I could see why the boys loved riding in the cart. It was an extremely smooth ride, with very little in the way of bouncing that didn’t come from the hard-packed earth. I couldn’t even feel Walter’s trotting.

Elizabet leaned against me on the seat. Her warmth was welcome, as was the company. I placed my feet on the rail in front of me and leaned back against the wooden seat. This was good. I had found a family in this weird little world, I was able to converse with my deities, I could cast spells, and I was free for the first time in my life. Free to do anything, go anywhere, and see as much as I wanted. I snaked a hand behind Elizabet, and gave her a squeeze. She looked up at me with a smile, a blush forming on her face.

“So. Where are we going after we get the boys taken care of, Elizabet? I know nothing of this world, and less about the people in it. The two towns I’ve seen so far, I’ve not been impressed with, and I’ve left a slew of bodies in my wake. I don’t think that’s an auspicious start to life in a new world. I want to end the practice of slavery. I doubt there are many who agree with me, like Thaddeus and Blainaut. There are probably more like you; indifferent towards it,” Elizabet shifted uncomfortably, “And there are probably very few, a relatively small percentage, that actively seek to keep the practice alive. Most likely for profit, like Amos. What? What’s wrong?” I looked at her with concern.

“It’s just that I don’t - didn’t - care one way or the other. Until I started this journey with you, anyway. Now? Now I see those three as what they are. Children. Children deserving love and affection. Deserving a chance at life without chains. Deserving a family. Part of me doesn’t want to let them go back to the Lizardfolk.” She gazed into my eyes. “Part of me wants them to stay with you and me, as a family.”

To say I was speechless was an understatement. Truth be told, I stared at her in open-mouthed shock.

She gently closed my mouth and cocked her head to the side. “Is there a problem with that, Ivor?”

I blinked a couple of times, still processing her words. “Um, no…No, not really. It’s just… Just that you’ve known me for what? A couple of weeks? Not even? Elizabet, you know literally nothing about me. Not my likes, dislikes, allergies, irritations, foods I love, foods I hate, favorite music…” I trailed off, as a sobering realization hit me. I had no music. Music. The one thing that I had, back on Earth, that calmed and soothed me; that expressed feelings for me that I had no other way to convey. The one thing I always had around me to keep the demons in my head quiet.

She saw my face drop, and hers grew concerned. “Ivor? Ivor, what’s wrong?” She took my hand in hers.

“I just realized something, Elizabet. I have no music.” I took a deep breath. “You remember how I said that my world was highly technologically advanced?” She nodded, “Well, one of our technologies allowed us to reproduce sound. I love music. It always kept me grounded, kept me sane.” I looked down, “Kept the voices in my head quiet. Kept the intrusive thoughts at bay. Helped keep me from being angry. I don’t know how I’m going to do that, without it. I mean, I have a device with me that has some music on it, but I don’t know how long it will last.” I snorted and shook my head, looking at her. “I’ve got a lot of learning to do, if I’m to survive on Chaia.”

She took my face in her hands and smiled. “Ivor, you’re right. I know nothing about you. I don’t know any of those things. I do know that deep down, under the fear and anxiety, that you’re a good man, with a strong heart filled with love, a man willing to go to the ends of the world for his people. You’re a man of conviction, Ivor. A man who is good. I think that a man who is willing to shoulder the terrible burdens of doing whatever he must for the people that he loves is a man worth following and worth loving. You are, quite simply, an amazing man.” She kissed me softly. “As to how quickly this is?” She sighed, “Life here can be brutal, short, and violent. You saw the Guild. You have seen how little people think of taking another life here. I don’t know about your world, but here, life isn’t seen as terribly precious or sacred. Sure, most would rather work things out, but up top? It’s survival of the strongest.” She took both of my hands in hers, and gave me a piercing look, “I will learn these things about you, as long as you give me the same respect. I had just as good a chance learning magic as I did becoming a whore or a slave. I got lucky, Ivor. You’re probably the only person that has ever seen me as a person worth treating as such. In meeting you, as painful as that first meeting was, I got lucky again. I’m not letting it go. I’m taking my joy where I have found it, and nothing will sway me.”

She kissed me softly again. “As far as music? Well, there is always a tavern with something playing. I know it may not be what you’re used to, but there is music here. Who knows? Maybe you can learn to play an instrument, and make your own.” She smiled, “And you always have me to talk to. I’ve seen you fight, I’ve seen you cry. I’ve seen you love, and I’ve seen you hate. Don’t be afraid to come to me with any of the things going on in your head.” She pulled me into a tight hug, and I sighed softly.

“Hey, you two lovebirds. Get a room.” Walter snorted, sounding very much like laughter.

I chuckled softly, and repeated his words to Elizabet, who blushed prettily. “Anyway, Walter. How close are we to the Lizardfolk territory?”

I felt, rather than heard, a low rumble emanate from the massive beast. “We’ve been in their lands for the better part of an hour, boss. And, it looks like there’s a welcoming party on the horizon. Shall I wait here, or should we meet them?”

“Let’s go meet them. Be respectful, and be polite.” I replied aloud.

“Who are you talking to, Ivor? Has one of your gods decided to speak to you?” Elizabet asked, terribly confused.

“Huh? Oh, no. No, my gods tend to speak to me in dreams and altered states. No, I was talking to Walter.” I explained.

“Walter can talk?” Her face looked simply incredulous.

“Well, yeah. He spoke in my head when we met. Seems he has a telepathic bond with me.” I shrugged.

“So, who are we going to meet?”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“The Lizardfolk. We’ve been in their territory for about an hour.” I rapped on the frame of the canopy and raised my voice. “Hey everyone! We’re here. Boys? Come on up here and sit with us.”

Groggy voices reached my ears, and three little heads peeked out from the canopy. “We’re here? Are we home, Mr. Ivor?” Ahte-tan asked.

“It seems so, son. Walter tells me we’ve been in the area for about an hour or so. Climb up here, all three of you. You can each sit in a lap, and one of you in the middle.” I called back.

Ahte-tan climbed out, and crawled into my lap. Ahte-naah clambered into Elizabet’s lap, and she wrapped her arms around the little boy, smiling. Ahte-ukum sat between us, in the warmest place.

Ahead in the distance, I saw a group of five Lizardfolk approaching. Each had what looked like a long spear in their hands, and they all walked with a purpose towards us. None of them were wearing particularly much, just a strip of cloth for modesty’s sake, and a belt. They were easily a hundred fifty yards away.

“This is close enough, Walter. I don’t want to appear rude.” He stopped and we waited. Blainaut and Thaddeus flipped back the canopy on both ends, as a show of transparency. As I looked around the wide open fields of grasses and late flowers, I spied a crow in a tree and waved. The crow cawed at me, and flew over, landing on the top of the cart. In this manner, we waited for the welcome party to show up.

After about fifteen minutes, the Lizardfolk were at the cart, gazing at us with their yellow eyes, silent as the grave. They hadn’t leveled their spears at us, so I figured we were safe for the moment.

As I was about to open my mouth, Ahte-tan squeezed my knee, shaking his head in minute movements. I stayed silent, while the people scrutinized us, the cart, and the Uror.

The crow croaked and flapped down to land on Walter’s back, drawing all the attention to itself. As we watched, it croaked a couple of times, bobbed its head, and then flew up to perch on my shoulder.

The person in the front placed a fist to their chest, bowed their head, and set off in the direction they came, angling across the great field.

“Follow them, Mr. Ivor. We are welcomed.” Said Ahte-tan.

“You heard him, Walter. Let’s go!” I clutched the little boy tight as Walter lurched forward at a trot.

After about twenty minutes of rumbling across the fields, we came to a rather large cavern. Milling outside were several Lizardfolk, in some rather beautiful and colorful clothes. It seemed the warriors were the ones who were the least dressed. Probably for ease of movement. All stopped to stare at the strange sight before them. Some shifted to a defensive posture when they saw humans, and for good reason.

Walter rumbled to a stop about ten yards from the group, and snorted. “Hey, boss. I’m kinda hungry. Do you mind letting me loose? I won’t go too far, and you can always call for me. I’ll hear you from anywhere.”

Nodding, I stood, setting Ahte-tan down in my seat, and climbed down. Several spears were leveled at me, with harsh commands to stay put or stay back. Ignoring them, I set about letting Walter loose from the cart.

“Want me to remove the harness too, big guy?” I started stroking his side.

Leaning into me, he said “Please? And don’t stop what you’re doing, it feels pretty good.”

I laughed, and set to undoing the harness, ruffling his fur underneath, and bade him goodbye. He lumbered off to eat and drink his fill. I leaned on the crossbar of the cart, waiting for someone to show up.

The warriors backed off, seeing that I was not a threat. Whispers went through the crowd, and presently, a wizened old Lizardman shuffled out of the cavern.

His scales, in blue, gray and red, were dull with age, and his eyes slightly cloudy. He leaned heavily on an intricately carved staff, topped with an ancient wing from a crow. He approached within five yards of the cart, and I stood tall, my hands clasped in front of me. The crow called out, and flew to land on his staff.

He looked up at the crow, who was cawing up a storm, then leveled his milky eyes at me.

“Crow says you have gifts. Where?”

“They are in the cart, Sir. One moment.” I turned to Elizabet. “Elizabet? Would you toss me my bag?”

She smiled and nodded, setting Ahte-naah down. She climbed up on the seat, and dug around in the cart.

I will admit, I was a little awestruck at her rear. It was framed nicely in her cream-colored habit. At least, it looked like a monk’s habit to me.

Presently, she retrieved my bag, and tossed it to me with a grin. It seemed she was well aware of where my eyes were. I slung the bag on my shoulder and opened it. “Sir, I have a goodly amount of meat from a Dire Bear, along with a cured pelt. I also have some meat from a deer, wrapped in its skin. Are these acceptable gifts for you and your people?”

He took a step back at the mention of the Dire Bear, then leaned forward, looking around. “I see no gifts. Do you lie? Do you take the Haarthuu for fools? Speak now!” He rapped the staff hard on the ground, causing the crow to squawk.

“No, Sir. I have it all here. One moment.” I reached into my Bag, and withdrew the rolled up pelt first, dropping it on the ground before him. The Lizardfolk, or Haarthuu, as they called themselves, all stepped back with wide eyes. I smiled, and began removing the dried and smoked meat, which we had wrapped in ten-pound bundles, and laid ten of them on the pelt. “Is this enough, or do the Haarthuu require raw meat as well?”

“Raw? You have raw flesh in your magic? This would be of great value to us.” He bobbed his head twice.

I smiled and pulled out the large deerskin which I had stuffed full of its own meat. I lay it next to the pelt, and bowed at the waist. “Gifts for the Haarthuu.” I said.

The old lizard shuffled forward, and poked at the deerskin. I saw a smile at the corners of his mouth, and he nodded. “Gift is good. Why are you here? We will not give any more of our people.”

I smiled and turned to the boys. “Kids? Come on down here.” Ahte-tan and Ahte-ukum climbed down. Ahte-naah hugged Elizabet, and scampered after his brothers. Ahte-tan and Ahte-naah stood on either side of me. Ahte-ukum peered out from between my legs.

I smiled and looked at the Elder before me. “I have brought three wayward sons home, Sir. Ahte-tan, Ahte-naah, and Ahte-ukum.”

One of the Haarthuu stepped forward, their hands clasped together at their chest. “Ahte-tan? Is it truly you? Have you come home?”

“Mother!” All three boys ran up to the person, and hugged her. They wept and held each other for what seemed like hours.

“I thought you were all lost! Your father said that you were chased by a Garuul and got separated. We were all afraid that you were eaten.” She said tearfully.

“No, mother. There was no Garuul. Father made us wait by the big stone in the woods while he hunted, and the next thing we knew, we were being taken away.” Said Ahte-naah.

“What? No Garuul? Why would he -” She was interrupted by a large, red-eyed male who shoved her roughly aside, and then thrust a dagger into the chest of Ahte-naah.