Grapevine (Zetheria Series #1)

Chapter 7: Camp in Nowhere

A stained white cloth fluttered against the wind. The smoke coming from the dying embers of the bonfire was blown out of existence as the sound of mad laughters filled the air.

"... Running out of tricks, new recruit?"

The one-eyed man slammed the table, revealing his cards.

The young man sitting across him paled and smiled with visible effort. He held on to his cards as if his life depended on it.

"Oh... what incredible luck you have there, Rafir."

He was about to reveal his hand when the sound of heavy footsteps caught their attention. Rafir look to the origin of the sound using his one remaining eye and let out a chuckle.

"Guess he made it back, huh."

"Sanjiv Anthony?" The pale man inquired with a hint of curiosity. He came from the Air Base just a week ago and he heard quite a lot about this person.

Speaking of that person...

A group of battered knights walked through the pathway, lead by a formidable looking young man whose clothes were painted with dried blood. Just by looking, one could only imagine what the group went through before getting here. The smell of blood wafted around them, bringing with it an ominous feeling.

The red-haired man didn't seem bothered by it.

Meanwhile, Selene limped beside Sanjiv with her face contorted in what appeared to be disgust. She covered her nose with her palm and her eyes were tearing up for some unknown reason.

"Who's that?" Rafir observed the woman with an offensive look on his face. "... Did he brought a slut for us?"

Beside him, the pale man's eyes widened.

"That is... That is Lady Selene Rosseficent. What is she doing in a place like this?"

Rafir turned to him as if he saw a ghost. "Huh? Do you think... he heard me say that?"

"Let's hope he didn't."

The two of them threw a wary glance at Sanjiv. But, before he could meet their eyes, the strange duo shifted their gaze away from him immediately.

Rafir cleared his throat.

---

Following their arrival, Sanjiv and the others started loading out the supplies.

Selene was in no shape to help them as she was busy emptying her stomach at the back of the nearest tent.

The moment she stepped in the camp, she knew that her worst fears had came true.

Before deciding to come here, her greatest concern was hygiene. She brought a few supplies for her own personal use, but the others wouldn't think the same.

The camp reeked with blood, mud, urine and all other kinds of awful smells she didn't bother to name.

'After the big words I said to Sanjiv... here I am...'

The urge to vomit came once again and Selene let out all the remaining contents of her weak stomach. After regaining some of her strength, she ran back to the carriage and opened her suitcase. She took a piece of cloth and secured it at the back of her head. Taking in a deep breath, she went back to the group, feeling a lot better than before.

Looking at the line of cargoes, she joined the knights carrying the supplies into a larger tent. The tent was the largest in the camp, acting as the storage area which is why it was protected by a barrier.

A few soldiers tried to talk to her. But, Selene managed to drive them away by saying something incomprehensible.

"Lady Selene, why are you here?"  A pale young man followed her. His tone was carefree and playful, as if he was talking to a child.