Derrick

Four.

This chapter has 1578 words in it. I'm sorry for any spelling errors, I re-read the chapter twice, but I could've easily missed something. I really enjoyed writing this chapter, because I FINALLY get to re-introduce an old character that I've missed :') Also, Derrick has over 100 reads! Thank you sooo much!

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I stared hard at Gavin's back as he rode ahead of us, grateful that Derrick couldn't see my confusion. A new king, in one of the largest kingdoms in the continent, asked for me?

Derrick's hands tightened over mine, which were holding the reins. I knew he was expecting a response, but I also knew he had a part to play in front of his people and he didn't want to take the risk of threatening me near them. It didn't take long for his lips to be at my ear again.

"When we get to Gresial, I doubt I'll be present as you and the new king talk." As the horses picked up the pace, he muttered something unintelligible.

"Anything he asks, do it. Keep us in his good graces. Lie, if you have to. Do you understand?" He murmured. I swallowed and nodded.

We rode in silence for a while, until Gavin made some kind of sound, like a whistle but more guttural. The other men split off from us, heading west, and Gavin steered his horse in the opposite direction. Derrick mimicked his movement, and I spotted a weathered sign partially covered by weeds. I was amazed; it was obviously a sign from before, a time none of us were born in. It looked like an ancient welcome sign into what used to be a large city.

The sun began making its way across the sky, and Derrick whistled to Gavin. They pulled the horses to a stop, and I was grateful. My back ached, and I was hungry. We dismounted, and Gavin led us into a tiny clearing in the woods. Derrick and I followed wordlessly, and I sensed that he was as exhausted as I was. He pulled out some dried, packaged meat for us to eat, along with a canteen of water. I ate silently, noticing that Derrick didn't eat anything.

"We have the tent?" Gavin asked. Derrick nodded and ran his hand through his auburn hair, an uncharacteristically nervous gesture. He turned to me.

"I packed us a tent. But, in order to avoid detection, it is very small. So we'll have to sleep together."

For a moment, I was incredulous. He can move things with his mind and do other inhuman things, but he had to sleep? I crossed my arms over my chest, not caring about the punishment. Surely, he didn't want Gavin to see how awful he could be.

"I'm not tired." I said. Derrick's hand twitched, and his eyes flamed.

"Elizabeth, you're practically hunched to the ground from riding that horse."

I instinctively straightened.

"I'm not," I argued.

There was a loud sigh that came from Gavin. He had a deep, animalistic sigh that reminded me faintly of a bear I'd encountered digging in our trash at home. The memory stung.

"Please." Was all he said, meeting my gaze. His voice matched his ginormous size, and I felt oddly guilty for refusing. So instead, I just nodded. Something about Gavin made me sad.

It didn't take long for him to set the small tent up, and Derrick unpacked blankets and got in first. He moved to the side to make room for me, and I ducked inside. Gavin zipped the tent up from the outside, and Derrick made himself comfortable, wrapping an arm around my waist. I didn't have enough room to recoil.

"Where will Gavin sleep?" I found myself asking. Derrick snorted softly.

"Gavin doesn't sleep." He answered.