Link was a tall man.

Even while slouched over the table, pointing at the large map that spread out across it, he was still several heads taller than me.

He wasn’t just tall either.

“Is she still alive?” Vim asked as he studied the map with an odd gaze. He seemed very interested.

“As far as I’m aware, yes. But… who knows her condition, the poor girl,” Link said with a sigh.

Link slowly stood up, yet couldn’t do so all the way. This room had low beams, and lanterns hung from them. He had to slouch or risk hitting his head on them. He crossed his massive arms, and he glanced at me.

I sat up straighter, feeling a little ridiculous. How was he so big? I had never met a man as big as him before…

“You’re not planning on taking her into the canyons are you?” Link asked Vim.

“I have no plans to take anyone anywhere at the moment,” Vim said.

Link sighed, and I knew it was because he knew full well what Vim meant. Although it seemed to bother Link, it made me smile.

Vim really did seem to be willing to let me stay with him. How wonderful.

“You are a predator, lady Renn,” Link said to me.

I once again made my back straight as I nodded. “I am,” I said.

“Then please, don’t be foolish. You’re needed alive. Do not follow him into war,” Link said.

I gulped, and wondered what he was. Surely a predator? The man’s arms were as thick as my waist! “Do you plan to go to war Vim? Do you know this, uh… Princess?” I asked, I tried to remember her name but couldn’t. They had just said it a few minutes ago too…

“She’s not a real princess. Genni is the daughter of a mercenary. A hero. I’m actually very surprised the Northmen are willing to be known as those who kidnapped such a person’s daughter,” Vim said as he rubbed his jaw. He was still staring at the map. I didn’t blame him for his intense interest… it was neat. There were lots of little flags all over the map, poked into the table by sharp metal nails. Some of the little flags on the nails were rather detailed and pretty to look at.

“Do you know her?” Link asked again, seemingly as interested as I was.

“No. But I know her father,” Vim said lightly.

Link looked at me, and somehow I understood his expression. For such a large man, with such a large face, you’d think it was always easy… but he was usually rather placid. Like Vim. “Probably fought him once, and now likes him,” Link said.

Smiling at the thought, I wondered if maybe that was what I needed to do. Maybe I needed to fight Vim to get him to actually consider me and…

“I didn’t fight him. We simply negotiated. He was very respectful. I’d rather him be in control than the north,” Vim said.

“So… are you going to do something about it?” Link asked as he put his hand down onto the table. It was ridiculous to see his outstretched arm. It was nearly as long as most of Vim’s upper body.

“No. Odds are the poor girl’s dead, or wants to be. Although saving her would earn me his loyalty, he’s got to be old by now. Too old to be useful,” Vim said.

“So callous,” Link teased him.

“What of the pirates? In the whirlpools?” Vim changed topics, pointing to a set of blue flags near the edge of the map and table.

“As far as I’m aware, they’ve split. I don’t know if it’s a civil war or not, but they’re definitely no longer all under the same banner. At least two flags I’ve been told have been seen sailing the whirlpools,” Link said.

“Great. Wonder who died,” Vim sighed.

“She was old Vim. Nearly sixty,” Link said.

Vim nodded and seemed sad. “Who?” I asked.

“A pirate queen. Vim liked her,” Link said with a smirk.

“She was interesting,” Vim defended himself, again.

Link smirked and got my attention. He held out his hands before him, in a cupping motion. At first I didn’t understand what he was implying, but then it became rather clear.

Looking away from him quickly, I ignored the huge man’s chuckles. They were deep and reverberated in this small room. “Fool,” I whispered. More so at Vim than him.

“Still, like always the world keeps on changing. Why can’t it just be… still for a few hundred years?” Vim asked the room.

“Probably just so it can annoy you,” Link said.

I didn’t like how Vim sighed. It was the kind that told me that maybe Link hadn’t been joking, and it was the truth.

“A war for a daughter. A plague to the south, unsafe waters to the west, an emerging church power in the north…” Vim shook his head as he rambled the state of the world.

Which one did he find the most troublesome I wonder?

“Lady Renn, have you ever seen the sea?” Link asked.

“Yes, I have,” I said.

Why did he call me Lady?

“Ah… I’m jealous. I’ve never been blessed to see it with my own eyes. I hear it is cold, but that makes no sense. How could a lot of water be cold?” Link asked.

“Uh…” I wasn’t sure what to say. Was he being serious? Something told me he wasn’t, but at the same time…

“The sea is less than a month away. Take a trip someday Link,” vim said.

Link shivered at the thought, and I realized something very important.

He was not a predator, was he?

I really wanted to ask, but knew better than to do so. Not only would Link probably find it insulting, I knew Vim would chastise me as well.

Some people kept their true nature a secret. I shouldn’t pry.

But… it was so obvious now that I thought about it. The man was huge, and imposing yes, but… he was more like Windle or Crane than Vim or myself.

Yes. Windle. That was who he reminded me of. Even if they looked so different.

“Have you heard of the Silken Band Link?” Vim then asked.

“Hm…? Ah yes. In the north. Here, two months ago they were seen in the hills of Tripalli,” Link said as he used a giant finger to point at a smaller white flag.

Vim nodded and studied it for a moment, and the flags around it.

“That’s where Lilly’s son is right?” I asked.

Vim and Link looked at me, and I worried I had made a mistake. But Vim calmly nodded. “He is. Or at least, last she had heard,” Vim said.

“Lilly’s son is a mercenary?” Link asked, suddenly worried.

“He is indeed,” Vim sounded proud as he nodded.

“Ah poor Windle…” Link groaned. As he rubbed his temple, I smiled at the man. He really was like Windle!

“And where is our friendly bear then?” Vim asked.

“Oplar headed for the Summit. She’s still looking for a mate,” Link said.

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

Oplar? I perked up at the sudden mention of someone I knew… if only by name.

“Of course she is. At least she’s staying away from the wars,” Vim said.

“For now, at least,” Link sighed.

A part of me wanted to stand and ask them to point out this supposed summit on the map for me… but I knew it was better not to. After all, not only would Vim not take me there most likely but most didn’t seem to like telling others other Society locations.

I couldn’t blame them for it though.

And I knew someday I’d meet this Oplar anyway.

Though…

A bear was she?

Interesting. That was a legitimate predator, like myself…

Vim had mentioned bears before. He had told of a village of them that had gone to war and perished. With our own kind. With boars.

She was looking for a mate Link had said…

“Is that what you’re searching for Renn? A mate?” Link then asked me.

Looking at him for a moment, I was a little surprised I didn’t grow embarrassed because of his question. In fact I felt rather…

“Don’t give her any ideas,” Vim said before I could find my own answer. Link glanced at him, and Vim huffed at him. “She’s enough trouble as she is. I don’t need more of her running around, especially not even little ones,” he added.

A huge smile planted itself on Link’s face and he guffawed, laughing loudly.

I couldn’t help it, I smiled too.

While watching and listening to Link laugh… I couldn’t help but think about it though.

Children.

Children…

Could I even bring such precious things into this world? Into a world that hated us? Hunted us? Where there were none of us left?

“Speaking of mates, Jelti has found hers you know?” Link said.

Jelti?

“I know. I met her already,” Vim said.

“Oh? That’s boring. I wanted to tease you about it being a woman,” Link said with a sigh.

A woman…? Why was that something to tease Vim about?

Vim noticed my thoughts and smiled at me. “Jelti’s a woman, Renn,” Vim said.

My ears perked up and I glanced at Link, who nodded. “Yep.”

“Huh…” I hadn’t known our kind would be willing to do that. Humans sure, but we all seemed a little more… instinctual in our desires.

And those instincts would be counter effective in that way, I’d think.

“She’s not bothered by it at all,” Link noticed.

“Well…” I shrugged.

“Why would she be? She’s not like the other blind sheep,” Vim said.

Glancing at him, I wondered if he meant those of us who were devout.

Link snickered but nodded.

“You met Jelti already Vim?” I asked him.

“I have.”

I hummed and wanted to ask why I hadn’t been there, but didn’t want to say that in front of Link. Maybe there was a reason for it.

“He won’t let you meet her, Lady Renn. You’re too beautiful,” Link said.

“Huh?” I frowned at that, and frowned even harder when Vim seemed to clench his jaw.

Really!?

“I need not worry about her. She’s a predator. Jelti would tremble too much in her arms, and piss the bed in fear,” Vim said.

I sighed at Vim’s words and wondered how much of it was a joke and how much wasn’t. Something told me not enough of it.

“Isn’t that the truth!” Link laughed.

While watching him laugh, I wondered if that meant he really was a predator. I mean, it felt obvious but…

“He’s a lizard, Renn,” Vim then said.

“An iguana to be exact,” Link said proudly, boasting with a huge smile.

“I… I don’t know what that is,” I said honestly.

“Not a surprise. We’re giant, powerful and deadly creatures! We’re toxic, can swallow things whole, and with a single lick I can bring down an army,” Link declared.

My eyes widened as I tried to envision what kind of creature he was. Between all that and his size he was probably quite a fearsome man!

“He’s teasing you Renn. He’s never won a fight in his life,” Vim said as he tapped one of the small flags.

Link flinched and brought his massive hands around to theatrically make himself appear hurt and offended. “How dare you slander me Vim! Before such a beauty as well!”

“I’ll happily let you throw the first punch, or swing your sword first, if you’d like to punish me for it,” Vim said as he studied a small corner of the map. One that had dozens of little flags all bunched together.

“Hmph, you’re lucky my sword is being sharpened right now or else I would!” Link nodded, yet…

Glancing to the left, at the sword hanging on the wall…

Link coughed, and his eyes darted between me and the table… embarrassed.

Huh… a massive man, acting meek.

What was the world coming to?

“You don’t like to fight Link?” I asked.

Link shifted, and then glanced at Vim. He seemed unsure of himself, but after a moment lightly smiled and scratched the back of his head. “No. I don’t,” he said.

“Then… why do you like war?” I asked with a gesture to the table before me.

Vim smirked but I ignored him, as did Link. “Don’t you find yourself attracted to things you’re scared of?” Link asked me.

Opening my mouth to tell him no, I instead chose to ponder his words.

Was I?

Right now the only thing I was really attracted to was the man playing with the little flags. And although I probably should fear him, in a way, I honestly didn’t.

“Can’t say I do,” I said after a moment.

Link sighed and shook his head. “How come predators don’t get it? You should you know, being what you are,” he said.

“I uh…” I didn’t know what to say.

“Ignore him Renn,” Vim said lightly.

“Hard to, Vim. He takes up half the room by himself,” I said.

Link coughed and the whole table jolted upward as he hit it with his knee.

I shot up off my chair and Vim sighed as we all watched dozens of little flags fly up.

“Shoot!” Link groaned as the flags dislodged themselves, and landed in a mess all over the place. On the table and not.

“Link…” Vim sighed, and I hurriedly stepped forward to go to help him pick them up.

“I’m so sorry!” I cried. It was all my fault!

Right before I started to grab some of the small flags, I realized that maybe I shouldn’t touch them. Maybe it’d be easier to put them all back in place one by one, and by leaving them be where they landed it’d be easier to find out which went where and…

“Oh…” Link’s low moan stopped me from doing anything as I looked up at him.

He had his head in his massive hands, and was staring with huge wide eyes at the mess in front of him.

“I’m…” I started to apologize again, but before I could… the huge man fell to his knees.

Although he knelt, he was still taller than Vim… but he didn’t just kneel down. He fell down. The impact was strong enough that the whole table shook again. Although only three flags dislodged this time, most of the flags that had fallen out the first time bounced around because of it. Most fell to the floor, clattering as they did.

“Ah!” I flinched as it happened.

The huge man slowly lowered his hands, to beneath the table. I thought he was going to pick some of the flags up but instead… instead…

A huge sniff made me flinch.

Vim sighed and shook his head slowly.

And then the man sobbed.

The giant man was crying.

Staring in awe, I wondered what to say. What to do.

Being blamed for ruining the map was… regretful, but I’d survive it.

But making him cry? To sob? To…

“Renn,” Vim drew my attention with a wave.

Looking at him, and back to Link, I felt horrible as Vim gestured for me to follow him around the table.

Hurriedly going to him, my stomach turned and knotted as Vim led me to the door.

“Wait, Vim…” I whispered as my eyes begun to water as Vim opened the door.

Expecting Vim to toss me out, instead he stepped out with me.

Vim slammed the door shut behind him with a huff, and then nodded. “Let’s go get something to eat,” he said.

“Vim!” I pointed at the door in shock. I couldn’t believe what he was saying!

“What?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“He’s crying…!” I whispered.

“He’s a baby. Let him be, he’ll be fine,” Vim said simply.

“You can’t be serious…”

Vim nodded. “I am. Come on, he’ll only cry more and longer if we stick around. He gets all… emotional. He’ll be back to normal in a few hours,” Vim said as he turned to leave.

Watching him walk away… I felt so far out of my depth it was ridiculous.

“We’re just leaving him?” I asked. I could still hear his sobs from behind the door.

“I am. You can wipe his snot if you’d like, but there’s no point,” Vim said without turning around.

I groaned and could tell by his voice that Vim as being serious. He wasn’t just being an ass.

“I’m so sorry Link!” I shouted… and then after a moment stepped away.

“You’re sorry? What about your sorry for me?” Vim asked as I went to join him.

“What do I need to apologize to you for?” I asked.

“You make me want to cry all the time too. Maybe it’s your gift,” he said with a sigh.

“Oh please…” I groaned, and right before we turned a corner I looked back to the door that hid Link.

“He’ll be fine Renn, I promise. If you’d like we can come back later and check on him,” Vim offered.

“I’d like that, yes,” I said.

“Hm. Come on, I’m in the mood for some peaches now,” he said.

“Peaches…?”

“The pirate queen used to give them to me…” he said softly.

“Now I’m going to cry!” I complained.