Now this was new.

The reins I held were little leather straps. Thin things… which felt like they could snap if either I or the donkey pulled on them too tightly.

It was a good thing the donkey was very calm mannered, and I didn’t really need to pull or tug on them. It seemed to know the path we were on by heart. I didn’t even need to guide it around bends in the road.

Glancing over to my companion, I smiled at the man who looked bored enough to cause trouble. He was sitting back a little, leaning against the back of our bench-like seat. It was rather big, too big for me to rest an arm on in leisure, but Vim was able to do it.

Behind us, was a covered wagon. The canvas material covering it was angled in a slight point, not rounded like other covered wagons I had seen before. It looked more like a makeshift tent than anything else. But… it worked. It covered the pots and boxes that we were escorting, keeping them out of the sun and any prying eyes that might glance upon them.

Though I wasn’t really sure who’d be doing such peeping out here in the middle of nowhere.

Glancing around at the odd trees and piles of rocks, I wondered how this place was so different than my home. The sea wasn’t far still, I couldn’t see it or hear it anymore but I could still catch a whiff of it on the breeze every so often. And it rained too, as proof of that storm a few days ago before we left.

So… if the ocean and the weather could be so similar to the land I had been born in, in comparison at least, why was it still so different? Was it just the lack of water? Back at home there were lakes and rivers all over the place. Surely that wasn't all it was, right?

The ground here was hard. Brittle. The plants and trees prickly and… oddly naked. Not as covered in leaves or fruit. The little grass here and there was also sharper, although sometimes just as green.

And piles of rocks, stacked as tall as the cliffs and hills we had just left.

Somehow.

It was almost unnerving. I mean… I knew that mountains were basically just lots of huge rocks stacked on top of each other, but…

Studying one of the rock formations we were slowly wheeling past, I tried to imagine how so many huge rocks had gotten… piled on top of each other in such a way. Some of the stacks looked so wobbly a strong gust could topple them, which was funny since most of the rocks and boulders were bigger than the cart we were riding.

Honestly… if Vim told me he had been the one to stack all of these rocks long ago, I’d genuinely believe him. They didn’t look natural at all.

If this had been some kind of mountain or canyon at one time, like the one we had just left, and these piles of rocks were just the rubble left behind… why then did they look so neatly piled on each other? Wouldn’t they all have collapsed? Evenly? Like a mountain slide did? I had never seen rocks, no matter their size, piled up on top of each other so perfectly like these ones here. No matter how they had fallen...

A bird flew overhead, drawing my attention away from the weird world around me, and I wondered how such a huge looking creature fed itself out here.

Likely the sea. Though, I guess there were animals out here… even if they were rare and hard to find. Like that little mouse thing Vim had messed with back at the Dye Houses.

“What’s on your mind, Renn?” Vim asked.

I followed the bird on the horizon for a little more, and then turned to grin at Vim. He was leering at me with a lazy expression.

“A world I’ve never known before,” I told him honestly.

“Hm… I guess. We’re in the Nation of Stone. Soon these piles of boulders will turn into giant monoliths. Massive, towering rocks cut into odd shapes and forms. You’ll be able to start making them out in the distance here in a day or two,” he said.

I frowned at him. “You mean… mountains?” I asked.

He smiled at me and shook his head. “No. You’ll see soon, no need for me to spoil it.”

Huh.

I tried to ponder what he meant for a bit, but gave up. It was likely something I’d only believe or understand by seeing if he was going to say it like that.

“Why do we take dyes and stuff to a Queen, Vim? Shouldn’t she have enough of such things already? Or able to get them?” I asked him as I glanced behind us, at the covered cargo.

“She likes them. And it helps her in a way, by letting her sell the dyes and threads. To keep her coffers full,” Vim said.

“What do the camels get in return? You didn’t give them anything,” I said.

Vim shifted, and I felt it through the seat. The whole cart made noises, and even the donkey seemed to tilt its head and flick its ears as if in complaint. He turned a bit, as to face me, and pulled his left leg up and on his other knee as to cross it. “I’m surprised it took this long for you to ask such a question.”

Oh…? I tried to remember all the other places we’d been. And sure enough, he was likely right. I’d never really bothered to notice or question it before, for some reason.

“Well… it’s true. The smithy, Lumen, Tor’s village, the armadillo’s gems and now the dyes…” I said.

He nodded. “They give and give, and what do they get in return?” he asked me.

Opening my mouth to ask the same, I realized he wanted me to answer for myself.

Rubbing the leather reins with my thumbs, I pondered it. “Well… I guess one could say they get protection. Thanks to you. Or support, from others. And community, too,” I said as I tried to think of the best answer to such a question.

“Hm. Community,” Vim said the word as if in doubt.

Which… doubting wasn’t wrong, was it?

Honestly, had I not recently heard and been told that some of these places rarely if ever got visitors? Even the Smithy seemed to be somewhere rarely visited, if even known by others. It was a location that most didn’t know about at all, let alone had ever been to…

“What do they get, Vim?” I asked him worriedly.

“You weren’t wrong. I was just scoffing because of how sad the reality is, is all,” he said.

I didn’t want to hear that. That meant what I had listed had genuinely been the answer.

The only answers.

Like the armadillo family… the camels had spent months and years making what was in the pots and boxes behind me. Literally many families worth of hard work, over the course of years… to just… hand off to someone else? A Queen? Someone who was already powerful? For what? Why?

The gems being given to Lumen at least I understood to a point. They could sell them. Process them. And then send some of that wealth they got from such transactions back to the armadillo family… but…

“What does the Queen give the camels?” I asked him.

“Water.”

I blinked, and then glared at him. Vim noticed, and frowned at me.

“What?” he asked.

“What the heck. You just tried to make me feel horrible, why didn’t you say they actually got something in return?” I asked him.

“Oh… I meant in the grand scheme of things. Plus… honestly Renn, the water they get from her isn’t as valuable as this cart is. Not at all. This cart is a fortune. If properly handled and sold to the right people, you could amass a genuine fortune with these dyes... Honestly that's underselling it. There's a genuine mountain of wealth behind us,” he said as he tapped the canvas flap.

“How does she give them water?” I asked, focusing on that instead. They had something of a well at the Dye House… it was in its own little building… and seemed to draw water from far beneath the stone ground. It used a system of pumps or something.

“There’s a large fresh water lake beneath the canyons. That lake system is fed by a spring in the Queen’s land, not far from here. It actually runs underground about a mile that way. She’s the one that helped build the aqueduct system for it. She actually spent… oh a few thousand lives I think, to build it,” he said as he thought of it.

“Wait… she built it? Not you?” I asked.

He shook his head. “I had been too busy at the time for such a long project. I helped her and the camels with some plans, but hadn’t been able to dedicate much time to it. It was back during the beginning of the Society. Celine had me on other, more important, tasks,” he said as he blinked a few times, staring off in the distance. He was getting lost in thought.

Was he thinking about her? Celine? Or this water system he spoke of?

“What do you mean she spent thousands of lives on it?” I asked.

“It’s very dangerous. Making an underground aqueduct. A lot of people died creating it, and then she killed all of the people who had worked upon it once done. So that no one would ever know where it was or how to access it,” he said absentmindedly.

I flinched at the knowledge… and almost wished he hadn’t told me.

Great. I didn’t want hear that our members, or even our Society as a whole, had used such cruel methods.

“So… she continues to receive the dyes for what she had done. Back in the beginning,” I said, doing my best to tuck away and not think too deeply on what he had just told me.

“She still helps often. If something happened and they needed help, and I not around, they’d go to her. Same with the Armadillo family. She’s the cornerstone of the Society out here. Or at least, she is now, with that kingdom being gone,” he said.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Kingdom… “Merit’s kingdom?” I asked.

He nodded.

“Had it been near here?” She had mentioned it was in the south, and where it was hot.

“It was much farther east. It was still the desert, but more of a tropical one. One with sand, and forests mixed together,” he said.

Sand and forests…

“What about those like Lellip and them? At the smithy? What do they get in exchange for their ores and metals?” I asked.

“Similar assistance. They’ll never need or want for money; they just need to ask for it. Somewhere beneath the house is a huge pile of coins, as far as I’m aware. Every so often I take a pouch full of money to them, though I doubt they ever spend any of it. They make their own clothes, tools, and food. In the past, before Nebl’s family became so small… the Society used to give them tasks. They wanted to be challenged. To be pushed to the brink of their skills. They saw such feats as payment, since it was all they cared about. Today such things are few and far in-between,” Vim said.

That was almost as painful to hear about as our Society wasting thousands of lives for no reason.

“There are many who give far more than they take. But there are even more who take a lot, but give practically nothing in return. No one notices or cares though, but that’s mostly because we’re not human. We don’t see money or goods the same way humans do. Which is likely why you noticed, but at the same time why it took you this long to do so,” Vim said with a gesture to me.

“I wasn’t really complaining… just trying to understand,” I said.

He nodded. “It bothered you, or rather it does, doesn’t it?” he asked me.

Well…

He chuckled, obviously seeing my answer on my face.

“I’m not really bothered by it… Rather I just worry. I worry we’re taking advantage of people who don’t deserve such treachery,” I said.

Vim’s eyes studied me for a moment, then he turned away to stare at a huge mound of rocks and boulders. One we were nearing, and would need to round. The path made a large berth around it.

For a short while… we were silent. The cart creaked noisily. The donkey huffed and its footfalls made strange noises as it pulled the cart. Some of the pots and boxes clanked and shifted. The light wind blew through the many crevices and cracks in all the piles of huge rocks; making odd noises… sometimes I heard a bird, or some other weird animal sounds. Every so often Vim would move a little, and his clothes complained. They weren’t too tight on him, but thanks to how he was sitting they were taught and tight. They were noisy beneath his leather pieces.

Actually…

“Why have leather armor if you don’t wear it to battle?” I asked him.

Vim returned his attention to me, and he frowned. “What do you mean?”

I gestured at him with the reins. “You didn’t wear it. To fight those things in Lumen,” I specified.

“Well… because I hadn’t been wearing them once the need arose. Good thing too, they’d have just gotten destroyed,” he said as he slipped a thumb under one of his thigh bracers.

“That’s… kind of their point, Vim. To be sacrificed, to keep you yourself safe,” I said to him.

He smirked and nodded. “That is true.”

I huffed at him… then he reached over to grab my own leather piece. The one that overlaid my shirt. I felt a little odd as he tugged on it lightly, making my whole body shift to and fro as he did so. “Vim?” I asked, and then laughed as he stopped.

“You hadn’t been wearing yours either, Renn,” he said gently.

Ah…

Well…

I smiled and nodded. He was right. I had been kidnapped that moment… while with Merit. While out walking.

“In my case I wish I had been wearing them. I might not have these new scars, if I had been,” I complained as I tapped my left chest. A little below my collar bone was a new scar. It was all healed now, but it hadn’t faded like most of the others. It was one of maybe a dozen I knew about, from the incident in Lumen.

A small white line that ran along my collar bone, to my armpit.

“Didn’t Tosh patch you up?” he asked me.

I nodded. “He had. He put herbs and gunk on the bad spots, which made my nose itch. But…” I shrugged, since there was no point complaining or worrying about it.

Scars were scars. They weren’t the first I’d get, and likely not the last.

But like most, they’d fade. Slowly, and never completely, but they would. My face was proof of that.

“Hm…” Vim made an odd humming noise, so I glanced at him. He was staring at me with a weird look… something similar as to when he was staring at something he wanted to make go away.

“What?” I asked.

“Was just thinking that Tosh likely saw you naked,” he said.

“That’s what you got out of that?” I asked, a little shocked.

“Well… yeah?” he frowned at me, and I was half tempted to slap him with the reins. They’d reach, since they were so loose, but then I’d probably lose them. He’d likely take them from me if I did such a thing, and I was having fun being the one to command the donkey.

“Not even going to worry about my scars?” I asked him.

“I’ve already seen them. Do you not remember you changed in front of me several times on that pirate ship? Since you got soaked and stuff?” he reminded me.

I hesitated a moment as I thought of those days. Although it hadn’t been long ago, it for some reason felt like it had been…

Yes. I had. Three times…

“You saw? I even tried to keep my back to you,” I complained. The room had been small. Too small to actually do such a thing, but I’d genuinely tried. Plus he hadn’t been looking at me, if I remembered correctly. I’d kept an eye on him the whole time, each time, to see if he’d take a peak or not. He hadn’t. He had either focused on one of those books, or lazed in his half sleep state.

“If you believe a woman like you can just get naked in front of any man on this planet and not have the man take a look, then I have a very fancy bridge to sell you,” he said with a smile.

“But…” I complained. He hadn’t… had he? I even remember getting a little upset he hadn’t even glanced at me.

“But nothing. You’re stunning… and if you must know, I really did notice the scars. You have a new one on your left cheek. It makes me want to run my finger run along it,” Vim said.

I frowned and reached up to touch my cheek. I had a new scar on my face? Really? I hadn’t ever noticed…

Vim chuckled at me as he pointed downward. “Different cheek, Renn.”

Oh…

I shifted, a little away from him. Not too far, since I wasn’t actually upset with him… but…

He found that amusing as I tried to imagine what he meant. Was it a thin line like the ones on my arms and chest? Likely from those spine things that had cut and pierced me? Or was it something else? More jagged maybe…?

I didn’t remember any real injury on my rear. Bruises, yes. I had felt those. Like my tail being tender for so long, so too had my butt… but…

“Was it from a cut?” I wondered.

“Probably. Looks like a thin slice. Like from glass or something. It runs along down in a straight line, nearly following your tail,” Vim slowly swiped the air with an open hand, as if to show how straight it was.

I definitely didn’t have such a thing before. As far as I was aware, at least. Something like that Nory would have mentioned.

“You sure it’s a new one?” I asked.

He nodded. “Definitely.”

Studying the man next to me who looked far too confident… I tried to think of all the times I’d been naked in front of him.

Honestly it was more than a few. But most had been like those moments on the ship. Quick moments. Of me moving around and usually changing clothes. Half the time it wasn’t even with me fully naked, but instead while wearing undergarments or nightgowns.

“You… memorized my body? That quickly? From our bath?” I asked, understanding how he had done so.

“I want to hear complaints. Though I shouldn’t, since coming from you that’s likely a very comical statement,” he said, with a happy tone.

Smirking at him, I nodded. Yes. I had… to a degree, memorized his body too. “Not my fault my memory is so good,” I said happily.

“Sure it isn’t.”

“And… you want me to complain? Really?” I asked, noting the way he had mentioned it.

“Yeah. You don’t complain enough. When you do your face scrunches up and you get this adorable tone in your voice. So I’ve been thinking I should start making you whine more often,” he said.

Giggling at the strange man, I wondered what to complain about for him.

“It is a little too hot for my liking,” I said.

He nodded, smiling at me.

“And I really didn’t like how you tried to tease me earlier. During Riz’s questions about marriage and stuff,” I added.

His smile softened. “What do you mean?” he asked.

I pointed at him. “You made it clear you’ve debated marrying others before. You said it right before I walked up, on purpose. I don’t mind a little teasing Vim, but making such a joke not long after I just opened my heart to you and told you how much I worried over your lack of attraction towards me… or any man’s, is a little mean,” I said.

Vim started to chuckle, which only made me want to complain even more… but before I could… Vim turned and laid down.

A little startled, I had to raise the reins up and over his head as he shifted and laid onto his back. Putting his head on my lap, he sighed as he got comfortable.

“Uh…” I wasn’t sure what to say or do at all. What the heck was he doing? Was this more teasing? Was he being serious?

Glancing along him, I noticed the way one of his legs was dangling over the side of the wagon’s edge. The bench like seat didn’t have rails on the sides to stop someone from falling off. Likely so one could hop on and off with ease. But…

Gulping, I shifted a little awkwardly as I made sure my tail wasn’t stuck underneath him. It wasn’t, I was able to sneak it out from under him thanks to the little divot where the seat and the backrest met.

“Vim…?” I asked for some kind of guidance. Was this some joke? Was he actually going to… go to sleep? On my lap? Like this?

Out in the middle of nowhere?

The donkey didn’t even notice my panic, which was rude of it. I even flipped the reins a little, as if to beg for help. It didn’t even register the movement, it kept trotting along the trail without worry.

“You didn’t like my comments on that ship either. Or how I acted, did you?” Vim asked from my lap.

He crossed his arms on his chest, and suddenly looked… far too comfortable and relaxed. To the point it almost wasn’t fair. His eyes were barely open, and not just because the sun was likely glaring in his eyes. He looked half a moment away from falling into a deep slumber.

“To Roslyn and her people? No. Not at all,” I quickly said, unsure of anything else to say.

Vim smiled at me as he closed his eyes... and took a small breath. Only to release it as if in a content sigh.

Huh…

“I also don’t like how you’ll so readily tell everyone that I’m looking for a home… even though you know I’m not. You don’t need to lie Vim. You can tell people why I stay with you. Why I want to be with you,” I added, and decided to just go ahead and… let it all out.

The only thing that moved was an eyebrow. It raised a little.

“And lately you’ve been trying so hard to not make me feel sad or worried. I know that’s why you gave in concerning Roslyn and her people so easily. You were worried I’d break or grow irate or something, but you hadn’t needed to Vim. It’s sweet of you, but I’m not as fragile as that. I want you to rely on me. To trust me… not treat me as a child. I’m not Riz, or Lomi, or Fly. Nor am I as fragile as our other members, like Herra or all of those in Lumen. I’ll not run away or shy away just because something bad happened. I’ll not hate you or stop loving you just because you’ve made mistakes, or failed once or twice,” I continued to ramble on… and on and on.

Guiding the donkey as we slowly headed on a path I had never been on before, nor even knew where I was going… I went ahead and told him all of my grievances. No matter how small or petty.

As I did, I calmed down a little and grew used to the fact he was resting on my lap. I lowered my arms from their outstretched state, to just above his head. Close enough I could even occasionally feel his breath. It was oddly cool in this hot summer heat.

Eventually I ran out of things to complain about concerning him… so I went on to the others. I complained about Lumen. The people who lived there. The humans. That idiot King, who had wanted to make me some kind of concubine or something. The way they had treated the Clothed Woman while we had been at her mercy, using her home for sanctuary. How the Bell Church had banished me without even hearing my side of the story… or how…

It didn’t take long for tears to start sliding out of my eyes… but it my voice never joined them in sorrow. I spoke happily, as if I was still in the middle of teasing and being teased by Vim.

Vim said nothing. Nor did he seem to even be awake.

With eyes closed… Vim remained on my lap. Not waking even as the sun grew hotter, the wagon jolted or shifted from rocks or a hill, or as my tears fell onto his face.