Branded by Ana J. Phoenix

Author:Ana J. Phoenix [Phoenix, Ana J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-06-22T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18 - Getting Closer

“How much farther is it?” Asher asked after lunch the following day. José signaled him to hush. Something was coming from the woods. The pattern of their steps sounded like five or six two-legged creatures. Maybe something humanoid, and hopefully not something out to get them.

“We're getting visitors,” he whispered.

“Be careful,” the lavalight said inside his head, reminding him of the burned villages around.

“Who's there?” Asher called out. José cringed, picturing him standing there with the rest of their food, ready to throw.

The strangers quickened their pace in response to Asher’s call. José strained his senses and counted again. Sounded more like five now. They didn’t smell like monsters. Smelled more like grass and wild berries and sweat, but you could never be too sure.

“They’re carrying spears,” the lavalight said.

“Wow,” Asher said after a moment. “That's some really ugly face paint.“

Someone huffed.

Way to go, Asher. José wanted to facepalm himself, but turned to the strangers instead. “Please don't mind him.”

“It doesn't matter,” someone said in a gruff tone. “We're on the lookout for enemy troops.“ In his mind, José saw an old war veteran with shifty eyes standing in front of him.

“Enemy troops?” he asked. Which side were these people on?

“The half-breed bastards and that cursed fox-guy!” a shrill female voice said. “We're gonna protect our village from those fiends!”

José just so resisted the urge to shield his ears. “Um…right.” Seemed like it was the rebels who were laying the fires, then. “We only just passed through a burned out village.“

“We're gonna catch the culprits and roast them too!” the female cried out again.

“Fucking magicians!” someone else said. A murmur of agreement followed. Until Asher's voice cut through it.

“So there’s more burning villages around?” Asher sounded way too enthusiastic.

José took a deep breath and stopped himself from shaking his companion. No one said anything. José imagined everyone staring at the pyro.

“What?” Asher spoke up again. “They're pretty!”

“He's such an idiot!” the lavalight said, hovering beside José’s head.

“Aren't you a dragon?” the female from before said, sounding suspicious. José cursed silently, considering the constellation of their little group. They might as well have been wearing signs over their heads saying 'Arsonists - You love it, we burn it.'

He had to say something placating here, but before he could, Asher opened his mouth again.

“Aren't you a bitch?”

José pressed his lips together. One of these days he would have to drill some manners into Asher's thick skull. “He's a dragon,” he hurried to say before anyone could react to Asher's comment, “An incredibly rude one. But we're not the ones who—”

“That’s a fire elf,” someone cut José off. Well, shit.

“They even have a lavalight with them! Everyone knows they're trouble!”

“We're not trouble and we didn't do anything!” José waved his hands in front of himself. The signs were flashing now, weren't they? “Listen-” Nobody did. They were talking among themselves.

“They're gonna set our village on fire, too!” That shrill female voice again.

“We're not—”

“Liars!”

The lavalight flew in circles around José's head.

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