The Thief (A Tale of Heroes & Demons Book 2)

Chapter 4

A Surprise Encounter

Sleep pulled heavily at his mind, urging him back towards the darkness and the sweet words that wrapped around him. But the sun would not stop its piercing rays from reaching through his eyelids to tickle his mind awake.

Wait.

Sun?

Caedmon's eyes snapped open to see the sun shining well above the horizon. He scrambled up and looked at their makeshift camp. Katherine still slept soundly next to the embers of the fire they had lit the previous night but Makom was nowhere to be seen. He spun quickly, but no evidence indicated where his friend and second in command had gone.

In a couple strides he came to kneel beside Katherine and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Katherine? Wake up." He shook her shoulder gently until her eyes cracked open.

"Wuh?" Her eyes scrunched together as she shook her head. She rubbed at them with the palm of her hand as she pushed herself upwards. "Why is it so late? What happened last night?"

Caedmon ran a hand through his hair, scratching at his head. "I...I don't know." He cursed. "There must be a reasonable explanation for this."

A barking cough was the only reply he got from her. "What?" Her eyes cut through them as she locked with his gaze. "Do you really think Makom had nothing to do with this? He's the only one not here!" She shook her head. "I can't believe how gullible you are."

"Gullible? Is it wrong for me to trust one of my oldest friends?"

The sun beat down on the pair. The wind was still quiet, with only the barest rustle flying through the grass around them. Even the bugs, the ones that never take a break from trying to attack were quiet after the raised voices travelled.

Katherine sighed. "No. There's nothing wrong with that." She rubbed her eyes. "What's wrong is the fact that he tried to kill me and you still don't question is motives."

"He wasn't trying to kill you."

Her eyes widened, and she took a small step back from Caedmon. His heart twisted at the hurt that washed over hear face temporarily before the blank mask returned. "How else do you explain the soul stone he used to try to casually stop me from going with you back in Nightridge? Just a casual, 'nice to meet you' kind of interaction, then?"

"I'm not trying to excuse his behaviour." Caedmon tried to close the distance between them slightly to no avail as Katherine took another step back.

"Then don't. Stop trying to explain it." Her eyes closed as she held up her hands. "We need to stop. Arguing won't solve anything." She twisted to back up the few things they had left out and her voice carried over her shoulder to him. "You asked me to come with you, so we are going to go to Dracfort and see how we can help. After that I am heading to meet with Orelius and Saege, then you will be free to do as you will."

Caedmon's mind twisted in on itself. He had no idea what to say or how to fix whatever he had just caused. So instead he turned and gathered his own things. Unfortunately, once he was ready to go he turned around discovered that their horse was nowhere to be found.

It was only a couple moments later that he heard the hooves pounding against the earth towards them.

***

Like a well-trained muscle, Katherine reached deep for the magic curled in her core, pulling it to tease at the tips of her fingers. Her eyes scanned the horizon, but where one side held only plains, the other was filled with trees and large boulders, blocking her view.

From one glance at Caedmon she moved to pull her sword, twisting the hilt in her grip until it was balanced. They stepped closer yet kept a reasonable distance apart to lessen the target they made.