81 Touched with Fire (1/2)

Finding Luca snuggled next to a sleeping Pike like they were resting on some hidden beach without a problem in the world was exasperating.

I wanted to yell at them to give me back the hours of anxiety I'd experienced since coming back to the Fayne.

This irritation was probably why I didn't hesitate to cross the shallow pool between us—despite the sensation of cold water clinging to my knees—and stomp up to their tiny island intending to rough them up. But then I saw them covered in wounds and my annoyance immediately evaporated. The cuts and bruises covering their arms and faces reminded me that they'd been running for their lives.

Waking Luca up with a splash of water to the face would have to be enough. And I won't lie, it was.

Luca sputtered to consciousness with wide eyes and a scream on his lips. Then he saw me and the yell of ”Wa~~ah” transformed int ”D-dean?”

”What's up, sleepyhead,” I grinned.

His jerking woke Pike up too. But she hadn't screamed in fear. Nope. She'd reached inside her vest and pulled out a small shadowblade dagger which sprang to life in her hand. The blade's charred edge was soaring up to me before halting midway after Pike realized who she was about to attack.

”Sorry, Commander, I didn't know it was you,” she said in a lyrical accent that reminded me of the Irish peoples of Mudgard.

”Not a problem, Pike,” I said placatingly.

To my right, I'd watched from the corner of my eye as Ashley drew her shield ready to block the accidental attack. It really was nice to have a shieldmaiden along for these kinds of adventures.

I dropped to one knee, feeling the wet mud between my fingers as I pulled my brother into a sitting position. I didn't have the energy to joke about how he stank of earth and dried blood. It wasn't the time.

”Let's get you back in the game.” I pulled out a minor healing potion from one of my belt pockets and offered it to Luca. ”Bottoms up.”

”T-thanks…” Luca took the vial and drank it greedily. He wiped at his mouth after he finished.

The effects of the healing potion were immediate. Not all of them, but some of his more minor wounds began to close as if the reddened tissues that had been pulled apart were slowly stitching themselves back together.

Unfortunately, the potion I'd given him wasn't enough to heal his more serious wounds. There was a large gash across the side of his armor that was already dark with dried blood. His left arm was also sporting a nasty cut that was still trickling blood down to his hand.

Beside him, Pike only looked slightly better than he did. The potion Ashley gave her had healed more of her injuries. Still, I could see a tear in her left wing. Probably why they'd crashed in this area.

”What happened, Luca?” I asked. ”Why didn't you make it to the fallback point?”

Luca grimaced as he leaned forward to speak to me. His wounds were probably still hurting him.

”They came after us… even with Shaqs and Edo keeping a lot of them at bay… they really wanted to get me,” Luca said between quick breaths. ”I-I blacked out while we escaped.”

Luca looked sideways at Pike with a grateful expression. His hand reached out for hers. Their fingers locked together.

”They would have… caught me… if Pike didn't rescue me,” he insisted.

The short-cropped brown-haired pixie blushed at Luca's praise. She kept her eyes diverted away from him.

I rolled my eyes at their obvious display of affections but said nothing. I would store this embarrassing moment for later use when the situation called for some heavy teasing.

”But you guys escaped the campsite… are you saying they kept pursuing you afterward?” I pressed.

Instead of Luca, it was Pike who answered in her lyrical accent, ”They continued to chase us, me and Luca. We barely lost them when they would appear in front of us suddenly. It was like the Wild Hunt itself was after us.”

Pike glanced up at the cavern's ceiling.

”We're lucky we crashed just outside this place… and I was able to drag Luca inside and hide here,” she continued.

Her eyes focused on the pool of water behind us, and I understood why she looked so grateful. Passing through the running water must have masked their scent. It would have been hard to pick up again unless they had something that belonged to either of the two. You know, something like the broken sword hilt in my pack.

I remembered the scene I saw with my Eagle Sight, the name I gave Fool's Insight's newfound power. Pike with Luca in her arms had changed course to avoid collision with an unseen obstacle.

”Why would they insist on coming after you, Luca?” Ashley asked.

Luca pointed to me. ”They wanted Dean.”