Shortly after our encounter with Ruby and Willow I had decided we needed a place to stay. Seth was injured, and I needed to plan. Luckily I knew an owner of a cabin rental place that owed me a favor or two. He was happy to oblige. He even went as far as to give us a cabin far into the woods where we wouldn’t bother anyone, and no one would bother us. He didn’t ask any questions, but he did give me a wink when he told me that it was well off the beaten path. Then, handing me the keys, he wished us luck.

I carried Seth bridal style all the way to the cabin, much to his objection. The cabin was, as advertised, deep in the forest and overlooked a large pond. Eventually I had to put him down so I could open the door, but I quickly scooped him up once more to get him to the bed. Laying him down on the bed proved to be more challenging than expected, which resulted in me accidentally tweaking his broken leg.

“Aaaaah!”

“Sorry!”

“Could you please be a little more careful. I have no idea if you still feel pain, being the living dead and all, but I do.”

“I still feel pain. Just like when I was first alive.”

“Well that’s good to know.”

“Why is that?” I replied arching an eyebrow.

“Just that it’s good to know you still have some humanity left. I would hate to work with someone who doesn’t still understand my limitations.”

I smiled as I pulled up a chair next to the bed. Sitting down I began to lightly feel along the broken section of his leg. This resulted in Seth yelling out in pain. “I’m glad you are trying to make light of the situation, however…” Placing two hands on his leg I snapped his bones back in place. “I would appreciate it if you could show me a little respect.” As I spoke I started to draw the same hieroglyphs as when I healed myself across his leg.

“A little warning next time!” Seth panted.

“Would it have helped?” I replied still with a slight smirk across my lips.

He looked down at his now purpling leg.

“What are you doing?” He said, eyes streaming.

“Healing you. As I said before, this is simple healing magic. It can work on humans too, and it doesn’t require your true name.” I finished my writing and stood up. “You should sleep. This process is best experienced unconsciously.”

“Why’s that?”

“The spell manually heals all that is physically broken. It can be … uncomfortable sometimes. I can make you something to help you sleep, or knock you out. It would fix any damage. Although that may not be a good idea considering the spell can’t fix the brain or eyes.”

“Is that why you have a golden eye?”

“Yes.” But, Seth didn’t hear my reply. He was already fast asleep.

***

Morning came, and I was sitting on the porch rocking back and forth on a wooden rocking chair. The day was beautiful. The sun was shining, and the pond was calm. It was so peaceful that I almost fell asleep. Almost. Luckily I was pulled to attention by the door slamming shut.

“Ah! you're awake.” I grinned to a slightly drowsy Seth.

“It’s like it never happened.” He demonstrated by putting all his weight on his

previously broken leg. “So, what’s next? Are we going to see this Aurelio guy?”

I shook my head. “I’m glad you are feeling better, but no. If yesterday’s events taught me anything, it was that my life is just too dangerous for…..” I was cut off by Seth’s outraged cry.

“No way! I am not getting benched again! You have to take me with you. I’m an easy target for any passing demigod. You said so yourself. No, I’m going with you, and that’s final. I-I won’t help you find your friends if you don’t let me go.” He looked fiercely at me, daring me to say otherwise.

“Fine. I was going to say, before you so rudely interrupted me, that it’s too dangerous for an untrained human to accompany me. So I was going to offer to train you in the art of combat. Do you accept?”

“Yes! Of course! When do we start?” He was practically jumping up and down with the idea.

“I will not go easy on you, and you will have to do everything I say. No matter how ridiculous it sounds.”

“Okay, you got it!”

“Wonderful. In the meantime I should go get some food. What do you want?”

***

Entering the cabin, I took off my shoes and put on my house slippers before going to the kitchen.

“I’m home.” I shouted as I put the groceries on the counter.

“Oh sweet! I’m famished. What did you get?” Seth asked as he walked into view. He was fresh from the showerand was in only the pair of jeans I gave him and a towel around his shoulders.

“Oh a little of this, some of that. Can you cook?”

“Not really……” He looked embarrassed.

“Perfect! Considering most of this is instant or just needs to be heated. I tend to slightly burn what I cook.” I smiled as I pulled out a cup of instant ramen and a packet of chicken noodle soup.

“Soup or instant ramen?”

“Soup.”

“Okay.” I snapped and a pan appeared on the stove.

“How do you do that?”

“Oh. Well…..” I looked up trying to figure out the best way to explain. “It’s kind of a pocket in another dimension that holds all my stuff. Kind of like an infinite invisible backpack. I can just want something of mine to appear, and it will. The snap is more to give a warning something is going to appear.”

“Wow that’s really cool! What can you store?”

“Oh, a lot of things. Like right now I have my whole collection of weapons, over two hundred books, a few tablets and scrolls, some clothes, among other things.”

“How do you get those things in there?”

“I have to mark them with a specific hieroglyph.” He looked at his pants trying to find a mark. “It becomes invisible soon after being applied.” I explained while stifling a grin. Turning back to the kitchen I turned on the electric stove and started to boil the water.

“Go get ready. I’ll set the table.”

He sighed fine and went to get dressed.

After we finished dinner we sat in the bedroom. I had given Seth a few books on the history of the gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt, and after a while I could tell he was getting sleepy.

“It's getting late, we should probably turn in for the night.” Putting down the book Seth looked to me then to the bed he was laying on.

“There is only one bed.” He looked concerned.

“You take the bed. I don’t need it.” I hopped off the bed and waved my hand to dismiss the matter. However this didn’t settle the matter to Seth.

“But, I can’t let you sleep on the couch.”

“Don’t worry. I’m going to stay up and formulate a plan on how I am going to train you tomorrow.”

He yawned.

“Fine. Goodnight then.”

“Goodnight.” I replied, and, as soon as I left the room, I could hear his breath deepen with sleep.