“That’d be for minor things, though?” Gordon pressed. “Those shields and the lifting of objects. Nae dangerous magics like fireballs and all that, right?”
Darshan shook his head, biting the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. It was a crime for these people to be so ignorant. “Actually, for many, fire is often the first controllable force. They do not call it the easiest magic for nothing.” Sometimes he wondered if it was considered as such simply because their tutors told them it should be. Whilst he had mastered in within the expected timeframe, his twin had struggled. Instead, she had taken far more swiftly to the complex art of forming and directing ice.
“That’s nae exactly—” Sean said, cutting himself off as the rustle of bushes and the definite thump of an axe preceded what Darshan hoped was the elf’s return.
Sure enough, Zurron appeared from the bushes with the same ease as he’d entered. “I was right,” he announced, jerking a thumb behind him. “There’s a gap in the brush a little ways back. Nae all that big, but it’ll get us off the immediate roadside.”
They forged a path through the undergrowth effortlessly enough; the ease helped by the fact Zurron had already cleared some of the troublesome branches out of the way. True to the elf’s words, the space was small. To call it a clearing at all was being generous. Darshan had envisioned something like last night, but a little more snug. This was barely big enough for a few tents.
His thoughts must’ve shown, for Gordon clapped a consoling hand on his shoulder. “We’ll make do for the night,” he said as the two guards set about pitching the first tent. “Since you’re obviously fine sharing sleeping space with me brother—and I dinnae ken how you can get a wink with that row rattling in your ear—I’ll share with Sean and Zurron.”
“Still not willing to put up with me snoring?” Hamish snickered over the top of the horse he was unsaddling.
Darshan frowned. He hadn’t recalled any such noises. But then, being curled up in the man’s embrace had been the deepest sleep he’d had since he was a small boy. “Will that not be a bit snug?” Darshan enquired of Gordon. “All three of you in one tent?”
The man shook his head. “Shouldnae be any trouble. Sean’ll take first watch, I’ll be taking the middle and Zurron the last like always.”
“Alone?” Sean added, his head popping out from behind the second tent he was currently in the process of fixing into position. “Nae that I’m complaining, but I do prefer company on a watch.”
Gordon hummed for a bit, then clicked his fingers. “Hamish?” He pointed a forefinger at his brother. “You’ll share the watch with Sean tonight.” The digit swung towards Darshan. “And you can join me, I assume you’re capable.”
“Of course.” It might take him a moment to distinguish the unfamiliar night sounds, but that wasn’t anything he hadn’t attempted before. “I thought you would’ve preferred sharing the watch with someone you are more familiar with.”
“And who is also nae a spellster?” Gordon grinned, the starkness of that likeness to Hamish’s expression rather eerie. “I dinnae think you’re about to do anything untoward. Besides—” Gordon’s gaze slid to his brother and back. “I’d prefer the pair of you to be watching the forest rather than each other. I dinnae fancy having me face chewed off because you two were snogging when you should’ve been focused on your duty.”
“And when have I ever done that?” Hamish demanded of his brother.
“How about the summer of your eighteenth year? At the foot of the castle cliff, if I recall correctly.”
Darshan glanced at the guards. Neither man gave any indication they had heard Gordon. He could’ve dismissed it there, if he wasn’t entirely certain that Zurron most definitely would have. Maybe the elf already knew about Hamish. And, perhaps, Sean did, too. Knew and didn’t care. It stood to reason Gordon would fill his travelling party with those who wouldn’t judge his brother.
“Arse,” Hamish muttered, his expression darker than the jesting tone suggested.
Gordon merely stuck his tongue out at his brother.
“Come on,” Hamish said to Darshan. “Let’s leave me brother to his fanciful delusions and see what wood we can find.”
“Nae much in the way of dry stuff, I’d wager,” Sean grumbled, most of his attention directed to tying down the second tent. “Dinnae wander too deep into the forest, either. I think I saw tracks further back.”
“You think?” Gordon asked, swinging around to face the guard. “Did you also think to confirm that? Or what sort of tracks they were? Or did your thinking just consist on praying to the Goddess’ left tit that you were wrong?”
A tap to Darshan’s shoulder had him turning from the conversation. Hamish jerked his head at the tree line to his right before striding off into the brush.
Darshan jogged to keep up with the man. “Are you all right?” he asked once he could be confident none of the others would hear. “You seemed upset by what your brother mentioned.”
Grunting, Hamish brushed it off. “He surprised me is all. I did something foolish years back, I just didnae ken he was aware of it. Dinnae pay it any mind.”
They picked their way through the undergrowth in relative silence, scrounging for whatever bits of wood they could find that were dry enough to burn. Darshan likely could’ve ignited even the wettest of pieces if he put any actual effort into the act, but it seemed counterproductive to use up what energy he had when simpler means were at hand.
At first, the forest seemed reluctant to relinquish any remains of its fallen brethren, but after a little more poking and prying around some of the bigger trees, they were able to gather a modest amount to tuck under an arm. They made their way back slowly, rechecking the undergrowth in the off chance of a
