A Cosmos In The Sand
Chapter 6
Raven felt the sharp blade of the knife dig into her side as she fought to keep up with Damyan. He was so much taller than her, his legs longer. Just one of his strides was equal to two of hers. It didn’t help that she wasn’t wearing any sandals. The sand burnt the bottoms of her feet while the pebbles and rocks scattered throughout the street cut into them. Oh well, she thought, I’ll heal later. “Woah!” she gasped as she stumbled over her feet.
“Keep up,” Damyan growled.
“I’m trying,” she argued back. She really was. Raven wanted to get as far away from this place as possible.
Guards rushed by her and Damyan, not even giving the couple a second glance. “Idiots,” Raven could have swore she heard Damyan whisper the word under his breath. She agreed. Do I really look that different without the jewelry and makeup?
Finally, they reached the city gates. They were able to walk right through just as they were closing. Once again, the guards didn’t give either of them a second look. Raven wasn’t sure if it was the gods showing her favor or if Slaede’s guards really were so inept. With her luck, it was probably the latter. “Seriously?” Damyan groaned. Raven looked up to see him staring out at the desert. Following his gaze, she realized he was glaring at a person and a camel. “Come on,” he gripped her upper arm and pulled her along.
“I can walk beside you. You don’t have to drag me,” Raven said. Damyan didn’t let up. He didn’t even glance her way. If anything his grip tightened. Great, Raven thought. The next few hours were going to be just…great.
“Come on, you stupid camel,” Jhon groaned at Aelfred who stubbornly remained seated on the hot sand. “He was my friend, too; but he’s dead, and there’s nothing we can do about it!” Aelfred groaned loudly. “Don’t make me carry you,” Jhon threatened, “I will carry you.” Suddenly, Aelfred lifted her head up and immediately stood to her feet. “Now, that’s more like it,” Jhon said. “Turn around and walk so we can get as far away from this city as possible.”
“Seriously?” Jhon froze at the voice behind him. Turning around with a huge smile on his face, he threw his arms around Damyan. “Damyan!” Jhon exclaimed. “I knew you weren’t dead.”
“Uh huh, yeah,” Damyan huffed. Jhon then looked at the small figure standing next to Damyan. He nearly jumped at the large, violet eyes looking up at him. “Um,” Jhon began sheepishly, “hello. I’m Jhon.”
“Don’t talk to her,” Damyan growled as he gave Aelfred a onceover.
“I thought the plan was to…” he paused, looking at the petite woman barely, barely covered. “Why is she almost naked?” Jhon asked. “And wet? Damyan, why is she wet?”
“Does it really matter?” Damyan asked in annoyance.
“I was bathing when he took me,” the sorceress answered in a hauntingly, melodic voice.
“Oh,” Jhon’s cheeks reddened. “I apologize for him.”
“You do know she’s the enemy, right?” Damyan glared at his friend.
“She’s not even wearing shoes,” Jhon returned the glare. “Honestly, Damyan,” Jhon turned to Aelfred and began digging through his things tied to the camel’s back.
“What are you doing?” Damyan asked. “What is that?” he asked once more when Jhon pulled a tunic and an extra pair of sandals from their supplies. “She isn’t a guest. Do you know how many people she’s helped Slaede kill?”
“I didn’t realize your hands were so clean,” Jhon replied before walking to the sorceress who’d been quietly observing them this entire time. “It’s not much, but it should provide some protection from the sun.”
“That garment is mine,” Damyan growled.
“The sandals are too big, but they should protect your feet,” Jhon ignored Damyan. “We aren’t all savages.”
“Thank you,” the sorceress looked up at him gratefully. “My name is Raven.”
“Raven,” Jhon smiled. “Raven. Raven. Raven,” he began to sing her name.
“I’m beginning to see why your city fell within a day,” Damyan grumbled, “you probably invited the enemy in and broke bread with them.”
“Don’t be mean,” Jhon said.
“Whatever,” Damyan rolled his eyes before turning to the sorceress. “Get on the camel,” he ordered her as Aelfred lowered herself. Raven glared at Damyan and refused to move. Damyan stalked right up to her and said, “Get on the camel, or I’ll put you on the camel. Your choice.”
“Why should I make it easy for you?” Raven asked. “Aren’t you going to kill me anyways? Why wait until later when you can end me now? I won’t fight you.”
“As I said before, you’re worth more to me alive than you are dead. Now, either get on the camel or be dragged by the camel.”
“Fine,” Raven huffed as she attempted to make herself comfortable on the camel.
“Hey,” Jhon frowned as Damyan climbed on Aelfred and sat directly behind Raven, “why can’t I ride?”
“Firstly, we need to ride fast and hard. It won’t take Slaede long to figure out his sorceress is no longer in the city. I want as much distance between us as possible. Secondly, you are a terrible rider. You fell off of Aelfred three times on the way here. Thirdly, the blood of the gods literally runs through your body. You can easily keep up with Aelfred.”
“That is true. Fine. Let’s go.”
Raven felt heat come to her cheeks as Damyan’s muscular chest pressed against her back. “Comfortable?” a hot voice whispered in her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.
“Does it matter?” Raven shot back.
“No,” Damyan answered.
Raven fought another shiver that ran down her spine. Raven remembered the first time she saw Damyan last year. She thought he was beautiful then, but now – Raven wasn’t sure what to think. She was mature enough to admit to herself that Damyan was pleasant to look upon. Muscular arms wrapped in dark tan skin, an angular jaw, full lips, green eyes with flecks of gold, strong hands, muscular chest, and – “Woah!” Raven gasped as the camel stood suddenly.
“Careful, sorceress,” Raven heard the mocking in Damyan’s tone. He tightly gripped her around the waist and pulled her flush against him. “We wouldn’t want you to fall and break your little neck, now would we?” Damyan whispered in her ear. This time, Raven did shudder.
Damyan did his best not to get distracted by the beautiful woman sitting directly in front of him, but he couldn’t help it. She smelled so good he was so used to the disgusting odor of men: he had forgotten that fancy people could afford things like perfumes and myrrh. Although, it wasn’t just her smell that was driving him crazy. It was her silky hair, the way it brushed against his face anytime there was even the slightest breeze. Her eyes – beautiful and filled with an emotion he didn’t understand. There was also her body – her body. Thank gods she was no longer wet. Not his best idea grabbing the closest cloth to cover her body. That strip of cloth did little to hide what he’d already seen. He’d never been more thankful for Jhon and Jhon’s quick thinking. Damyan didn’t even care that the tunic gracing the sorceress’ body was his. He was just happy that her body was somewhat covered by the thin fabric – and he could still feel her curves with every step Aelfred took. At least she’s no longer wet, he sighed. Damyan than shook his head. He needed to control his lust. He had a job to do – a job that only he and Jhon knew about, a job that he’d botched.
Damyan was supposed to kill Raven. Mara, he regrettably admitted, had thrown him off guard. He also hadn’t expected to see Slaede so soon. Attacking Slaede, however, would be futile being that Raven could more than likely bring him back from death.
They were in the middle of a war, dammit! Damyan knew he should not be thinking about kissing the soft lips of the sorceress. Maybe he should have had Jhon ride behind her. Damyan turned to look at Jhon…who was giving him a knowing smile. “Shut up,” Damyan whispered.
“I didn’t say anything,” the sorceress replied sharply.
“I wasn’t speaking to you!” Damyan snapped. He felt Raven’s body stiffen. She really needed to stop moving…and breathing.
“Well,” Jhon spoke smugly, “I didn’t say anything, either. You must be hearing things. Again,” he smiled up at Raven. “Too many hits to the head.” Raven chuckled in response, and Damyan felt vibrations everywhere. Dear gods, he thought with an eye roll, this is going to be a long journey.
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