I woke up in a comfy bed cuddled next to a warm body. I inhaled expecting the smell of nature and instead got a rose smell. It smelled like Maria.

My eyes shoot open and I look around. I’m home, in my bed on earth, but how? I scramble out of bed and look at myself in the mirror. I see my old just under six foot self standing there in my boxers.

I heard Maria yawn, “Honey, are you okay?” Was it all a dream? “Honey?” I look over to her. She's now getting up and struggling because she is much more pregnant than I last saw her. There's no way that was a dream and I forgot the last two months here.

Magar’s words ring into my head. “In a world full of magic anything can happen.” Is that what happened? “Tom! You’re scaring me.” Oh right I'm standing here like a maniac, “Sorry. I uh…had a nightmare and it felt so real. It was like I was actually there. She started tearing up and came over to me and gave me a hug, “I’m so sorry Tom. All this pain I've caused you. It breaks my heart and I know I will forever regret it.”

After a few minutes of hugging she whispered, “We have to be at the marriage counselors office in an hour. I wish you could stop having dreams about me and….him on these days.” She started crying again. “It’ll get better Maria. I’m home now.” She nodded then looked up at me with a confused look before we broke apart,

We got ready to go then headed out. It felt so nice driving again. My thoughts were all over the place. Thoughts from being back to things all about Magarnia. Maria didn't speak to me unless I spoke first. I assumed it was because of past events. Listening to the GPS we made it safely.

“Mr. Redman, how are you feeling today?” Dr. Chromwell askes. “Honestly? Confused.” He nodded, “That’s a perfectly normal feeling to have and you, Mrs. Redman?” “Scared and sad.” “Again under the circumstances that is very normal.”

Dr. Chromwell got better situated in the chair to prepare to write, “Mrs. Redman let's start with you? Why are you scared and sad?” “Well this is our fourth session and Tom is still having nightmares and it breaks my heart….” She started crying. “That explains the sadness but what about the scared?” “What if he…never comes back from this…” “Mr. Redman, do you think you will?”

I sighed, “The love is there. No matter what happens she will always be my first love and I'll never stop loving her. But the trust isn't there. Hiding something like that for three months makes me wonder what else she could be hiding. It's just gone and that's why I can say I don't know.” This had been a thought of mine for the last two months in Magarnia on all those long travels where I thought about this very moment.

“Mr. Redman, I'm impressed and understand completely. Our goal here is to rebuild that trust and learn to move forward. Now I have some homework for both of you. You will need to….” “Uh! I think my water just broke.” I looked over to see shock in Maria's face as she's standing up and there's water dripping off the chair.

Before I knew it I was in a hospital and Maria was in labor. I was by her side, holding her hand and talking to her while she screamed and pushed. After six hours my son was born. He was a healthy light skinned, blonde haired, blue eyed boy…. I looked up at Maria with shock. She registered my shock and while exhausted tried to comfort me, “He’s your son Tom..” “Maria…how could you…” “I never did. You have to believe me.”

A strained male voice interrupted us, “By the gods he's heavy. There's so much blood but no injuries.” My eyes shoot open and I see a younger man jump back and scream. He is armed but wearing rags and seems malnourished. “You Tamsa?” “No... No! They kidnapped us.” “Tory?”

I looked where she was propped up on the wall. She wasn't there. “Where is she!” “She's resting, young one.” An older man walked beside me. “How is she?” “Honestly not well. She is injured and not recovering because the poison is keeping her weak.”

I started to stand up, “Is there any more Tamsa?” “There were only four left in the entire hideout after you two. We heard some commotion and after a while we heard more and knew this was our time to escape.” I pointed to the demon, “What is that?” “Scary..a..a demon.” Very helpful. I nodded. “Take me to Tory.” “Of course sir”

The dream about Maria felt so real and scared me. Was that what I was trying to get home to? I really believed her when she said they didn't go all the way. I was right though. The trust is gone. She could have…the whole time…. “She's in there sir.”

Tory was laying in a bed in one of the more private rooms. She was still in her armor but not wearing a helmet or her padded coif. Her hair was almost shoulder length and light red. She had a strong yet feminine face with full lips and a strong jaw. “Detect Injury” about a dozen cuts and stabs mostly in the face and armpit area. None of them were very deep but all were laced with the poison. The wound just below her ribcage was partly healed. “Cleanse.” Once the poison was gone, “Heal” She was healed, still resting but her face was one of comfort and rest now instead of pain. “I need food.” “Of course follow me.”

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We sat at the cafeteria where someone brought us some food and a bowl and towel for me to wash my hands and face with. “So how many of you are here and demaged?” I started washing my hands and face. “There's eleven of us and we are all demaged...” He said with sadness as he looked down at the table. “Are any of you injured?” “No, nothing serious.” “Oh my name is Tom and I know I've said it before but Tory is the woman in the bed.” “I am Tindol. I was a tier three mage who worked for house Lerosa.”

“So what now?” I asked as I finished cleaning and started chowing down on some bland stew and hard bread. “We were waiting for the…Tory to wake up and update us on what is going on.” “How long have you been here?” “Most of us for two to three months.” I remembered a question I wanted to ask the Tamsa leader. “Are there any more Tamsa bases or hideouts?” “Judging by where we were all from no. Not at least one that can demage in the Kingdom of Runa.” Judging by how exhausted I still was and how it was early morning I assumed I hadn't slept long. “How long was I out?” “Maybe four hours.” “If I'm not awake this time tomorrow wake me up. The princess will arrive by then and I need to rescue her. I honestly didn't know you guys were here...sorry.” Tindol laughed, “It's not your fault sir. I am no princess, so why risk so much for me or the others. Oh you should bathe before sleeping.” “Too tired.” I took another bite of food and got up and sat down in a barracks bed. My mail armor was tighter than I remembered and so I removed it and passed out almost instantly.

“Sir, It’s time to get up.” Tory’s muffled voice wakes me up. My Padded armor was very uncomfortable and was too tight to remove so I tore it off. “Sir?” I wondered what her expression was. “Oh sorry. I'm good, it was just really tight. How are you feeling Tory?” “I am well sir…Thank you for everything!” I chuckled a bit, “Well you definitely have combat experience now.” “Your fight in that room after I…” She looked down and put her hand to her side where she was stabbed. There was a hole in the lower left side abdomen area of her armor. “I couldn't see you two. It was like two blurs fighting each other.” “Hey Tory, can I see something?” “Of course sir.” I got up and walked up to her and took a knee. I moved her hand out of the way so I could see the armor. I'm no smith but I know soft metals bend and hard metals break. This armor is clearly broken. Her padding was also pierced and I could see a little of her pale skin. She was completely shredded. A toned body like I had never seen for a woman. I was now obviously looking at her and not the armor. I cleared my throat, “Oh just as I thought. Your armor must be very hard.” “All white iron is sir. I will draw your bath while you eat some breakfast.” Before I could reply she rushed away.

I walked back into the cafeteria area and Tindol was there. “Ah good morning hero.” He waved his hand at the kitchen then waved me over, “Come sit with me.” “Any news?” “Sir we were prisoners for months and we haven't left so outside of the fact we are now prepared to leave no sorry.” “So can you tell me about Tamsa and the ransoms?” A younger man set a plate of food down in front of me and quickly retreated. Tindol smiled, “You’re pretty scary.” I looked down. Right shirtless and my arms and lower half is covered in blood and who knows what else. “Sorry.” “Oh, never mind that. To answer your question, I think the ransom was just an added benefit. Your squire said that the elven princess should be soon and we were to prepare for their arrival.” My squire? I’ll have to ask Tory about that. “That's good, thanks." I took a bite of a sausage looking thing. It tasted like actual sausage. The bread was stale but the water helped. Tindol waved his hand to the kitchen again. “Oh thanks.” “Of course. It's the least we could do. You may not have come for us but you did save eleven lives.” “You search the entire hideout?” “Yes. we even found a secret safe full of gold.” “Nice! Are you going to split it between the eleven of you?” “You don't want any?” I thought for a moment. I really had no need for more money in this world so, “No, I'm good.”

Tory walked up to our table. “Sir please follow me once you are done eating.” I quickly finished the second plate of food then followed Tory past the oval room into the room she had fought the five in then through the door I had never gone into. It was the washing, toilet, and prison section of the hideout. There were two tubs, both normal tub sizes. “Throw your clothes in the other so I can wash them while you bathe.” “You don't need to do that Tory.” Her helmeted head was down, “You had to heal me during your fight….then again after. I told you I would..” “Don’t okay! We did good. Look at me Tory.” She raised her head. “We did good and are still here. Now what's this squire business?” “I want to learn with you and travel and guard you.” "Sounds good to me. What about the military?" She seemed happier but her armor was blocking her face to really tell, "It will be field training as long as it is shorter than two years. Now sir." She pointed to the bath.

I quickly finished undressing and hopped in the tub. It was smaller than I expected now that I seem to be around seven feet tall judging by when I was standing near Tory. The water almost instantly turned red. “I'll wash your back sir” “You have done enough Tory.” “Sir…” She sounded almost sad. “Look, you're already washing my clothes. Thanks.” I laid back in the tub and cast “Scry Katilandituril.” The beautiful princess was still in a covered cage unconscious. She has multiple cuts on her I assume from poisonous knives that I didn't notice before. I heard waves breaking. The image faded and I jumped up. “Uh sir?” Tory's just staring at me. “Waves were crashing, meaning they are next to the coast!” While she's still staring my way, I hop out of the tub and grab my wet clothes and get dressed, then throw the wet mail armor over it. It felt much better without the padding but was still a bit snug. “We need to get ready. Tell everyone to get ready and meet me at the entrance.” “Yes sir.”