The next day, the convoy of refugees started moving. Only a few were able to sleep that night, the freezing weather and the memories of the burning town tormented them at every moment. The old men and women had it worst since their bodies weren't prepared for such challenging conditions.
The warriors divided themselves into three groups, one for scouting, one guarding the periphery of the convoy, and the last was tasked with hunting for food.
The food needed for four hundred people wasn't something easy to gather, it would require its devoted logistic. Thankfully, the mercenaries were experienced in hunting and butchering, so they could prepare rations, but the amount given to each person per day would only be enough to give them the strength to walk, not to satiate their hunger.
Oresus had agreed to carry the food in the back of the carriage, where luggage were usually stored.
Since he also had to eat, he would rely on the mercenaries to bring them food, in exchange he would carry it. Well, the horse would.
Castiane would often leave the carriage to take a walk outside. Oresus turned a blind eye to it, though he could always sense her aura from inside the carriage.
Maia paid serious attention to him and Castiane. She volunteered for each chore, bringing water and food inside the carriage, attending to them like a faithful maid.
Nectas often allowed the children to rest with him on the coachman's seat. Giving them a place to rest, even though they usually left him to run around and play with each other. Only when they were tired would they come to sit near Nectas and listen to his stories about his daughter. To the youngest, this long travel was an opportunity to play, they had yet to realise the danger awaiting on the road.
When night fell, the convoy stopped in a clearing. The refugees huddled together to share their warmth through the night while some warriors stood guard around the convoy.
Though most of them were currently resting to replenish their energy.
On the side of the clearing stood a large carriage. Oresus had just received Leopold's invitation to join him for dinner, to which he had readily accepted.
Before leaving, he stuck a square piece of paper on the door of the carriage. It was a simple talisman and would prevent anyone from entering inside.
A guard was stationed to protect the remaining food at the back of the carriage so he didn't have to worry about that.
When he arrived at the campsite a few meters away from the clearing, the mercenaries were sitting around the campfire with their weapon by their side. The boar burning above the fire was ousing gold oil, its meat about to be ready.
[Good evening, this is...Maiar, this one you already know, you can call her Anna, I'm Oresus.]
Right after introducing himself, he sat on the ground, with the two girls following suit.
Leopold grinned, he started introducing his group to them while cutting the meat, giving each person a share on a large leaf.
[It's so refreshing to meet someone with the etiquette of the city after spending so much time in this damn wilderness. Let me introduce myself first, it sure has been a long time since I had to do it, let me remember.]
He chuckled before cutting more meat, seemingly thinking about his next words.
[My humble name is Leopold, which means courageous in Elztos. I was born in the year 57 of the Leastern ruling. I am a mercenary leader in charge of the Leades team and I am a 1st stage bloodrainist.]
He stopped from time to time to think before continuing his introduction. He seemed proud of what he had just said. He cut a larger piece of meat for himself with a happy, smiling face.
[Not bad.]
Oresus praised him, which made the mercenary's mood even brighter. His friends were chuckling at the display.
[Those punks are my teammates. They're boring, I'll make it short. Poliadas, thirties, reliable. Mys, thirties, womanizer. Harmon, forties, stubborn! Kali, twenties, have potential.]
[Che, why is it the only thing you say is that I'm stubborn. I'm the most experienced in the team so of course, I must give my input on things.]
Harmon immediately started rebuking his leader with food in his mouth. Which quickly devolved into a long discussion about the role of a leader and how crucial is decisionmaking during a mission.
[Alright, what about you, did you pick up those people in town? Where are you from?]
Leopold slipped this question innocently in the middle of the discussion.
Then, all the eyes turned to him, with Kali the most eager to hear his answer.
[I come from far away, I travel the land to witness new sights. Nothing unusual. This is actually my first time in the region. As for my two servants, well, let's just say I picked them up on the road.]
Castiane seemed unhappy about how he explained their relationship, she especially cringed at the word 'servant'.
While the mercenaries were teasing him about his choice for servants, and telling him more about the region uniqueness, Leopold gave a stealthy glance at Kali, watching her ponder something silently.
[Alright boys, I have a meeting with the other mercenary leaders, enjoy the meal and rest while you can. Oresus, sorry but I must go, was nice talking to you.]
After eating the food offered and chatting with Harmon and Mys, Ocelio noticed Kali's strange behaviour. She glanced at him and Castiane from time to time, seemingly holding herself from talking.
[Kali, you want to take a walk with me? I have something I want to show you.]
At his words, everyone stopped talking. Harmin almost choked while drinking water. All eyes were directed to him and Kali.
[Sure, let's go.]
After asking the two girls to return to the carriage on their own, Oresus left with Kali, under the weird faces of the mercenaries.
[So, what did you want to show me?]
After walking for a few minutes, they became surrounded by trees. The darkness only lifted up by a few rays of moonlight that traversed the crown of the trees.
[I lied, I just wanted to spend some time with you.]
[I knew it. You have something to tell me, don't you?]
She stared at him with a grave expression. Awaiting for him to give her answers.
He frowned lightly, gazing into her blue eyes silently for a few moments.
[If there's something you want to know, you should just ask.]
[Then I'll be direct. I've spent a long time guarding a certain person during the last few months, I know her ways pretty well. So I know, that the old woman by your side isn't actually an old woman, it's her isn't she.]
It wasn't a question, she seemed sure of herself.
Oresus narrowed his eyes, a trace of purple appearing in his dark eyes.
She made a step forward, facing him directly.
[I've told my leader about it. Don't think about hiding it from us. Tell me, who are you, why did you try to get close to us?]
Oresus's frown grew deeper the more she talked.
He did not answer, only calmly staring at her.
A few minutes went by in the dark forest, neither of them moved, only their eyes showed liveliness.
Finally, Oresus smiled and took another step forward, their faces almost touching, but her eyes still glared at him firmly.
[You've misunderstood. What happened between me and that elf has nothing to do with you, nor your team. I was honest when I said that I came from afar and never visited this region before.]
He gently took hold of her hand. Lowering his eyes, before quickly raising them.
[I genuinely find you attractive and wouldn't mind getting to know you more. I have no intention to harm you nor your team.]
She made a sad smile, before shaking his hand off and backing away.
[I do not believe you. I don't know what you did to hide her appearance but you can't fool my eyes. I've seen a lot of men like you who try to take advantage of me because of my look, you know what happened to them? None of them survived.]
After saying her piece, she walked back to the camp with a complex expression.
Oresus looked at her leave with a dim light in his eyes, then as if making a decision, he rushed at her.
She didn't have a chance to react before he hugged her from behind. Her whole body froze when she became nestled in his embrace. His head came to rest on her shoulder, his hair gently tickled her neck.
[Release me!]
She yelled angrily as she tried to activate her bloodline to escape from his evil grasp. But she was shocked to discover that she couldn't move.
[Why should I, you believe I'm a dangerous person when I genuinely care about you. Why can't you give me a chance?]
[Bastard let me go! Help!]
Her shouts resounded in the forest, soon mercenaries would rush to her position.
Oresus gradually reduced the strength of his embrace, allowing her to escape and take a step forward. Only to once again come face to face with Oresus.
A ray of moonlight fell on his face, showing traces of sadness and hesitation in his eyes. His hands reached for her palms once again, she did not resist this time.
When his head came closer, she appeared to be struggling with herself, her eyes widened when their lips touched.
He took a step forward, allowing their body to touch each other, their fingers intertwined, and their eyes stared into each other. One carried warmth and appreciation, while Kali's eyes widened in shock and confusion.
When the sounds of footsteps reached them, Oresus took one last peck at her red lips, before separating himself from her body.
[Kali! What happened?!]
The first to arrive was Mys, followed by the rest of his team including Leopold.
Seeing her friends, her face became redder and redder, the darkness hid her embarrassment as she glanced at Oresus standing nearby, smirking with his trademark smile.
[There was a snake...]