The Oracle's Journey by M.M. Rees

Author:M.M. Rees [Rees, M.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

Ozanna

Well shit. I was never traveling without contraception again.

“I’m sorry, what?” I asked.

Lhoris’ worried eyes met mine for a heartbeat. “I think you might be pregnant. If you were another dark elf, I probably wouldn’t have noticed it at all,” he explained, gesturing emphatically with his hands.

I needed to say something but didn’t know what. My life had started out similarly and left my mother a miserable wretch. Lhoris wasn’t a one-night stand, though, and if our oracle was to be believed, we were meant to be together. But pregnant?

Looking distraught—and guilty—Lhoris explained, “I wasn’t sure if I should tell you. You’ve lived such a human life, and they don’t have a nose for such things.”

“No. They don’t.” But when I thought about it, I realized my cycle was imminent and that I would have started to suspect it myself if it didn’t come. Was it really a big deal that he told me a few days before I started to wonder the same? No. Was it a little strange that he could detect that? I could smell magic and sometimes track people by scent, so rationally it wasn’t a stretch. Curious, I sniffed the skin of my wrist. Sure enough, I caught the faintest whiff of the earthy fragrance I associated with their magic. “Thank you for telling me.”

“If it makes any difference in how you feel, you’d be astonished by how many pregnancies end in a late moon. It’s still early, and it may not take.” He offered, still watching my face.

“Thank you for telling me that, too,” I gave him a feeble smile. It was going to take more than a few moments to process how I felt about it, really.

Fat drops of rain dripped from the sky, and Lhoris glanced up, his thick, pale lashes fluttering to protect his eyes. Reaching into his bag, he produced a waterproof cloak. Because I was still riding close, he tossed it over my shoulders. He rummaged through his bag again and retrieved a second cloak to cover himself.

How much could he store in that bag? It never looked full. Perhaps it was another piece of enchanted gear?

I gave him a hopeful smile from under my hood, trying to set his mind at ease. Lhoris appeared deep in thought, probably blaming himself. After several peaceful days together, I was able to see the quiet parts of his personality. He was confident in many ways, but, just like anyone else, there were parts of himself he struggled with. Most noticeable was his willingness to take on blame.

But what’s done is done. It was up to us to make the best of things.

“Tell me what you’re thinking?” I asked him.

“There are so many things,” he said, “Things I wanted to tell you a little at a time.”

“I get that. We’re just getting started, and this would force us to change the pace.” From fast to faster.

After we rode in silence for a while, he spoke again. “Childhood for my people is hard.

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