Unspeakable Secrets The Alchemist Series (A Dark Medieval Progression Fantasy)

Chapter 70 The Cave

Connor grabbed a fistful of a thick, fleshy plant he recognized from one of Victor's many lessons.

"Come here," he said.

Adelia frowned at him but did as he asked. He crushed the plant in his hand and rubbed the green liquid into several of her nastiest burns.

She flinched at his touch initially but settled down.

"It's cold," she said.

"Is it helping the pain?" Connor asked.

Adelia nodded and he rubbed a generous helping over her neck.

"I heal fast. You don't need to do this," she said.

"No point being in pain if it can be avoided," Connor said, "you keep holding your side. Are your ribs broken?"

"No," Adelia said, "I don't think so at least. Just... battered."

Connor nodded. "I'll take a look when we get somewhere to settle down and rest. It should be dawn before long and I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted. Those waves took it out of me," he said.

They continued on and Connor felt increasingly sure that their trail would be nearly impossible to follow.

Between the ocean and their early caution, if they hadn't shaken off any pursuers, it seemed unlikely they'd ever be able to. Still, they left few signs as they passed. Animals could just as easily drink from the leaves as they could.

He picked up some ripe berries and other fruits as well as a collection of medicinal herbs though. And anyone keen enough to spot that might be able to follow their trail.

But, they needed food and he wanted to make sure he could treat Adelia's wounds at least somewhat effectively when they reached a spot to rest.

The world gradually lit up as dawn broke and rays of sunlight filtered through gaps in the clouds and canopy above. The storm had settled into a light rain and the forest had come alive with countless chirping birds calling to each other and flittering about.

Connor's muscles ached with fatigue while sweat and moisture clung to his skin in beads but they pushed on.

A few hours after dawn, they came across a spot too tempting to resist.

A cave with a narrow entrance into what had seemed at first like a small hill with all the greenery covering it. They needed a place to rest and plan their next steps and it seemed utterly perfect.

Connor drew his runed rod, easing it like a whisper from its sheath as he stalked forward with Adelia.

She slunk into the cave first, a dagger in hand and her violet eyes alert.

"It's clear," she said after a moment.

The way in was a rocky downward slope that Connor half-walked and half-climbed down until he stood beside Adelia in a larger space than he'd have first suspected. With rock sticking out of the walls in places like shelves.

Down here they'd be practically invisible. And best of all, it was dry.

"Home sweet home," Connor said as he sheathed his runed rod. He was sure he had things to clean it and the knives in his bandoleer with in his bottomless bag and endeavored to check later.

The bag was incredibly useful, but he'd thrown so much into it since he'd got it that he found himself increasingly unsure what exactly it contained.

He hoped he was correct however as he was unsure if the enchantments would protect the weapons from rust and was unwilling to risk it.