Chapter 3

By mid-afternoon, a cool mist had settled into the air. Victor smiled as he took a whiff of the fresh mountain air. The aroma of the moisture blending with the pine never ceased to help him relax and re-enter his focus. Christophe often joked that he should go live in the mountains so that he could be around the scent everyday, but both knew he wouldn’t. It wouldn’t be safe due to the fog that often swirled around the mountains and fog rendered Victor completely blind as it interfered with his other ‘vision'.

Victor usually preferred the candle when he wasn’t traveling anyway. It helped him to better meditate whenever he had a vision. Not that he had anything against outdoor meditation, he had done it time to time, but indoor meditation worked better for him as he didn’t have the sounds of nature to distract him. Plus he loved his life in Troll's Creek too much to trade it for life in the mountains.

Victor started to take a drink from his canteen, but then paused when he heard a familiar sound, “Dragons?”

Hector paused to look around, then pointed when he spotted them, “Two of them. They must have been nesting in the Yulkinah Forest.”

“Where are they going?”

“Most likely to the Alkalinah Forest for better breeding grounds.”

“Can you see what kind they are?”

Hector nodded, “The golden one is a Diamondback and the black one is a Ringtail.”

Oh how Victor wished Christophe was with them. He loved dragons and had been longing to see a diamondback ever since their travel to Yuephoria. They waited until the dragons were out of sight then resumed walking.

The mist came down heavier as a fog began to form. Victor bit back a groan, now grateful to the prince for insisting on sending the lieutenant to accompany him. While he knew the trail like the back of his hand due to how often he traveled, the fog rendered him unable to see to be able to dodge oncoming wagons or predators.

He came to a stop when he felt an arm in front him. He turned his head to face Hector, then furrowed his brows confused when Hector’s aura moved to stand in front of him and crouched down, “Lieutenant?”

“Get on my back.”

Victor almost refused – he hated being carried like a child – but then obliged when the throbbing in his feet reminded him how long he had been walking. Christophe had promised in his letter to have Miss Hanalie make him a new pair of boots since the ones he was wearing had worn thin to the point he got blisters on his feet anytime they traveled.

He bit back a squeak as Hector stood up and brought his arms back to support him as he straddled his waist. He buried his face against Hector's shoulder to hide his embarrassment as he murmured his thanks.

Hector bit back a chuckle as he grinned, “You’re welcome.”

Hector stayed alert as he carried his charge, keeping an eye out for anything that might try to use the fog as a cover. Although having Victor on his back put him at a bit of a disadvantage, he still had speed on his side should they need to run. Provided the threat wasn’t coming from both the air and the ground at the same time. Roushierre had taught him it was best to know how to use his other senses to get a feel of his surroundings should his sight be hindered in any way like it was now. He was grateful to have listened as it seemed the fog was getting thicker by the minute, leaving visibility extremely low, even for vampires like himself.

Once they crossed the river, he set Victor down so they could rest and eat. Victor reached into his back and took out some grapes for himself and a dragonfruit for the lieutenant. Once they were done eating, Victor climbed onto his back again and they resumed walking.

They finally made it to Mayfields just as evening was approaching. Hector set Victor back down so they could show the guards their IDs, then they made their way to the inn Victor had said his companion was staying in. Victor got Christophe's room number, then while Hector booked their rooms, went upstairs to greet his friend. He cleared his throat as he knocked, “Christophe?”

“Just a minute!”

Je didn’t have to wait long when Christophe answered the door and let him in, “Sorry about that. I was reading.”

Victor smirked, “Let me guess, the newest book from ‘The Dragon Master' series?”

“You know me.”

They laughed and walked into the room, leaving the door open so the lieutenant would be able to find them. They sat on the bed and chatted. Victor told Christophe about the dragons, chuckling when his friend pouted. It didn’t last long as he began raving about the book he was reading, which was what they were discussing when they heard footsteps approaching, “Victor?”

“We’re in here.” Victor replied.

Hector walked in looking unsure as the two boys watched him. Well, as Victor’s friend watched him anyway. He kept forgetting Victor was blind due to he got around easily enough as if he wasn’t. Victor’s friend motioned for him to sit as he gave him an assuring smile, so he sat in the armchair as he took in their appearance. Victor seemed to be smaller than Christophe, and while they dressed in a similar fashion, their color choices were vastly different.

Victor was wearing a faded purple tunic under his short-sleeved charcoal gray one, a long hooded vest, black, and a purple and black plaid scarf. Black pants clung to his legs and black knee-high boots, dark gray elbow-lengthed fingerless gloves, and a black leather belt completed the outfit as did the two leather straps forming an ‘X' across his chest. His raven hair covered his left eye, though the other eye from what Hector could tell was purple and appeared to have two rings around the iris. His tan skin seemed dark in comparison to his friend’s fair, freckled skin.

The friend was wearing a long army green hooded vest over his white short-sleeved tunic, black pants, and black knee-high boots. His outfit also consisted of a black leather belt and two straps that crossed over his chest in the same manner as Victor's. This made him briefly wonder if they were skilled in either archery or with a crossbow. Both possibly?

He was about to break the silence that had settled between them when Victor's friend finally spoke, “I’m Christophe Mannington, Victor’s best friend. I hope you don’t mind my joining the party.”

Hector shook his head, “The prince had already informed me that Victor would be traveling with a companion. I’m Lieutenant Hector, its nice to meet you.”

Christophe nodded, “Likewise. Are you two hungry?”

He clapped his hands and grinned when they nodded, then got up, and motioned for them to follow. They followed him to the café across the street. As they walked in, Christophe was raving to Hector about the food and how good it was. Victor chuckled. Christophe was always recommending his favorite places to anyone willing to listen.

They sat in the back and looked over the menu while they waited for Mr. Krousnik to finish with the customer he was currently serving. Victor decided to get the steamed oyster special and a pint of ale. Christophe got a pint of ale as well to go with the poached deer and steamed vegetables while Hector just ordered deer chili and a Moonlight Spring Elixir. It was the only drink he could get that he didn’t mind being tasteless. It had become his normal drink aside from the Rubia Elixir after the prince recommended it to him a few years ago.

After they ate their meal, they walked around town, though agreed to make it quick when they heard thunder rumble in the distance, indicating it was drawing closer. While Hector looked for someone to buy a wagon from, Christophe took Victor to Miss Hanalie's shop to pick up his new boots. As Victor tried them on to make sure they fit properly, he was suddenly grateful that he had allowed Hector to continue carrying him when the fog had cleared.

Once they paid for the boots – Victor decided to leave them on – they walked over to the antique shop to buy something for the prince. Hector had mentioned the prince was holding a masquerade to celebrate his birthday, and they didn’t want to arrive without having a gift for him. Victor was also told he liked to collect trinkets brought from other villages, which made him wish he had stopped by Miss Valinah's shop back at Troll's Creek. They also bought something for the princess since it was likely she would be there as well.

Victor frowned as they walked around the shop and picked out more trinkets. While a masquerade sounded like a fine way to celebrate a birthday, it left him wondering why the prince hadn’t decided to postpone it when the murders had started. Especially considering the killer was still on the loose. He decided to save that question for the prince himself as something was telling him the prince wasn’t continuing through with the plans willingly.

Once they had gone through town and bought everything they would need, they met back up with Hector and returned to the inn. The thunder was louder than it had been earlier, causing Christophe to shiver as they went inside, “It’s a good thing we decided to stay the night. It sounds like the storm is going to be a rough one.”

“It won’t be too bad, just noisy.” Victor replied. They made their way upstairs then bade Hector goodnight as they went into Christophe’s room. Christophe had Victor sit and lean against the headboard while he removed his boots, then massaged his legs and feet to ease the soreness. He was surprised he didn’t see any new signs of blistering – likely thanks to Hector for carrying him – but sighed when he noticed some of the blisters obtained from their last travel had reopened and were bleeding. He leveled Victor with a glare a she scolded him for not taking proper care of his feet then used a spell to heal them before continuing the massage.

Once he was finished,, they curled under the bedcovers to keep warm. As Christophe wrapped his arms around Victor and pulled him closer, Victor spoke,, though his voice was low and shaky, “I-I'm sorry..”

Christophe gave him an assuring smile as he petted his hair, “All is forgiven, Vic. Just be more careful and take better care of yourself, got it?”

Victor nodded, then hummed as he snuggled closer to his friend for warmth. Exhausted from his travel, he was the first to fall asleep. Christophe continued petting his hair, content to watch him sleep a while longer. He was grateful his friend seemed to be sleeping peacefully for the time being. He was going to need any rest he could get for whatever they would be facing once they got to Luna Falls. He sighed at the thought as he kissed the top of his head and went to sleep.