The Blood Alchemist; Chapter 7

I look at the Fortol in the distance. It doesn't look like much, just like I remember it. I glance at Olivia as she stands beside me before glancing toward the horizon. By the time we reach the city, we'll only have a few hours of daylight. "Just how imperative is it that we go through Fortol?"

"Not very," Olivia admits, "However, we should use this opportunity to stock up on more long-term supplies. This is the last town we'll really know what to expect in. We can still stop in towns along the way, but who knows if we'll have to run."

Clyde nods, "True," he agrees. If nothing else, at least the two of them have found common ground in their plotting and planning. I roll my eyes as Clyde carries on, "We should also get some other hunting supplies. It will come in handy if we can't stop in towns."

Olivia nods in agreement as I study the horizon again.

"Perhaps we should make camp here for the night and go tomorrow," I suggest.

Clyde looks towards the horizon. "We can use this to our advantage."

Now Olivia rolls her eyes. "We just need to split up before they can spot us from the town. Once in, we get what we need and leave, meeting up outside the city, beyond prying eyes. Evening just means fewer prying eyes and questions."

"It also means the gate will be closing soon," Clyde counters. Olivia blinks, looking back at Fortol. "The town is walled. They close the gate from sundown to sunup."

She nods. "Then we wait till tomorrow."

"No." We both look at Clyde, but his eyes are on the town. "I'll wait till tomorrow." His eyes turn to us. "You two go into town tonight and pose as two travelers. Find a place to sleep and get supplies for the road in the morning. I can then slip in tomorrow and pose as a traveling hunter and get hunting supplies. It keeps us separated and minimizes the questions."

"That leaves you out here and alone for the night," I point out, my objection obvious.

Clyde gives me one of his rare, wicked smiles. "No idiot is going to mess with a wolf."

I nod. The plan doesn't seem half bad. I look at Olivia. Her lips are pursed as she studies Clyde. It's quite obvious she doesn't like this plan. "Won't it be smarter if we all go in alone?"

"No," Clyde and I object at the same time.

Her eyes flick between the two of us. Before I can point out that she'd be alone, with no protection against anything she runs into in Fortol, Clyde speaks. "A lone woman will draw more attention and questions."

"Fine, we go with your plan," Olivia concedes.

Clyde nods, satisfied. "You two should get going. We'll meet two miles down the road on the other side of Fortol."

"Wait, you aren't going to get a little closer with us?"

I'm surprised she objected before I did.

Clyde shakes his head. "From what I can tell, there's more in the way to hide and tie up my horse here. I'll be fine. Get going."

I nod to Clyde before nudging my horse to move. Olivia follows my lead. We let our horses pick their pace towards Fortol along the path. By the time we reach the town, there can't be more than an hour of light left.

Unsurprisingly, the guards signal us to stop. "State your business," one demands, stepping forward to stand between us.

"We seek lodgings for the night and supplies for our journey," I state calmly.

"Mh-hm," he studies us for a second, eyes lingering on Olivia, something more than curiosity burning there. A couple of the other guards haven't even looked my way. "What is the status of your relationship?" His posture and tone indicate boredom, made to make me think it's a standard question, but I can tell he's inquiring for personal reasons.

"Married," I state flatly before Olivia can speak, allowing a hard edge to my voice. The guard looks at me and I narrow my eyes, daring him to try anything.

His eyes narrow in return. Maybe Fortol wasn't as good a place as it used to be. "Is there anything you'd like to declare?"

"We have weapons," Olivia states calmly, reaching down to produce the dagger sheathed on her leg, "For self-defense," she adds sweetly as I brush the hilt of my sword. I'm not entirely sure why she would make that known, but I'm willing to follow her lead. "We've unfortunately had to use them more than I would have liked, that's why I insisted we spend the night in Fortol. It will be nice to finally get to sleep without one eye open." She holds the gaze of the guard between us as she slips the dagger back into its sheath.

I can't see the look she's giving the guard, but the silent threat is clear enough in her voice. The guard must understand as he finally steps back, careful to move to my side of the path as he waves us through. "Enjoy your stay," he bites as we pass.

Once we're out of earshot of the gate, I look over at her. "Well played."

Olivia's eyes cut to mine. "If you were going to go with 'married' you could have tried to sell it a little better."

"What do you think the angry stare-down was for? No respectable man likes other men eyeing their wife."

Olivia shakes her head, the shadow of a smile on her lips as she guides her horse towards a two-story building with an inn sign hanging out front.

We pull our horses to a stop next to the hitching post in front. I can see a stable tucked between the inn and the building next to it, but something tells me we should pay first before seeking to stable our horses. Once I've dismounted and tied my horse to the post, I turn to the entry of the inn. I notice Olivia scanning the street as she follows me. I hold the door open for her before following her in.

There's a small collection of people inside, most of which ignore us. One group of three men watch Olivia closely. I let my arm slink around her waist, holding her lightly to my side, a clear claiming for them. An older woman watches us as we approach the counter. I'm not surprised that her scent marks her as a mutt.

Her eyes flick between the two of us as we stop before her. "What can I do for you?" She asks, voice bored.

"We need a room for the night and stabling for our horses," Olivia says pleasantly before I can speak.

"Just two horses?"

"Yes," Olivia says nodding.

"Are they already stabled?" The slight edge to her voice tells me we made the right call of tying them out front first.

"No, we tied them to the hitching post out front."

The woman nods, clearly pleased with the answer. "William!" The woman calls. A young boy pops his head out from the kitchen behind the bar. "There's two horses out front, get them stabled." The boy bobs his head twice before trotting for the door as the woman looks back at us. "If there's anything you'll be needed from your saddlebags, I advise fetching them now."

Olivia fingers the strap of her backpack. "We have everything we need."

The woman nods slowly. "Alright." Her eyes flick to my arm still around Olivia's waist. "I take it you'll be wanting one bed in your room?"

I gently pull Olivia closer to me. "Is that a problem?"

She eyes the both of us. "No, but you best not be waking up my other customers."

A retort flies to the tip of my tongue but I bit down on it; I'm fairly certain Olivia wouldn't hesitate to hit me if I said what I wanted to. "Madam, my wife needs rest. I would make a poor husband if I put my own wants before her needs."

The woman blinks, surprised by my response. She simply reaches under the counter to grab a key, holding it out to us. "Up the stairs, third door on the right."

I accept the key from her, nodding my thanks. "Is dinner still being served?"

"Yes. I'll have two dishes prepped and brought out." She turns to head to the kitchen without another word.

I move my hand, catching one of her backpack's straps. "I'll run up and put this in the room."

Olivia's eyes flick about the taproom. "Do you think we can trust this place?"

"We'll keep an eye on the stairs. I'd rather do that than keep an eye on your backpack and my saddlebag."

"Fair enough. I'll grab us a table."

The food has already been brought out when I get back downstairs. I slip into the chair across from Olivia. My chair faces the stairs. Olivia's allows her to watch the door.

Olivia swallows the bite in her mouth and picks up her tankard, sniffing at it. Her face scrunches up before she lifts it back to her mouth. She sets it back down, frown deepening.

I can't help but chuckle as I pick up my tankard for a drink. "Don't tell me you don't have rum where you're from."

"We do, and it tastes just as bad here as it does at home. How can you drink that so easily?"

I hold her gaze as I take another sip before setting the tankard down. "Like that."

Olivia shakes her head, rolling her eyes. "You are a pain."

"Fine, if you don't drink rum, what do you drink?"

"Wine."

My brow arches. "Such a refined taste."

"Surprising, I know."

"Unfortunately, I doubt a place like this has any."

"Sadly." She pushes her tankard closer to me. "Excuse me," she flags down the barmaid passing by. "Can I get water?" The barmaid nods before walking off.

"Not even going to bother asking?"

"If they have any, I doubt it will be worth the price. It's like you said, I have a refined taste."

I study her for a second as she takes another bite. "Refined tastes, but not afraid to throw down. Such an odd combination. Did you train just for this mission of yours?" I'm not sure why the question came out, but I don't regret it.

Her eyes find mine. They study mine. "What do you think?"

"You're worried about your friend. Something tells me if you hadn't had any training before, you wouldn't have spared much time learning. So, no. You already had your training."

She bows her head, "Yep."

"Do all of you train to fight?"

A smile touches her lips. "No, just those of us who want to be in the guard. Once you make it in though, it's mandatory."

"So, you learned to fight to protect your people. That's quite admirable." Olivia blinks, smile slipping. "I only learned how to fight because I was expected to know how to." I look down at the table. I had been born into the expectation to lead and protect my people, yet I often treated it as an undesirable task. Even before going on this mission to save her friend Olivia's intention had been to protect and serve her people. She truly was a good person. I look up at the touch of a hand on mine.

Olivia's grey-blue eyes stare into mine. "I'm glad you learned how to fight, regardless of the reason."

We sit there, eyes locked in our own personal bubble of silence. The silence is broken at the sound of a tankard being set down. Olivia pulls her hand away as she thanks the barmaid.

We eat the rest of our food in silence before slipping upstairs to our room. Olivia is studying the bed when I turn from locking the door.

"I'll sleep on the floor," I say.

I can feel Olivia's eyes on me as I move to pull off a blanket. "Are you sure?" She asks. "The bed is. . . big enough for both of us."

I turn to face her. Her eyes are still on the bed. "Are you sure?"

Her eyes turn to me. "Yes. Though if you ever tell Clyde, I will deny even knowing you."

For a second, I debate telling her that I wouldn't have to tell him anything. Clyde would most likely be able to pick up on our scents on each other. Hopefully though, by the time we met up with him, the intensity would have faded back to what would be expected of traveling companions. Instead, I hold up my hands in surrender. "My lips are sealed."

Olivia slips into the bed before me, claiming the left side. I slip in a minute after her. Her breathing is deep and slow; she's already asleep. I can't help the impulse to turn my head to look at her. She had taken her hair out of its braid so she could brush it out. Part of it is fanned out across the pillow. I wonder what it looked like wet?

I don't know when I moved my hand, but my fingers brush the tip of her hair.

Olivia stirs suddenly, turning over in her sleep. I freeze, not even daring to move my hand. I watch her, expecting her eyes to open, for her to question why my hand is now so close to her face. Her eyes remain closed, her breathing deep and even.

I slowly pull my hand down turning my head to look back at the ceiling. As I close my eyes, telling myself to go to sleep, I shove down the urge to look over at Olivia again.