Kearse lay in his bed, happy to be sleeping in. After two and a half weeks of marching, fighting, and more marching, he felt like he had earned it. He didn’t need to go back to his street sweeping job for another week, and he was more than willing to spend a few days lazing about. Already, he had woken up three times, rejected the idea of leaving his bed, and promptly nodded off again.
This was the fourth time he had woken up, and he was having a bit of difficulty falling asleep again, but he was still content to close his eyes and listen to his family moving about downstairs.
Kearse’s father had also requested the day off from work due to his son’s return, but was less content to sit around. Most likely, he was whittling a small carving onto the end of a broom handle. He considered wood carving to be a proper man’s hobby, and enjoyed knowing that his entertainment could help his wife and daughter’s employment.
Kearse’s mother and sister worked from home making the brooms used in Kearse and his father’s day job, and had a bit more freedom with the pace of their workflow. From the sound of it, his sister Iyesa was trying to scrounge up enough of the leftover dyed sorghum to make a decent set of bristles to go with their father’s handle, and his mother was busy cooking an early lunch. Although for him it would be breakfast.
He ignored the knock on the front door and let his mother answer it. Most likely, it was another one of the neighbors coming by to say hello to “the local hero.” It was nice to be appreciated, but Kearse felt it was mostly undeserved. Sure, he had a few unique stories to tell, but if his role in the tale had been played by anyone else, it wouldn’t have changed anything.
Kearse was about to make an attempt at a fifth return to the world of dreams, or maybe sixth, when he realized the new voice downstairs was most certainly not one of his neighbors. He leapt out of bed and threw on the first clothes he could get his hands on.
“Hello. Is this Elastro house? Sorry for invade. I bring peace offering. Kearse home? My name Indigo. Pleasure to meet you.”
Kearse was still struggling with his pants, and tripped over one of the legs.
“No no no! What is she doing here already? How did she even find out where I lived?”
Even if he hadn’t recognized her voice, he only knew one person who spoke like that. It was Indigo. She had found him. She was at his home! He had gotten used to the homunculus, more or less, but having her show up at his place of residence was not something he could see as going any way but badly.
He knew why she was here. Obviously she had come to deliver his share of the loot from the necropolis. How she had found him so quickly though, was the mystery. Kearse had planned on finding her himself later that day. He knew she would either be staying at the central church monastery or one of the nearby inns. Even if he hadn’t been able to find her right away, Indigo’s horns… and her usual behavior, meant that she was a fairly noticeable person. It wouldn’t have been difficult to track her down and get his things from her in person.
Letting her show up at his door was the exact opposite of what he had planned, but it was too late, and she was already here. The best he could hope for was to minimize the damages.
“I’ll take it as a win if I can get her out of here with all of her clothes still on. It doesn’t sound like she’s been drinking, but that doesn’t mean much when it comes to her.”
He was too late. By the time he made it down the stairs, Indigo was already inside. For once, she wasn’t wearing the usual skintight clothing with the revealing outer layer. They had been replaced by a breezy butter yellow dress that showed off her shoulders and came down just past her knees. She still wore a pair of thick boots and that creepy mask she used as a hat, though. It was distinctly foreign, but much more presentable than her usual attire.
Indigo was in the midst of handing his mother a basket of fresh fruit when she saw him. Her simple smile could have lit up the room. His expectations of an easy day grew slightly. Then she spoke.
“Kearse,” she said in a scolding tone, “you too humble. Much too humble. I expected smaller house. Walked by three times before realize this place your home. Came to bring you things. Also to talk. Also other stuff. Also other other stuff.”
Kearse’s mother was naturally baffled by the long string of broken Common, but he had gotten used to it. His hopes of getting Indigo to leave were crushed with every word that came out of her mouth.
His home was quite good by the standards of the area. His family couldn’t afford to whitewash it, but it had two floors, and three entire bedrooms. When his Grandfather had come to Orlis, many years ago, he had spent almost all of his money on buying and improving the building. Doing so had brought the family down to the level of poverty they were currently in, but their house was the envy of everyone on the street, and as long as it was maintained, it would last for generations to come.
Like most of the neighboring houses, it was made of a tan mudbrick, and had a cubic layout. What made it special was that it had actual wooden floors, and was connected to the city’s sewers which allowed for a proper toilet. The location, right next to the only well on the street, was another reason for the building’s value.
The Elastro household wasn’t that poor, but they had a lot less money than they appeared to. Or so it had been. With Indigo’s delivery, that was about to change drastically. Once they sold the treasure from the necropolis, he could… they could… Kearse didn’t even know where to begin. They could whitewash their house for once. Or they could even get windows made with real glass. Maybe his sister could quit her job and focus on finding a husband. He wouldn’t have to work three jobs anymore! The possibilities were endless.
This was a major turning point in his family’s history, but Indigo’s words of talking, and the “other other stuff” made him nervous. Unfortunately, there was no polite way to ask her to leave, and once she pulled out the box, she’d be impossible to get rid of until she decided to go on her own.
“Uh… Good morning Indigo. I wasn’t expecting you to show up today. Or at all. How did you even find me?”
Not the kindest of greetings, but she was unlikely to get the hint if he didn’t push it a bit.
“Haylen tell me. She has platoon records. Was easy to find. Only got lost twice.”
Kearse’s mother was inspecting the large basket of fruit, and pretending not to listen. Most of it was out of season, but appeared fully ripe. It had probably been brought in from the south by boat, and must have cost quite a bit at the market. Indigo apparently hadn’t wasted any time in selling off some of her own loot.
“We were just about to sit down for lunch,” Kearse’s mother said. “If you’re going to be staying for a bit, would you like to join us?”
“No! The fruit was a bribe, Mother! Don’t take it!”
Indigo stammered indecisively for a moment, but Kearse knew what her answer would be when one of her hands went to her stomach.
“Uh… Um. If not cause trouble, will stay. Never have home cook meal before.”
Kearse didn’t have to look at his mother to know that her eyes were gleaming. She was possessed of that most motherly of traits, in that none who entered her presence were allowed to leave it while still feeling hungry.
“You’ll stay,” she confirmed, and even Indigo seemed intimidated by the matriarchal aura rolling off of her.
From the dining table, Kearse could already see his father and sister cleaning up their mess. His father was brushing a pile of wood chips onto the floor. He’d go back to his carving later, so there was no point in doing any more than getting them off the table. His sister though, was scrambling to make the table as presentable as possible for their guest, and was setting out the old linen tablecloth they used for formal occasions.
Indigo was promptly placed at a seat in the middle of the table, and looked a little lost as she tried to figure out how she had gotten there so quickly. Kearse could only shake his head as he sat down next to her.
“Give her time to think about what she’s doing, and she’ll walk through a horde of the cursed without hesitation. Once she’s off balance though, she’s twice as lost as anyone.”
He tapped her on the shoulder, and gave her a reassuring nod. If he didn’t keep her relaxed, she’d be more likely to do something unexpected.
“I’ve already told my family about most of what happened in the necropolis, but I haven’t mentioned the box yet. How about you pull that out and we give them a good surprise.”
Indigo calmed visibly at that, and her usual mischievous grin returned in full force. For once, that smile didn’t scare him. Her antics were much more enjoyable if you were in on the joke, and Kearse knew he’d enjoy the punchline for this one.
Indigo displayed a rare moment of common sense, and didn’t open up the door to her storage space. Instead, she leaned down, and her hands blurred briefly before two large shell-like boxes appeared on the floor next to the table.
“Had it really been two? I remember the one I had was fairly full but…”
“I added a bit,” Indigo said, preempting his questions. “A few household things. I had extras. Needed to clear space. I think you approve.”
Kearse would have to take her at her word.
His father was leaning over to get a better look, and Iyesa had paused in her cleaning. His mother was still finishing the last of the cooking, but was glancing over to make sure she didn’t miss any of what was obviously an important moment.
“So,” Kearse began, enjoying being the center of his family’s attention. “I told you about the reconnaissance mission I had been sent on.”
He hadn’t been sent. He had literally been dragged into it, but they didn’t need to know that.
“What I didn’t tell you, was that Father Gregor himself extended his salvage rights to us. We were allowed to loot the necropolis, and this is my share of what we gathered.”
Kearse pulled off the lids, and the gasps he heard made him smile with pride. They could barely even see what it held, and he knew that their shock would only grow with each item that was drawn out. As he doled out the presents he had collected for his family, their stunned silence grew deeper and deeper.
To his mother and sister, he gave the two thin golden bracelets he had first found on his own. To his father, he made a great deal of showing off not one, but two entire bottles of Indigo’s “damn fine whisky.” Bottles of perfume, bars of soap, and other fancy lotions came soon after.
Then came boxes of tableware. Plates, bowls, and cups of fine glass, and cutlery of steel added by Indigo. Jar after jar of herbs and spices came next, each with their labels messily, but legibly rewritten in Common Imperial. To top that off was a box of small cards.
“Recipes,” Indigo said. “No reason to keep Ancestor’s cooking secret. Make sure you share. Was good writing practice when had trouble sleeping.”
She had even added in a set of measuring spoons.
When Kearse pulled out the box of rings, necklaces, and other jewelry, the quiet moment ended as his family members all rushed to get a better look. Even his father was dancing about with set of earrings, as if he was a princess at a royal ball.
This wasn’t the time to hold back, and even Indigo was taking a vicarious joy in seeing the joy that filled the room.
The second box with Chad’s name on it made his mother cry, and Kearse knew instantly that he had made the right choice. His mother was elated to find out that her sister’s family hadn’t been left out of their good fortune. His father gave him a pat on the back, but said nothing. No words were needed between father and son.
Kearse’s smile grew, and his eyes twinkled as he reached for the last object in the boxes.
“This,” he said, “isn’t something for us to sell. This is something for the family. Now and forever. This… is magic without magic.”
He set the clock in the middle of the table. It put everything else in the room to shame, and it was just as beautiful as the first time he had seen it. With Indigo’s help, he soon had it set and wound, and the ticking noise it made, faint as it was, could be heard by everyone. They all stared at it in awe. Even Indigo seemed enraptured by the thing.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Kearse felt his father’s arm reach around to grab him by the shoulder.
“I can’t say how proud I am, Kearse. It’s every father’s dream to raise a son that’s a better man than he is. I just never expected you to reach that point so soon.”
His father had never been sparing in words of affection, but Kearse knew from the bottom of his heart that he had never received any truer praise than this. He put his own arm across his father’s back.
“I had a good role model,” was all he said, and it was all that needed to be said.
“But didn’t you get anything for yourself?” Iyesa asked.
Kearse didn’t know what to say to that.
“I… got the clock? And… I’ll get to try Mother’s new cooking?”
He could see Indigo looking at him skeptically.
“Don’t you say a damn word. I took what I wanted, and it was more than I ever could have asked for.”
“Too humble,” Indigo whispered, and it stung more than it should have. There was nothing wrong with taking care of one’s family. He had done more than anyone could have asked for, and that knowledge was more than enough for him.
The food was long since ready, but had gone largely ignored in favor of the salvaged bounty, and there was little room left on the table for them to actually eat. No one dared remove any of it though. Even the thick paper boxes that previously held the plates they ate from were too important to easily discard.
They talked as they ate, and Indigo and Kearse spent most of the meal explaining what all of the different items actually were. Iyesa was curious about the different lotions and hygienic oils. When his mother asked about the different recipes and spices, Indigo had to admit a lack of expertise. She knew what most of the foods would taste like, but wasn’t enough a cook herself to explain the best uses for each of the ingredients. His father had already opened one of the liquor bottles, and had poured out a small measure into a pair of glasses for Kearse and himself.
“I’ll be saving this for special occasions, but for now, I can’t think of a better time to have a first taste.”
That was the moment Kearse knew that he was fully an adult in his father’s eyes. There had been plenty of times where he had been allowed a drink, but this was the first time that he had shared a drink with his father. It was a small act, but it was something Kearse knew he would remember for the rest of his life. He savored the burn as the strong drink went down his throat.
Kearse didn’t feel any need to become a hero. He accepted his lot in life. But being respected was something every man desired, and knowing that his father respected him was worth more than every speck of gold he had brought home with him.
“So,” Indigo stated loudly, drawing all of the focus back to herself. “Reason why I here. Bring things, yes. Also bring proposal for Kearse.”
If Kearse hadn’t been used to Indigo’s strange manner of speech, he would have choked on his second sip of the whisky. The rest of his family wasn’t so familiar with her, and their reactions were about as would be expected. His father did almost choke on his drink, and his mother and sister both paused while raising the last of their lunch to their mouths.
“She’s not asking to marry me,” he said as quickly as he could. “Probably,” he added. When Indigo was involved, you could never be too sure.
“This is what you said you wanted to talk about earlier. Yeah?”
Indigo nodded in thanks for the clarification. He knew that she was smarter than her words often made her sound, and could imagine how frustrating it must be to need to be half drunk before anyone could understand you easily.
“Offer. Yes. That better word,” she continued slowly. “Want make offer to Kearse.”
She turned to him and looked him square in the eye. It was a little unsettling. Her eyes were large, and Kearse wasn’t used to her looking at one thing for very long. Usually her gaze would be warily darting about, looking for any sign of danger. Even since she had shown up, she hadn’t made eye contact with anyone for long, and had been trying to take in as much of her surroundings as she possibly could.
“You know Haylen go on pilgrimage soon, yes?”
Of course he did. Everyone knew that Haylen would be gone soon. It was a shame, because she was a good officer, but she would return as a paladin soon enough. She was good at what she did, but she wasn’t so irreplaceable that the militia couldn’t survive a single expedition without her.
Kearse was already sure that he would be one of the first to volunteer for next year’s expedition. He didn’t think of himself as being particularly patriotic, but now that he understood just how important the expeditions were, he couldn’t not join and keep a clear conscience.
“Yes… I know. Anyone who knows Haylen knows. But what has that got to do with me.”
Indigo continued to keep her eyes locked on his as she went on,
“I go too. Haylen offer me go with her. At first, I think I need time to think. Not think so any more. I not ready for normal life yet. Only took moment in city to understand. I too…”
Indigo squinted and, and forced out the next words with effort.
“I too damaged. I not ready for real world.”
Kearse empathized with her, but still couldn’t understand where she was going with this.
“Haylen and I go on pilgrimage. Together. That mean change of plans. Father Gregor say to take man with us. I say we strong. I say we can handle trouble. Father Gregor say, if take man, not need handle trouble in first place. Bad people less likely to bother women who have man. I not like, but cannot disagree. Haylen and I talk. We think you best choice. We want you join us on pilgrimage.”
Kearse didn’t need to look around the room to know that his family was as wide eyed as he was at the idea.
It was one thing to make the small pilgrimage. Everyone was expected to do so. But the Grand Pilgrimage? That was something for nobles like Mayra, or people like Haylen who had a destiny. Kearse was just a streetsweeper. Kearse was nobody.
“I… but… why would… But why me?”
The very idea was more than he could think of. Regardless of the quality of his house, a poor commoner from the back streets of Orlis didn’t make the grand pilgrimage. It was unheard of.
“Because who else?” Indigo riposted, sounding frustrated. “Man meant to keep us out of trouble. You have better idea? Corlo? He busy being paladin. Chad? We probably spend more time keeping him out of trouble. I not know anyone better than you. Haylen say you good choice. Crolo say you good choice. Gregor say you good choice. I say you good choice. So why not?”
Kearse had to stop and rub at his temples while he thought of a response. He couldn’t go with them on pilgrimage! It was absurd. Him? He couldn’t afford… No. The pile of treasure on the table meant that he could afford to go. But he was nobody. Yes. That was why he couldn’t go. Common men like him didn’t make the grand pilgrimage.
“I can’t,” he said. “I can’t make the pilgrimage. I’m just some guy. People like me don’t travel the entire empire. We stay at home, and make do with what’s given to us. I’m not the kind of person you need.”
He was thankful that his family hadn’t butted in so far. This was their decision as much as his, but he wanted to make it for himself.
“I not understand. Haylen is normal person. So why not you?”
“Haylen is… Do you have any idea how hard Haylen has worked for her position? Do you even know who Haylen is? Not just as a person. I mean who she is.”
“I still not understand. She grow up in church orphanage. If that not hard start, I not know what is.”
“She… Yes. She was in the orphanage. But that just means she was surrounded by the church from the beginning. She worked hard to get where she is, but she was in the right place to be seen by all the people that mattered. I won’t say she hasn’t earned her status. I can’t say she hasn’t earned it. But do you know who she is?”
“Sexy warrior woman? Sorry. I not know what you ask about.”
Kearse had to rub at his face again. Indigo was being Indigo, and Indigo was obtuse as she was stubborn. This wasn’t something he felt very comfortable talking about, but she would figure it out eventually, and it was better that it came from him,
“She’s a half-elf. A half-elf. How many elves do you think there are in Orlis? Because there’s not many. You’re new here, so you don’t know, but for anyone who’s spent some time in this city, it’s not hard to guess who her mother is. There are only a dozen or so elves in the entire kingdom, and one of them just so happens to be a prostitute. So when a half-elf pops up who is clearly a local, but doesn’t want to talk about her family, it doesn’t take long to figure out who one of her parents are. Haylen might not be famous, but everyone who meets her instantly knows who she is.”
Indigo was struck speechless, and Kearse hated himself a little. He wasn’t saying anything that everyone didn’t already know, but he still felt like he was talking behind Haylen’s back.
“I don’t disrespect Haylen because of who her mother is. If anything, I respect her more because of how much she’s had to overcome. Her mother may be a whore, but I consider myself lucky to have her as a commander during the expedition. Everyone who knows her would be lying if they didn’t speak highly of her, and I would be a liar if I said that I was her equal. That is why I can’t go. Because I’m not at her level. Because I’m not worthy of taking the same journey as her.”
Kearse looked to his family for support, but didn’t find any.
“Bullshit,” said his father.
“Everyone’s been coming by to say that you’re a hero,” said his sister.
“You could do something with your life,” said his mother. “We know you’ve always wanted to be more than you are, so why not take the chance given?”
“Really?” Kearse thought. “None of you see how absurd it is for me to go on the pilgrimage with them? The grand pilgrimage of all things?”
He turned back to Indigo, and tried to get a read on her. Rather than appearing like a trouble maker, she was the most solemn one in the room. She knew how much of a favor she was asking. Somehow, she knew more than anyone how difficult of a task it would be. There was no judgement in her eyes.
“Think about it,” she said. “Is plenty of time. And is big decision. I make choice fast, but have less to leave behind. Is big choice, so think hard. Think long.”
“I will,” Kearse told her. “Think about it, that is.”
From there, the talk dissipated into smaller matters.
Iyesa wanted to know about Indigo’s horns, and what it was like being from such a rare race.
“I like horns. Think look good. You already pretty, but look better with horns. Being unique? Is not problem. Homunculus is strange race, but Imperials are friendly people, so I not feel alone.”
“I’m happy that you’re happy Indigo, but if you try to seduce my sister, I will skip any form of threats, and go straight to violence. The hells have no fury like the wrath of an older brother.”
The conversation went on.
“I’m sure Kearse downplayed it,” his mother started, “but what actually happened when he met you? Was he really the first person you had ever met?”
Indigo’s wicked grin was in full force at the question, and she looked sideways at him as she answered.
“Yes. Was my first,” she said, obviously reveling in the teasing innuendo. “Many people could have been, but glad it was him. Ah! He carry me from alley like princess. Was very romantic.”
Kearse had never struck a woman in anger, but he was tempted. After speaking to Haylen and Chad, he wasn’t even sure if Indigo could be counted as a woman, and so the temptation to smack her upside the head was even stronger.
He gave in, and delivered a solid whack to the back of her cranium. His family was aghast at his action, but Indio laughed as if she were in on the joke, and that his attack was nothing more than a running gag.
“No, no. I serious. Kearse find me by chance, but I glad it was him. Kearse, I want you know I appreciate your help. You good person. Glad I met you. I hope we can continue friendship.”
“If that’s an attempt at getting me to go with you, it’s not going to work. I’ve only known you for a few days, but I know how you think.”
“You should go with them,” said his father. “A man needs to be there when a woman needs help. Protecting people is what makes a man a man. I don’t care one way or the other about this… this newfangled idea of women being able to fight. If a woman says she doesn’t need help, that’s fine. But a man holds true. If a woman says she needs help, a man gives it. And don’t try to backtalk me. I know you’ll go with them. We all know you’ll go. I didn’t raise a son that wouldn’t go. You may say you resent it, but you’ll go anyway, even if we don’t push you towards it.”
“And bring back a nice girl,” added his mother. “You’ll probably be twenty by the time you get home, and I can’t wait forever to be a grandmother. It’s not like Iyesa has shown any hurry.”
Kearse tried to keep his sigh internal. His father was right. He probably would agree to accompany Haylen and Indigo, simply because he had been the one asked. As for his mother… She could keep hoping. After his experience with the two women of his platoon, Kearse had learned to be wary of women’s affections. It had been a night to make other men jealous, but he had no intention of biting off more than he could chew. Indigo was the perfect example of why man should find a normal girl, and a normal girl was unlikely to fall for a traveler making the pilgrimage, no matter how grand.
At his mother’s words, he and Iyesa shared a brief glance of unity. They usually tried to give each other their space, but some things could only be understood by siblings, and they had both grown used to their mother’s talk of grandchildren. The two of them were only at the earliest of marriageable ages, but it had been a common household topic for quite a while, and it wasn’t something they could easily speak up against.
The random talk continued for a while as Indigo ingratiated herself with Kearse’s family. Eventually, he faced the executioner, and asked what other reason Indigo had for visiting them in person.
“I want go shopping. Explore city. Haylen busy, and I not want do alone. Would be difficult. We go on date that not date. Okay?”
A handler. That’s what Indigo wanted him to be. He understood the necessity, but was mildly annoyed that he had been chosen once again. It frustrated him that Indigo saw him as something of a lackey, but at the same time he couldn’t deny that someone needed to be there to keep her under control. And if not him, than who? Indigo was right in that at least.
“Okay,” he said. “What is it that you want to do?”
He hoped that it wasn’t anything too big, and for once he was right. As she explained her plans for the day, Kearse realized that she really did want someone to keep her out of trouble, and he was somehow more than a little proud to know that she thought he was best suited for the task.
Despite how casually she had spoken with his family, Indigo seemed in a bit of a rush to leave. He really only had time to go back to his room to grab his coin purse before Indigo was pulling him outside She bowed politely to his parents, and gave many thanks for the meal, but stepped towards the door with every word.
When the two of them were outside, Indigo immediately walked around to the side of the house, pulled the hatmask over her face, leaned against the wall, and began to breathe heavily.
“Are you alright?” Kearse asked.
“I manage,” Indigo replied. “Be with people is… difficult. Your family nice. Was hard to… to be normal. With you… not have to act. You already know I weird. That why I want your help. I not joke when I say you good person. I want you know that.”
Kearse was put a bit adrift by her words. Had he been too harsh with her? She was strange, but she knew that, and didn’t want to let go of the semblance of normality that she had. She really did need his help, but didn’t want to make it obvious how much help she actually needed.
He remembered when the expedition first reentered Orlis. Indigo had been in such a fit that she couldn’t pay attention to anything. When they had marched through the streets, she had looked as if she was trying to memorize every face and building along the way. When they had stopped in front of the temples for Father Gregor’s speech, Indigo had barely seemed aware that anything was happening at all. When the militia had been dismissed to return their armor and weapons, Haylen had had to pull her away, or the girl would have remained standing where she was.
Everything that Kearse considered normal was new to Indigo, and he had to remind himself of that. She accepted that she was strange, but didn’t want to stand out more than she already did. No matter what she chose to do with herself, her future was unlikely to be an easy one, and she couldn’t afford to screw it up from the start.
Indigo was under a lot of pressure to adapt quickly, and she was relying on him to guide her in how to do so.
Kearse remembered both the girl he had found crying in an alley, and the woman who brought death to uncountable numbers of the undead.
Maybe, he thought, she wasn’t either of those things. Maybe she was just a normal person who didn’t know what normal was. Maybe she just needed a bit of help, and maybe she thought he was the best person to show her what that was.
Kearse looked down at the faceless girl in front of him. She was lost, and trying to find her place.
“Take your time,” he said. “We can leave when you’re ready.”