Neil

The village itself was small and picturesque in the way that only rustic log cabins, and a lack of industrialization can produce. The path continued through the village becoming wider and better maintained as it went. There were almost a dozen long log cabins in two rows lining the road, towards the end of the street there was an even larger building that had more ornamentation on the outside.

Between each of the buildings were small gardens. Each one had different flowers and plants in them, and although I couldn’t see most of them with the buildings in the way I had to guess that most were as long as the buildings they were in-between. A few quick questions revealed that the plants in them all seemed to be used in potions, and each garden seemed to follow a theme. Some had plants for healing potions, others had stamina, night eye, and others that should increase strength or even overall health.

Just looking at them was enough for my hands to start twitching.

Lamia of all ages and genders were slithering between the houses tending the gardens and up and down the streets going about their lives. A mother and daughter pair were slowly moving towards us as they looked down at a basket they were holding between them. The two approached to almost 10 feet of us before the mother looked up, and stopped, her eyes widening and her breath catching in her throat. Grabbing her daughter, she pulled her close to her as the basket fell on the ground between them forgotten.

Yallia and I were covered in dirt, blood, and our clothes were ragged, so I couldn’t blame her for being shocked at the sight of us. The four of us looked at each other for a few seconds before I decided to speak before she started screaming.

“Hi!” I said as cheerily as I could. “We’re looking for Jax, have you seen him? He’s expecting us.”

Her mouth moved a few times but no words came out, on her third attempt at saying something she managed to find her voice. “Jax is in the elders lodge.” She said pointing to the building at the far end of town.

I should have been able to guess that was where the elders would be. That building was a little fancier than the others and had more decoration on the front of the building. There were several animal skins, and some statues made out of logs in front as well.

“Thank you.” I said with a bright smile, I pointed it out to Yallia who gave a stiff bow to the two and we started down the street looking as relaxed as we could. Every single person stopped and stared at us in shock as we walked past, one man came to their front door carrying a bow and arrow but he only held it as we walked past.

When we finally reached the building more Lamia had come out of the buildings and were looking at us and even the elders inside their building seemed to realize that something was happening and the animal skin that served as a door was pushed aside. An attractive young Lamia with long blonde hair was staring at us. Behind her I saw two older Lamia, one was an extremely old woman I had never seen before and the other was Jax. The attractive blonde Lamia had moved on from staring at me to staring at Yallia with open mouthed astonishment, her eyes bobbing up and down, following Yallias tail if I wasn’t mistaken.

Waving hello at Jax with a bright smile on my face he looked shocked at seeing us again. Moving around the attractive blonde Lamia, Jax tried to get a closer look at us. The blonde straightened up with a start and looked at Yallia’s face her cheeks starting to redden. Then her eyes snapped towards me and her expression turned furious, without saying anything she turned around and moved deeper into the building.

Behind Jax the oldest Lamia slowly approached the opening, I had bever been very good at guessing peoples ages but if I had to guess I would say that the other woman was at least in her 70’s if not 80’s, assuming Lamia aged like humans of course.

While her tail was still long, time had dulled her scales a little as well caused the tail to shrink. Her human half looked the same, shrunken and wizened as if she was slowly shrinking in on herself. Her arms were frail, her hair was entirely gray, and her face was lined with enough wrinkles that she looked like one of the ancient peeks behind her. Despite that her eyes shone with a clarity and cunning that was impossible to ignore. Looking at her I whispered “Who?” As I did so her eyes widened in surprise clearly seeing and recognizing the action.

DING

Esther – The eldest of the elders. Before Esther became the Chieftan of the village she was the leader of the hunters. Strict but fair Esther prizes hard work and discipline while despising cronyism, nepotism and corruption.

“You have returned.” Jax said sounding stunned.

“Of course! As soon as we closed the portal, fought a monster, avoided your guards and snuck past Hallice we came back.”

“It is done then? It is closed?” Esther asked so quietly I almost didn’t hear her.

“Yep, just closed it a few hours ago, there're still monsters in the city, but the source of the monsters should be gone.”

From behind Jax Esther approached slowly but surely a wooden cane tapping on the ground in time with her slow slithers. Behind her an extremely well-muscled and well-armed assistant helped her.

As she approached Jax, he shifted out of the way without seeming to realize what he was doing. “Two hours ago we heard noises in our valley from the top of the mountain, Hallice and Fairlon went to the top of the mountain to investigate. You wouldn’t know what happened to them would you?” She said tightening her grip on her cane.

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“We saw them at the top of the mountain, they didn’t see us until we were part way down the mountain so I they should be on they're on their way down now.”

At my casual mention of us eluding an entire hunting party her eyebrow rose in what I assumed was surprise. She leaned to the side and the attractive blonde Lamia rushed beside her, a quick whispered conversation later and the young woman slithered past us eyeing us as she went.

Esther and Jax began a whispered conversation, I looked at the assembled villagers who had moved closer to us. They were milling around us in a wide semi-circle, close enough to hear what the elders were saying but keeping some distance between us.

While no one looked angry, or too frightened anymore I didn’t like waiting to see if we would be executed, escorted off their lands, or welcomed as hero's. So I decided to start talking.

“I have done as you asked and destroyed the source of the taint.” I repeated a little louder for the crowd. “And this woman here has a warning for you from beyond the veil.”

“Oh she does, does she?” Esther asked. “You told Hallice that you appeared in our lands as if by magic, but how is it that this outlander asked for you?”

“She didn’t ask for me, she pointed at the mountain and Hallice called it Neil. She just thought you called the mountain Neil.”

“It’s true, I was with Hallice when we interrogated the girl. She came from the veil with two outlanders who are known to the tribe. She also didn’t use the name Neil until Hallice already had.” Jax said moving beside Esther.

The attractive blonde returned pushing through the group of people, past us and began speaking to Esther.

“The hunting party and Hallice are coming down the mountain now. I saw no injured amongst them, but they are still far away so I am not certain.”

Nodding at her aide the woman returned to her place slightly behind Esther. I shifted my feet trying to avoid having them get squished by the Lamia.

“Well then, let's hear this warning.” Esther said.

“We should hear this in private.” Jax began, but he was silenced with a single look from Esther.

Switching to Yallias language I turned to her. “Alright, I need you to describe the threat the Empire poses to them, you just speak normally and I will translate for you as you speak.”

Yallia nodded and began speaking, I translated her words a few moments later.

“Esteemed Elders I come to you with a grave warning. Far across the oceans a great and terrible Empire exists. They have a culture based on slavery and invasion, they have attacked their neighbors and invaded and conquered dozens of peaceful kingdoms, taken their people, their lands, and resources to use that to fuel their war machine. They have always had a fascination with Humans and the old Empire, and have spent years subjugating entire kingdoms in order to gain access to Human ruins. Now they have sent an expedition here, to your village.

They want to study the ruins here and they will allow nothing to stand in their way. I am from one of the countries that opposes them. Several weeks ago my father and I were attacked in our home and my Father was taken. I pursued them to this island in time to see a full expedition of their soldiers travel here. Even now, as we speak he is being forced to assist them, and when they arrive here it may be with honeyed words and empty promises. But if you do not do what they say, if you do not give them everything they ask for, they will take it through force, just as they have before, and just as they will again.

I know that you have no reason to believe me, but I implore you that you listen, and when the Empire arrives that you do not believe their lies.”

As I translated Yallias words Esthers eyes never left my own, it was like she was trying to read my mind through sheer force of will. By the end of Yallias speech I was starting to think that was in fact something she could actually do.

Trying not to wipe away the sweat that had gathered on my eyebrows I watched her for any reaction not seeing anything.

Until she spoke “I have heard your warning. I give you my apologies for your difficult treatment earlier and offer you guests rights in our village. You will be welcome here until such a time comes that we can verify your story, but until then you are free to move amongst us and talk to our people. Tallas” She said speaking to the attractive blonde who had opened the door initially. "Nialla should have some open space now that her daughter has left us, please escort our guests to her home and ensure that she has everything she will need to accommodate our new guests, then find Anais and let her know we need her here.”

The pretty blonde bowed to Esther “Of course Elder, I will see to it.” She then turned to us and slithered towards us in the hypnotic way that most Lamia had. “This way.” She said with no hint of warmth in her voice.

She pushed past us without a backwards glance and then through the crowd that had formed around the elders building.

Not wanting to fall behind I followed after her and Yallia followed me a moment later. “What’s going on?” She asked.

“They’ve accepted what you’ve said, they want to discuss it, but for now we are welcome in their village. Tallas here will be taking us to where we will be staying.”

Tallas looked back at the use of her name but then went back to ignoring our presence. Deciding to break the ice I increased my pace a little so that I was beside her. It was a pretty quick pace and with my injuries it was uncomfortable to keep up with her but I managed.

“So we’re going to be staying with some people?” I asked Tallas.

“Yes.” She responded simply.

I waited for her to elaborate but when it seemed nothing would be forthcoming, I continued. “So, who will we be staying with?”

Without stopping or looking at me she responded quickly. “Shassalas mother Niala, her father Jennath and their two young children Gand and Rania.”

Once again she did not elaborate. “So do you live near them?”

“No.”

Seeing that she was for whatever reason not in the mood to speak I decided to try a different approach. “Your Shassala’s friend right? She talked about you often. It’s nice to finally meet you.” I had been hoping for something with that, but she continued to forwards ignoring me. Not one to give up I tried again. “I’m sorry she had to leave, I would have really loved for Shassala to have introduce us.

At that she stopped for a moment and her face looked thunderous, for a few seconds I thought she would start screaming at me in the middle of the village. Instead she started slithering again even faster than before. Stunned I stopped walking and was almost left behind.

“What did you say to her?” Yallia asked.

“Nothing, I just talked about Shassala, she was her friend to.”

Yallia gave me a level look that seemed to convey that I was an idiot. “You’re the only one here that speaks the language so you're going to have to be more careful with what you say in the future.” Then she followed Yallia.

“What did I do?” I asked out loud to no one in particular.

Following the two of them we were soon in front of a smaller, slightly rundown building on the edge of the village near the river. There were two small children, a boy and a girl playing in the river and a woman, presumably their mother, was repairing what looked like a net.

“Niala.” Tallas said. The woman repairing the net looked up and looked first Tallas and then over to Yalia and myself her eyes widening. “These are the outlanders, the Elders have decided that they will be staying with you. If you need anything let me know and I have been told to get it for you.”

Without waiting for a response she turned and started to leave.

“Tallas.” Niala said.

At her call Tallas stopped.

“It is nice to see you again, you were always like a sister to Shassala so I hope that you will feel free to visit.”

Nodding quickly Tallas left leaving us with our new hosts.