Aki

The beginning of our journey was painfully slow. We didn't dare use any light source so Caei and Lilyth had to lead us almost by hand. Still, I had tripped and fallen on more occasions than I would have liked. Our two resident healers refused to use any healing spells because of the green light they emitted, so by the time we could see I was hurting all over my body and could feel a wet trickle of blood from a gash on my forehead, I got when a branch got entangled in my horns.

Stupid lack of [Darksight], I thought for probably the hundredth time that night.

But, finally, after three hours the blessed dawn came at last.

During our trek we did our best to follow the ship lights, only losing sight of them when the foliage was too thick, though it was easy enough to find them again once we had a clear enough view of the lake again. In a hushed voice, Ren confirmed that best she could tell they were headed in the rough direction of where her mom’s estate was. They were, obviously, much faster than us, so they reached their destination first. So for a while, we got to watch the boats be stationary with some lights bustling around them.

More torches?

Then all the lights, except those on the boats, got extinguished and the vessels began to head back.

Interesting.

‘Late-night delivery?’ Lilyth whispered.

‘Looks like it,’ Sav agreed. ‘Of what though?’

‘Soldiers?’ Ren asked with worry in her voice.

‘Would be more stealthy, I imagine,’ Lilyth said.

‘The boats wouldn't almost immediately head back, either,’ Savri added. ‘Unless they have a pre-determined pick-up time, which wouldn't make sense during an open land attack. Like… what… is Ren’s mom going to radio in for air support?’

‘My mom can fly, you know,’ Ren said sourly. ‘But… I think you are right. There isn't much in terms of defences there and with three guards… you wouldn't need that much effort to conquer the place.’

She sounded like she wanted to cry, but then something seemed to have occurred to her.

‘They left too quickly!’ There was a clear relief in her voice. ‘The boats were there for what… thirty-forty minutes?’

‘More or less,’ I confirmed.

‘It’s a fifteen-minute walk from the house to Mer-Cas - The small fishing village at the shore. The best I can tell they landed further down the shore. So it would take them half an hour maybe to get to the estate?’

‘So unless they are doing some pointless commando bullshit… that either wasn't them after all OR something else is happening,’ Sav sighed.

‘Fuckery doth be afoot, I think,’ “Guess who” said. ‘We’d better hurry to the estate.’

After what happened with the Sun and Lady Madness, Lilyth swore less than she used to, so it felt weirdly comforting to hear her do it again. I associated that with her being determined and confident.

It took us two more hours to get within visual distance of Mer-Cas. The village was nothing like Pik-Cas or Len-Cas. It looked actually well-off with lime-covered brick houses with thatched roofs.

I guess the nearness to the Yamaoka estate paid off for them.

‘I suggest we scout the village out,’ I said and then sighed. ‘Lilyth… I hate to ask this of you, but can you go in there in your elf form? I think you are the only one of us that won’t immediately stand out.

My wife nodded without hesitation.

‘As my Dark Lady commands.’

Lilyth

The village fucking reeked of fish. It wasn’t nearly as pungent as the other two shitholes, but sweet Jesus. I didn't bring that one up to my friends and wives before, but my sense of smell was also quite keen in this body. Coming from one where it was mostly gone due to damage my allergies inflicted on it… it was pretty unbearable.

But, alas, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

Mer-Cas looked to have maybe a hundred people living it, and they seemed to be reasonably well-off. I could also see that there was a slightly different fashion here than in the rest of Ror-Bhyk. Instead of it just being what could be generously collectively described as “mediaeval peasant garb”, I could see some people, likely the village “upper classes” wearing waistcoats, breaches and other fairly luxurious clothing articles. Both the massive wealth disparity AND the odd mix felt pretty bizarre, but then again it explains why no one batted an eye on our merry band of misfits having someone dressed like a sultry sorceress and another person looking like a cyberpunk cop.

I didn't see any obvious “pump me for information” people, but on the flip side, nothing seemed off either. I was worried that even despite me looking like a regular if pale elf, I would still cause some commotion, but no. People didn't spare me a second glance. I then remembered that the Yamaoka family was almost all elves, so probably a lot of my “kin” passed through here.

I settled on approaching a bald old man sitting on the porch of his house in a rocking chair and smoking a pipe. There was a certain sharpness to his brown eyes, which was further accentuated by his aquiline features.

‘Hey there, old timer,’ I began with a friendly wave.

‘Hello there, lassie,’ he responded. ‘Haven’t seen you around.’

‘I’m just a traveller. I heard in Ror-Bhyk there was a village here, so I figured I might stop here for supplies.’

That story wasn’t my invention - Ren and Savri established it and in my most humblest of opinions it fucking sucked. The man frowned.

‘Gonna have to disappoint you there,’ he sighed. ‘We don’t do much in terms of trading. All of our excess food is bought by the estate. They are giving us good money and not enough outsiders show up here to warrant setting something aside for you.’

‘That’s a shame. So I will need to head to Lin-Vyme to stock up then.

‘Unfortunately. If you are hungry you can check Aldvil’s inn.’

The old man pointed to a prominent wide building and continued:

‘He should be able to fix you a meal. Maybe even make you a packed lunch, but not much more.’

I was getting hungry so maybe a breakfast wouldn't be that bad an idea. Assuming, it wasn't smelly fucking fish. I always had this thing where I could only eat food that smelled well because I associated taste with smell. So I’d rather eat fucking grass than the local fish, which was something I could unironically do now. I would need to test this someday. Likewise, I had this sneaking suspicion I could just push food into, say, my arm and digest it that way. Another field for experimentation.

I thanked the old man and made my way towards the inn. Even if they didn't have anything remotely palatable, maybe I could learn more information there.

The need for information became even more pressing when I noticed two gentlemen in familiar-looking blue brigantines standing behind one of the houses.

Didn't the chucklefuck in the red mask wear one of these? Friends of his, maybe? The assassins wore blue too, didn't they? I sense a connection.

I also had a hazy memory of the Temple Dragoons wearing blue, so it made me wonder whether there was some connection there as well or whether there was some weird cultural thing present here that warriors should wear blue. But that was a mystery for another day. Right then I had bigger worries, like the Red Masks in the village.

As I walked, I did my best to look inconspicuous as I slowly scanned my surroundings. It soon became very obvious to me that someone was following me from some distance. While they could have also been headed to the inn… their footsteps seemed to be fairly heavy and there was a faint metallic jingle to them. It made me wary. While I had my sword on me and could summon my daggers I had a feeling a group of men-at-arms who were on to me would be a much more difficult enemy to solo than a bunch of assassins I took by surprise.

Then again… why would they be sus of me? Chances the word of what happened in Len-Cas spreading here this quickly and it being associated with me are non-existent. The chucklefuck we met was a slaver though… Well… I’d like to see them try.

The inn was completely empty of other patrons when I entered it. Its interior reminded me of a mediaeval version of a roadside diner I saw in many movies as there was a single long table in the open space, as well as two booths with wooden benches and smaller tables inside.

The only people inside were the innkeeper and, I guessed, his wife. The man was a short and jovial-looking middle-aged man with a prominent bald spot. What hair remained on his temples was completely grey. His wife was younger than him being, best I could tell, in her mid-thirties, and at least a head taller than him. Her mousy blonde hair was tied into a ponytail. Both of them had blue eyes and wore simple, but well-tended clothes and white aprons.

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The short king and the tall queen, eh?

The couple was standing behind a counter with multiple stools in front of it. They waved to me with friendly smiles, so I approached them and sat on one of the seats.

‘Morning, lass,’ the man - Aldvil said. ‘Haven’t seen you around.’

‘Just got here a few minutes ago,’ I smiled.

‘We usually don’t get many visitors here, so any unfamiliar face is always welcome here,’ he grinned.

I noticed he was missing one of his upper lateral incisors and was really overdue a visit to a dentist, but it kind of only added to his charm.

‘What Aldie means is that your money is always welcome here,’ his wife added with a mock chiding. ‘Though it is indeed nice to see someone new. I’m Gerra and this is Aldvil by the way.’

‘Sindara,’ I responded using my alias. ‘Nice to meet you.’

‘The pleasure is all ours, lass,’ Aldvil said. ‘So what can we get you?’

‘Some food and water would be nice,’ I replied. ‘Whatchu got?’

‘We can get you some warm porridge, bread and cheese.’ Gerra said.

‘Sounds good! How much?’

‘Gonna be twenty divines.’ Aldvil smiled.

That sounded like a bit of a highway robbery, and judging by his wife’s expression it was, but then again I couldn't blame them for trying to fleece a traveller, now could I? Like that was a standard practice all over the multiverse it seems.

I put the requisite sum on the counter, Aldvil pocketed it and Gerra went to prepare my meal.

‘Is it normal to see this many armed men around?’ I asked while we were waiting.

‘No,’ Aldvil shook his head. ‘When lord Kenji arrives there is his personal guard around but they tend to keep to the estate. These men arrived with Lord Kojiro this morning.’

Isn't that Ren’s monster of a brother? Well… fuck. This is bad.

I did my best to keep my face expressionless.

‘Heard about him, eh?’ the innkeeper noted.

Fuck.

‘I’ve come here from Ror-Bhyk. I heard mentions of him once or twice.’

‘I understand. Lord Kojiro has a… reputation, so I guess that's no big surprise.’

There was intense disgust on the innkeeper’s face.

‘You’d do best to steer clear of him, lassie,’ Aldvil continued. ‘A pretty young lady like you has no business meeting him.’

‘I am not as young as I appear to be,’ I said with a weary smile, ‘But I appreciate both the compliment and the warning.’

‘My pleasure, lassie,’ the innkeeper smiled.

As we briefly stayed silent I noticed that my tail hadn’t entered the inn so far.

Was I wrong about him?

No. There… at the very edge of my hearing… I could hear someone breathing just beyond the entrance to the inn.

Listening in on us, eh chucklefuck?

I wasn’t terribly concerned about my own safety, since, in the end, I could probably take three men. In a fight. The innkeeper, though…

He already shat on Kojiro. Best not to make him say things he might regret in the future.

That also meant that what was likely the best source of information became useless, but Kojiro’s sudden arrival… it was enough to make me seriously worry about what was about to happen in this area.

At any rate, the rest of my conversation with Aldvil was on various light subjects, mostly surrounding the village. I did confirm the main industry here was fishing, but there were also some fields and animal farms here that provided produce and meat, though both mostly happened on the lands belonging to the Yamaokas. After a few minutes, Gerra returned and brought me my food and water on a wooden platter.

I thanked her and took it to one of the tables inside the booth. There was a semi-pleasant fish smell to the porridge, but fucking hell did the taste not reflect that. It was somehow both tasteless and had this bitter oily aftertaste to it. I wasn’t the world's best cook, but Sweet Jesus I couldn't make something this bad if I tried. Dipping bread into that unholy abomination of a dish did help a little because the bread had an actual taste to it and killed the oiliness.

No wonder the girls orgasmed about Earth food. Spending your entire life eating this bullshit is a fate worse than death.

As I was drowning in food-related misery my tail finally mustered up the courage and entered.

Like the other two bozos, he wore a blue brigantine. He had short, cropped bronze hair, green eyes and a neatly trimmed beard. Aldvil threw him a wary look, but the man just patted the sword on his belt. He went straight to my table and sat opposite me.

‘Sorry… these seats are taken,’ I said, trying to look as nonchalant as possible.

‘By whom?’

‘Someone called “Not you”.’

An angry look crossed his face but was quickly replaced with a pleasant smile.

‘I understand,’ he said in an even tone. ‘May I just trouble you for a moment of your time?’

‘And if I say no?’

He patted his sword and answered in the same tone:

‘I will have to insist, then,’

‘I have one of these too,’ I pointed to the Blade of the Black Rose which I lay next to me on the bench after I sat down. ‘Mine’s longer.’

‘But combat is such a risky endeavour. Wouldn't you want to talk instead?’

‘If I agree, will you fuck off and let me eat in peace after we are done?’

‘Depending on the results, but you have my promise that if we fail to reach a desirable outcome… I will leave you be.’

Desirable for whom, chucklefuck?’

‘Very well, then.’ I sighed. ‘Speak.’

‘Allow me to introduce myself first,’ the chucklefuck began. ‘My name is Xyrus and I represent the interests of Lord Kojiro Yamaoka.’

He extended his hand just over my bowl of porridge and I not so much saw, as felt tiny particles falling from his sleeve into the bowl.

Seriously? Trying to roofie me? Well… A for effort I guess.

Assuming it would have no effect on me, I decided to pretend I didn't notice anything and just shook his hand.

‘Sindara,’ I responded curtly. ‘Mind if I eat while we talk?’

‘I was just about to offer that you do that.’

Sure you were, fucker.

I took a sip of the porridge and whatever it was that he added, it did improve the taste of the porridge. There was this… faint hint of ginger to it now?

‘So what it is that you wanted to talk about, Xyrus was it?’ I asked and took a few more spoons of the porridge.

‘Yes. So… as I understand, you travel alone. I can't help but point out that the road is a very dangerous place for a lone young woman.’

‘Sure… you never quite know who the person you meet on the road is. I appreciate your concern, good ser, but I’ve been fine on my own so far.’

‘At some point, you are going to run out of luck. You can't be alert all the time after all and you have to sleep sometimes.’

‘And that is a concern of yours… how exactly?’

‘I merely wish to convey the invitation of Lord Yamaoka to you. He has seen you enter the village alone and wonders whether you would be willing to join his entourage for a while.’

‘And where are you headed?’

‘Lord Yamaoka is currently touring all the houses of his family. I am sure one of those is near your destination.’

‘I was planning to leave after this meal, so unless Lord Yamaoka does too… that is going to be a hard no from me.’

The man made a surprised expression. I could see that things were not going according to his script.

What the fuck was in that powder? Some shit that makes you more susceptible to suggestions? It shouldn't affect me because there is nothing to affect but… I am starting to think that I should have been… less cavalier about such things.

‘I understand,’ Xyrus replied finally. ‘We all have our schedules. If you change your mind you can find me in the village.’

He gave me a friendly nod and left.

Huh? He actually left? What the fuck?

I did a quick mental inventory of my body and felt fine.

Was I freaking out about nothing?

I finished the bread and cheese, not touching the porridge any more. When I was giving the dishes back to Aldvil I suggested:

‘Maybe pour the porridge out somewhere. I think I saw that man add something to it.’

‘Good catch,’ Aldvil said with a dark expression. ‘If you don’t feel safe I can let you out back.’

‘Thank you.’

When I emerged into an empty back alley my relief was almost palpable. I thanked the innkeeper again and went on my way. The good feelings lasted maybe until ten seconds after Aldvil locked the backdoor, as Xyrus rounded the corner and entered the alley. I turned around and saw one of his friends block that way out.

Fuck. Fuck.

I tried to transform into a kitsune, but to my unpleasant surprise, nothing happened. This cost me precious seconds that allowed Xyrus to close the distance between us. He lunged at me and grabbed my wrists in an iron vice-like grip of one of his hands. He then pushed me onto the wall and blocked my mouth with the other. I tried transforming again but I just felt a massive wall suddenly present between myself and my magic.

What the fuck, I thought as panic began setting in.

NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo…

‘Oh… is something not working, Sindara?’ the man smiled coldly. ‘Or should I say… Lilyth? We know about your tricks so… we took precautions.

Fuckfuckfuck

I tried kicking him but he effortlessly stopped it with a knee to my stomach. It felt as if he hit me there with a metal bat.

I tried struggling some more, but then two more of his buddies emerged from behind the corner.

‘I am very sorry,’ he said, sounding anything but.

He passed me to his two buddies, one of whom immediately gagged me.

‘Lord Kojiro insisted on meeting you, though I hope he lets us take good care of such a prime piece of ass, as well. And I assure you. You won't think my sword is too short after we are done. And then… we’ll find and take care of your friends.’

Nooooo….