The only problem with that, however, was that looking down at Rupert, who seemed to be almost desperate to have Tom stay, he really felt guilty as hell at the thought of leaving them. The boy was right, there probably were more soldiers running around, somewhere, they probably wouldn’t get very far. Actually, maybe Tom did owe the kid something, the kid was the only person he’d met so far, except for Tizzy and Boggy, who treated him as a human being. Not to mention the fact, that he had to admire the nerve of the kid.
“... Please Tom, just for a few days?” Rupert was pleading. While Tom had been thinking, Jenn and Rupert had continued their arguing. Rupert had just turned back to plead with Tom again. The other thing was, Tom thought, if I do leave, then I just sit in my cave until Lenamare calls. That was a deciding factor to be sure. He looked down at Rupert and over at Jenn, who was now standing. She really seemed to be going off the hinges yelling at Rupert, to get away, and to stop this nonsense. She looked as if she wanted to come up and drag the boy away, but was too shy of Tom to do so.
Tom cut her off abruptly. “SHUT UP-GIRL!” Jenn shut up. Rupert shook his head to clear it. Tom had been rather loud. “Very well, Rupert,” he said in a more normal voice, “since, YOU asked, I’ll stay.” He rustled the boy’s hair gently with his hand. He looked at Jenn, “I am going to stay to help Rupert, if you want, you may come along. But I won’t force your company. I don’t force other people to do things against their will.” Tom said pointedly. He could tell this girl was going to be a problem.
“Damn.” Jenn cursed. She appeared to be thinking about something, apparently weighing their options.
“There is no way I’ll leave poor Rupert to you and your schemes. I’m sure that’s what you want, probably a nice young human soul to corrupt and consume. But you’re not going to get it without going through me first. I’ll go wherever Rupert goes, even with you, if necessary.”
Like he’d thought, reflected Tom, she’s going to be a pain. At least she does have a few more guts than she’d shown earlier. Rupert was sadly shaking his head at Jenn’s speech.
“Good, I’m glad you’re being more agreeable, Jenn, even if it is for the wrong reasons,” said Rupert. “Now, we’d better see if anyone else here is still alive, and what we can salvage.” Rupert set off to search through the remains of the wagon train.
Jenn simply stared after him. There was something really strange about Rupert, he was not acting like a boy his age. He was so business like, when he should have been scared witless, and to treat a demon so. Surely he really had gone insane. At least he had the decency to avoid the blackened corpses, and even get sick looking at them. If he’d been able to do that, she’d known for sure he was lost.
She looked back at the demon, who was watching Rupert, if she didn’t know better, she’d swear it almost appeared as puzzled as her about Rupert’s actions. She suddenly had a horrid chill, what if, while she’d been out, the demon had possessed Rupert. She’d never seen such a thing, but, naturally, she’d heard of it.
Jenn shook her head, no that was foolish, she was just an unimportant student wizard. No fourth order demon would go to that much trouble over someone so menial. Still, she’d have to watch them both. The demon had some sort of strange hold on the boy.
“Well, if we’re stuck with you, until we reach safety. Then I guess we had better head for Freehold.” That was the closest ‘safe’ place. “So, I had better see what we can salvage.” Jenn glared challengingly at the demon. She then set off to look for her things.
