Otherlife Dreams: The Selfless Hero Trilogy (38 page)

Caught between embarrassment,the awkward lurching of his heart, and her closeness he briefly debated not replying at all. Maybe she would just go back to her side of the wagon.

Appreciating how silly that was he could only reflect on the woman herself. Katarina never hesitated from direct contact and had made a point of invading his personal space frequently. At every opportunity even. She would do exactly what she wanted, regardless of whatever he desired. She’d been honest with her intentions from the get go.

“Thank you, Kitten. It’s good to be home.”

“Cold out,” Katarina said by means of an explanation. Then promptly pressed herself into his back, her arm draping over his shoulder and side as her other arm slithered under his head. Her aggressive nature bordered on the type of thing you would see from a terrible drama, except from a man chasing after a woman. Though, that’s naturally who she was, what made her who she was. Direct and honest to a fault, without preamble or guile.

“Yeah, it is.”

With a small defeated smile Runner closed his eyes and patted the arm wrapped around him. It was embarrassing, the very definition of awkward, but not at all different than how Hannah had expressed herself earlier after their run in with Ted. He resolved himself to continue to treat them as he had been up to this point. He just hoped his courage could hold out longer than his promise. If Yulia was a measuring stick, he didn’t seem to do well with women.

Almost as if it had never stopped, her snoring resumed, though albeit at a much lower volume.

Thana had control of the situation, she was reliable to a fault. She’d make arrangements, get everyone situated, and have things prepared. His smile growing wider, Runner let himself drift off to the not so soothing sounds of the Barbarian lumberjack at his back and the wagon creaking along.

Thana had set them up at a local inn that was in close proximity to the trainers. Over breakfast they discussed what had happened.

She provided him an outline of their journey here which ultimately had only consisted of alternating who rested in the wagon as they rode north and who drove. They never saw their pursuers, Bullard, or anyone. They had a country ride through the sweeping landscapes of Crivel by his estimation.

Explaining his sojourn with Hannah took longer. Rage and revulsion was obvious on each woman’s face at the tale of Jacob. Matching it on the intensity level were they similarly shocked as to what became of Ted and how Runner responded. Hannah confirmed everything he said of course, though it was clear Hannah had already shared much of their story with Thana and Nadine, who both had in turn shared it with Katarina. Which left nothing but questions for Runner to answer. Questions he didn’t really want to answer but did his best to answer them satisfactorily.

After they had shared breakfast and their tales they made their rounds. Runner made sure to stock up on materials to craft new equipment for everyone. He still had some of their current equipment to work on, but maybe he could improve on it with new parts too.

They depended on him and he them. He would not fail them. Nadine was in her element, wheedling deals over every purchase and making their coin stretch further than Runner thought possible.

Exiting the city by the west gate with the wagon rolling along the road, they escaped. They cut it a little close, the army having been reported at an hour out as they cleared the gate.

Runner walked beside Thana while Nadine guided the wagon team. Katarina was on point and Hannah carried the rear.

“I do hope you realize, by killing Ted you’ve changed our expectations of you,” Thana said.

Runner took a breath and let his gaze travel to the sky above. A light breeze came down the roadway and ruffled his air as birds soared high above. He smiled.

“Yep.”

There was so much to do. A world to explore. One unlike Earth had been in a very long. There was a lot of time to enjoy whatever this life could hold, and plan for whatever was outside.

I am Srit.

Runner raised his eyebrows at the sudden message.

We must talk.

Authors Note

Thank you dear reader!

I’m hopeful you enjoyed reading Otherlife dreams. Please consider leaving a review or commentary/messages. Feedback is imperative to an authors growth.

Suggestions, spelling/grammar errors, and general concerns are always welcome.

The second book of the trilogy, Otherlife Nightmares, is in the works.