It was Night, actually, who first uttered the words Kallid had dreaded to hear. After days of traveling in the cramped carriage in rain that seemed to last forever, it wasn’t a surprise that the children would be getting restless and cranky. But he was surprised that Night would be the first to say it.

“I want to go home, Dad.”

The little blue kobold was sitting beside his father, while the girls were sleeping as best they could. Kallid put his arm around his son and they spoke in hushed tones.

“I know, son. I know. I do too. But we don’t have a home without your mother. When we find her, we’ll be home - wherever we are.”

“So… we’re kind of going home, right?”

Kallid smiled and looked directly into his son’s eyes. “Yes. Exactly. We’re not going farther away from home. We’re getting closer.”

A few minutes passed before Night spoke again.

“I miss Mom.”

The words brought Kallid’s heart into his throat and he hugged Night close, choking back his own tears. It wouldn’t do for his children to see their father blubbering again. He’d done enough of that already. No, he had to be the strong one now. He had to be sure and have faith that they might lack.

And so far the trip had gone surprisingly well, if not comfortably. But they were nearing the borders of the King’s domain. Before long they would have to travel on foot.

He turned to look out the window at the gloom. He could see Miss Coyle on her horse a little in front of them. As damp as it was in the carriage, how much worse must it be for her - for all of the humans?

He turned his attention to the wheel. It had begun wobbling in the last few days. Mr. Price said it would give out before they got to the border and they’d have to stop to fix it. But they had decided to continue on as long as it held out. It didn’t look good.

Suddenly a ray of light came from the opposite side of the carriage. The clouds were finally beginning to break up. A little later, though the rain continued, Kallid saw actual breaks in the clouds, with blue sky beyond and it lightened his mood.

“Halt!” he heard Mr. Bross call, and the horses all came to a stop as the carriage crested the top of a hill. The unexpected quiet caused Miss Tribi and the girls to awaken.

The rain had stopped as Mr. Bross came into view and stepped down from his horse, lashing it to the carriage.

“You might want to stretch your legs a bit,” he said with a smile on his face that Kallid realized he hadn’t seen for days.

He nodded and turned back. “Let’s get out kids. Don’t go far.”

He opened the door and climbed down. The carriage had stopped at the top of a grassy hill. Mr. Price and Mr. Todd were climbing down from their perch at the front of the carriage, but all were looking towards the west on the opposite side of the carriage.

Suddenly Miss Tribi cried out from the other side of the carriage as she looked out her window.

In a moment they all saw what the others were looking at. A rainbow shone, arcing high overhead towards the west - complete and beautiful, and Kallid realized immediately what it was, though he had never actually seen one before.

Grace and Kalindra hugged their father’s legs as they stared wide-eyed at the apparition. “What is it?”

“That,” said Mr. Bross proudly. “Is a rainbow children!”

“Rainbow,” they mouthed in wonder.

“I grant you don’t see those in the Underdark, do you Mr. Kallid?” asked Mr. Todd, grinning ear-to-ear.

“No sir,” Kallid said, the wonder in his own voice clearly evident. “No, we don’t.”

“What is it?” Night asked, and Kallid understood the question.

“It’s a gift from a god,” Miss Tribi said plainly. “No one really knows what they are. They’re not seen often. Only when rain and sun combine. But they are always a good omen.”

“That they are, Miss Tribi,” Mr. Bross agreed.

“I gotta go pee,” Kalindra said when it was clear the rainbow wasn’t actually going to do anything.

“Just go behind the carriage girls. It’s too wet to be going out in the grass.”

Miss Tribi went with them.

Miss Coyle took Mr. Bross’s arm as they looked at the rainbow. The sun was beginning to lower in the western sky, but they still had a few hours of daylight ahead. The sight caused a little pain to Kallid, but the beauty of the rainbow kept it in check. He wished he could share the moment with his wife though.

“Do you see that town down there, just to the left of that tall pine Mr. Kallid?” Mr. Todd asked, shocking Kallid back to reality. He refocused his gaze from the lovers and the rainbow to where Mr. Todd was pointing.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

In the distance, he now noticed the town. In fact, it was larger than most of the villages they had been through.

“Oh, yes! I do! Is that Cloix?”

“It is. The last town in the King’s dominion. Beyond that I fear you will have to walk. But Mr. Bross and Miss Coyle will take good care of you. Our girls Bessie and Clyde here have done enough though. They’re a good pair, these horses. We’ll rest them in the town and get that wheel fixed before me and Mr. Price head back.”

The girls and Miss Tribi returned then.

“Well thank you for all you’ve done for us, Mr. Todd,” Kallid said sincerely. “Maybe someday we can go hunting again? Maybe I’ll actually hit something next time.”

“I would like that, Mr. Kallid. You remember the first rule?”

Kallid laughed. “Don’t shoot your hunting partner!”

“Aye. You’ll make a good hunter some day, Mr. Kallid. I’d like that. But I think it’s time us men go behind the carriage for a moment.”

Kallid laughed and followed him back to relieve himself.

“You know, I’d never’a thought I’d say this, but you kobolds… you ain’t so bad. I wasn’t so sure when I took this job,” Mr. Todd admitted from behind Kallid as they did their business. “Some said you were monsters. But na, you’re alright. For an overgrown lizard.”

“Thank you, Mr. Todd. Does Mr. Price say stuff like that?”

“Price? Na. He’s like me. He just don’t talk much.”

“Ah. Well I do appreciate it, Mr. Todd. I…” Kallid replied when he caught a movement out the corner of his eye.

“Mr. Todd? There are people coming from across the field.”

He heard Mr. Todd rapidly finish and refasten his trousers. “Get you and the kids and Miss Tribi back in the carriage, Mr. Kallid. Quick. Tell Mr. Bross.”

Kallid did so, hearing the sword slide out from Mr. Todd’s sheath while he ran back to the front of the carriage to alert the others. “Mr. Bross. There are people coming from behind us! Miss Tribi, get the kids into the carriage quickly!”

In an instant they were back inside, but Kallid grabbed his quiver and bow and climbed up onto the top of the carriage, keeping low.

Meanwhile Mr. Bross, Mr. Price and Miss Coyle all joined Mr. Todd behind the carriage.

As the strangers approached, Kallid could see now that they were men. Three men and dressed in hides and leather. They did not look friendly.

“Hold!” yelled Mr. Bross before they got within an arrow’s range. “We are Kingsmen. Would you accost us and risk the King’s justice?”

“Now, now,” said the wild-haired man in front. “We’re just checking. No need to be like that. You’re going to Cloix then?”

“Of course. And if you’re not brigands then I’m a gnoll. Come no closer or a fight you will have!”

The men stopped, and Kallid began to breathe again. At least they had some respect. But it struck him as odd that brigands would try to take a coach that was obviously defended by more than their own number. Though he had no experience with such people directly, from what he’d heard they typically only harassed people when they had outstanding odds in their favor.

The lead man held his hands up. “Alright! I see you’re Kingsmen. We’ll not bother you then. But we have a favor to ask...”

“Kallid!” came a whispered voice from below him. Miss Tribi.

“Kallid, there are men coming from the side!” she whispered urgently.

Kallid turned and saw three more men, crouching low through the grass but approaching rapidly, their backs to the sun.

He didn’t hesitate. Obviously the three talking with Mr. Bross were a diversion. They were going to try to take the carriage - or its contents. That he couldn’t allow. He drew and shot at one of the men sneaking up on them.

He missed badly, but though his aim still needed improvement, the power of his adrenaline-fueled shot was impressive. It didn’t hit the man he was aiming for, but it lodged firmly in the shoulder of another beside him. The screams began instantly.

“Mr. Bross - there are three more over here!” Kallid screamed, nocking another arrow.

The two men still in the grass stood up and began sprinting towards the carriage - except for the one Kallid had shot who writhed on the ground clutching at the arrow.

He heard shouting from the back of the carriage but he didn’t pay attention. Instead he stood and took careful aim at the man coming closest to the carriage. Then he loosed.

The arrow narrowly missed and stuck in the ground in front of the man, who looked up. Whatever he was expecting to see, a small kobold brandishing a bow was certainly not it.

“WHAT THE FUCK?” shouted the man behind him.

“What the hell is that?” said the foremost man, but he began to back off. “I think it’s a kobold!”

Meanwhile Kallid was nocking his third arrow and had it pulled back before the two could react. His third arrow missed again, but whatever confusion the brigands might have had over what kind of creature he was, they recognized a bow and arrow readily enough. They turned tail and began running back to their compatriot.

At that moment, Mr. Bross came running at full tilt towards them from the back of the carriage, and the brigands began fleeing back through the grass, helping their injured mate along with them.

Finally Kallid had a moment to turn towards where the other men were towards the back of the carriage. He saw all three of the guards crossing swords with the brigands. However the fight didn’t last long. As soon as the three saw their fellows fleeing, they turned and followed suit. Mr. Todd began to pursue them into the grass, but was called back by Miss Coyle.

“Come back, Mr. Todd!” she shouted. “They’ll not be back. Let’s get moving before it gets dark.”

“Goddamn highwaymen! Gods I hate them!” Mr. Todd spat as he turned back. “Wouldn’t see their like around the city I can tell you! The patrols must be getting pretty bad way out here.”

“Kallid,” said the voice of Mr. Bross, and Kallid turned to see him with his hands out, offering to help Kallid down from the roof.

Kallid handed down his quiver and bow, then climbed over the side of the carriage, feeling the strong hands of the human help him down the rest of the way.

“Here, Mr. Kallid. I found two arrows. I’m afraid the other was stolen by that bandit!” laughed Mr. Bross.

Kallid found himself shivering as the adrenaline receded, but he laughed at the tall Mr. Bross above him. “Ah, let him have it. Kobold arrows are a rare souvenir around here I would guess.”

“I bet he’ll cherish it every time he moves his shoulder,” Mr. Bross said, clapping Kallid on his back, which knocked him onto the muddy ground.

“Oh! I’m SO sorry Mr. Kallid!” Mr. Bross apologized, offering his hand. “I... I’m not used to your size!”

But Kallid was in too good of a mood to mind. He’d actually done something!

Miss Tribi had dug out a change of clothes for him and he changed clothes quickly. Oddly he wasn’t in the least embarrassed now, even if he did notice Miss Tribi peeking out of the carriage window. He felt like somehow he’d passed a test of some sort. Or perhaps had made a transition into something more than he had been. He was just as short as he had been before in comparison to the humans around him. And yet he felt taller. He felt… like a man.

As the carriage rumbled off with it’s creaky wheel, as his children fawned over him, his son looked up to him with adoration and Miss Tribi tried her best to hide her blue-tinged eyes, he felt… good. Just good. Maybe he really did deserve Kreet after all. Maybe he really could be more than a bartender and a wimpy father to his children.

The rainbow faded, as did the sun as they entered the town of Cloix. All of them were looking forward to the first dry night in actual beds in days. Their journey to come was still long, and harder than it had been in the carriage, but they’d gotten this far - and that was not an insignificant accomplishment.