I rolled over and quietly went into my tent. I couldn’t handle being outside with everyone at that moment. I set up all three sleeping bags, got ready for bed, and lay down, trying to sleep.

I no sooner lay down than I heard four sets of feet coming in. Oddly enough, I also heard the croaking laughter of the crow. I looked up from my bed to see my three boys and Elizabet, who had the crow on her shoulder.

“Mr. Ivor? Are you okay? Are you sad for your home?” Ahte-ukum asked, his hands fidgeting. He looked at me with his golden eyes worriedly.

I simply couldn’t lie to that little face. “Yes, little one. I’m okay. I am just sad for my home. The proper word for it is ‘homesick’. Understand that I now know that I am so far away from my home that not even the stars look the same. I could be anywhere in the universe right now. I can’t point to any of the stars and say ‘That one. That one there is where my home is.’ because I simply cannot tell. I can’t recognize any of the constellations, I can’t see the galactic arm of my galaxy, and there are two moons. All of this is a little much, and I miss my home, even though there was little for me there. My mom and I got along, but we were still distant to each other, and my two sisters and I never really talked. I’m all alone in this world. I’ve met you five, and I care for you all, but I’ve literally only just met you all. You especially, Elizabet. We’ve known each other for what? Thirty-six hours? And you three? Five? Six days? Listen, I care for you boys immensely, make no mistake about that.” I scooped them all into a hug. “And I will never stop fighting for you.”

Elizabet knelt next to me and put her hand on my shoulder. “Ivor. You aren’t alone. Blainaut and I are here, too. I don’t know if I’ll be able to see these three the way you do, but I’m going to help you, no matter how long it takes. I’ll learn from you on the way, and I’ll teach you what you’re missing with this world in general, and magic in particular. For example.” She turned and got herself undressed, and slipped into her sleeping bag. The crow simply perched on my boot. Turning back to me, she said “Here, on Chaia, nudity isn’t the taboo subject it seems to be in your world. I don’t know what set of circumstances existed for that to be a thing, but it simply isn’t here. You will be best served getting over it. I’m tempted to crawl in there with you four; if only for the massive amount of warmth you give off, but I don’t want to offend. Like those three, I’m cold-natured. Your warmth, even through this much cloth, is impressive.”

I swallowed, trying to keep my eyes on her face. “While I won’t say that having you in here with us wouldn’t be welcome, I’m not sure it’s prudent. I can’t promise that my sleeping self would keep his hands to himself, for one thing. Secondly, is it wise with these three young, impressionable minds? For two adults with some level of attraction between them to share a bed with the children?”

Ahte-tan piped up “Mr. Ivor, I remember our mom and dad sleeping with all of us together. It wouldn’t be anything unusual for us. Especially once we got back home.”

I blinked at the boy. I highly doubted he understood what was going on. I started to open my mouth, but he cut me off, saying “Besides, I can tell you two want to mate. The smell is obvious to us.”

The crow began to croak her laughter again from my boot. I turned bright red, and raised the sleeping bag over my face. Elizabet had the decency to at least look embarrassed. I cleared my throat. “Son, I, uh, I need you to understand that that really isn’t something one just says. Not in human society, anyway. I’m not mad, just felt it necessary to point that out. Whether Elizabet and I wish to mate, or will mate, that is our business, and nobody else’s.” I stole a glance at the woman, seeing that she had turned red from her forehead down to at least her upper chest, which was, thankfully, concealed from view.

Ahte-tan looked at the floor, ashamed. “I’m sorry, Mr. Ivor. I thought something like that would help you maybe not be so sad about your home. I’m sorry.”

I pulled the boy into a tight embrace. “It’s okay. I know you didn’t mean any harm. You’re trying to help, and I appreciate that. It shows me that you’re a really good person, Ahte-tan. But next time you perceive something like that, ask one of the people in private. That way, nobody gets embarrassed, like we did.” Releasing the child, I looked around and the four. Sighing, I said “Looks like it is bedtime. Come on in here, if you’re coming, and we will get some sleep before tomorrow.”

The boys got ready for bed, and crawled into the sleeping bag with me. I lay on my back and thought for a bit as I heard Elizabet get comfortable in her own sleeping bag. I sighed again, and looked over at her, her back to us, less than an arm's length away. I grinned and reached out, taking hold of her sleeping bag, and pulled her over next to us. The squeak of surprise she made was absolutely adorable. “Stay warm, Elizabet.” I rolled over and laid a protective arm over the boys, feeling her shifting around to wrap her arm over me. In this manner, the five of us fell asleep rather quickly.

While we slept, the crow awoke and silently took the form of The Great Mother. She had a head of waist-length curly midnight-black hair, crystal blue eyes, prominent cheekbones, full lips, and a mischievous smirk across her pale face.

She silently stepped to the beds, and kissed the foreheads of the three lizardfolk children. “My children, you will be safe with this family. Be comforted.” Looking at Ivor, she caressed his bearded face. “You, my Champion, shall do many great and wondrous things. Terrible things, at times, but all great and wondrous.” She ran Her fingers through Her champion’s hair, soothing him as only a Mother could. Ivor’s restlessness ceased, and he fell into a deep, restorative slumber. Moving to Elizabet, she smiled. “You, girl, are meddling with a man that you lack the capacity to understand. Will you become a Lover? A Partner? Or merely become his Student? Time shall tell if you will succeed in your desires. Nonetheless, I wish you comfort and health.” Stroking Elizabet’s brow, she smiled as the young woman settled into a deep, comforting sleep.

Her task done for the evening, she walked outside. Gazing at the sky, she said “You can come out, now.”

A man, gray haired and powerfully built, stepped out from behind Ivor’s tent. Leaning heavily on his staff, he too, gazed up at the stars from his single eye. “So. How long have you known of my presence, Lady?” His voice rumbled like a winter’s avalanche.

“Since My Champion’s first arrival to this place, Old Man.” Her lilting laughter filled the air with warmth, and she turned to face the tall, broad-shouldered Wanderer. “Since I called him here. I knew you and the rest would follow. You could find a home here, you know. You were forsaken in your world, but here? Here, you could find a new, permanent home. A home where the magic won’t ever die. My Champion could become Yours as well.” She placed her small hand on the chest of the large man.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“He could,” The man took her hand in his own hand and kissed it. “But he isn’t one of mine. He and two of my Sons have a much closer relationship.” His voice, gravely and deep, became tinged with sorrow.

“Then let him become Champion to a new pantheon of Gods here on Chaia. You deserve that much, Vegtam. You all do.”

He smiled “Yes, my Lady. I suppose we do.” Their forms shimmered and where once stood a man and a woman stood a wolf with a crow upon his back. Silently, the wolf padded off into the night.

I awoke to the sound of birds chirping and the smell of cooked venison. It seemed Blainaut had started the fire, and made breakfast. The boys had already awoken, and left the tent. I opened my eyes to see Elizabet watching me.

“Um. Good morning, Elizabet. Did you sleep well?” Once again, I struggled to keep my eyes above her neck. Her predilection for nudity was disconcerting. I swallowed visibly.

“Hello, sleepyhead. Yes. I slept well. Better than I have in months. Years, probably. I already know you did, too.” She smiled disarmingly.

“Okay. I’ll bite. How do you know that yes, I did sleep extraordinarily well?” I smirked, knowing there was no possible way she could know that.

“No, you didn’t bite, unfortunately. You did, however, sleep right here for the past three hours.” She gestured to her prodigious chest, and I unwittingly followed her hand, catching a full view of the mountains she carried around under her shirt.

I swallowed, unable to take my eyes off of her body. “I slept there?”

“Peacefully, yes.”

“For three hours?”

“Like an exhausted babe. Acted like one, too, for most of it.”

Her soft laugh helped me tear my eyes from her chest, and allowed me to focus on her face. “What do you mean, I ‘acted like one’?”

She grinned and rolled over, facing away from me, and pulled on her clothes.

I simply stared at her in shock. “Elizabet. What did you mean by that?”

She looked at me, her face crimson, and smiled. “You’ll see.”

I sat there, dumbfounded. I couldn’t recall a thing after I passed out. I had slept better than I ever had back on Earth. I watched as she almost pranced out of the tent. I tossed my clothes on and stuffed my sleeping bag away. Wait. There was only one sleeping bag in the tent. How had I not noticed? I looked around, and saw the other two packed neatly by the door.

I must have slept like a boulder.

Shaking my head, I gathered the three sleeping bags and went outside to stuff them into my Bag. “Boys? Would you please take the tent down? Thank you.” I looked over at the fire, with Blainaut tending it. He seemed to be rather focused on the flame, and the pan of venison and mushrooms. I sighed. I probably would not get any answers.

I set the Bag down and pulled out the wood I’d collected the day before, and the dagger. Elizabet stopped running her fingers through her rough hair, and came over to watch me.

“So. What I’m doing is constructing a cart. A four-wheeled cart that we can use to transport goods in. It will be balanced and exceedingly easy to push or pull, even uphill and down. I have already Duplicated and shaped the wood I’ll need. Next will be the iron banding for the wheels and the bearings, plus the springs. I’d like this to be as comfortable as possible. Do you understand any of what you see or hear so far?”

She nodded “I think so. I’m assuming you’ll Duplicate the knife enough times to make the banding, bearings and springs. What I don’t understand is how you’re going to fit all these things together without rivets or nails.” She looked at me, with confusion plastered across her face.

That’s another spell I’ll show you.” I handed her a rock. “Can you Duplicate this for me? It’s not a terribly important item.” I watched as she concentrated, and a second rock appeared in her palm. She looked unsteady. “I can see that takes a fair bit out of you. Perhaps the rock was too big. I apologize. It does show me that you have the capacity, though. So. I will Duplicate and Fuse the wood and metal together.”

“Fuse? What does that mean?” She looked at me, a little unsteady.

I pulled some meat from my Bag and handed it to her, which she gratefully accepted. “Look at your ring. That isn’t some fancy gemstone setting, Elizabet. I dare you to find where the ruby ends and the gold begins. They are Fused together. They’ll never be separate. I will be doing that to the cart. Wood to Wood, Wood to Metal, and Metal to Metal. The cart will be comfortable for all of us. Let me show you.” I began working on the cart, Duplicating, Fusing and shaping parts as needed.

Slowly, a medium sized, canopied wooden cart began to take shape before us. Before noon, I had completed the cart, and consumed nearly a pound and a half of dried meat to do it. By this time, the camp had been completely packed away, and everyone was looking at me and the cart in wonder.

“What? What’d I do now?”

Blainaut was the first to recover. “Ivor, I’ve seen many carts in my day, but I have only seen springs on carriages. This is a luxury.”

An idea popped into my head. “Speaking of luxury. The canopy is the pelt from the Dire Bear, which I’ve waterproofed, and both the ‘driver’s seat’ and the inside of the canopy are lined with the pelt as well. The inside will be nice and comfortable. We can carry a lot this way. The front of the cart pivots properly, allowing for better turns, and the yoke is long enough for a single horse, and I can widen it for other beasts of burden as well. Or one of us. As well-balanced as this is, I think I could market this, as well.” I smiled broadly.

The kids climbed in and got comfortable, followed by Blainaut, who settled down by the boys. Elizabet climbed into the driver’s seat, and motioned for me to get moving. I laughed and took my place behind the hame and began pushing, the cart moving easily.

In this manner, we covered several miles before nightfall again. We set up camp, foraged, ate, joked, laughed and argued for days. Elizabet and I taught each other more magic, while Blainaut taught the boys more math and geography.

Until, that is, we came to the outskirts of a walled city.

“Nogogard City. Ivor, we are less than two days away from the Territory. Time to load the cart.” Blainaut’s voice was a little hoarse from the road dust.

Elizabet wrapped her arms around one of mine. “Ivor, I hope this city is safe. I could use a bath, too.”

I pulled the cart off the road, and climbed into the back, and proceeded to unload the meat, Duplicating a large amount of it. I also packed in several of the full pelt, which I had Duplicated several times over by now.

“Boys? Onto the seat in front. Blainaut and Elizabet? Stay on either side of the kids. Here we go.” Pulling the now heavy cart back onto the road, the six of us headed into Nogogard.