I woke the next morning in less pain than I thought I would. I came to consciousness in a forest of evergreens. Everything was green, I was warm, and the smell of Christmas Trees surrounded me. I inhaled deeply, enjoying the scent. I absently wondered when Mark would show up and if Mom need some help with the ham when somebody moaned next to me. I froze, memories coming back in bits and pieces.

The grenade. The god. The messages. The chicken man. The rabbit girls. The woman. The woman in my arms. And I was naked. Oh no. I groaned, cussing my dumbass self.

"Come on, Stack." I complained. "It ain't even been one day and you're already sleeping around. Christ alive." I took in a deep breath, the Christmas trees filling my nose and sending me back home for a fleeting moment. A pair of soft lips met my own. Now that I wasn't pain addled and somewhat had my facilities back, Avalina's lips tasted like gingerbread; warm and sweet, with hints of earth and a kick of heat. I pulled the wood elf closer to me, deepening our kiss. She accepted me, her tongue needy and her mouth warm. She moaned, putting her hands on my chest and pushing herself away. She shook her head, breathing heavily.

"No, we can't. I have..." she swallowed, seeming to wage an internal war. "I have a husband." She admits. My face went wide with horror and I moved away from her a bit.

"Oh, shit. Did we..." Avalina shook her head, coming closer. I tried to back up some more, but I was on the edge and if I moved anymore, I'd fall off. Avalina rested her head on my arm. She had her eyes closed, and her pale face looked pained. I fought the urge to reach out and comfort her. I didn't want to get too attached to anyone here. I had my mind set on the water, a nice cabin with room for friends to visit but far enough out of the way that I didn't have to worry about people coming around.

"No. I would have stopped it anyway. It's just..." Avalina trailed off. I lost the fight and reached out to touch her face, her smooth skin warm under my hand. She sighed and leaned into my touch. "He hasn't looked at me like that or touched me in decades. I tried to control myself, I really did, but..." She trailed off again and I stroked her cheek some more.

"Thank you for telling me. I do not want to be the reason a family falls apart." Avalina scoffs, her voice dripping with hate.

"He has mistresses. Three of them that I know of. He even took Tilly's first time from her, the sick bastard." Her scowl deepened and disdain spiked her words. "If I could leave him, I would. But it wouldn't do for a Duke to divorce his wife, now would it?" I looked at her, mouth open in shock.

"You're..." I nearly howled. Avalina scowled at me and threw her hand over my mouth, muffling my words. I nodded and she let go. "You're a duchess?" I whispered. She nodded and snuggled into my chest. She traced her small, soft hand down my chest and made circles around my pectoral. Her fantastic, angelic voice that normally sounded like a soft breeze blowing through the trees in summer now dripped with sarcasm and loathing.

"The Duchess of Rilmon, Lady Avalina Winterfoot. The Lady whose own husband paid to have her kidnapped and sold off." My face contorted into a snarl and a growl rumbled deep in my chest.

"What? He's why you were in that camp?" She nodded, looking down at her body and not at me. I couldn't tell if she was lying, but I didn't really care. I was going to get her home and beat that man senseless come hell or... an idea formed in my mind. A slimy, devious, genius idea. An oily smile formed on my face as the idea grew. I lowered my hand to her chin and lifted her face to look at me. Her swirling amethyst eyes were misty with tears, clouds of sadness hovering low over a misty pond.

"If he's such a cheating fuck wad and wanted you gone anyway," I leaned down and kissed her lips once, as softly as I could. "you should come with me. Say fuck it, leave that life behind." If frowned. "Hold on, before you answer that one, answer this one. Why are you still loyal to him? I'm not saying this as the guy holding you in his arms, I am asking this out of concern for your well being. Are you ok? Is it safe for me to take you back to him? Why can you not leave him?" Avalina seemed to consider it for a moment.

"My daughter. I mentioned the maid, Tilly. Her mother came to our house twenty years ago, and his infidelity is not a new thing. Tilly and her mother are human. He..." She went quiet. My scowl was so deep it almost fell off my face. If what she was saying was true and the elves here lead longer lives than humans like in the stories back home, then it was possible for entire generations of humans to come and go during an elf's life.

"Did he..." My voice was raw with emotion. The image of the girl in pieces on that street flashed in my mind and I tightened my grip around Avalina's waist. She gasped and looked up at me, fear in her smoky eyes. I schooled my expression to the best of my ability, taking a deep breath and forcing my rage down. "Did he rape his own daughter?" Avalina went stock still, rigid as a board. I felt, rather than saw, the nod. I breathed deeply, trying my damndest not to get angry. I failed. Avalina grunted as my hold on her waist tightened even more.

"Ah, Micheal." She gasped. Her small hands clenched on my chest. "You're hurting me." I stopped tensing, relaxing into the bed and Avalina. I pulled her close but kept my arms loose around her.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize I was tensing that much. This strength..." I ran out of words. I couldn't say anymore without giving away the fact that I'm an alien blessed by a fat redneck god. The sun got a little brighter and the birds sang a little louder. I groaned.

"So, why can't you just leave him? Not to be blunt, but why can't we have sex? You're hot as fuck and are clearly into me. So why not go all the way?" Avalina shook her head.

"I am under a spell. That so long as Invos possesses something of mine, I am unable to leave him. I must remain faithful or experience agonizing pain, or so I'm told. I never found anyone worth testing it on." She blushed and kissed me softly. "Kissing seems to be passable, but I don't know about anything beyond that, and I would rather avoid taking that chance. It is possible to break the spell. I'm so close, and he knows it. It's why he had me kidnapped. To break the spell, rather to deactivate it, I have to get everything that is mine out from under his roof. I have found everything of mine in that house and moved it to a different location, one under my name, not his. Everything but my daughter." I snarled.

"It's decided, then. We are going to Rilmon, kidnapping Lily Winterfoot, and making our way to the ocean without anyone being any the wiser." Avalina scoffed, but leaned into my chest nonetheless.

"And how, O Great Hero, are we going to accomplish that? You can't even sneak into a bandit camp unnoticed." I chuckled.

"You're right. But we're not sneaking into a bandit camp. We are simple farmers, coming to the city to see some family. Your sister just had her first child, and we are going to see her. You can disguise yourself with glamor like earlier, and I've never heard of Rilmon until yesterday, so nobody knows me. We get through the gate, make our way to the house, sneak in via a forgotten passage, grab the girl, dip the same way, and we're gone before sun-up. I can carry both of you if need be, or we can get a cart, it doesn't matter. That's the basic plan." She chuffed.

"That is a stupid plan. Stupid enough that it might just work." She leaned up and pressed her lips to mine, kissing me tenderly. Her lips tasted like gingerbread and they left my lips tingling when we parted. Her cloudy irises swirled as they looked into mine. A message popped up, ruining the moment.

Quest Update: Accompanying Avalina

With new information come to light, you have decided that the manor in Rilmon is not safe. You have offered to make a safe home for Avalina and her daughter, Lily, away from her abusive husband.

Reward for completion: It doesn't matter just fuckin' do it, you moron.

Cost of Failure/Refusal: If you refuse this I am smiting you, resurrecting you, then smiting you again.

I sighed heavily. "This fuckin' world." I muttered as I pulled Avalina into me, kissing her deeply. The quest prompt blinked a confirmation as our lips met. She smiled against me and sighed happily, throwing her arms around my neck and pressing her body to mine. I could feel her against me, and I moved a hand down her side, resting it on her hip. She shuddered in my arms, gasping for breath. She broke our kiss, her eyes bright and smokier than usual. They screamed her desire as they traced my body. She giggled as she saw how my body had reacted to her touch.

"Mmmm, much as I want to," Avalina said, her voice husky. "until I have my daughter and we are safely away from Invos, you don't get to have me." I opened my mouth to protest but she shut it with a kiss. "I have always wanted to see the ocean." She said against my lips. I sighed and looked at her. Somewhere outside, a rooster crowed and the blacksmith started banging. The village was starting to wake.

"Maybe somewhere like this." I mumbled, mainly to myself but I knew Avalina was listening. "But instead of the delta, it's the ocean. Find a nice little spot on the beach, do some fishing, maybe some farming. If we rob Dickbag McGee for all he's worth, I'm sure we can be set for a few years. Eh, better safe than sorry. Only some slight pillaging. No fighting, no killing. That's for damn sure."

I disentangled myself from Avalina with a heavy sigh and rose from the bed and froze. My body didn't hurt. I tested my arms. They moved like normal and without any pain. I dropped to the floor and into a push-up position. No pain. I repped out twenty push-ups in fifteen seconds. No pain. I transitioned into a squat. My legs complied without complaint. I shifted my weight just to be sure, but nothing. My body felt like normal. I whirled on Avalina, who was sitting up and watching me, the sheet pulled up to her chest and one of her pale legs sticking out. Her jade hair fell in a sheet around her face.

"Jesus, you're going to make this really hard, aren't you?" She giggled, the sound high and glorious to my ears. Her eyes latched onto my not-so-dangly bits and licked her lips.

"What's the point if I can't have a little fun?" She asked, freeing herself from the bed as well. Shaking my head, I walked over to where I had thrown my shirt the night before and stopped dead.

"Huh. Well, what else did I expect from this fucked up place? My clothes are magic." I looked down at my freshly laundered fatigues. Even the jacket was back, fully repaired. My boots had been freshly shined and maintenanced like the private had barely made it to inspection. The clothes themselves carried the faint scent of... honeysuckle.

"That does it." Avalina said, coming up behind me. She crossed her arms and stared down at the clothes as well. "You are telling me everything when we leave. You already know my secret, it is only fair." I nodded.

"Fair enough. I haven't exactly been quiet about it." I grabbed my undershorts and pulled them on. I frowned and looked back down at the boxers. I could have sworn I put on a pair with red vertical stripes on them. So why were these one's lime green? I shook my head and scoffed, grabbing my pants. Something jingled. Fishing though one of the thigh pockets, I found the coin purse Avalina had given me. I smiled. Gotta keep that safe. I returned it to its pocket and finished dressing before turning to find Avalina standing by the open door, dressed and ready to go. She smirked at me.

"Ready, slowpoke?" She asked. I smiled and reached out to touch her as I passed. She squealed and moved away, a huge smile on her face. We finally made it out into the hallway and down the stairs. Martha, the white chicken person from last night, clucked as we came down the stairs. She dashed through a door and slammed it behind her.

"Damn, she really doesn't like new people, huh?"

"No, she doesn't." Marley said, coming through the same door his wife had gone through. "Glad to see you up and moving. I figured you would have been in bed all day, the noises you were makin' last night." I waved his words away.

"Naw, I'm just a little bitch who doesn't like pain. Mark woulda been able to help y'all unload." My smile fell from my face as the destroyed face of my best friend flashed in my mind. I forced a change in topic. "Speaking of, what was in that chest you were struggling with, Ava?" Avalina raised an eyebrow at my nickname for her but went along with it.

"All the money the Adler Brothers had taken from the towns they hit, including this one. The chest itself was..." She caught herself before slipping up. "Well, it doesn't matter. What matters is that everyone gets their money back." Marley groaned.

"That's going to be a pain in my wattles. I'm sure nobody kept records, either." Avalina shook her head.

"Not that I could tell."

"Alright. Let's get some food in you, Micheal, then it's back up to the camp for us." A delicious smell wafted from the kitchen and my stomach roared with delight. Marley gaped at me, his beak wide with shock, and Avalina laughed. She laughed hard and loud, doubling over and heaving great sobs of laughter. I smiled and chuckled. It was a little funny, and come to think of it, I haven't eaten anything since I got to this world. This would be my first meal here. I couldn't wait.

"Thank you, Marley. I hate to be a bother, but could I get a glass of water, please?" He frowned at me.

"Just straight water? Not tea or coffee?" My eyes lit up.

"You have coffee here?" Marley nodded. "I'd love a coffee with milk if that's possible." Marley nodded and turned to Avalina.

"Whatever tea is on is fine by me." She said, smiling at the chicken man. He smiled at the both of us and walked back through the door. I gestured to a table with two chairs and we made our way over to it. Going full Southern Gentleman like my Mama taught me, I pull out the chair for the Lady and helped her get settled. She put on a mock air of nobility.

"Why, thank you, good Sir."

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"You are welcome, my Lady." I said with a slight bow. She giggled and slapped my arm.

"Now, shut up and sit. I've got some questions for you." I paled a little at her words but sat down anyway.

"I'll answer as best I can. I will save some stuff for the road, for when I know there really are no ears listening. Just in case." Avalina nodded.

"Smart. If you would prefer, I can wait until we are on the road to ask my questions." I shrugged.

"It's up to you. We might not leave today, depending on how getting the others back to town goes. If I'm as exhausted as yesterday, we won't be leaving until tomorrow." Avalina gaped at me, her mouth hanging open in shock. A little chicken dude, about half the size of Marley but looking exactly like his father came running up to us, two cups in his hand. He placed a steaming cup of tea before Avalina. She didn't notice. I took my cup of coffee from the boy with a word of thanks.

"Here, kid." I said, flipping him one of the gold coins Avalina had payed me for saving her. The boy stared at it, eyes wide with wonder.

"Really, mister?" I nodded.

"Yeah, dude. Keep up that speedy work, ya hear? But remember, careful is fast." He nodded vigorously, his tiny little wattle, which is apparently what the thing on the chicken's face is called, flopping wildly. He dashed back to the kitchen and I turned to Avalina. She was still staring at me.

"What?" I asked, taking a sip of my coffee. I moaned as the glorious liquid passed my lips. I wasn't much of a coffee guy back on Earth, I was more partial to the Monsters and the energy drinks, but I could appreciate a good cup o' joe. And let me tell you, this was the best cup I had ever had. It was indescribably fresh, and the bitterness was cut perfectly by the milk. I thought about asking for sugar, but decided against it. Sure, my Mississippi Delta can grow sugar cane, but can this one.

"Hey, Ava, how much does sugar cost here?" She started out of her shock and picked up her tea and took a sip. Her eyes went wide as she tasted it. "Oh, that's terrific."

"I know. This is a damn good cup, and I was wondering if I could ask for some sugar. Where I come from, it's common for even a backwater place like this to have sugar, but I don't know about here, and I'd rather keep my ignorance to myself if possible." She shook her head, making a groaning noise.

"Gods above. How can you know so little about the region you live in? Sugar is extremely common here in the Archikin Delta. They grow almost all of the sugar that the Empire uses. Everyone with a plant affinity is sent to the farming villages, where they work day in and day out to keep the earth alive and healthy." Her face darkened as she spoke. "It is a terrible life, with even worse conditions."

"So, that's a yes on the sugar." She glared up at me, then her face softened.

"Yes, they should have some sugar here." At that, Marley came bursting out through the door to the kitchen, holding the gold piece in his hand. Wing? I don't know, it looked like a wing but acted like a hand. He marched up to me and thrust the coin back at me.

"We cannot accept this." He said, bowing to me. Once again, I waved his words away.

"Sure, you can. I gotta pay you for this meal, the room last night and probably again tonight, plus the bath, plus this is some awesome coffee. Do you have any sugar?" Marley looked stunned at my words, just as Avalina had. I frowned. Had I underestimated how much a gold was worth?

"Micheal," Avalina said, sipping at her tea. "what you just described would cost a gold coin at one of the high end hotels in Rilmon. The kind where they wait on you hand and foot. Out here," she shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe ten silver, at most?"

"If that." Marley agreed. "Seven silver and three copper to be more precise."

"So, I'm overpaying is what you're saying."

"Very much so. One gold coin could buy half this square and still have the money left over for a family to live off of." I whistled.

"That's a lot of dough. Alright, if you won't take it as payment, take it as a tip. The kid was prompt with his service, and he was polite, too boot. Good service should be rewarded with a tip." Marley started to shake his head, but I wrapped his wing around the coin. "Take it, dude. I don't need it, and it looks like this village could use a windfall or two." I pointed at Maurice, who was still passed out at the bar. He hadn't moved all night. "Also, get that guy some help. He needs it."

Eventually, Marley nodded his assent. "Since you seem so insistent we have this, fine. I'll keep it. I don't like it, but fine. It'll help the village in the long run. I'll go get you some sugar, sir." Marley bowed and left. I frowned. I hadn't meant to make him change the way he acted towards me, I just wanted to reward good service and good coffee. Avalina scoffed and stirred her tea.

"I have my questions for you, Sir Micheal." Avalina said, her stormy amethyst eyes boring into mine. I took a sip of my coffee.

"Shoot. And you ain't gotta call me 'Sir'. Micheal's fine." Avalina looked confused at my words, but she pushed past them.

"Sir Micheal," Avalina said, smiling at me cheekily. "Firstly, why would a man such as yourself want to live as a fisherman? Surely a noble or two has invited you into their house, much as I did." I glowered into my cup. How much should I tell her? What should I tell her? I decided on honesty being the best policy.

"I've had my fill of war." My voice was quiet but firm as I spoke to the coffee. It made it easier to get the words out. "I want to go somewhere warm and comfortable and spend my time fishing. Maybe find a wife and start a family. Leave that life of hatred and violence behind me. It's why I..."

"Why what?" Avalina looked at me with those swirling, intelligent eyes. I shook myself, not allowing me to get lost in her eyes again.

"That'll come on the road." She seemed a little miffed, but accepted it. Marley came back with some sugar in a little container and a small spoon. I smiled up at him.

"Thank you, sir. Oooo, this is gonna be awesome" I wiggled in my chair, playing up the excitement as I spooned some sugar into my coffee and stirred. I picked up my cup, took a whiff, and drank deeply. It burned my tongue and throat, but I fought through it. I swallowed and let out an 'Aaah' of satisfaction. "Perfection." Marley nodded, picked up the sugar, and left.

"I am satisfied with that answer." Avalina said. Her eyes narrowed at me. "For now." I grinned and nodded.

"For now." The kid returned, holding two plates of food and placed them in front of us. Both were pilled high with eggs, some kind of meat, toast, another kind of meat, and some fruit. The woman peeked out from behind the door.

"Thank you, ma'am." I called to her. She turned to me, her white feathers going red. "The coffee is delicious." She squeaked out an answer I didn't catch and ducked back behind the door. I closed my eyes and folded my hands in my lap. Out of habit I started praying to the Christian God like I used to, but caught myself and switched over to John Boy. I finished my prayer and opened my eyes, picking up my fork and digging into the eggs. I made sure to use as many table manners as Mom had taught us. I was eating with a duchess, after all.

"So," I said, swallowing my bite of what tasted like bacon. It was delicious, but the meat was blue and had this weird film over it, kind of like an orange has over the actual flesh inside. It didn't detract from the experience, but it sure was weird. "what's your next question?"

"Why 'Ava'?" I grinned and took another bite.

"Liked that one, did ya?" I said after I swallowed. "I couldn't remember if you told Marley your name, but I figured an alias would be necessary, at least for a little while. Especially if we want a good alibi and cover story. It's close enough to make sense, and common enough that the average person won't suspect anything." She blushed a little.

"I didn't dislike it. And you're already putting your half-baked plan into action?" I nodded.

"Mhm. Even if we don't go through with the plan and we go our separate ways, this gives you something to work with. A new life, a new start, a new name. That's what I'm doing." She considered my words for a moment, eating absently. I smiled as I watched her. She was so graceful, now that I had the chance to observe her. The sun came in through the window at just the right angle to ignite her hair in green fire. It shone and sparkled like a sea of gems as she moved. Little strands that escaped her pony tail would occasionally become visible as they floated around the top of her head. My gaze moved from her hair to her ears. The sun was barely touching her left ear, illuminating the point. I desperately wanted to reach out and caress her ear, to feel the point under my fingers. I grimaced, fighting my left arm, but it was already in motion. The synapses were firing, carrying the command to touch her ear to my hand, and it eagerly obliged.

My hand reached up and caressed her jaw, my thumb running over her chin. Her skin was so smooth and soft I thought I was touching a living cloud for a moment. My hand slid further along, fingers tangling in her silky hair. It was amazing, long and silky smooth. It was perfect, despite what was sure to have been weeks of terrible treatment. I ignored that conundrum and focused on my goal; the tip of her ear. It quivered under my fingers, flicking against them at the slightest touch. I saw the tips flush pink and felt their heat as I stroked the tip. The heat of the sun had made her hair warm, and I could feel its warmth as I stroked her ear. Avalina's own heat met my hand from below, and the two came together in waves of fantastic sensations. I singled out the feeling of her ear, how warm her skin was and how the tip twitched when I rubbed it a certain way.

"Micheal." Avalina gasped. Her face was one of pure bliss, her food forgotten. She was squirming in her chair as she leaned into my touch. Her gorgeous lavender eyes sought mine and I saw her need, her desperation. This was exciting her. "Micheal." She gasped again. Her chest heaved and I couldn't tear my eyes away. I am only a man, after all. Her chest bounced as her breaths came quick and fast, and I could feel my own excitement growing. "Please, stop. Not yet. I need..." she begged, closing her eyes and groaning in bliss as I found a good spot on her ear. "Oh, gods, that feels amazing." She shook her head, trying to dislodge my hand. I kept it firmly where it was, pressed against her ear and tracing it. "Come on, Ava. Focus. I need to get Lily first. We can't..." I stopped rubbing her ear and withdrew my hand, grinning inside at her use of my nickname.

"I..." I cleared my throat and took a sip of coffee. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I really tried to stop myself from doing that, but with the sun and your fantastic hair..." I shook my head. "It's no excuse, I know, but, gods, you're beautiful." Avalina rose from her seat and came over to me, her face and chest flushed with heat. She sat in my lap, laying one arm across my shoulders and the other playing with my hair. She leaned in close and whispered,

"If I weren't married, I'd take you right here and now, modesty be damned. An elf's ears are her most sensitive and private parts, you know. It is extremely rude to touch another elf's ears without permission." She pressed her lips to my ear so that only I could hear her next words. "But you can touch mine whenever you want." She laid a trail of kisses down my neck, across my jaw, and finally, my lips. We kissed deep and slow, each enjoying the feeling of the other. Finally, I broke the kiss. I kissed her three more times in quick succession, then patted her thigh. I pulled her plate and fork over to my side, then did the same with her tea. She smiled at me and patted my shoulder.

"You're quite the gentleman, aren't you? Kind, considerate, and a great kisser." I barked out a laugh as I took a bite of toast.

"What can I say? My mama raised me right. She always said," I took on a high falsetto, sitting up straight and acting all proper. "'I'll not have hooligans at my table, young man. Mind your manners.'" I went silent as I thought about my mother, slumping back into my chair. She would never get to meet my wife and her grandchildren. She would never know how grateful I was to her. I felt my lip quiver as the emotions came roaring up. I fought them down, holding the lid on the box. I'd deal with that when I got to the ocean. Let the water wash all the bad shit out to sea and lost to the depths. Yeah, that sounds good.

"Micheal," Avalina whispered. She gently grabbed my chin and turned my head to face her. I saw genuine concern in her eyes when they looked into mine. "are you alright? Not just physically," she grinned and tapped my bicep. "clearly your body is fine, I know that first hand. I mean you. As a person. Are you alright?" My eyes burned as I fought to keep the tears from falling. I nodded and took a sharp breath.

"Yeah, I'm good. I'll deal with it when I get to the ocean. Or it breaks my soul and comes spilling out in waves of rage and pain. Whichever comes first." I smiled at Avalina, who did not smile back. She looked concerned and hurt and confused, but mostly concerned." I kissed her on the forehead. "Road." I said, nodding.

"Road." She agreed. She leaned forward and took a bite of her food. I slipped an arm around her waist, helping to support her.

"So, you do like Ava." I said nonchalantly. Ava flushed a deep red and looked down at her food.

"Like I said, I don't dislike it. I will permit you to call me that name." She said imperiously. I grinned at her.

"Yes, Lady Ava." She punched me in the chest and I feigned injury.

"Ah, I've been punched! Someone get the doctor!" Ava giggled.

"Last question, then you've got to go. You'll probably respond with 'Road'," Ava sighs. "but I am going to ask anyway. Who is Annabeth?" I choked on my last bite of egg and blue meat. I grabbed my coffee and drained it, clearing my windpipe. I coughed a few times and turned my strained face on Ava.

"How'd you hear that name?" I gasped as I recovered.

"You were talking in your sleep last night. You kept mentioning her and that you were sorry." Fear flooded my mind. What else had I said? Did I mention anything about Earth?

"Did I say anything else?" Ava shook her head.

"Mm-mm. That was it. Just Annabeth and sorry." I nodded, relieved.

"Ok. You were right, I will respond with Road to that question. That is probably the one that requires the most 'Road' of all of them. I do not want to open that can of worms around anyone that I don't absolutely trust." I patted her thigh again and kissed her forehead, then her nose, then her lips. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go bring some people home." I reached into my pant pocket and grabbed the coin purse. I pushed it into her hands. "I recommend that you organize whatever you need for the trip to Rilmon. The only requirement I am making is that you get a map. I trust you with the rest." Ava nodded, a fierce look coming over her face.

"I'll have it all by the time you get back." I smiled down at her.

"Atta girl. Love the attitude. Also, don't worry about an ox or a horse. I'll pull the cart." She grinned up at me.

"I was planning on it. I'm not walking all that way." Ava hopped off my lap with grace, spinning on her heel and looking up at me, hands clasped behind her back. She was swaying a little and batting her eyelashes up at me. Her smoke filled lavender eyes looked at me coyly from under said lashes.

"May this Lady ask for a final good-bye kiss from her Hero?" She waltzed closer as she spoke. I sighed, stood, and pulled her into a deep kiss. Ava wrapped her arms around my neck and clung to me like a life-raft. I broke the kiss.

"Ok, I really do need to go. And damn, woman, keep it under control. I'm having a hard enough time as is." I separated from her and picked up our plates and cups. I walked them over to the door and knocked. The kid answered, using both wings to open the door. I smiled down at him.

"'Sup, little dude. Here are our plates and cups from this morning. Figured I'd save you the trip." He grinned up at me and took the offered cutlery. Ava looked at me questioningly.

"What?"

"So not only do the people in your land give workers additional money for good service, but you then proceed to do part of their job for them?"

"Kinda." I said as I walked by her. I grabbed her small hand in mine and continued walking. She gasped, but went along with it. "Tipping culture's weird. Only we Americans do it, and that's because we don't pay our servers a living wage. Most of them survive off the tips they make. I had a friend who worked a pizza joint down in Meridian, gods, that place sucked. Anyway, he would somehow pull in, like, three-four hundred bucks in a night. I was like, 'Bro, how the fuck are you managing that? You work at a shitty ass Domino's in butt-fuck nowhere.'" I looked at Ava, who was staring at me wide-eyed. "What? I did say I would answer your questions honestly if I could. Tipping and the Great American Way aren't related to my family or why I'm here, so it's fair game." We were walking down the street at this point and I stopped.

"Shit, I was supposed to take Marley with me." I said. I whirled around, picking Ava up and setting her down on my other side so she would keep holding my left hand. The shocked look that seemed to be becoming her normal face stared at me. I smiled and started walking back towards Marley's Big Cluckin' Inn. Right as I was about to mount the steps, Marley came bursting out the door. I smiled up at him.

"Hey, buddy. Sorry I'm an asshole. I got to talkin' about America, and, well, you know how it is when a patriot gets going."

"No, I don't. What's America?" I smiled widely at the chicken man and pointed to the flag on my left arm.

"America is the greatest country in the world, bro. Destined to spread Democracy, Freedom, and the Great American Dream to the rest of the world."

"Never heard of it. Thank you for not leaving without me." He continues on before I can derail the conversation more.

"Honestly, dude, I was. I straight up forgot I was supposed to go with you, but I could probably do it myself. I really only started struggling when we got to the delta and you could..."

"No." Marley cuts me off. "I was given a quest to see those souls properly tended too and buried. I will see it done." I nodded.

"Yessir. Let's get going, then. I lost track of time yesterday, so I have no idea how long it took to get back. Hopefully, we can make it back by lunch."

"We're not taking Striders" Marley asked. I looked at him and shrugged.

"Can't say I planned on it, no. I was just gonna pull the wagon again. Use it as training, you know?" Marley shook his head sending his wattle bouncing.

"You're insane." I smiled at him.

"Yes. Yes, I am. Now, come on. Let's go get some corpses."