Font Size:

Negatives? Absolutely zero. This is a win-win situation all around.

“Alessia…I’m really enjoying adventuring with you,” I admit.

She pulls my head back into her lap, stroking her fingers through my hair. Her smile is intoxicating.

“I’m enjoying this, too. We should do this more often, after everything is over between Krasta and us.”

“Agreed.”

I close my eyes, listening to the birds chirp to one another overhead, the whistle of the wind through the trees, and the crackling of the fire nearby. Between the sounds of the Earth, the feeling of Alessia’s fingers through my hair, and the taste of seasoned, fresh meat still lingering on my tongue, I can’t imagine a more perfect day in all my life. I wish we could stay like this forever.

Maybe one day, when our kids are old enough to take our place. We can adventure as much as we want, see the world, and live a peaceful, happy life, just the two of us.

Even though we have many more quests to go, I’m looking forward to them all. As long as I’m here with Alessia, what could possibly ruin my day?

Chapter twenty-nine

Alessia

Irefuse to leave for three days to allow Aurelio time to heal. Once I’m satisfied that he can walk on his own, then, and only then, do we pack up and leave for our next quest.

Among the multiple small, easy tasks we picked up lies our greatest challenge: eradicating a nomadic tribe of orcs that’s been wreaking havoc on the villages at the foothills of the Eastern Mountain Range. Our quest demands high skill, impressive endurance, and thorough knowledge of orc fighting styles. I’ve never faced an orc before, but Daelia impressed upon me their strength and fortitude despite their weak, thoughtless minds. Depending on how large the settlement is, it could take us half a day to complete the task and a week to plan it.

Even though Aurelio is injured, I decide to set our course for the Eastern Mountains, seeing as the faster we get to these orcs, the faster my citizens are safe. I care about all my people, not just those residing in the capital. Without our farmers and traveling merchants, we wouldn’t have a stable, healthy nation. I owe it to them as queen to prioritize their well-being above all these other low-level quests.

After all, an orc tribe could wipe out an entire village if one isn’t prepared. That’s a grave loss I can’t take, not when I can do something about it.

Aurelio and I spend four days traveling toward the mountains. We’ve already arrived within a half-day’s march of the mountain pass, which is a road a short ways up the side of the mountain, the route that’s easiest to use from village to village out here. Surprisingly, we don’t face any monsters the entire way. I wonder if it’s because the Oni left its scent on us; monsters are afraid of higher-level monsters, and Oni are feared even among some wendigos.

“Hey, Aurelio, has Lief come back yet?” I question.

He nods, tapping his backpack. “He came back from his side quest with lilies and lavender, just as he promised. He’s taking a nap in the top compartment.”

“Can you wake him? I’d like to ask him something.”

Aurelio unzips his bag, and Lief pops his head up from the compartment, blinking at me blearily as we continue to walk.

“Excuse me? A fae needs their beauty rest, you know,” he grumbles.

I’m still not used to that unnaturally high-pitched voice of his. Aurelio introduced me to Lief weeks ago, and still, I have to stifle a laugh every time I hear him speak.

“Sorry, I just had a quick question for you, Lief. Are monsters able to leave traces on other living things?”

“Well, that depends what kind of monster you’re talking about. Fae leave magic traces all over victims and those they mark for either salvation or death. Others leave dark magic traces, like wendigos.”

“I was wondering about Oni, specifically.”

“Oh, you’ll be marked by the Oni for a couple of weeks, at least,” Lief says, wrinkling his nose. “They stink.”

“They stink?” Aurelio questions.

“Yeah. Like dead flowers.”

I’m not entirely sure what to make of that, seeing as I didn’t know dead flowers had a certain smell, but I file the information away.

“Anyway, Lief, we’re headed to the Eastern Mountains to hunt down a nomadic orc tribe,” I explain. “Will it cause problems if we still have Oni scent lingering on us?”

“Absolutely! Orcs are childish as goblins when compared to an Oni. You’re lucky to have killed it before it got a hold of you and split you wide open! That’s their favorite move, spilling out entrails,” Lief says, shuddering. “I’ve seen it happen one time too many.”