The Elder's Curse by Andrew Walbrown (superbooks4u .txt) 📗

day. Because of the ash lingering in the sky, you won’t see them until we get close, so don’t get discouraged when the sun is up tomorrow and you still can’t see the mountains. Trust me, they are there. Also, you will keep ash out of your mouth and your lips will not crack so easily if you wrap the sides of your hoods around your face. Your breath will be hotter, sure, but at least you will not look like you kissed a briar patch.”

Amantius glared at her as he fashioned a makeshift mask from his hood. And was there a reason why you couldn’t have told us this earlier? Better late than never, I guess. He worked his tongue over each tooth, searching for any flakes of ash hiding in the corners of his mouth. That seems to be all of them. Hopefully, she tells us which snakes and insects are dangerous before they bite us and not after, but I’m not going to count on it. He felt a crunch in his mouth and snarled. I hate this place.

The first day was uneventful as the group trudged through the barren landscape, using the camels as shields against any minor ash-carrying winds. That night they camped beside an oasis almost small enough to jump across, though there were plenty of broad-leaved plants to shelter them from all but the heaviest of ash clouds. Amantius contemplated attempting to jump across the oasis a few times, but a mixture of his tired muscles and the disapproving looks he got from Nilawen was enough to dissuade him.

After dinner the four travelers retired to their tents, exhausted from fighting the Alakuum all day. Nilawen and Kona had the luxury of having individual sleeping quarters, while Ulam and Amantius shared a tent just as they had during their time with the Crimson Owls. But unlike previous experiences, this time sharing a tent with Ulam made sleep impossible for Amantius. Not only was their current tent much smaller than the previous one, but Ulam’s incessant snoring kept Amantius wide awake. Did it get worse? Was he always this loud? By the Gods, if he snores any louder he’ll wake the dead.

Unable to sleep and incredibly frustrated, Amantius took a walk around the small oasis before spotting a flat rock near the water where he could rest. Before sitting down he checked for spiders and snakes, knowing from personal experience how many night-dwellers take up residence in such places. Though he had never been bitten by a snake, he still vividly remembered the time a cluster of spiders made lunch of his feet and ankles beside a pond in Accaria. He had been so eager to put his feet in the water that he had not checked the rock he was sitting on first, and as a result, his feet were covered in bites for weeks.

Amantius stared at the moon’s reflection in the water, watching it become distorted with even the smallest of breezes. He thought about the immediate future, wondering what would happen after they returned with the black dragonroot. He was not sure if they would try to carve out a life for themselves in Yawan, or if they would continue traveling. More importantly, Amantius was unsure which decision would be best for himself. Traveling seems like the best idea, but where would we go? Return to the Empire? Go across the other sea? What is even on the other side of this ocean? Maybe living in Yawan for a while is not such a bad idea, buthow can I possibly live there? Half the population hates me for the wrong reasons, not to mention finding work would be damn near impossible. They don’t even have beer in Yawan, or women, and I love both! Could I even have sex with a Kalikki, even if I wanted to? Gods, what would those kids look like, assuming that was possible? I mean, our bodies seem similar enough, except…

“You look like you’re thinking about something important.”

Amantius nearly fell off the rock; he did not expect anyone else to be awake at such a late hour. When he turned around he saw Kona behind him, holding both hands over her mouth as her body jerked from the laughter building inside her. Despite her best efforts a couple of snorts escaped, though none were loud enough to wake either Ulam or Nilawen.

“I’m sorry,” Kona apologized after she regained control. “I did not mean to scare you. What were you thinking about?”

“I doubt you want to know,” Amantius quickly replied. He could not determine which was more embarrassing: his thoughts on potential Human-Kalikki relations or his reaction to her sneaking up on him. “And it is hardly important. I mean, it kind of is, but not right now. Like worrying about dinner sometime next week. Sure, it’s important, but who cares until it happens?” You sound like an idiot.

Kona continued giggling as she sat on the ground next to him. She took off her turquoise headwrap, letting her hair tumble onto her shoulders. “Amantius, you don’t have to be anxious around me. I’m not my husband; I don’t hate you just because you’re a Human.”

“Then why do you actually hate me?” Amantius joked, mostly. He did not think she bore any ill-will towards him, but with how gentle her eyes were and how softly she spoke, she could have shared her husband’s sentiments and he would have never known.

“Truth be told,” Kona replied, “I have always hated people who sit on rocks. I mean, you’re already taller than me, so why do you have to be when we sit as well? It just isn’t fair.”

Amantius smiled as he slid to the ground, grimacing as the moist earth stained the bottom of his trousers. “There. I relinquish the rock to you, m’lady. Anything else you require of me? For you know how I long to earn your favor!”

“My thanks, o’ loyal vassal!” Kona climbed on the rock and stretched