Bastion of Sun

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The Lordling

"Here you are, your magnificence," Darius intoned, throwing the lordling a spare woolen blanket, then adding in an absurdly grand bow for good measure. Over the top surely, but as smooth as a court bard, if Darius didn't mind saying so himself.

Cid gawked at him. Again, Darius realized Cid wasn't particularly bright. "Huh? What am I supposed to do with this?" he asked, clutching the rolled bundle to his chest. The lordling looked ridiculous. His hair was a frizzy, unruly mess of brown waves standing on end and a hand's length in height as a result of the rushing wind. His eyes were still wide and bloodshot and his lips were cracked. At least he'd stopped crying several hours back, favoring a muted stupor and soft whimpering instead. Now he swayed on his feet as if unfamiliar with solid ground and took in the glade. It was a quaint little green enclave they'd spotted from high above. Cid, however, didn't seem to think so. His fingers dug into the blanket, eyes flashing to each rustling leaf.

Darius gave him a level gaze. "You really don't know what that's for? Haven't you ever..." He shook his head, realizing the lordling had probably only ever slept on cushioned beds of down and silk. He sighed and left the boy standing in his own puddle of confusion to go about making camp.

"It's for sleeping," Gray said, throwing his own bundle on the ground and lying down with a groan.

"Or flying," Darius said as he brushed down the archwolf's feathery fur with a spare shirt, cleaning it of any debris it had accumulated during the flight. The beast unnerved Darius enough already, so it was comforting to know that even legendary creatures got dirty.

Gray sighed. "Ignore him. Sorry, my lord, it's no goose feathered bed, but it'll keep the twigs out of your back and the burrs out of your hair."

"Or you can use it for sustenance," Darius added. Then he turned to the young lord and wrapped his cloak about his head, hiding the lordling from view and spoke, words muffled. "Or perhaps make a new fashion statement." He pulled the cloak down then pointed to Cid's disheveled head. "You're already on the cusp of one with that hair of yours."

You're one to talk, Gray said tiredly through the bond.

Bah, Darius replied.

Cid's face was priceless. Darius could practically see the young lord's brain struggling, realization dawning that he was being mocked. His almost feminine features twisted into a snarl, and he made some rude gesture with his hand Darius wasn't familiar with. Darius only snickered as he tied the archwolf's reins to a nearby bough, which felt silly. The beast was smart. He half-expected it to shake its head and tell him not to bother, but its huge sunburst eyes only watched him patiently; then it yawned, showing rows of gleaming white teeth that made Darius shudder. If it wanted to, its wolf-like muzzle could engulf his whole head.

"You..." Cid gulped, eyeing the forest floor. "You don't actually expect me to sleep here do you?"

Darius rolled his eyes.

Gray was more patient, unsurprisingly. "We do."

Cid looked at the ground as if it were crawling with snakes. "How?"

You can't be serious... "Watch," said Darius, as he pantomimed pressing his hands together, resting his head on his hands and making exaggerated snoring sounds. "See? Now you try."

Cid snorted. "Ha ha. Very funny. You're a riot."

Darius bowed again. "I know. Thanks."

"You can sleep here or you can run back home," Gray said, silencing them like a father with two bickering children. He pointed back the way they came. North. There were many thickets, rolling hills and empty farmland, but it was fairly easy terrain. "It's a two, maybe three day walk, but there are plenty of towns along the way where you can get food and shelter. It's your choice either way. You're no one's prisoner. Not anymore. You're on your own now."