Page 27 of The Demon God's Desire

No, that sounds awful even if it’s true. I have to leave without telling her. I slip out of the bed and gather a few meager supplies in a pack and set off, making my way through the village careful to remain out of sight. I don’t need them knowing that I’m leaving, or trying to attack me on my way out.

I make it just past the village line before breathing easier. Now I have to find my way back to my men.

I set off across the expansive desert, the sun rising higher and higher in the sky as I walk. As the sun climbs higher though, I find it more difficult to tell which way is which. There are seemingly endless sand dunes and every stretch of land looks the same as far as the eye can see.

But I’m determined to get back. I’ve already made up my mind and there’s no going back now. I have too much to lose if I don’t find where I’m going. I have to push on.

I’m starting to sweat, unused to being outside for such a long stretch. When the sun was highest in the sky in the village, most of us were indoors staying cool.

I can’t be weak now though. Not when we’re on the verge of bringing greatness to the dark elf people. We will be responsible for wiping out the orcs, starting with this continent. Then Tlouz will be ours once more.

The trek is starting to frustrate me. I really don’t know where I’m going anymore. I can’t tell which way is right or left. The only reason I know that I’m going in one direction is because I’ve got the sun to my right. But once it hits its zenith, I might not be able to figure out where I am.

Was I here when I fought the orcs? I can’t remember. Maybe I was near those rocky buttes? Everything is hazy in my memory. Not only was I nearly unconscious by the end of the fight, it was a month ago now.

I growl in frustration. Surely I should be able to figure this out! I’m a decorated general of the dark elf army! I’m better than this. It’s just that I’m not used to trekking through terrain that looks all the same.

I’ve spent most of my life in Pyrthos which has a lot of dense forests and grasslands. And Oshta itself has plains, grasslands, mountains, forests...a varied landscape that contrasts wildly with this barren desert wasteland.

At some point I have to stop to gather my bearings. I sit for a moment, taking a long swig from the canteen I swiped from Bridget and wipe my brow with my tunic before opening up my pack and grabbing some of the food I brought. It’s not much but I know I need to eat.

My mind drifts back to Bridget and not for the first time since I left, I wonder if I made the right choice. But I can’t go back now. I have to fulfill my promise to the Hearthkeeper. It’s my destiny.

And I can’t let down my men. They’re counting on me to lead the fight against the orcs. If I let them down now, we might not succeed. And if we lose, the kings will surely come for me, demanding my head on a silver platter.

I just don’t have it in me to let everyone down like that. No matter how much I miss those honey eyes.

Standing up, I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand before cleaning up and stuffing everything back in the pack. I take another long pull from the canteen and square my shoulders, setting off once more for the direction that I think I need to travel.

It feels like I haven’t gone as far as I should though. And I’m starting to wonder if I’m going in the right direction at all.

This is ridiculous! I’m a venerated war general for the dark elf army. I shouldn’t be lost! I curse myself for not seeing if any of the villagers had a map of the area.

Then again, all that would have done would have been to arouse more suspicion about me. I can’t let this desert beat me. I can find my way back, I just have to take a lay of the area.

Deciding to carefully mark where I am, I stop again, finding a stack of stones to stack up. At least if I stack these stones, I’ll know if I’ve accidentally doubled back on myself. I don’t think I’ll do that but it’s a good plan just in case.

I’m nothing if not resourceful and strategic. While I’m stacking heavy stones, I mark the path of the sun as well. It seems I’m still heading north.

I get back to it, slinging my pack over my shoulder once more and trek onward, veering a little to the left when I come up to another row of stony buttes. I’m not particularly keen on trying to trek over them so I have to go around.

The sun is almost at its zenith when I see something far in the distance. I can’t make out what it is but it seems to be heading my way. At first I worry that I’ve accidentally stumbled upon some orcs by accident and I prepare for another fight, hand on my blade.

But as we get closer, I realize they’re fellow dark elves. Relief floods through me. I was starting to get stressed at the thought I would never find my way back.

We get close enough that I realize exactly who it is. I see Vythor and Hiphilo, along with Dharulu. I wave at them. “It’s me!” I call. “It’s me!”

They must have sent a search party out for me. I’m relieved that I have finally found some of my men once again. I can’t believe they’ve still been searching for me after nearly a month! I must not have given Vythor enough credit. He’s never been my friend but clearly he does seem to care.

“Guilri!” Vythor calls and I grin, starting to run to them. Vythor begins running as well, the two of us making our way towards each other at high speeds. I can’t believe it! They must be so relieved to see me, as relieved as I am to see them.

We meet in the middle and Vythor’s arms wrap around me in a warm hug. “My brother,” he says, hugging me tightly. “We’re so glad we found you.”

I’m about to do the same when I feel the sharp tip of a blade pressing against my back. I stiffen, eyes widening in realization.

14

BRIDGET