Amber stepped back from the quick hug to let Chess step in to say her farewells to the slight Kitsune woman.

"We'll stop in to see you again after we finish in the city," Chess promised after giving Masae an embrace and petting the head of each of her daughters with a finger.

Amber noted the wistful smile her partner gave the pups and wondered how what it implied might affect their budding relationship in the future. No. She shook her head at the thought. Eventually, it will be expected of her anyway. It can't hurt for her to want it. She closed her eyes for a moment before focusing back on the conversation.

Masae was smiling broadly and expressing her effusive thanks for their help before joking, "Besides I still owe you both a weapon. Though with recent developments you'll have to settle for something made by little old me. That and I still need the chieftain's body. That reminds me. Would you be able to purchase a rank of inventory pyth for me? I'll add in a dagger each if you can?"

Amber rolled her eyes. She secretly suspected that Masae herself was one of the elusive master smiths with her innate fire.

"Make it one of these and you have a deal," Chess said, holding up the large wooden blade she called a Bowie.

"Deal!" Masae's smile widened further and her eyes seemed to sparkle. Likely thinks she can get a skill point out of the challenge, Amber thought and shook her head minutely. I need to express to Chess how valuable such things can be. But Masae is fine... probably. She'll be a good contact at the very least.

The kitsune woman hurried them out when her pups started squirming and whining in her arms and she went to feed them.

They passed a shuffling Yolanda in the hall. Her former lover's head hung despondently from her neck and her tail dragged the marble floors collecting dirt. Amber's heart broke a little more and she felt tears well up. It took all her not-insignificant self-control not to wrap her up in a hug.

Glancing over it looked like Chess wasn't fairing much better at the sight.

When they stepped outside Amber took a big steadying breath before motioning at a temple groom that waited for them with their horses looking fed and freshly groomed. Amber donned her helmet and made Chess do the same before they mounted up.

"You sure you don't want to stay for the rites? Not everyone has the chance to see their own," Chess joked in simple Wood elven.

A complex mixture of emotions settled over Amber but she shook her head. "No. The less we have to do with these people the better," she said in Brastian then added. "We should continue the English lessons."

"When we're out of town." Chess nodded.

"Any idea why she wants the body so bad? I mean she touched her kids to him for the inheritance. So, why?" Chess wondered as they picked their way through the small town and large mercenary encampment sprawled out on either side of the queen's road. Groupings of ten tents were situated around a small cooking fire each. Men and women of many species moved about busily.

"There are rumors. But it's just that: rumors. No one actually knows anything for sure. You should know kitsune are...barely tolerated in most places. They're known as death foxes for a reason. Their mates have a tendency to die and their bodies disappear. They also don't seem to have males of their species," Amber hedged.

"Everyone here seemed nice to her," Chess said.

"The Donovans are much more tolerant of other species. My...former tribe calls this barony home along with a considerable number of bears. The Heel has more diversity but less… tolerance for others outside humans, elves, Kobold merchants, and the rare dwarf."

"So, what do people think kitsune do with their men?" Chess prompted.

Amber gave her a look.

"Oh," Chess murmured.

"Yeah."

"It's probably something tamer though, right?"

How can you be this naive?

Amber shrugged. "They keep it to themselves."

"Right."

The pair fell into a comfortable silence, and Amber focused on the forest around, concentrating on her Sense Emotion ability every so often.

"I think we're being followed," Chess said once they'd left the town well behind.

"I know we are being followed. There is no way Abbess Sholer didn't send someone to keep an eye on us." Amber pointedly didn't look over her shoulder. Instead used her ability to check on their tails. Still only two of them.

"Are you not worried?"

Amber shook her head. "We're not doing anything to upset her. So, English?"

"Sure. This is a 'helm'," Chess began, holding up her helmet. And so it continued, with Chess pointing out things and giving the word with Amber dutifully repeating them.

"Someone else is coming up behind us in a hurry," Amber warned during a lull in the lesson when she felt a sharp tang of determination. Whomever it was, was eager, and Amber couldn't prevent herself from turning in her saddle to see.

A large armored bear-kin was loping along on all fours at a ground-eating pace. A large pack was strapped to their broad back. Amber suspected she knew who this was, and it was confirmed when the mercenary recruiter Gia caught up with them.

The horses shied aside a few steps as the mercenary slowed her four-limbed gait as she came abreast of them. She transitioned to a two-legged jog forcing Amber and Chess to rein their mounts back onto the road with calming words.

"Lady Stewart? May I ask for a small favor?" Gia asked before either of them could speak.

Chess doffed her helm and raised an eyebrow. Amber had to admit in some ways Chess was a natural lady. She's terrible in so many others though. Still, it made her smile.

Gia cleared her throat. "That is, I'm told you have an invitation from the countess to the upcoming auction. Would you allow me to accompany you? I'd be willing to swear to a short term of service if you desire. No charge."

Chess met Amber's eye and she nodded that it was okay. Having a small debt owed by the mercenary wouldn't hurt. A contract, even a short one, would guarantee the mercenary couldn't harm them, or their interests, or divulge any secrets learned while under its magic.

"Why..."

Amber cut her off before she could reveal her ignorance. "Your captain is looking to make a significant purchase?"

Gia nodded. "Word is there was a horrendous crime committed, and now Master Stoneblood has the raw materials to finish his latest twenty. Captain Fateh wants four or five if we can afford them. Second-tier would only allow us the deposit for one or two."

No doubt he's curious about us also. But access to the higher bidding tier could be all they want.

"Stoneblood?" Amber prompted. Though she knew the answer. I'd forgotten he was still here. An uncontrollable shudder ran through her, and she folded her arms to hide the shaking.

The wind off the ocean is cool today, she told herself.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Gia scratched below her eye with a claw. "He's a Grandmaster Golem crafter… you know, it's better if you see for yourself." The bear-kin woman's grin showed fangs.

"See?" Chess asked.

"He leaves his wares out for all to see until he's ready to sell them," Gia said mysteriously. Amber thought the explanation was rather misleading but it was better to see for yourself. Though some people didn't have the stomach for it.

"You can serve as our guide. This is my lady's and my first time here," Amber decided, indicating Gia should fall in ahead of the horses so they didn't continue to shy from the road.

Gia smiled and nodded. "About the contract?"

Amber waved it off. "We'll handle it while we're waiting for entry. I figure we can trust a recruiter until then."

Gia shrugged.

"You know you're being followed right?" Gia asked a short time later.

"We know," Chess muttered.

Amber smiled tolerantly. "It's only the Abbess keeping an eye on us."

"Ah, Politics," Gia said with a knowing nod and left it at that.

Gia's appearance put a stop to their lesson and Amber decided to relax and leave most of their active vigilance to their 'secret' followers and the odd flexing of her sense Emotion ability. For once she allowed herself to take in the simple beauty of the surrounding fields and forest. And the ever-growing sight of the fallen titan at the edge of the sea.

There is something to be said about traveling downhill. She thought idly. As she nodded to the odd farmer toiling in their field or traveler passing in the opposite direction.

The day seemed to melt away until they drew close enough to smell the ocean and hear the dull roar of the crashing waves of a very high tide against the titan's golden-tanned body.

It's so easy to forget how large she is when you live on her back, Amber mused, as they drew close to the grounded leg that served as a breakwater from the bay and Laststep lake.

She spent a moment peering up at the soaring onyx tower of Luminous perched atop the Lower Heel for a moment before turning to watch Chess's reaction to really seeing her home city for the first time.

Chess's slack-jawed wonder didn't disappoint, bringing a smile to Amber's face. Every step of their horses brought more details into focus and built on the slight nervousness inexplicably settling over her.

Amber shook out her hands and let herself track Chess's gaze as it rose to once again fix on the upper heel with its marble promenade, the academy tower, and jutting skyship moorings.

A handful of small courier ships were docked to the upper of the four rings of skystone platforms tied to the outer toes that formed a latticework of gantries, bridges, and walkways a hundred spans above the ocean.

"Only couriers. Nothing larger, my lady," Amber said. Pointing out the ships for Chess.

Amber let her sight fall to their immediate destination and the short line of wagons and other travelers waiting to gain access through the posterior gate.

They soon came abreast of the seaside knee, and its bulk cut the sound of crashing waves enough to hear properly again.

As always, she found her gaze drifting to the short red walls perched along both legs and the patrols that walked them.

The feeling of being watched was a constant icy tickle on the nape of her neck.

Amber shifted to watching Chess again and smiled as Chess's gaze kept drifting up the curve of Silcith's apple-shaped bottom.

"It's a nice ass. I think I'm a little jealous," Chess murmured as they dismounted and made their slow way up between the colossal legs, leading the horses.

Amber and Gia both laughed. "You know I've been here dozens of times and never noticed that Silcith indeed has a shapely ass. If you can ignore that monstrosity." Gia gestured to the large gatehouse and pair of towers planted in front of and in Silcith's crack.

"Call it what it is. A butt plug," Chess said with a smirk. "She has great legs too—nice and toned. Too bad her boobs are buried in the sand. I bet they're fantastic…"

Amber snorted another laugh despite herself and shook her head. "My lady…" she began to admonish.

"You know? I think I like you," Gia cut in and slapped a heavy hand to Chess's armored back making her stagger forward a step. "You're alright for a noble."

Amber shook her head before shifting the topic as they settled into line. "So, contract?"

Gia smiled and shifted her pack around to her front so she could dig inside. She came out with a scroll case and opened it before proffering a page to Chess. "Standard three-day contract for my services just needs a touch of your blood or magic." She winked at Chess who nodded absently as she read it.

Good girl, Amber thought.

The line moved at a steady pace, and it wasn't long before they neared the guards taking people's travel papers.

"Name, papers, and purpose of visit?" the short human guard asked in a routine tone. Amber noted his captain's insignia on his helm's right cheek guard.

Both Amber and Chess gave their names before Gia cut in.

"Gia, of Harrelson's Hand." She proffered an envelope before continuing. "Captain, are the rumors true? Did Grandmaster Stoneblood finish his latest score?" Gia asked as a way of greeting as the second group of soldiers waved them to approach a pair of tables with two men behind each. Their greeter fell in beside them before handing their papers to the bear-kin guard behind the table.

"Enchanted weapons," he indicated the table before continuing, "Aye, he did. We caught the last two just a handful of days back," Amber could feel the pride and satisfaction emanating from the captain as she laid the titan hammer out for the appraiser to document. Chess took longer to pull out their spears.

Amber thought as she looked at the two rows of 'statues' flanking either side of the path.

Not all statues yet, she corrected herself when she felt the overwhelming despair, horror, and impotence from the last two before the portcullis. She used an old trick to wall herself off from the flood of hopelessness by focusing on the bored-disinterest given off by the appraiser.

Once she'd recentered herself she studied the twins more clinically. They were in the late stage of their transformations if the catatonia of the one on the left was any indication.

Likely only the skin and organs are left. Yes. When she looked closer, she could see the edge of a white marble creeping up past the pair's ankles. He's started on their skin. So, another day at most.

She looked to see if Chess had caught the implications yet. The thin line of her lips spoke volumes.

Amber moved closer and rested a comforting hand on her shoulder.

The guard seemed to take a moment to size them up more before nodding. "Collectors, then?"

"Perhaps?" Chess said. She was focused on the two men strapped to the stone plinths set before the first portcullis with a collar around their necks to keep them upright and unable to move.

"Three women, two of them warriors, in this batch, plus the pirate Lemuel and his first mate! All worthy additions to any collection." The guard gestured at a few of the potential golems around them, most of which were encased in the obsidian skin Stoneblood was experimenting with recently. Though a few were brilliant white marble with tracers of black. "Even the new twins are gathering their share of speculation, for the pure horrific audacity of their crime." He gestured to the two who were still undergoing the 'treatment'.

"People just like the idea of a matching set," the soldier beside the appraiser disagreed.

"That too," his captain conceded.

"These twins—What did they do?" Gia inquired.

"Nothing banned and no bounties," the appraiser butted in, sliding their weapons back to them along with their papers which they retrieved and stowed.

The captain fell into step with them as they walked between Stoneblood's creations toward the gate.

"They killed Master Jawer's six-year-old daughter and skinned her in her own backyard before turning her uncured fur into loincloths for themselves!" The captain spat in the face of the unresponsive captive.

Amber felt her bile rise at the tale. Her heart hurt at the thought of Rela being dead. It seemed like only yesterday her father had formally introduced the cheerful girl to her tribe.

She closed her eyes for a moment. For humans to be so savage… no never mind that's a stupid thought. They're usually better at hiding their savagery though.

"They've been blabbering on in that foreign gibberish of theirs for the last week. No one knows where they're from. They had to use a mind-seer to get the truth out of them."

She glanced at Chess whose face had taken on a deliberate blank look. The reins of her horse were held in a white-knuckled grip.

"I say it's good old Stoneblood's got the transition time up to around seven days. Isn't right what they did. They deserve worse than this."

"Gibberish?" Amber asked while moving closer to the wild-eyed twin. She had a substantial number of languages at her disposal now. When she made it to within a few paces of him, with Chess a step behind, she finally heard his muttering.

"I didn't know, I didn't know, I didn't know," he mumbled, at least that's what she thought he said, in Chess's English, before bursting out in uncontrollable sobs.

Amber grabbed Chess's shoulder before she could step past her.

Language English +1

She dismissed the prompt with a thought before hissing in Chess's ear. "Not the time or place."

"But!" Chess glared at her. Amber smiled sweetly before returning her attention to the still-speaking guard captain. Thankfully Gia remained intent on his explanation.

She didn't let go.

"Rumour has it old Stoneblood's new spells lock the soul in place and that's why the golems are selling for so much this year... If you ask me, I think it's because we're long overdue for a little war in these parts. Some strange things have been afoot. Just…"

"So, they'll be up for auction tomorrow then?" Amber interrupted the man mid-sentence.