Tansy of the Wilds

Chapter Ten

Tansy woke up the moment the sun started cresting the horizon. Her bedroll had definitely been better than sleeping on the inn floor. She wasn't near as stiff as she stretched with a wide yawn. She brushed back some of the strands of hair that had worked themselves loose from her braid before she undid the braid and carded her fingers through her hair quickly and pulled it up into a tight bun, tying it off.

Flixom and her scouting party had already started to break down camp and Tansy quickly got out of her bedroll, shook it out then rolled it up before she scampered over to help Flixom pull down some of the leather tents.

"You could have stayed in bed with your mate." Flixom gave her an amused grin as she jerked her head back to where Xer'tal was slumbering on the ground and Tansy ignored how her cheeks flushed at the words.

"He is my guard, Flixom." She threw the kobold a look that just caused a round of raspy laughter. "So, about the trades, it needs to be in weight." That started Flixom off on how Tansy needed to stop rebuffing their offers of quantity and Tansy grinned as they got into a renewed lively discussion about trade negotiations. She was trying to explain to Flixom that she wasn't rebuffing her offer on quantity but merely making the trade more fair because based on weight, iron was worth more than lumber. The discussions were hard to explain because kobolds never truly traded like other species but Tansy knew with some patience that she would help them understand.

The banked fire was started as some leftover kebabs were heated up over the crackling flames. It was enough to make Tansy's mouth water and shortly after, Tansy was offered some and she took one with thanks as she ate between continuing her conversation with Flixom, aware a kobold was scampering over to Xer'tal, offering him some kebabs for breakfast

She watched with half an eye as his colossal frame unfolded with a slow grace, the morning sun tracing the chiseled lines of his orcish form and accentuating his array of battle scars. when he glanced over at her, his red gaze met hers. Her breath caught in her chest as the quiet intensity she found in those reddish brown depths and he offered him a tentative smile. He grunted as a short kobold scampered over to him, presenting a stick of sizzling kebab. Xer'tal accepted the offering with a grueling nod, his chest vibrating a deep, gravelly, 'Thank you'.

It took all of Tansy's willpower to stop watching him as she continued to help Flixom and the others with breaking down camp, not to mention her discussing the trade deal with a rather stubborn Flixom. She knew she couldn't waste time being so fascinated by the orc she had hired. Not because he was an orc, definitely not that, it was more of the fact she had to remember what they were doing instead of mooning over the breadth of his shoulders, how strong he was, and that deep rumbling gravel of his voice that made her shiver slightly when she heard it.

After nearly half an hour the kobold camp was fully packed up and the fire was put out. Flixom gestured to Xer'tal. "We go now. Day's walk to Kelpfar." She said it in that raspy kobold accent and Tansy nodded and moved to stand beside Xer'tal.

"We will follow the path, Flixom." At her words Flixom nodded and then the kobolds seemed to melt into the trees. "Kobolds are excellent at stealth. Especially the scouts. They will be around us but we should follow the path." She pointed to the traveller's trail that cut through the forest before looking up at Xer'tal with a smile.

Xer'tal grunted in approval, rising from his seated position with a barely audible growl. He towered above everyone, even Tansy who had moved to his side. "Kelpfar, huh?" He smoothed his hands over his leather-clad form, making sure his axe and dagger were secure. "Lead on, Tansy," he nodded at her and she smiled up at him again.

Tansy was aware of how tense he was beside her as they started walking through the forest. She felt safer with the kobolds but there was still a lot that could happen. She was just glad Xer'tal was with her. She had never felt safer. Even if his body was tense as if ready to spring into a fight at any slight provocation. The traveler's trail wound into the trees in front of them, cutting through the heart of the forest. Tansy knew it would have looked foreboding for her, daunting in its wilderness. Yet, having Xer'tal by her side made the daunting prospects of the unknown forest trail feel a lot more... manageable.