We wake and pack up what we had. Looking around as we discuss what to do standing at the ocean's edge, I stay looking at the forest.

[morgan] “well, we could try staying back at the last city.”

“you know if azgorad would kill me on discovery?”

[morgan] “probably, as I understand it everybody hates warbugs.”

“understandable, ignorant but understandable.”

[morgan] “the only other problem is that I don’t like the idea of going through this jungle.”

“wait, it’s not a forest?”

[morgan] “no, pretty sure this is a jungle. I mean just look at how dense it is, not to mention wet and hot.”

“so that’s what makes it a jungle? Why have an entirely different word for it?”

[morgan] Shrugs her shoulders. “I didn’t make up all the names for things. Besides jungles are worse than forests”

“well I don’t care for how wet it is.”

[morgan] “but the heat is fine?”

“yeah seems fine to me… what is that footprint?”

[morgan] “what, oh that’s… I don’t really know for sure, think it was something bipedal but I ca-”

[unknown] “I am two legged, never been the best on the footprints, unfortunately.”

We both stand straight and go back to back. Looking around. His, small form appears before us. Coming out of the air with green scales and snout.

[kobold] “so I can only understand the one of, human why did this warbug fight with you?”

[morgan] “w-wait you’ve been here that long?”

[kobold] “yep. Could have killed you in your sleep if that’s what was wanted. My master however wanted to know more of what was going on.”

[morgan] “your master? Who’s your master?”

[kobold] “answer me first and I’ll give some answers back.”

[morgan] “moon, you good with-”

“we don’t have much reason not to tell him the basics.”

[morgan] “alright, so we were with other warbugs to study a barghest after capturing and killing it. The force we were in was actually ambushed or trapped by more barghest and the two of us have been running pretty much since then.”

[kobold] “and fighting the other warbug?”

[morgan] “well he wanted to kill me and lead moon back to his people… moon didn’t like the idea of me dying.”

[kobold] “then my master is interested in him, and a little in you… what was your name again?”

[morgan] “morgan, you never asked. And why would we go with you?”

[kobold] “the pleasantries are secondary to my service. Now it’s good to meet you both as a defecting warbug and one that can translate is… unique. Are you both ready to go?”

“another one looking to dissect me?”

[morgan] “that wasn’t much of an answer.”

[kobold] sighs “yes, yes fine. My master is immensely powerful in galunsha and would like to harbour the only known defector of the warbug people as his guest. You see in galunsha the unusual and otherwise hated peoples can live… if they have the good sense not to cause trouble for their hosts.”

[morgan] “without harm coming to either of us?”

[kobold] “of course! As I said, you’d be guests.”

[Al] “many that are in power lie my friend.”

If I could groan, I would’ve at hearing al after so long a silence. I see morgan looking at me, just staring… humans are so odd at times.

[morgan] “well?”

Is she, wait she’s waiting for my agreement? I nod.

[morgan] “very well we accept.”

She was waiting on me… are we, friends? Did she just want to keep from upsetting me? Questions to ponder, not to mention al wasn’t wrong.

[kobold] “Splendid! Come here and I’ll bring us right over!”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

We walk up to the little lizard and he sets his hands on our arms then a sudden growing burst of blue light fills my sight before dissipating again as I’m standing on a stone-paved street. I see foot bridges and deep channels of stone where water flows below. Tall stone and wood buildings set at fairly even distances from each other. The whole space having and orderly look over every part of it.

[kobold] “come, this way to your lodging!”

Leading us to the side alley where there’s stairs that lead us up the levels of the building. The alley we’re in almost could be a street at the last city. We walk up to the second story, one more accessible above us. The little creature pulls keys out of a pouch and opens the door. Then after leading us in fiddles with more keys in the lock before finding the one he wants and gives it to morgan.

[kobold] “your key to the dwelling. All ground level entrances in the city proper are businesses or other such places… no bad explanation, there are no dwelling entrances at ground level in the city proper, there that’s a better explanation yes?”

[morgan] “yeah your second way was better. Uh, are we just going to stay here? How, who’s your master?”

[kobold] “ah yes! So here are four tokens.” Handing us two gold tokens each, inlaid with a tiny green gem in the eye of the shrouded figures head placed above an embossed image of a platter filled with food below. “now those will each get you a meal of your choice at any place in the city that sells meals and food. My master who is the hidden monarch will see you for lunch tomorrow. In the meantime enjoy this residence, relax, go out where you like and eat what you wish to. Oh, one more thing” *he reaches into another pouch and pulls out two medallions that similar to the coins has the image of a shrouded figure with a crown that I missed on first look and seeming to come from or behind the head was an open humanoid hand. “be sure to wear these openly, they mark you as guests of the monarch”

I take mine and feel a, jolt or surge run up from my hand. Like I just had a very good night's rest but only for the arm, and only for a moment… strange.

[morgan] “so judging by that feeling these are magic?”

[kobold] at the doorway looks back. “oh yes, basic enchantment so that you can’t lose them”

[morgan] Morgan throws the medallion out the door over his head. "so is there a word or- oh, good it comes back to the hand."

[kobold] “when it leaves your hand. Enjoy your time” with that his body gets enveloped in blue light and he’s gone.

“that was odd.”

[morgan] “do not piss off this monarch.”

“what? Why so worried about it?”

[morgan] “that kobold was using a powerful teleport spell without reagents or somatic, or verbal elements.”

“whatt does that mean?”

[morgan] “he could probably kill us easily with his magic if he wanted too.”

“then why are we here if this monarch commands such a powerful individual?”

[morgan] “I’m not sure, plus he had this guy doing a chore of bringing us in. Either we’re important or followers of this power are not that rare for the monarch.”

“that’s… ok, I hope this monarch is as… pleasant as this” I motion to our temporary housing. “Would suggest.”

[morgan] “agreed. Still we should see what these tokens will get us.”

“and scout the city in case we need to leave suddenly?”

[morgan] “we wouldn’t get away unless that’s wanted I think. Anyways, lets go eat.”

We walk about the city; the streets are big enough to fit a small cart and person. The water ways however are at least three times as wide and further down steep walls than I care to think about. Eventually we find a tavern hall. And while everyone looks at us once they see the medallions it’s as if we’ve become mundane. No disguise needed we just go as ourselves. The tavern hall, or main room I would call it smells of cooked fish, oddly spice cooked meats and mixed fruits all on top of a combination smell I can’t place. We show our coins and they offer us a feast. Multiple courses. Morgan having samples of everything they have on offer while I get assorted meats. By the great mother it’s been so long since I could eat just meats. Meats glazed in honey, covered in sauces both spicy and sweet. Others given a taste I couldn’t even properly put into words as I got to feast on so much… this, this was the sort of cooking that made leaving my people start to seem worthwhile on its own. The old souls never mentioned how incredibly good these soft-skins could be at cooking food… was it humans or the as ubiquitous shorter kind that I saw all over this city. I paused to look around, focus on who was here. It was the shorter ones; they were in the back cooking I got to glimpse. Maybe that’s why they never had enemies? Who wants to fight them when they will cook such good food for you?

We eventually finish and head back to our place. Sitting down. Contented.

[morgan] “I can’t remember eating that well since I was a little kid. By all the gods that was good.”

“I haven’t had food that good.”

[morgan] “since?”

“Never, I’ve never had food that good.”

[morgan] “oh. Uh, well alright… I feel like sleeping so.”

“yeah I’ll see you in the morning.”

[morgan] She nods and walks over to one door shaking her head. “damn, our own rooms to sleep in”

In the morning we’re both stuffed to the point of not eating. That combined with waking up late means we don’t have long before we get a knock at our door, the kobold teleports us over and we walk from a room of smooth stone shaped into halls to a garden that’s walled in by verdant plants. In a stone alcove someone sits. They motion us over to the table with one hand. Arm covered by a white sleeve with a thin black glove.

[hidden monarch] “please sit” his body shrouded by the alcove as it’s framed by the bright light of the sun. His hands extending from pure blackness.