“Good thing I was around to take care of your problem for you,” I said, balancing the tip of my sword in the grass and leaning on the pommel. You know, just to be a jerk.
White light flashed in the palms of Bastion’s hands as he dismissed his shields. “Oh, that’s just so typically you, Sterling. So now you’ve gone and saved the day.” He looked down at his legs, his shoes. “They’ve could’ve gotten me good. I wore shorts today.”
“I fail to see how this is my problem.”
“Ass.”
The bushes rustled. I brandished my sword again, heart thumping, in case we needed to defend ourselves from Gil, or worse, subdue him. But when he emerged, he was no longer covered in glossy black hair. Well, he was, just not on most of his face, or his body, for that matter.
“While the two of you were bitching, I was over here doing your work for you and taking out two of the dogs myself. Lightweights.” He raised his head to the sky, the moon painting his naked skin crimson. “I’m glad they’re at rest now. But the moon is still bloody, boys. We’ve still got shit to do.”
“You went full dog to help me,” I said. “I’m so touched.”
Gil stretched his arms out, looking down at himself. “Yeah, well, you owe me a new set of fucking everything. I’m amaze
d I didn’t rip up my boxers this time. I should get more of these.”
“Not my fault you destroy your wardrobe every time.”
“Just say thanks,” Gil growled. “Like a normal person.”
Bastion stomped his foot. “You two can bicker on the way. We still need to find where this Uriah bastard went. Surely not into town? What, to meet up with his granddaughter? How do we find her?”
The dome of smoke protecting Tabitha and Asher whirled and spun like a miniature tornado, until nothing was left but empty air. Tabitha stepped out unscathed, as did Asher, who held up his hands. Still crusted with blood, but good as new.
“Fixed myself up,” he said. I clapped him on the back, thrilled, relieved.
“It’s not the girl we need to find,” Tabitha said. “It’s Uriah. And I know a way. Sterling, light up a cigarette.”
“My pleasure.” Asher narrowed his eyes at me as I lit a cigarette and blew out the first puff. “See? Even Tabitha approves of my filthy habit. It helps me destress, okay?”
Tabitha gestured, curling her fingers towards her, beckoning. My hands flew to my throat as the smoke forcibly reversed its way out of my lungs, tearing and burning. Wisps of it exited from my mouth and my nostrils, and, I thought, my eyes. Hot tears streamed freely down my cheeks. Everything stung horribly, the inside of my windpipe feeling scorched. I doubled over, retching and coughing.
“What – holy shit, Tabitha. What did you do to me?” I gasped and sputtered, head still pointed at the ground. Bastion slapped me on the back. I could tell it was him from his bare legs. Somehow I could tell he was holding back laughter, too.
“This,” Tabitha said. “Watch.” I pulled myself up, wiping away tears in time to see the smoke form into the loosest shape of a compass, a large ring with an arrow in the middle. The arrow spun, then stopped. “That’s the way we’re headed.”
“Right,” Gil said. “Then that’s the way we go.”
We moved at a brisk pace. The arrow was flying now, a smoky guide to lead the way.
“Normally I’d check through my stick men, but there aren’t enough of them to see everything.”
“Whatever happened to your smoke grenades?” I asked, eyeing her cautiously.
She shrugged. “I’ve got a limited supply, okay? If other sources of smoke are available, I’m using those to work my craft first. Sorry, not sorry.”
The cigarette fell from my fingers. I stomped it to death, glaring accusingly as the last of its embers died in the damp grass. Fine. I was quitting smoking, forever. I smoked so much around the guys that it’d probably help them live longer, anyway. Fine, already. Asher won.
We took off. Everyone was running, but I flagged towards the back of the pack. Asher, who was still recovering, kept pace with me, then elbowed me in the ribs.
“I warned you about the smoke thing,” Asher said, his hand over his mouth, hardly covering his grin. I wanted to smack the smirk right off his face. But he was right, and now it looked like we’d be seeing a lot more of Tabitha. I’d tell him about deciding to quit smoking later. I didn’t need him gloating just then.
We hadn’t been running for very long, following the strange smoking arrow in its flight. Seven minutes at most. Teleportation would have been faster, but a mage needs to know the destination to successfully complete the spell. I didn’t want to end up with half my torso embedded in a pine tree, or worse.
The arrow disappeared in a sudden puff. I nearly protested, and then realized that there was no further use for guidance. The noise of flutes and drumming was enough of a lure to bring us in the right direction. There was a clearing, just up ahead.
Our group slowed as we approached, Gil flexing his fingers like he was about to engage his wolf claws, Bastion gesturing similarly as he prepared his telekinetic magics. Tabitha’s hand was halfway in her pocket, no doubt reaching for another one of her smoke grenades. I gripped my sword tight. We stepped into the clearing. I could scarcely believe my own eyes.