Chapter 150

"You never told me how we're going to get from Lake Kuratuma to the Tlatoani." Hydrangea said as she clasped a new poncho over her shoulders that covered her entire torso.

Bastian was strapping his sword to his belt, "Where's the gun?" He mumbled in question.

She crossed her arms across the soft wool, "Bastian?" Something was off about him this morning. He glanced up then sighed. She frowned, "Is something wrong?"

He met her eyes and his expression softened causing her stress to ease somewhat. "I am simply tired, Hydrangea."

Her frown deepened; he was lying.

She huffed through her nose, "Well, could you at least answer my question?"

He sighed again, "As soon as the Jungle Followers leave us at the entrance to the Umatu we will not go to Lake Kuratuma."

"Do you know how to get to the Tlatoani?"

"Head-" He pulled his boot on, "Due south." He looked up with a smile and she smiled back.

"Now, about the gun?" He asked tugging on his other boot.

She began to pull her own boots on, "Well…"

Bastian stopped in his movements, "Well, what? The Jungle Followers didn't get it did they?"

She shook her head, "No. At least I don't believe so. I dropped it… when the spider-thing attacked." Her mind blinked back to the blood covered faces of the delirious warriors.

"Are you okay? We can talk about it." He offered gently after a moment of silence and she shook her head.

"I would rather do anything than talk about it." She pulled on her other boot and walked out the door.

Fresh air wafted in from just beyond where she stood. The oil lamps that had been lit the night before were no longer burning. She looked along the low ceilinged area that housed a few dwellings. No one else was awake or in the houses.

Amaru had returned their belongings to them early in the morning.

She heard footsteps behind her, "Let's go see what sort of food they have for us." Bastian said then walked away and pulled the curtain that hid the entrance back.

She mentally frowned, usually he greeted her with a hug or a kiss. Why was he acting so strangely? Did he think he'd gone too far last night? She thought back to everything he'd said and done last night and felt her blood warm.

Maybe he had gone a little too far… but she couldn't say that it hadn't been… very nice. She fought the giggling that wanted to burst from her lips. He would ask what her laughter was for.

Bastian led her through the dark hallways, or tunnels now seemed more appropriate. They were lit with very few oil lanterns and the stone ground was covered with hay.

Coming to a junction she could hear voices.

"You've arrived." She turned on her heel and saw Amaru standing a few feet across from them. The chief's son was evidently gifted in sneaking up on them. "Come, I will show you to the dining area."

Hydrangea looked to Bastian but he was looking at Amaru. She felt that he was very distant today, especially compared to how close he had been yesterday.

Amaru nodded and walked down the hall that voices were echoing from. She grabbed Bastian's arm and waited for him to look at her.

He eventually moved his eyes to meet hers. She hid the hurt that she felt, "Is something wrong? You're acting differently this morning."

She could see hesitancy behind his eyes, "I'm fine, Hydrangea."

"You're not acting as though you are."

He huffed softly, "Hydrangea. It's," He sighed, "It's difficulty I explain."

"Tell me." She did her best not to beg, but she was so confused as to why his demeanour had changed overnight.

He watched her a long time, his eyes boring into his. But she didn't feel the excitement or heat that she had last night, he was searching for something.

"Do you think that the Tlatoani will help us?"

She blinked, slightly surprised that this was the reason for his different attitude. Her expression softened and she shook her head, "I don't know, but I do know that no matter what… I'll have you." She bushed almost painfully but she held his gaze.

His eyes brightened and his hand reached up to hold her the nape of her neck, "Oh, Hydrangea." He pursed his lips, "Can I hold you?"

She blinked and smiled slightly, "Y-You can."

He immediately crushed her in his arms. She laughed silently into his shoulder as her arms tried to wrap around him. She smiled contentedly and forgot about all of the stress for a moment. It was as though they'd entered their own world all to themselves. She could vividly picture him holding her on the balcony back in her room in the palace. She sighed happily and relaxed into him.

She could feel he was tense. She drew back, her arms still holding his hips, "Bastian, really. I can tell that something is still bothering you." She said, but her voice was teasing. She felt lighter and happier.

He moved his hand from behind her head and gently grasped her chin, "And you, are very stubborn." He glanced at her forehead and she expected him to kiss her there but he didn't and instead grabbed her hand and led her down the hallway where Amaru had disappeared.

She hid the frown that instantly wanted to settle on her face and kept in step with him. She decided to shrug it off, he would tell her in time.

Following the sound of voices they made a few turns through the tunnels and soon saw light shining on the stone's surface. At the end of the tunnel it opened up to a large cave filled with people. A large hole in the wall across from where they stood provided daylight and open air. The rain could be seen beyond it, drenching the jungle with water. The stone floor was covered in moss, small plants of an unknown sort and woollen mats.

A group of women sat by a large fire, chatting while they cooked a collection of steaming foods. A group of men, including the chief, sat in a large circle all eating and drinking merrily as they watched the women and talked amongst themselves.

Hydrangea squeezed Bastian's hand and felt him squeeze back.

They walked to where the chief and the other men were sitting, Amaru stood a few feet from them.

The chief took a swig of his drink then glanced up at them after finishing laughing at something another man had said. "Good morning, my friend. I trust your sleep was good."

Bastian nodded, "Indeed, it was. Now, if you do not mind, I have much to discuss with you."