The Source (Creasan #1)

Chapter 18

Merek waved Isolde's comment away while the rest of the group laughed. "That's not how it happened."

She rolled her eyes. "Then how did it happen?"

"I gracefully arose from my slumber," he began dramatically, and Thea immediately started laughing. Isolde couldn't recall ever seeing her laugh as much as she had that night. She credited the enormous amount of alcohol she'd consumed. "The sun was nigh and I stretched like a panther as I came to consciousness."

"Oh Aestus," Fendrel groaned, taking another swig of his bottle. "Just get on with it!"

They laughed.

"Then," Merek continued, "as my lids parted like the leaves of a tree swaying in the breeze—"

Peronell snored loudly, making the group giggle again.

"—what did my eyes light upon but the most ferocious beast known to man?"

"A spider," Isolde deadpanned. "It was a spider."

Ale burst from Thea's nose from snorting so hard. The rest of the group collapsed into hysterics as it dripped down her face.

"Not just any spider!" Merek insisted. "The largest spider Creasan has ever seen."

"It was a normal spider," Brom said, gripping his stomach as he laughed. "And you screamed like you'd been dropped from the top of the palace."

"Maybe I'm not explaining this correctly," Merek said. "It was in my nose! Do you understand that? Its leg curled inside my nose."

"Stop, stop," Carac begged as he bent over, his face red. "Oh Aestus, my face hurts."

Merek chuckled and finished the last of the bottle.

They breathed a deep sigh as they tried to collect themselves. Isolde rubbed tears of laughter from her eyes and stood. "I think I'm going to head to bed now," she said. "We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow."

Thea moaned like a child. "Not yet, Izzy! We're just getting started."

Merek got to his feet. "I think I'm done, too. It was a pleasure drinking with you, Thea."

She waved her hand at him but forgot she was holding on to the bottle. Its contents sloshed out. "Fine. Be downers."

"Actually..." Peronell said as him and Carac stood.

Thea's mouth dropped. "Nooooo!"

"Sorry, Thea," Carac said. "You ought to get to sleep now too. Good night, everyone." Then they all disappeared into the tunnel.

Thea looked at Brom. "If you get up, I'll break your kneecaps."

He chuckled. "I'm not going anywhere. And I'm not sleeping either. Just resting my eyes." He leaned back against a tree, crossing his arms and closing his eyes.

Thea shook her head. "Unbelievable. Weak, the lot of you."

"I'm still here," Fendrel offered.

"Oh, good." She shouted into the trees, "If there are any Guards nearby, please kill me! Please! I'm begging you!"

Fendrel laughed. "Shh!"

"Yeah, that's not going to work for me." Brom stood and headed to the tunnel.

Thea leaned off her log as she called to him in a hissed whisper. "Wait, Brom, come back. I'm sorry! I'll be quiet now."

He just gave her an amused grin and then ducked into the tunnel.