The guards escorted us out of the city.

  Starna could create water for us and whatever food we needed we could hunt. Since we had a map of the continent, we could find our way even if it looked like something a child had drawn. It at least marked the roads and cities, not that there were many of either on the map.

  The Dire Wolf under me growled as we set off. The continent had plenty of wild animals roaming the woods and regular horses provided no extra defense even though they were faster. If it came down to a fight, the large wolf and horse-sized four legged, wingless avian would be able to contribute.

  “We should have spent the night…” Vin grumbled as we rode at a steady pace.

  “The guards were very clear that we couldn’t stay.” Starna’s mood mirrored his. “For a society that believes themselves to be superior, I didn’t see it.”

  “You sound like you’re feeling better.” I shifted in the saddle so I could look back at her. Vin was in the lead, with Starna bringing up the rear. It wasn’t the ideal setup, but if something was going to attack us, it would probably be something we stumbled on and not something that wanted to sneak up on us. Our group had taken down a basilisk, so I wasn’t too concerned about the wildlife, but it didn’t hurt to keep Starna as far away from Vin as we could to conserve her magic.

  “I feel like I can breathe again.” The tanned Elf undid her hair and tied it back up in a ponytail. “How were you able to breathe back there?”

  “I think because my magic is still so weak, I don’t notice when it’s missing.” I shrugged. “Or maybe since I haven’t had it most of my life, I don’t notice when it’s gone.”

  “That’s weird.” Starna sighed. “I’m not looking forward to going back there.”

  “According to the map, it’s a four day journey to Gedu.” I felt the energy running through my mount. He was older, but still very strong. The Dire Wolf was also smart enough to know the other two mounts weren’t food. His yellow eyes were searching the woods alongside the road through the forest, alert for any threats.

  “That’s if you’re riding hard.” Starna patted the neck of her Demigryph. “Polly can’t run non-stop like that.”

  “It’s not like there’s a rush to get there.” Vin looked at us over his shoulder. “Remember, we’re supposed to be looking for Nether Cats too.”

  “You know that you won’t see them, right?” Starna closed her eyes.

  I felt a faint wave of magic wash over me as she cast a search spell. The radius died when it hit my brother, but she was at least able to keep an eye out for monsters beside and behind us.

  “Nipper can smell them.” The black-furred feline motioned at the woods. “Animals can tell when there’s a bigger predator around.” He puffed out his chest. “Nothing wants a piece of this.”

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  Starna choked as she stifled a laugh.

  My brother’s face fell as he realized what he’d just said. “That’s not what I meant!”

  “I heard exactly what you said.” I clicked my tongue. “I guess now that we’re on the Camadt continent you realize that you’re not some exotic treat for the ladies.”

  “That’s not-!” Vin started grumbling under his breath. “What do you know? You’re practically married now.”

  “Promised is the technical term.” I glanced over at Starna. Her cheeks were turning a shade of purple as she blushed.

  “You agreed not to be with anyone else and that you’re going to get married eventually.” He wagged his finger at me. “Now I have satisfy all those lonely women out there.”

  “Wasn’t that already what you were doing?” I chuckled.

  “You know it!” My brother pounded on his chest with his lower hands. Nipper joined his grunting in what sounded more like a dying cow than whatever flattering thing Vin thought he was doing.

  Once he was finished, he hopped off his mount. “I’m going to scout ahead and look for a good place to bed down for the evening.” The four-armed feline saluted us and took off with Nipper on his heels.

  I slowed my pace so that Starna could ride beside me. The sun was setting and under the canopy of trees, there was even less light. We’d need a light source before the sun was all the way down, so it was probably best to stop soon.

  “Sorry about him.” I smirked. “Dad always says the slavers dropped him on his head when he was little.”

  “He was…” Starna’s voice drifted off as the embarrassment transitioned into horror.

  I shrugged. “He doesn’t like to talk about it and honestly, he doesn’t remember much from before I found him.” I chuckled when I remembered Storbek’s reaction and how Vin had attempted to bite almost anyone who tried to touch him.

  “You found him?” Surprise crept into her voice.

  “Every so often, Dad would attack another smuggler ship. Poachers, smugglers, and drug dealers were the main ones he targeted. We’d take over their ’cargo’.” I used air quotes. “And bring it to the nearest friendly port so that the people could try to get home.” I thought about it for a moment. “You’d be surprised how many reintegration stations there are. Most of them will take in strays.”

  “It sounds like you saved a lot of people.” There was admiration in her voice.

  “It sounds grander than it is.” I started counting the ships. “I think over the last fourteen years we might have hit a dozen ships. I know Dad did more before he got me, but you have to remember, there were only a dozen of us. It’s not like we could hit a Carrier or something.”

  “Still. You helped change some people’s lives for the better.” Starna pulled her mount closer so we were almost touching.

  “I guess you could look at it that way.” I shrugged. “It was the right thing to do at the time and we could do it, so we did.”

  “That’s more than most would have done.” Starna looked down at her hands. “Sectum, there’s something-”

  “I FOUND IT!” Vin bellowed as he burst out of the woods. “I found the perfect camping spot. There’s even a ring of stones for a firepit and a cleared area for the tent! It’s got everything!”

  “I guess this is where we’re stopping.” I waved at my brother. “We’re going!” I turned back to the woman beside me. “What were you saying before my brother interrupted?”

  “Oh.” Starna looked away and bit her lip. “I was just going to say how amazing you are.”

  I could tell that wasn’t what she was going to say, but I wasn’t going to call her on it.

  “You’re pretty impressive yourself.” I motioned towards the empty place that my brother was clearing of leaves so he could pitch the tents. “Now let’s go make sure he doesn’t destroy the camp before anything gets set up!”

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