Chapter 146: Licking Your Wounds

Recovering from their wounds was their top priority, but the blizzard didn't allow them much time for resting. The four picked a direction and started moving. Worst of all, they had to move at a regular person's speed as if they were caught here, it was a sure death sentence.

They walked for hours, Veronica was the first one to fall. She passed out, unable to move with her injuries anymore. The First Prince picked her up and carried her on his back.

Not long after that Ciaran was the next one to fall. He was a brilliant Mage, but that did him no justice, when his body was damaged, and the world around him wanted him dead. Diana picked him up, and along with her big brother, continued walking forward.

Another hour passed, and even Diana was starting to get tired, when they stumbled on a village. It was so small it could barely even be called that. It only had eight houses, and only five of them had light coming from the inside.

The two made their way to one of the lightless houses and kicked the door down. Inside, there was a family of five. Two adults, and three children, all of which were frozen.

"They ran out of food, and fuel for their fire," Perseur observed.

Diana couldn't care less, and threw out the corpses, she didn't even show any sympathy for the dead children. Then she placed Ciaran on one of the beds, lay there with him, and hugged him tightly.

"Ciaran is the only one of us that knows healing magic if only the basics. We need him on his feet as fast as possible." She said before her brother could protest.

Perseur had a lot to say about that, but ultimately he agreed, so he didn't disturb them. He just lay in another bed with Veronica and tried to warm her up as well.

Days passed, and finally, Ciaran woke up.

The first thing he did, was to take care of his own injuries. He wanted to treat Diana first, but his logic followed hers. He needed to be able to treat the others.

It took him two days, but he finally was able to get his body in working condition. As much as he was unwilling to, he got out of their warm bed and left Diana in her hibernating state. All three of his companions were like that, it was their bodies' way of preserving themselves.

"Ari, get out there and start a fire, use the extra wood we got left. I will treat Diana." He ordered and got a spider glaring at him.

'You eat first, then you expend energy.' She mentally said. The spider liked Diana, but her number one priority was now, as always, Ciaran's wellbeing.

The boy relented and ate, then he started treating his partner. Like that, a sixth house was lit in the small village, and soon enough, the other three woke up as well.

"One day inside the Kingdom and we already came close to dying. We don't even know how long we were out cold. You sure we can't call it quits?" Veronica whined.

Ciaran ignored her and looked outside. He thought the blizzard would stop after a day, but it was still raging even now. He got curious, and his wounds were almost completely healed anyway.

"Stay here, I will have a little chat with our host." He said and tried to go out before Diana yanked him back.

"You have five hours, and if you feel even slightly bad, you come back. You will NOT leave the premise of the village, and you will not make any deals with Gods behind my back." She said, and she let him go. She wasn't asking, and he knew there would be dire consequences if he broke one of her rules.

The royals were amused, and Veronica even made a sound imitating a whip. The boy ignored them and walked outside.

He tried speaking to the blizzard, but soon he realized it was not the one he was familiar with. He summoned his Storm and made inquiries. Five hours later, Diana walked out and dragged him inside.

"What did I say? You had five hours, now you will stay here and warm up." She said as she embarrassed him.

"Don't threaten me with a good time girl. I found out why the blizzard hasn't stopped and I also know where we are." He said with a smug expression. It only got him a tighter bear hug.

The royals were getting used to their shenanigans and just let the two play it out. When they were done, Ciaran continued.

"We are in the Northern part of the Kingdom. Ingrid wanted to have a little fun and messed with the blizzard. Well, more accurately speaking, she had her own blizzard come and snatch us away from the regular one I made." He said, both confusing and frightening his companions.

Ciaran looked at them and laughed at how concerned they looked. "Oh, give it a rest will you. She just played a little prank on us, as she felt it would have been too easy otherwise." He said, and Perseur smacked him on the head.

It was rare for the First Prince to get agitated, but the boy had his way around calm people.

"We are in the heart of the enemy's territory, with no map, no idea where to go, and now you just told us a God might casually screw with us. And you call that normal?" He asked, his voice getting higher.

Ciaran looked at him and nodded in shame. "Well yes, you are right, usually there would also be a bounty on our heads as well, but don't worry, by the end of this, there would probably be several of those," Ciaran said and laughed.

The royals were disheartened, but Diana just wanted to know what was there next move.

"I need to learn to talk to the blizzard here. After that, when you are all healed, we move in the direction of the smelly bear. I want to bless the birth of my godchild after all." Ciaran said, matter-of-factly.