Page 32 of Between Broomsticks and Beating Wings
“Rune!” She called out my name as I headed for the door, and it was enough to stop me in my tracks, but I didn’t turn around, not until I knew what she wanted. “What about my weapon?”
“You’ll get one when I say so,” I growled, storming off into the hall, my face hot. She almost caught me again. I let my guard down far too much around her, and it was biting me in my gods damned ass. She and I both knew I was there watching that night, and that it hadn’t been the first time, but I wasn’t ready to admit the real reason why.
Once I strode into the main room, I began tidying up the seating area before throwing my stuff into a bag and heading out the door. There wouldn’t be sentimental goodbyes or I-owe-yous between Áma and I. Kari and I would take our leave, and one day, I’d show up on Áma’s step and she'd be relieved to see me,even if she’d pretend not to be. That’s how it was between us, and I wasn’t about to change things.
Apple welcomed me with a flare of her lips. She demanded compensation in the form of food for robbing her of time. Little did she know, Kari and I would be occupying her time a lot in the upcoming weeks.
I summoned a pile of fresh hay and a large carrot to keep her busy while I put on her armor and loaded my gear onto her hips, including an extra weapon or two for Kari. Her having something sharp wasn’t ideal until she knew she could trust me. Until then, she was just going to need to rely on me for protection. And maybe, just maybe, when I showed her my worth and proved I wasn’t out to get her, she’d learn to forgive.
Kari stepped out of the stone home dressed in black, leather pieces strapped in various places on her body: one on her hips, the other around her thigh, and the final stretching across her shoulder and back. Each of these would be filled out in time. For now, she had a pouch secured to her belt on one side and a set of four vials on the other.
The wand-wed warrior look was good on her, but I wasn’t about to tell her that.
“Here.” She handed me her pack, and I took it without looking back up at her.
I kept my attention on the misty mountains as I attached her pack to Epli’s free hip and asked, “Did you say your goodbyes?”
“I did, but apparently, you didn’t.”
“It’s not my thing.” I shrugged.
“So I’ve been told,” she said, adjusting her stance so she was leaning on one hip.
I let her judgement roll off me as I motioned to the pegasus. “Do you know how to mount a pegasus?”
“I know how to mount a horse,” she admitted. “Not quite sure where I would’ve picked up the skill of riding a pegasus.”
“Are you going to sass me all day?” I asked, fighting the urge to cross my arms across my chest. Today, I would play nice, no matter how hard she made me work. The journey from gate to gate was too long, vigorous, and, most importantly, dangerous. If she didn’t trust me, it could result in both of our deaths.
“Probably.” It was her turn to shrug, but she did so indifferently, as if how she acted, how she treated me, was of no consequence.
I swallowed my annoyance and cleared my face of any emotion as I said, “Do you need help mounting her? It can be a little tricky the first few times due to her size, and, you know,” I motioned to Apple, “her wings.”
Kari bit her lip as she sized up my pegasus. Then, she blew out a defeated sigh and said, “That would be helpful. Thank you for offering.”
I simply nodded, knowing if I made a big deal about it, I would be taking a step backward with her. “Well, come here then.” I motioned her forward to where I stood next to the pegasus. She walked over, her attention secured on the challenge ahead of her.
“Do I hold her here?” she asked as she reached for Apple’s modified saddle. It was suited for battle, flying, and carting around bottles of souls, not adventures on foot through the countryside, as I’m sure Kari was more accustomed to.
I hummed in encouragement. “Hold on tight, and when I give you a boost, swing your leg over her. She’ll keep her wings down, but make sure you sit far enough forward so you don’t accidentally kick her.”
“Are you getting on behind me?” She looked over her shoulder at me with a suspicious scowl, as if trying to work out how I would possibly get on once she was up. Yes, it wasn’t ideal to have two riders, but it wasn’t impossible, and Apple was more than strong enough to handle us both.
“Don’t worry about me, seeress. I’ll get on just fine,” I said with a smirk. “Now, on the count of three, you got it?”
“Yes, I got it,” Kari said, focus blazing in her gaze.
My hands hovered above her waist before I grabbed hold of her. I had her permission to touch her, and she wasn’t scowling at me. She looked…dare I say, excited?
My fingers tightened over the thick fabric covering her ribs, my pinky grazing the top of her black leather belt. “Ready? One, two…three!” I hoisted her up as she pulled on Apple’s saddle. She swung her leg over the pegasus’ back, smoothly and in control, as if she’d done it a million times. When she was sitting upright, she looked down at me with a satisfied smile, as if she knew she could do it all along. “Looks like you don’t even need my help.”
“Well, she did dip down for me,” Kari said, patting Apple before facing back to me. She held her arms out expectantly, and I would've had no clue what she wanted from me had it not been for the meow at my foot. I gazed down to see Tove brushing up against my boot. I scratched the feline’s head before scooping him up and handing him off to his rightful mother. Kari took him from me, settling him into her lap.
I handed her a piece of leather, and she inspected it. “Is this a harness?”
“Not for you, unfortunately.” The words came out before I realized what I was saying. I played it off as cool, purposeful. It was less embarrassing if I looked like I meant to say it. “It’s for Tove. I already put the piece you can secure it to on Apple’s armor.” I pointed to a strip of leather with a metal hook on the end.
“Did you make this for him?” she asked, frowning down at the harness.
