<~> Chapter 89The two men we were repg were happy to be relieved early. They were dead tired and lucky that they had first watch rather than a middle shift. Man and I took our positions fag opposite dires on the road. There was a sed night wat the other side of the small fort but they were out of ear shot, we were alone over here.

  "Man, what do you think of Silva so far? Did you get a ce to talk to her before I came to get you?"

  "Hmm... We talked a little bit I didn't really learn much. She's only been a sve for about a year, she's only been w as Fae's bodyguard for less than a month. Her father saved her from execution, not sure what for... The time between that was training, she ged the subject when I asked her what kind of training she received."

  "Murdering a Noble. I think it might be the main reason Fae 't get herself to trust her."

  "Ah..." Man stared into the darkness.

  "What... would you think if I sidered buying her from Fae?"

  There was a long pause. "I don't know. Are you sure that's something you want to do? You won't be able to free her from svery either..."

  "I know..." The road leading onwards to the capital was dark. If it wasn't for my night vision I wouldn't be able to see out here at all. The bright moons that lit the night sky were blocked out by dark clouds.

  "What made you start sidering this?" Man asked.

  I sighed and looked ahead at the empty road, the only thing that could be seehe wild animals, or perhaps monsters in the distance. "I've been thinking about hts. My... recklessness in the dungeon and our coordination at the dungeon camp the other day. I don't think I'm strong enough... or skilled enough to hold the front line myself. When Fae was telling me her story I couldn't help but imagine Silva standio me like Tarklin and Nora did at the dungeon camp. Our party isn't very banced, I 't hold the front line on my own..."

  "Has Mimi told you her level yet?"

  "Fourty-two. A bit higher than mine."

  "...Were you thinking of givihe gold sve token?"

  "...Yes."

  I looked over and Man was scratg her in thought. "I suppose the trade would be worth it... are you sure Fae would be willing to go for it?"

  "Yeah... She basically told me directly that she inteo sell her. The memories are too hard for her to handle."

  She sighed. "Are you intending on making us vote on this?"

  I shook my head. "No. This would have to be unanimous. She would be a party member, with all of us the eime. All of us o be able to trust her."

  Ma out an irritated huff. "You don't make things easy do you? One of the hings about being a sve is not having to make so many decisions."

  I ughed. "Maybe this is my own kind of training. That way you're able to cope when I mao free you from svery one day."

  "Yeah yeah, I heard about your oath. I'm not holding my breath on it. Besides... maybe by then we'll have a bond strohan your oath to free us."

  I smiled. "Hopefully."

  "Have you asked Bel or Mimi their thoughts on it yet?"

  There was a fged monster with a hunched baiffing around the road now. It retty big, a bit smaller than a horse but its hulking form was intimidating. I was about to ask Man about it before it wandered back off into the dark pins.

  I shook my head. "No, I decided to ask you about it first. I suppose I could have talked to Mimi first but I wao know how you felt about it. You and your sister have the most experience as adventurers and I wao know if you thought it was even a good idea in the first pce."

  She paused and sidered it for a little while. "I'm a tentative yes. We need someone else in the front to support you and none of us are suited for it. One more person, especially some kind of frontline fighter, would probably make all of us siderably safer in bat. If you were a bit more focused on melee fighting then maybe we could get away with it but it's pretty obvious to all of us you have some kind of hybrid build." She lowered her voice a little, "She's not bad to look at either."

  I chuckled and nodded in agreement. "That's true. Not sure how she feels about other women though."

  Man smirked at me. "I have a feeling she's the type to like both."

  "Oh? What makes you say that?"

  Man shrugged and looked back over the road. "Just a hunch." After a short pause she tinued, "Maybe this could be the first time I ask if I have someone else join me in my cot."

  I ughed. "I don't have any pints, just make sure to check with Bel first too. Maybe if you persuade Silva, we ask her to joihree of us in our cot."

  Man nodded with a smile.

  After letting the humor die away Man spoke more seriously. "You talk to Bel about it and I'll talk to Tori. I think it would be a good idea t anhter into the group if everyone is on the same page. Is she a martial artist?"

  "We don't have to e to a snap decision. We have some time to think about it ao know her, we're not likely to part ways with Fae until we reach the capital. And yeah, or rather, I'm not sure about her fighting style. Fae said she fought with her bare hands but I don't know if that was by choice or not."

  "If she uses a on that might help us make a decision. I'll see if I talk to her about it tomorrow."

  "Alright."

  The rest of the watch went by pretty quick. After our initial important versation we just chatted about less important things, mostly just to help us stay away through the night. Before we split up again Man ced a quick kiss and quietly slipped bato her room.

  ***

  The m came pretty quickly and without i. Fae was a light sleeper and woke up once I started getting ready for the day. Bel as usual was as heavy a sleeper as always, even in this situation. I gently shook her awake and got back a sweet smile from her. Bel nearly snuck a kiss in but I was worried about kissing in front of uest. A g her showed that she was busy trying to work up her o go outside.

  Whehree of us finally came out we were stopped by Tarklin waiting by our door. "Lilith, I wao talk to you about your uuna shift. Since we've taken on a new passe would probably be better for you to take the evening shift on the uuna tonight. Is that alright with you?"

  I nodded. "No problem. I take it Fae is going to ride with us today?"

  "Actually I want the young miss and her bodyguard to ride closer to me today. From what you told me yesterday it would be today that we would run into any issues if there's going to be any. I take it you have no issue with that young miss?" Fae's face sched in indignation for a split sed before rexing again. If I had to guess she had taken 'young miss' as an insult to her position, before remembering her cover story.

  "Not a problem at all... sir."

  "Great! Find your bodyguard a with me in around a bell." He pushed himself off the wall he was leaning up against and started walking away.

  Apparently there wasn't any kind of breakfast or anything pnned, most people were busy pag everything up again before we headed out. I suppose there was so much down time that everyone except for the uuna riders could eat a ration on the road or just wait for lunch.

  We met up with the twins and Silva, Torien handed Mimi bae and I expihe slight ge in what was happening. Fae's shoulders tensed when the rabbit demi-beast was in earshot again but she did her best not to let it show, once again adopting the hard exterior she had yesterday. It was obvious the rabbitkin knew what was happening but she didn't let it bother her, not taking any offeo the way the young girl adopted a persona in order to even deal with her.

  I sighed and walked with Bel towards the wagon we had been assigo yesterday. The coach from yesterday was already waitiing a few bites of jerky before we got moving. I helped Bel up into the seat before climbing up myself. Bel yawned and stretched and seemed to be in a good mood today. I looked up at the sky, it was overcast and smelled faintly of rain. I wondered if that was going to be an issue.

  In no time at all the uuna were moving again, pulling the carriages and wagons full of rocks and timber. I made sure to take note of which carriage our two new guests were in. They were riding ihe carriage with most of the merts, hopefully out of sight of ahat might be looking for them.

  About thirty minutes into the trip I indicated to Bel I wao chat with her through [Soultouched e].

  -- "Bel, I want to talk to you about Silva. I already talked tan about it but I was sidering buying her from Fae. I think she would really round out our team and I think she's in an unfair positiht now." --

  I felt a slight amusement pass through our bond. -- "All m I had been trying to e up with how I would bring this up to you and you skipped right to the end." --

  I shared my own amusement at the situation through the bond. It was like a silent ugh between us. -- "So you're okay with the idea?" --

  -- "Yes. Though... I guess for me it was less practical and more... I felt bad for her. She worked so hard to protect Fae and is only hated and feared for it. It's probably not my pce to judge Fae, she's just a kid and she went through something horrible... but it still doesn't feel right." --

  I mentally nodded. -- "Man is mostly on board but we have a little time before we make a final decision. She said she would talk with Torien about it today. She also... expressed i in her," the i of my innuendo bled through the bond. "Man wanted permission so I basically gave her free rein to test the waters, provided you are okay with it too of course." --

  Bel suddenly looked a little flustered but she had a small smile that totally gave away her feelings oter.

  I smirked at her through the bond. -- "You're ied ioo, aren't you?" --

  -- "I 't help it. And... in that sense she reminds me of you, how would I be able to not think about it?" --

  -- "Me?" -- I was frankly a bit bewildered by the ent.

  -- "There's something to her that... gives off a simir kind of fidehat you do. I 't really expin it but the idea of her pushing me against a wall..." --

  I didn't miss the way Bel's hands subtly shifted to her p where she could better hold down the front of her adventuring dress.

  "Boy you two are quiet today! You aren't mu people ain'cha?"

  Bel jumped and only looked more embarrassed when the an suddenly started to make versation.

  "I'm just enjoying the sery, don't mind me."

  What I didn't say out loud was the sery I was talking about was my blushing doe that couldn't help but let her embarrassment and arousal bleed through our e. I couldn't help but smile while her ears burned red.

  Saine

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