Bloodlines

Chapter 4

The ride through to Claudestown was short, perhaps a days journey.

Not only was she utterly exhausted from the looong ride, she was also on her monthly flow.

Did mages get the monthly blood? She didn't think so. Such things would be beneath them. She'd be surprised if they even took a shit once in a while.

Mages did eat, however. Voraciously. They probably cleared half of the animals in the Whistling Forest, the woods that divided Hadrienel from the small hamlets surrounding it. Probably had to do with recharging their magic.

The sky was awash in dusky pink and orange when they arrived at Claudestown. Claudestown was by far bigger than her home village.
Layla and Liam had planned on visiting Claudestown before-- She cut off that train of thought. She figured that the less she thought of Mocking Village, the better she would feel. So far, her plan wasn't going as smoothly as expected .

They all halted at an inn on a busy street, herding their horses into the inn's stables.
Xander, who hadn't said a single word throughout their journey save to his horse and to the soldiers, held out a hand to help her off her steed. Grateful, she took it-- and groaned in pain as her numb legs began to come to life.

"I bloody hate riding!"

"Would you prefer to walk to The Pearl Valley?"

"Oh, shut up. "

She crab-walked into the inn, called The Gallant. How flowery. They could've done better. Xander chuckled as she belatedly realized she had said that thought out loud.

Mae Sterling was already speaking to a portly man with a mustache. From her positions at the entrance, she could smell the strong scent of honeysuckle. She scrunched her nose. That was definitely the innkeeper, she thought, as her and Xander moved closer.

"We'll need rooms for 14 men, Mr Simon." Mae's voice was authoritative, but not raised. It was, however, enough to make the poor man cower.

"Unfortunately, Miss--Mistress-- ahh... " He broke off, clearly uncomfortable. He probably had never met a female soldier so high up in command. Sexist prick.

"Lieutenant Sterling, Mr Simon." There was a hint of a smile her face, though it vanished, which left Layla wondering if she had really seen it.

"Yes, um, well you see, its the end of June, and the Sunstead Festival just finished yesterday, and so, you see--" He took in a big breath, as if bracing himself foe the worst "--there are only 4 rooms available."

Mae frowned and said," We'll take it." The innkeeper scurried off to prepare the rooms
Layla however, was deliriously pleased. They were 14 altogether. During their journey, she'd noticed that they adopted a 3-4-3-4 formation, her being in the centre of the second 3. Calculation gleamed like polished gold coins in Mae's amber eyes.

Before Layla could lay claim on the room-- she was important, sought after by The Mage Lord, she might as well act it-- Mae said in that imperious tone. "Eunice, you'll be staying with the human tonight. Eat dinner, take your rest, for the real journey begins on the morrow."

Eunice turned to face Layla, her expression one of extreme distaste.

"Well. Let us get this over with."

*****

A good leader must know when one of her team  was not at peace, especially if said member could level a small village if he sneezed wrong.

Mae found Xander at a nearby brothel, as he watched the miasma of the three races sin, drink, whore, gamble and make decisions they might regret the morning after. Claudestown was close enough to Hadrienel that it wasn't uncommon to see a mage or a changeling/shifter (and the occasional half-vamp) around.

Saying nothing, she took the stool beside him and watched him nurse his mug of mead.

"Don't you feel anything? Anything at all? You and Nikita are leading that girl to uncertain death." He said, his gaze unwavering.

"Is it not better one dies than for all to perish? You, of everyone, you know the risk."

"Only fragments remain of my memory and you know this. We can't be sure --"

"Then what will we do? Sit down and watch as the world drowns in blood, till blood is the only thing that exists? We must do this thing, Xander, no matter how distasteful it is." Mae took a deep breath, then released it.

"I'm a mother, Xander. If there was another way, I would find it and take it, you know that."

"I suppose it does not matter now, does it?"

*******

Dinner was short and unremarkable. She didn't want to say it, bit it was probably so because Xander wasn't there. She'd become too used to his company. That had to change.

Layla had expected Eunice to be a bitch and take the bed. She didn't.

"You take the bed. I'll sleep on the floor. "

" Oh, you don't have to--"

"Do you want me to change my mind? "

Layla wisely said no more. Moving to the bathroom first-- it was obviously new with a flush privy that she had only heard about-- she freshened up and prepared for bed.

The sheets were cool against her skin as she slid in, the pillows lush and soft. Sometimes, it was good to be selfish.

Vaguely, she heard Eunice moving about, probably getting ready for bed, but she was too drowsy to take full notice.

She was soon asleep.

As she slept, however, Eunice stood by her, and stared.

She didn't even look special, and she was human. Why were they going through all this for a human?

With a final scathing glare, Eunice went to her pallet. She would bide her time. Something was afoot, because it wasn't possible for them to go through all this trouble for a human. The girl was probably a mage.

And to be hunted by the Mage Lord...

Something was afoot.

*******

I'm back, bishes 😎
After battling the dragons of laziness, procrastination and a massive writers block, I have managed​ to squeeze out this widdle chapter. If you look carefully, you'll notice its stained with blood, sweat, tears and a whole lot of food.

Anyhoo, don't forget to vote, comment amd share. Lemme know how you feel about poor little Layla's very interesting life.

Love, Iteoluwakiishi (Who eats too much but never shows it ✨, but you may call her Kiishi)