Branded (7 page)

Giving up on sleep, he threw the covers back and got up. He needed some fresh air.

Two penguins walked past him when he left the room. He realized he wasn’t wearing much and felt stupid, standing around almost naked. Maybe Asher was okay walking through town topless all day, but José liked wearing clothes. He exhaled when the penguins went away without acknowledging his presence. Maybe it wasn't such a big deal.

He shook off his worries. Might as well get some fresh air now. It was dark out and people around him shouldn't see much more than he did.

He went down the stairs before he could change his mind and was relieved when he found his way to the front door without too much trouble, letting his fingers slide over the wood until they closed around the doorknob. He could practically sense things by the varying heat levels they gave off. The doorknob was colder than the wood and didn’t shine as brightly in his mind. Still, he’d always feel more comfortable with his hands on solid matter.

Breathing in the cool night air, he stepped outside. It smelt like seafood, but he wasn’t hungry. Leaning back against the building to the side of the door, he used a little magic to warm himself when a breeze went over his skin.

The lava light’s heat signature flared up close by. What was she up to at this time of night? She came soaring toward him from around the building. ”Hey there, handsome. What are you doing without your clothes?” he heard her voice in his head.

“Let's not talk about that. What were you doing behind the inn?”

“Let's not talk about that.”

“Alright.” José frowned at the small fairy. She often disappeared to God knows where, but he never asked. She didn't have to answer to him. It was her unwillingness to reply that was suspicious. But maybe she was only mimicking him to tease him.

“What do you know about Doblis?” he asked.

“It’s a metropolis, at least two days of traveling from here.”

“Two days?” Would his friends still be alive in two days?

“It’s also crawling with lizard folk. If you’re going there, I’m not coming in with you.”

“What do you have to hide from them?”

The lavalight stilled for a moment, floating in mid-air. “We’re not on best terms.” It didn’t sound like she wanted to say any more on the subject.

“But you’ll show me the way?”

“I do not approve of this detour.”

José crossed his arms in front of himself. “I can’t let someone else die.”

The lavalight fluttered around him. “You’re being stupid.”

“Maybe.”

The little fairy huffed and flew off. In his mind, José watched her go. She’d be back in the morning, hopefully. She was probably right about Doblis, but he had no other choice but to go.

Light footsteps sounded from the left as a door creaked and loud chattering filled the air. From the tone of their voices José guessed two ladies were leaving the bar.

“Look at that guy,” he heard one of them say and instantly felt uncomfortable being stared at. Too bad they couldn't guess that his hearing was excellent. “Isn't he just yummy?”

What?

“I like the hair. The red is so wild.”

Alright, it was definitely time to go back in. Bad enough he was having Asher ogle him all day. He was doing the right thing by rejecting him, though, wasn’t he? If Asher was taking it personally, that couldn’t be helped.

***

When Asher opened his eyes the next morning, he saw Blind Guy, shadowed by sunlight streaming in through the window. “Get up,” he said. “We got no time to waste.”

Asher yawned and stretched. “What’s the hurry?”

“We’re going to Doblis. The lavalight says it’s two days away and—”

“We’re going where?”

Blind Guy crossed his arms in front of himself. “Doblis,” he said slowly as if talking to a Kindergartner. “You know, where they’re holding our friends?”

“I don’t have friends.” Asher sat up. “Why would I go there? I bet that horse guy will be there, too.”

“We don’t know that, but I can’t abandon Maya and Jonas.”

“What do you even care? You hardly know these people.”

“I know they’re going to get killed if I don’t do anything.”

Asher raised an eyebrow. “I still don’t see how this concerns me.”

Blind Guy rubbed the bridge of his nose. “You can wait outside the city.”

“But we’re definitely going?”

“Yes.”

“Because you say so?”

“Yes.”

“Sometimes you really piss me off, you know that?”

“Same to you.”

Blind Guy went out the door and Asher stretched again before getting up to tackle the day. Wiping the sleep out of his eyes, he followed Blind Guy downstairs to see if he could find any breakfast.

The smell of fish still hung in the air, but the bar was closed when he got there. Blind Guy stood in the entrance hall, unmoving.

“Where—”

Blind Guy shushed him. Seemed like he was listening for something. “No one’s here, but there’s a commotion outside.”

“Should we check that out or help ourselves to food while no one’s looking?”

“We’ll check it out.”

“Why do you get to call all the shots?” Asher asked as Blind Guy stepped outside. He didn’t get a reply. Groaning, he followed the other man out into the sun. It was a hot day and the air felt stale.

“Over there.” Asher pointed to the left where a crowd of army penguins had assembled on the street. When Asher approached, he could glimpse over their small heads. They had piled up a number of penguin bodies in their middle. At least ten of them. One or two of them looked familiar. Maybe. They all kind of looked the same, really. And now they looked like they weren’t breathing anymore, although there was no blood, or anything else to indicate what had happened to the small creatures.

One of the army penguins standing in the circle turned around to him and Blind Guy. The beast's eyes narrowed on Asher.

“It was you, wasn't it?” The army penguin flapped his arms in something that was maybe supposed to be an aggressive gesture.

“What?” Asher asked.

“You poisoned my poor Enilio!”

“What?”

A few more penguins turned around, all with the same grim looks on their faces.

“Maybe we should leave,” Blind Guy said behind him.

“You think?”

“Outsiders!” an enraged army penguin voice shouted. “Get them!”

“Time to run!” Asher grabbed Blind Guy's arm and pulled him along, down the road that led out of the village and into the forest. The beasts gave chase on their tiny legs, arms spread out as they went as if they needed them to keep balance.

“Fuck,” Asher cursed. “They're crazy.”

“Do you think it was that vampire?” Blind Guy asked in between breaths as they reached the first line of trees. Blind Guy wasn't a fast runner and Asher had to drag him. This was where all those hours at the gym paid off.

“No idea. Why would he? Why would anyone?” He kept running into the thick of the forest, hoping to get rid of their pursuers. Already, he couldn't see them anymore. It seemed the army penguins weren't the fastest little guys.

“They're not catching up,” Blind Guy said. ”I'm pretty sure.”

“We should keep going.” Asher dropped the pace just a little. “I don't want to be roasted on their fish grill.” Although if he transformed, maybe he could roast them instead. As long as Blind Guy wasn't looking.

“Yeah…yeah.” Blind Guy seemed like he was trying hard not to look exhausted. Asher almost had to smile. That's when he saw something glint in the sky above the trees. The little bitch came soaring back to them.

“About time,” Asher muttered.

The little thing ignored him of course, in favor of Blind Guy.

Asher waited as they held a conversation he couldn't hear. He looked around the forest. It seemed peaceful, but that could be an illusion. Dark berries were growing high up on a tree to his right and his stomach rumbled. He'd never gotten that breakfast he'd wanted.

“She says those dead villagers were all army recruits.”

“Horse guy’s army?”

“I guess so.”

“Well, I can see why someone would want them dead then.”

“Asher!”

Asher rolled his eyes at Blind Guy. “C'mon, it's not like you have any love for that weirdo.” He started to walk again. Those berries on the tree still looked good, but he'd never be able to reach that high. Other food had to be found. “Let's go. I'm hungry.”

“Fine. Keep east; we're still going to Doblis.”

Asher took a deep breath, but didn't argue.

Chapter 7 - Beds and Bottles

The walls that surrounded Doblis seemed massive, made out of stone and so high that it was impossible to see the roofs of the buildings within. Left and right it spanned at least the size of three small villages put together.

It wasn't as big as Riverside, probably wouldn't have the luxuries either, but Asher was almost tempted inside by the various smells that streamed out of the wide open gate and made his mouth water. It was like walking by a series of fast food joints without any money to blow. Only in this world, if there were fast food joints, they would probably have silly names like Fast Fairy Food and the employees would be talking penguins or dwarfs, but probably not fairies, because fairies were bitches who didn't like serving people.

“You really wanna go in there?” Asher asked, eying the gates of the city. For all they knew, Horse-Guy could be in there, with his green little lizard thingies, waiting to stomp them.

“Absolutely.” Seemed like Blind Guy didn’t even have to think about it.

“That’s stupid.” Asher narrowed his eyes at Blind Guy. Blind Guy would die in there, and then, how would Asher get home?

“Our friends are in there.”

“I told you, I don’t have friends.” How often would he have to repeat that for Blind Guy to get it? Blind Guy could be really thick.

“Well, I do.”

“Good for you. You’ll die in there for your stupid friends.”

The little bitch came fluttering over to Asher, as if, for once, she was on his side.

Blind Guy’s brows creased. “And you won’t even care, will you? Not about me. Not about them.”

“I don’t, and I won’t. If you wanna die in there, that’s your decision.”

“Good, ‘cause I don’t have the time to waste it arguing with you.”

“I just think what you’re doing is stupid.”

“And I think this wouldn’t have happened if you spread your wings as readily as your legs.”

Asher gaped at Blind Guy. “Fuck off,” he said then. “Just fuck off.” Asher stalked off into the trees. No way was he going with Blind Guy now.

“I’ll see you later,” Blind Guy said, and the little bitch flew off to join him. Asher didn’t look back to see them walk into the city. He just kept going, in no particular direction.

After a while, a tree with yellow and blue fruits caught his eyes. He plucked some and flopped down on the ground, leaning his back against the trunk. A small squirrel-like creature scurried over the path in front of him, stopped and looked up at him out of a pair of big brown eyes.

“Go away,” Asher said, frowning at the furball. He wasn't going to let that thing steal from him. That was about the last thing he needed.

“Don't you think you're being rude, mister?” the creature said in a high and clear voice, scrunching its little nose up.

Asher threw a yellow colored berry at it. He missed, but the little guy hurried along anyway.

Now all alone, Asher ate his fruits with little enthusiasm. Stupid Blind Guy and his stupid obsession with playing the hero. Asher banged his head back against the tree and cursed. What if Blind Guy wasn’t going to come back?

Something small hit Asher on the forehead. He looked to his lap to find a tiny stone. Where had that come from? He directed his gaze to the sky and then to the trees opposite of him. Another stone was aimed at him, and a short giggling later, he spotted the squirrel-thingy sitting on a branch on a tree across from him, ready to throw again.

“Great…” Asher said, looking up at the furball and showing it his middle finger. He'd picked a fight with a laughing, talking squirrel. Man, his life was weird.

“Throw that and I'll burn you and eat you for lunch.”

The creature giggled and threw. Asher caught the stone, hurled it back and missed. The squirrel hopped onto the next tree, running away. Asher gave chase.

***

José walked through the bustling streets, his face turned downward. The lavalight kept a watch out for lizards, but you never knew who else would find him suspicious. Doblis was by far the most diverse town he’d been to since coming to this world. The fairy told him of dryads and fellow elves and dwarfs all sharing the street.

Needing to get information, José kept his ears open. When he heard people talk in raised voices, he slowed down, listening in.