XIX.
"Returned hue-hue, hee," the horse's ears perked up when he noticed Madoka arriving. "This ones good, hee!"
She scanned the ground for any sign of the King Wolf, but all she saw was the annoying horse’s dung and chewed grass. Their tails swished nonchalantly. Who was she trying to fool? How could a team of adventurers and researchers miss a giant Wolf monster trampling about? Those other adventurers who returned seemed calm as well, with not a wary look on their faces. One waved at her, but she instinctively ducked behind the wagon. One of the horses acknowledged her by snorting, which she guessed was a good thing.
"Have you two seen anything strange lately?" She asked them with her mind. The spotted horse's ears tilted, apparently understanding her but having trouble believing that she spoke to it. "Predators? Wolves?"
"The pity-pity speaks to us, hue," it whinnied. "The weird one is you-you."
Madoka groaned. That was true, enough. She was the one speaking to a mere horse after all. The beasts had nothing but thoughts of hay and running burrowed inside their thoughts when she read them. Audrey sighed, making both the animals and Madoka turned to her.
"What's wrong?" She asked the princess. She hoped that it was not the fact that she was speaking to animals. Audrey stood in thought, peering up at the sky and then back at the woods of Petal 4. Those woods were supposed to be the most peaceful, compared to Petal 1 or 2, with no leaves disturbed besides the crushed trees from the wolves and whatever ate the researchers.
"Those trees back where the goo was," Audrey mused. "They were torn to shreds. I didn't bring it up with the research nerds because they were embarrassin' us, but..."
"To shreds, you say?" Madoka asked. She did recall that the King Wolf was much larger than the alpha wolf they fought in the mountains, but even that monster did not even reach the towering branches of the forest. She only shared the fear that it had in its deep thoughts. Audrey nodded.
"It was like something reached in through the branches and scooped them up," she kept glancing at the sky. Madoka peered up at the sky. It was clear and blue, lacking any trace of free Knotting Strands floating about in their usual jagged paths. A couple of clouds floated lazily above, but nothing else but the sun and the vastness of the heavens existed up there.
"Could something big be flying up there?" She wondered. A small silence covered them as the two beheld the awesome sky and felt their smallness under the universe. Audrey reached for her hand, but they were interrupted by the grunts of the Terros.
"Oi, House Dalion!" He yelled. "Give us a hand with the wagon, will ya!"
The two looked at him and shrugged. To avoid thinking of the sky monster, Madoka went immediately to work. She found it odd that the princess of all people was doing manual labor. She was tempted to sieze the boxes in Audrey's hands and secure the loads by herself. However, she shook off Gromrak's offer of help and effortlessly lifted them one by one in the wagon. Madoka simply had to get over it, she supposed, though that was difficult after years of looking after her. She focused on her own work. Despite helping, the princess still kept glancing skyward.
"I think I might sound like a tinfoil hat spinner, but yeah," Audrey ducked under the wagon's canvas as they prepared to return to Gladeban. They pulled it up since it was going to rain. "There might be some spooky UFO shit going on."
"Language," Madoka chastised her. A pouting scoff came in response, but she decided to investigate what she meant instead of kicking her shoes. "UFO?"
"It's ah, a flying creature that we do not know of yet, right?" Audrey asked Gromrak.
"We don't know, milady," he confirmed. "Such a beast would be seen if it was hunting from the sky, like a wyvern. Those usually stay near mountains and plains so they can see prey easier, however."
"Huh," Audrey wiped a drop of rain off her nose. "I guess those are a thing here as well. Wyverns. I wonder what those look like."
"The Guild's pushed them further towards the mountains over the years, but they're right bastards," the Terros scoffed. "Flying beasts that desire Ceghinort's image like the Sovos, but none of them are noble at all."
"Do people want to be a skeleton that bad?" Audrey muttered. She froze up when Madoka gave her a glare. "A D-Dragon. I mean. A Dragon. Yeah."
Gromrak scratched his beard and shrugged.
"I dunno! I just work here!" He belched out a hearty laugh. "What we really have to worry about is the presence of that King Wolf, House Dalion. Fearsome black and red fur, house sized teeth. Think of all the gold adventures that description could attract! A handsome sum of coin, and a legendary beast to slay! Did it tell you where it was headed?"
"No," Madoka lied. She felt strange trying to protect such a large beast. It was protecting its pack, so who was she to invite more disruption to their lives? The mental image of those adventurers' arms she tore off splattered on the wooden floor made her stammer. "My magic does not work that way."
"How does it work?" Arudite interrupted. She did a good job at pretending she didn’t already know of her ability, but it occured to her that the Noble could have easily forgotten. "That Bureau necklace did not work well with any creature, but you faced off that monster without a problem!"
Madoka decided to feign ignorance by stroking her chin and shrugging. She did not know if the God of Tomorrows wanted anyone to learn about it anyways.
"I just work here," she copied the Terros.
Audrey cringed for a moment, but started to giggle. The researchers could only sigh at her response, but resigned.
"Should have seen that coming," Gromrak laughed. "You've a sharp wit."
"You so would not look good with a beard," Audrey poked her chin.
Madoka tugged away from her prying fingers and sighed. She probably would not. The rest of the trip was long and silent, much to her preference. The wagons rolled through tired guards' approval and she bounced as the wheels hit the smooth road. The horses were saying strange things to each other as usual, but were more excited when they were let back into the stable. She heard them pestering another horse, so she split off from the Truth Guild's reporting to witness the commotion.
"New guy, still a scaredy he, hee," the plain horse whinnied. His lips flapped, as if he was laughing at the supposed new guy. Madoka rounded the corner and the view of a familiar insignia greeted her, inscribed on the horse's rear. It matched the emblems on the swords they stole from those troops awhile ago. Esmeralda? A shaking horse cowered in the corner of its stall, and immediately started to howl and neigh as it saw her.
"YOU! Dangerous hue-hue!" It spooked. "G-Get back, hue-hue! Tomorrow God, spare me, spare me from this predator!"
"Relax," Madoka stood a distance away from the jumpy horse. Despite being tied to the wall, she knew he could easily buck and hit her. There was no mistake about it, she folded her arms as she tried to minimize her imposing figure. She encountered this horse when she escaped the Noble before all this mess began!
"Scaredy hee, hee!"
"Pity, scared new guy, pity! This hue-hue is weird, but with us, pity," the spotted one neighed. The horses taunted the jumpy horse, but he would not get closer.
"D-Don't trust her!" He cried out. "My master hue-hue fears her."
"What's your name?" Madoka switched the subject.
"Salzberry, ser," the jumpy horse relaxed, but still kicked out hay from beneath its hooves as he snorted. "A fru-fru my master is very much fond-fond of."
"Well, Salzberry, I promise I won't harm him if he leaves us alone," she lied, but none of the horses were not perceptive. Salzberry's ears bent submissively, but he let Madoka approach him.
"On the Tomorrow God, you swear hue-hue?" He bent his head to sniff Madoka's hand.
"I swear," Madoka promised half-heartedly, patting his head. At the same time, images of that Esmeralda captain inside the tavern that they stayed in flashed in her mind. The horse seemed to understand, but she made herself scarce. Talking with horses was exhausting! Salzberry froze again, with both of his beady eyes shifting away as she heard the light steps of a familiar someone approaching the stables.
"Hey."
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
Her blonde hair was nearly pasted to her forehead and neck. Madoka saw breath puff out her beautiful lips, but the princess said nothing while she tried to hide her feelings in her fantasies for a brief moment. Oh, a drop of rain poked her nose and dripped down. The sun's gone; she hardly noticed.
"We should probably get to the Guild Hall," Audrey finally broke the silence. "Those Truth Guild guys would NOT stop talking about King Wolves."
Madoka felt herself nodding, but she was led by the hand out along the streets. She was a servant, so she took her cloak off and held it over Audrey's head. The building's massive dome was the most obvious thing in Gladeban, with orange tiles falling like sequin over its surface. They stepped across the streets and pushed their way into its swinging doors. The back of the princess's head bobbed beneath her vision, but all she could think about was those lips.
What would it be like to kiss her? The thought suddenly shot across her mind. She knew her princess's feelings towards her, but she did not know whether she felt the same. Would she be lying? Her body felt like it was not something she owned, truly. She had lost it first in the Palace to the Nobles, and almost again because of that stupid Esmeralda Captain and his own fat master. Madoka did not know whether or not she had taken it back, even after the incident in the tavern last night. Still, what if Audrey owned her body? What if she gave her it all on her own?
"Your tag, please."
A hand tugged hers, and two deep blue pools looked at her expectantly with excitement.
"H-Hai," Madoka blurted quickly, taking the dratted thing out from her neck. She handed it to whoever wanted it.
The Guild Lady did the same circular motions Brown Hair from Livertorjan did, pulling at the Knotting Strands while it miraculously floated in place midair between her palms. The golden strands struck the tags and burst into a small, comforting light before settling into the lady's hands after she completed the ritual. Two fresh notches were etched at the tags' tips.
"Oh yeah!" Audrey handed her tag back. Madoka realized that they needed twenty four more for Silver promotions. That was going to take a long time, wasn't it? Would her princess be patient enough for all of those?
"How was the Truth Guild?" The Guild Lady seemed friendly when she asked, but leaned in and lowered her voice. "I haven't been there in a while, but I heard they're still a strange bunch, eh?"
"They are weird," Madoka confirmed as she tucked her tag around her neck and looked at Audrey for an escape. The Guild Lady giggled, causing her to snap completely away from her daydreams. "They'll be posting a commission soon."
"A King Wolf," the Guild Lady already seemed to know about it. Good, Madoka thought. At least she did not have to explain anything. "A sighting of a monster such as that in Petal 4 isn't good. We'll be gathering subjugation parties soon. Please be careful if you go out that way, adventurers!"
"Mm," Madoka grumbled, but her stomach growled for her. Audrey made a mumbling noise in agreement, shifting on the floorboards in her impatience. As she turned, her face met a towering adventurer standing a little too close to her.
Her world froze for a moment as the flash of a dangerous killing intent washed over her from the mysterious adventurer. Madoka recovered, but out of habit she bowed to the adventurer.
"M-My apologies," she spoke in Reverent Noble, but not before standing between Audrey and the stranger. The killing intent lifted, like a chokehold being released from her neck. The tall adventurer flicked blue hair out of their face, and equally stunning eyes glanced back at her in curiosity.
"Excuse me," Blue Hair, Madoka designated the threat, simply said quietly. She quickly side stepped around the pair before heading up the stairs.
"Uh, Miss!" The Guild Lady shrieked, but was ignored. "That's official adventurer guild staff only!"
Madoka tugged a complaining Audrey with her before they drew that adventurer's attention again.
"Waah! Madoka!" Audrey pouted, but froze after seeing whatever face she had on. Was the fear that obvious?
"That was a very dangerous woman," Madoka growled.
"Even for you?" The princess sobered up. Madoka nodded. Even if the woman did not have weapons, they would have lost in a fight with that stranger. "Damn, we'll have to get stronger, then."
"S-Stronger—" Madoka stammered. "We just have to run away, right? Right?"
"You... Where did you get that sword?" A timid voice interrupted them. What was it now!?
Madoka turned to see who was speaking to her. A small cloaked Sovos woman stood behind her, pointing at the sword strapped to her waist. She realized that her hand was gripping tightly around its hilt. That adventurer shook her up, she lamented. This person was harmless, but she still was tense. The Sovos removed her hood, revealing blonde scales and hair around her delicate features. This creature was a Noble?
"The sword..." The Sovos continued. Madoka thought her ears betrayed her, since the woman spoke in Reverent Noble as well. "Did its owner..."
"We—" Audrey was about to step in, but Madoka chose to be honest. If they lied to a fellow House things could get even more complicated in their stay here.
"A man dropped it in the Circle when we were invaded by a goblin horde," Madoka trailed off when she noticed the Sovos woman start to tremble. Right, she half-lied. "I took it and used it to escape."
"Does that mean..."
"My apologies," she held the blade up in its sheath. "He died down there."
"Oh," the Sovos woman looked sad for a moment.
"Did you know him?" Madoka asked. The Sovo woman's face twisted into anger, her breathe puffed. Rain splashed down upon them, but it did not bother the Noble.
"He was my husband," she finally said.
"Sorry to hear that," Madoka felt guilty. She nearly rose the blade up to give her it back, but the Sovos woman waved her hand.
"Did he suffer a lot?"
"It was a quick death," Madoka imagined. He was impaled and eaten by a black root, the very same fate suffered by those in the Palace.
"Shame."
Eh?
Upon seeing Madoka's puzzled face, the Sovos woman pulled down her tattered shirt, startling her. Remnants of scars and poisonous wounds dotted the woman's chest, and as she turned around Madoka's eyes widened as her back revealed a massive slash mark crossed all the way down her shoulder to hip. The woman put her shirt back on and looked like she steeled herself.
For a new world without him - either for better or worse.
"I suffered a lot because of that bastard," she nodded to the sword. "You're probably better off with it."
"Sorry if it reminds you of him," Madoka bowed and put the blade away, hearing the siren song of its hiss quietly slide back into the sheathe.
"I..." The Sovos looked at her with a strange expression, but returned her gaze to the ground. Madoka felt something stir inside of herself. Longing? "I'll need some time alone, me thinks. Visit the forge, sometime. Eh..."
"Madoka," she kept her voice quiet, but she felt Audrey's warm hand pat her back. "Of House Dalion."
"I'm..." The Sovos's lips quivered, muttering an inaudible sound. "I guess I'll go by my old name. Eena."
An exhange of glances, under a lightning painted grey sky, stole a quick moment before everyone rushed to get indoors. So-called House Dalion was no exception, Madoka chuckled to herself at that plain name, but hoped the unusually quiet Audrey did not hear her under the storm. The slick wood of the Inn's doors made her fingers wriggle as she pushed them open.
"Here's to hoping we can stop getting inter—"
"Yo!"
Audrey and Madoka slapped their foreheads, but secretly she wanted to smack her princess for saying that. Eraziror was standing before them, holding his lyre with a confused look on his face.
"Dude," Madoka grumbled, or perhaps it was her stomach. "I'm going to destroy the next person in the way of a dinner table right now."
Eraziror froze in fear for a moment, but gestured to his table with a strum of his lyre. The pair sat down before a brooding Kanys and the quiet Cherish Man, Shadow. Madoka scanned the room for the Esmeralda captain, but he was not here within the crowds. Thank the kind gods, she grumbled. She would have had to follow through on her promise to destroy someone.
"It's ah, on us!" Eraziror uttered and then continued his joyful singing. Kanys rolled her eyes. The two said nothing until a plate of food was placed before them. Madoka no longer cared if she was being rude—she slumped and devoured everything in front of her. As her stomach settled, she noticed Audrey still ate like a princess. She sat properly. Ate properly. Licked her fingers properly.
"Look at you!" Madoka said proudly. "Shall I bow before Your Highness?"
Audrey looked at her oddly, but laughed awkwardly. The other people in the inn were merry from Eraziror's instrument. He was talented at that little thing, she thought, but she would not dare admit it aloud.
"You're not drunk, are you?" Audrey asked. Madoka did feel odd after the second or third mug came her way. "No more!"
A fourth mug set itself down, but Madoka realized it was attached to Kanys's hand. She scoffed, but so did the Sovos girl.
"What?" Madoka snapped.
"I can't believe you guys!" Kanys exclaimed. "You go out for the first Iron ranked commission— with the Truth Guild, no less— and you find yourselves a King Wolf?"
"So what?" Madoka grabbed another mug that somehow appeared before her.
"Yeah! So what!" Audrey chirped.
"So what?" Kanys exclaimed. "You guys aren't cursed by the gods, by chance?"
Madoka felt her shoulder woozily, while she caught a glimpse of Audrey shrugging. Kanys sighed, but downed another mug to get overctheir reaction.
"We're going to have to do something about that wolf monster and it's all your fault!"
"It's not like I asked it to show up," Madoka grumbled, but the night carried on. She had not noticed it at first, but at some point Audrey slipped away from her sight. All that remained was the sleeping patrons and her, wide awake. It was cold out, so she figured she might as well get to their room. As the floorboard creaked a little too loudly, she caught a glimpse of Eraziror sitting outside.
"Hm?" She pushed her head out the window and called to him. Surprisingly, Eraziror did not jump at the sound of her.
"Is it true?" He asked her, without turning. "That bastard is dead?"
"Who?" Madoka hopped out the window sill and sat by him. Perhaps some of the drinks she had still lingered, or maybe it was because she knew he would not try anything.
"I did not question how you got it at first, but," Eraziror gestured at Madoka's sword. "That blade belonged to a man who stole Eena from me."
"He's dead," Madoka grunted. "The Serpent Blade's mine now."
"Good," Eraziror noticed her puzzled look. "Oh, Eena? She and I went way back before I ever became an adventurer. But considering my blood, ha. That time has long passed me by."
"Oh," Madoka looked up at the twin moons. "She did not seem interested in talking at all."
"She's like a wounded animal," he continued. "Like someone who hasn't been seen in a very long time. The fact that she talked to you at all means a lot. Any eyes besides yours might do her in. If I were you, Madoka, I'd be very careful with your looks. And patient. Poor thing's scars run deeper than her skin."
Eraziror looked as if he was warning her about something, but Madoka failed to figure out what he meant exactly. She stood up and stretched.
"Are you guys going to hunt that King Wolf down?" She asked.
"Probably not me," he chuckled. "The only one in our party who can stop such a beast is that big fellow. Rest of us won't stand a chance, I'm afraid. What about you? What, with your insane master and all. N-No offense."
"None taken," she felt herself smiling in agreement, but luckily she was facing away so he could not see her. "Who knows what she's planning."
She heard a grunt in response and the swish of liquid in a bottle, so she decided to leave him alone for the night. When she arrived to her room, she found Audrey sleeping alone blissfully on her bed. The girl was beautiful, despite what anyone thinks of her. Madoka quietly got ready to sleep and resisted the urge to touch her. King Wolf or whatever else can wait, she flopped onto the bed. Right before she fell asleep, she remembered Kanys wanted to talk to her about something privately.