Chapter 069:
Something awoke Anton from a deep and wonderfully relaxing sleep. Verona and Kal, both exhausted and dishevelled from their nightly activities, squirmed a little in his arms but refused to wake. His sleepy and tired eyes looked up at the wooden ceiling above them. There was very little light coming through the wooden slat window, barely illuminating their sleeping forms. It looked to be the same amount of light when Kal had awoken him before the battle at the Gravestone. Not the time he would normally wake after a night like that. One of Verona's hands caressed over his chest then stopped with a sleep filled sigh.
I didn't get a dream with Tethra...Should I have tried to speak with Esperit or Stratos? Is Tethra still too weak to have a direct dream with me? I-
A massive banging on the front door brought him to full alert. Kal's eyes shot open as she lept off the bed, diving to her small pile of clothes and weapons, and grabbed her new blade. Kal, still completely naked with her tail resting over the floor, crouched low and looked towards the door.
“What's happening?” Verona mumbled. She was taking her time in waking up.
“Someone's at the door.” Anton and Kal said in unison.
He shuffled off the bed and put on his shirt and pants. Verona made a little grumble as she dragged herself out of bed and groggily dressed herself. She groaned and squinted her eyes as she looked towards the wooden slat window. Kal had remained at alert, moving to the door of their bedroom and peered around. While she was very threatening it was undermined by watching her tanned body from behind. Anton picked up her new clothes, having to cough to get her attention, and handed them to her. Kal frowned at him then looked down at her naked body. She chuckled as she took her clothes, a tiny flush to her face.
“I forget what it's like to sleep naked.” She quickly threw on the shirt and pants, keeping her focus towards the front of the house.
Seeing them both in such a casual state of dress was very exciting. Another knock on the door stopped him from enacting on his thoughts. Verona took her spear, resting against the wall, and advanced on the door. Both girls took great effort to make sure that they were infront of Anton.
“Who is it?” Verona asked.
“Sir. Jonathan's in trouble.” Anton didn't recognise the voice. “He sent me to come find you.”
Verona opened the door with one hand and had the spear lowered to strike. Three armoured guards were waiting on the other side. They seemed very worried.
“Forgive us for waking you us this early but we could hear the screams several houses away.” The closest guard spoke. “They're clawing at their backs and can't be calmed down. He told us to come find you right away. That you would be able to help them.”
“Fuck.” Anton grumbled. “It's happening. Alright, we'll be there right away.”
They ran towards Jonathan's house, the former smithy building, not bothering to put on shoes. The guards ran infront to deal with any obstructions. It seemed that Kal could run much faster than everyone as she was visibly having to slow down to match their speed. She also didn't know where they were going. This was also the first time that she had been outside in Atros without her cloak. It was especially noticeable as her giant fanned tail followed her like a snake in the air. She didn't try to hide or control it other than keep it out of everyone's way.
When they made it to the central plaza he could hear faint screams in the distance. Kal whimpered as she turned back and held tight onto his arm as they moved forward. He guessed that there was much horror inflicted upon the Beast-kin children in Seocuria. Hearing similar noises, even hundreds of miles from the country, must have thrown her back to that horrible place. Verona moved to the other side and squeezed on Kal's other hand, calming her a little.
Dozens of villagers were surrounding Jonathan's house when they arrived. Guards were doing their best to break up the crowd but it seemed to be an impossible task. Many were shouting to know what was happening; if it was another magical experiment gone wrong, a Goblin or Kobold, or even if it was their resident Beast-kin doing something terrible to Jonathan's children, like they had been told when they were young. Anton shook his head at hearing such ridiculous accusations, thankfully Kal made no reaction to it. When they approached the crowd quietened down their shouts.
In the mass of people he could see Dana and Dennis at the back, trying to force their way through.
“Dana!” Verona said loudly to catch her attention over the screams of the children children. “Can you make a way through for us?”
Her head swivelled around and shouted towards her brother. When he saw them running towards them his face paled slightly until he realised that he wasn't in trouble. He pushed forward, a few deputies moving the people and forming a path. The guards infront of Anton moved forward and made a path and connected the two.
“Thanks you two.” Verona said back at them, Anton waving at them as well.
Two guards stood at the door and let them in. Once the door opened the screams became nearly deafening, all of them wincing from the sheer volume. Kal covered her ears and rested herself on Verona. He could see the pain on her face.
The inside of Jonathan's house was a complete mess. What was once the small forge was now a pile of destroyed furniture. Shawn and Joclyn's screams came from the small side room that once was Jonathan's, and his family's, entire small home. They made a few paces when a large burly man stumbled back from the side of the room. A man that looked like a bear.
“Zac?” Anton asked the man.
Zac grunted and turned to him, one side of his face bright red from being struck.
“Thank your gods you're here.” He said, waving them in. “They're going crazy.”
The screams grew even louder as Anton continued inside their small house. On the side of the room, lying on two small beds, were Shawn and Joclyn. Their backs were arched up, only their heads and feet were touching the bed as their fingers scratched and tore at their clothes and skin like a crazed and rapid animal. He had seen this before. Jonathan, tears running down he red and puffy eyes, was desperately trying to hold them down and stop them from thrashing about. Anton didn't say anything and moved forward and placed his hand on both the children.
Alright Tethra, we're going to need to help out here.
Tethra, Goddess of Prayer, I beseech you to help these two through whatever they are going through. To ease their pain and soften this...activation of their glyphs.
Again, Anton was guessing at the proper words for the prayer. How he wished for an instruction on how the prayer powers were supposed to work. Perhaps Graterious would have the answers.
When the mana left him, and split into Shawn and Joclyn's writhing forms, they began to calm down. Almost instantly their screams stopped and their body's went limp. Loudly they thumped onto the bed. Their faces, flushed red with tears staining their cheeks, rocked to the side as they began to take short and shallow breaths.
“Thank you.” Jonathan said, his voice choking up.
He looked at both his children.
“What happened?” Verona asked. Anton was pretty sure they all knew.
“I...I do not know.” Jonathan began, wiping away the tears building in his eyes. “Zac and I were having a drink after the wedding and then they both started screaming. We both rushed over and they were thrashing about like you saw.”
Jonathan moved the hair away from his children's faces.
“They were able to throw us both about. I remembered what happened when Verona got her power.”
“I think that's what's happening here.” Anton said. “Can you turn them on their side? I want to see if there's a mark or glyph on their backs.”
Jonathan moved to the side of the bed and lifted Joclyn to her side. Her hands had not torn through the clothes yet but, judging by the frays and badly stretched weave, it was close. Jonathan coughed and raised his daughters shirt. There was nothing on small of her back, where Verona's glyph lay. Jonathan let out a sigh of relief. He had been present when Verona received her glyph.
“Better check all of the back.” Anton nudged at Jonathan.
He nodded and continued. There was no sign of a glyph or its distinctive tattoo swirls that grew out from the central mark. Jonathan let Joclyn lie on her back again and checked Shawn's back. Nothing was present. Jonathan seemed relieved. However Verona grumbled as he scratched at her head, a deep from forming on her face. Anton caught her eye.
“Well...When I got my glyph, I did that.” Verona began, waving to both silent children. “The kicking, screaming and writhing about.” Her frown deepened, everyone became visibly worried at her look. “I mean, I did that. Then I calmed down for a bit. And then-”
Shawn started groaning as his hands clutched at the bed, so too did his sister.
“Here we go.” Verona mumbled.
She handed her spear to Zac and moved between the children. Kal looked confused at Zac, who shared her expression. Verona held their hands tight as they began to thrash about again, letting out terrifying screams. Jonathan used his weight to try and hold Shawn down while Joclyn continued to thrash about. Anton tried his best to keep her still but was utterly stunned by the strength surging through her body. While he was afraid of hurting her, but he couldn't keep her still any other way than pushing down on her with all his strength.
Zac lent Verona's spear against the wall and moved to help hold down Shawn while Kal moved to hold Joclyn. Both screamed even louder, so loud that Anton felt his brain hurt from the sound. Slowly their screams started to die down to loud and disturbing cry.
A sound of tearing flesh filled the air, coming from both of the children. Anton turned Joclyn on her side while a terrified Jonathan did the same to his son. Their groans became shouts as their bodies started to convulse again. They did their best to hold them steady as they lifted their shirts. On Joclyn's back, between her shoulder blades, a large purple and white lightning bolt etched its way onto her skin. The mark was only a few centimetres long but it was unmistakable. It was exactly like the lightning glyph on his hand. Around the bolt a small circle of the same colour emerged, around that many small bolts of arc lightning grew out equally until it reached the base of her neck to her shoulders. When the marks had stopped growing Joclyn's groans became weaker as she started coughing and held tightly onto Verona's hand.
What's Shawn got then?
Anton looked at a stunned Jonathan. He moved his head past his large frame and saw something similar forming on his back. Unlike the lightning bolt on his sister, an orange and red flame formed on his back in the same place. Larger licks of flame radiated out of the central flame covering half of his upper back. Anton looked down at his hand again, the mark was the same. Shawn started to calm and rolled onto his back. His eyes, filled with tears, looked up at his father.
“Dad?” he asked weakly. “What...What happened? Was I in a fire? What happened?”
Jonathan was too stunned to speak. Anton patted him on the shoulder and moved him slightly to the side so he could squat next to the bed.
“How are you doing?” Anton asked.
Shawn's eyes closed, with some effort he opened them again. “I...I don't know. I'm so tired. What happened?”
Anton smiled, stifling a chuckle. “Well. I think it's safe to say that you, and your sister, are now mages.”
“What?” Some of the life had returned to him. He tried to raise himself up but Anton stopped him. There was virtually no strength left in him to resist.
“Just relax for now.” Anton chanted a light healing prayer for him. “In the morning you'll be better. Verona was already hitting me awake the day after she got hers.”
“I remember that night.” Shawn said. “Auntie Sybil moved us away before we could see anything.”
Anton smiled and rubbed his head. “Sleep for now. Things will make more sense in the morning.”
“Okay...” A frown formed on his face. “How is Joclyn? How is she?”
Anton looked back to his sister. Verona was talking to her, in the quietest voice possible, as Kal tried her best to calm her. He saw Joclyn's head nod lightly in response to something Verona said. A tiny smile formed on her face as Kal said something as well, her Beast-kin hand holding lightly onto hers. Joclyn looked a little apprehensive at first but quickly held tightly onto it.
“She's fine. But you need to rest.”
“Okay.” Shawn closed his eyes, holding onto his fathers hand. His head fell to the side, a few breaths passed and he was fast asleep.
“Jonathan?” Anton said, lightly shaking the large man.
“Hmm?” he still seemed distant and lost.
“You can relax. Your children are fine.”
“I...” he looked over at Joclyn. Verona got her to lay on her back. A few seconds later she was asleep as well.
“Come on.” Anton said, motioning for them to leave.
“What is happening to my children?” Jonathan asked, his voice full of worry. His large weathered hands fidgeted uncontrollable, his whole body shaking as well.
“We should speak somewhere a bit more private.” Anton looked towards the door and into the other room. “But it looks like we've still got quite a few guests outside that we need to get rid of.”
“They made quite a bit of noise themselves.” Zac grumbled. “I thought they were going to try and break down the door to get in here.”
“To what end? Because they could actually do something to help or just be a pain?” Verona asked, Kal nodding as well. Nobody could give a proper answer.
“Alright. I'll be back in a bit.” Anton opened the door and saw the anxious crowd. Dennis and his Deputies had tried their best to disperse the crowd, continuing as Anton emerged, but it was a rather futile effort. When the crowd saw him the questions and shouts flew forth.
“What's happening in there?”
“Is it safe?”
“Did a Goblin get in?”
That question brought a lot of murmurs. In a few seconds the crowd were all asking about a potential Goblin assault, a secret Goblin infiltration and why they would be allowing it attack the children, and then to a full scale assault from the south. As each person fed off each other's wild speculation in the vacuum of information, the uncontrollable nature of a terrified crowd took hold. It was amazing to see them come to a decision even though nothing had actually been said. A few seconds passed and they were already starting to push forward.
Yeah, can't let this keep going. Though it would be interesting to see how far they could go if it wasn't so serious.
Anton raised his hand and through up a small lightning bomb. He didn't detonate it, but it was enough to quieten the crowd.
“Thank you.” Anton said, withdrawing the lightning bomb. Nobody said another word. “Now, what you just heard...was the second and third blessings of the Old Gods to be given to the people of Atros. Another two people now have the power to use magic.”
“It doesn't sound like a blessing.” A woman replied.
Anton nodded. “I can definitely understand that. However gaining such power...” Anton summoned a small lightning and fire bomb above his head. “Does have its' consequences. I've lost almost all of my memories and have no idea who or what I was before I arrived here. Verona, with her powers, went through the same thing as well.”
A few murmured, their temperament a little hard to measure properly. It wasn't as hostile as it was before though.
“I will explain in the morning if you require more information.” He withdrew the lightning and fire bomb. “Just know that everything is under control and everything is fine. There's nothing more to be done here so please return to your homes.”
The crowd slowly started to disperse. He caught Dana and Dennis, at the back, directing the people back to their homes. They caught his eye and he gave them a little nod, which they seemed to appreciate. Both the guards stationed either side of the door remained as the crowd dispersed. Anton gave a quick thanks to the guards and went inside, closing the door. Everyone inside looked very worried at him.
“They're going now.” He said, waving to the far side of the room. “Two guards will be stationed outside your house for a little while. Just in case someone tries something. I don't think they will but, better to be safe than sorry.”
“What did you say?” Verona asked.
“I said that they have the Old Gods blessings and that I would explain more in the morning. That seemed to be enough for now.”
“You made a lightning bomb.” Kal said quietly. “You didn't use it but I could hear it.”
Anton nodded. “I just had to be a bit dramatic to get their attention. So, do we have somewhere where we can sit?”
Jonathan and Zac pulled up the remains of the wooden furniture. It seemed that only a few were actually broken. There was enough seats for all of them, so long as Verona sat on his lap. That wasn't a problem as he could rest his chin on Verona's head and still look over without any problem, much to Verona's annoyance at his subtle pointing out her lack of height.
“What is happening?” Jonathan asked.
“Both of your children have been blessed by the Old Gods.” Anton held up his glyphed hand and pointed to Verona with his other. “From what I'm guessing, Joclyn has received the mark of Stratos, the God of Storm, and Shawn the mark of Esperit, the Goddess of Fire. So they'll be able to use magic like me.”
Jonathan looked on still terrified. He had just been told that his children had just become someone possibly as powerful as Anton was, that could hold such power in their tiny frames. It was no wonder he was worried.
“What...What happens now?” Jonathan asked.
“For now, nothing. There's still a little time before morning so we should let them rest.” Anton lowered his hand. “I don't know if you can but...”
“I...I...” Jonathan stammered out. He seemed so completely and utterly lost. Zac, thankfully, came to his rescue.
“I'll take care of him.” Zac said. “Make sure he gets some sleep. They're not going to use their power in their sleep?”
Anton and Verona shook their heads.
“No.” Verona replied, quickly glancing up at Anton. “Even at the beginning I needed to think to use it. Nothing will happen to your children while they're sleeping.”
“That...That is good to know.” Jonathan said. “I am sorry if I have been a little bit out of it. This is just...”
“I can understand where you're coming from.” Anton patted Verona's head. “I was pretty worried when Verona was going through it.”
Verona nodded. “It was a lot better than mine though. We'll just need to see what magic they can use compared to Anton.”
“Right. Are you still going to Graterious and beyond?” Zac asked.
“Yes.” Anton replied. “We'll make sure that they understand a bit about their powers before we go. I'm not just going to leave with them not understanding anything. That would be incredibly dangerous and reckless of me..”
“Well.” Zac looked out a small wooden window. “It's going to be a little bit before the sun's going to be up and then we'll see how things go from there.”
“Good decision, Zac.” Verona said, hopping off Anton. “We'll meet up again when they wake up.”
---[]---
After returning to their house it was difficult for Anton to even think about going to sleep again. It seemed to be the same for both girls. When they returned they hopped into bed with him and lay there in silence, each hand searching out for another for comfort. Anton's thoughts were stuck in hearing them scream. Seeing the two children writhing as the glyphs carved their way through their body was very disturbing. Would everyone that received the blessings of the Old Gods go through the same thing? And why didn't he when he arrived in this world? Had it already been done when he black out after the crystal was embedded in his hands? Perhaps somebody in the Deweth Clans would know, but there was no way for him to get there now.
“Anton?” a voice spoke to him.
Kal nudged at his shoulder with her Beast-kin claw. She, and Verona, looked very worried at him.
“You're doing that looking away thing again.” Verona mumbled.
“Sorry. I'm just wondering if this is going to happen every time someone gets the blessing of one of the Old Gods. It's going to make it a little difficult to convince people to worship them if they start screaming in pain like that.”
Verona shrugged. She looked up at the wooden slat window and sighed. There was a lot more light coming through than before, more than enough for most people to start their day. She patted Anton's thighs and hopped out of bed, dragging him out as well. She picked up her chest armour and began to fasten it tight. Kal picked up her cloak and wrapped it around her neck, then attached her new bow and quiver. A sense of relief came over her as she wrapped the lightly tattered cloth around her. She was still most comfortable with it on, even with his and Verona's presence to ward off any bad sentiment.
“Well...” Verona slapped the metal clasps to make sure they were fastened. “When they see what they can do they'll by lining up to pray. If they can do anything like like you can there won't be any complaints.” She scratched at her silver hair. “I wonder if they'll try praying to Jira...”
Anton gave Verona a quick kiss and looked out the window. Now it was definitely dawn. People would start waking up and going to work. They too would need to work hard. Mainly getting ready for their trip to Graterious and then onto Seocuria. It was going to take them a while, judging by the maps they had received from the Duchess.
“There is one thing I want to see before we disturb the children.” Anton said. “And we need to get some things prepared.”
Verona and Kal glanced at each other and followed him out the house.
Outside was beginning to fill with people. Some regarded Kal, now fully showing off her Beast-kin traits, with some surprise and scorn, but they kept such thoughts to themselves.
It'll take some time to change, but there's not that many doing that anymore. Especially the former bondsmen. After hearing that she was a big part of saving their friends and family I hope they'll become a bit more friendly. When there's more Beast-kin, ones that don't look human, she'll probably get a little lost in it. That's kind of a bad thought. Having distractions to take their eyes of Kal? I-
A pain came from both his sides. Verona pinched at his waist while Kal gripped lightly onto his shoulder. They said nothing, but their faces warmed when he ruffled their hair. He definitely was thinking away again. He held both of tight underneath his arms, both seemed a lot happier with his touch and embrace.
The central plaza was becoming a hive of activity even this early in the morning. Many gave them a small berth as they passed. Still the looks of fear, suspicion and puzzlement were thrown at Kal as she passed. She seemed to be handling it relatively well, but Anton saw that she she wasn't looking back at them.
At the side of the central pillar, with the God's idols on top, he spied Jeff and Zac speaking hurriedly. They saw them approaching and waved them over.
“I thought you would still be in bed.” Anton said.
Jeff chuckled. “While I would love to keep playing with my new wife all day I've still got work to do. Especially after what I heard this morning. How are they?”
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“They're fine. We're just going to wait until they wake on their own and go from there.” Anton turned to Zac. “Is Jonathan okay?”
Zac shrugged. “He's taking it alright. All things considered. There's still some guards outside in case something goes wrong.”
“Good.” Anton clapped his hands. “But I want to see that Goblin that Dana said she'd caught. Where is it?”
Zac nodded and waved for them to follow. They travelled to the north of the village, to the side of the training fields. Very few people were present this early in the morning, only those that were getting the place ready or practising in secret. Those few paid them little mind as they passed.
To the far left of the fields was a small enclosure built from thin pieces of wood. To the side stood two guards, both looking quite tired and disinterested at their task, but they kept their vision focused firmly on the enclosure. Inside was a Green Goblin, tied to the ground with rope and large wooden stakes. It thrashed about wildly, trying to free itself of its binds. Thankfully the villagers had done a very good job of restricting even its most basic movements.
“Sir. Grand Mage.”
Both guards snapped to attention and saluted as they saw them approach. Jeff gave one back and waved for them to relax.
“Thanks you two for doing this.” Jeff said. “I can understand it's not the best work.”
One shrugged. “It's pretty easy.” He pointed the butt of his spear towards the creature. “Though, that thing's not making it that enjoyable. Hasn't stopped moving since they brought it here.”
Anton looked at the writhing Green Goblin. They all looked the same to him; a deformed humanoid face, rotten and yellowed crooked teeth, bulging eyes that stared at them with unrivalled hatred, a distended stomach hanging over a small rag that covered their groin. Its claws and feet flexed uselessly at its binds.
When it saw him its face changed to a snarl, changing again when it saw the two girls. It was excited, very excited to see them. Verona grumbled at the sight while Kal shook her head.
“These things are so disgusting.” Verona looked like she was ready to kill it there and then.
“How long has it been here?” Anton asked.
“About four days.” the guard replied. “As per Dana's instructions we haven't been feeding it...though we don't know what these things eat.”
Anton looked again at the creature writhing on the ground. All of its attention was clearly placed on the two women. He waved his hands and it barely noticed, its eyes flickered towards him then back to them. A tongue lolled about over its green lips. It made Anton feel a little sick to see such a thing.
“Maybe because it's dying it's focusing on it's base needs.” Anton said aloud. “Instead of surviving it's trying to breed? Maybe it doesn't recognise how much danger it's in? Or they're just crazy?”
He turned to Jeff and Zac. “I want to take a little closer look at it.”
“Why?” Everyone asked.
“I want to see a few more things. See if it's actually dying.” He looked at the Goblin again. “Right now it seems like it's fine. If it got out I'm sure that it would try to attack all of us.”
Jeff sighed but didn't try to stop him. Verona grabbed his hand, a dagger in the other one.
“Just in case.” she said, her eyes turning red.
She took a small portion of blood and formed a small shard above her, then squeezed his hand. Anton used a small prayer to heal himself and hopped over the small enclosure. Behind him he heard a bowstring pulled tight. He didn't need to look back to know why.
The Goblin turned its full attention to him as he approached. The look of lust was gone, replaced one of unbridled fury. It didn't regard any of the others this way.
He turned back to the others, waiting outside the enclosure. “Can I borrow a knife?”
“Are you going to cut this one up?” Jeff asked.
“No. But I don't want touch this thing. Just in case.” He smiled as Verona handed over one of her small metal blades. “It's better to be cautious.”
He took the blade and prodded at the skin near its feet. Not enough for the knife to pierce the skin but enough to make a dent in it. The Goblin spat at him and tried to attack, but the binds held it splayed out over the grass. Anton looked back to the skin. It was still slowly returning to normal. He reached and touched the skin above its foot, the Goblin going into hysterics, and pulled it up. Again it took a very long time for the skin to return to normal.
“What are you doing?” Jeff asked. He had been present for his first examination of the Goblins.
“I think it's dehydrated.” he replied. “I'm pretty sure...” He looked back and saw only two that didn't know that he had his memories from earth. “That I remember that the skin starts to act like this. It looses its ability to...bounce, back when it's getting really thirsty.”
“So...these things get thirsty?” Verona said, her voice trailing off at the end.
“I'm sure that a large city, like Surdon, would have water.” Jeff added. “From a well or something. So...”
Anton said nothing as he moved closer to its head. The Goblin stopped thrashing wildly, almost going completely still, as it looked into his eyes. As he approached it tried to spit at him. All that came out was a dribble. Anton chuckled at its impotency. He rubbed the flat edge of the blade along its tongue, it was completely dry. The Goblin lurched forward, its tongue cutting along the sharp edge as it snapped down. It howled in pain and began thrashing again. Anton stood back up and out of the enclosure. When he was out Verona liquefied her blood and brought it to a small clay pot on her hips, the glowing red draining from her body.
“So?” Jeff asked.
“The Goblin needs water.”
“What?”
“We're trying to figure out how long it'll last without food, not water. You can survive a lot longer without food than water. Even though most people will try and secure food rather than water in a survival situation.” Anton looked back, the Goblin spat out its blood as it continued to thrash about. “And we don't want to have to keep doing this, to keep capturing rather than killing them. It doesn't even look like its' stomach has gone down much. So someone give it some water otherwise we'll just have to get another one of these and repeat this. And I'm not going to heal one of those things.”
Jeff looked at the guards and gave them a nod. One sighed. “I guess I'll get a bucket then.”
As he walked away Kal sighed. “Lack of water makes you do...strange things.”
Verona smiled awkwardly as Anton gave Kal a hug.
“Yeah...” he stroked the back of her head, Kal whimpered and nuzzled into his neck. Kal coughed and freed herself.
“So.” she looked around, her beautiful green Beast-kin eyes finally resting on him. “Are we going to find Jonathan and his children?”
---[]---
Jonathan was waiting for them in the central plaza when they arrived. He looked a little better than earlier, though his two children at his side looked quite exhausted. Six armed villagers stood around them, keeping everyone else at bay. When Jonathan spied them his face lit up.
“Anton...I...I am sorry how about how I acted before. I-”
Anton waved his hands to stop him.
“It's okay, Jonathan. Something....Well.” Anton looked at his children. They were fighting the weariness trying to close their eyes. “Something that none of you were expecting to happen, happened.”
Verona crouched down. “How do you feel now?”
Shawn and Joclyn glanced at each other and shrugged. “Okay.” Joclyn said. “Really tired and sore.”
“I bet.” Verona chuckled. “I was like that after mine happened. It won't last too long.”
“Jonathan.” Anton began. “I would like to, at the very least, show your children how their new magic works. They need to be able to understand what's happening and how to use it. With me gone they'll be the only mages in Atros.”
Jonathan slowly nodded. “I...I understand.”
Anton turned to Jeff. “We're going to get a bit of a baseline practice with both of them. Can I ask you to prepare rations for our trip? As well as a third horse for Kal?”
“Right.” Jeff nodded and slowly frowned. “You three leaving today?”
Anton looked at Verona and Kal. Both looked like they were leaving the option up to him.
“While I would love to stay for longer I, unfortunately, get the feeling we need to keep moving. No matter how tempting it is to stay here.” He glanced between them both, both girls grinning back at him. They did like sleeping, and other things, in a bed. “We're going to need a lot more on our side to deal with threats we don't even know about yet. Like whatever's in that mountain. And the Demons, Goblins and whatever Nithroel's got planned for us. And the sooner we can start to free some Beast-kin, and bring them back here, the better.”
“I would like to see my mother free.” Kal said.
“I would like to see other Beast-kin.” Verona said. She turned to Kal and held both her hands, her eyes were almost sparkling when she looked into Kals'. “You've got to tell us all about the different types.”
“So you can find out which ones are the fluffiest so you can grope their tails...or butts?” Kal raised an aqua eyebrow as a small smirk grew on her face.
“Aww.” Verona pretended to pout. “Don't be like that...”
They both chuckled and smiled at Anton. He gave them both a quick kiss on the forehead and turned back to Jonathan.
“Will we be mages by the time you go?” Shawn asked. Despite his fatigue he was undoubtedly feeling excited by the possibility.
“Um...You might be.” Anton replied with a smile. “But we'll talk about it more when we're somewhere a bit more safe to practice. Here's a bit dangerous.”
Both children nodded furiously, their tiredness completely gone.
Jeff clapped his hands. “I'll get on with those rations you wanted. I'll see you in a bit.”
“Thanks Jeff.” Anton said as Jeff walked off. He turned to Jonathan and his children. “So, let's go and find somewhere private where we can start to practice.
---[]---
Verona sat at the edge of the impromptu training area that Anton had decided upon. It was just to the south of the bone-yard, between that and where the Kobold camp once stood. She brought her knees up underneath her head as she watched Anton speaking to Shawn and Joclyn. Hearing their screams had been quite distressing, not as much as when she had watched her parents die during the first Yellow Goblin assault, but terrible nonetheless. She slapped her face to focus her thoughts.
She could just barely make out what Anton was saying. They were quite some distance away, Anton said it was for safety reasons. He was saying something about how to control the magic that they now held. It sounded completely different to how Verona's worked, there was no flame within them to ignite and making the magic itself sounded different. That meant there was little she could do to help them.
A tiny rustle to her side caught her attention. Kal stood next to her, her bow in her hand with an arrow ready. Verona looked back out and didn't see anything coming towards them. This area was an open and flat grassland with very short grass, to the south it was still recovering after Anton burned down the Kobold camp. It would be difficult for something to sneak up on them.
“Kal?”
“Hmm?” Her captivating green eyes glanced down at her. Seeing them brought warmth to her heart.
Verona was extremely happy that they were all together. Thinking back over what things that had been said there were a lot of hints that Kal harboured feelings for Anton. At first, when she realised Kal's feelings, she thought she should have been jealous. Strangely she only felt happy. Was that normal? It didn't matter. They were all happy together.
The only thing that she was annoyed about was that Anton had already seen and touched that gorgeous giant tail of hers before she could. Even now it swayed lightly in the breeze, threatening to hypnotise her with every tiny moment of the dark green limb.
Verona coughed as she rubbed her legs. “You can relax a little. Nobody's going to attack us here.”
Kal raised a dark aqua brow. “Even a single Goblin? You can't be too careful in the wilds.”
“Is something coming?”
“No.” Kal shook her head. “But you don't live long by not keeping an eye on your surrounding.”
She's right. I shouldn't get lazy or think that my magic can always protect me. That special Yellow Goblin had an armour that stopped my magic. What if someone wore a proper suit of that? Or I lose my magic? I'll be a worse fighter than someone with a just a pointy stick...
Verona sprang to her feet and looked at Kal. Kal jumped back lightly in surprise, a frown forming on her beautiful brown face.
“Alright then. Tell me. Tell me what I need to keep a look out for.”
“What?” Kal frowned, a tiny blush coming to her face. “What do you mean?”
“Teach me!” Verona exclaimed. “I should learn those sort of things from you. You're the best at this. I'm sure you can teach me something while Anton's teaching them.”
Kal's ears twitched back in surprise, a smile slowly forming on her face. The flush grew even brighter as Verona let out a wide grin. She liked to see Kal happy like this, and she knew why Anton loved to see that flushed brown face all the time.
“Okay. First-”
“What is happening?” A voice came from Verona's other side.
Jonathan sat on the grass, his body perfectly still. Ever since finding out that both his children now had powers that he had been behaving very odd. Not that it was an unreasonable reaction. Verona sat back down while Kal returned to her scouting.
“I do not know what to do.” Jonathan said, looking down at the grass between his legs.
Verona looked up. Joclyn had a small dancing bolt of lightning floating over her hand. It crackled and shook violently, like it was trying to escape. Slowly it dissipated until she brought it back. She seemed to be enjoying herself. Shawn was struggling a little more with the flame, he frowned as sparks danced in his hand. Anton was darting between the two, offering words of encouragement.
“What do you mean?” Verona asked. “You're kids are doing fine.”
Shawn yelled out in joy as the flame steadied itself on his hand. Anton seemed quite proud of him. Verona felt a pang of jealousy that they couldn't train together like that. Could Anton get another power? She highly doubted it.
“Not...Not that. I thought that the things that are happening to you, and Anton, would not happen to me.” He started to pick at the grass lazily. “Or my children. I...”
Verona frowned. The words coming out of his mouth were very odd. In all the time she had known him he hadn't spoken like this, not even when his wife died.
“They are the only things left of my wife. The only proof that she lived. I do not want to lose them.”
Something clicked in the back of Verona's mind. She wasn't sure if it was true but there was only one way to figure it out.
“Are...Are you worried that Anton's going to train and use them as soldiers?” she asked, seeing the tinge of worry on his face. “That he's going to take both with him to the far ends of the world?”
Jonathan hung his head low, a deep sadness on his face.
Does he genuinely think that Anton would do something like that? He should know that Anton would only have their well being in his heart.
Verona frowned again.
Or does he? The two 'odd' people here that aren't Anton, myself and Kal, both followed him...for different, no, the same reasons. But, we still left Atros for a long time. And we've fought and killed things that nobody else here could even begin to understand...Is that it?
“He's not going to take them.” Verona said defiantly. Jonathan looked up at her, his face unreadable. “He's not going to take your children with him to Graterious and beyond and away from you.”
“I...I know that. But, when I saw them screaming their hearts out I had never been so scared before. Not when my legs were rotting or when the Goblin or Kobold hordes descended upon us. But...that made me afraid.”
Verona smiled as warmly as she could. “Shawn and Joclyn won't be coming with us. They'll be staying with you. Safe, in Atros.”
“But...They are so different from me now. I am just-”
“Jonathan. You're still their father. And they'll love you no matter what. All this means is that they'll have to spend a little time practising their magic. That's all. When I got my magic it didn't change who I am. The same goes for them. They'll still want to be with you, like they've always been.”
“That is...I thought they would always be safe in our village. Does this mean that they do not want to be smiths anymore?”
“No.” Verona replied, getting a strange look from Jonathan. “I don't think so. But...you should still have a talk with them about it regardless. I've learned that a lot of things can be solved by just talking things through.”
Jonathan caught Verona looking up at Kal. “Right.” Jonathan looked the tiniest bit happier.
Joclyn cried out as a small lightning ball flew around her head. Anton raised both hands, as if he was going to catch it. Could he touch someone else's magic if it was the same type?
“They look like they're doing well.” Kal said. Verona saw the tiniest hint of jealously on her face.
“Are you jealous that Anton's teaching them or they've got powers?”
Kal flushed and turned her face away. “A little of both.”
Verona suppressed a squeal of joy as she stood up, readying both hands to lunge at Kal. “That's why you're so damn cute!”
Verona moved in for a hug but Kal was faster than her. Her dive was dogged effortlessly by Kal, who took just a step to the side as Verona continued and nearly fell over. Verona laughed and started to chase Kal in a circle. She fended off her lunges and hugs for some time but her face was always beaming back with a smile. A smile that so few people got to see. Finally Verona caught Kal, though she was sure that Kal let her, and gave her a giant hug.
“There. That wasn't so bad, was it?” Verona laughed at Kal.
Kal groaned and ruffled Verona's hair. Verona caught Jonathan suppressing a smile as he watched them run and play around him.
Verona looked over at Anton. Both children had stopped practising their magic and were listening intently to something he was whispering to them. He gave them a final pat of the head and sent both towards their father.
“Dad!” Shawn cried out as they ran towards them. “Did you see us?”
“Y-Yeah.” Jonathan stood up to embrace his charging son. “That was something.”
Shawn jumped up at the last moment, his body colliding with his chest. The impact let out a terrifying smack as Jonathan stumbled back a step. Shawn kept his hold on his father as he let him down. Joclyn came up quickly behind, pushing her brother over so she could hold her father as well. A few tears welled up his eyes as he hugged them both back.
“That was so much fun.” Shawn said, a laugh escaping his lips. “I can control fire and Joclyn makes everything go zap and bang.”
“Anton called it lightning.” Joclyn corrected her brother, her face contorted in a strange frown as she spoke in her normal cold voice.
“Whatever. I still think it's awesome.” To that both children smiled. “So, do we get back to working on the forge now?”
“What?” Jonathan seemed astonished.
Shawn and Joclyn freed themselves from his grasp and cocked their heads.
“Anton said that we need to keep doing what we like. So...” Shawn frowned. “Are we not doing it today?”
Joclyn nodded as well. Jonathan chuckled and scratched his head as he saw Anton slowly approach.
“Umm...Yeah. If you are not too tired.”
They both shook their heads.
“Nope.”
“We feel fine.”
Jonathan smiled even more. His faced changed a little when he saw Anton.
“They're doing very well.” Anton said, scratching his head. “I think. I'm not really a teacher of magic, so I'm going off what little I've been able to figure out during my time here, but they seem to be understanding it pretty well. I think they'll be pretty strong given some time.”
Jonathan nodded. He still looked a little nervous about the change in his children.
“But, I have told them that they are to only practice a little each day. They...They've had a few ideas about things that I couldn't ever do.”
“Oh?” Verona asked.
“Well.” Anton turned to her. “You remember how I could feel my way through you through my magic?”
“Yeah...” Verona chuckled. “That felt really weird. Like water running underneath my skin.”
“They suggested working their magics into their metal work. So that their works can take on aspects of fire or lightning. What that'll be, I don't know. I haven't tried it yet.”
“I've never heard of that being possible.” Kal frowned at Anton. “Could...Could it be done?”
“I honestly don't know. I'm able to change some things with the prayer power. But I'm thinking that, if it was possible, that it would be done when making making the object. You know, blending them together. Or something.”
Anton did not sound very confident at the end.
“And what are you basing this on?” Jonathan asked. “Have you seen it done before?”
Anton held out a knife, the one that Verona had given him to prod the Green Goblin. He hadn't given it back to her after he was done.
“When I was walking over I tried to pour some lightning magic into this. And it just sort of bounced off. The same with the fire magic. It didn't take and hold. I don't think those can enter an object...Well, fire did...”
“What happened then?” Kal asked.
Anton just shook his head. Verona remembered when he was stabbed by that woman, and what happened afterwards. The others didn't. And it should probably stay that way.
“You think that it could work when it is being made?” Jonathan asked. “I do not know if magic could work like that...”
“Neither do I. But, there's only one way to find out. And I'm no smith and don't have the time or skill to learn.” Anton frowned and looked far to the north, past Mount Aspire looming in the distance. “Perhaps the Deweth Clans might know something about using the magics of the Old Gods. Same too with Graterious. All the more reason to go soon.”
“Why not use the prayer power, thing?” Verona said, a frown forming on her face. “You used that to change Kal...back to boobs and ears...”
Kal and Anton flushed at her words. Anton coughed to focus himself. “That was...restoring Kal to the way she was supposed to be. Adding something like that might be beyond my skill. Besides, it took a huge part of my magic just to make a spoon of out wood. If I were to try that it might just knock me flat.”
Verona hummed. She didn't really understand why one of Anton's magic used so much more than the others, when the effects were noticeably less for using considerably more magic. They were missing something. All the more reason to head to Graterious, or the Deweth Clans, where they might find some books on it. Maybe even ones about her own power, and how to control her power's side effects.
“Shame.” Verona folded her arms.
“Although, I am excited about getting a magic forge up and running. I wonder if anyone else has something like this. I got the feeling that Qaiviel certainly doesn't.”
“I am still having trouble making your strange designs.” Jonathan said. “Though, it is getting easier. There is not much more for me to show you. I do not want to test them when you are not here.”
“That reminds me to find the place where that blue powder is made.” Anton rubbed his short beard. “Dragon's Breath, they called it. We're going to need quite a bit of it.”
“Something's coming from the south.” Kal said.
Everyone's eyes followed her pointing. Verona knew that Kal had far greater eyesight than any of them there. Anton blinked dramatically, and his eyes seemed to pierce through anything. He had just used the prayer power that let him see incredible distances. How she wished for that power.
“It looks like a bunch of large rabbits...Those Thumper things.”
“Oh yes.” Verona smiled as she remembered her fighting the large Alpha Thumper. “I thought the Kobolds would have killed them.” She tuned to Kal. “Do those things follow Nithroel?”
Kal hesitated before shaking her head. “I don't think so. They're not as intelligent as a Kobold or a Goblin. They're just animals, so I don't think so.”
“If it is, then Nithroel has just broken her side of the agreement.” Anton said. “But I don't think she's going to break it like this. She'll try and get us to do it. That way there's no consequences for her. How she'll get us to do that, I don't know.”
Meeting Nithroel, the Goddess of the Forest, was not something she wanted to remember, especially since she met her own Goddess at the time. But she made a note not to forget the woman they were going against. Verona was no great reader of people yet but she knew Anton was right. They would have to face down Nithroel one day, and she wouldn't just let them get infinitely stronger before they finally fight. Another reason to keep gathering people and support. Anton had certainly thought of that but didn't want to remind everyone that they were the enemy of the most powerful goddess.
“Alright.” Anton clapped his hands, Verona raising a brow at him. “Remember what I told you?”
Shawn and Joclyn nodded. “Don't use magic to fight with unless you need to.”
“Right.” Anton ruffled their hair. “But don't hesitate to use it if you need to. While we're gone you two are the only mages in Atros, so I have to ask you both to help defend the city if something happens.”
Both nodded furiously, their eyes beaming with pride and joy.
Anton smiled.“You've got some good kids, Jonathan.”
That made the slightly weary smithy perk up. “Thanks.”
“Let's get some lunch into us.” Anton started to walk away. “I think we'll need to start heading off pretty soon.”
---[]---
Anton felt that lunch was the normal affair with the village regarding everyone at the council table, especially Kal, Joclyn and Shawn, with some suspicion. Both children asking why Kal's hands were so radically different to everyone else’s, covered in fur and soft pads on the inside, nearly caused some issues, but it was solved before it became serious. Kal was very understanding and explained to the children the reason why. It wasn't malicious but genuine curiosity. They were also allowed to touch Kal's tail, for a few moments. That seemed to only bring out more questions from the pair. There appeared to be no hint of exhaustion in either of them.
Despite the disturbance earlier in the morning more people were taking time to pray at the idols of the gods. Anton pulled a passing guard to the side and asked why. Despite the concerns around pain many had been able to see their practice from the wall and surroundings, and had seen what the two children, despite only getting their powers a few hours earlier, were already capable of. It seemed that the reward outweighed the risk. Anton didn't mind, so long as the gods got their power from the worship, and that it didn't end up killing the people when they received it.
With lunch done, and the equipment loaded onto the three horses; their food, the red and silver crystal and rough copies of the maps of the Kar Kingdom and the Graterious and Seocurian Empire, they were almost ready to go. Anton received two old dip pens from Sybil and performed the same prayer magic on it as the previous set. He took one and gave the other to Sybil and Bertram. Both would be kept in a special room always monitored by someone they trusted for messages from him or Duchess Belinda.
They also decided to bring with them a few emerald and ruby gems and quite a few gold coins, more than enough to see them through their adventures until they returned. Anton had it distributed between them so a thief wouldn't be able to get it all at once, Kal pointed out good places on their clothes to hide them. They had more than a small fortune hidden on them, and the stores in Atros still had crates filled with gold coins. Though Anton knew that supply wouldn't last forever, especially when they started to buy and free Beast-kin slaves on a large scale. Getting a proper and reliable income stream, one not subject to the whims of nobles and lords, was another thing they would have to do in Graterious.
Anton, Verona and Kal came to the decision to leave then. There was not much else they could do in Atros, and so much to do elsewhere. Everyone on the council had gathered on the far eastern gate. Anton, Verona and Kal were already riding their horses and they were eager to go. However they had to say their goodbye's properly.
“I know that we've barely been here a day.” Anton began. “But we're got to keep moving.”
“We were hoping to have you for a few more days at the very least.” Sybil said. “It would be nice to see you from time to time. The people that so many people rely on.”
Anton smiled bitterly. “Unfortunately, we're on a time limit now.” He glanced to Kal. “About more things than one.”
It was something that was bubbling in the back of his mind but he didn't want to say aloud. Anton knew that if Kal was in her late twenties or early thirties, that meant her mother would have to be in her late forties at the very least. And slaves, in a harsh place that Seocuria sounded to be, wouldn't last into what he would call retirement age. They would be retired early.
“Well.” Avery said. “We wish you luck. If you find someone that makes bows...”
“We'll be sure to try and recruit them. If you think of anything that you might need, don't forget to use the pen.”
“When could we do that?” Jeff asked. “So that we get you when you're not riding?”
“We'll be making camp at dusk.” Anton glanced at Kal, who nodded.
He saw the white and green mask at the side of her head. He wondered what the people of Graterious, and indeed Seocuria, would think of her completely wrapped up in cloth and wearing that mask. They would need to get her some gloves and special boots before they headed into Seocuria.
Anton shook his head and focused himself. “So if you want to communicate with us it's at dusk. The pens' end will light up if you can't write because we can't receive it. Oh, and Raston?”
“Yes?” He seemed happier knowing that Qaiviel and Maxill was still standing, but not so much about having to travel through a wolf filled forest. Still, he wound have quite a number of well armed guards so there wasn't too much to worry about.
“Can you make sure that you find the Yellow Goblin Commander's remains and bring it with you? We've got them in special jars, and we'll need them to try and trade them for some books about magic from the Duchess. We're needing them now so much more than we did before.”
Raston nodded. Jeff moved towards him and whispered in his ear.
“We'll be back soon.” Verona said, even though they knew it was a bit of a stretch. “And if things go well, we'll have a whole bunch more Beast-kin with us. And full ones, not like Kal. It'll be an exciting time.”
He caught Kal looking a little more confident. Verona glanced as well before turning to Dennis.
“That means there might be some issues with people not liking them based on their appearance. That's where you come in. Right, Dennis?”
Verona stared through him. Dennis nodded furiously at her question.
“I will.” he spoke with some confidence. “I'll do my best when you return.”
Verona nodded.
“Good luck everyone.” Anton said. “Please don't try and disturb the beasts and monsters of the land too much. Though, you do have another two mages with you now.” He caught the eye of Shawn and Joclyn, both beaming back at him. “Make sure you take good care of your father.”
“We will!” they said in unison.
“We'll be back as soon as we can.”
“Good luck!” Sam cried out. “Be back before I have the baby!”
Anton laughed and they all waved back as they whipped the reins and set off at a brisk pace. The cheers and goodbyes continued well into the distance.
When they stopped at Verona's practice ground Anton glanced back and saw the gate was already closing with everyone returning to their jobs. Out the corner of his eye he noticed that Kal was acting a little odd. She was looking towards the small ridge line with the forest, the same one that she said that she kept her goods before coming to Atros. She took a deep breath before looking straight at him.
“Anton.” she began. “I told you before that I had something else to tell you. Other than me...taking the green crystal?”
“Yes. You said you didn't want to say it in Nonbu'rn.”
Kal nodded. “Yeah. Well, I think it would be best to just show you. If it's still there.”
Kal whipped the reins of the horses towards the ridge, Anton and Verona having little choice but to follow. When Kal arrived at the ridge she dismounted, nocked her bow, and slowly advanced into the forest. She stopped when she arrived before a small hole in the ground. If anything it looked like a mouth had opened up in the ground.
“This is where you lived?” Anton asked. The cave looked slightly damp and musty. To live in a place like this...
Kal nodded. “This is a lot better than quite a few places that I've had to camp in. And compared to just sleeping outside in the rain.”
Verona hummed but refused to say anything more. Kal drew back on her bow and led them down a rocky pathway. A few loose stones slipped out from underneath his feet. He saw Kal make a reflexive move for Anton as he stumbled a little, but he corrected himself before he fell. At the bottom the cave opened up into a small cavern. Anton lit a small fireball and pushed it forward so they could see. About five Green Goblin corpses littered the room. The corpses were dried and desiccated husks, deep cuts evident on their leathery skin. But that wasn't the interesting thing.
In the center of the room lay a strange dried purple piece of flesh. It didn't look like normal skin, if anything it looked like part of a snake. And lying against the wall were three human bodies. Many were wounded while one, a woman, looked to be relatively intact. But their skin, half rotted and dried out, was dark. Far darker than anything had seen before in the world, and Kal with her tanned skin, was the darkest he had seen so far. They looked like they had come from the most remote parts of Africa.
“What's this?” Verona asked.
“This is the other thing that I wanted to tell you about.” Kal said quietly. She pursed her lips as she pointed to the dark person in the corner, the one woman that was still in one piece. “That woman is from Seocuria. You can tell by their dark skin colour. Her name was Farida.”
“Seocuria's meant to be hundreds of miles away.” Anton began. “What are they doing out here?”
There was a good reason why they would travel so far. Kal played with her ear as she looked at the dead bodies. Finally she took a deep breath and spoke.
“They were hunting me. There's a bounty on me being brought back to Seocuria.” Kal became very nervous as she looked at him, a twitch in her hands and eyes. “Three hundred gold coins.”
“Wow.” Anton said, glancing back towards the exit. “No wonder they wanted you.”
Kal smiled bitterly. “Yeah. They had found out I was in Graterious and hunted me. I found out that they were only a few days behind me at a few places.”
Anton looked at the dead body of the Seocurian woman. While she had some deep and rough wounds, clearly from something clumsy that one of the Green Goblin's weapons, one mark, underneath her neck, was clearly made by a sharp blade. And the Green Goblins barely used anything more complicated than a crudely sharpened wooden stick.
“How?” Verona asked. “I don't think it would be easy to track someone like you. You barely make a sound when you move...”
Kal pointed to the purple scaled flesh. “That's all that remained of a Cobra Beast-kin. They can taste the air and follow scents. They used that poor Beast-kin to follow me.”
“They're like a snake?” Anton asked. “They...lick, at the air?”
“Yeah. So they were able to follow the smell that was coming off my clothes. When I left for Atros...They turned up here some time later. And were ambushed by a group of Green Goblins and brought here. They killed and started to eat the men and use the woman to breed more. Then I found them when you were doing your training and...”
“How'd they make it this far if they could be killed by a few Green Goblins?” Verona asked.
Kal chuckled. “I asked the same thing. It seems they got lucky, but they lost quite a few of their group while they were chasing me.” Kal folded her arms. “I don't know where they got the bounty poster of me...I burnt it...I...Anyway, there are bounty posters of me somewhere. Pretty good ones. So, if I'm found out...”
“That won't happen.” Anton said, Verona nodding as well. “We'll make sure of it.”
Kal smiled, an honest smile. “Thanks. They were trying to sign up with a mercenary company in Graterious. I think it was called the...the Red Company. They were going to use my bounty to fund their entry into the company. I think that's where they found the bounties about me.”
“We'll make sure to stay well clear of them. Thanks for the heads up.”
“I just wanted to tell you.” Kal said, making for the exit. “But I don't want to hang around here any more than I have to. Thinking that people want me for gold makes me feel sick.”
“We're never going to let them take you there.” Anton said, brining her in for a deep kiss. When they parted Kal flushed and nodded furiously, bringing both hands close to her chest.
“Onward to Graterious then!” Verona pumped her fist into the air, leading them back into the light.