And What I Found There - Book Two

14. We're Taking On the World Together

Our expedition has taken us back to the last place I seen Vyndren, on the border of the Red Country and the Kingdom of Alice. We've since left our carriage behind and now take the horses over uneven terrain as we journey through the rolling hills that are steadily morphing into mountains.

Now that the sun is setting, we've made camp here in the forest. Two enormous white tents sit side by side, one for me and the obnoxious princess and the other for the White Knights. Quill is currently out scouting ahead, looking for any leads or clues about where our missing Vampire may be, and Cornelius and I are going over some training lessons. Adisonia has finally -mercifully- disappeared into our tent, apparently she got bored of making fun of me train.

Quill and his horse come galloping back to camp now. I hurry over as he dismounts, anxious for a break from training and eager for information about Vyndren.

"Well? Anything?" I ask hopefully.

He cringes a bit and glances at our mentor. "Well, he's definitely been here..."

"How can you tell?" I'm practically bouncing in place with excitement. Vyndren's been here! We are on the right trail!

He hesitates again but Cornelius gestures of him to on go. "I saw the bodies of two stags, both completely drained of blood."

My eyes get wide, and I feel a little lightheaded all of a sudden.

"That's a Vampire, alright," our mentor shakes his head. "How far apart were the stags? Can you tell when he was here last?"

"Awhile ago, I'm afraid. One stag was so disfigured by scavengers, I struggled at first to indicate if it had been killed by a Vampire -"

I stagger away from them, my stomach churning. I soo do not want to hear anymore. I hurry into my tent and flop down on my bed with a heavy sigh.

"Done training so soon?" Adisonia snorts, she's kicked back on her bed on the other side of the nightstand, admiring her fingernails she keeps changing the color of with magic. "My, you got the stamina of a winded Beedy Bird."

"Can you like, just give me a break?" I huff. "I'm going through some stuff."

"Break? Seems like all you do is take breaks," she sneers.

I roll my eyes and try my best to ignore her, and now take my little wooden cross from my pocket. Vyndren had carved it for me shortly before we parted ways. I rub it affectionately, this little cross somehow always makes me feel more grounded. It reminds me of Vyndren, I guess; rough around the edges but strong, solid, and somehow always makes me feel safe.

My eyes well up with tears as I gaze at it. I miss you, Chief...

"What's this?" Adisonia suddenly snatches my cross. "This is what you're gooey-eying?" She scoffs as she tosses it up in the air and catches it again.

"Give that back!" I exclaim and swipe for it.

"Not till you tell me what it is, Darie," she cackles and tosses it up again.

I swiftly snatch it out of the air. "It's none of your business," I retort, shooting her a look.

She rolls her eyes. "You are a such a bleedin' weirdo."

"Just leave me alone," I huff and flop back down on my bed. It's been a minute since I've seen Bishop last, I realize as I look around. It's remarkable how that little puppy can soothe my nerves just by being close. But he isn't anywhere close right now. "Hey, have you seen Bishop?"

"Who?" The Princess of Hearts snorts.

"Oh c'mon, he's an adorable lil' puppy! You've had to have seen him!" I insist, glancing under my bed before looking around the rest of the furniture. Considering how everything is fashioned out of magic, we have a very cushy camping setup. Despite all the cozy spots a puppy could curl up in though, I can't find him anywhere.