Dink playfully cuffed the back of Axion’s head with an open hand. He climbed over the back of the bench to sit beside Estra. A small ditch with a shallow stream ran alongside the road.

The tarp was thrown back to reveal a groggy Riva sitting up. She pushed Tahlea to the side, who reluctantly sat up after her. Riva stretched her legs straight, bumping against Murkuk asleep opposite her. She violently kicked him awake in annoyance.

Murkuk sat bolt upright clutching his bang stick, baring his fangs while looking around for threats. The low growl in his throat died down when he realised what had woken him. He attempted to push aside the tarp but succeeded only in getting himself tangled.

“Dumb Goblin. That’s not how you roll a tarp, let me show you,” Riva grouchily said, expertly rolling the tarp into a tight roll.

Her hair was an obvious mess. It had knotted into a bird’s nest while she slept, strands pointed in every direction, yet she still somehow managed to look arousing. Tahlea gracefully outstretched her arms beside her while yawning. A nipple slipped unnoticed from the top of her unbuttoned shirt. Dink’s eyes were involuntarily drawn to her breasts. He unblinkingly stared until his manhood strained against his trousers.

Damn, both of those girls certainly have the figure of a woman. Tahlea’s figure is much slimmer at the waist and slighter taller than Riva. But she nonetheless still has an impressive pair of breasts. Her hips are absolutely incredible. She has a plump ass and thick thighs to match. Riva is all tits. I can’t believe a chest that big belongs to a Halfling. Ugh, this is going to be hard to restrain my urges. My Goblin blood is boiling for me to tear their clothes from their bodies and ravage them right here in the cart.

Dink clenched his fist, digging his claws into the palm of his hands. Blood started to seep from between his fingers, causing Murkuk’s nose to twitch from the scent of blood dripping. Dink struggled to shift his eyes away from the wife-pair.

Riva fumbled through her pack to retrieve a hairbrush, handing it to Tahlea. She accepted it before climbing onto the side of the flatbed to sit behind Riva. Tahlea began humming quietly while brushing the knots from Riva’s hair. Riva leaned into it with a content smile, closing her eyes.

Dink sat there watching for an unknown amount of time. Riva peeked through hooded eyes to catch him staring. She blushed while playfully biting her lip, seductively arching her back and lightly running a hand up the inside of her thigh. She released a gentle moan of pleasure from Tahlea’s pampering. The soft sound caused Dink to shiver in response. He tore his eyes away, focusing on the dirt road in front. A large puddle in the middle of the road was drawing nearer.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He turned to discover Estra quietly watching him, her emotions unreadable. She silently looked away to watch the road.

“Where will we be resting tonight? I haven’t slept in a real bed for a lifetime,” Dink asked, swinging his feet from the seat.

“Burrowton. We should be there by nightfall unless something unexpected happens. This close to Chiset, there are still plenty of patrols so it’s unlikely we will encounter bandits. We passed two while you slept. But anything is possible,” Axion cheerfully replied.

“Quite the optimist, aren’t you?” Dink goaded.

“The road becomes boring without a little excitement to keep me entertained. ,” Axion said, pulling up on the reins. After he finished speaking, the cart arrived at the puddle. Dink leaned forward in his seat to look closer.

“This looks like someone’s dug this puddle out. Not long ago, either,” Dink said.

Upon hearing his words, Riva jumped down from the cart. Walking around to the puddle, crouching to inspect it. She ran her fingers through the mud at the edge.

“You’re right. Someone has dug a trench to divert the creek and cut off the road. It looks like it was done with shovels and not magic. The water hasn’t had time to soak into the dirt yet. What do you think, Tahlea?” Riva asked.

Dink felt a tingle at the back of his neck as Tahlea jumped down to join her sister-wife. Her usual placid appearance had become uncharacteristically serious. Dink looked at their styled hair.

They’ve braided their hair into a wife-braid. They’re taking this so-called marriage seriously. But then again, they’ve probably been impatiently waiting to be recognised as adults.

A glint of light caught Dink’s attention. It was an arcane focus in the form of a silver ring on Tahlea’s left hand. Patterns swirled on its surface into a multitude of different images while she weaved her spell.

Mana gathered to lift a stream of water to assemble an intricate Sigil in the air at her fingertip. The water shifted to form a circular mirror displaying a scene of three men digging out the road. There were weapons discarded on the sides of the trench as they worked.

A man seated on a horse oversaw their labour. He was dressed in the uniform of a patrolman from Chiset. He called out to halt the workers, holding up a hand. The vision didn’t transmit sound so there was no way to tell what was said. A fully laden trading wagon had appeared on the horizon on the opposite side of the trench in the image. The scene disappeared and the water dropped back into the puddle with a splash.

“That patrolman’s uniform was unkempt and his shirt was untucked. I also noticed dried blood on his collar. Logic dictates that it was stolen. They ambushed a merchant here, luring them close by impersonating a guard,” Tahlea said, standing upright to face the group.

“We have to help them!” Estra exclaimed.

“Why? They’re probably already dead and we’ve got places to be, Burrowton,” Dink indifferently said, scratching underneath his jaw.

“Because they could still be alive. How could you be so cold-hearted?” Estra asked. Dink looked at her like she was simple.

“Is that a trick question? Sigh, get us across this roadblock then we’ll see what happens. If we come across their tracks, we’ll try to save them,” Dink compromised.

“I’m on it,” Riva said, nimbly leaping the obstacle. She started briskly moving down the road in a half-crouch.

“Women,” Dink complained aloud, looking to the sky in resignation.

“Ha! Looks like we might have some fun, after all, Dink old-boy!” Axion excitedly said.

Estra gave him a stern look as she climbed down from the cart, swishing her hands through the air to gather mana. She abruptly swiped one hand to the side, the dirt followed the motion of her hand to fill in the trench. She turned to face them on the cart, placing her hands on her hips.

“Well, what are you waiting for? An invitation?” Estra indignantly asked.

“You heard the lady. Let’s get going. Yah!” Axion said, flicking the reins.