the system, trees don’t grow to have branches perfectly formed to support the platforms that make the bridge itself. They also don’t grow on each side of the river that cuts the land here in a way that makes them lean toward each other in the center.

Like every city, the entrance is guarded, but there’s no gate. No wall either. But the river must be enough of a deterrent. Looks to be fast too. The guards are Elven, being lanky, like Helen, with elongated faces. They’re dressed typically enough, in leather armor that lets them move comfortably. They each have a polearm, but being Elven, I expect magic is their go to weapon.

They nod to us as we approach, and don’t stop us as we step onto the bridge. They don’t even stop the carts to check what they contain. There’s a relaxed atmosphere about them that can’t be good for the city’s safety.

The bridge ends at a marketplace on each side of the thoroughfare.

“We’re heading for the club?” I ask.

“Louisville doesn’t have one.”

“I thought every city had an explorer’s club.”

“Most do. But cities don’t appear on the map fully formed. They grow. Louisville only reached that stage a decade or so ago. Without anything to draw explorers, to the area it might be a while until it gets one.”

“Might happen faster when we reveal Fort Knox,” I say, smiling. Knowing I’m going to put one over on Xander still feels good.

“Until then, we need to rely on inns and rooming houses, like everyone else. Let’s go deeper into the city. Those here are going to rob us blind.”

As soon as we step out of the market, I understand Brandon’s earlier comment to his sister. Eight out of every ten person we come across is Elven. Of the other two, it takes a while before I see another human.

The inn Brandon leads us to is off the beaten path, and before I can question if we shouldn’t find one in a more traveled area, a minotaur steps out with a barrel over his shoulder.

He stops and looks at us, clearly surprised.

“Brandy?” He has a deep voice. “You son of a bitch, you came back.” He goes to step in our direction, and the only reason I don’t equip my sword is that Brandon’s completely relaxed.

“I said I would, Sam.”

Sam seems to remember the barrel is there, and he dumps the water into the trough, then drops it next to it.

“But you’re a fucking liar, Brandy.” He’s before us way faster than I expect him to be able to move, then he’s got Brandon in his arms, hugging him so tightly I’m surprised nothing breaks.

“I don’t lie that often.”

“Just often enough to keep me guessing, I guess.” He lets him go and looks up over. “Who are you traveling with this time?”

“I’m Dennis.” I offer my hand. “His friend.” I’m surprised at the lack of reaction to that when he shakes my hand. Everyone else I’ve met who’s known Brandon always seemed doubtful of the statement.

“That’s Helen, my sister. Don’t ask. I’ll tell you later. And that’s Silver. If you want some entertainment for the people in there, you will do well to talk with her.”

“I’m a bard,” she adds.

“Welcome to the Horn’s Rest!” he bellows. “I offer good food, a restful atmosphere, and comfortable rooms.”

“And great sex,” Brandon adds, “if you can charm him.”

Sam laughs, slapping him on the back hard enough, Brandon takes a step forward. Then, he has an arm over his shoulder and they’re heading for the door.

“Does it feel weird to either of you?” I say. “That Sam seems to actually like Brandon?”

“He clearly doesn’t know him all that well,” Helen says.

“Maybe Sam’s just the kind of guy who likes someone rough around the edges,” Silver offers.

“Or maybe,” I muse partially to myself. “Sam’s the kind of person Brandon doesn’t feel the need to pretend with.”

Helen’s snort isn’t flattering, but I ignore it. Unlike her, I figure there has to be one person out there Brandon can be himself with.

Seems fitting it’s someone bigger and stronger than he is.