Chapter 270: Chatper 270. Eude

By the time Godefray joined them, Ayla had refiled the tray with more dried meat, fruits, and cheese.

Also, by that time, the entire caravan knew about the fire golem, which Eude thought was a mistake since people tended to be reckless when afraid. He had seen many get killed during the war because they let their fears dictate their actions.

But things were different in the desert than in the rest of the continent. Caravans were used to the many dangers lurking in and between the dunes. Children learned from a very young age how to defend themselves, and they often carried a weapon with them. Life and death were always dancing around each other in an endless battle of who was faster, who was stronger.

Hudde quickly informed Godefray of what they were talking about before he joined them.

“We will keep our eyes on the fire golem. Maybe the drakes chasing us had nothing to do with him,” said Rhobart.

Eude narrowed his eyes. “You mean to say it’s all a coincidence?”

He didn’t believe in coincidences. In fate, yes. Things never happen without a reason, a cause, or a purpose.

Rhobart looked up at the mountain. “What I say is that we have to be very careful. Drax probably already knows about the fire golem. I will talk to him soon to see if he knows any spells that can be effective against the creature.”

“I doubt he or Droyn knows about the fire golem,” Godefray casually said.

Rhobart’s brows drew together. “I don’t see why they wouldn’t know. Everyone is talking about it.”

“They’ve been in their tent ever since we stopped to rest,” Godefray let everyone know.

Hudde wiggled his eyebrows. “Oh, they are doing anything but resting.”

Eude gave Marianna a heated look. “At least someone is getting some.”

He sounded jealous. And maybe he was.

If not for her monthly cycle, he would have already dragged Marianna to a secluded place and made sure she got pregnant. The more he looked at her, the more he realized that he not only wanted to fuck her, but to get to know her. He wanted to know what made her smile and what she dreamed about.

After the disaster in Lago, Marianna had decided to give Eude and his twin another chance, and he wasn’t about to waste it on thinking about what could have been, but focus on what could be. The future was more important than the past. And if Marianna was put in his and Hudde’s path, it had to be for a reason, and he wanted to find out.

For the past few days, he had spent almost every moment in her company. He had talked to her, listened to her, learned about her.

When he met her, he thought she was just a wildling, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. And the truth was that Marianna was… fascinating. Sure, there were many things she didn’t know, and yet, she knew so much at the same time.

He had never thought of a woman as fascinating. The only thing he ever wanted from women was to fuck them and move on. The only reason he wanted Zell was that she was his n’alxa, because they were fated by the Gods to be together, but it was different with Marianna. He could see a future with her. But more than that, he wanted to know what it was to fall in love with someone.

Her eyes shone with unspoken feeling, and he found himself leaning forward. He wanted to taste her lips, to know if they were just as sweet as he remembered, but Rhobart cleared his throat, and whatever spell pulled him to her broke.

“What about Eluvene and Milton?” the King of Nordmar asked.

“They took Fluffy to hunt,” said Godefray.

Eude snorted at the mention of the wyvern’s name.

Fluffy.

He would have never named a wyvern that. Shithead most likely, but nothing something… sweet like Fluffy.

While Rhobart and the others had left their horses back in Lago, Eluvene had refused to do the same with the wyvern.

Varos had protested, of course, claiming that the flying beast would frighten the thaldrakes, but Eluvene hadn’t cared. She did, however, keep her distance from the caravan. The thaldrakes kept calm each time the might beast flew above them.

The wyvern would most likely come in hand now.

“Let them know what’s going on when they return. Ayla and I will rest for a bit,” Rhobart told Godefray.

Hudde wiggled his eyebrows again.

“Don’t start!” Rhobart growled.

Hudde put his hand in the air, his palms facing Rhobart. “I didn’t say anything.”

The grin on his face indicated otherwise.

Rhobart scoffed.

Hours later, the caravan was on the move, trying to reach its destination as soon as possible.

Despite everyone’s fear, the fire golem didn’t give away any indication that he wanted to attack them, and the drakes had stopped pursuing them.

While Eude found everything strange, he felt relieved that they didn’t have to fight against such a strong opponent.

The following days passed without incident, but he and his twins kept an eye in front of them and the other at their backs, not wanting to be caught off guard by drakes, fire golems, or other creatures from the desert.

The thaledrakes’ acute sense of smell allowed them to avoid most predators and even the terrible sandworms.

On the fifth day of their journey, the drakes were spotted again, but they kept their distance.

Eude didn’t like this, not one bit. It was as if they were trapped in a cat-and-mouse game, and the caravan was the mouse.

Despite all his fears, after eight days of traveling through Drara, they reached Ishtar.