The Shattered Dragonslayer

Chapter 24: Before the Gate, the Blacksmith's Doom

The horse and his riders slowed within the reaches of the dark forest. Fidelma stepped down and offered her arm to Demetri, whose hair was still fluffed by the ride.

"Are you alright?" she inquired when he didn't dismount right away. He stared dead-eyed into the depths of the woods.

"Ask me once my stomach has sunk back down into my gut."

"Come now, you behave as though you've never ridden before."

"The last time I rode like that I ended up with a sprained rump, thanks to a certain someone."

She slanted her eyes. "I thought we agreed not to bring that up again. And perhaps escaping a hungry rock monster wouldn't have been so traumatic for you if you had utilized the commands like I taught you to and gained control of the reigns yourself."

"I forgot what meant what and I didn't want to make the horse explode."

She crossed her arms and glared at him. He sat there somewhat indignantly on Gideon's back.

"Language isn't my strong suit."

"Do you remember anything from our Nymphish lessons?"

"Enough. I can say hello, goodbye, goose..."

Fidelma huffed and plopped down with her satchel to have some supper. Demetri dismounted and joined her calmly, watching her tear into her apple like she had a vendetta against it.

"No fire tonight?"

"I'm tired. I wish to sleep as soon as possible." It was quiet for a moment, then she pricked her eyes and nose at him.

"So for all my efforts, you recollect hardly anything of what I teach?"

"I told you, I don't do well with memorizing languages, not in the long term."

"Do you know, 'fi argat oux?'"

"Ah, 'squirrels hate peaches?'"

She stopped mid bite and leered at him.

"It means, 'I love you', okay? Sheesh, you have no sense of humor when you're tired."

Grinning, she finished off her fruit and bread before offering any more comment. She glanced in the bag and gave a light sigh.

"It should only be a day or two before we reach Gerthuileon, and not a day too soon. We're almost out of food – we've only enough for maybe one more meal."

"It doesn't help any that you gave the beast half our rations."

"You wouldn't dare let our transport go hungry. Besides, you attach yourself to animals almost as easily as I do, admit it."

He shrugged. "Just don't complain when we have to resort to eating horse steak." He reclined against a tree and smirked, unphased by her disgusted scowl.

"If I have no sense of humor at night then you have no sense at all!"

"Hey, either you want to make it to Breon alive or not."

"Don't be absurd, we're only a couple days out from the kingdom!"

He lifted a metal finger to his mouth and hushed her. "Don't wake the wolves."

Her cheeks puffed out as she clenched her satchel. "Why must you vex me so?"

"My dear Fi, it is the bright fire in your eyes that keeps me warm at night. So anyway, this cousin of yours, do you suppose he'll be up for accommodating not only us but a whole other colony of dryads?"