Only after they had made their way back into the forest did Corbin remember their mission. He looked down at his hand and the ring that was tight around a finger.

“I guess this is the ring. I hope I didn’t break it, it’s not coming off,” Corbin murmured in his own language.

“Oh wow, I can’t believe it took you so long to finally say something,” a voice sounded. Both Corbin and Ilargi jerked to attention and surveyed their surroundings, but saw nothing. “Down here you fool,” the voice continued.

“What?” Corbin said and looked down. There was nothing notable there. Except the ring.

“Yes, that’s right. How are you even surprised. You came because of me didn’t you?” The voice was indeed coming from the ring. What was more surprising was the fact, that Corbin understood what it was saying.

“What are you?” He asked.

“A ring,” it replied.

“I see that. How are you talking?”

“Magic.”

“Right. And the fact that I can understand you is also magic?”

“More or less. When you finally deigned to speak to me, I was able to absorb your language. Now my kidnapper can not just steal me away, but also tell me what to do.”

“I kidnapped you?”

“Well you didn’t ask to take me didn’t you. I suppose you could say steal instead of kidnap, but since I’m sentient I thought this is a correct expression in your language,” the ring said in a somewhat sarcastically pleasant tone. Corbin didn’t really know what to make of the whole situation. Am I doing something bad? Wait a minute, a talking ring?

“Say, do you also understand her?” Corbin asked, nodding towards Ilargi.

“I assume you are pointing to someone, but in case you haven’t noticed I have no eyes,” the ring said. Corbin had a feeling the ring didn’t like him very much.

“I don’t see any ears either,” he mumbled.

“That’s fair, but as I said: magic. I can interact with sound. Anyway, if you can get the other person to say something, I should be able to understand her,” the ring sighed and its bad temper subsided somewhat.

“Hey Ilargi,” Corbin said. She had been paying close attention, but kept silent. I know how hard it is when you are the only one who doesn’t speak the language. He went through his vocabulary. The word was right there, but he didn’t remember how it started. “Taulk,” he said. Ilargi had a confused look. “Hi Ilargi,” he defaulted to easier phrases. She frowned in confusion, but cooperated.

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“Hello Kemen,” then she mumbled some other things, that he didn’t understand, but knew were probably complaints.

“Ah yes, I actually already knew this one. This is Erraskara, the language of Errautsuen Herria,” the ring told Corbin.

“Ooh,” Corbin exclaimed in excitement. “Tell Ilargi, that you can translate for us so we can finally talk.” The ring did so and they went back and forth for a while. Ilargi’s expression went from a frown to wonder.

“She says it will make things easier and that it’s time to return to the zurgina,” the ring said to Corbin.

“What does that word mean? Zurgina I mean.”

“It’s like a wise woman or witch,” the ring said.

“Tell Ilargi, that I’m glad to have her accompany me and that I’m grateful to her for her help and that I hope to continue like that,” Corbin said and extended his arm towards Ilargi. She eyed it with some suspicion as the ring began transmitting the message, but as it went on she became a little flustered and Corbin felt his own cheeks were getting some healthy colour. In the end she took his hand and shook it. Their eyes met and Corbin felt as if his gaze was locked in place by her piercing eyes. The blue-grey depth of them was enough for his breath to catch for a moment. Her black hair swayed in the gentle breeze. The moment only passed after she broke the eye contact. They looked at the ground for a few awkward moments.

“She is saying it’s time to move on. We need to get back to the zurgina,” translated the ring. As they went Corbin took the chance to find out more about his situation.

“I see, so Errautsuen Herria is a land bordered by the Izotal Empire to the west, ocean to the north and the Kingdom of Zikinar to the south and east. Neither recognises the land as sovereign, but due to the mountains that surround most of the land, neither puts much effort into securing the land, since other matters take priority including military action against each other,” Corbin surmised. “So where were we being imprisoned?”

“Ilargi says it was in the Empire. Their group was caught during a scouting expedition,” the ring translated. “She is also telling us to keep it down, so we don’t alarm the whole valley to our presence.” Corbin looked at Ilargi, who eyed him meaningfully. He shrugged and smiled, but talked in a quiet tone from then on.

“Can you ask her,” Corbin said and let the question hang for a moment before finishing it. “Why was she in such a bad mood when we first set out?” The ring was silent for a moment and Corbin felt that he was in some way judged even though it was just a normal ring when quiet. Ilargi was watching him and cocked her head. Why did she suddenly become adorable? As the ring talked her expression grew more sombre, but she replied.

“She says she doesn’t want to talk about it,” the ring conveyed. Corbin looked down and was just about to sigh, when she waved her hands and said some more things. “She also wants to say that you shouldn’t feel bad it, and that it turned out fine.”

Ilargi stepped closer to Corbin and took hold of his hand. Spots of red appeared in her face and Corbin was sure they were reflected in his own. Once again in such a short time he felt absorbed into those eyes. She started talking, but had to clear her throat. “Thank you,” was all she said before releasing him and going back to the road. They spent the rest of the walk that day in silence. There were many things Corbin wanted to ask both her and the ring, but somehow it seemed like the wrong thing to do in those circumstances.

They set up the camp near a river. Corbin was surprised at how well they worked together as they set everything up. There was no need for words and every action was minimal and optimised. Just as he had expected, after they were done eating, Ilargi came over with two sticks. They started with some swings to warm up, then moved on to sparing. Is it my imagination or is she fighting even fiercer than usual? In just a couple of blows the stick flew out of Corbin’s hand. A red imprint of the stick was visible over the back side of his hand. He was no match for Ilargi’s skill with the blade or even the bow for that matter, but that evening even more than usual, there was something deep inside him telling him to try harder. It’s not enough to just not give up. I need to become better. I am up against bows, swords and even magic and guns. The memory of her helpless wounded body in his arms came back to him. He looked at his hands. Have they ever been this callused before? These two hands must protect her. She might protect me most of the time, but if she ever falls, I must be there to pick her up. With those thoughts he lunged for his sword and attacked. There was desperation in his strikes, but it wasn’t just wild swinging. He put everything she had taught him into his swings. His mind was sharp and focused. No way. I’m pushing her back. Then she simply sidestepped his downward swing, moving behind him and lightly tapped him on the back.

“She is saying enough for today,” the ring said after she spoke. Ilargi was stretching her hands and Corbin didn’t know if he just imagined it, or if there was a spark of contentment in her eyes. When Corbin kept watch that night, he did something he had never done before. He glanced around, then stretched and started doing press-ups. He only got to 20 before his arms gave up, but after a rest, he went at it again. When he woke up the next morning he could barely lift his arms.