Moriko was trying to peer past the throngs of people in the town to see the announcements board, but everyone was so much taller than her. Moriko was a Yamato, an island race of people with a slight stature, and so everyone in this city on the mainland rose at least a head taller over her.

“Excuse me!” She cried, tugging on a man’s sleeve. He glanced down at her and shook his arm free from her and turned back to the board with a muttered curse.

“Excuse me.” A deep voice rumbled beside her, and she glanced his way and stepped back in shock.

In a word, the man was a monster. He was huge, a mountain of a man that towered over everyone else by at least head and shoulders.

He was to the others as she was to them: The tallest man there only came up to his shoulder. She herself came up to perhaps his breastbone. He looked huge enough to crush her with one blow, with long legs like tree trunks, hands seemingly big enough to crush whole melons. He glanced at her, and she seemed to be weighed, assessed. His face was broad, weathered, and uncomplicated. Like a boulder it seemed both chiseled and worn. A scruff of beard on his chin and thick brown hair tumbled on his shoulders.

“You’re Yamato, correct?” He asked, and she nodded wordlessly, numb with wonder. He was huge.

He smiled then, delighted. It was a smile that you couldn’t help but respond with one of your own. It was a smile that seemed so alien and incongruous with the rest of him.

“Shrine maiden?” He asked, and she blinked a few times, confused and still in awe of him. He looked like he was ready to pick up and devour the first thing that disagreed with him, herself included. He repeated himself.

“Are you a Shrine Maiden?” His voice was deep and coarse. She nodded again, and his smile refreshed itself.

“Good. I’d like a word with you, if you don’t mind. But first, I’d like to check the announcement board.”

“Good luck.” Moriko replied with a scowl, “I’ve been trying to check it for a while.” He smiled a lopsided grin at her and replied with a knowing wink, “Want my help?”

Before she could agree or disagree, he casually scooped her up, off her feet and over his shoulder as casually and as effortlessly as if she’d shouldered her own pack. She didn’t even have time to let out a terrified shout before he was on the move, casually shoving people aside with his free hand, growling and cursing along with the rest of the throng of people.

“Yeah, yeah, out the fucking way.” He ordered, and nodded at something said by someone else. He let out a constant stream of the most coarse language she’d ever heard. Someone shouted something unintelligible to her, and he laughed in response. “I guess your sister is too fast for you, hey?” He shouted back.

She finally found her voice and squawked in outrage and he laughed. “Just a moment, princess, and I’ll put you down.” he replied.

“You said you wanted to talk to me?” She inquired. He nodded without looking at her, and continued examining the slips of paper and cloth where various jobs were advertised.

“Is there a jinja nearby?” He asked. Her eyebrows rose, but she shook her head. “No. I come from a Shrine far to the northwest of here.”

He frowned at that. “A shame. I need to get a letter to a Shrine.” Her eyebrow twitched and she frowned in confusion. Who was he, that he needed to communicate with a jinja? According to her maps there weren’t any nearby, either.

He tapped a notice on the job board for twenty silver and pulled it off the board.

“What would-” She started, but he was already pushing his way through the crowds again. She struggled to keep up with him. As they emerged from the press of bodies, he smiled again. “You move well; your training has paid off.”

“You seem to know a lot.” She replied challengingly, eyebrow arched inquisitively. He shrugged ambiguously. “I was wounded near Hitotsuna town, and I was tended at the shrine there.” He mentioned. He pointed to the markets, and they started walking.

“While I was there, I helped them put down a tribe of snakemen. Unfortunately, many of the Maidens were killed. There is only the local kami and a single acolyte. They need help.”

Moriko touched her chest at the story. “An entire temple, overrun?” She asked. He shrugged. “It wasn’t so much overrun as it was massacred. The Shrine stands; the kami is alive and insane.”

She glanced at him with puzzlement.

“I was hoping there would be a shrine in a nearby town, but so far, no luck.”

Moriko nodded. “My own shrine is hundreds of miles away.” She cupped an elbow with her palm and tapped a finger against her cheek. “Still, my Shrine is in contact with other Shrines. We should find a scryer and have him deliver the letter to them. If necessary it can be forwarded on to the homeland.”

He stroked his jaw. “It seems the only option.” he replied doubtfully. She nodded and then touched his arm. “That job- are you going to attempt it on your own?”

He looked at the paper. “Clear out the mines and caves of mutants and beastmen.” He read aloud.

He shrugged. “Well, it’s not impossible. I could probably do it on my own. But no, there’s a couple others in my party.” He eyed her carefully. “Are you saying you want to come along?” He asked, and then his eyes flicked up over her shoulder for just a moment and she felt something tug at her waist.

She let her instincts take over, and her hand moved, reaching behind her. She felt her hand close on someone’s wrist, and then she pivoted, foot flashing, arm raising. Her movement twisted the man’s arm behind him, her foot swept his feet out from underneath him, and as he fell face-first, she finished by pressing a knee into his lower back. He yelped, and she jerked his hand higher. He held up a pouch with his other hand. “Take it! Take it! I’m sorry!”

Moriko reclaimed her belt pouch as the town watch came running, whistles blowing.

“Here now, what’s all this, then?” One asked.

Daveth nodded at the two of them. “The man tried to take her money pouch. She caught him and took it back.”

“Herb pouch, actually.” Moriko mentioned as the watch took the man away.

“Hmm?” Daveth asked.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“I keep my money elsewhere. That pouch holds herbs I use for tea. See?” She said, and passed the pouch over. Inside was a collection of dried, sliver-like leaves that exuded a rich herbal scent.

“I’ve had that sort of tea before.” He mentioned. “At the temple I was at. It’s pretty tasty.”

She nodded and he shrugged.

“Well, his loss. He probably would have thrown it away and cursed you in disgust, for the affrontery of not keeping a money pouch visible.” He chuckled and she smiled politely.

“Do you want to come along?” Daveth repeated. “You carry yourself well.”

She nodded. “I could use the money, to be honest. I have not been able to eat much the past few days.”

He nodded. “Well, come along, then. I have to do a bunch of shopping for my group. Supplies and the like.” She nodded.

“So what’re your skills?” He asked. “I know a little about what to expect from a Shrine Maiden, but fill me in.”

“I’m most skilled in the bow. I’m also trained in nonmagical healing; herbs, poultices and the like. I can cast a few spells, but I’m no mage.”

He nodded at that.

“And you? What sort of skills do you have?” She asked, and he smiled. “I’m- I guess I’m just a fighter.” He nodded to himself. “Yeah. I’m good with swords and the like.” She nodded.

“So what type of party do you have?” She asked, as he stopped at a stall and started ordering.

“Let me get three chickens and four packages of mutton.” he asked the stall-keeper, and glanced at her. “There’s a cat-type beastman that sort of serves as our scout. Will you have a problem with that?” He asked.

She shook her head. “The Yamato don’t campaign against any particular race, and we only put down local groups of beastmen if they’re tainted with magic or if they’re unbalancing the land.”

He nodded absently. “Oh, and do you have any hams or bacon?” He asked the man, who shook his head.

“Yer be wantin’ the general store.” the man muttered thickly, pointing.

Daveth pulled out a pouch from somewhere, and casually stuffed his chickens into the sack. The small sack was at least a fifth of the size of one of the birds, but he stuffed everything in without a problem. She smiled a little.

“Do you need money?” He asked her suddenly.

“Excuse me?” She asked defensively.

“You know, for food or anything you need, like spell components, or I dunno whatall you need. Things like that.”

“I have everything I need, I suppose.” She said, and he snorted back laughter and ruffled her hair.

“I thought you said you hadn’t eaten in a while?” He asked. “Here, knock yourself out. Buy some food and water.”

He took her hand and forcibly tucked a coin into her palm. She glanced at it; it was a silver coin, stamped with a face she didn’t recognize, with words in a language she didn’t know. From the weight alone it was a particularly rich coin.

“I can’t take your money.” She said staunchly.

“Not even if I deduct it from your share?” He asked curiously. “Deducting this from your share isn’t ideal, but it’s fair, I think.”

Her mouth twisted. “Fine, I’ll take it.” She remarked. He nodded and stuck out his hand. She stared at it for a moment, and remembered that mainlanders often shook hands to seal a deal. She gingerly extended her hand, expecting it to be crushed to powder in a massive fist, but he gripped her hand firmly and released it.

“I am Moriko of the Ancient Pine.” She said by way of introduction. His hand had been dry and calloused, but warm.

“I’m Daveth.” He replied.

“No more?” She asked. He shrugged and chuckled. “I hope not,” he remarked cryptically. She raised an eyebrow quizzically, but he shook his head. “Just Daveth.”

She cocked an eyebrow, but said no more. He carried himself like a seasoned warrior, so she was expecting a military title, or perhaps the name of a mercenary band, or if his family were important, a surname. At the very least, she expected the name of a town or city that he’d hailed from.

She bought her food along with him, buying a large pork roast, several skins of water, and a small cask of fish. He eyed her, but she tucked them into her sleeves casually and his eyebrows rose.

At the general store he bought bread, bacon, several wheels of cheese, and an entire cask of pickled cucumbers.

“You like them?” She asked, her face screwed up in an expression of disgust, but he nodded.

“They’re delicious. Why, don’t you?” He asked, and she shook her head.

“I’m not fond of them.” She replied, and he shook his head.

“Suit yourself.” He grinned like a little boy. “More for me, then.”

“Why do you travel with a beastman?” She asked curiously.

As they gathered their purchases from the various stores and shops, he explained.

“I like asking questions about as much as I like answering them.” he grumped. “too much effort. Don’t be surprised if I don’t answer.” He mentioned and her eyebrows rose.

What sort of philosophy was this?

“I think it saves on trouble. Or not. Either way, I think it’s a good policy. Don’t feel obligated to tell me anything you don’t feel comfortable telling me, and I’ll do the same.” He said, and smiled. “We’re adventurers, not comrades-in-arms. I don’t need to know your life story, and I don’t think you’d really care to hear about my boring life either.”

“Shouldn’t we get to know each other?” She asked.

He shrugged. “I’ve got a good eye for people. I wouldn’t’ve invited you along if I thought you were a terrible person. That’s enough for me.”

“That’s fine for you, but what about me?” She asked. “For all I know, you could be softening me up to rob me later.”

He chuckled at that. “Do you really think that?” He asked.

She shook her head. “I don't think that someone who is as earnest in his desire to help a yamato shrine as you have can be a completely bad person.” She forwarded hesitantly.

He smiled. “Just so.” She fell silent, then.

“You said you met the Kami of Hitotsuna shrine?” She asked.

He nodded. “Well, she called it “Araya-jinja”, but yes. I met her.”

Moriko nodded. “Normally we name our shrines from the surrounding nature, but Araya-jinja is different, and was named after one of our diviners.”

“The kami- Her name is ... Shizuka, right?” She asked hesitantly. He nodded again. “That’s right, Sonozaki Shizuka. Do you know her?” he asked. She shook her head, shrugging a little. “I know of her, yes, in name only. There are not many kami that we know of, after all.”

He nodded sagely, and her mouth twisted. “You didn’t answer the question, though: why do you travel with a beastman?”

He raised an eyebrow. “isn’t it obvious?” he asked, and then smirked. “Sorry, I’m teasing you. We just happen to be traveling in the same direction, more or less. Strength in numbers and all that.”

Her eyebrows rose. “That’s it?” She asked, and he nodded.

“Who else is in your party?” She asked, and he shrugged.

“There’s an elf girl. Honestly, she’s kind of a pain in the ass, but she carries her weight.” He twisted to the side suddenly as a hand reached for his waist pouch.

Moriko’s eyes narrowed at that. There was no way that he could have seen the hand from his stance, and yet he moved as if he’d expected it to happen.

“Not going to beat him up?” She asked, glancing up at him. Her mouth twisted a little. She was not looking forward to constantly craning her neck that far.

“What? I told you, it’s a she. And she’s an elf.” He replied.

“No, the guy that went for your purse just now.” She replied, glancing back into the throng of people that moved past.

“Someone was after my purse?” He stopped and glanced back at the group of people with a calculating eye, but gave up after a moment. “I didn’t see him.”