The Nekromancer - 27. Chapter 27

Jeremy held up the wand, energy flowing into the intricately carved stick. With the head of a snarling cat and a spiky tail that wrapped around the length, Jeremy knew he'd never mistake it as a peaceful tool. It was perfect for the violent spell required to heal any physical injuries Jakun might have.

As the cleric cast his spell into the wood, sealing the power away for later, Amnor Sen stood, stretching his legs. A day of sitting around was almost painfully boring, even with his whittling.

"Hey Jeremy? Is that him?" the elf asked suddenly, squinting.

Glancing up, Jeremy frowned, his eyes straining.

"Not unless he's decided to take up tiger training," the cleric said slowly.

"He has summoned hyenas. I don't think a tiger would be much more difficult. But… if that's him, he must not have slept at all last night…"

As they spoke, the person paused, the tiger vanishing under him. He fell heavily, Jeremy racing toward him.

The man helped Jakun sit up, the amurrun groaning with every motion.

"What did you do?" the cleric demanded.

"Anya made me… we rode all night and day."

"Fuck…"

Lifting the cat with a grunt, the cleric carried Jakun to their small camp, setting him in a bedroll.

"He will sleep through the afternoon," Jeremy said. "Seriously, did they think this would save time? All it did was make him miserable."

"Finish your wand," Amnor Sem sighed, sitting next to Jakun.

The elf began removing the cat's gear, setting the bag and the cloak aside.

"I'm okay… we can go…" Jakun mumbled.

"No, we all need to be awake in the woods. We'll start early in the morning," Amnor Sen said firmly.

His hands caught the rope around the amurrun's neck, and he pulled it apart.

"You are a free cat, Jakun."

Running his hands over Jakun's body, the elf began massaging him, trying to keep the catfolk's muscles from tensing too much. If Jakun couldn't ride because of his actions, they would be here a lot longer than merely one afternoon.

"He bought a wand?" Jeremy frowned, digging through the cat's bag. "Aw shit, his waterskin is bone dry. He must be dehydrated…"

Casting one of his cantrips, the human filled the waterskin, before reaching for his mug. He carried the cool water to the cat, slowly pouring the liquid into Jakun's mouth.

"You really aren't that bright, are you?" the cleric chided.

"Hey, he tried," Amnor Sen frowned.

"He wouldn't have needed to try if you'd let him come with us," Jeremy grumbled. "Jakun, for reference, walk next time. It would have been easier on your body."

"Says the human who hasn't actually practiced the blade in months. I'm surprised you aren't in pain yourself."

"And what does that have to do with anything?" Jeremy scowled.

"I'm just saying, walking would have hurt his legs instead of his core."

"Yeah, but he's used to walking."

They were interrupted by a snore, Jakun fast asleep. Amnor Sen moved his hand away, pulling a blanket over Jakun gently.

"Okay. What gives? You're treating him like you're in love," Jeremy scowled.

"I think I am," Amnor Sen replied. "I don't know how, or why. He's so… innocent."

"Innocent my ass. He unleashed a fucking dragon that almost killed us all! And what about me?"

"You? You're my husband, of course I love you. Even if I don't exactly like you right now. So what exactly is your concern? That I don't have enough love in me? Because I can assure you, I can love you both."

"Maybe I don't want you to. Can't I be selfish and want you to myself?"

Amnor Sen sighed, grabbing the human. He dragged Jeremy toward his own blanket, setting him down gently. The elf wrapped his arm around the human, trying to reassure him.

"Look. I love you Jeremy. If you want me to leave Jakun alone, then so be it. But he needs someone in his life. He has been beaten down, and he needs someone to build him up."

"You are the finest craftsman I know," Jeremy admitted, leaning into the elf. "Maybe, just maybe, the idea might grow on me. He is kind of cute."

"You both are. And you're free to be with him too. If he even accepts us," Amnor Sen noted. "He might not be ready to be with someone like that."

Jeremy nuzzled the elf gently, before standing.

"I'm going to finish making sure he didn't buy the Necronomicon," the man sighed, reaching for the cat's bag.

"Probably a good idea. What is that wand?"

"Looks like it has something to do with water," Jeremy said, pulling it out to study the pattern.

"Then why wouldn't he use it for water?"

The man shrugged.

"We'll have to ask him later."

He pulled out the scroll case, frowning as he opened it.

"Did he have four scrolls?"

"Three, I think. Why?"

"Because he has three scrolls here."

Amnor Sen frowned.

"Maybe we miscounted earlier? There is a lot of gold in his pouch, so he sold something expensive…"

The elf let out a sudden gasp, leaping for his bag. He dug through it, pulling out a painted sculpture of a wolfdog with a relieved sigh.

"Well, that doesn't help figure out what he did sell… but I'm glad Nalia is still around," Jeremy smiled.

"Do you think he could make a scroll from another scroll? Or maybe he actually did have four scrolls…"

The elf shrugged.

"It's his money though. He earned it. Did he get the food?"

"...eleven… twelve, thirteen. Yeah," Jeremy said. "Must have skipped a day of food."

Amnor Sen shrugged.

"You can lead a horse to water…"

Jeremy began splitting the food between their bags, keeping the extra in Jakun's pack.

"Do you think we'll catch any food in the woods?"

"I wouldn't count on it. Everything in there is probably dead," Amnor Sen shrugged. "Jaime said the road took about five days to get through the woods to Graydirge. We'll have to set up a rotating watch."

"What about his vigil spell? If one of us sits through the spell each day…"

Amnor Sen nodded.

"We'll have to ask him," the elf said. "Unless you have some arcane ability you've never told me?"

"I do not. But maybe we can help him prepare some scrolls for him? If we can load up a few scrolls before heading into the woods, it will save energy on casting later."

"Okay. Go ahead and try to find the right spell."

"I think I can manage," Jeremy chuckled, pulling Jakun's book out. "God of Freedom, allow me the freedom of sight, to read the words before me."

The cleric felt a warmth within him, energy fading away as he opened the book. The words within swam before him, his prayers answered by runic lines that became the clear flowing script that was Taldane.

"There it is. Let this person be affected by wakefulness through the night…"

Amnor Sen shook his head, handing the man a sheet of paper. Jeremy took it with a chuckle, grinning at his husband's consternation. He began writing in Taldane, the instructions for casting the spell clear as mud in his mind. It didn't matter, he'd figure it out eventually. This just gave him something to do while they waited.