Chapter 40

The empty streets felt haunted; mist clung to cobblestones hovering a few scant inches above the surface.

Every window was dark. In the distance, the smells of the bakeries that suffused the lower quarter, making the day's bread, competed with other odors as cloaked and armored individuals cut their way through the hovering fog, appearing as phantoms in the night.

Tobias himself resembled a specter of death to Riley, in a black robe with his hood up, looking down and ahead, moving at a clipped pace.

Every step showed the tension he was carrying, his movements rigid and unsure. She knew how hard goodbyes could be, especially when they could be the last.

"Good morrow, champion." One of the guard said, passing by, giving a strange salute, clasping his right fist over his heart.

Tobias stopped in puzzlement and watched the man hurry down the lane.

"Did I hear that right?" He looked down at Riley.

"You did save the nephew of the king. I guess people noticed," Riley replied.

"Yay, me," Tobias glowered.

"Magic and adventure!" Riley intoned, "Chadrick was like, oh no, I am doomed woe unto me, and then you were all, "Stop monster, I shall slay thee, and protect this noble personage with a little help from my hare companion!" Riley pranced forward proudly on her paws, skipping up on the cobblestones.

Tobias gripped at his sides as if to hold the laughter within. All at once, the dam broke, his cackles echoing down the empty streets.

"Oh, save me. By the dead gods, that was terrible," He could not stop the tremor of chuckles from shaking his chest.

He took a deep breath, reaching for his calm. For a moment, he found it. The laughter surged like a wave, overwhelming his defenses as he leaned against the wall with tears in his eyes.

"It worked though, didn't it? And, our champion, having disposed of the monster, exited stage front," Riley hopped along, enjoying the feeling of the mist parting as she plunged beneath, only to rise again with each bound, her muzzle cutting a swath through the fog of the morning like an airplane skimming the clouds.

"It helped a little. Can you blame me for being scared?" Tobias asked.

"I can't, but I'll bite your ankles if you don't talk to me. We're supposed to be partners. That means we shoulder burdens and help each other along."

"You are my companion," Tobias mused as they began to pass the posters proclaiming the fair, picking their way up the switchbacked path.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Just behind her, Riley could see the mists obscuring the streets of the lower city from whence they had come.

For the second time in as many weeks, the portcullis at the top of the rise was a doorway to a new world and new experiences, yet right at the edge of that new frontier, waiting just in front of the guards, was Justinian.

He was holding an armor case with a rucksack slung over his shoulder.

"Ranger Tobias!" He greeted, trotting up to him.

"I haven't earned that yet, and how did you know?" Tobias balked.

"I got picked up by the castle, forging for the second tier regiments within, and you know us smiths, we're as bad as old women at a washing stone when it comes to gossip," Justinian smiled.

"You aren't supposed to start for at least a week," Tobias challenged.

"My aunt was worried about the trouble I'd cause if I got bored. I told you as much," He shrugged.

"You were spying on me," Tobias grinned.

"Didn't have to. The whole castle is buzzing about how you saved Chadrick, and this one ranger, Cid, is kind of known for getting his way. Beyond that, I can neither confirm nor deny a copper changed hands or even a silver, for that matter. What's important is that I got access to a forge a little early and did this!" He shook the case in triumph before thrusting it out towards Tobias.

"What did you do?" Tobias asked, setting the case on the ground and opening it.

Riley's eyes went wide as she beheld his senior project. The cockatrice had been removed, the leather and mail jerkin, now devoid of adornment, save for a silver hare, reared back on her hindpaws in a heraldic pose, complete with wings, which occupied a small spot, on the upper left chest, like a badge.

Taking it, Tobias set it back down, quickly closing the case, "It's too much."

"Take it, or I'm giving it to Chadrick," Justinian teased, shoving the case a few inches toward his best friend.

"You wouldn't." He balked.

"I wouldn't," Justinian shrugged, "but I'd like to feel like I did something to keep you whole out there. Consider it a loan if you like, but one I expect repaid by you coming back alive," He rocked on his heels, grinning widely.

Tobias sighed and took up the case, "I really hope I don't let you down."

"And for you, M'lady, I didn't have time to work up something special, but I did find this. It should be about your size," Justinian held out what, to Riley's eyes, looked like a leather animal harness with joined plates and mail.

Pulling at her power, she cast analyze.

Mecra Messenger Harness, Common, Tier 2 Leather armor

Elemental Resistance Augmented 20%, Endurance 20%

"Ever seen a mecra? They are cute little guys, related to kraus, but are about your size. They use them to run messages between cities. I thought you'd approve." Justinian went down on one knee.

"Is it stolen?" Tobias snapped.

The artificer gasped, his eyes shooting around conspiratorially. "There's two guard not 15 feet ahead of us; keep it down! It seems someone removed the handle for control of the animal up top, so it was cataloged as defective and ordered destroyed. It won't be missed."

"I wanna try it on!" Riley fidgeted, comfortable with the grey morality acquisition.

"You're a born thief and a conman," Tobias accused, his tone flat, before hugging him.

"The word you're looking for is "noble" peasant. Do you mind if I walk with you?" He asked, fixing it around Riley, adjusting its straps.

"It's a little loose, but I like that. I can still move around," She hopped experimentally before falling into a roll with a grunt.

"Good enough." He eyed her critically, rubbing at his chin. "If I had my tools, I could add a few more punches to the strap. You're likely to lose a little weight out there, not that you have much to lose."

"It'll do, but I'm out of time. Come on, being late would not be good for me," Tobias urged, moving past the guards.

"Good morrow, champion," They each said in unison as he shook his head, turning for the first time towards the castle.