Chapter 39

"Are you alright, son?" Cedric asked as they emerged from the bedroom.

"Just working things out, I'm a little spooked," Tobias admitted.

Cedric smiled warmly.

"This is part of growing up, part of becoming a man, and you've become a fine one. You're doing your service; now, we all wish it was different, but that doesn't change the truth of things," he affirmed, taking a long pull off his pipe.

Tobias sighed, "Every sorcerer owes the kingdom their service. I just...wish I had more time. I don't even know what to take with me."

"We'll you'll need a fine pair of boots, but I can help with that, and I believe Granda has a gift for you from his youth, don't you?" He asked, turning to the older man.

"I do at that! I'll be just a minute," Darius rose and went to leave.

Tobias held up his hand.

"Just a minute. I know you're all worried about me; you obviously heard me arguing," Tobias began as Gwendolyn drifted in from the kitchen.

"You'll be fine, love," she said, kissing him on the forehead.

"That doesn't mean I'm not going to be taking risks, but I wanted you to meet someone before I go. I've got an edge," Tobias said.

"You mean Riley, of course," Darius beamed with pride.

"Hello," She projected out to all of them.

Cedric dropped his pipe and reached for the poker near the fireplace.

"She's… did she bind you son?" Gwendolyn went pale.

"I swear by my spirit and by my magic that I haven't bound your son, nor has he bound me. We've made a magical compact to share our power but nothing more. All I want is to see him succeed," Riley said quickly, as it

appeared the family was marshaling for war.

They all, seemingly at once, relaxed.

"It's funny how well that works," She mused.

"Nothing sinister that thinks would mar their soul that way. It might even break them from their magic," Tobias explained.

"Shouldn't you know that? You're obviously a thinking beast. It seems I got my silver's worth, at least," Darius chuckled.

"I'm no Einstein, but I'd like to think I've got some smarts. I'm learning a lot right now and kind of been thrown in the deep end of the pool," Riley replied.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

They looked at her, confused.

"Riley's from a world without magic; at least part of her is. She reincarnated here out of the greater astral, before being captured and sold as a companion. She doesn't fully understand how our world works yet," Tobias explained.

"It's been a wild two weeks. I'm still missing my thumbs," Riley admitted.

"Oh, you poor thing, this must be just awful for you," Gwendolyn cooed.

"It's not so bad. You've all made it easier. I'm really sorry to have kept this from you, but at the beginning, I intended to escape, and this was my ace, my edge. Then it just kind of took on its own inertia." Riley explained; still the guilt echoed within.

"That explains your trials," Cedric reasoned, "I know you're good at what you do, son, with the way you study, but…"

"I'm not that good, or rather, I don't have that range of affinity," Tobias finished. His father nodded.

Darius walked over to Riley and bent down to get closer to her level.

"Thank you for helping my boy and going with him. I'm truly sorry for the cage lass."

"You were the first people that were nice to me; it's forgotten," Riley replied.

Darius moved down the stairs only to return a moment later with a cloak and a fine pair of boots, rugged and unadorned, with thick, heavy soles.

"It's going to be an adaption from what you're used to, but I intended them as a gift for you anyway after the Noble canceled the order. Don't worry; the guarantee he paid covered the materials," Cedric said.

"It's time to go soon, isn't it?" Riley could feel the time slipping away.

"Yes, it's near enough to four bells, and it wouldn't do to be late," Tobias replied.

Riley nodded.

"I've some bread and cookies for the journey. You can keep it in your satchel, love. I'll wrap them up," Gwendolyn said, disappearing into the kitchen.

"I might be able to help with that; bring it here?" Riley offered.

"More surprises?" Gwendolyn asked, returning with a wooden tray.

Tobias took it and kneeled, holding it steady for Riley.

Riley put her paws on it and focused intently on the bread and cookies, using her will to tell it where to go.

They vanished away while an inventory screen appeared within her vision, showing the newly stored items.

Tobias boggled.

"What did you do?" He asked.

"I used my inventory space. I've got an astral pocket; it'll keep it fresh." She beamed with pride.

"You're just full of surprises, but the tray?" Tobias asked.

Riley referenced her overlay, and sure enough, it was there occupying its own slot.

"Sorry. Observe, there is nothing up my sleeve!" She proclaimed.

The tray appeared out of the ether before her.

"I see what you mean about giving him an edge. She's a rare and fine creature, son; there's not many in the second tier like her, I'm certain," Cedric boggled.

"There's none like her that I know of," Tobias replied with pride, taking the cloak and boots from his grandpa and then disappearing back into his room.

Gwendolyn smiled, "I can see you've been good to him, but you'll look after him, won't ya, dear?"

"I lost my parents when I was twelve in my old life and my grandmother six months before I died. It's felt good to have a family again, even if I'm only the family pet. You've been kind, you've stuffed me to the gills, and you've raised a fine son. I'll do my best, I promise." Riley affirmed.

"You're more than that, dear. You helped him through his trials, and you'll help each other through what's to come. You're a part of us now, for good and all; you come back safe, too." Darius said.

"Hear, hear!" Cedric replied, just as the heavy sound of new boots striking the floor caused her ears to swivel.

Tobias emerged with his cloak over his black robes, ready to go.

It was a tearful goodbye; before long, Riley found herself with Tobias out the door and upon the empty lane, with the smell of fresh bread being baked at the bakery hanging heavy in the air.

Far in the distance, a bell rang out four times as the watchman began to call in the night.

"Four bells and all is well!"

It seemed to Riley's mind that all was not well, that the world had gained a ragged edge, but that's just what life did; it mutated and contorted strangely to ever keep one within the borderlands between ok and screwed.

"Devil's luck indeed," She said to herself, hopping after Tobias as they moved through the misty quiet morning.