Sentenza glanced as his slicker he had hanging on a nearby tree. With a flick of his wrist, Sentenza inspected the bullets in the chamber of his pistol. With another quick flick, his gun was ready to fire.

"Just you, huh?" he murmured.

"Jjjjuuuusssstt mmmeeee," sneered Bakade.

"I figured you'd have been used to disappointment. I mean, with what your own mother did to you, I'm just surprised you'd risk it happening again." Sentenza said with a chuckle as he stood with his back to the gangly Bakade.

"Ttthhhhiiiissss iiiisss dddiiifffeeerrreeennnttt!" she roared.

"How so? She left you alone in the snow to die. I tried to kill you." Sentenza kept his back to her as his grip tightened on his pistol. "Seems pretty similar to me."

"IIIIIIII eeeexxxxpppeeeeccccttteedddd hhheeeerrrsssss."

Sentenza grunted in frustration. "Dang it! There was a reason I never had any kids." he turned to face her, but kept his gaze on the ground, away from her. "Attachments always complicate things."

"Yyyyyooouuuu bbbeeetttrrrraaayyyyeedddd uuuussss!" roared Bakade with a clear ache in her voice. "Bbbbeeeettttrrraaaayyyyeeedd mmmmeeeee! Ffffooooorrr wwwhhhaaaatttt?"

Sentenza grit his teeth as he raised his eye and his gun towards her. "For my personal business dang it! I already told you all this last time. Pretty sure I was crystal clear."

"Wwwwwhhhhyyyy ddddiiiidddddnnnn'ttttt yyyyooouuu kkkillll mmmmeeeee tttthhheeennn?"

Sentenza's face scrunched up into a sneer. "I tried, or is that crack in your skull that hard to notice?"

Bakade stared at him with fierce determination. "Yyyyoooouuuu'rrreee lllyyyyiiiinnnggg."

"Do I need to go through my whole killer speech again? I hurt people. I end their lives. It's all I'm good at." He said as he was clearly getting more and more frustrated.

Bakade lifted a finger over to the side of them. Sentenza turned to look and let out a grunt of frustration. "Dang it," he said under his breath. "I thought this place seemed familiar."

Bakade was pointing to the firepit and log benches they had put together. Sentenza turned back towards Bakade, and was clearly upset. His face seemed to be switching through anger and sadness, while he tried to keep it blank.

Finally, Sentenza let out a sigh and shook his head. "You've got me in a bit of a bind here." he admitted as he slowly walked over and grabbed his slicker. "Guess there's only one thing for me to do now."

And like a bolt of lightning, Sentenza sprinted off through the trees.

"Wwwwaaaaaiiiitttt?" Bakade said after a brief moment of shock. As he ran out of sight, she decided to dash after him.

----------------------------------------

So, you're a demon?

"Yes."

And that thing is?

"My unbelievably powerful golem." Og'drimun puffed out his chest again.

Right... mused Death as he watched the short lizard golem walk onto the wall, and then upside down on the ceiling. All without a care in the world as its tongue lolled out of its head.

Trizel sat down and put his head in his hands as he let out a deep sigh. "I am tired." he muttered.

Ted groaned quietly as he forced himself to stand. His body was screaming at him with every slight twitch of his muscles, but he felt the need to walk towards the small demon. "How did you get here. What happened?"

"Hmm?" Og'drimun tilted his head.

"He just showed up," interjected Narissa as she strolled up next to him. "Must've been our strong bond that got him to wind up here."

"Uhh, Yeah! Sounds right to me." nodded Og'drimun.

"Curious," Sid commented. "What exactly is your bond to one another?"

"It's simple really," smiled Narissa as she gave a quick death glare to Og'drimun before turning towards Sid. "I've known him since I was a child, and he helped me with some of my dirtier hurdles on my way to becoming Queen."

Og'drimun snorted. "That's kind of underselling it don't you think? I mean, without me you would've never gotten so much..."

"Fame!" Narissa interjected. "Yes, I would never have been such a famous woman without you. Although, even relying on your magic couldn't help me against my traitorous husband."

"There is some reason you did not tell us about this Og'drimun before, correct?" queried Sid.

"Of course there is," Narissa laughed nervously. "It's just such a taboo you know. Demons, magic and all that. I figured it was best to leave out such sordid details."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"Me? Sordid?" chuckled Og'drimun. "Maybe you've forgotten about..."

"Now isn't the time to embarrass me little Oggy." Narissa said, as she clearly tried to shift the direction of the conversation.

"Don't call me that!" sneered Og'drimun. "Only my mother ever called me that, and I absolutely hate it!"

"Oh, but it suits you so well. Especially looking like this." she teased.

"Okay, so your bond brought him here, but what was happening before that?" Ted turned to Og'drimun. "Before you showed up here, what were you doing? Was anything strange going on? Do you remember what happened as you were being taken here?"

Narissa glared at Og'drimun before turning to Ted with a gentle smile. "Can this wait? I've been having quite a day, and I would really like to change and freshen up a bit. And with my dear pet here at last, I'm afraid it would break my heart to be separated from him so soon since our reunion."

"You're gonna give him cavities with all that sweetness," gagged Og'drimun.

Narissa's hand curled into a fist as she tried desperately to keep her smile in front of Ted. It seemed useless though as she turned around and whacked Og'drimun on the top of his head. "Keep quiet you," she whispered to him. "Ugh, I wish for just a minute you could stop being so irritating."

"Ow!" complained Og'drimun as he rubbed the top of his head. "What did I do?"

"I'm sorry, but we really must go now." Narissa sighed as she dropped the mask of cheeriness. "Come along Og'drimun, help me find a proper outfit."

Og'drimun pouted as she pulled him away by his ears.

"Curious." mused Sid as he watched them go up the stairs. "I wonder what actually binds such different characters."

"I mean, we're all sort of bound together," offered Ted. "And we are pretty different from each other."

Ted suddenly thought about how Sentenza had tried to kill at least two of them. It was odd. There was a strange pain in his stomach, but he couldn't say he was surprised. Sentenza was very clear about anyone getting too close to his wagon especially. He basically brought up killing as payment to Ted each time someone new showed up. But something still felt off about it.

"It is frustrating how reassuring it is to know that Sentenza simply betrayed several of us," sighed Trizel. "A traitor is far better than some unknown enemy."

"I do not think you should be thinking in such simple terms Trizel," Sid declared. "I will say your lack of violence is reassuring, but this mentality is why I knew explaining more of the situation would only hurt things."

"Why? Because it'd be inconvenient for him to..." Trizel had lifted his head up to yell at Sid better, but then paused as he looked around. "Wait, where is Bakade?"

Ted and Sid both looked around. She was nowhere to be seen.

"Dang it," grumbled Trizel as he struggled to stand. "She's gone after that rat, I know it."

"That is indeed troubling," agreed Sid. "But perhaps we should wait so as not to exacerbate the situation."

Trizel grabbed his bruised side as he winced. "Exacerbate how? Sentenza basically called us out, and it seems Bakade has answered him. We will be lucky if one of them comes back."

"Curious," Sid mused. "Should it not be obvious that Bakade will be victorious in a fight out in the very woods she summoned?"

Trizel sighed. "She is close to him you blasted machine. Her emotions are likely to fog her thinking, and at her full abilities, Sentenza was quick enough to finish her off. Or did you forget how she barely dodged his first bullet fired in the dark? With him at the ready, a single moment of hesitation would be all he would need to send a bullet straight through her heart."

"Is that why you did not charge him?" queried Sid.

Trizel sneered. "That was part of it, yes. He also had the courage to openly admit his actions, and even though I disagree with them, I have to respect that."

"Curious," mused Sid. "It seems my assessments of your abilities was indeed correct."

"What was that? Did you doubt the mighty Trizel?"

"Let's just calm down. You two already beat each other senseless," Ted said. "There's no need to repeat it so soon."

I'm just surprised you guys didn't notice when she left. She wasn't exactly subtle. Death said as he puffed out his chest. It seems he had given up on the traditional way of walking on his hands. Instead, he had taken off his hands and his feet and swapped them, so his hands were on the bottom of his legs, and his feet were on the end of his arms. But more importantly, look! I figured out how to do a handstand!

"I do not believe that is what is meant by handstand." Sid commented.

Trizel shook his head. "Just...how long ago did she leave?"

I mean like less than a minute after Sentenza did? Plus, this is totally a handstand. See? Hands are down there, and I'm standing on them!

Trizel groaned as he sat back down and picked up a towel filled with slowly melting ice. He pressed it against his side and shook his head. "Then it is too late. Whatever happens between them would long be over before any of us could make it there."

"I mean, couldn't Death just appear near them?" offered Ted.

Trizel's face perked up, and Sid turned towards Death. While Death seemed a bit unsure about the idea as he scratched the top of his skull with his foot hand.

"Now there is an idea!" laughed Trizel. "What say you? Can you check on the two of them at least?"

I mean, maybe? It's not exactly a precise science here.

"Except you always showed up right behind me, and even jump scared me a few times when we were out searching for Trizel." Ted reminded him.

"Teleportation. I should have known," mused Sid.

The forest is pretty far bro. I was following you a few dozen feet back, maybe.

"It is the only chance we have to do something," acknowledged Trizel. "We need you to at least make an attempt."

Won't that cowboy just shoot me when I show up?

"Would that kill you?" asked Ted.

I mean. I was never supposed to die, but now...well, who knows?

Trizel rubbed his chin. "I doubt you could do much besides observe. But if you could distract Sentenza. That could even the playing field." He turned to face Death. "I am afraid I must ask you to try. We cannot afford to lose Bakade to the traitor."

"Things are not that simple Trizel," reiterated Sid. "It was not a betrayal that I was attacked. There is more to this than we currently know."

"He has attacked both of you before and admitted to it. We cannot risk Bakade's life on the idea that you do not have enough information. We know he attacked her already. Leaving the two of them alone is asking for trouble." He turned back to Death. "Please, try."

Death sighed and shook his head. Fine. I can give it a go. I just think I need a drink first.

Death disappeared, and a second later, reappeared sitting at the main table with a mug in his hand, which was now back on the end of his arm, where it was supposed to be. He held it up into the air and said, Cheers! Before he lifted the mug up to his teeth and poured the liquid into his mouth. Again, it seemed to disappear into the Aether, as not a single drop was spilt. It went into his mouth and then nowhere else.

With a refreshed, AH! Death slammed the mug on the table as he wiped his mouth with his arm. Wish me luck. he said with a slight sway before he was suddenly not there anymore.

"Whoa! No one told me there was alcohol here."

Nugget ruffled her feathers as she tilted her head up at Og'drimun who had snuck back downstairs and was now standing on the table next to Death's abandoned mug.

"Yeah, it's pretty much all there is here." chuckled Ted before the he realized the laughing sent shockwaves of ache through his muscles. He let out a groan as he held his shoulder.

Og'drimun turned towards Ted and floated past the irritated Nugget as he flew right up to Ted's face. "Well then go and fetch me a pint! It's been ages since I've had a real drink!"

"A full pint? Do you think that is a bit much for someone your stature?" Trizel suggested.

"Is that a challenge? Why I'll bet I could outdrink you any day!" Og'drimun declared.

Trizel smiled. "Oh ho! It seems you have some courage, for a demon. Then drink we shall." he stood up and started to head towards the kitchen. "Come on then Ted. You grab the mugs, and I shall grab a couple barrels. We shall start light and see what this Og'drimun is made of."

"Might as well bring out your strongest stuff!" boasted Og'drimun. "You'd be surprised at just how much I can handle."

Sid sat down at the main table and nodded. "I will not deny that I too desire a drink."

"Let us hope Death returns with good news so that this may turn into a celebratory event, and not a mournful one." added Trizel before he disappeared into the kitchen.

Despite their many bruises, Ted and Trizel returned rather quickly. After Trizel set down a barrel on the edge of the table, Ted poured the glasses. One for each of them, and a wide bowl of alcohol for Nugget, along with another bowl filled with the mashed grains. As Ted set them before the hen, she bowed her head slightly towards him.

"Ha! This doesn't smell strong at all!" declared Og'drimun proudly. "Why I'll bet this won't even get me tipsy."

"Well good luck with that," smirked Ted. "That's the one-hundred and twenty proof rum."

"Only one-hundred and twenty? Hah! I could easily handle well over two-hundred, no three-thousand!" laughed Og'drimun. "Not even two-hundred. hah! Child's play."

"Very well then," Smirked Trizel. "Try and keep up with me." And in one fell swoop, Trizel lifted his mug, and chugged down the rum in seconds. He did wince slightly when he finished as he slammed down the mug.

"You don't have to keep up with him," suggested Ted before he took a much smaller sip of the rum. "There's also some lime syrup I made that'll help cut right through this if you want some."

"Hah! I don't need anything of the sort," boasted Og'drimun as he stared at the large mug of brown liquid.

"Well, that sounds preferable to me," stated Sid. "If you would be so kind as to retrieve some of the syrup for me at least." He looked to Ted as he spoke.

"Sure, be right back." smiled Ted.

Og'drimun placed his feet on the table and wrapped his long ears around the mug as he lifted it up.

Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.

He struggled with the sheer amount of liquid, but in defiance of his size, he managed to down the entire thing before falling onto his butt and dropping the mug onto its side. Nugget looked back at him with a steely gaze as the mug came awfully close to hitting her.

"Ta..." *hiccup* "Take that!" smirked Og'drimun.

Trizel smiled cruelly. "A good start, but we are far from finished."