The Trickster Lord by Gabriel Foxx

Author:Gabriel Foxx [Foxx, Gabriel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-01-10T00:00:00+00:00

12

- MARCH -

Day. Finally. The night had been punctuated roughly by various bouts of shuffling action, clattering metal, and even distant cries - all making catching sleep upon their hard bedrolls a wishful concept at best - but it was the rising of the sun and the subsequent rush of morning bustle that properly pulled Hokkaido from his half-rest.

The lordling’s first groggy blinks found that Haiken was already sitting up in his bedroll with his unfamiliar human face cast dark orange by the filtered light all around them, but the orphan remained entirely still even as Hokkaido raised his head and brushed the sleep from his eyes. It was somewhat surprising for Hokkaido to find that both the orphan and he were in their human forms, but he supposed they had fear and necessity to thank for that. The master of all invention.

Haiken had been fully awake for hours now, stuck in a state of half understanding and digestion. He had witnessed people die yesterday. The lying, action, and pressure from every side had held off the realization, but the lonely night had compressed the effect tenfold. The screams. The slices of metal. All of it.

Eventually, after quite a long period of awkward, stoic silence, Haiken stood - brushing off the knees of his traveling leathers, grimacing, and finally turning to face his companion. “Are we really doing this?”

Hokkaido looked up slowly at this, surprised that the other Kisuta had not spoken in anger, but also understanding exactly what the orphan was trying to say. Haiken needed to know if he wanted him to follow along. And, on the surface, he did. This is it. This is the chance at action I wanted. But at the same time, the death yesterday had put a seed of discomfort deep in his stomach, leaving him less certain than ever.

The lordling swallowed once to wet his throat and then nodded his head. “Of course. Too late to turn back now.”

Haiken looked back silently into his companion's eyes, but before he could say anything more, there came a rough rustle of cloth and a flash of sunlight from the side of the tent. It was the dark-haired lieutenant from yesterday - wearing the same set of armor, and giving a businesslike nod. “I trust you rested well. There were a few attacks during the night, but nothing worth rousing the camp for.” She broke a light smile. “But now let’s get you your equipment. Can’t have a Lord walking around in civilian leathers.”

Hokkaido stood quickly as the lieutenant turned to leave, but Haiken was in front of him nonetheless - coming to the tent’s exit with just a few steps, and turning to give one last meaningful look back at his companion before parting the flaps and moving out into the sun.

The lordling hesitated, but then he too was moving into lieutenant’s footsteps through the light and sound of the outside world.

Dew clung heavily to what little heather could be found amongst the tents and rocks, and the sun’s low position in the sky cast long shadows across the sand.

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