28 Troublesome Escape (2/2)
The centurions passed around some travel rations, and the party ate silently.Then they laid down on the ground and slept out in the open.
Zelea still harbored suspicion of Vi; she feared that the arachnid would kidnap her husband while the party slept.Thus, she returned to her lamian form and wrapped her snake body around Koji.”Good night!” she chirped, kissed his forehead, and closed her eyes.
Vi giggled at the physical helplessness of Koji.”At least she'll keep you warm for the evening!” she joked and shook her head.Vi couldn't believe how possessive Zelea felt toward her bonder.Part of the reason that Vi came to Nephosia was to study the Bonder-Bonder Keeper relationship and learn more about it.Vi wondered if all bond keepers treated their bonders similarly as Zelea treated Koji.The arachnid quietly left her sleeping companions to patrol the area.
After a half hour, Vi became bored with her night watch duty.Thus, she started spinning her web to create a shelter for herself to sleep during the daylight hours.
By the time her companions awoke, they were stunned when they opened their eyes!The entire sky above their heads became one massive cocoon!At first, the centurions worried that the arachnid had turned traitor and tied them up.However, they soon noticed their bodies remained free.The ceiling was high enough for them to stand to their full height.
Xanthur reached out with his hand to turn the web.It felt soft and elastic but not sticky.Suddenly, something dropped from the ceiling and landed in front of the centaur!He reached for his sword but froze when he saw it was Vi.”Don't scare me like that!” he grumbled.
The mischievous spider woman giggled.”Sorry, it's a bad habit of mine,” she smiled.
”Couldn't you find better use of your time?” someone interjected.
The two turned and saw Princess Zelea, who had a frown on her face.They noticed that she still held a tight grip around Koji's arms and torso.Thankfully, he was asleep.
Vi pointed her finger at him and remarked, ”I might not be familiar with the bond between a lamia and her Bonder,but I don't think the bond entitles you to use poor Koji as your body pillow.”
”I can do whatever I want with him,” Zelea replied with a glare.
The argument awoke Koji, who was unhappy to discover that he was still tied up by his wife.”Can you release me now, Zelea?” he asked politely.
The Bond Keeper blushed with embarrassment as she unwrapped her snake body--only to wrap her arms around his waist!Zelea stared at Vi, daring the arachnid to make another rude comment about Zelea's relationship with her husband.
Vi could only shrug at the antics of the princess while the centurions took pity on the young man.They also felt guilty because they believed that Zelea was still upset by Mylia's kiss from yesterday.And Vi's presence triggered feelings of anxiety in Zelea's heart.
Xanthur spoke up again to change the topic.”Vi, are you planning to stay in this cocoon?” he asked.
The arachnid nodded.”I sleep during the day, and I will stay here until nightfall.At that time, I will find you again,” Vi answered.
Koji finally wriggled free of his wife's thin arms.”How will you find us?” he inquired.
The spider woman smiled.”By scent.My spider legs have powerful sensors to detect smell and movement.And our friends, the centurions, are probably the only centaurs within these mountains.They carry a unique body odor, and that makes it simple for me to track them down,” Vi explained with the patience of a teacher.
”I see,” Koji nodded in understanding as he glanced at Vi's legs, each of which had a coating of hair.
”Let's eat breakfast and then we can start the search,” Xanthur said.He opened his saddlebag and passed out the travel rations to the party members.
Once they finished their light meals, Vi tugged on a strand of web.A door made of spiderweb opened.As the centurions and the royal couple exited the cocoon, Vi waved goodbye.”I'll see you soon!” she promised with a smile.
The centurions picked up their pace to put as much distance from Vi's cocoon as possible.”That is one strange woman, even for an arachnid,” one of the centaurs remarked.
”At least she wasn't hostile,” someone replied.”Vi could have raped Koji until she became pregnant, and then use us as food for her children,” he added.
Xanthur became upset at the lack of discipline among his men. The commander clapped his hands loudly and shouted, ”ATTENTION!”
The centurions immediately formed a line before their leader.
”Our great chieftain is dying, and you're wasting time on gossip!Scout the area for danger while Princess Zelea and her Bonder search for the thousand year ginseng roots!Mylia promised King Aphraphus that we would protect them.Don't make a liar out of her!Now, go!” Xanthur barked and stomped his left hind leg.
The centurions saluted and immediately departed in groups of two.
Once his men were gone, Xanthur turned around to face Zelea and Koji.The leader dipped his head.”I apologize for their rudeness.”
Princess Zelea waved her hand dismissively.As an adopted member of the Royal Family, she was the frequent target of nasty rumors and gossip.Thus, the rude behavior of the centurions was nothing new to her.”We need to head further into the mountain,” she said and pointed her finger at the direction of the pinnacle.Although Zelea promised not to enter the mountaintop, she wants to go near it because that was the most likely location for the ingredient the chieftain needs.