After seven wonderful days of being with Ulrika, I’m sad that it’s coming to an end. I don’t know what fate will throw at us since our grace period is up. It’s early in the morning, and my mind and body are on edge about what might come to call us back to duty.

To add to my worry, I await Ulrika’s call to enter her father’s study. Her mother is in there too, listening to Ulrika talk about me. I hope the seven days of exposure to her family will win me their love, especially taking her as my wife. If the worst is to come, which would be unlikely, according to her, they can’t deny our love.

Ulrika’s conversation with her parents starts becoming long, so I rest an ear on the door to hear what’s taking so long. All I can decipher is one muffled voice near the door. I’m tempted to crack open a space to listen to the conversation.

“Hey,” a maid says from my left, and right as I place my hand on the handle. “Is everything alright, sir?

“Yes. Everything is... fine,” I say, crossing my arms and taking a step back from the door. The maid raises an eyebrow and walks over to me. We stare at each other for a moment, then she reaches for the door handle. “Wait.” I grab her hand before it touches the handle. “Ulrika is speaking with her parents.”

“Oh, about what?”

“Me, most likely. But, Ulrika has been in there for some time, so I don’t really know anymore.”

“Let me see.” She pulls the left side of her hair behind her ear and rests it on the door. I catch a glimpse of the shape of the curve of her ear. It ends at a point, but it isn’t as sharp as an elf’s ear. “Oof, I think I just heard your name come up.”

“What is she saying?”

“Uh, she just stopped talking. Wait... someone is walking over to the door.” The door swings open before she can pull away. She trips into Ulrika’s arms.

“Vanessa?” Ulrika says, lifting her back up. “Were you trying to listen through the door?”

“No,” Vanessa says, looking at me, but only for a short moment. Ulrika glances between us and ends on her. “Okay, I was, but I couldn’t hear anything.”

“Don’t make me laugh. You may be half an elf, but those ears can hear the hardest of things.” Vanessa begins to chuckle, which makes Ulrika smile. “Kaio, they’re ready to see you.

Ulrika lets go of Vanessa’s hands, then offers me her hand. I take it, and we go into the room. Vanessa closes the doors behind us. I look to see what kind of things are in here to be called a study room. It’s a small library with three globes sitting in the right corner. Directly in front of me is her parents. They’re sitting in a throne-like chair. The backseat goes beyond their height, and the width extends beyond the size of their bodies. I feel like I’ve been summoned to an audience with a king and queen. Her father has long braided ashen-colored hair. His beard is the same color. Her mother has green eyes like Ulrika and black hair that’s tied back into a bun. She’s almost a near-spitting image of her mother.

“Kaioson,” her mother says, getting out of her seat. Ulrika suddenly lets go of my hand, making me suspicious of its unforeseen action. She looks at her mother, then kinda glances back at me.

“Yes?” I say, looking back at her mother. Her mother gives me a tight hug. I’m surprised by it and unable to hold her back due to my arms being locked by the hug.

“Thank you for saving my life.” Her perfume flies into my nose. My nostrils tingle from the sweet smell.

“Your welcome, ma’am, but you’ve said this about three times now.”

“That’s because I’m so grateful. And call me Evelina. You don’t have to be formal around me.”

“Oh, understood.”

“Kaioson, I got a question for you.”

“What is it?”

“How much do you love my daughter?”

“Momma? Did you not just hear me summarize my time with him? Of course, he does,” Ulrika says.

“I love her with all my heart and soul,” I blurt out. Their eyes snap on me for their full attention. “I desire to see her happy each day I’m with her, even during the tough times we’re together.” Ulrika’s mouth jitters when she smiles. I grab her right hand and bring it up to kiss her knuckles. “My duty as a man, as her devout lover, is to support and love her with all my heart.” She switches her breathing to her mouth as her smile increases. I hug her tightly to show her how much I mean it. “That is how much I love her.” Her warm tears run down my neck. I don’t know if she’ll feel embarrassed if her parents see her tears, so I slightly turn away from their gaze.

“Does that satisfy you, momma?” Ulrika says, using her shirt to wipe her eyes. “Do you see how perfect of a man he is?”

“He sure is,” she says with a smile. “What do you say, Herrold?

“Aye,” he grunts with a nod.

“One more thing,” Ulrika adds, moving away from me. “Please, don’t freak out.”

“Oh?” Evelina says.

“Kaioson, and I... Kaio...” Ulrika pauses to look at me. “Wow, this is hard,” she laughs. It takes me a moment to realize what she’s trying to do. I nod my head, hoping it’ll give her the courage to announce it to them. “Kaioson and I are married.” Her mother doesn’t react in the way I was expecting. She looks at us with a straight face. Her father does the same thing.

“We know.”

“What? How?”

“Your door may block out sounds from human ears, but a few of our elf maids heard both of you two’s moans.” Ulrika covers her mouth and hides her face against my chest.

“That’s so fucking embarrassing! I thought we were quiet.” Her parents laugh, causing me to chuckle.

“Hey, if it makes you feel any better, your brothers did the same with their wives.”

“Mom! Geez! I didn’t need to know that.”

“Sorry, Ulri, but it was a matter of time before our youngest child has her moment.”

“I can’t believe this,” Ulrika whispers. She cowers away from her parents, who continue to chuckle. Her father sits up out of his seat with his arms open out.

“This cause for a celebration and a ceremony,” he shouts in high spirits.

“No,” Ulrika says with a quick half-turn to see her father. “Don’t.”

“Why not?”

“Ulrika and I agreed to have our marriage officially done when the world is rid of Nite,” I say.

“Plus, we’re expected to be called back into action today,” Ulrika adds.

“Oh,” her father says, dropping his arms down. An almost notable frown comes through his thick beard. Her mother does the same thing.

“Don’t be sad, you guys. Telling you Kaioson is my husband is all I really cared for.” Ulrika lets go of me to hold her mother’s hands. “But, I promise you’ll get to see your daughter’s wedding celebrated, momma. We’ll come back when the world has settled down.”

“Okay, Ulrika.” Her father stands by her mother, then Ulrika gives him a hug. His height towers over her as I gaze up at him with my eyes. Now I understand where she gets her tall height from.

“Whenever you’re done dealing with this arising issue, you come straight back to us,” he says.

“I will. Without delay,” Ulrika says.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“Kaioson.”

“Yes, sir?” I say, straightening my back to attention.

“You protect my daughter and bring her back in one piece.”

“I will.”

“And, Ulrika. You watch his back.”

“Always,” Ulrika says.

Ulrika and I walk through the main hallway on the trek back to her giant room. The day is still young, judging by the bright blue light showing through the windows to our left. Since this is the day after our seven-week vacation, she wants to train with me before anything happens. This will be the first time in weeks we train since the time we began to pursue Olly’s bounty.

I’m looking forward to getting active again and having my muscle burn with ache. Since we’re husband and wife, this will mark our very first married workout. I wonder if she feels the same excitement I’m feeling. There’s a small smile on her face. Her eyes quickly glance at me, then her smile turns into a grin.

“What?” She says, giggling.

“I was wondering what that smile was before it grew,” I say, using my finger to tickle under her jaw.

“Many things.”

“Like what?” Right as she is about to answer me, someone bangs on the door from outside. She presses her arm against my chest to stop me from walking. “What’s up?”

“That better not be what I think it is.”

“What are you talking about?” A maid from a room to our right heads over to the door to open it. She cracks it open first, then swings it wide open.

“Hello, ma’am. How can I help you today?” The maid says, blocking my view of who she’s talking to. Only their red curly hair is visible. “Oh, they’re here.”

“That better not be her,” Ulrika says. The maid glances over her shoulder to look at us, then moves out of the way for the person to see us.

“Fuck!” Ulrika’s voice echoes throughout the hallway. A few maids behind us gasp from the sudden loudness. She storms off to the right, heading towards the room. Haleema jogs over to me while I watch Ulrika enter her room.

“Is there something wrong?” Haleema says. I sigh, knowing why she said that.

“Ulrika is upset,” I say, leading Haleema to a nearby bench.

“About what...? Is it because of me?”

I nod yes, then say, “And many other things, I bet. For a week, we enjoyed our time, free from anything Nite-related or potential family issues. It was awesome.” Haleema turns towards me, puts her legs up on the bench, and folds them back under her butt. “You’re expected yet not wanted arrival is what we dreaded.” She scoffs, looking away from me, eyes closed and with a smile.

“Am I really that hated?” I’m timid about answering that truthfully. “Well, at least you’re talking to me. I guess you don’t hate me that much to avoid me.”

“I don’t hate you at all.”

“It’s okay, Kaioson. You don’t need to explain what your feeling towards me.” I slouch back, stuck on what to say. “How are you feeling?”

“Hmm?”

“The poison that nearly killed you. Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, I’m good.”

“May I give you a quick physical checkup?”

“Sure,” I say, fixing my posture. Haleema gently holds my hand that bruises when I fist-bump her. Her thumbs glide back and forth over my knuckles, then she presses down on them.

“Any soreness?”

“None.”

“Let me see your neck.” As she rests her fingers on my neck, I turn inward so she can see. She rubs her index knuckle, then touches the spot with her thumb. Her gentle hands almost tickle me. “Did the plant take away your scar?”

“Yeah. It’s some powerful stuff.” She moves away with her other hand touching her stomach where the splinter stabbed her. “Is everything okay?”

“Hmm? Oh... I’m fine. I was curious to know if it’ll take away this scar. I hate looking at it every time I’m shirtless.”

“I don’t know if it will. You’ll have to ask Ulrika’s brother, Kendrik.”

“Ugh, never mind. I’ll do it another time.” She sits up, then pops her knuckles, creating a ripple effect. “Kaioson, I need you and Ulrika to assist me on an infiltration mission.”

“Is your team unavailable?”

“They’re not really my team, Kaioson.”

“What do you mean they’re not?”

“I’m a soloist. I just tag along with them from time to time.”

“So you’re telling me when you asked me to be your Paladin, you were truly asking for a partner?” She scoots closer, pressing her knee into my right thigh.

“Yes,” she says in a gentle voice. “Will you help me out on my task?” I look away to think about Ulrika’s attitude toward dealing with this mission. I know she’ll hate this, but will it be a problem for Haleema?

“I’ll help.” She bites down on her lower lip, then gently smacks my shoulder.

“Great.” A second later, Ulrika slithers to my right, giving Haleema a blank stare. “Hi, Ulrika. How’s it going?” For a few seconds, Ulrika stares at her, then she looks at me.

“What are we doing?”

“Infiltration mission.” Ulrika’s squints, then lock her eyes on Haleema.

“Where?”

“Tawaragata.”

“Tawa..tawa... what?”

“Ta-war-a-gata,” I say, spacing out the syllables and flicking the side of her ass cheek. She chuckles and then whispers to herself, pronouncing the name correctly. “It’s a city north of Kromagia’s border wall, separated by a mountain within Empress Tan Da’s dominion.”

“The city has been taken over by cultists, and Tan Da’s forces haven’t been able to subdue them,” Haleema says, walking in circles. “We need to know why there’s an unpenetrable stronghold and dismantle it.”

“Sounds like a suicide mission Haleema,” Ulrika says with her backhand resting against Haleema’s forearm. Haleema stops walking in a circle with her eyes fixed on the ground. “Knowing how these cultists operate, this will end in a blood bath.”

“It won’t. We’re gonna operate in the cover of the night on a new moon.” Ulrika crosses her arms. I can tell she’s done talking with her as her smug look increases.

“Ulrika, do you mind gathering our gear?” I say, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. Her attention gets redirected to me, and her arms slowly return back to their side. She nods her head, then walks back to our room. “What will we be doing for the rest of the day?”

“Scouting from the mountain.”

“Huh? How? We won’t be able to see down that far.”

“I got a little device that’ll show us what’s going on,” she says, then winks with a grin.

EARLY EVENING

After a few hours of training with Haleema’s grace, Ulrika and I return to the main hallway. Haleema opens a portal to our destination. It shows what seems like an open view from a high elevation somewhere on the mountain. The ground is flat yet rocky, with grass growing from the cracks. In the background is a sea of clear blue skies. Cold wind rushes out from the portal, making my hair swing behind my head. Ulrika moves to my right while looking through the hole. She raises her hand up between us with her palm facing it.

“Where are you taking us with all this wind?” Ulrika says, forcing the wind back into the portal.

“A nice flat spot on Mount Neetona,” Haleema says, hopping through. Her hair flails all over her head, then she conjures a magic sequence with both of her hands in sync. The wind stops, creating a silence that tingles my inner ears. “Here we go. Nice and calm.” She walks forward while Ulrika and I look at each other.

“Ready for this?” I say. She adjusts my modified neck collar she made for me during our break.

“Sadly, yes.”

“Keep your spirit high.”

“I’ll try.” Something catches her attention behind us, so I look to see what it is. “Mom?”

“Are you guys about to leave?” Evelina says, jogging over to us.

“Yes. Do you need something?”

“I just wanna give my daughter and son-in-law a hug before they leap into danger.” Without hesitating, Ulrika laches her arms around her mother. Their hug lasts a few seconds then Evelina gives me one. “Come back safe and sound.”

“We will,” I say.

“Are you guys there?” Haleema says from the other end of the portal. “Oh, never mind. Take your time.”

I put my hand into a fist and give Ulrika a gentle bump on her stomach. She responds with the same hit but extends her arm far enough that I have to take a step back, or I’ll lose my balance. I get ready to bump her again, but she holds my fist with both of her hands.

“No, Kaio,” she says, giggling.

“So childish,” Evelina scoffs, walking off.

“Come on, let’s go.” We walk side by side through the portal, and it collapses right behind us. I sigh as I continue to visualize the hallway we were in.

“Back at it again,” I say.

It’s just like Haleema said, we’re stationed on top of the mountain. To my right, I see Tawaragata. The city is fogged in a mist of smoke. Over on the other side of the mountain is Kromagia in its excellent glory. Its walls stretch around the entire country. All twelve entrances into the land have one seven-hundred-foot, black stone sculpted guardian.

“The Kingdom looks amazing up here,” I whisper with utter awe.

“It sure does,” Ulrika says, surprising me. “Kaio, what city am I looking at?”

“Shaco.” She echoes the name a few times in a whisper.

“And we are far up north, right?”

“Correct.” Haleema kicking small rocks off to my right catches my attention. She drops a silver rod into the ground. It slams through the rock as if it was thrust down with intense force. In her left hand is a thin golden cone, which she clicks on top of the rod. “Haleema, what is that?” The length of the top piece looks to be as long as her arm.

“One second.” She looks through it, swinging the device to point down at something. “Okay, come take a look.” I get down on one knee to examine what she’s directed me to view. It’s a small transparent lens. “You’ll see everyone down there.”

“Really?”

I slowly inch my left eye forward. Everything looks a bit blurry, so I open my eyelids to focus. I see two giant muscular size cultists adding wood to a dying bonfire. Their ashy green arms are exposed.

“Damn, more orcs in their ranks,” I say in my head. “Haleema, what is this thing?”

“An eyehancer tool. It uses a series of glass lenses to zoom in a great distance.”

“Let me see,” Ulrika says. She puts her eye right next to the hole, then starts moving the device in different directions. “Holy cow, there’s a lot of them down there.”

“We need to make a note of every detail we see. We’ll be up here for a few days.”

“What!?” Ulrika jumps up and looks all around her. “I hope you have a portal to somewhere we can stay in ’cause I’m not sleeping in the open.”

“I have a tent set up below us at another flat. We’ll dwell in that.”

“A tent?” Haleema points between us then flick her finger down. Ulrika walks over to the edge of the cliff to look over it. “Is that what I think it is?” She hops down out of my sight. I wait and listen for something to confirm her suspicion.

“Ulrika?” I say.

“Kaio! Come here! This tent is huge from the inside!” I jog over to the end of the rock to see what type of tent she’s looking at.

“Kaioson,” Haleema says before I reach the end.

“Hmm?” I say.

“I’ll take the first shift for the next two hours. Once I’m done-”

“Kaio,” Ulrika yells, waving me to come down.

“One sec,” I say, raising one finger at her, then looking at Haleema.

“Goodness,” Haleema giggles. “Ulrika reminds me of an excited child.” She resumes looking into the device, observing the city. “Once I’m done, you’ll take the next shift, then Ulrika. So, get some quality time with her before we have to get serious.”

“Alright. I’ll see you later.”

“Later, Kaioson,” she says with a chuckle.

“Kaio, get your ass over here,” Ulrika says in a growl. I slowly look down at her as I tilt my head. I’m awed by her aggressive voice, then I get more astonished when she gives me a cute smile while waving. “Please?” I take one leap to land all the way down to her. I plan on using force magic to break my fall, but she softens my landing using a miniature vortex.

“My ass has come,” I say.