After my brief conversation with Vis, I decided that, for the sake of my sanity, I’d stay quiet.

  I watched as the fields of black grass gradually gave way to jagged and rocky terrain.

  Massive cacti replaced the trees and the smell of rain was replaced with a dry heat.

  My stomach growled as I slumped in my seat.

  I didn’t want to be that grumpy kid who cried, ‘Are we there yet’ for six hours, but at the same time, I had reached my limit.

  My ass was hurting, I was sweating, and did I mention I was hungry?

  Cause I was.

  Vis glanced down at me. “What's wrong with you?” She asked dryly. “You’re shaking like you got a fever.”

  “Everything,” I grumbled and crossed my arms. “Are we almost there?”

  Vis narrowed her eyes as she looked up the trail. “A few more hours, maybe. We’ll be there before sundown at this pace.”

  I groaned.

  “Do ya really mean it? A night crawler won’t pop out and try to eat us or anything, right?”

  Vis shook her head.

  “Night crawlers are only a threat when you’re around thick vegetation. It’s because you can’t see them, out here they’re just as much prey as we are.”

  Well, that’s a relief.

  After a few more hours the sun began to set and touches were illuminated in the distance.

  Finally, I perked up in my seat and leaned forward. The outpost looked like a fort. Tall wooden walls with spikes at the ends of logs.

  Watch towers manned by orc guards armed with massive crossbows.

  And an interior pack with makeshift buildings.

  Our wagon was stopped at the gate, and an orc appeared with tired eyes and a frown. “Go’tak lau, Gimma doh?”

  Hey, he’s speaking demon tongue, I know this from Kalie’s lessons!

  He’s basically saying, “Hold up, what’s your business?” Though it wasn’t as polite as I’m saying it.

  Vis didn’t humor him with a response; instead, she flashed a platinum mercenary tag and a scroll.

  The orc glared at her, before he stepped back with a point to the gate. “Dova, tuk’ka kne-kne!” The guard at the gate nodded and pushed the doors open.

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  Vis put away her credentials and drove on through the gate. Inside the fort walls, demon-folk of all kinds walked around with purpose and spoke quietly.

  We made our way to a stable yard. There were all kinds of animals in the pens, fed and maintained by orcs.

  It seemed orcs did most of everything around these parts.

  When they saw us approaching, an orc with long black hair tied in a braid greeted us. “Some fine beasts ya got there, will they be staying with us?”

  Vis gave a firm nod. “How much?”

  The orc leaned back and gave the cages a quick look over. “Hm, I’m thinking about four silvers a night.”

  He glanced back at Vis.

  As always, she looked unimpressed. “I’m not here for your games, orc. Give me the price.”

  The orc let out a heavy breath from his nostrils.

  “Two silvers.”

  “A little lower.”

  The orc licked one of his tusk and briefly looked over his shoulder. Then back at Vis. “A silver and five copper, but that’s as low as I’m going.”

  Vis reached into her satchel and pulled out the six coins. She held out her hand. The orc stepped forward with an open palm.

  She dropped them in his hand.

  He snatched them and turned to the other orcs. “Tuk’ka yuma kne-kne!”

  Open the cage gates.

  Daniel tossed the keys to the approaching guards before coming around to our wagon with Louise. “Man, I’m ready to hit the hay. What do you say we turn in early tonight?”

  I saw his hand inch its way to Vis’s backside.

  I leaned forward. Now normally I wasn’t the kind of guy to cock block. But I’m too hungry to care about his thirst. “Actually I was hoping we could get something to eat first.”

  Daniel’s hand froze halfway to his destination. His shady grin of ill intentions shifted to a deep frown of despair.

  “Kid, you’re killing me here.”

  Vis stood up and dropped down from her wagon. “Actually I’m quite hungry too. There should be a food vendor nearby.”

  I dropped down from the wagon. “Yes.”

  Daniel chuckled softly as he scratched behind his neck. “Alright, I’ll go book our rooms with Louise.”

  “Sounds good.”

  As we went our separate ways, I looked over my shoulder and watched as Gargon and his boys were guided into their stalls and given monster meat.

  After that, Vis and I walked the crowded and narrow streets of the fort. She led the way, her hand never far from her dagger.

  I looked around to see all kinds of demon-folk waving their wares and goods. But none of it interested me, not until the delicious smell of meat began to waft in the air.

  Vis and I approached a four-armed vendor who was selling glazed skewers. My stomach audibly growled.

  I patted my stomach.

  Down boy.

  “Ridiculous.” The dragon grumbled.

  Vis held up four fingers.

  The man hummed. “That’ll be four coppers, longeared.”

  Vis reached into her satchel and exchanged four copper coins for the skewers. She kept two for herself and gave two to me.

  “Save one for Louise.”

  I looked down at the glistening meat. I had no idea what creature it came from, and quite frankly I didn’t care.

  Vis led the way back to Daniel as I took the first bite of my skewer. “Mhmm.” It was crunchy on the outside and the inside just melted in my mouth.

  Oh god this is so good.

  By the time we found Daniel and Louise, I had eaten my skewer in its entirety and was now licking my fingers.

  Daniel and Louise were sitting outside of an inn, with him making funny faces at her. She laughed softly as she hid in her cloak.

  “Blaaah!”

  “Daniel, don’t tell me you couldn’t get our rooms.” Vis sounded almost disappointed as she handed him a skewer. “I’m not keen on sleeping outside.”

  Daniel gave a confident smirk. “Listen, not only did I secure our rooms, I got us a discount.” He gestured with a hand at Louise.

  “The only reason we’re out here is that she wanted a little fresh air.”

  I handed Louise her skewer.

  “Thank you,” she replied so softly I barely heard her.

  “You’re very welcome.”

  Vis shrugged. “If that’s all then let’s go inside, I don’t want to spend another unnecessary minute out of bed.”

  Daniel stood to his feet. “Say no more.”

  He led us into the inn. The interior of the inn was quiet. A female orc sat behind a bar, she let out a long sigh as she rolled a bottle along the counter.

  When she noticed Daniel she perked up, but that’s when her golden eyes landed on Vis and her shoulders slumped.

  Vis raised an eyebrow. Daniel began to whistle as he led us up the rickety stairs.

  We went past the first floor and up to the second which had six rooms.

  Three on either side of the hall with a window at the end that overlooked the fort.

  Daniel stopped at a door that was in the middle.

  He pulled two keys from his satchel. “Our rooms are side by side.” He tossed a key to me. “You and Louise get the room at the end of the hall near the window.”

  I caught the key, it was bronze and heavy. My eyes locked with Daniel’s.

  “Louise and I are gonna share a room? Are you sure that’s a good idea? I can sleep with Gargon if it comes down to it.”

  Daniel smirked as he opened his room door, Vis slipped inside first. But he kept looking at me with that smirk. “Come on, kid. Drop the act, as long as she’s cool with you, I’m cool with you.”

  He turned his attention to Louise. “Are you cool with him, Lou?”

  Louise gripped her skewer as her cheeks reddened.

  “I-I-I s-suppose it’s fine. I just hope he doesn’t mind me if I cry a bit. I’m uhm, yes.”

  What?

  Daniel gave me a thumbs-up with a wide smile. “See!” He entered his room and closed the door, before he locked it.”

  It was just Louise and me now.

  I swallowed as I gripped the key in my hand. “I’m gonna open the door now,” I spoke as softly as possible.

  Louise stepped back. “Okay,” She whispered.

  I approached the door and slid the key into the lock. It popped with a click and I pushed the door open. Inside was pretty barebones.

  There were two beds spread apart with a nightstand underneath a window between them. On the nightstand was an Ouro stone.

  I stepped aside and gestured in. “Pick a bed of your choice.”

  Louise squeezed past me and silently made her way to the bed on the left. I chose the bed on the right.