Again, the blow hurt, but he didn't say so. "So? I can remember things that happened when I was six. Either you had a bad memory, or you weren't around. Or you're just dumb. Which, considering what I've seen from you, that is the most likely."
"I was six years old, how the fuck was i supposed to know if it was a poison or not?" she snapped at him. "I was in kindergarten."
"And?" Kade rubbed his side, where she had elbowed him.
"Just forget it." she crossed her arms tightly, staring straight ahead. She blinked hard, pushing back the tears and keeping her eyes fixed on the road.
"If you say so." He shrugged. "Anyway. We're stopping at Losnoa tonight. The tiny seaside town? I have business there, and it's better to do it sooner rather than later." He pursed his lips. "And you don't seem to want to arrive right away, so we can take a bit longer to get to Jacos, if you want."
She clenched her jaw slightly, swallowing and not responding. She didn't even know what the fuck to say anyways. "Doesn't really matter to me." she finally replied.
"Suit yourself." He shook his head. "Well, I hope you're not afraid of blood and gore. Because what I'm doing there, there will be a lot of blood involved."
She snorted softly, shaking her head slightly. "Fine. I can handle it. Whatever." she replied, arms crossed tightly over her chest.
"I see. So, the sight of bodies brutally torn apart doesn't bother you at all? Interesting." He smirked, his expression more animal than human.
She couldn't see his expression, obviously, but her lips tightened slightly. "I said I can handle blood, asshole." she clenched her fists.
"Whatever you say."
A village appeared atop a hill, and he reigned in the horse for a moment, shielding his eyes against the sun with his hand and looking up. "We're almost there. When we get there, you have to try to keep a low profile. Newcomers aren't welcome. This is more of a smuggling village than anything, and I can't watch you 24/7."
She cocked her head a little bit. Could this be her chance to escape? To get away? She knew the animals would help her if she asked…so maybe this was her chance.
As if reading her thoughts, Kade laughed. "And don't try to escape. Just because I won't be watching you doesn't mean that others under me won't." He kicked the horse into a smooth canter, clicking his tongue at the beast. "Although I would love to see you try it. I so love the chase."
She narrowed her eyes slightly. "Fine." she grumbled, shaking her head a little bit. "Asshole."
"Why thank you, my lady," he said in amusement. "That is the kindest thing you've ever said to me."
She scoffed under her breath, elbowing him again. "Fuck off." she growled, lips pressed in a thin line.
"I can't," he said blandly. "I'm stuck on this horse with you until we get there."
(Time skip? To the town? I can start.)
(yeah sure! And alright)
(Okay! Give me a sec!)
Hooves clopped on cobblestones, and the inhabitants of the town looked up to see two strangers riding in on a horse. Both were more than simply attractive, and the male seemed to have a deadly aura.
They rode straight to the only inn in town, acting as a tavern, and the man dismounted, holding out his hand to the woman in an almost mocking fashion. Two men came out of the inn, buff and tall and intimidating, and the first man smiled. "Bunny! Puffball! How are you two doing?" His tone was cheerful.
The two men called Bunny and Puffball scowled. "Golden Hunter. The Boss didn't expect you."
"Of course he didn't," the Golden Hunter said, tone cheerful, but with an undertone of death. "I didn't tell him beforehand. I don't need to tell him all of my moves."
The woman refused to take his hand, her mouth pinned in a flat, angry line. She slid off of the horse on her own, arms crossed over her chest. Her clothing was strange, not the type most women would wear. She wore a pair of men's breeches, altered to fit her body, and a man's shirt as well, also altered, and was not wearing a skirt, nor a corset.
The Golden Hunter rolled his eyes before turning back to the two men. "We are going to buy a room. You are going to move out of the way, or you are going to get hurt."
"I'd like to see you try to move us," the man called Bunny sneered.
"If you say so." The Golden Hunter turned to his horse, voice no longer calm and friendly. "I haven't been here long enough. It seems like you've forgotten who is the most powerful here. I need to change that." He suddenly whipped toward them, moving almost faster than the eye could see, and threw three daggers, one after the other, at the two men. Two of the daggers stabbed into Bunny's shirt and pinned him to the wall of the inn, while the third landed centimeters from his head.
He turned back to the woman. "Come, my lady." He turned to the stable boy. "Take care of my horse." He grabbed the bags from the horse and started into the tavern.
Arin's eyes narrowed a little bit, and she clenched her jaw slightly as she followed him inside. What other choice did she have? She knew she couldn't run away, so all she could do was follow.
"I was amazing, wasn't I?" Kade asked, an amused smile curling his lips. "I'm super amazing." He hadn't been to the town in a while, and they had forgotten who was in charge.
She rolled her eyes slightly. "Conceited, more like." She replied. "And proud. And narcissistic. And an asshole." She glared at him through narrowed eyes, shaking her head a little bit.
"Those are some of my qualities, yes," he conceded, "but you forgot amazing, powerful, a genius, clever, and incredibly attractive, too." He counted them off on his fingers as he said them.
She rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "Narcissistic." she said. "Those others are just your demented mind's imagination."
"My imagination is perfectly fine, thank you," he mock sniffed. "Anyway, we should get a room. Do you prefer a seperate bed, or would you like to share one? Body heat and all." He wiggled his eyebrows.
"No, your imagination is overblown." she retorted, then glared at him at the suggestion. "Separate beds, asshole. If you want someone to share body heat with, I'm sure there are plenty of women you can pay for that. Or men, if you prefer that."
“I could make do with either,” Kade mused, pretending to consider the possibility. “Although there are few women in this town, and the smugglers here all hate me. So I guess I’ll have to go lonely tonight. What a shame.”