《Help! Evil Wizards Turned Me Into A Girl!》


 Help! A Goddess, A Golem, and A Wizard of Death!

    Irregular sandstone patterned in multiple shades of brackish-brown, light tans, and a few streaks of red which flowed in waves dominated the landscape. Dunes rose as high as ten meters, though most of the sand piles of the Traymena desert measured barely a meter. Patches of dusty soil became revealed as warm dry winds swept through the plateau. Several sandstone cliffs formed a barrier broken by several passes. Dry sandstone from the natural rock formations was breaking down for ages, slowly filling the surrounded plain with sand. The western height was worn to an incline with craggy hills bordering its edge.

    Heat dissipated within the landscape as the afternoon grew later. There was a dry wind about, yet light and quite warm. Not a cloud to be seen in the darkening sky. Dusk allowed the sun, now like a glowing clot, to sit upon the dunes of the western horizon and rest its late rays upon the smooth granite walls of thirteen cylindrical towers. The central tower was over a hundred meters tall.

    The lesser towers, which were each about two thirds as tall and large as the main tower, were arranged in a circular pattern about fifty meters distant from the center. Between any two of the outer towers was an arc of about thirty degrees. Every one of the outer towers was connected to the center by walls. Each wall contained three tunnels, one fifteen meters above ground level, another at mid-level, and a third at the highest level. The design made for an array of over thirty granite tunnels in the wall. Pillars abutted the arches of the narrow lower walkways, while the top of the wall was an open path guarded by a crenellated stone barricade. The central tower was topped by a long spire nearly thirty meters high from base to the tip.

    At the pinnacle of the spire floated a spirit who overlooked the squat dunes of the land beyond the plateau. The desert of Traymena stretched out in a mix of dunes and rocky alcoves for a great distance toward the coasts. Only the salt marshes of the western coast provided relief from the consistency of the dry terrain. The life of Tramen, this continent of desert, had been drained over many decades. The spirit wondered, would this fate spread to the rest of her world? Would the entire realm of Pozalm become as dry and barren as this continent?

    She was barely visible, the rays of the evening sun flying through her as she continually faded out and returned to visibility. There was no color in her form, as if it was with effort that she maintained the faintest outline. Though, as darkness fell over the land, she could solidify her appearance somewhat to take the form of young women with hair that flowed down her back. She was shades of watery blue and swirling white, as only the outlines of graceful features could take form. The wind picked up slightly and her form swirled with it, pushed back as if she were made of silky robes. The spirit raised her fists into the air. When she opened them two handfuls of sand snowed down until they landed in a dune at the base of the tower.

    Sand coalesced into something bulky. The dune pushed upwards into column which branched out five times as it became a stone hand. The hand grew an arm before pulling the form of a humanoid golem out of the dune. It had no face, no distinguishing features other than being made of sandstone shaded in brilliant yellows, browns, and dull oranges. The spirit dove from the spire of the central tower. It fell between the interconnecting wall and dove into the golem. A few minutes later she pulled herself from it. The remains of her form became the distinct blue glow of a cool fire and clung to the temple walls. The golem leaned slightly toward the tower as its blank stone head tilted. A light voice, slightly musical and exceedingly soft emanated from the spirit.

    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    "Go into the library of the temple and take the book containing my right hand. Give it to the wizard Dead-leaf, who still has with the power to traverse worlds. Tell him this, if he can force the guardian who resides on the other realm to crush my hand, then all the power the guardian holds will be bequeathed unto him. You may rest upon the completion of this task."

    The golem nodded as the spirit faded. The walls of the temple opened to accept the creature into the halls, then closed once it had passed through. The entire mid-level of the central pillar housed the library. Bookshelves were carved out of the sandstone walls and supported by columns of granite. Thousands of dusty tomes and ancient scrolls sat neglected. Unkempt piles of dry rotted books could be found at reading tables or by the bottom of a tall shelves. It looked as if someone had been frantically researching a long time ago without ever having the chance to reorganize. Grains of desert sand glimmered against the faded red carpet as moonlight snuck in through slots in the outer walls. The golem plodded into the center of the library, through a labyrinth of stone shelves that forbid much light into their depths.

    The golem reached the center of the dark library with ease. There, alone on an oak table, was a large leather-bound book tied shut with ropes of thick hemp. The words Sarbrusi Ambrosiabrious, meaning ''hand of Ambrosia'' in the ancient Tramen language, were written in large gold leaf letters on a cover imprinted with the shape of leaves and lilies. The golem''s torso opened before it picked up the book and set it safely inside itself. Sand enclosing the volume quickly congealed into stone until the book was safe. That accomplished, it left the temple.

    The golem plodded across the wastelands, never stopping. It needed no sleep, no food, and no water. When it reached the ocean, it merely continued walking. Far too heavy to swim, but not needing to breathe, it navigated the depths.

    -----

    A year after it first took the book, it resurfaced on an island. The shore was peaceful and bordered by meadows of swaying grass. The featureless stone man continued forward to an isolated wood-brick tavern.

    Inside the tavern, the wizard Dead-leaf was the only patron. He sat alone at a large round table with a pewter mug in his wrinkly hands. An odor of newt, pickled bat''s blood, and a hint of vinegar emanated from the brew. Dead-leaf''s gray hair flew untamed in every direction from his withered brow. His teeth were mottled with green rot. Thick black crust formed under his yellow fingernails. He took little notice when the golem entered, and was half finished with his brew by the time it stopped next to him. He examined the golem''s blank face with a disinterested stare.

    "A poor excuse for a golem?" Dead-leaf asked, "Really now, what could you possibly want from me?"

    The golem''s torso crumbled into a fine sand. A seal cracked. The book of Ambrosia was revealed. A voice issued forth from the sandstone, though from where was unclear as it had no lips.

    "A gift from the goddess Ambrosia, follow these instructions carefully," it said in a deep bass rumbling tone, "Have the last of the guardians who resides in the realm of Technos crush the hand within this book, and you will be granted all the power once bequeathed to the Tramen Fohar."

    "And why in the world would an infertile fertility goddess care about my power?" Dead-leaf asked.

    "Restore life to Pozalm, and you will be granted restored youth."

    The wizard touched the figure on the central stone. Without further warning it melted into a pile of sand by Dead-leaf''s feet. The wizard pulled the book from the sand and examined it carefully, plucking the thick hempen ropes with his crusty yellow nails. The peeling dry skin of his pale lips twisted into a smile.

 1. Help! I Got Pizza In My Eye!

    A six-meter long, fifteen-centimeter-wide balance beam elevated on iron stands stood in the center of the Hubert Academy gymnasium. It was surrounded by a thick blue mat. In the wooden bleachers overlooking the floor, an assembly of students, parents, and school faculty sat. The buzz of conversations drowned the soft classical music playing from the loudspeakers set up by the scoreboards. Air conditioning hummed. The gymnasium was comfortable despite the hot and humid June weather and the packed crowd inside.

    When the music stopped, a ceiling spotlight focused on the balance beam and the crowd subdued to respectful silence. Deep within the bleachers, from atop her high draped podium, another spotlight fell upon the principle of Hubert Academy. A soft looking woman in a light blue dress suit waved her straight blonde hair whenever her head moved; she had a gruff voice that bellied her appearance.

    "Welcome to fifth annual Hubert Academy Fencing Tournament, sponsored by the National Association of Private Schools. As your principle, I am honored that we should have such a fabulous turnout, especially since summer recess has officially begun. With that said, let me introduce the undisputed champion of our own Hubert Academy fencing club, Nathan Mavenslick."

    Nathan had gleaming black hair which he parted to the right. There was a slight wave to his hair. His skin was fairly pale, especially considering his hair and his dark green eyes. The girls shouted his name as he scanned the audience with a smirk. He was a thin boy who had grown quite strong. An unshaven look darkened his jaw. Hanging outside his uniform was a heavy medallion of tarnished bronze given to him by his grandfather on his sixth birthday; four openings lined its edges, two of which a chain ran through.

    Carvings of delicate vines and seedlings ran along the outer edge, some of which reached into the beams that connected to elongated skull like design in the center. The skull had an eye of lapis and teeth of emerald. Nathan shook his fist for the crowd before jumping on the edge of the balance beam with his fencing mask tucked under his right arm.

    For a show, he balanced the handle of his foil on the tip of his foot, keeping it perfectly vertical as he bounced it a few centimeters. At last, he kicked it, sending it upwards far enough for him to reach out and clutch the grip with his left hand with perfect finger positioning for the upcoming match.

    A few girls swooned for him as cheers erupted. Jody Fischer stuck out her tongue, though it seemed more a playful gesture than an insult. Nathan nodded to her. Then Jody clapped and shouted his name with a little fist wave. The principle asked for the applause to subside, and resumed her duties as an announcer.

    "On your left is the champion from New Hope Methodist, Darrell Flemming, also known as the lightning sword."

    A small section cheered as Darrell stepped onto the stand cautiously. He stood perfectly straight, staring through his opponent with piercing blue eyes. Darrell was about the same build as Nathan, but had a healthier looking skin tone and lighter, straighter hair. A somewhat dour expression was affected by the tendency to purse his lips, which he was doing extremely tightly at the moment. His noble, slender nose pushed down slightly. Nathan kept his eyes on his opponent.

    "The rules are simple," the principle explained, "each combatant''s uniform is attached to an electrode monitor. The target area includes the chest and stomach only. Any hits to those areas will be counted by the monitor as critical strikes. The first combatant to receive three critical strikes will lose the match. Absolutely no aiming above the chest! Also, anyone who falls off the balance beam will automatically give his opponent a strike. The combatants may now don their masks."

    Nathan zipped up his fencing jacket to hide his pendant before slipping his mask over his head. With their masks on, they conducted a quick salute by slashing their foils downwards.

    "En garde!"

    Nathan took a defensive stance and waited for his opponent''s attack; Darrell complied by accelerating toward him with a fierce lunge. His entire body propelled the assault. Nathan knelt below the strike, parried strongly, and struck dead center in Darrell''s target area without much effort. Nathan sprang upwards as the first red light on Darrell''s electrode monitor brightened. While Darrell recoiled from the touch, Nathan issued another forceful parry which left his opponent no choice to retreat. Nathan couldn''t help but think that his opponent was like everyone else he had fought so far, a complete throw aside. He''d have to make this look harder than it was or his audience might get bored and his opponent resentful. Then Darrell announced a renewed attack.

    Darrell lunged, but this time backed away in mid-lunge before lunging again. The first lunge had been a mere feint with little energy invested into it. By the second lunge, Darrell had anticipated Nathan''s counter strike and executed a well-timed parry of some force. Blade smacked blade. Nathan was driven back a few steps to avoid taking a hit as Darrell forced his sword to the side.

    The move was repeated with differing variations. Darrell attacked speedily and adjusted the blade position enough to keep Nathan guessing. Over a period of five minutes, he pounced upon Nathan from every direction like a multitude of prowling tigers. The crowd was in awe. Nathan reeled backwards. He was slowing down just trying to block the constant attacks. The edge of the fighting platform was approaching. This was actually fun!

    Darrell''s sword came fiercely, aimed with precision, and struck home.

    A red hit light flashed on Nathan''s monitor; the crowd gasped as the score was now even. They took position at the center of the beam for the next round. This time from the start, Darrell resumed lunging even more quickly and Nathan was immediately thrown off balance attempting to dodge. Backing off at the wrong moment caused Darrell to miss an opening, but he still forced Nathan to retreat.

    The echo of striking metal filled the gymnasium, even over the screams of the crowd and the chants of girls imploring their school''s champion to win. It looked like a repeat of the last round until Nathan was once again near the edge. He refused to retreat any further. Every move became guarded as it seemed essentially an even match. Nathan swirled his sword for a forceful parry and lunged for the target zone, which forced Darrell to take a wide step back, but the gained ground was soon lost as Darrell lifted his foil and aimed his attacks from above. A test of stamina continued for a short duration. The sound of swords clanging against one another echoed through the gym.

    After a while of struggling to keep the pace of his opponent, Nathan''s attacks became less varied, his arm too tired to push his foil against parries from above. The sweat was soaking through Nathan''s uniform. Steam billowed from the screen of his mask. Then, Nathan''s sword began to falter. Darrell immediately capitalized, brushing it aside and striking an easy hit. Nathan realized something. Darrell wasn''t nearly as perspired; in fact, he seemed almost as fresh as when the match began. Nathan''s parries grew weaker, his retreats more desperate. He began to fear the end was not looking as good as he had thought.

    Would he fail to win in front of the entire fencing club, the entire school, Jody? He was determined not to let his summer recess be ruined by defeat in this crucial match. It was time to unleash some of his special abilities. Nathan whispered the words, Pozalm Zaberias, as he touched the bronze pendant around his neck with the pointer finger of his free hand. New energy flowed through his blood as he returned to a defensive stance with his free arm behind him. He lifted his foil high, leaving himself wide open for an attack, but as Darrell lunged, Nathan parried so fiercely that the foil escaped from Darrell''s hand. With a single deft swoop, Nathan targeted Darrell''s shoulder. They were evenly matched once again.

    On the final series, Nathan was the one charging forward. His foil struck so forcefully on the parry that sparks flew. Nathan''s sword swung right from the outside and pushed his opponent''s blade inward across his chest. He pushed forward, allowing his sword to press Darrell''s until they were at an unusually close range, almost helmet to helmet.

    It happened so fast that Darrell couldn''t think to get his sword out of the lock while the tip of Nathan''s blade pointed in the air. A push to the left from Nathan''s foil caught Darrell unprepared; he quickly lost his balance and fell to the mat. The gymnasium erupted into cheers and shouts.

    "That isn''t allowed!?" Darrell shouted angrily.

    "Silence," yelled the announcer, the crowd quieted, "Is that legal? Let me see. There''s nothing against it in the rule books for this style. Nathan Mavenslick is the winner by knock down. What an unbelievable final match these two have participated in. Let''s have a round of applause for the new Huntingdon County fencing champion!"

    Droplets of perspiration flung outwards from Nathan''s mask as he removed it. Cheers erupted from the crowd. Some girls screamed his name as he lifted his sword to the air in impromptu celebration. He so relished the victory he scanned the assembly to absorb the moment into memory. While doing so, Nathan spotted an elderly man in a black suit who was standing with the support of a black cane.

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    That seemed unusual, being that this was a fencing tournament between private high schools; not to mention that the wrinkled man with disheveled gray hair stood out in an audience mostly composed of teens and their parents. Nathan returned his gaze to the old man, who clapped briefly before donning a black cape and making his way out. Perhaps, Nathan thought, he wanted to leave before the crowd.

    But there was a trophy to be presented, and a short victory speech. It wasn''t so much a speech as a quick thank you, a short acknowledgement of his opponent''s tenacity, and some praise of his father, his coach, and his school for good measure. With the short ceremony out of the way, Nathan retreated from an advancing crowd to the locker room. The old man returned to his mind. He had to ask himself, what was with that guy, was he an Olympic recruiter? On the bench in front of his locker was a rag to wipe his damp black hair and a bottle of chilled water, both of which he used eagerly. After a few sips, he was face to face with his former opponent, who greeted him with an extended hand and a pleasant smile.

    "You''re amazing!" Darrell said, "How did you pull off that last minute burst? I thought you were finally wearing out and then you had me, I never fought anyone that strong."

    "It was determination," Nathan lied, "I just didn''t want to lose. Besides, my dad makes me train all the time; you''d almost think I was supposed to be a warrior or something. You''re tough though, I never expected a challenge."

    "I still think you should have been disqualified for using a move like that," Darrell said, his eyes narrowing.

    The water bottle almost dropped from between Nathan''s fingers, but quick reflexes helped him catch it.

    "Well... they obviously didn''t," Nathan said, voice slightly quivering, "The rules are fair. It''s not like I cheated or anything."

    "We should have a rematch. How about one at my school?" Darrell asked, "I''m giving some fencing lessons over the summer for extra credit. I wouldn''t mind holding a class tournament. I''d like a re-match; that is, if you''re not afraid."

    "Afraid, no way," Nathan took a long gulp of water, "I accept your challenge, so you better be afraid. I could use the practice."

    "Every Monday morning, starting July."

    "I''ll be there before the summer ends, but I won''t tell you when."

    Darrell went back to his locker to pack up as Nathan wiped his face dry and then carefully folded his fencing equipment and placed his sword into a designer sports case. Outside the lockers, Nathan''s father carried Nathan''s seven-year-old sister, Natalie, on his back. Norman had the same short black hair as his son, but the stubborn black hairs of his chin produced a consistently dark jaw shadow that Nathan was only beginning to develop. Natalie jumped over her father''s head and into the arms of her brother. The orange shampoo that had cleaned her wispy black hair could be smelt as she nuzzled her brother. It was quite the contrast to the scent of drying perspiration dripping from Nathan. Nathan''s fencing coach approached them from behind and gave Nathan a pat on the shoulder.

    "That''s my champion caliber athlete; don''t know what this school would do without him. You''re going to give Hubert Academy a name for itself during the summer tournaments. But we need to get this guy into basketball, football, something more team oriented. Whatever it is, I''ll be behind this young man all the way Norman. All the way!"

    "This is good training for the boy and you''re a great coach," Norman said.

    "Thanks a bunch, you know me, fencing has always been a particular favorite even though it isn''t quite as popular as the team sports," said the coach, "I want him on the football team next year. That''s not a request."

    "You were awesome," Natalie said. "You knocked that guy over like he was nothing! I''m glad I don''t have to fight with swords. It looks scary dangerous."

    "At least I enjoy this more than the other training," Nathan whispered as he put her down next to their father.

    "Nathan, I have to take your sister to dance," his father said, "I think you earned some free time tonight. What are you planning for the rest of the day?"

    "I was going to grab a pizza with everyone. I''ll ride my bike home."

    Norman sighed, opening his wallet, "Pizza. I guess you earned it; fine then, have some pizza with your girlfriend, remember, nine thirty. And don''t make a pig of yourself."

    "Jody''s not my girlfriend," Nathan grumbled, "She''s a normal friend, like one of the other guys."

    "Right, I''ll take your equipment home," Norman said, ignoring the previous statement as he took the black case, "Nine-thirty, no later."

    "Right, Nine-thirty," Nathan groaned.

    "Oh, and, you''re in big trouble later, you probably know why," Norman said, "We''ll talk about that later."

    Without another word, Norman took Natalie by the hand and they left the locker room. Nathan knew what the trouble was. His father had noticed the flow of energy from the pendant and was probably upset. What was the deal anyway, Nathan thought, that fencing match was crucial, and what good was power he couldn''t use? His father didn''t understand what it was like to be humiliated in front of everyone.

    After shaking hands with the coach one last time, he went back to the locker room to shower and change into a clean pair of jeans with a hole in the left knee and a dark gray shirt with a sports logo. His sneakers were about ready to fall apart. He checked his locker one last time to make sure it was clean and empty before closing it. The key was plopped on the coach''s desk as he went out the door. Jody, Bill and Howard were waiting by the bike racks, guarding Nathan''s black and white mountain bike. None of them had brought their own bikes along, so Nathan walked his bike to the local pizza parlor with them. They ordered a large pizza and portioned it at a wide red booth.

    Jody pulled her light blonde hair back into a loose pony-tail that hung past her shoulders so it wouldn''t fall into on her slice. She was slender, small but not short. Her blue eyes were bright. Bill was the running back on the school football team. He was sort of average all the way around, brown hair, matching eyes, a strong build, good height, but nothing about him ever stood out to Nathan. Bill never spoke much either, he blended with whatever group he happened to be in. Howard was more unique; he was tall and his chest was so broad it made the cheap cotton shirts he wore tight. Since he was so big he played offensive line backer.

    "It''s a good thing you''re so powerful," Jody said, "because that guy was a pro. His technique was amazing; and everyone could see you were exhausted before that sudden adrenaline rush you pulled."

    "Come on," Nathan said, "I wasn''t some push over. I gave him a run for his money. Besides, don''t you think it takes a little focus and technique knock a guy like him to the mat. I mean, really, you never give me credit."

    "You may be luckier than you think to have a dad that makes you train so hard. He''s really out to make you a real man," Bill said.

    Howard laughed, "I don''t like to do any of that stuff. Yet I get stuck with all the hard chores because I''m the only boy in my family. My sisters don''t do anything around the house. I swear, girls right?"

    Nathan gave Howard a disturbed look, "You should complain more?"

    Jody frowned, "I have to work just as hard as any boy. I have to take out the trash, and I do all the landscaping, including mowing the lawn."

    "You''re an exception," Nathan said, "You''re practically a guy."

    "What do you mean by that?" Jody asked quietly with a sudden blush, unable to make eye contact with anyone, "I''m not practically a guy. I''m just as much a girl as any other...."

    Howard forced a mocking laugh as he gave Jody a playful punch on the shoulder.

    "It''s not funny!" Jody yelled, "Women can do anything men can, and in most cases, they do it better!"

    "My family worked the coal mines for generation, and I''ve never heard of a woman mining coal, doesn''t that prove something?" Howard said.

    Jody smiled sadistically, "It proves that the men in your family were too ignorant to get real jobs."

    "That''s just ignorant Jody," Nathan started. "Why do you always have to be so touchy? You have to admit that women are at least different physically. There''s no way a normal girl could keep up with Bill on the football field or block a two-hundred-and-thirty-pound defensive back like Howard. Also, there''s the whole upper back strength thing. Also, you don''t have to register for the draft and if you do choose a military career, they make it easier for you. Also, you get scholarships I can''t ever hope to get without needing to even do anything for them. Let''s be honest, do any of you think I would''ve been able to beat Flemming if I was a girl?"

    "No way!" Bill said emphatically.

    "Why not?" Jody asked, clenching her fists on the table, "You knocked Darrell off balance using the methods your dad taught you. If I would''ve had a teacher like your father, I could''ve used the same technique to beat him, and if I''d been a little more focused, I might''ve represented the Academy instead of you."

    "Give me a break," Nathan said, "I defeated you in thirty seconds flat. You may have come in second to me, but it wasn''t because you were good. It was because everyone else was terrible. And you''d have to be a hulk to beat Flemming; you don''t even begin to know the extent of his strength. Even a gorilla girl like yourself could never beat him. That''s why men and women don''t compete together in sports. It wouldn''t be a fair match. It''s just common-sense."

    "You... self-assured... chauvinist jerk face-wad! I wish you were a girl. Then maybe I''d actually like you a little bit," Jody said, standing up. Since Nathan was holding his third slice of pizza, she took the opportunity to push it into his face. "I refuse to sit here and be insulted by a bunch of toxic, insecure, macho, stupid, meatballs any longer!"

    "You must have really struck a nerve," Bill said as the door clanged on Jody''s exit, "And here I thought she was one of us. Girls never change."

    Nathan was left sitting with pizza smeared across his face. Howard broke out into raucous laughter. The remains of the pizza were squeezed into Nathan''s fist as he resisted throwing it. Instead, Nathan pounded the disheveled slice against the counter, only succeeding in mashing the sauce all through his fingers while splattering it over the booth. This only made Howard laugh all the harder, though Bill protested because drops of red sauce sprinkled his shirt.

    "I need to wash up," Nathan said.

    In the restroom, Nathan washed the tomato sauce off his face and out of his hair with hand lotion and tap water, drying himself off with paper towels. By the time he''d finished the parlor was empty, Howard and Bill had greedily finished off the remaining pizza, leaving the mess behind and the bill for him to pay. Some friends, he thought. It was only six o''clock, and already the celebration was over. As he hopped on his bike, the old man in the black cape from the gym watched from across the street, but disappeared into an alley before Nathan ever noticed him.

    "She didn''t have to rub pizza in my face," Nathan mumbled.

 2. Help! Its Not Safe Off The Main Road!

    With his school backpack braced securely over his left shoulder, Nathan pulled his bike into the opening of the old forest path. It was treacherous for walking, much more so for biking; to stray sideways from its beaten dirt meant hitting a tree or falling into a precipice, even at low speed.

    Not only was it narrow and uneven, deadly downhill slopes dominated portions of its western side. Sharp rocks stuck in the ground, hidden by piles of softer debris. Branches hung low enough to tangle inside a bicycle''s chains, or just high enough to swat a rider''s head. Worst of all was the isolation, the path wandered off into distant woodland before curving back into the main road. At one time, it might have been a shortcut, but nobody knew where. Instead, it added three kilometers to an otherwise simple journey.

    Nathan rolled up his sleeves before clenching the handlebars. This was personal. She humiliated him front of two football team all-stars he admired. His thoughts filled with unkind words. His cheeks turned red as teeth clenched while he jumped on the seat and rode forward at full speed.

    Trees scrolled past. He easily avoided the first set of stones in the path. He took deep breathes. She owed him an apology at the very least, maybe he would simply ignore her. The air rushed at him, rippling the drab cotton-polyester blend shirt. The scent of fresh leaves rushed through the forest air.

    The conversation replayed in his head as the sun flickered through the treetops like a strobe bulb. He did call her a gorilla girl, that was a little too far. But she''d have to get over it! It wasn''t like he was the one who had been violent and stupid. A set of low hanging branches on the left forced him to ride to the severe right edge of a small cliff.

    He forgot about Jody for a moment. Next was a pile of pine branches laced with poison sumac. He rode over a slanted stone that he had set there himself long ago, jumping over the pile. A huge oak branch loomed low enough to catch his forehead. He squeezed his face against the handlebars of his bike, avoiding it narrowly. The heart pounding in his chest confirmed the rush of pulling off a dangerous stunt.

    He was flying at the highest speed the bike and his legs could manage when the old man in black walked from behind a tree directly in front of him. He stood blocking the way of a narrow path and looking around in confusion while leaning on the support of a cane. There was no time to stop. The path was too narrow to pass him. Nathan swerved into a tree, his bike crashing as he flew off the seat. He managed to push off the tree trunk with his palms to save his neck. His feet kicked up dry dirt in the center of the path as he skidded while landing backwards. Nathan stood angrily and faced the old man.

    If he had gone a few feet to the left, it would have been a nasty ten-meter drop. He shifted his weight to make sure he was still intact, nothing felt sprained or broken. His knees didn''t hurt. The old man watched him stiffly, throwing back his cape and smoothing the creases in the arms of his suit. He was a scrawny old man with a confident stance. Apparently, he had something to prove. Hanging from the left side of his belt was a worn leather-bound book closed with old rope.

    "Are you trying to kill me?" yelled Nathan, retrieving his bike from the side of the tree. The front wheel was twisted beyond repair, both the tire and its ruptured tube hung loosely around a misshapen rim. Nathan clenched his teeth.

    "This is going to cost me a fortune! Hey Dementia Dan, what were you thinking jumping out in front of me like that!? Do I have to walk you back into town now? I don''t have time for that!"

    The old man didn''t respond; instead, he stretched out his arms, staring silently at the space between his hands. A red sphere of light formed between his palms.

    "Neat trick," Nathan said nervously. "Are you some kind of dementia mage? Wait, are you the recruiter? Well, forget about it; I''m not interested in joining your team."

    Dead-leaf shot the orb forward. Nathan ducked to avoid it. It turned back towards him after passing a distance. Sensing this, Nathan jumped behind a tree and the sphere splattered against its trunk. Flames burst from the wood. Nathan rolled from the blaze, staining his clothes with the moist black soil from under the dust.

    "You''re trying to kill me! Who the heck are you?"

    The wizard''s smile exposed a set of slimy, rotten teeth. Nathan assumed a defensive posture, watching carefully.

    "I thought finding you would be more difficult but you were stupid enough to use your pendant earlier, and I saw the power it gave you. My associates call me the wizard of the Dead Leaves. You can call me Dead-leaf. Call yourself Dead."

    "Could you at least tell me why you want to kill me?"

    "That would spoil the fun."

    The wizard coughed before squeezing his fist tightly and circling it like a lasso. Another red sphere formed in midst of his motion. This one was brighter and larger than the last. Nathan slid down into the precipice for cover. Fingers clung to a rock and allowed him to climb down to a smooth outcropping.

    The sphere split the trunk of a huge maple tree, half of which fell toward Nathan. He dodged in time to avoid being crushed. The harsh lashings of its branches ripped his shirt about the shoulders and scratched his cheeks and arms. He emerged from the debris with a numb right shoulder from a minor blow.

    He hid at the bottom edge of the rocky precipice, hoping the old man would think him dead. Dead-leaf sniffed before his wooden staff pounded the ground, loosening rocks with a shockwave. They were sent tumbling down to force Nathan from his hiding place to avoid being stoned to death.

    That was it, Nathan clasped his pendant with one hand while quickly climbing up the rocky cliff, grasping holds that were too sharp or almost nonexistent with his left hand and feet while dodging another hail of stones to reach the top. With the pendant''s power, it was as easy as a quick jog to get back on the path.

    Legs coiled before he jumped. A single thrust of his leg jammed a foot in the wizard''s face. The old man fell back as a trickle of blood squirted from his mouth and oozed onto his chin. Nathan rushed in for a second attack while in close range, hoping for an uppercut, but he flinched at the thought of hitting the now tottering old man.

    The wizard grabbed his wrist with boney wrapping fingers that made a snapping sound as they curled. A paralyzing electricity surged through Nathan''s body. The pendant deactivated as Nathan kicked the wizard backwards before dropping on his knees. Only a rush of adrenaline saved him from immobilization. The wizard also recovered slowly, taking several seconds to stand.

    "You should have been out cold after that first kick," Nathan muttered.

    "I''m not one of your peers you violent brat. My race is not that easy to conquer, even though so many of us are beyond our prime."

    More blood fell from the old man''s jaw, he pressed it, and one of his teeth fell backwards. He yanked out a dank, yellow, bottom tooth.

    "A wizard''s tooth contains great magic," Dead-leaf spit, "You''ve done well to destroy a portion of it. No mind, I''ll restore it soon."

    "You attacked me, I had to defend myself," Nathan said, slowly backing away as much as he could manage. "Look, do you want me to get help? I don''t know what you are, but nobody''s going to believe you attacked me first, and I''m going to have a reputation for beating up old men with dementia! That''s what you wanted anyway, right?"

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    "No! You will lose something far greater than your reputation."

    "Give it a break! You haven''t had enough?" Nathan certainly hoped the old man was finished because he didn''t feel like he could dodge another attack like the first two, not with this strange electricity wrapping his body. It felt like wearing a heavy chain.

    "I will make sure you gain no more power from the artifact around your neck."

    "Are you talking about my grandfather''s pendant?" Nathan asked, "How do you know about that!?"

    "It''s capable of creating great power in the hands of a Guardian," the wizard said, panting himself.

    Nathan felt his muscles cramp so he fell to his knees.

    "It seems all but the last of my power has been exhausted by your blow, so there is no way I can hurt you properly for now. Yet you are only suffering a temporary paralysis and will soon be ready for another round."

    Nathan smiled, but he didn''t feel the electric chains getting any lighter.

    "Why are you telling me I have the upper hand?"

    The wizard detached the large book from his belt, "Because you would if I didn''t have this book. This book will... well... I''m pretty sure it will steal your youth and vigor and give it to me. Then, I will take your pendant from your dry corpse. I will restore myself to my former glory!"

    The old wizard slowly approached Nathan, who struggled with great effort to crawl away, but he couldn''t move fast enough under the electric paralysis. The wizard sprinkled blood from his wounded jaw over Nathan''s forehead. It was sickening, but Nathan found himself too paralyzed to resist.

    "So, what are you planning?" Nathan asked, still trying to weaken the chains of flickering light numbing his body.

    Dead-leaf smiled, "The spell I''m using is quite different. It''s called ''The Hand of Death'' in your tongue."

    The wizard dipped his fingers into his mouth, covering them with bloody saliva which he smeared on the binding ropes. It acted as an acid, eating through the fibers, yet never affecting the leather binding. The wizard sat the book down in front of Nathan and opened it.

    The inside was hollow; and the pages had been cut through to create a compartment. Inside, there was a severed hand, dried with age; its fingers moved, and the hand crawled out of the book like a big slow tarantula. Slowly it crawled up Nathan''s leg, past his belt, then clutched his uniform on a slow climb towards his neck as Nathan squirmed backwards.

    Dead-leaf smiled, "Since you are paralyzed it can easily strangle you. And since it is weak your death will be slow and painful," suddenly the old man''s smile faded. "Wait a minute, that isn''t a hand of death."

    Deadleaf attempted a fireball aimed at the withered hand with dusty fingers as it crawled over Nathan''s face. A ward blocked the magic and it all dissapated into nothing. Nathan''s adrenaline pumped enough so that he could overcome the paralysis to manage lifting his arms, which were held in the air without doing much else. The hand roosted atop of Nathan''s head while giving his scalp a gentle pet.

    It made his head itch. Finally, Nathan managed to crush the hand between his upright palms. It was crumbly, like a dry leaf, and became a shimmering dust that fell over his body. Then there were long black strands of shimmering hair which fell over Nathan''s shoulders, in front of his face, and down his back.

    "What the..." Nathan said, pulling the hair from his eyes while taking a deep breath.

    Dead-leaf laughed derisively while wiping sweat from his brow as his skin became sickly pale. The hairs on the back of Nathan''s neck straightened, "That hand would have barely been able to pinch you had you left it alone." He took a deep panting breath. "See here now, I allowed your fear to activate a curse that is purely voluntary. You are powerless... against me." Deadleaf wheezed and coughed, "Now I can withdraw my precious life energy from your body without fearing your retaliation."

    The wizard stood as the electricity passed out of Nathan''s fingers, and back into the wizard''s palm. Once the remaining paralyzing force of Dead-leaf''s life energy was gone, Nathan jumped to his feet defiantly. He pushed back the annoying hair, then focused his power. He felt it flowing through him as always.

    "Don''t feel any different from before," he said, "I don''t believe in hurting senior citizens, so if you go away now, we can both forget this stupidity ever happened."

    "Maybe it needs more time," Dead-leaf muttered while recovering some of his color, "No, I''d prefer to keep you here for a while longer."

    With his life energy returning, Dead-leaf could launch a small burst of energy. It changed into a gum that wrapped Nathan''s legs, hardening around them. Nathan merely stretched and the constraint cracked before it crumbled into dust. He stared at the wizard pensively as a vibration tickled his vocal cords, which he felt throughout his throat.

    "You''re weaker now." Nathan said, the pitch of his voice higher as it cracked, and the tone much softer. He coughed, considering it an aberration, but even his cough was unrecognizable to him. Through peripheral vision he noticed the hair again. He felt its weight on his scalp and back. He pulled it from both sides, feeling the tug on his scalp. As he pulled at it, he noticed the hair on his arms receding into his skin somewhat.

    "I don''t understand," Nathan said, "What''s happening to me?"

    "Hmm," Dead-leaf mumbled, "Is this the beginning of a process? It''s not working the way I expected."

    "Make it stop!" Nathan screamed.

    Nathan moved forward with a punch ready only to flop flat on his face with arms flailed outwards. The joints in Nathan''s fingers cracked and popped as he got on his hands and knees. The muscles in his hands vibrated. The same sensation began in his toes and worked its way up his feet into his ankles. His wrist snapped while the muscles of his palm and fore-arm jumped in response. He pulled his right palm close to his face and watched as the fingers narrowed, the palm shrunk. Skin tightened with the shrinking form seamlessly, gaining a smoother more delicate texture.

    Every joint in Nathan''s body cracked as he approached Dead-leaf, but he was barely able to clasp the collar of the old man''s cloak when a fierce set of simultaneous snaps sent waves of pain through his back. There was a gasp followed by an astonished cry. Nathan fell on his hands and knees again in front of the exhausted wizard, who watched patiently with an upraised eyebrow.

    Slowly, Nathan pushed back to his feet. A wounded warrior with scratches across his arms and torn pants stood ready to defend himself. Standing ready was the best Nathan could manage because every bone in his body vibrated after his hips abandoned their sockets with a snap. The hip bones expanded outwards while continually finding and abandoning their sockets with modest pops. Nathan couldn''t move well until the popping and pressure ceased.

    Did the old wizard look taller? He could move again withoug falling! Dead-leaf was simply watching so an attack would be easy, right!? Slender fingers curled for a punch from a hand that didn''t seem like his own. Nathan tripped again. Palms hit the dirt without skidding. His left sneaker fell off because it was far too big for his foot. His socks fit like cloth sacks over now slender ankles.

    Dead-leaf approached, but a pulse of energy repelled him from the quivering boy. Nathan remained focused on his opponent, pushing to stand in stocking feet. The rocks on the path hurt a little bit.

    "What is going on?" Dead-leaf mumbled, "Ambrosia, you had better not have lied to me!"

    Nathan formed another punch despite a sudden searing pain in his lower abdomen. This time he didn''t fall over, but the punch was poorly aimed. Dead-leaf found it quite easy to throw up a ward and block it with his wrinkly hand. The force Nathan had demonstrated earlier was greatly diminished, but Dead-leaf sensed an unrefined nimbleness in the attack.

    It didn''t help that Nathan was in some obvious pain. Things just didn''t feel right as he backed off after the attack. His legs pushed together as his hands pushed down his abdomen. Nathan found himself disoriented as gentle weights began to bud across his chest. Something bounced when he adjusted his stance for the next attack, so he looked down instead of attacking.

    "No way! No!" he cried, "What kind of joke is this!"

    Dead-leaf blinked, "So, when are you going to die so I can absorb your youth and power? You are supposed to be becoming a mummified corpse. So why are you still alive!?"

    "Shut up! This can''t be real!" he cried, as he pulled at his bangs, "This. Can. Not. Be. Real. You did this didn''t you!?" He suddenly burst out laughing, "No, this is just one of those weird dreams. This can''t even anywhere near be real! I''m going to wake up and forget any of this ever happened! Right?"

    Dead-leaf spit, "So, it seems I''ve been tricked, but Ambrosia is the true fool. Hand over your pendant. I will accept nothing less for all my hard work."

    Nathan remembered his bike. He thought about how he landed, and concluded that he must have hit his head. The old man with dementia was probably wandering down the path trying to find his marbles. Nathan pinched his cheek, pulling it away from his teeth.

    "This is some kind of sicko dream, isn''t it? Do you know what the guys would think I was if they knew I had dreams like this? Please wake up soon!"

    Dead-leaf simply frowned, "The guild will not be pleased. I require the pendant now, if you value your life."

    "I''m not going to let you take that," Nathan yelled, "Even if this is a dream, I have to beat you until you agree to reverse this."

    Nathan jumped for a branch, but miscalculated his height as he was five inches shorter now. The pain of his butt hitting the soil hard recoiled up his spine. There was a panicked gasp, his eyes went wide. He grasped the pendant, gathering power to deflect the ball of electricity forming between the wizard''s palms.

    "Pozalm Zabarias," he said emphatically.

    A purple vortex opened underneath him. Nathan gasped and went wide eyed. A schoolbag and a rope-bound book fell inside along with him as it closed. The wizard released his energy into the trees with a curse because his target was gone. As he was breathing heavily, he sat by the hillside cross-legged. Withered hands reached into his bag to retreive a few vials of recovery potion and a long pipe stuffed with tobacco.

 3. Help! This Isnt My Hometown!

    Nathan watched the portal above close before an oak branch smacked the back of the head. The blow caused a fall into unconsciousness on a flat bed of soft moss surrounded by tree roots.

    A warrior riding a mare scarred by blade wounds heard the crack, a cry, and then observed the landing. He wore tattered robes, sandals, and a sword was sheathed to his sash. His brown eyes shaded by untamed wisps of hair quickly scanned the surroundings.

    What appeared to be a young woman with shimmering black hair spread loosely around glowing pale skin took gentle breaths through parted pink lips with a whispering rhythm. The warrior stared for the longest time.

    The garments this maiden wore were unlike anything he''d seen, they were neither robe, nor kimono, nor peasant clothes, nor battle grab. The poorly fit garments did much to hide a rather curvaceous figure. She was of fair complexion. All her features were smooth and petite. Dainty hands with soft skin indicated a lack of toiling labor.

    The man on horseback blushed as the hoof of his horse scraped the moss to expose the dirt. His mouth opened a bit as if he wanted to say something but couldn''t find the words. In the distant interior of the forest a wet squirming sound of some mass of sloshing beasts grew. There was little time so he dismounted. First, he gave a quick respectful bow before running his hand along the left cheek to feel her breath. A moment later he lifted the stranger on the back of his horse delicately. Nathan''s only complaint was a gentle moan.

    Nathan finally awoke with a terrible ache in the temple. The back part of the scalp was sore to the touch. At first vision proved only a blur, but slowly gained acuity. A wreath of morning glories growing from the floor encircled the flat wood panel that served as a rather harsh bed. An oval pillow of carved birch wood was beneath his head, while now lengthy hair was spread over the torso side of the panel.

    It was a simple dwelling assembled from finished maple wood. Sliding doors made from bamboo and panels of thin paper closed two sides of the room. The ceiling opened into a sky light revealing a star-filled night sky. Dragon-faced lanterns hung from the ceiling were providing a gentle light.

    Nathan caught hair under the palm while attempting to sit up, so the back gave a little arch and lips tensed into a frown as eyes clenched shut. The back of an already bruised head smacked against the wooden head rest. A nasty exclamation ensued before Nathan carefully turned on the side, then swept the overflowing hair behind the back before sitting. The bruise on the back of the head again throbbed when touched.

    Dried crusts were stuck in the eyes which needed to be rubbed out. They caused a few tears before a slender hand grazed the chest. Nathan cupped them with wide eyes and an open mouth. No one was here, so Nathan pulled the ragged shirt outwards and peeked. The staring commenced first, as they were large enough not to go unnoticed. Pinching one of them caused a flinch. Vaguely remembering what had happened, Nathan pulled the band of the pants outward and blinked while staring over the shirt bump.

    "I''m a girl?" Nathan asked of herself, aware that she was speaking in a language foreign to her, yet understanding it completely.

    "Yes, and that makes two of us," said a smiling young woman in a pink flowing kimono. A steaming bowl of broth rested in her hands. The sliding screen behind her remained open as she knelt with the bowl. She smiled pleasantly. Outside, the wooden huts of a village were visible in the moonlight. Soft lantern born light glowered from the windows.

    "I''m Awlena," She said, "I saw you were awake and thought you might be hungry. You must be a brave traveler, not many people venture in the south forest anymore."

    "Where in the world is the south forest?" Nathan asked.

    "Your memory must be damaged from that terrible fall," she said, "My brother found you lying unconscious on the forest trail. You had no open wounds, thank the Divine. But never mind that now; you need something in your stomach."

    Nathan lifted the bowl, sniffing its organic aroma. Differing shades of pale orange swirled in the brew.

    "What is this stuff?" she asked.

    "Carrot soup. It aids in the healing of bruises. You must be famished, so why don''t you drink it? It''s very refreshing."

    "How do I drink it?" she asked, looking at the bowl.

    "From the bowl of course," she giggled, "You must be from a very strange kingdom if I have to show you how to drink soup."

    The hostess knelt on both knees and mocked lifting a bowl to her mouth with a slow delicate motion. Nathan knelt, lifted her bowl, and dared to take a first cautious sip. The hot carrot broth was remarkably good; she drank until the last drops were slurped away. Only then did she realize how hungry she had been. The girl in the pink kimono giggled some more as Nathan placed her empty soup bowl on the floor.

    "What are you laughing at?" Nathan asked.

    "You slurp your soup like a greedy man, and you left broth on your lip," the hostess said, "Where you come from, is that considered customary for a lady?"

    Nathan frowned as she wiped her mouth with the sleeve of her shirt. "A lady..." She blushed. "I''m very thankful for your help, but I really have to leave. Could you tell me where I am. If I''m not home before curfew my dad will kill me."

    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    That is, Nathan thought, if he even knows who I am. Nathan coughed and slapped the throat with her wrist, as she was not yet comfortable with the delicate new timbre of this voice. Nahan wondered when this dream would end and suspected it wasn''t going to any time soon.

    "So, your father is having you to travel on an errand with Curfew, and he threatens to kill you if you fail to return first?" the hostess asked, "What kind of contest is this? He must be the worst kind of evil."

    "Curfew is a time to return home. And by kill me, well... that was a figure of speech!" Nathan explained, "It means he''ll be really angry. He''s not evil! Really, he''s not."

    "You don''t have to defend him."

    "Really-- I''m not."

    "Do you live in a desolate region?"

    "You''re not kidding it''s desolate," Nathan said, thinking this place couldn''t be far from home, "Most of the towns around here would make a village ashamed of itself. So, tell me, what are we near, one of the abandoned mines, a beer distributor, one of local garages? This area doesn''t feel anything like my home, but if you point me to the nearest road, I can take care of myself."

    The hostess moved in closely, examining Nathan with deep curiosity. She even sniffed Nathan''s hair, acting relieved at the lack of a certain scent.

    "You''re quite a strange girl, possibly delusional from your ordeal. You should sleep. It''ll be to your benefit if your mind is clear when you meet the elders. All this talk of abandoned mines, beer, and monsters is inappropriate for a lady. It makes you seem to be from a foul land, even though your smell is not unwholesome."

    Nathan lifted an eyebrow and smiled politely, "Ugh, thank you? But you lost me somewhere between monsters and smelling wholesome. I''m very sorry, but this place is far too weird for me; besides, I literally have a ton of issues to sort out that you wouldn''t possibly understand. All I ask is that you give me my school bag and my bike if you have them. I just want to get home. Thank you for your generosity though."

    Nathan opened the outer screen. Outside was a flat plain covered with rice paddies and the paths around them for as far as she could see. Water sparkled under the light of the moon. Beacons of the fireflies blinked throughout the evening air; they created waves of glowing wisps that rose gently. Nathan stepped outside with a heavy breath.

    The land was far too flat! Since when were rice paddies a landscape feature in Pennsylvania? Bare feet stomped hurriedly onto the first path outside. There were too many bugs flying around and it was difficult to see in the moonlight. Exhaustion crept upon any sense of balance that remained. A defeated yawn escaped slender pale lips. Torn pants fell into damp grass at the knee.

    "I guess I shouldn''t have drunk the broth," Nathan said sleepily as the hostess approached and knelt beside.

    "We added only an herbal remedy for your cuts and bruises. The sedative properties are considered mild for most people. Please forgive us. We didn''t know you wished to be off so soon."

    ------------------------

    A flat field crisscrossed by stone paths crisscrossed the village to create a circle of connected dwellings. A large bathhouse sat in the center of the arrangement. A stone path graced the immediate proximity of the bath house. The pattern of stone walkways resembled the spokes of a wheel as three paths sliced through the gardens between the dwellings and bathhouse, which served as the hub. From these main paths branched smaller paths that separated one-acre fields, each field growing a different crop. The vegetables were varied into small plots of tall corn, spreading cucumbers, round cabbages, and bushy tubers.

    Awlena harvested turnips in one of those fields. Her robes were of thinner fabrics with many patches. A round wicker basket filled with daikon and little red radishes. The soil was black, healthy, and loose. Vegetables of above average girth grew there. As she worked a man in well-kept brown robes crept up behind her. Awlena stood and turned to face him before he announced himself. He was the youngest of the male hierarchy, one of the few with no beard. His hair was still a rich shade of dark brown.

    "What are you here for Hiruko?" Awlena asked.

    "I''m here to beg you not discourage your brother''s newfound love interest just yet. We may not know much about this girl, but he watches over her with such fondness while she sleeps. This could be a blessing from the gods, once Dew has a family of his own to protect, he will understand how valuable the peace of our village is and stop provoking our enemies with these foolish excursions. Then we will all be safer. Why daunt his hopes by telling him she spoke of evil things?"

    "There are many Garahges in her land. People actually live among them. And she spoke of other strange things."

    "What of that? If the Garahges respect her people they must be a strong race. The Garahges will always respect a strong people. Truly, she could be the perfect match for your brother. She will bear him many strong children."

    "How can you expect her to tame him, when her people are wild themselves. She wanted to leave before she was well, she wears such strange garb, and her mannerisms are barbarian."

    "Why must you prolong the end of our despair when we are desperate for him to settle? You know as well as everyone that this stranger is the only woman he has ever shown even remote interest in. Perhaps you are simply jealous?"

    "Yes, I''m jealous of a complete stranger who has no interest in him and refuses to know him! And if she rejects him, that can only lead to greater harm. Have you thought about that? Not all women are anxious to settle down and bear children."

    "I know you care deeply for your brother''s welfare, but his ego is not so frail as you may believe. In any case, you cannot interfere if he chooses the woman he has saved," Hiruko said, "I know many times you have said he should show respect for the women of his village, but if no one here excites him, we must allow for a reasonable choice from outside. Remember, if he dies without an heir, this fertile ground will not have the protection of his line. The soil will fail, and demons from the desert will overtake the land. I wouldn''t worry about her, as long as Dew maintains his interest, this village will make sure she can''t refuse him. We won''t allow your brother to suffer a broken heart."

    "He''s only twenty years old; there is still time for him to make a better choice. If we send her on her way now, we''ll be thankful later."

    "Yes, but we have never had a protector with such a reckless disregard for his life. If this chance is missed, we may not get another."

    "What is your plan?" Awlena asked.

    "We''ll make her feel welcome. Dew will demonstrate his affection. Once she shows a hint of liking him, Dew will propose with a substantial dowry offer for her family."

    "It won''t work."

    "We have nothing to lose. If she loses interest we can send her on her way. I doubt she cannot be enticed, but even if so, there is no harm in trying."

    Hiroko patted her on the shoulder, smiling through his mustache, which contained a few gray strands. "If you worry too much, your face will wrinkle. The stranger will soon awaken. She must be bathed, dressed, and groomed properly before she sees her future husband. I''ll have the elder women watch by her bedside; we must not be careless in this endeavor."

    Awlena smiled with nod and a blush as Hiruku patted her cheek.

 4. Help! Get Me Out Of This Relationship!

    The sun was directly overhead the sky window. Its harsh glare, on a direct path to Nathan''s eyes, beamed through the penetrated oculus, waking her. She sat up quickly, only to find a half dozen elderly women in robes surrounding the garden around her bed.

    The elders smiled politely, except for the woman facing Nathan directly, who remained sober, almost sullen. Nathan could see the open doors ahead of her. The garden outside was wrapped by the dwellings of the village. The sober elder knelt before Nathan, sensing the young woman''s irritation.

    "Be calm child. We mean you no harm, though we fear for your safety. Who are you, and how did you get lost in the Worm Woods?"

    "I''m not a child. Worm Woods?" Nathan asked, "I''m really not in Huntingdon anymore, am I?"

    "You are in the village of Nenkyo, which is amidst the great grass plain of Narlon. I am Lady Garasa of the village elders. What is you name young one? Are you from Narlon, do you hail from the plain of free men, perhaps the desert of Lothalos?"

    There was a whisper from the goddess in her head.

    "My name is Nadia Mavenslick. I live on 431 Mackenloo road in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania. I have a feeling you won''t know where that is."

    "Sounds like pure nonsense to me," said another.

    "Nadia, such a lovely name," said another.

    "Nadia!" Nadia exclaimed in disbelief.

    She was unable to remember her former name. Ambrosia found it unsuitable. It seemed strange to her, yet it remained at the top of her mind. From now on, this would be her name, it would be what she would say and write by compulsion whenever asked.

    "Nadia is very beautiful name young one. Are you from the valleys in the north where that name is more common?" Lady Garasa asked.

    "It is quite a beautiful name, nevertheless, we will address her as Lady Mavenslick."

    "Nadia," Nadia mumbled, laying her front teeth gently on her bent index finger, "That isn''t my name, but I can''t say the right one. What in the world is going on? Who or what is in my head!? My Dad gave me that name, I want it back!"

    "Are you okay girl?" one asked.

    "Don''t say that!" Nadia gasped, "I''m not a girl!"

    "Why do you wish to deny the obvious child?" Lady Garasa asked.

    "Obvious?" Nadia repeated softly.

    "Do you hold malice against your own womanhood? Is that why you have taken to harsh traveling? Yet your hands are as smooth and soft as those of a princess, so you must be a girl of high blood who has taken to traveling recently, even though you don the garb of a male explorer," Lady Garasa said, "where are your attendants?"

    "These are my school clothes," Nadia explained.

    "Those are not robes of the learned," sternly said by a woman with a long, wrinkled face.

    Another lady swooned among them, "I understand her perfectly. She is a young princess of a northern tribe who was scorned by her lover, and rather than live amongst her people in shame, she renounced her title, even her very womanhood, to undertake a suicidal adventure. How I would love to get my hands on the enemy of her womanhood, that man who scorned her affections after toying with them. I would tear him apart limb from limb."

    "Aren''t you assuming a wee bit much?" Nadia asked dryly.

    "Your look of despair tells all!" the lady exclaimed.

    "You got me there, scorned lass syndrome, no doubt about it," she smirked, "Well, it''s been a blast and all, but I think I''ll go now."

    Nadia jumped up from among the women surrounding her and opened the screen. This time in broad daylight, she examined the terrain with awe once again. Paths meandered through rice paddies. Beyond the rice were wild and overgrown grass lands. Nadia collapsed onto her hands and knees; her hair fell in front of her face as her head went down. From inside that veil, she examined her palms before squeezing them ultra-tight.

    "These people are different. This land is different. I''m even completely different! What''s happening to me? I don''t know where to go anymore. Why has everything changed like this?! Am I even me anymore?! Am I insane? It''s not fair, it''s not fair at all!" she cried.

    Her hands shaking, Nadia hunched down, her long hair spread forth as her forehead touched the wooden floor. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she tapped her fist. Lady Garasa approached slowly and knelt beside her while glancing at the others, which was a signal for them to stay back. The woman''s voice was filled with compassion.

    "You obviously are a confused young woman, perhaps when you hit your head your thoughts went into disorder. Why don''t you stay with us for a while? You''ll be treated as an honored guest."

    "I don''t want to be your guest! I have to find my way home,"

    Nadia reached for her pendant, but when she found no chain around her neck, she sat up. The grain of the floor left faint red patterns on her forehead. No pendant! She remembered her life rather clearly, but could that all be just a fabrication created by a knock to the head? Was this world real and her memory a lie? There was nothing but the tattered school clothes on her back that held evidence of her reality.

    "The jewelry you wore," Lady Garasa said, understanding, "It is with your bag."

    Nadia turned toward them, almost screaming.

    "You have no right to take that from me!"

    "We''ll let you go with everything you came with. We are a just people, and we treat our guests with respect. However, your life was saved from the worms by the protector of this village. At the very least you owe him your gratitude."

    "Can''t you just tell whoever it is I said thanks for me?" Nadia asked.

    Lady Garasa frowned, "You''ll partake of a meal as his guest of honor. One simple meal is all we ask. We will provide you with a bath and your attire for the evening. In return for your mere gratitude, we will return what is yours. We''ll even clean and repair the travel clothes you are wearing now."

    "I''d rather just leave now."

    "Then we''ll keep your possessions as fair trade for your stay here; not to mention that you couldn''t survive easily on a long journey if you have no provisions and an empty stomach."

    "You''re not playing fair!" Nadia protested, "Fine, but don''t expect me to gush gratitude at some guy just because you people all think I''m some girl! How do I even know he saved my life? I was out cold! I mean, I''ll thank him if he saved my life, but that''s it."

    "As long as you are clean and appropriately dressed for the feast," Lady Garasa explained, ignoring Nadia''s perceived ingratitude, "Right now you are neither."

    Nadia''s mouth watered; her stomach growled; a banquet didn''t sound half bad. She even forgot to ask what they meant by appropriately dressed.

    "We get to eat?" she asked.

    "In due time, but first, you will come with us," Lady Garasa said as she clapped for the others.

    The elders guarded Nadia closely. They walked the main path past the inner gardens in such tight formation that the other young women working in the fields could barely get a glimpse of the strangely dressed visitor who had captured the heart of the young lord. Wooden ceiling panels with dragon faced lamps hung outside the bath house, always five feet apart from the next lamp.

    Besides the steps to the interior were wooden shelves where sandals and slippers were to be left, but Nadia had no sandals and her socks had been lost, so there was no need to fuss with them. As Nadia took to the steps she looked down; her tiny feet caused her to stop and stare until she was nudged inside. The bathhouse was divided into two sections by a bamboo partition. Steam billowed from the large pool, though because it was well ventilated it wasn''t hard to see. The woman''s side was empty in preparation for Nadia''s bath. The elders formed a circle around her as they waited for her to undress.

    "I said I''d take a bath," Nadia said, "I didn''t say I''d take a bath with you people here."

    "No need to worry Lady Mavenslick, we take our baths first thing every morning. We only want to make sure you are cleaned properly. Do you want people to believe you are from an uncivilized wilderness tribe?"

    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    "I have no idea what you mean, and I can wash myself without being watched, thank you very much!"

    "No need for modesty child," Lady Garasa said, "there are no men around."

    "That''s not what I meant!" she screamed shrilly, "I want privacy!"

    The elders weren''t intimidated; they ended the argument swiftly. Two lifted her shirt overhead, another two pulled down her pants and boxer shorts. Her clothes, almost in tatters from the confrontation with Dead-leaf, were thrown aside. She could only gasp at her scarlet skin, everything happened so quickly she offered no resistance.

    "My clothes--!" she exclaimed.

    A pail of ice cold water was dumped over her head before she could finish speaking. Together they lifted her up and dumped her into the middle of the warm sudsy bath. She stood quickly in the waist high tub, spitting out water she had almost swallowed.

    "What are you old hags trying to prove!?" she asked.

    They gave her a cloth and a sponge, and with icy gleams in their eyes they admonished her to scrub. Nadia immediately knew the alternative was to be scrubbed by them. She chose the former, submitting to being watched and checked over by the elders, who seemed satisfied with her bathing habits and made little fuss about time, even though she stopped often, examining herself carefully. The elders noted this as well.

    "This is my entire problem," she finally said as she lifted her foot on the edge of the pool to finish scrubbing her leg slowly with the soapy sponge. "I can''t find it in my conscience to fight old people. That''s why I''m here in the first place."

    When she was done, she jumped out of the tub to avoid being helped. Another bucket of cold water caught her off guard so she gave them a short high-pitched scream. Shivering, she stood by the bath until the elders came to dry her with a big towel. Nadia refused such service, but accepted the towel. Amid all this Lady Garasa left, only to return a few minutes after Nadia finished drying. Her long black hair proved more difficult to dry, but Nadia dabbed it with some determination. A folded kimono with depictions of crocus petals and a pair of sandals carved from birch wood were laid in Nadia''s lap.

    "Don''t you have something without flowers, at least?" Nadia asked.

    "This is my daughter''s favorite gown," Garasa said indignantly, "She is offering it to you as a gift. If you want to refuse it, you may have to wait quite a while for another. Would you prefer to remain here unclothed?"

    "My apologies, I''ll wear it," Nadia said with a sigh.

    There was no sense in fighting with them when they put things so bluntly. Nadia unfolded the kimono; it slid easily over her slender shoulders. The elders showed her how to tuck the folds in the front. They tied an obi sash around the middle, leaving a butterfly bow in the back. Lady Garasa even managed to get Nadia to sit quietly in another room of the bath house as the others finished drying and arranging her hair.

    When they were finished, it was locked in a bun on the back of her head, apart from a short veil of hair that covered her neck without reaching her shoulders. Two thin tails of hair fell from behind her ears and rested over her chest. Nadia sat silently through the whole ordeal, lost in thoughts of food, even thoughts of home were now dwarfed by her hunger. All the elders thought the new hair style suited Nadia well. They told her they would teach her how to arrange it herself if she stayed in the village. When she was introduced to a full-length mirror, Nadia drank her reflection.

    "My God," she exclaimed, "She''s...... beautiful."

    "That is a mirror girl," Lady Garasa laughed, "You see only yourself."

    "I know it''s a mirror. It''s just... never mind, you people could never understand the changes I''m dealing with."

    "Ahh, we understand," One said, "To be young. Have you gone through your first cycle?"

    "No, I''ve already had two bikes," she said.

    "Oh, I see, then, well, you should be used to it by now."

    "Used to what?" Nadia asked, puzzled.

    She stared at the mirror in a dispirited awe, blushing slightly as the elders whispered amongst themselves about attributing her words and behavior to shyness. Then her stomach growled loudly.

    "Excuse me, but when do we eat?" she asked, a little ashamedly as they escorted her from the building.

    "Most eat when they get back from the fields, but tonight we are celebrating the return of the village protector. Don''t worry child, you''ll eat soon enough."

    "Well, where are we going now?"

    "The man who saved your life wishes to meet you alone before the banquet. He is the brother of Awlena Nenkyo, whom you met last night. His name is Dew."

    "Dew, like the soda? I''d rather return to my room," Nadia sighed, "I need some time to think."

    "Don''t you think you should express your gratitude to the man who saved you?"

    "As long as he doesn''t expect anything more than gratitude," Nadia said, indignantly sulking. She had been a woman for little more than a day at most, out cold for most of it, but it was easy enough to see that these old crones were trying to play match-maker.

    "If you''re implying that he would dishonor you in any way, then you are wrong," Lady Garasa explained. "He''s a noble man of great strength, the protector of our village."

    Outside the circle of dwellings was a slight hill where a young man was waiting alone. He had a wholesome, boyish face. His dark brown hair tied in a ponytail. He donned a plain brown kimono with a belt that held a sheathed katana. The elders pushed Nadia toward him before scattering to leave them to their own devices. Still, they kept watch from afar, lest they miss something important.

    "So, you''re healed," Dew said, smiling nervously, "This is the first I''ve seen you standing on your own. You''re... a marvel."

    "Great," Nadia smiled, waving to go, "Nice to meet you. Thanks for saving me. I''ll see you at the feast."

    He caught her hand as she turned away, his grip strong enough that she couldn''t break free without being rude.

    "Wait, please don''t go...." he said, "Your bruises have healed extremely well,"

    "How observant of you,"

    She looked at his hand scornfully until he let go of her wrist with an apologetic bow. He was gazing at her in such an awe-struck fashion that she almost felt sorry for him.

    "I''m sorry," he said, "Please don''t run off. Can''t we merely talk a little bit?"

    "Why?" she asked.

    "Because a split second''s gaze at your astonishing beauty repays any service, I could ever render you."

    As she felt her cheeks heating up her first impulse was to run, but it would have been rather awkward running in this kimono. She was in an unfamiliar place with an unfamiliar body, she was hungry, and she needed her things back, especially her pendant. Dew had saved her life, and he had no way of knowing that Nadia had been a boy only a few days ago and that she didn''t want any part of this recent change.

    Dew pushed the tips of his index fingers together; the edge of his short nails touching. There was dirt ingrained in his flesh and stuck underneath his nails, even though he had washed before waiting here.

    "How do you find this village?" Dew asked

    "Look, I don''t want any part of this," Nadia explained, blushing deeper, "I don''t want a husband. I just want to get on my way and go home. You may have saved my life. I don''t know or even remember, but that doesn''t mean I''ll ever be interested in you. You''re making a big mistake if that''s what you think. If that means I''m going to starve out here, then fine, just please have them give me my stuff back."

    "Fine then, I''ll respect your wishes," Dew sighed, "but we are not going to make you starve. I''ll see that you have enough before you leave. I didn''t save you because I wanted you to starve, so can''t I at least show you around the village?"

    "I guess that couldn''t hurt," she sighed.

    He took her by the hand and she pulled away, wiping her hand on the back of her kimono.

    "No touching," she said, "You are capable of giving me a tour of this village without touching me, right?"

    He grabbed both her hands, turned her to face him, and drank deeply from her soft hazel eyes. She was startled to find herself staring back, and forced herself to look away. This wasn''t good, she thought. Her heart was thudding. Aware of herself, she tilted her head sideways before pulling her gaze away, almost sighing.

    "I... I''m sorry," Dew said, "I''ll try not to."

    "How about now?"

    Nadia blushed nervously while waiting for him to let go. She couldn''t believe the way her own mind and body betrayed her with the way she had almost succumbed to his unintentional charm. She could only wonder if Jody ever felt this way around... who... her?

    "Sorry," Dew said.

    When her look became sullen as he loosened his grip, he let go completely and they walked the paths crisscrossing the rice fields. The same light breeze that swayed the tops of the rice plants entered the bottom of her kimono and twirled around within her clean robes as the mid-afternoon sun shone in a cloudless sky. The crickets chirped in solid tenor; grasshoppers jumped to the beat as frogs occasionally bellowed. Low clouds of dust hung around their sandals as they walked. Nadia realized that she felt at ease for the first time since she woke in this strange place. It was so peaceful.

    "Why did you rescue me?" Nadia asked.

    "Because you needed help."

    "If I had been a boy, you would have left me for dead then?"

    "No! Not at all! That is the forest of the worm spirit. She used to be docile, but something hasn''t been right the past few years. Anyone who goes into that forest risks being eaten these days. No innocent deserves that. The worms have become demons in the past few years. They used feed only on the dead, but now they feast on the living. Even I''m afraid of them."

    "Worms?" Nadia asked. "You expect me to believe that?"

    Dew took her hand again, causing her to clench her teeth and stiffen in place.

    "It''s the truth," he said.

    Nadia pulled her hands from his grip, almost causing Dew to lose his balance as she ran back toward the outer wall of the village. Dew gave chase and took hold of her sash. The bow came undone as she pulled away, which led to the front of the kimono coming loose as she turned to face him. Nadia slapped his arms aside and quickly closed her robe as he gawked at her.

    Without care for her garb she grabbed him by the arm and flipped him into a pool of rice, where he splashed hard through the still water and became caked with the mud underneath. Lady Garasa rushed from the dwellings. Her jowls had dropped about two inches, yet Nadia was rather proud of herself as she re-tied her sash into an ugly front knot. She peeked into the pool as Dew''s muddy form emerged.

    "I''m sorry, I didn''t mean for that to happen," Dew said, wiping mud off his eyes.

    "How dare you!" Nadia yelled, tensing her arms, "Even your own leaders saw what you did. I''m going back to the village. Don''t even speak to me again,"

    Nadia suppressed a grin as she kept a red face and an infuriated frown while walking fast.

    "Wait, I''m sorry!" he said, climbing out of the pool to chase her.

    Lady Garasa and the others allowed Nadia to pass freely yet blocked Dew, who stared in the direction she was running off while the indignant women took turns smacking his face, hard. By the time they were finished, Nadia was already inside the village. Mud fell from the folds of Dew''s robe as he stood before the elder matrons. A hundred thousand whips with a spiked chain could not erase his smile, much less a few mere slaps of reprove.

    "The nerve of what you did to her," Lady Garasa scolded, "I''ve never seen you treat a young woman so rudely. What has come over you?"

    "She ran, all I did was reach for her. I caught her sash by accident and..." he said, "Did you see how she caught me by the arm and flung me! It was spectacular. How can such a beauty hold such strength and prowess?"

    "Stupid child!" Lady Garasa slapped him so hard that he fell to the ground. "Are you determined to make her hate you! She will not have to bear the burden of sitting beside you tonight, and when the meal is through the elders will announce your punishment. Do you understand?"

    "Give her my sincerest apologies. I will banish the memory of what I saw from my mind with a thousand lashings."

    "Don''t bother, a million lashings couldn''t banish that memory. But that is all you might ever see, for now the girl has an honorable reason to refuse you, and will likely never accept you, no matter how much dowry is offered."

    "I''ll find a way," Dew said.

    He walked off quickly with an air of military pride, clumps of mud were still falling off his shoulders.

    "His stupidity will be the downfall of this village," Garasa moaned.

 5. Help! Curfew Has Been Broken!

    Suds dripped into the sink as the toothbrush moved rapidly over her teeth. Natalie was careful not to stain her pink pajama suit with toothpaste froth as she brushed. When she was finished, she rinsed with water and even gargled. She looked at her short black hair in the mirror, then adjusted it with her hands as her father checked in.

    "Nathan''s in trouble," Natalie said, "He fought a wizard, but he got turned into a girl. Then he fell into a hole and got lost."

    "Really, that''s quite the story," he said, "Time for bed."

    Norman chuckled a bit as he picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. He bounced her in the bed, which made her laugh a little bit. The little girl''s short black hair shifted gently to the side as her head turned. With a sigh, she began to drift asleep. Light pink sheets were tucked over her. Norman smiled, gave her a goodnight head pat, and turned on the night light before closing the door.

    Norman wondered if Natalie had picked up a vision. The girl was getting more like her mother every day. He then went downstairs to wait impatiently on the brown sofa in the living room. Soon, the old grandfather clock registered nine o''clock and the doorbell rang.

    It wasn''t who he expected, Jody Fischer was waiting outside in a pink jacket the same color as Natalie''s bed sheets. Norman took her jacket and arranged it neatly to the front of the others in the coat rack.

    "You won''t have much to do, Natalie is asleep," He said, "Thanks for stopping over on such short notice."

    "That''s all right," Jody said, "I brought a book with me. What''s Nathan doing?"

    "That''s what I''m going to find out," Norman said.

    "At this hour," Jody said, "Ummm... Mr. Mavenslick, I kind of had a fight with him and... I threw some pizza in his face. I left a bit early. I thought he stayed with the guys and went home."

    "So, he''s been out alone all this time," Norman said, "Thanks again for your help. I''ll pay you when I get back."

    "You''re welcome,"

    Norman pulled on a blue jacket with a beige collar and strode out the door. Jody waited for his car to pull away before closing it. There was time for a brief sigh of relief before she sat down on the sofa with a graphic novel. Such a strange family, she thought to herself; I wonder what Nathan''s up to because his dad is going to end it.

    Norman had acquired a slight ability to sense magical energy with the help of his wife, whom his second child had been named after. She had trained him in the art of discerning the signatures of certain attack magic. Powers that involved chemistry especially, such as igniting air to form fireballs, always had a distinct personal scent mixed with the smell of whatever was being scorched, a signature that almost every living being could detect when fresh.

    Every type of magic, common and uncommon alike has a signature, Natalie had once explained. Signatures didn''t have to come in scents alone, some were felt through the body. What people often described as getting the shivers, or goose bumps, was actually the passing of residual magical energies through the nervous system. Those in tune with what such sensations meant could glean a general idea of what type of magic they were sensing.

    A technique known as Non-Vision allowed those who sensed magical abilities to read patterns formed by magic energies when their eyes were closed.

    Norman shut his eyes and saw lilac sparkles forming almost flower like patterns. He was certain it was a signature, but whose and of what he was uncertain. Dissipated energy was creating the scent of burning leaves in the ground.

    It was still strong enough to indicate somebody powerful had been here. There was that faint tingle in his fingers and a heaviness in the air that followed Nathan practicing his magical abilities. Norman pulled a flashlight from his belt and followed his senses further into the forest as the energy became stronger.

    The faint light was soon shining upon part of Nathan''s twisted bike protruding from underneath the broken stump of a fir tree. The fir smelt strong of fire from an ancient and powerful wizard, yet there was decay in the bouquet. This wizard was a bit too ancient for his own good, and from what Norman could tell, had come into a confrontation with his son.

    The arrangement of lilac residue was brighter and moved into a more vivid arrangement when he closed his eyes. The scent of leather, and then there was a tingle through his body as if someone had undergone a particularly powerful transformation spell.

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    What Natalie had said came to his mind. He wondered why there was no attempt to cover up such obvious signatures from other wizards. Unfortunately for Norman, the other signatures were so overwhelming that he missed the tell-tale dizziness that came from being too close to a recent portal opening.

    The flashlight revealed torn shreds of his son''s school uniform among the downed tree branches. This path was strictly forbidden for a reason, Norman thought, why was it so hard for teenagers to listen to their parents?

    "Nathan! Nathan where are you? Are you hurt son?" Norman called.

    "Nathan isn''t here anymore," a tired voice answered.

    Norman turned the flashlight on Dead-leaf, who covered his sensitive eyes.

    "What did you do with my son?" he growled.

    "That''s for me to know and you to find out. Your boy was strong, so much so I had to take desperate measures to subdue him, but in the end, I prevailed through my superior cunning. There''s nothing you can do. You have a younger daughter in need of constant supervision. If you spend too much time searching for your son, there would be no one to protect your little one. That''s how terrible things happen my friend. Protect your youngest. Leave your eldest to me."

    As Norman approached, the old wizard disappeared. A laugh was heard from the tree tops.

    "Search for your boy," Dead-leaf''s voice echoed, "Search for that which is forever lost and you will lose what you still have."

    "Come back here you coward!" Norman called, "Coward! Fight me like a man! I''ll earn my information. Coward!"

    Norman hollered through the forest, but there was nothing in response besides the echo of his own baritone voice.

    -----

    The lights of Norman''s van pulling into the driveway caused Jody to glance from her book. She put on her jacket quickly, placing the book underneath her arm as she waited for him to open the door. As he entered, Jody looked around pensively for Nathan, pondering whether she should ask why he didn''t bring his son home with him. As soon as she started to speak on the matter, Norman dismissed her with a fifty-dollar bill inside a quick hand shake.

    "Thanks for everything," he said, "It''s late, you better get home."

    She took a breath and nodded. Norman closed the door behind her as she left. The first order of business was checking on Natalie, and upon ensuring her wellbeing, then he returned downstairs to rest on the sofa. First, he checked his phone for messages.

    For an hour, he laid on his back staring at the ceiling and looking at his phone. Around midnight he went to the back yard. A red shaded flash light was placed on a tripod. The red hued beam, though faint, was centered onto a carving of an eye in a nearby oak. For another hour, he stood on the porch waiting. The calm humidity of the summer night was broken by a hoarse voice from the shadows.

    "You request my help?" it asked.

    "Yes, I need you to return to Pozalm," Norman said.

    "I can return with the first full moon."

    "That''s four days from now."

    Norman tapped his fingers on the wooden rail, indicating his impatience.

    "It is the only time I can return. What reason is there for this?" the voice asked.

    "My son has been sent there against his will by a wizard. I need you to protect him, and then return him as soon as possible. Why haven''t you been watching over him?"

    "It is as I thought. It is as I thought then."

    "Stop repeating yourself and get to the point. What are you getting at!" Norman snapped.

    "I have watched him. The boy has undergone a transformation. He has become what you call the other half of your kind. I sensed Ambrosia''s power at work."

    Norman leaned over the rail, almost falling until he gripped it so hard his knuckles turned white. He knew it wasn''t a joke. This creature, a golem known as a Groeble, was not known to joke, ever.

    "No! What could she possibly hope to achieve by that!?"

    "I believe the preservation of the Guardian line of Pozalm. The boy was the last human first born of guardian ascent. If he would have remained a male, the line would have died with him."

    Norman grimaced, biting his lip before pounding the rail.

    "There could have been another way. Ambrosia can''t force her decisions on my son! It''s not like he had even been given the right to decide."

    "Wizards were involved. The pendant is in danger as well."

    "Yes. If you find the pendant in the possession of anyone other than Nathan, take it from that person by all means possible."

    "I do not wish to kill."

    "As a last resort you must. You know what will happen if the wizards obtain it."

    "I will do only what I must. I am a weak creature from my race. I do not hope to fail you. You do understand?"

    "I appreciate your help. If I could go myself, I would. Please bring him home safely."

    There was a brief rustling of the wind before Norman went back inside.

    -----

    The trees of the Worm Woods were hushed as they slept peacefully in the calm air. A squirrel ventured down the trunk of a knotted chestnut onto the dirt path below. As it began to bury an acorn, four thick slimy worms extended from the ground to wrap its limbs.

    Five more rose to slap against the fury midsection with long bloated bodies coated in slime. The squirrel squirmed; squeals echoed about the trees as their prey sunk into loosened soil. A tiny geyser of blood spewed from the dirt followed by a chewing gurgle. A woman robed in brown watched from behind an elm. She approached the path and the worms rose to squirm at her feet.

    "Why do you continue to disobey me? What happened to you? Why are you doing this?" she asked.

    They climbed upon her toes. They slid up her body, banding together to form over her robe, and she stared calmly at them until she saw the coal worm. His slime was a viscous tarry hue that seeped into the slime of the others until it became a viscous gray.

    She tried desperately to reach for the creature and rent it from the center of her robe, to separate it from the others, but her arms were covered with rebelling worms that tied her limbs against her sides.

    The coal worm slid among the others to reach her midsection. A rounded mouth with sharp white teeth contrasted with the charcoal color of the body. It burrowed into the skin beneath her bosom. The maiden gasped as her vision went dark. Her eyes glazed as she sunk beneath the soil with the host of worms.

 6. Help! Just Let Me Eat In Peace!

    Nadia sat with her back to the wall. A frightful scowl was written across her reddened face as she waited for the elders. To be gazed at as nothing more than the object of some man''s lust hurt more than she ever expected. Nadia was beginning to have doubts, her body, her reactions, her humiliation, her attraction to Dew and the way her heart raced as she thought of what he''d done.

    Had this life in her thoughts been nothing more than an illusion induced by hitting her head out in the woods? Was it possible that she was actually a person of this world and had lost her true memory? Could everything she believed about her past be a strange fantasy, and if it was, what was the truth, who were her real family if she had any? It couldn''t be these people, they claimed to know her only recently. Nadia hugged her knees and continued to softly cry in the corner of her room.

    When Lady Garasa entered with the patched school clothes, the back pack, and the pendant Nadia wiped her tears. A look of heartfelt relief rushed over her as she grabbed her pendant, immediately placing it around her neck while Lady Garasa placed the other items on a small pedestal. Nadia went through it eagerly, these were her school clothes, they were boys school clothes exactly how she remembered.

    Her memories weren''t false; they weren''t betraying her! She wasn''t born a girl and wasn''t supposed to act like one. There was a man behind this who had done this to her, an ugly, old, slack-jawed, man who called himself the Wizard of the Dead Leaves. Lady Garasa, for her part, watched calmly, smiling slightly at the young girl''s encouragement in retrieving her former possessions.

    "I''m sorry to say this," Nadia said, regaining her confidence, "but the leader of your village is a real creep."

    "Surely you don''t wish to leave without dining first?" Lady Garasa asked.

    Nadia''s stomach was grumbling. The saliva was heavy on her tongue. There was no use of trying to find her way through this disconcerting situation on an empty stomach. The best course of action would be to dine before saying farewells.

    "I''m really hungry," Nadia said, "If you would have me, I''d still be grateful."

    "We are only too glad to provide," Lady Garasa smiled, "It is soon time for the feast. Follow me to the pavilion in the garden."

    "This is perfect. I''m so hungry," Nadia said in sudden high spirits.

    A collection of cloth canopies was arranged into an oval formation on some land that had been recently harvested. Lanterns hung from the canopies to provide an ever-increasing proportion of light as the sun faded. The sky over the village already displayed a pale violet with dusk approaching its end. Squat tables stood over mats; each mat and table were large enough for a single individual.

    Everyone sat with their legs folded on the mat so that their knees were to the front and underneath the table. The entire population of the village had gathered for the public feast in honor of the protector, who was positioned on a high platform at the forefront of the three main groupings of people. Married couples were close besides each other and sat to the front-left.

    At the front-right of the oval formation were the tables for single woman, and those for single men behind them. To the rear-left were the village elders, a somewhat sparse group that was separated among men and woman, though there were only four men. The women who had helped Nadia get ready for the feast were sitting to the very back.

    Lady Garasa directed Nadia to an empty table next to Awlena. Nadia was given directions on how to fold her legs properly and even had the table pulled inwards for her. This caused some whispers among a few who were paying attention and not so quick to be captivated by a foreigner.

    While there were whispers of her lack of social graces, there was profoundly more to be heard about her healthy complexion, innocent eyes, and child bearing hips. Nadia felt slightly flushed from the sudden notoriety; everywhere she looked someone was looking back at her.

    The dishes were already prepared but it was strictly forbidden to touch anything until the protector started the feast. On each plate was a delicate strip of roast pheasant surrounded by an arrangement of rice and vegetables.

    There was also a sweet potato, a rice cake flavored with soy sauce, a medley of boiled vegetables, and a few pickles. A few dry crackers were laid beside a pair of chop sticks.

    Two drinks were besides the meal; hot tea, and a wood bowl filled with cold milky sake. Nadia lost to temptation and reached for her chopsticks, only to have her hand slapped away by Awlena.

    "This is an event in which we all eat together," Awlena explained, "Respect the others and wait a little while longer."

    "I can only wait a little bit," Nadia warned, as her stomach was growling worse than ever.

    Dew recited a quick incantation before he took his seat, blessing the meal. A giant gong was rung to signal the official start of the feast. Nadia demonstrated a trained agility with chop sticks. She made quick work of the roasted fowl meat, the pickles, and the vegetables. Then she lifted the plate and raked oversized hunks of rice into her mouth.

    "I see you enjoy your meals," Awlena snickered.

    "Noght Haff Bawd," Nadia took a sip of tea to help loosen up the rice, which was sticking to the roof of her mouth. "It all tastes so natural; I never liked vegetables this much before."

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Nadia squeezed the sweet potato between her chopsticks and took a healthy bite, smiled, and devoured the rest with three additional bites. She was among the very first to finish her meal, though she left the crackers to munch on slowly between sips of tea to avoid total embarrassment.

    "I hear that you disapprove of my brother," Awlena said.

    "I don''t want to talk about it,"

    She took a big gulp of the white liquid; it didn''t taste as she expected.

    "That''s not milk!" Nadia exclaimed, her cheeks turning bright red.

    "You mean to tell me you don''t know the difference between milk and sake?"

    "What''s sake?"

    "We make it from rice."

    "Tastes fermented."

    "It is."

    "But I''m not allowed to drink anything with alcohol."

    "Is that your father''s rule?" Awlena asked "If you''re so worried about what your father may think, why did you run away in the first place?"

    "I didn''t run away! I... I-I got lost."

    Awlena smiled, "So you''re not disobedient, and you''re not an explorer. You''re simply a dimwit."

    "Hey," Nadia snapped, "I am not!"

    "What other conclusion should I come to?"

    Nadia chewed her last cracker, drowning it with the last of her tea. "Don''t worry about me. When I leave this village, I don''t intend to ever come back. Not that I''m not grateful for all the help, but I simply don''t belong here."

    "If you refuse my brother''s love, then you don''t belong here, and I''ll make sure your stay is short."

    "That makes two of us," Nadia said under her breath.

    There was a clap of wood as the smooth grain of Dew''s sandal bottoms contacted the coarser wood of the squat table. White yukata robes with red trim swayed gently in the breeze as he surveyed the gathering before focusing solely on Nadia, who was watching with her jaw slightly dropped.

    Silence pervaded the encampment as all attention focused on the village protector and the woman captivating him. Dew jumped from a platform that was four feet above the ground.

    His landing was slightly crouched, but he was quick to stand nobly. He approached the table that Nadia was behind. She was crouched on her knees while sitting on the back of her heels as she had been commanded. Wrinkles marred some of the pink crocus petals of her kimono because she hadn''t been smoothing the fabric over her lap. With a dumbfounded expression, she watched him kneel in front of her so that they were face-to-face.

    "It has been ordered by the elders that I should allow you to slap me three times in front of my people in order to atone for any humiliation I may have caused you," Dew said.

    "Sounds fair enough,"

    Knuckles cracked as she wished to enjoy this exercise. She slapped him from the right, immediately leaving a deep red hand mark on his cheek. The echo of a crack resounded throughout the picnic grounds.

    Instead of retracting her hand for a second slap, she followed through by backhanding his right cheek so forcefully he was pushed aside and almost knocked over. Dew hadn''t caught his balance when the third strike hit a swelling left cheek. The villagers stared wide-eyed, some even gasping.

    "That was, powerful," Dew commented, rubbing his face while looking quite downcast.

    "You must take great offense from whatever he has done," Awlena commented, "I would almost believe he has done more than accidentally open your robes for a mere second. But now that the anger is out of your system, you should find it in your heart to accept his apology and forgive him."

    "I won''t hold any grudges," Nadia said.

    "I think he has shown great repentance for whatever offense you have perceived," Awlena said, "My brother''s heart is pure. You could not find a better man to fall in love with you in the entire continent. I''m certain you would find that settling down with him agreeable. You will be loved and cared for by our entire village, and all we ask for in return is that you bear his heirs."

    "His heirs!" Nadia swallowed, "Did you just say bear his children?"

    "That''s exactly what I said. It would be better for you to settle in our village, and give Dew a chance to safely court your affection as opposed to forcing him to follow you all across Pozalm."

    "Please Awlena!" Dew pleaded, opening his palms towards her.

    "Get this straight," Nadia said, "I don''t love your brother, I barely even know him, and just because he might have rescued me while I was out cold doesn''t mean I owe him my entire life. What kind of sick logic is that anyway!?"

    Nadia picked up the bowl of sake for a closer examination. She was tempted to take another sip but decided it might not be a good idea to drink anything alcoholic and flipped the bowl over top of Dew. Cold sake quickly chilled him as it soaked through his hair, over his shoulders, and dripped from his robe.

    "You could find a home here if only you could domesticate yourself," Awlena snapped, "Even I would accept you if you promised to emulate the conduct of a future wife and mother."

    Nadia rolled her eyes and stood, sighing in relief of getting out of that crouch position. She stretched her legs, "Sure, how many children does he want? I was thinking somewhere about twelve, maybe fifteen if I can squeeze out a few extra! You''re not listening to me! I''m not a girl, I will not get married, and I will not have children! I''m a boy for your information! Get it! I''m a boy!"

    In her anger Nadia had spoken much louder than she had ever intended. Now she had the entire community staring in stunned silence. Dew gazed with a sly expression that indicated he knew better than to believe what she said; Awlena stared in disbelief, and Nadia turned bright red.

    "I don''t belong here. I need to go home!" she said.

    Nadia ran to the small room that had been reserved for her. Dew leapt over her tray to follow, but his sister caught his arm before he could run after.

    "Leave her be," she said, "You have other duties to attend to."

    Dew reluctantly returned to his supper. The conversation returned to a vibrant pace unmatched in scale by anything before it. Everybody was speculating who the mysterious guest was, and what she had said concerning herself and her relationship with the village protector.

    There was talk about her claiming to be a boy, but word soon spread that when the elders had bathed her, they had seen everything. That said, there was more than one reliable witness that her claim was idle. Not to mention, one girl said, Dew himself had peeked at her and found nothing out of the ordinary.

    One rumor circulating around the tables was that her womb was barren, and that was what she meant by being a boy and unwilling to bear children. Most the elders concluded that she had been scorned by another man whom she carried a deep desire for and had gone delusional.

    Most of those who had seen her disagreed that she''d be unable to produce healthy children, and some said outright she was making up fabulous stories to escape her debt to the village protector.

    One of the elder women debated Lady Garasa with her concern that it would be too much of a risk for Dew to marry her, claiming that even if she wasn''t barren, she was obviously unstable of mind because her gaze tended to be reflected upon other women.

    After ten minutes of this type of gossip, Dew had enough and ordered the crowd into silence.

    His order was observed immediately.

 7. Help! Worms, Worms, Worms... WORMS!

    Nadia shut the screen behind her, grabbed her school bag and rummaged through it. Her clothes were folded neatly at the top; they smelt of the lavender they had been washed with. The seams had been repaired wherever frayed and the holes in the pants and jacket had either been sewn shut or patched with similarly colored cloth. Her t-shirt and boy''s briefs were inside as well as the one sock she had left.

    It didn''t take long to unroll the sash of her kimono and slide it off her shoulders so she could hurriedly dress in her old cloths. The sandals she decided to keep for now. They fit, and even though uncomfortable they were better than going barefoot. She felt around the back of her head, feeling the pin that held her hair in a bun and deciding it was best to keep her hair out of the way. The straps of her bag were still strong. She grabbed them both with one hand and slid open the screen leading to the rice fields with the other.

    Women were screaming. The sound was from the interior of the village, inside the gardens where Nadia had been moments earlier. Nadia turned around and walked to peek behind her building to see what the fuss was about. They couldn''t be that angry at her behavior, could they? What she saw were several slimy arms winding several meters up from the plowed earth as they swayed back and forth in searching sweeps. They were composed of multiple earthworms coiled together.

    Their fluids acted adhesively as they pushed up humps of soil in the recently harvested fields. More arms burst forth. An old man found his legs wrapped by the coils as he stood; they slid upwards to wrap his torso before pulling him underground. A geyser of red burst from the sinkhole. The flaying creatures wrapped ankles and grappled wrists to drag their prey down.

    Dew gathered men brave enough to help. Armed with swords, they flayed the slimy arms extending from the soil. As they fought the beasts several villagers were freed, and many more ran for shelter. However, the village elders moved too slowly. Dew and his swordsmen were escorting them when a bladed tentacle of worms rose. A few deft swipes from the beast rendered the escort into deadly disarray.

    Dew and four others proved capable enough to survive the initial attack and remained to fight the beasts. They parried swinging tentacles with their swords to keep the escape route open, falling back only when necessary. A collection of gray worms rose; they fattened into a bud that peeled open to reveal a woman. Dark worms, like tar, slithered up her legs and around her torso. She stared with pitch-colored eyes like eggs of coal. Seven tentacles sprang around her as one of Dew''s warriors dropped his sword and ran.

    Awlena found herself amid the chaos as she hastened the retreat of the elders, escorting one at a time to the outer perimeter of the village. Crimson soaked through the center of Lady Garasa''s robes; the elderly woman lagged behind and was about to stumble, so Awlena darted to support her. Trickles of reddish saliva ran down her chin, yet she pushed Awlena away with all her remaining strength.

    "Please mother!" Awlena screamed tearfully.

    A slimy cord wrapped Awlena''s ankle and pulled her away as Lady Garasa fell to the ground and went limp. Dew dove between the two women. The band of worms that grasped his older sister was slashed by his sword. Severed pieces of the coil separated into individual worms, which began squirming their way back into the soil. Awleena''s ankle suffered a band of raw flesh caused by the rough ripples in the body of the worms, though the wound appeared shallow despite the blood running down her foot.

    Another worm coil gave Dew no time to check his sister''s wound. It thrust forth from broken earth and swerved back in Dew''s direction. The tip slammed into the edge of Dew''s blade. Earthworms scattered in every direction as they were separated from each other by the sharp edge.

    Dew lunged at the tentacle viciously. Small geysers of fresh red spouted around him as he swung wildly at the flailing arms. The flesh of the worm arms hardened into a sharp bone-like substance, which the sword clanged against but was unable to cleave.

    Every time an arm swung against his sword; Dew found himself pushed back. He was at risk of losing a limb, or even his head the longer he fought, but he knew if this creature was allowed to live the entire village would be lost. He parried the next attack and darted forward to the woman controlling the worms. She had to be the weak point, he thought, if he could take the fight to her he might have a chance.

    As he approached a slew of arms burst forth to surround him from every direction. Dew assumed a defensive stance, but they didn''t attack; instead, they formed together into a hedge that enclosed the pavilion of the village feast.

    Taking a quick look around, Dew found that the worms were building upwards and inwards; they were working to enclose a dome around him and the spirit. Archers launched arrows from the rooftops into the growing wall of worms, but their arrows slid in-between the wall as if they had been shot into wet clay only to be pushed out by the slithering flesh.

    Two formations of swordsmen approached from either side and were sliced in half. As Dew struggled for his life, the few men attempting his rescue were forced to flee or die. A wicked smile crossed the deathly pallor of the spirit''s face as she stared down. She extended her left arm and opened her palm; a fat coal worm with a round mouth circled by jagged teeth protruded from the center. She aimed it at him. Dew dodged to the side quickly, keeping his sword frontward.

    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    "You fight well prince," she said, "I think I''ll make you a servant."

    A bead of sweat fell down Dew''s forehead. The ground opened. Bony tentacles whipped for his arm. Dew rolled away and slashed them so forcefully that one of the tentacles broke. The spirit aimed her palm calmly as the evil worm squirmed from a gangrenous opening under the lifeline. Dew couldn''t tell how much longer he could avoid her aim.

    "Stop toying with me!" he growled.

    The fleeing swordsmen simply ran past Awlena as the girl screamed for them to fight for the sake of their village protector, but those who would fight were already dead; Awlena was ignored, so she pried a sword from the coiling fingers of an arm before running forward to attack the monsters.

    A bladed tentacle slashed open her shoulder, then pushed her to the ground. The tentacle lashed for her neck. A push from the side prevented Awlena from being beheaded. As Awlena grasped her wounded shoulder she looked toward the girl in patched clothing holding her backpack out lengthwise to catch the attacking coil.

    "Get lost!" Nadia yelled, "Do you want to die here!?"

    "I have to save my brother," Awlena yelled.

    With all her might, Nadia pushed the tentacle back using her backpack before knocking it back with a strong blow. She grabbed Awlena by the back of her kimono, dragging her back a few yards. A village swordsman found enough courage to intercede against the pursuing tentacles, though he was soon dispatched. Nadia turned around forcefully, forgetting for a moment how badly opened Awlena''s shoulder was.

    "Would your brother want you to kill yourself?" Nadia said, "Look at your shoulder stupid. I think you should get out of the way! I have powers, I can handle this. I promise you I''ll get him back!"

    Nadia knocked the steel katana from Awlena''s hand and took it up for herself. The torn backpack landed a few feet away. School books spewed across the ground. As Nadia went forward two men grabbed Awlena from behind. They wrapped their arms under each shoulder to drag her away from immediate danger despite her screaming and kicking.

    There were a few gaps where the barrier of worms had not yet closed. Nadia could still see Dew fending off attacks from multiple directions. Going directly for the beast would be fool hardy, so she ran to the bath house, climbed a few barrels, grabbed the eaves, and pushed herself to the rooftop. From there she could see that the worms had not totally enclosed the canopy at the top. There was an opening close enough to jump into from the direction of the bath house wall. The worms were pushing Dew backwards to corner him.

    All his efforts to injure the maiden were in vain. Every time he finally managed to hack away a tentacle another sprung up in its place. Nadia took a deep breath, then dove for the opening, rolling over the ground until she stopped at Dew''s feet. He gasped to see her land by him as she stood.

    A fierce scowl formed on her lips as her eyes narrowed. The squirming formation was uncontested from the outside and steadily shrinking around them. This newly created sanctum of worms began closing from the top. It swallowed the light of the picnic lanterns, creating an eerie atmosphere. Both combatants parried tentacles and boney blades as they were assaulted.

    "Nadia?" Dew asked, dodging a thrust for his neck, "Why did you risk yourself to come here?"

    "Because I knew I could at least handle it better than your sister."

    "I thank you then," Dew panted, "I hope she is safe."

    A tentacle that lunged for Nadia from underneath the worm platform on which the spirit stood to catch her off guard. Dew sliced through it before it could cause injury. Worm walls continued to close in around them. The lanterns inside fell and the flesh of the wall began to burn with a putridly sweet odor. Formation of worms thinned around where the fire started and the tentacles retreated to give them a brief repose.

    "We have to cut our way out of here," Nadia said.

    She hacked at the burning worms with her sword. Dew came to assist her by watching her back, and together they managed to create the smallest of openings. But worms were stifling the fires with a sticky liquid and closing the hole at an accelerated pace. Nadia knew that even working together they couldn''t keep it open much longer, so instead of wasting their work she grabbed Dew and kicked him through the opening she made.

    Outside, Dew sprung up and dove back toward the closing hole, only to be thrown backwards when a boney blade swung against his sword. He continued the fight from the outside, but became too busy defending his own life to attempt getting back to Nadia.

    "Dew," Awlena yelled from the shelter where men were holding her back, "You must retreat!"

    "No," Dew yelled, "Nadia saved my life, I won''t leave her behind."

    Inside the enclosure, the burning bodies of the worms provided an eerie light and a putrid stench, a sickly-sweet odor of burnt flesh. It was far too hot to get near the walls, so Nadia was trapped close to the worm spirit herself. She lunged with her sword, but was parried by thinner versions of the bladed worms. The center of the worm spirit glowed darkly as she held out the palm containing the black worm.

    Something was wrong, the spirit hesitated and her lips moved, telling Nadia where to strike. Worms came from the ground and clutched Nadia''s legs. She cut them apart quickly and continued toward the spirit while slicing away any resistance. The sword was getting dull. This couldn''t go on much longer, as each swing required more effort.

    Nadia lunged against the darkness centered on the spirit''s chest. Coils of moist flesh wrapped her ankles from behind. But she was not going to be deterred, she stretched with every bit of elasticity her joints could muster. When that wasn''t enough, she arched her back and flung her arm forward, then dove with all her power toward the darkness in the spirit''s chest.

    The worms coiled about Nadia''s ankles sharpened themselves into serrated bone as Nadia stretched forward. Red spurted down Nadia''s bare feet as her toes clenched the slimy soil. With the very tip of her sword, she managed to break through the darkness as if piercing the surface of a bubble. The darkness overcame Nadia''s senses; she screamed. The formation of worms encasing the goddess began to fall apart. A coal dust cloud circled the worm spirit to become a great whirlwind that released a sooty powder.

    The worms released Nadia''s ankles. They fell apart and returned to the soil. Stinking soot billowed forth as the worm spirit collapsed. Nadia, covered with soot and coal dust, threw down her sword and pushed herself next to the maiden of the worms. A fossilized black leaf lay near her prostrate form. Dew rushed by Nadia''s side. He tore the belt of his robe in half to wrap it around Nadia''s wounded ankles.

    "It was an enchantment?" he asked. "How did you defeat it then?"

    "I think... no... It had something to do with this," Nadia coughed.

    She held up the black leaf in her stained hand for him to see before she collapsed.

    Dew cradled her limp body.

 8. Help! Ive Fallen And I Cant Get Up!

    The fields were stained. Ornaments of the feast were broken, soiled, thrown asunder, and covered with reddish slime. Fragmented human remains were scattered about over the picnic gardens. The earth around the physical form of the worm spirit was covered thickly with sooty hardening sludge as she slowly pulled herself to her feet and clutched her forehead.

    Fear kept the crowds from approaching, but those that had lost the most stepped forward. They approached with weapons ready until Dew''s shout rose through the night air. He offered Nadia, whom he had been cradling, to the ground and retrieved her sword.

    The villagers halted.

    He turned two swords against the mistress, Nadia''s and his own, yet even as he knocked her down with a kick to her stomach and pinned her neck against the ground with crossed blades, she offered no resistance. Dew stared into the sickly thin and pale face of the worm spirit while waiting for her defense.

    Nothing came from the ground to rescue her.

    As she was held to the ground, blades crossing above her neck, she betrayed no expression whatsoever and remained still. Her tongue refused to wield words. If she was to die, then that would be her apology, but Dew had other ideas. The swords released from the soil and the grip of the blades crisscrossing her neck loosened.

    "Kill her already!" hollered a man with a bow on his back.

    A murmur of agreement was heard throughout the crowd.

    "That would be far too easy a solution," Dew explained, "but more of a problem."

    Awlena, her ankle wrapped in a bloody dressing, burst from the crowd with a bow. She aimed her arrow at the mistress''s head as tears streamed from her eyes.

    "Brother?!" she screamed, "Have you no sense of justice?! This witch has killed our people. She has stricken us with losses that can''t be regained. What of our mother?! How can you find mercy? How!? If I''m not to kill her, then tell me how?!"

    "Awlena, tell me this," Dew said calmly, "Why would such a powerful being, unhurt, without the loss of the slightest of her former powers lay in wait for our judgment?"

    Awlena had no answer, but she kept her bow ready.

    "Why would she render herself helpless?"

    The villagers began to murmur again.

    "Let''s discuss the matter before all the remaining elders," Hiroku suggested.

    "This delay is wrong, we should kill her before the opportunity passes," Came the voice of a swordsman, the same that had earlier fled from battle.

    "Kill her!" yelled another.

    "Split open her skull!" a woman yelled.

    "Cut off her head!" yelled another.

    "Gut her alive!" came a voice from the back.

    "Let Awlena kill her if the protector prefers to be a coward," a big man said.

    "Dew should get it over with," murmured a young girl.

    Another shout rose into the night air. Dew threw his decorated katana through the crowd, dispersing them like parting water. The katana stabbed the path, the hilt pointed upwards slightly as it became stuck in the dirt. He was left with the plain katana that Nadia had procured.

    "Can''t you people see that our enemy is not even among us!? If anyone has the right to decide whether this woman lives or dies, it is I and I alone," Dew hollered, "I am the prince of this village and the surrounding lands, and you are my people. I am obliged to seek justice for you. But just retribution does not always mean we return bloodshed with bloodshed, nor does such revenge best serve our cause. There are two women on the ground before you: one prostrate in shame, the other in death. The latter was my beloved. We had only to announce our commitment. She announced hers when she dove selflessly into danger for the sake of our love, and for the safety of this village."

    Dew poked the black leaf with the edge of Nadia''s sword and lifted it for all to see, said, "With this very sword she freed the spirit from a curse that was beyond her power to remove. Yes, the spirit who protects the worms that make our soil prosper was cursed by a malevolent force. We should devote ourselves to finding out what is afoot to deal with the real menace to our lands; not condemning our fields to lie fallow for the sake of a fool''s revenge. As for Nadia, she has shown herself more than worthy of being my bride. You will not dishonor her by killing the spirit she saw fit to show mercy. Anyone who dares try will face her blade as it sits in my hand."

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    Awlena''s arrow was released to hit the trunk of a tree as she fell to her knees.

    "Lady Garasa is lost," Awlena cried. "Didn''t you hear me Dew, our mother is slain!"

    Dew balled his fist and clenched his teeth, the people waited, "I will avenge her death against the true cause of these sorrows. I will not be made a puppet."

    "What if she becomes controlled again?" Awlena asked.

    Dew spoke forcefully, "My decision hasn''t changed. She is a force of nature personified, a spirit, not a person, and will always be susceptible to control by more powerful forces just as we are. She represents the fertility of our land. Do you wish to destroy the land that sustains us for the sake of revenge!? Do you wish famine on our people?"

    Dew turned to the worm mistress, "Your creatures will gather and bury the dead here in an honorable fashion, and will not corrupt their flesh as those others that die. You will atone for this destruction by using all your power to see that the land around Nenkyo village is forever productive. Most importantly, you will destroy any creatures that have committed crimes against us and all those that may threaten the life of other living creatures. Then you will never again show your face in this village. That is my edict."

    The worm mistress acknowledged him before crawling to Nadia''s side. Dew readied his sword as she felt Nadia''s wrist, then her neck, and listened for Nadia''s breath before speaking quietly.

    "She is not dead, but severely poisoned," she said, "I can make a cure with night shade, which will prevent her death. She must be cleansed of the powder and given fresh dressing while I gather the ingredients. Please, let me do this one thing to help atone for my sins."

    Dew stood still, his mouth open, his eyes moist.

    "Go now," said Awlena, who began the task of bearing Nadia to the bath house.

    Once in the bath they laid Nadia down on a long wooden bench. The remains of her clothes, now in dirt covered tatters, were cut off her body. Her skin was marked with an inky black substance, which the elders had to scrub vigorously with hot herbal water and strong soap. Her ankles had to be wrapped in herbal bandages, as the skin splayed into an array of painful vertical slices.

    Cleaning revealed cuts and scratches that ran along her back, shoulder, and neck. Some of the wounds were deep enough to bleed again once cleansed. A salve applied to the wounds reduced the swelling before they were bandaged. It was an hour before Nadia was born out of the woman''s bathhouse on a stretcher, her cleaned body covered with a light blue cloth.

    They took her back to the guest house to rest on the garden enclosed bed she had occupied since her first night in the village. As they laid down her head she sighed heavily. Fitful, weak breaths pushed through an open mouth as her forehead burned. A poultice of crushed leaves on the forehead reduced her fever.

    -----

    Later, Awlena brought the stems of nightshade plants that grew at the borders of the forest back to the village. They were boiled in a stew along with the black leaf. Awlena and two other women took the broth to Nadia''s room, lifted her chin, and slowly poured it into her mouth, helping her to imbibe the bitter drink.

    Awlena sat with Nadia, though Dew took her place when she was called on her errands. He sat by the wall for hours, gazing at her until her eyes opened.

    Nadia squinted because the lanterns were a heavy light to her widely dilated eyes as she launched into a fit of coughing.

    "Nadia, can you hear me? Can you speak?" Dew asked.

    "Dew," she said Faintly.

    He fell atop her and squeezed her in an embrace, which made her gasp and cough.

    "Dew."

    "Yes, my love."

    "You''re heavy. I can''t breathe," Nadia gasped.

    He pulled away and sat beside her.

    "I''m sorry, how do you feel?" he asked.

    "How come everything is so bright? Why can''t I move?"

    "The antidote to the black leaf which poisoned you causes a temporary paralysis. It''ll wear off eventually. Let me massage you so the paralysis will pass all the more swiftly."

    "Don''t you ever let up?" Nadia asked tiredly, "How can you think like that after the death of all those people?"

    "I''m simply concerned for your recovery. Why don''t you let me rub your feet? How could there be any harm in that?"

    "And risk you trying something," Nadia coughed, "Don''t you dare touch me! I''m tired. Leave me alone."

    "What happened this morning was an accident, and if you still mistrust me, why risk your life to help me and my village?"

    Nadia blushed mildly, "Because I didn''t want to see your sister suffer because of your reckless stupidity. I have a sister too; I know how she would feel if something happened to me. Actually, maybe I was the reckless and stupid one."

    She heard the door slide open, and at once knew Dew was serious about leaving.

    "Leaving so soon?" she asked sarcastically.

    "I''m going to pray for the soul of my mother."

    "I didn''t mean... I''m sorry."

    "You don''t need to be sorry. If it weren''t for you, I would be dead and this village would be lost. I owe you my life and eternal devotion now. We all do. I used to think in terms of finding a woman worthy to be my bride and serve me. Now, I wonder if I will ever be worthy to serve you."

    Nadia said nothing.

    "I''m sorry," Dew said, "Too much has happened, please get rest."

    The door slid shut. Dew was gone. Nadia squirmed under her blanket. Despite the paralysis, she had enough feeling to know she was unclothed. A naked girl who can''t move underneath a blanket, she thought, who knew what he could have done?

    He hadn''t done anything, but it didn''t change the fact that he could have. Is this what she had been reduced too? Being turned into a woman was a tragedy, she thought, but being helpless in addition was a nightmare. She wished it was just a nightmare. The lantern swung lazily overhead, back, and forth, her eyes following it, then staring through it as she gave up thinking.

    For the next hour, it became her only entertainment, for she was too nervous to sleep and the paralysis refused to let her lower body move an inch.

    "It''s not fair!" she screamed angrily.

 9. Help! My Guardians Dont Know How To Guard!

    "I just wanted to leave!" Nadia screamed angrily.

    She would have made a fist underneath the blanket if her fingers weren''t so numb. The door slid open. Three women entered, each with long bronze spears strapped across their backs. Their sleeveless outfits were woven tightly about their torsos till they split open loosely at the side of their thighs; a narrow strip of fabric hung to the front and back of the legs and reached slightly below the knee.

    One wore dark jade, her dark brown hair adorned with matching ribbons. The second wore a crimson red, her bluish black hair was braided. And the last wore an opal blue that was a contrast to her fiery red hair which was adorned with opal-colored bows. They took places around Nadia''s bedside, sitting on the floor with their legs folded and long hair reaching the floor.

    "We''re here to keep you safe," said the black-haired woman, "Dew commanded us."

    Nadia was a bit confused, said, "You''re girls too?"

    "What else would we be? Dew doesn''t want to risk another man possibly taking advantage of you," said the woman with long red hair.

    "Although he might," the black-haired one said.

    "I don''t think that would happen though. Do you really think that would happen?" said the one with brown hair.

    Nadia winced. "Hey! I don''t want anyone taking advantage of me!"

    "Dew would never think of doing that," the brown-haired woman in the jade dress said, "You have nothing to fear. Why else would he put us on this assignment so soon after we returned?"

    "Who are you people?"

    "I''m Nefri," said the red headed woman in the opal dress.

    The brown-haired woman smiled as she nervously played with one of the many green ribbons throughout her hair, said, "Well, I''m known as Luthial. It''s nice to meet you Nadia,"

    Luthial pulled at the third woman of the trio by tugging her shoulders, "I won''t tell you Delia''s name because she never gives it to strangers. But she''s glad to meet you."

    Delia pushed away while frowning, "I would have introduced myself when ready."

    Luthial kept smiling, "She''s crabby, but she''s really a sweet, tender person if you overlook her words, her attitudes, and her actions. So, are you serious about Dew?"

    Nadia gagged and coughed on her own spit before choking it down.

    "Not in that way!" Luthial continued, "I mean-- what you said about him. Do you really think Dew would take advantage of you? I mean- if that was what you meant when you said you don''t want anybody taking advantage of you. I wouldn''t want you to think--"

    "Are you done yet?" Delia interrupted,

    "But I''ve never known him to have any foul intentions," Luthial continued.

    "I''m not afraid of him!" Nadia said defiantly, "I can take care of myself!"

    There was an element disbelief in Nadia''s voice.

    "Dew is timid when it concerns women. He''s probably just as confused and bewildered by his feelings as you are. Not many men have so much responsibility in selecting a wife," Nefri said.

    "I don''t want to be his wife," Nadia clenched her teeth.

    Delia waxed sarcastically, "Then why did you dive amidst the worms to save his life? Save his life, be his wife!"

    "Why are you people so pushy!? People were dying! Didn''t you three fight against them?"

    "We were arriving from a hunting expedition, and were too late to be of any real assistance," explained Luthial, "Actually, we heard that you were the big hero!"

    "We would have been on time if you hadn''t wanted to see the golden meadow," Delia snapped.

    "We detour that way every year in the spring," Luthial shrugged her shoulders, "It''s not my fault. How was I to know about a surprise attack on the village. If I knew it wouldn''t have been a surprise."

    "Well, I''m not the one who every year says ''Hey, the golden meadow is in bloom, let''s go see it.'' And I''m not the one who wants to stop and frolic around."

    Luthial lost her smile, "I was running! It''s good training!"

    "Let''s not fight, okay," Nefri said.

    "Keep out of this!" Delia and Luthial yelled simultaneously.

    Nadia sighed to herself before gathering just enough strength to pull her covers over her head. The fact that she managed to do that was comforting. The numbness was already fading, but she was terribly exhausted.

    "We''re supposed to be watching over Nadia," Nefri snapped, "not bickering like children."

    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    "You''re right," Luthial said, "The matter is settled. It wasn''t anyone''s fault we were late."

    "Except it was your fault," Delia added.

    Luthial started bawling and turned away, "She''s always blaming me!"

    Nefri bit her lip and focused on Delia with a cold stare.

    "She''ll have to learn to deal with it," Delia said.

    Nadia muttered from underneath her blanket, "What have I done to deserve this?"

    -----

    Morning light streamed in from the skylight and bounced off the wood panels. It woke Nadia, her limbs felt like lead weights tormented by a rain of needles. Someone had put a white lily in her hair, but she didn''t have the will to bother it even though its presence annoyed her. She turned her head slightly to watch her guards with heavy eyes still filled with sleep.

    They were huddled around her, fast asleep. Nefri and Luthial had given into the floor, while Delia slept in a seated position as if she had fought against slumber until the very late hours. Nadia wondered if they ever heard of organizing a look out. There was little to do besides lay still and stare at the ceiling, at least until she could muster the strength to attempt standing. It was a bit of a gambit, as she remembered she was undressed and that her clothes were nowhere to be found.

    A slight trembling stirred the calm room, at first, she thought it was just her, but her head fell to the side and she noticed the light blue petunias in the garden surrounding her mat were quivering. It wasn''t seconds later that the room shook violently. A coil burst through the floor, shattered the wood, and sent Delia backwards. Another coil burst forth from the garden.

    A slight rain of damp soil fell about before the coil knocked Luthial in the chest and threw her into Nefri. The floor around Nadia crumbled as she sat up with the blanket against her chest. The garden surrounding her mat fell through the floor as rough gray whips rose around her. They wrapped around Nadia before she managed to stand, imprisoning her in the blanket. The whips were a collection of long flexible coils twirled together, eventually they joined into the long arm of a huge gray creature like a loosely human shaped golem.

    It let one arm uncoil from Nadia and extended it to the ceiling. The wood panel holding the glass of the skylight broke. The glass pane fell lengthwise above Nadia. It would have sliced off her head if the creature''s arm had not punched it so forcefully that it smashed into fragments against the wall. By then, Delia managed to get to her feet and face the creature.

    The black specks on the dome that was the golem''s head shifted as it adjusted its vision. It was almost six feet tall, most of its height in the legs. The creature had a severely squat torso compared to the rest of its body. Its incredibly long arms separated directly into coils which could shape and stretch with resiliency. Delia refused to assault it directly, so it merely finished assessing her and then turned away while plowing through wooden floors that could not sustain its weight. Nadia''s blanket, with her tied inside it, was slung over its back like knapsack as her guards watched dumfounded.

    "Some help here!?" pleaded Nadia, who squirmed to no effect.

    "What do you want with her, groeble?" Delia asked.

    "My master''s orders--bring the one who holds the pendant. Do not interfere," it said as it smashed through the front wall to get outside.

    Once the strange creature was outside, the smashed wall appeared again as if it had never been harmed to block the sight of the golem escaping with their charge. The three mercenaries jumped through it without hesitating because they knew it was an illusion created by the creature''s ability to manipulate light. Nefri closed her eyes and instructed the others to do so as well, they uttered a brief chant, an ancient spell that would give them resistance to illusions for a short time.

    That done, they made haste to catch up with the fleeing golem, which gained speed with legs that were four feet long and one free arm that acted as a third leg. It took ten minutes to get close enough for combat. It lifted its left arm to attack them. The swinging arm moved like a chain whip, swiftly enough to easily rip off a limb. Luthial threw her spear at the groeble''s back, but it simply bounced against the creature''s rock-like skin. A shard that flew from the tip would have sliced Nadia''s cheek had she not flinched.

    "Do me another favor, why not?!" she shouted.

    Nefri looked to Luthial, "Retreat and retrieve the prince, we''ll keep the groeble from getting too far."

    Soon after Luthial departed, the golem''s feet coiled together and drilled into the earth, gaining speed as they plowed ever deeper into the soil, all the while it used the whips of its free hand to suppress the advance of Delia and Nefri. It cost the creature momentum, but not enough to stop it from carving the soil. As it moved back and forth with Nadia at its backside, she could see a symbol much like a musical note carved into the ground. Delia continued to attempt distraction of the groeble. Nefri lifted one knee while keeping her hands clasped before her chest in a new stance as she looked upwards; she called upon the skies to bring forth the mercy of their protection.

    Rain clouds gathered over her as the sky grew dark. With a lift of her right hand, a spear of water formed above her, she lifted her other hand and then thrust it at the golem, which halted completely just before the symbol was finished and stood in awe of the stinging water that fell in droplets around it. The domed head of the creature turned from a yellow dome with black specks to completely black. It absorbed light with such efficiency that every image around it darkened and distorted. The falling water enthralled the being momentarily, captivating its complete attention. That''s when Delia saw an opening, but the water only fell for a few seconds more.

    The creature broke its gaze and coiled Delia in its whips. It smacked her against the ground. Delia cried out, and could barely get back on her feet without Nefri''s help. The groeble then repositioned Nadia and finished carving the symbol it had been making. It finally took her off its back to hold her so she could face its mouth, a narrow slit sparsely populated with sharp fangs. Nadia didn''t flinch as the creature, not unlike something she saw in certain movies where almost everyone died, spoke.

    "Guardian''s son, you''re different. You''re the same. You''re differen''t same. How did this happen?"

    "You know me?" Nadia asked, all color drained from her body.

    "Do you want to go home?" it asked.

    "Home-- Do you mean 431 Mackenloo Pike home?" she asked in a squeak.

    The groeble was sure this was the one now, despite the slight change in the human''s form, all her other markings were consistent. The pattern of her eyes and her skin prints were almost the same as the guardian''s child. Although, her genetic pattern and even the light aura of her soul were slightly different. At least, as a female human guardian, Nadia could open portals, which made the creature''s job that much easier. Now it would be simple to get her to the Earth realm even without the carving finished. The groeble only needed her to utilize her voice.

    "Sing!" it yelled, "Badly if you must."

    "But this isn''t even karaoke night," Nadia cracked wise with a slight cough.

    With a suddenness that startled Nadia, Dew silently landed atop the groeble. The tip of his sword broke apart as he thrust it against the creature''s eye, leaving only a scratch on the yellow surface. The groeble flung Dew aside like a sack of dirt. The cords of its free arm twirled together and formed a drill which even Dew was loath to attack. Only, the drill was thrust at Nadia.

    A shrill, high-pitched scream echoed throughout the fields. The tip of the groeble''s arm never touched Nadia''s flesh, but her scream, however unrefined, was sufficient to open a portal below them. They immediately fell through. Dew followed without hesitation. Delia and Nefri examined it before they followed him. Luthial came from behind, but had seen her comrades jump into the portal from afar, and made the jump seconds before it closed.

    A grass field carved with a musical note remained.

 10. Help! The Roman Empire?!

    The groeble and Nadia landed in a backyard filled with slender trees. A large wood pile sat alone by a stump nearby. A pink swing set sat in the yard by a green painted porch. High above, toward the back, was a green tree house built between two oak trees. Nadia knew she was home. It almost made her cry just to know that her life here had not been an illusion, a creation of her mind, or some dream. The groeble trudged forward and set Nadia on the back porch, leaving her to struggle to free herself from the tightly wrapped blanket. Norman heard a rap at the door and rushed to the porch. By the time he got there, the groeble was gone, but Nadia was parceled before him.

    "Dad," she muttered softly, her voice tired, "Dad- I have no clue what''s going on here."

    A voice came from the woods, "I found this girl. She has your son''s pendent. She is of the blood line that guards the portals. This is proven. Her voice can activate them. Others held her in captivity. I do not know why. I took her; they gave chase. They followed me here from the other realm. The portal was written hastily. It was screamed open. It was unrefined. I do not know where they came. She is recovering from a poison. She is recovering from paralysis."

    Norman sighed as he looked at Nadia, "Whoever you are, let''s get you inside."

    There was a brief wind, a rustling of leaves, and Norman knew the groeble had fled. He carried Nadia inside and sat her on the living room sofa. There he loosened the knots the groeble had tied in her blanket. Nadia let it fall to her lap and forgot about herself completely, her pendant rested on her chest. Norman coughed and looked aside. Nadia didn''t get the message so he coughed again.

    "Something wrong with your throat?"

    "Young lady," he said while emphasizing the L word, "I wasn''t aware that you weren''t dressed."

    Suddenly Nadia turned pale, pulled up the blanket, and wrapped it over her chest again.

    "Why am I still... I''m home but I''m still a girl?"

    "Where did you get that pendant?"

    "My grandfather--wait, you don''t know who I really am, do you?"

    "Who are you?" Norman asked.

    "I kinda thought you''d recognize your own son, even if he happened to look a little bit... different?"

    Her head went down and she couldn''t help checking herself out. The blanket curved out with her thighs and sunk in as it reached up her waist. Cleavage peeked from the top while providing a seat for her pendant. Norman sat on a green armchair; his face fell into his hands. He laughed.

    "You''re my son? This is original. What are they going to think up next? I suppose you''re not my son anymore though."

    "I... I am her- him- I think. What do you mean?!"

    "Maybe it means you''re an imposter. Maybe it means you''re my daughter now. Maybe it means you''re a woman of an undiscovered bloodline who somehow managed to get my son''s pendant. Regardless, you''re important enough to bear watching over. Try anything aggressive and I''ll deal with you accordingly. Now first, tell me where you are and who you are?"

    "This is my home. I''m Nadia Mavenslick of 431 Mackenloo pike, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. Would some girl from that stupid whatever realm know that?"

    "Okay, Nadia, if you are who you claim, go to your room, and get some clothes on, then we''ll talk about this. Do you know where your room is?"

    "Of course I do. And I know where Natalie''s room is too. I live here."

    "Don''t bother your sister."

    "I won''t."

    Wrapped in the blanket for cover, she stood despite some numbness that still lingered in her legs. Once up the steps and in her room, she abandoned the blanket. A worn summer outfit which consisted of an old shirt and shorts was hastily pulled on. The shirt was too big, and the shorts were a little baggy, but the elastic band was still tight enough to keep them from falling off her hips. Once she was back on the sofa, she waved her left arm with some effort as her father watched.

    "That''s better. My arms feel heavier than normal, but I''m certainly glad I can move again."

    "What happened to your clothes?"

    "Lost them to poisonous worms."

    "Interesting, you seem to know your way around," Norman suspected she was truthful, but he needed to verify and shake her up a little, "You could be my son, or you could be an imposter who has stolen his memories."

    "I''ve been here all my life. Why wouldn''t I know where my stuff is? And if I was some type of mind stealer, wouldn''t I have shown up as a boy, and at a time you would have expected me!? Not grabbed by some strange creature and slammed in front of your door."

    "You have a good point," Then he walked up to Nadia and shook her by the shoulders, "But you''re... A girl. What the hell happened! You never listen to me! I should... I should..."

    He collapsed before her and wrapped his arms around her.

    "Thank God you''re alright," he sighed, almost breaking in to tears.

    "Mom would be real happy, wouldn''t she?"

    "This isn''t about your mother!" Norman snapped, shaking her again, "But... how did you let this happen?"

    "Dementia Dan! I mean, some old codger who called himself a wizard used this stupid handbook to trick me. There was some kind of hand that attacked me, and after I crushed it... my body started to change. I was a girl before I knew it."

    Norman turned towards the kitchen, "Ambrosia''s book, but why?"

    "You don''t believe me, do you," Nadia looked down.

    "Wizard, you said, what did this wizard look like?"

    "Old guy, rotten teeth, white hair, wrinkles, beady brown eyes. He called himself Dead-leaf."

    "Dead-leaf used a book on you, one of Ambrosia''s books, it makes little sense, he had nothing to gain from this," Norman thought aloud, "Unless..."

    "Dad, I don''t want to be a girl! I''m begging you to help me here, or do you like having two daughters?"

    "I have a theory, but it can''t hurt to test you further. Where do you keep the glass that you always use? The one from the steak shop."

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Nadia pulled a tall textured glass with a cracked oval handle out of the cabinet. There were few worn letters left from the many washings it had suffered. Norman feigned throwing it against the floor and Nadia instinctively dove to the rescue, landing face down on the floor before her father with her hands stretched out.

    "I can''t believe it, after all I''ve been through, you''re-"

    Norman finished her sentence, "Trying to break your lucky glass? So, you haven''t lost any of your memories. Then there is hope."

    "I see now. I didn''t forget anything here either. The forks and spoons are in the top drawer, but we don''t keep them with knives not even the butter knives, which are kept in that high drawer above the microwave. We always keep bread in the refrigerator instead of the breadbox, even though I complain about the taste. The dishes are above the sink and the chemicals are locked below it."

    "Where do I keep the good china, the silver, and the crystal glasses?" Norman asked suddenly.

    "We don''t have any good stuff. Unless you''re hiding something from me."

    Norman grabbed Nadia by her shoulders as she pulled herself up and stared into her hazel eyes, examined her face, her almost perfectly smooth skin, and her shimmering black hair before shaking his head.

    "You look so much like your mother, only more beautiful, if that were even possible."

    "That supposed to make me feel better? Now you''re really creeping me out dad."

    Norman shook her, "What is your name?!"

    "Nadia Mavenslick," she said honestly.

    Norman shook her some more, "No, that is a name Ambrosia gave you, that is not your name! Your first name is Nathan, you''re a boy, damn it! You still have your memories; you are still a boy on the inside. Don''t forget the name you were born with. Remember you were born a man, or this form you''ve taken will become permanent, understand!"

    She looked down at herself, throwing her hair behind her shoulder, her eyes blank.

    "I''m Nathan. I''m a boy. I won''t forget. I won''t forget dad!"

    They hugged for a long moment. Afterwards, Norman left her take a seat in the kitchen while he boiled water for tea.

    "I found your bike on the path, and your shoes."

    Nadia winced, "My feet are quite a few sizes smaller. I''m ah- actually a few sizes smaller. You actually even look bigger to me now. And I was finally taller than you!"

    "Tell me everything you can remember."

    Nadia explained the entire situation again, this time with more detail, almost reliving it up to the point where she was dropped off at her father''s back door.

    "When I went through the change, I thought I was dying and wasn''t prepared. I couldn''t even gather my thoughts. But it wasn''t death. The pain was- I can''t explain it. I couldn''t fight properly because there was an inward tug like everything was being pulled inside of me and crushed. Like being kicked in the nuts over and over again! It burned- and I also grew these."

    Nadia poked her chest with both index fingers.

    Norman shook his head, "The physical change was completed quickly, but it''s the mental and spiritual change that will cement things permanently, and those aren''t finished yet, but maybe close."

    "What do you mean?"

    "Do you still think of yourself as a boy?"

    "Of course."

    "That will change. It''s the nature of Ambrosia''s handiwork. Physically, you are a woman. You''ll have to deal with every physical function of a woman''s body. Secondly, most others are going to react differently to you, as you are no longer a member of the male gender, social expectations will pressure you. You can buck that trend in this society, but only to a degree. Ambrosia''s handiwork has a hold of your mind as well, you''ll find that you will not be able to easily commit acts that violate her- somewhat arbitrary standards."

    "I can still fight," Nadia took her cup filled with tea, "The book only changed my gender, nothing else."

    "Fighting is not against her code, actually the opposite. I''ve read that Ambrosia trained some of the fiercest warriors for the defense of her temple. So, I suppose you would encounter no resistance from her influence in that way."

    "But," Nadia took a sip of hot tea, "Who in the world is this Ambrosia you keep talking about?"

    "After you changed into a girl, Dead-leaf sent you to another world. This realm exists parallel to the our own, and is known as Pozalm. The two worlds draw off one another, each depending on the other for its continued existence, but that is for another time. In Pozalm, all technology is based on what we would call magic, and the people rely heavily on powerful deities that can''t die naturally as mortals do.

    Ambrosia is one of those deities, a Goddess who ruled a large portion of a continent called Tramen Fohar. Her own people destroyed her physical body because she allowed only one male child for every thousand women.

    After the destruction, only males were born to the tribe. So, in order to keep from dying out completely, they contained Ambrosia''s remains in books and used these books to turn male offspring into females. But the books could only be used once every twenty years, so the tribe dwindled until the entire nation was finally wiped out. The books were supposed to remain in the temple, but I suspect that either the wizards or Ambrosia herself have something to gain from you being a woman."

    "I''m that important?"

    "You know you are a guardian of the portals between realms, but I never told you that you are quite possibly one of the last guardians, maybe the last. If you die without passing on the bloodline, a phenomenon called Lifeless may dominate Pozalm, and eventually spread here as well."

    Norman took a deep breath. Maybe he knew Ambrosia''s plan after all. Could it be there were no female guardians left in all of Pozalm?

    "I''ll use my powers to fight it, after I find a cure."

    "Nathan... Your pendant will no longer give you the same abilities it once did. Its powers manifest differently when used by a woman. It may not be as useful in direct combat, but if used wisely, your new powers will be far more useful than before."

    Nadia felt the vine imprints of the pendant''s edges with her thumb and started to cry; the tears wouldn''t stop flowing as she removed it for a better view. The elongated skull on the front seemed to be spitting out teeth as it laughed at her. She flipped it to the obverse, where the center pattern was a turtle, whose shell was covered in chrysanthemum flowers; it was very pretty but she had never noticed it before.

    "I don''t want to be your daughter. I want to be your son again."

    Norman waited a moment, folded his arms, and sighed, "You''re getting emotional, just what I would expect from a girl."

    Nadia, still in tears, stood up and punched her pendant against her father''s forehead, knocking over his chair and leaving an impression of the pendant''s flower turtle. She wiped her eyes as she waited for him to get up.

    "I''m sorry. After all our training, I thought you''d dodge that," she said indifferently before bursting into tears, "I won''t be stuck as a girl the rest of my life. I won''t settle for that! I''ll find a cure or kill Twig-leaf!"

    "Dead-leaf," Norman corrected.

    He slid off his armchair and pushed it back upright. Nadia slipped the pendant back around her neck.

    "A warning," Norman walked toward the kitchen while rubbing his forehead, "fall in love with a man and you''ll cement this forever. It''s not as farfetched as it sounds either. It may hit you before you even know it."

    "No, I absolutely hate that guy! He''s a disgusting pervert!"

    Norman raised an eyebrow, "Well, seems a boy has already fallen in love with you. Do you really hate him?"

    "I was rescued by him, but I reciprocated and rescued him, so as far as I''m concerned, we''re even. I think he may have followed me though."

    "So, you already have strong feelings about him?"

    "No way! Not you too! Wait a minute- did you say I could be a woman the rest of my life?"

    "Have you been listening? As long as you don''t develop deep feelings for a boy you should be able to get the change reversed. Unfortunately, you''ll have to go to the temple of Ambrosia in Pozalm and demand that Ambrosia change your physical form. As long as you''re not in love, a proper stoic, she''ll have no other choice but to accede to your demands. Try thinking long and hard about the Roman Empire if you feel yourself slipping."

    "You''re making things worse. I''ll head out now. Do I need the book that changed me, it''s kind of lost."

    "No, the book is of little consequence for your problem at the moment. Unfortunately, you need to learn to sing the portal song perfectly or you''ll have to wait until the next full moon."

    "I''m stuck here like this for a month! I''ll learn the stupid song then."

    "There''s a catch to learning that song. You''d have to feminize your thoughts and emotions to Ambrosia''s expectations. You''ve already been transformed perfectly in the physical sense, and that means your new body is already shaping the way you think and feel. And she''ll be influencing you along the way."

    "It won''t happen, I''ll find the cure before that."

    "Whatever you do, stay away from boys."

    "How can I think masculine if I have to stay away from other guys? Why do I even have to worry about this at all? I never had to think about it before. I just was who I was! None of this is any fair! How am I supposed to know what some entity thinks is masculine and feminine!?"

    "Life isn''t fair. Ambrosia won''t have to accept your demands if she thinks you''ve accepted her blessing. You have to be careful. To be a proper man, you have to have an emotionless soul of steel! Ambrosia will hate that."

    "I have been anything but emotionless lately!" Nadia shouted, digging her palms in her face, "This can''t get any worse!"

    "Sure, it could have been worse."

    "How?"

    "Well, you could have become an animal, so stay away from boys."

 11. Help! Wizards Never Pay Rent!

    The landlady hollered from the hall loud enough to be heard throughout the building, "Mr. Levenstrum! I''m here for the rent. You''re a whole week late."

    Dead-leaf''s step faltered as he reached to open the rectangular visor on his door. The landlady''s wrinkled eye pressed against the opening. He raised an eyebrow at her behavior.

    "Come back tomorrow, I shall have it then."

    "Shall nothing! If you don''t have it when I come back tomorrow, I''ll be shalling you an eviction notice. Don''t make the mistake of thinking your Bible lingo will soften me. It''s tomorrow or bust. Hear?"

    "How could I not? You have the voice of a dying crow."

    "What''s that!?"

    "I said there is no need to crow," he snapped, "You''ll have what is coming to you soon enough."

    He slammed the wooden visor, leaving her to mumble loud curses as she paced slowly back down the creaky hall. He wasn''t shaken by the old woman, for he wouldn''t have any use for her or her dwelling in another hour. He had kept the apartment lightly furnished. There was no bed, dresser, or chair.

    A small bench served to support a little collection of ointments in round tins as well as a few vials of colored liquid, two old books; and a few plastic cases for such odd assortments as nose hairs, animal shavings, nail clippings, and a vial of powdered blood. In the center of this odd arrangement was a giant oak leaf of brown crystal. A black cape hung above the bench on a single nail.

    A jagged tooth rested in his coat pocket; the one he had lost fighting Nathan. It contained a portion of his power that could no longer serve him. He rolled it within his pockets as he thought; if only he could have snatched the pendant, that would have served to cover his losses.

    Ambrosia had tricked him, her book had done something else entirely than what he was told and no powers had been given to him. The others might find her and use her for breeding, he thought, but as much as he fancied the thought of a race of warlocks empowered by guardian blood, it wouldn''t benefit him, not one bit.

    Dead-leaf again wished he could have taken the pendant; Nathan had stolen a great deal of his power when the electricity had passed between them. If he hadn''t had the book of Ambrosia with him, he would have certainly been defeated. That would have meant death, or worse: humiliation.

    Dead-leaf placed his tooth back inside the hole of his bottom gum. There was bleeding, but it would not take root again. The ointments proved no help. After fifteen minutes in his tenth attempt at replacing it, he threw it back inside his pocket. Time was pressing, so he packed his possessions into a black leather case, something akin to an old doctor''s bag. The crystal leaf slid into a wide pocket at the inside of his coat, but no sooner than it entered his pocket it shone a brilliant amber, projecting a wavy aura.

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    They are calling me, he thought, they must have found her. Maybe he would get some much-deserved praise for his noble sacrifices. He laid the glowing amber leaf in his palms to watch a projection of a one horned imp above the glass, one of the many Drakni race that served the warlocks. Dead-leaf''s expression soured. The Drakni sat proudly with a smug smile intended to issue intimidation, but it didn''t impress the old wizard.

    "What do you want? Where is my nephew?"

    "I''ve been honored with the presence of the great Dark-leaf, and have been chosen to speak with you, Lord Dead-leaf, about your achievements in the other realm. When the great Dark-leaf chooses to speak to you personally; it''ll be an honor to you sir, and you will know that your failings have been forgiven."

    Dead-leaf scowled into his crystal, "What is the meaning of this? I''ve conquered the bearer of pendant. I used a most valuable spell to turn him into a maiden, neutralizing his strength in battle. Then I used her own power to cast the transformed guardian into our domain. The great Lord Dark-leaf should have captured her by now and used her accordingly. Doesn''t he have the greatest ability to sense the guardian power? I practically offered her unto his hands, so why would he send such a low creature to congratulate me?!"

    The imp''s voice became agonizingly high pitched, his breath fiery. "I''m a low creature indeed compared to the wizards, but my common sense does surpass one of them, namely you. This is strange news indeed, Lord Dead-leaf. You were never ordered to seek the pendant, so why would you preempt the master''s plans and take such matters under your charge?! What did you hope to gain you fool?"

    "Fool!?" Dead-leaf snapped in disbelief, "I came to this magic barren realm to create what he desires most. Is this the thanks I''m to receive? Did he not sense the pendant or the guardian blood?"

    "He indeed sensed it, but it was beyond his grasp! Desperate measures had to be taken prematurely and a valuable puppet was lost for nothing! Now it is no longer even in the realm of Pozalm. The master would have been quite happy with the slow extinction of the current guardian race, but now you are helping them to restore their bloodline! Kill her or capture her you buffoon, and if this plan backfires your head will be served in the master''s soup!"

    "She couldn''t have escaped that quickly. There is no way she could have mastered the pendant''s powers so soon. Something must have gone dreadfully wrong."

    "Let me pray that you are jesting Lord Dead-leaf, for the sake of your own life. Unfortunately, you are the only one in position to deal with this problem at the moment. Capture her, kill her, or die trying. And most importantly, get that pendant!"

    Dead-leaf''s hands trembled, he could barely keep hold of his crystal.

    "Forgive me little one, I am the great Lord Dark-leaf''s humble servant until the end of time itself. I''ll take care of this matter with all the power at my disposal. I plead for the master''s mercy, and faithfully await further orders."

    "Let us hope for my sake that he does have mercy!" said the Drakni, no doubt thinking of wrath expended on the messenger.

    Dead-leaf trembled as he left his apartment, and continued trembling until he was hidden deeply in the woods. There he would use his leaf crystal of his own accord, putting out a call to those who would sense the emanating power. If Nadia had returned to Earth, capturing her was beyond his abilities.

    Eliminating her was his only option.

 12. Help! Conversations With Girls Are Still Awkward!

    The streaming rays of the morning sun heated a square portion of the dark green carpet by Nadia''s bed, she felt the warmth on her feet as she set them down in that very spot. According to the digital clock on the dresser it was eight o''clock in the morning, so Nadia was surprised at how late she had slept. Her father had trained her to bed late and rise early, maximizing her waking hours and diminishing sleep dependence.

    The room was kept neatly, nothing was on the floor, the tops of the drawers were kept neat, her desk kept only a note pad and a strict word processing machine for school work. Everything was scrubbed to perfection, and the carpet was vacuumed; exactly the way it had been left before her trip to Pozalm. She stretched, yawning before making her bed, then opening the window.

    A cool summer breeze floated through the room as she threw off her wrinkled shorts and replaced them with a pair of jeans. They overwhelmed her petite frame, but she was determined not to let them defeat her. She made them workable by using a brown belt and by rolling up the legs at the bottom to keep them from dragging around her feet.

    A heavy sweat shirt in the drawer rolled easily over her torso. The sleeves were long, so she had to roll them up to keep them from becoming a nuisance. She tucked her long black hair inside the shirt so she wouldn''t have to bother about combing through it. The socks in the drawer were big men''s socks which absolutely refused to get snug with her small feet. They were like cloth sacks constantly slipping below her ankles. She made the mistake of inserting the pair, stockings and feet together, into her old size twelve sneakers. Bothering to tie them tightly was no use, they slipped off after her first step. It was enough to have her level curses at herself, throw the footwear against the wall, and run downstairs barefoot.

    Her father had pulled the kitchen table from the wall because some new guests had arrived earlier. Dew and three girls had found their way to the house, and Norman was serving them breakfast. One person was seated at each side of the table, except for Luthial, who sat with Natalie on her lap. The scent of maple syrup, sausage, toast, and scrambled eggs escaped from the kitchen with the sound of silverware tapping against plates. Nadia heard Dew speaking from the top of the steps.

    "This four-pronged device is such a strange dining implement, almost as absurd as the way you people dress."

    When Nadia appeared at the border of the living room carpet and the kitchen tile in her oversized clothing Dew stood, said, "This man tells me he is your father, that this your home, and that the groeble was a friend of his, but I made sure you were safe before I took his word for it."

    "Can''t we send him back before the next full moon?" Nadia said, pointing.

    "I don''t mind," Dew said, "though I worry about the village, it should be fine, it has gone well enough without me before; besides, this gives us a whole month to get to know one another."

    "You''re making breakfast for them?" Nadia asked. "What about our routine morning training? It''s been four days almost."

    "This situation is anything but routine," Norman said.

    Dew sat down, poking the plate with his fork and speaking intently between two mouthfuls of sausage. "You train with your father? From the way you fought the worm mistress, he must be a great master of the sword."

    "Yes; he''s been killing me slowly since I was two; I don''t see any reason for him to stop now."

    "Is that any way to speak of your training?" Norman asked.

    "Hmph," she half-whistled, "I''ll be outside. Call me when it''s my turn to eat."

    "Don''t you think it would be wise to stay inside a little bit, eat, talk, figure out what happened? Dew asked for my permission to marry you."

    The doorbell rang before Nadia could respond, and Norman went to answer it.

    "What!" she exclaimed, following him, "You said no, of course!"

    Then she broke from her father as he was reaching for the doorknob and concentrated her fury on Dew.

    "How dare you ask my dad something like that! I told you what I thought of you and it''s not going to change. Besides, I''ve only been a girl for--"

    "Hi, Mr. Mavenslick, is Nathan Home?" came a voice from outside.

    The words from outside stopped her scolding, suddenly Nadia was up the steps, retreating to the solitude of the second floor without explanation.

    Jody Fischer stood outside in rough jeans and a sports jersey. Norman stepped outside to meet her before slamming the door. Upstairs, Nadia went to her father''s bedroom and peeked out the front window, careful not to be too obvious. Her father turned pale and solemnly watched the trees.

    "You''re one of Nathan''s friends," Norman said to the trees.

    Upstairs, Nadia slapped her forehead.

    Jody looked puzzled, said, "You already know that, don''t you? I come here like all the time. I babysit for you."

    "Yes- how stupid of me. I knew that."

    "Is he here? I won''t be long. I just want to tell him something."

    "I''ll get her," Norman gasped after realizing his mistake. "I mean she''s- he''s not available right now. He''s not here- not home. I''ll let him know though."

    "No, it''s nothing. If he wants to be angry about it, I guess it wasn''t worth coming here in the first place."

    Jody trudged up the driveway slowly, looking back on the house for a good ten seconds once she was at the opening to the road. Nathan doesn''t even have the guts to come out and humiliate me himself, she thought as she continued on, her feet shuffling. She was down the road from the house when she heard another girl call her name with all the familiarity of long friendship, even though her voice was somewhat unfamiliar. It was a girl in an oversized sweater and boy''s jeans that Jody recognized as belonging to Nathan, and she was running barefoot over the sunbaked asphalt. When Nadia reached Jody, she had to jog in place to keep from burning her feet.

    "Who are you?"

    "I''m- that''s right, you wouldn''t know me, heh," Nadia said.

    "Are you a friend of Nathan''s?"

    "Can we sit on the side rail? I don''t have any shoes on right now, and Nathan wanted me to tell you something."

    "He wanted you to?"

    Nadia leaned against the rail and tucked her feet in the grass, letting the dust and grime stain the back of her jeans. Jody stood, she didn''t feel like sitting, and she didn''t feel the burning asphalt because she wore sneakers, like most normal people who leave home for a walk.

    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    "You see- Nathan and I are cousins. It''s that simple. Plain and-"

    "Why would he send you to talk to me?"

    "Gee, ahh- Hot today, isn''t it?"

    "You''re not answering my question."

    "Didn''t he tell you he was going to Montana to stay with my parents? Kind of an exchange."

    Jody frowned.

    "No, of course he didn''t. This was all arranged at the last minute. One of those training trips. It shouldn''t be that long though. Maybe."

    "So, it was last minute?"

    "They didn''t tell me- him- me or him- until it happened."

    A squirrel darted down an old tree, Jody gave it her attention while she shifted a section of broken gravel with the toe of her sneaker.

    "Well, you sort of look alike. Funny he rarely mentioned other relatives. So... do you like wearing Nathan''s clothes?"

    Nadia looked at her shirt, her jeans, and muttered a curse under her breath.

    "Ha! Funny thing, my luggage was sent to Afghanistan by mistake and I''ll never get it back. The airport isn''t responsible of course, you know how those things are. Then the only clothes I had shrunk in the wash, and my shoes- you don''t even want to know what happened to my shoes. I had to throw them out."

    "That''s strange, so here you are with practically nothing. You''re not very responsible, are you?"

    "I suppose not. I can make due with Nathan''s stuff though. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that- that- I''m sure Nathan regrets leaving without being able to tell you. And that''s he''s very sorry for being a jerk at the pizza parlor. I have to go now; I''m sure my dad wants me to train later this morning."

    Nadia leapt from the side rail and began to jog home.

    "Your dad?"

    "Well, what else would I- I mean hey! How about that? I''m so fond of my good old Uncle Norman that I''m already calling him dad. He''s sort of like a second father to me. Nice chat. Gotta go!"

    "Wait, I''m sure you don''t want to be stuck wearing your cousin''s clothes."

    "I don''t want to impose; besides, your stuff wouldn''t fit me."

    "Hey, was that an insult?"

    Nadia stopped and turned back, "There you go again. Why do you always have to be so touchy!?"

    Jody and Nadia stared at each other for a moment.

    "Well, what are you looking at me stupid for? Do I have something on my face?"

    "I just thought- no it''s too weird."

    "What!?"

    Jody had a way of leaning slightly toward whom she was speaking when she thought she had an insight. She smiled, said, "You act just like your cousin. It''s like you''re his twin. He never told me your name, or how you knew mine. Funny, he never talked about you at all. Ever."

    "Not very popular I guess," Nadia sighed to try and sell it, "I''m... Nadia. My uncle told me your name was Jody."

    "Nadia, sounds cute and rare."

    "My parents were creative."

    "Anyway, would you like to ride down to the Reading outlets with me tomorrow? There''s a huge sale on clothes so it''s worth the drive. I''m going down with my mom, and she said I could invite a few friends to shop with. I was going to invite Nathan as an apology because I knew he wouldn''t want to come, but since you''re new here and you really need to shop, I may as well ask you."

    "Fine with me if I can get permission," Nadia said; it was an easy out, all she had to do was instruct her father to refuse.

    "We''ll stop by at nine tomorrow."

    "If I can come, I''ll walk to your house."

    "How would you know where I live?"

    "I know-" Nadia blurted, then cut herself off, "I know that I don''t know where you live, but I''ll get directions from my d- uncle."

    "Great, but if you get lost, we''ll have to go without you."

    Jody skipped off with a slight smile.

    Nadia didn''t realize how hot it was until she began the journey back; she resorted to balance walking on the guard rails to avoid having her bare feet on the burning asphalt. It was hot, and her black hair harvested the sun''s heat efficiently; that, combined with the force of her anxiety, produced beads of sweat across her brow.

    Annoying swarms of gnats from the forest added to her frustration, especially as they flew in her mouth. The sweater kept her overheated, and she began to moisten her undershirt with sweat. The humidity didn''t help, nor the fact that it was hot even for a summer morning in late June.

    The trees were still, not a breath of air circulated to stir them. The sun continued to beat the road relentlessly, for the road east of her home curved at the edge of hill and the trees on the sunny side were too far down the slope to block the light. There was a lone cloud of fluff, but it wasn''t in position to provide its speck of shade for Nadia. She pulled off her sweater and slung it over her back, not caring that her unsupported breasts pushed against the thin fabric of an otherwise oversized undershirt until a small, gray, Ford pick-up truck with male occupants about her age passed while honking their horn and whistling.

    Nadia looked to see if it was anyone she knew, one of them looked familiar but the vehicle didn''t register. The fact that she almost fell in the ditch behind the guard rail combined with her embarrassment to convince her to put the sweater back on despite the heat, though she endured it well.

    At the edge of her drive way her father ambushed her, jumping from his perch on a nearby oak with a dive kick aimed for her chest. As she was unprepared, it threw her back against a tree.

    "That hurt! What''s the big deal attacking a gi- when I''m not ready?"

    "You''re supposed to be ready for anything. Why were you so easily surprised?"

    "I have a lot things on my mind. I was thinking."

    Norman launched himself again, this time more fiercely, for he knew Nadia was not prepared the first time. She blocked the attack with her forearm and turned herself around to kick her father in the rear. Norman absorbed the blow and jumped backward.

    "You lost some strength. It''s easier for me to recover my balance after you attack; you had more force when you were a boy."

    "I''ll bust you open anyway!"

    "I''d like to see you try."

    Nadia jumped at her father with her fist coiled, but he slid far to the side before she could hit him. She realized her arms were a bit shorter and compensated for the distance before launching her fist with the full force of her body behind it.

    The punch landed in thin air as her father dodged. The force of her weight pushed her forward and she stumbled, almost landing on her face before she regained her balance and retreated a bit awkwardly.

    "Nathan, what have I told you about letting anger fuel your fight? It makes you unable to plan any decent strategy and gives the intelligent opponent the advantage. You have diminished reach and upper body strength but greater agility, you''ll have to adjust your combat style accordingly or you''ll make mistakes."

    Nadia put herself in a fighting stance while her father disappeared into the cover of the trees. He moved with such speed and stealth that she had to listen intently to keep track of his position. She growled like a wounded animal.

    "That''s not very ladylike Nathan," he called, intentionally revealing his position.

    "I''m not a lady."

    "Or should I call you by your more creative name, Nadia?"

    "I can''t help it. Nadia is always the first thing that comes to my mind. And what else was I supposed to say to her? Hey! You were listening the whole time I talked with Jody. That was a private conversation!"

    "It seems everyone except for myself is calling you Nadia now. It''s what you told me your name was when you returned. Dew also told me that was your name as well. I couldn''t persuade him otherwise. Now, what about your private conversation with Jody?"

    Nadia looked up and blocked with her forearms as Norman jumped from a high tree branch to land before her on his feet, he threw a punch against her guard.

    "I told her I came from Montana," Nadia backed away and counter punched only to be dodged, "on a relative exchange program something or other. If you see her and I''m still like this, I''m Nadia, and you''re my uncle, and I''m here training with you, got that?"

    "Are you going to go shopping with her tomorrow?" Norman asked slyly, "You have my permission."

    "You old sneak!" Nadia jabbed to the right; Norman moved to the left. The pattern reversed itself, then continued back and forth irregularly.

    "Two hundred dollars," Norman dodged all her attacks, "You can have that much money if you can give me a good workout. Use it to buy some clothes that fit, and keep them modest."

    "What?! You think I want to show myself off!" Nadia stopped attacking. "What if I change back to a guy all of the sudden?"

    "You won''t," Norman held his guard, "You''ll need some clothes that are fit for your new dimensions, as you aren''t able to return to Pozalm for almost a month and there''s no chance of you finding a true cure anywhere on Earth."

    "What about the old guy who did this to me?"

    "I''m certain he doesn''t have the reversal, or even know of a way to accomplish it. This is Ambrosia''s handiwork."

    "I don''t want to wait! If there is even the slightest chance, I can reverse this."

    Nadia attempted to kick her father''s chest, but Norman jumped above it. They resumed combat at aggressive speeds until Nadia finally gained an advantage and pulled at her father by the collar of his shirt. They both landed on the grass but she had him pinned.

    "Are you saying I''ll be like this forever! You know more about that book and this Ambrosia than you''re letting me know. Is there a way to reverse its effects or am I a girl for the rest of my life? Tell me the truth!"

    Norman looked away and thought for a moment, "If you completely changed into a woman in the first place, then there must be at least one way to reverse the change completely."

    "That doesn''t help. I need specifics."

    "I don''t have them. I can''t say anything for sure. Do you want me to make stuff up and tell you it''ll be okay?"

    She let him go, stood, looked away, "Don''t talk down to me. Then this really is permanent?"

    "I didn''t say that."

    "That''s okay," she said before taking a big breath to suppress her sniffles and starting back toward the house rapidly. "It''s not that bad really. I''m still alive. I''m still a human being. At least I''m not an animal, right?"

    Norman pressed his hand against the nearest tree, yelled, "It''s too early to lose hope. If you accept yourself, fine, I''m okay with having two beautiful daughters. I know I can''t help you much, but I''m sorry you''re in such an awkward predicament."

    "I don''t want your pity, and I''m not beautiful!" she yelled, slamming the door as she ran inside.

    "Nathan!?"

 13. Help! Forty thousand Silver Cords!

    The refrigerator door opened.

    "Cold?" Luthial wondered aloud.

    The refrigerator door closed.

    "No more cold?"

    The refrigerator door opened.

    "Now I feel the cold again," she proudly exclaimed, "What a wonderful little box! I never felt anything like it."

    Dew sighed at Luthial before walking out to the backyard to find peace. The opening and closing of the refrigerator door had been going on for ten minutes. For an hour, Nadia had been alone in her room. Dew knew she was agitated about something, though he didn''t know what, except possibly his asking her father about their marriage. Too bad Norman had denied it because they were from different realms; still, it was ultimately their decision. Thus, Dew decided to ask her directly.

    Since Nadia''s bedroom window was just above the porch, he climbed a log pile, then leapt to the top of the porch enclosure with a single leap. Being a noble from the other realm, he could attain abilities through training that many others could not. He approached her window with caution, careful to step gently without losing speed, all while avoiding any surface he sensed to be creaky or unstable. He tapped on the glass so Nadia could hear it rattle, as she might have been undressing. The screen soon opened and Nadia looked outside. Dew crouched before her, staring her in the face.

    "You''re going to torment me forever, aren''t you? Geez, what do you want now?"

    "I wanted to make sure you''re feeling well, and to apologize for asking your father to consent to our marriage."

    "I''m fine- but why are you on the porch roof?"

    "Your father said that here, things are taken a bit slower to allow people to get to know one another. So, I would like to know how you would feel about getting to know me. I think that if you knew me better, you might let me make you my wife and the mother of my children."

    "Children!" Nadia choked, "No children! No. No! NO! I''m never going to marry you! Consider that for future reference! And don''t hang around my window!"

    After she slammed the window shut, Dew walked to the edge of the porch ceiling and sat down, allowing his legs to hang over the spouting. He didn''t mind the sun; it felt cozy. He realized winning her over would be harder than he at first thought. For a moment, he convinced himself that she was in denial. Then he thought the better of it and shook his head before wondering why she was afraid of commitment.

    The freezer door opened.

    "That''s really cold," Luthial said, shivering.

    The freezer door closed.

    "Now it''s warm again. Isn''t that the most amazing thing!"

    Luthial opened and closed the freezer door four more times, repeating "Cold" when the door was open and "Not cold." when it was shut, until Delia finally knocked her on the head with a coffee mug.

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    "This is why we don''t let you handle new magic," Delia snapped, "You get annoying!"

    "I have to agree with her Luthy," Nefri said.

    "Fine, I''ll watch the picture box with Nadia''s little sister," Luthial rubbed her head, "Did you know there''s a talking monster in it that comes on twice a day?"

    "You told us three times," Delia groaned.

    "Well, the amazing thing is the monster is nice and doesn''t eat the children. If you need me, I''ll be keeping an eye on it with Natalie. You can never be too cautious about monsters."

    Norman approached the table after coming from outside.

    "Just the two of you?" he asked.

    "Dew is outside, and Luthial is watching that magic box of yours," Delia said. "You have such strange and useless magic here. It makes me cringe."

    Luthial yelled from the living room, "Why don''t you try the bath bowl with the secret hot spring before you make us all cringe?"

    "It has no fire to heat the water! I''ll find a stream before I partake of that strange bath."

    "It''s really relaxing, a nice hot morning bath," Nefri said. "I couldn''t have enjoyed it more, wasn''t bad at all."

    "You both drop your guard too easily."

    "Delia''s afraid someone will walk in on her," Nefri laughed, "There''s a curtain you know; besides, the only guys here are Nadia''s father and Dew, and I''ve never seen Dew go near a bath house during women''s bathing hours."

    Norman coughed loudly to focus the attention of the girls. He received two-thirds of their attention, for Luthial had discovered the remote control. She remained fixated on the living room television set while playing with Natalie, so he ignored her.

    "Listen, I''ve decided something. You three are warriors right."

    "Two of the best," Delia said.

    Luthial poked her head out from the living room with a kind smile, "Don''t be so humble, you''re pretty good too, Delia."

    "When the next full moon rises, I want you to take my daughter back to Pozalm with you. In all truth, my eldest daughter should be my eldest son. Nadia used to be a boy named Nathan. He was exposed to one of the books containing a portion of Ambrosia''s corpse, that is how he came to be a woman. The only chance she has to become a man again is to go to the temple of Ambrosia herself and demand that the goddess reverse her handiwork. I know the Tramen Fohar continent is a land of great dangers, but it''s also the path to something that might be the only way to restore my child''s happiness. I can''t go with her, I have my work and Natalie to look after, but if you could protect her, I swear to return the favor graciously."

    There was a look of open-mouthed shock from the two girls at the table, Luthial looked away from the television and paid more attention to the conversation.

    "Nadia was a boy!" Luthial gasped.

    "Yes, she was. The three of you may know something of the legends regarding Ambrosia."

    "Our realm has no place not filled with danger," Delia said after recovering, "but the Tramen continent is almost completely lost to the lifeless scourge. Why should we risk ourselves? Just so she can become a boy again?"

    "Your daughter is really nice sir," Nefri said, "but even if what you say is true, I think being a woman is better than being a man, so why should I help a fellow woman become one?"

    "Forty thousand silver cords," Norman said, "To be paid once my son is returned as a son, and not a daughter."

    "You have that much?" Delia asked,

    A case was laid on the table and snapped open, the forty-thousand strands of thin silver filling it to the brim. Each one had the miniscule stamp of the Lothalos empire, a powerful group of kingdoms in the western side of the main continent of Pozalm. They were left to take a few samples as an advanced payment, but it was snapped shut before they could investigate much further.

    "I assure you, on my honor, that you will be paid in full, and have my everlasting gratitude to boot. All I ask is that you get her to the temple safely, everything else will be up to her."

    "We''ll do it," Nefri said, "We''ll get her to the temple at all costs and protect her with our lives."

    "Thank you. I''d prefer that Dew be kept out of the way, if at all possible. I''ve arranged for him to be distracted so as to give Nathan some space to recuperate. Maybe once he learns the truth he''ll leave her alone, but if you would please keep it from him until you are back in Pozalm, it would be appreciated."

    "Will do," Nefri said, "Do you know why all this happened?"

    "I don''t know why Nathan was turned into a girl, but it involves the wizards, the goddess Ambrosia, and the fact that he has guardian blood. Do you understand now?"

    "We understand enough to do our jobs," Delia said.

 14. Help! Lets Make Plans!

    The door to her bedroom was closed, but the window remained open as Nadia laid quietly atop her bed. With a pillow tucked beneath her head, Nadia listened to the sounds of the night: crickets chirping, the hoot of an owl, the sound of a truck from afar, the howls of wolves. All of which she would have usually ignored. Moonlight was soon covered by the clouds of an approaching thunderstorm, darkening the room. Thunder rumbled from the west.

    No one could go back to Pozalm until the first full moon. Everyone was stuck at the house, including her, which meant almost a full month of being a girl no matter what happened. Nadia wrote down her options. Option one was to hide in her room and refuse to come out until she could go back to Pozalm, but there was a huge downside in how boring that would become.

    The second option was to pretend nothing happened and try to live like normal, except everything served to remind her of the weird turn her life had taken. The third option was to seek out Dementia Dan. She drew quite an unflattering picture of him. Her father was against this idea and she had no idea where to even begin looking.

    The next plan was her masculinity preservation list.

    The number one item on the list was to be stoic.

    Number two was to think about the Roman Empire.

    She recounted the last remains of her past manhood that still held meaning for her, and those that no longer served her. The fencing sword was against the bed, she still loved the way it cut the air when it fell swiftly, how it represented an art of combat and strategy that she relished, and all the techniques she had learned as a child. She hoped that staring at it, thinking about it, would keep her in touch with her manhood.

    It did in a sense, and in another sense, it didn''t. The childhood memories of practice and tournaments helped, but she knew fencing wasn''t exclusive to men. She could remain a woman and still actively participate even though she would have to adjust to the strengths and weaknesses of a new body.

    One sport she didn''t want to think about was football, she had played a few practice games as a back-up running-back before the change and that would be next to impossible now. Yet she could still spend an enjoyable time thinking about the strategy of game. There was simply no way she could think to get herself a starter position on the football team in this condition. Practice would begin before Nadia left and Nathan returned.

    What was something else that a man would like? There was the cover of a swimsuit catalogue folded under her mattress which she had pulled out earlier, but when she looked at the woman it only made her curious. After a while, she had found herself at the mirror comparing herself to the model. That was really bad, she needed to be attracted to girls, right? Or did that have nothing to do with it? The catalogue, which had been under the mattress for a month, crumpled into a ball between her hands before landing in the trash.

    Great, now she was disgusted with herself for ever being a boy in the first place. She stayed in bed rolling on the mattress as the wind picked up and the thunder became closer. Despite this, she was on the verge of finally falling asleep when the door opened. Light from the hall streamed inside. Natalie was in her pajamas, and came in for a good night hug. Her little sister hopped up on the bed and sat beside Nadia.

    "Nadia I''m scared."

    Nadia told her little sister to hop up, and she did.

    "You''re very pretty. Can I call you Nadia while you''re a girl like me? Will you get mad at me? That weird guy calls you Nadia and you get mad."

    Nadia laughed a little, "I''ll let you get away with it."

    Natalie hugged her sister, they rubbed cheeks, and then she whispered in her ear.

    "My wish came true."

    "Your wish?"

    "I wished for a big sister."

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    Nadia sat her at the opposite end of the bed, "I''m sorry to disappoint you, champ, but this isn''t permanent. I''ll be your big brother again soon."

    Natalie ignored what Nadia had just explained, "When I grow up, I hope I''m pretty like you."

    "You''re going to be much prettier than that. Now get to bed."

    She crawled in Nadia''s lap.

    "You have such a pretty voice." After a minute of silence, she stared at Nadia pensively, "Why can''t you stay like this?"

    "Because it''s not who I really am. Was it really that bad when I was your older brother?"

    "No. I liked you then too. I just like you better now."

    Natalie yawned, was silent, and finally fell asleep in her big sister''s lap. Nadia sighed before falling back to the mattress herself. Natalie rolled to her side, snuggling under her arm. The action plan fell to the floor as Nadia turned off the light and went to sleep.

    -----

    The thunderstorm passed quickly, leaving the mountain road moist and the air muggy. Brakes of an old Buick screeched as it pulled to a stop next the side rails. Nothing but mountain forest was on either side for quite a few kilometers ahead, and many more behind. A young man in a new leather jacket jumped out the passenger side of the Buick, thanked the driver, and leaned in front of the side rails. A streetlight shone directly on a left ear with a missing top half. A shriveled red scar lined the top edge.

    "Are you sure you want out here kid?" the driver asked, "This is practically the middle of nowhere."

    "This is it for me old man, you''re too much of a character,"

    "You have a lot of nerve."

    As the Buick sped off, the young man jumped the side rail and walked downhill into the forest. He moved solidly through woods, crushing the underbrush without worrying about the poison plants, he knew what they felt like and was agile enough to avoid them.

    Thorny vines hung from the trees. He sensed them even in the dark, dodging to keep them from scratching his leather jacket, though nothing could be done to prevent mud from clinging to the side of his boot. After trudging along for more than a kilometer, he finally consulted the map. He was heading in the right direction and the meeting site was another kilometer ahead. What the old man wanted better be good, he thought, because he didn''t like to take nature in the dead of night.

    The forest was a mess, nothing but skinny trees, steep slopes, annoying vines, and poison bushes. Did that old man want to kill him? After more hiking, the amber light finally shone visibly in the distance. There was no mistaking the old man''s crystal. Josh found a small clearing that provided great solitude. It was a burnt area of level ground the wizard had carved with his magic some years ago. The old man stood confidently when he saw Josh slide into the circle.

    Josh smiled. The wizard stared enviously at his full set of teeth, which were visible in the light of a waning moon.

    "Hey Dead, long time no see. You call? It better be something important."

    "I require your services."

    "You still haven''t paid me for the last job."

    "I have a check for you. I assure you it won''t bounce anywhere this time. If you can do this, I swear I''ll rid you of your curse. I''ll slay the demon that gives you no peace."

    "That''s an obvious lie. I knew I shouldn''t have come here."

    "But you can''t help it, can you. You''re driven to my call."

    "Let''s get down to brass tacks. How much do I get paid, and who gets hurt?"

    "As I said before, I''ll tame the incubus to full obedience. If I can''t do it, I know someone who will."

    Josh pushed his fingers through a crop of dark blonde hair, "You''re such a freakin'' liar. I don''t even want to hear any more of your crap."

    "Are you sure you want to risk it? Your body can barely contain the incubus as it is, if you continue this way, you''ll exhaust yourself into a very early grave."

    "What do you want me to do? I won''t take an easy kill. That last guy was way too easy; I didn''t like it. The only reason I did it was because he deserved it. So, who''s the unlucky guy this time?"

    A picture materialized on a stone in the wizard''s hand, he threw it to Josh. It was an image of Nadia just after the book, but right before she had fallen in the portal. The wizard lit the crystal on his other hand to a brilliant shade of amber so Josh could examine the angry looking young brunette in a torn and disheveled boys school uniform as she sat on the ground looking up.

    "That is a picture of her direct from my memory. She lives at 431 Mackenloo pike. If you can find her, kill her."

    "What kind of joke is this? You said I''d have a challenge. If you want to kill some helpless girl, then do it yourself. I don''t want any part of it."

    "This girl is not helpless. She is powerful and wicked, brimming with pure evil. She has stolen something that belongs to my clan, and wears it as a prize. It is a necklace with a fair-sized wizard pendant. The pendant has a skull shape on one side and a small turtle with chrysanthemum flowers growing off its shell on the other. Kill her if you can, then bring the pendant to me. I need that sacred pendent in order to stabilize your powers. I can assure you that you will be given quite a worthy challenge, a worthy challenge indeed."

    "Well, if you can''t get your pendant back, then she must be something else. I''ll do it once the check clears. We have a deal, but you better keep your word about the other payment."

    Josh snatched the check and the stone which held Nadia''s image and leapt backwards out of the clearing. Then he turned his back on the wizard before he darted up the hill toward the road.

    "Good, very good," Dead-leaf laughed.

 15. Help! Assassins Are After My... Neck!

    The first rays of the early morning sun peaked through the window. They landed on Nadia''s bed, where Natalie slept alone sprawled out under the covers. Luthial and Nefri slept soundly on heavy blankets on the floor at both sides of the bed. One of the dresser drawers were open and clothes had been shuffled around. Running water hissed from the bathroom as light streamed from underneath the door.

    A light blue polo shirt, a pair of denim shorts with a brown belt laced at the top, and flip-flops sat in a neatly folded pile on top of a bench near the tub. The dampness had fogged up the mirror and heated the windowless bathroom as Nadia scrubbed her head into a bubbly lather. Bubbles ran down her back and over her legs as she rinsed her long, thick hair. The hot water sprayed the top of her head until she had worked all the suds out. Water sprayed the front of her neck for a few minutes before she turned around to soak her back. It trickled to a drip and stopped altogether as she turned the silver knobs back.

    A big fluffy green towel was used to rub her hair before she dressed. The damp hair hung heavily and soaked the back of her polo shirt, but she didn''t notice. The front of her shirt gave her pause as she attempted to adjust the fabric so that her unrestrained bosom made the least possible impression. When a multitude of adjustments did little, she gave up with one last angry tug of her shirt. At least the shirt hung loose around her waist. Her shorts were loose, which helped to hide the now more curved shape. Though they were so loose they stayed put only due to the efforts of a belt that caught the top of her hips. Overall, the oversized outfit hid most of her figure as if it were a drape.

    Nadia pulled a short pair of scissors with a plastic handle from the medicine cabinet. Looking in the mirror, she examined her reflection as she pulled her hair back. Her hands shook as the blades came between the first few strands. The scissors clinked against ceramic. Considering she had already washed her hair; it would be a phenomenal waste of shampoo. Long black collections of healthy strands fell behind her shoulders. She pulled some frontward and twirled them around her index finger as she continued debating what to do next. She combed it a little, then examined the sheen.

    A knot caught the comb.

    A startled yelp of pain echoed through the bathroom. She tried to force the comb past it only to yelp again. Luckily, her hair was still damp. With a sigh towards the mirror, she rinsed her comb, opened the medicine cabinet, and slipped it in a plastic case. Nadia stuck her tongue out at the mirror before she ran downstairs. Norman met her at the bottom of the steps, blocking her path into the living room.

    "Going out today?"

    "Shows how much you know. I was going to tell her I didn''t have permission because I don''t need to be pushed into buying woman''s clothing."

    "That would be a lie, you do have my permission," Norman plopped two hundred dollars in her hand. "That''s for you. Clothes and lunch only, don''t be irresponsible. You''re going to need clothes that fit so have Jody help you measure. Don''t forget to buy some bras and underpants, preferably plain white, no frills."

    It took Nadia a minute to unfreeze, "Then I''ll just tell her I have something better to do and I''ll give the money back when I get home."

    "Look, you need to at least relax a bit. You''ve been doing nothing but training, pacing, and sitting around since you''ve returned. Secondly, you need clothes that fit in order to function. You need socks. You need sneakers. You need clothes. And unfortunately, you need a bra."

    "I do not!" Nadia yelled on her way out the door.

    He kept her from slamming the door by standing at the doorway, "They''ll sag you know."

    Nadia picked up a small shiny rock and threw it at him for good measure. He dodged it. The next one was bigger; it knocked him back inside the house, where he would later discover a lump and the need for a few aspirin due to her improved aim.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    -----

    Nadia walked slowly. It was a drier day; the bugs weren''t so prevalent and her clothes weren''t so stuffy. A few cars passed by on the avenue she walked. The trees swayed in the breeze. Her flip-flops did exactly that on the asphalt, which was still warming, as the sun had risen only recently. On coming across a pine cone, she kicked it along with only one concern, to keep it from falling over the hillside. Soon she achieved a full kilometer without sending the cone over the hill; though each time she kicked it came close. At times, she rushed toward the hill''s edge to catch it with her foot.

    For a moment, she forgot her troubles. Nadia smirked at the hapless cone like a cocky little kid. It rolled until she sent it into the air with more force. She would have kicked it all the way to Jody''s; but, as it is common practice for thoughts and memories to sneak into prominence at any time they desire, she suddenly remembered what Natalie had said last. Her own sister preferred her to stay the way she was right now. Nadia turned a bit red at the thought of her traitorous sibling and kicked the pine cone down the hill. Nadia clutched her chest as if in pain; there had to be a way reverse this curse soon.

    The sound of leaves and twigs crushed underfoot mixed with the rustling of leaves just behind the guard rail. Other memories sunk in. Bad memories. Nadia held her forehead and turned pale, but she didn''t want to think about what she had seen. She had spent all week trying to block it from her mind. There was nothing she could do or could''ve done to make it better than it had turned out. It wasn''t her fault!

    Nadia looked in the direction of the sound as a young man burst forth from the forest. He bounced from the guard rail as he lunged for her neck, his lips curling victoriously. Nadia dodged to the side in reaction, but fell on her rump in the process. As he landed on his feet and crouched, she rolled up and retreated with a full backwards somersault to put some distance between them. As Josh pivoted to face her, she assumed a fighting stance. There was a pause as they appraised each other.

    "What''s the big idea- Hey!" she yelled, "You''re not my dad!"

    Josh smiled, "If you would''ve let me hit you the first time, I would''ve let you alone. But since you can dodge like that, it''s on!"

    He dashed forward, a blur, and struck her stomach twice with a closed fist. While she was stunned, he twirled behind her and smacked her in the back, knocking her to the roadside. Loose gravel skinned her palms as she caught herself. Stones scratched her forehead as she rolled over on her back. Josh knelt and pushed the back of her head into the pavement with her palm.

    "All you can really do is dodge, and you suck at it. No fun at all."

    "I''ll show you!"

    She clutched the hand pressing her forehead, pushing it away so forcefully he fell backwards, but as she scrambled to her feet, he managed a solid grip on her long hair.

    "Help!"

    "Only the weak cry for help!"

    The distraction worked, she turned and landed a solid punch in the center of the gut. Josh''s grip on her hair weakened, she took hold of his arm and slung his body over the guard rail. He fell down the hill backwards until he hit the rotten trunk of an old tree. The trunk stopped his fall, but it also splintered. The dead tree would have fallen atop of him if he had not rolled sideways into a pool of thick mud. The wizard was right about her, Josh thought as he leapt back up the hill, she was a live one. Now he wanted to make it clear he was stronger. He jumped on the guard rail and leapt again, this time bending his knees in the air.

    "You want some more!" Nadia yelled.

    His hands caught her shoulders as his knees slammed into her waist. Nadia hit the ground forcefully with knees pressing into her gut. A single hand gripped her neck, pressing it so she could neither move nor speak but not blocking her breath. Yet her arms went limp, as did her legs. Was it some kind of pressure point technique?

    "Sorry, it''s not nothing personal. I''ll kill you painless because I''m a good guy. It''s good you were perfectly capable of defending yourself. I''d hate to feel guilty about killing a girl."

    As he aimed his fist, his grip on her neck relaxed slightly. A moment''s hesitation as he caught her eyes gave her the ability to block his death blow. His hand slipped from her neck as the force of the attack landed in her palms. A left hook dislocated his jaw before a swift uppercut jammed it back in place. The back of his head drummed the guard rails into vibrating audibly. He was disoriented enough for her to get back on her feet. A dagger shone as it was pulled from his belt. However, the dull roar of an approaching automobile induced him to bolt into the woods. A station wagon pulled alongside the road. Jody jumped from the passenger side while Nadia brushed minute bits of gravel from her clothing.

    "Nadia, your forehead''s all cut. Are you okay?"

    "It was nothing," Nadia lied, still dazed, "I tripped over a pine cone and almost slid down the mountain, clumsy me. How bout we get going?"

    This was as good an opportunity to escape as any, so she hurried to get in the car.

    The station wagon pulled away and drove out of the assassin''s sight.

 16. Help! These Conversations Dont Pass The Test!

    Jody''s mom carefully examined Nadia through the rear-view mirror, said, "So you''re Nathan''s cute little cousin. Jody told me all about meeting you yesterday. Too bad he had to leave so quickly. You call me Sam."

    "I already- Nice to meet you Sam. Everything''s kind of impulsive in our family, sorry."

    "So, what''s it like in Montana?"

    "Cold, and the hills are black."

    Sam giggled, "It''s nice to see you have his sense humor. Do you live near the black hills?"

    "I live closer to Bismarck."

    "That''s in North Dakota," Jody said.

    Nadia stiffened nervously. "I live closer to Bismarck than to the mountains, but I still live in Montana."

    "That''s nice," Sam said, "So are you ready to go shopping."

    Nadia managed a fake smile, "Ready as I''ll ever be."

    "You have your uncle''s permission, I hope."

    "He gave me money and everything. You can text him if you like. There shouldn''t be any problem."

    "We have to pick up a few more friends. That way you''ll have some company back there. We''re glad to have you this early because I don''t have to ride back for you. It''ll save us a few minutes. Jody said you might not be ready until after we ate because we decided to pick up an early breakfast."

    Jody tapped her mom on the shoulder and asked her if she had to tell Nadia everything. Nadia smiled nervously, scratching the back of her neck. A thin road cut through a hillside community composed mostly of homes with cracking stucco exteriors. There was a house built on the highest ground with faded aluminum siding; two or three major dents were on the front walls along with a plethora of minor ones.

    The station wagon pulled on the property''s loose stone drive to the crunch of gravel. A skinny girl with brown framed glasses that matched her hair skipped down the walk. There was a book in her left hand and a small yellow purse over her left shoulder. This girl wore a long yellow shirt, dark jeans, and yellow sandals with short heels. After quickly introducing herself to Nadia, she said hello to Jody and Mrs. Fischer. Her name was Amanda. She sat stiffly with her book on her lap and gave Nadia the slightest glance at intervals. The pendant on the tarnished chain had slipped outside Nadia''s shirt.

    "That''s an interesting necklace," Amanda said as the car pulled back onto the main road.

    Nadia didn''t want to attract attention to it.

    "It''s nothing special."

    "Can I try it on?"

    "No."

    "I thought you said it was nothing special."

    "It isn''t, and we''ll leave it at that."

    "Hey," Jody said, craning her head back against the pressure of her seat belt to see behind her, "It looks exactly like the one Nathan wears. I mean exactly, I thought it was one of a kind?"

    "Family heirloom. He left it here. I''m keeping it for a while."

    "Oh, that doesn''t sound at all like him."

    Amanda rolled her eyes, "I thought you said it was nothing special."

    Nadia stuffed the pendant back in her shirt as she entertained no further conversation about it.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    The next stop was a large brick mansion in the middle of a plush estate. Horses grazed in the acreage of a huge pasture. Mature, evenly spaced, maple trees thick with foliage adorned the front yard. The grass around them cut in neat circles by a white-haired old man in blue overalls, who sat staunchly on an oversized riding mower.

    Before the station wagon could even come to a complete stop, Jody jumped out and ran to the house entrance. Nadia forced herself to sit still and keep quiet; she wasn''t comfortable with the prospect of conversation under false pretenses, and she wasn''t quite familiar with how girls communicated with other girls when they were alone. Thankfully, Amanda sank into her book, making Nadia''s silence all the easier.

    Finally, Sam blew the horn, five minutes later she did so again, and two minutes after that the girls finally came out together. The girl from the estate wore a white knee length skirt with a matching blouse that was light and airy. She was introduced herself as Tish Johnson as she sat beside Amanda and extended a hand to Nadia.

    Tish asked how Nadia had received the cuts on her forehead, to which Nadia replied with the story that she slipped and rolled over some loose stone. Nadia remembered Tish and Amanda from school. Both girls were Jody''s friends. This was the first time she was actively associating with Jody''s inner circle of friends; hanging out with girls made the hairs on the back of Nadia''s neck stand at end.

    Breakfast at the Sunrise Diner went by quickly, without incident, and with little conversation of any consequence beyond well-coordinated shopping plans. Nadia ate quietly. She sat as if in her own world and paced her eating so she could talk as little as possible. When they filed back into the station wagon, Nadia found herself between Tish and Amanda. The thought of a two-hour drive with only girls, sandwiched between two of Jody''s friends, made Nadia tense. Why did they have to drive two hours to some outlets just to shop?

    Jody looked back toward her friends.

    "I was going to invite Nathan because I knew he wouldn''t come. It would''ve been weird if he did because he would have been the only guy, and we would have had to make him sit up front."

    "He wouldn''t have come," Tish said. "Why would you suggest something so awkward?"

    "It''s a good thing we have Nadia then," Amanda said.

    "Jody wanted to simulate a date, but her plan failed," Tish said.

    Amanda giggled.

    "I did not. I just thought offering would be an easy way to apologize."

    "What''s wrong with wanting to date him? He seems like a total hunk, and you like to hang out with him, a lot," Tish said.

    Jody began to brighten. Nadia turned red and scratched the back of her neck again, "Can we talk about something else?"

    "You''re his cousin right, don''t you think he''s really cute? Wouldn''t you date him if he wasn''t your cousin."

    Nadia shook her head, still quite crimson, mouth slightly agape, "Ehh! I never thought about it before. It''s kind of- disgusting. Can''t we talk about something else?"

    "Stop teasing Tish," Jody said, "I think you''re upsetting her."

    "Am I upsetting you?"

    "Kind of- in a way. Yes."

    "You''re not planning on telling your cousin we think he''s cute, are you?" Tish asked.

    Nadia laughed nervously, "No! Why would I do that?"

    "You never tell that kind of stuff to a boy. This is girls only."

    Nadia laughed some more, a forced sort of laugh, "Then it''s a good thing I''m a girl."

    "What in the world do you mean by that?" Jody asked.

    "Nothing. I just said it to-" Nadia scratched the back of her neck until she was interrupted with Amanda''s interpretation of what she had said.

    "Nadia means that girls are better than boys, isn''t it obvious?"

    "I wouldn''t- disagree with that," Nadia said, she had meant to disagree, but changed her words and tone in mid-sentence. Then she looked down at her shorts and whispered under her breath that Amanda''s idea wasn''t all that obvious from what she was hearing. A few calm minutes passed.

    "You have such gorgeous hair, what''s your secret?" Amanda asked.

    "Nothing, I just kind of let it go- I guess," Nadia admitted

    That satisfied Amanda, she opened her book and started reading again; Nadia was surprised Amanda didn''t get motion sickness. Tish scanned the faded blue polo shirt and the ill-fitting denim shorts before looking down toward the big flip flops. The shirt was too big and slid over Nadia''s shoulder, revealing the lack of a bra strap. It wasn''t overly obvious that Nadia wasn''t wearing a bra, but Tish could still tell.

    "Is that a boy''s outfit you have on?"

    "Maybe it''s a new style," Amanda suggested without turning from her book. "It might be what''s hot in Montana."

    Nadia liked Amanda''s suggestion intensely, but she never got her chance to affirm it because Jody spoke too quickly.

    "Her stuff was sent to a foreign country and she couldn''t get it back, so she''s been forced to wear it."

    "I feel for you," Tish said. "I think I would absolutely die if that happened to me."

    "It''s not that bad, really."

    "Don''t tell me you''re a tomboy,"

    "Well- in a way- right now I guess I am," Nadia force a smile, "But I do kind of need clothes that fit?"

    "Makeover!" was shouted in unison by the others.

    Nadia melted into her seat with a timid laugh.

    Behind the station wagon a dull red minivan followed a few cars back. Josh sat in the passenger seat as he calmly signaled the driver to follow his every direction.

 17. Help! Jody Is Making Me Be Feminine!

    The outlets were a collection of red-brick buildings surrounded by parking lots. Square green trash bins lined the walls at intervals along the rear of each building. Cement steps led to sets of heavy wooden doors that were rather sloppily painted with thick white paint. Above the doors was a sign for the Feminine Apparel Outlet Center.

    There was also a new plastic sign on the door itself. Directly inside was the unfurnished platform of a wide staircase. The worn white tile floor led to the side doors into the shops. Nadia played with her hair while observing the shoddy interior paint job of the window sill, so she didn''t read the signs.

    "So, where are we going first?" she asked.

    "Didn''t you read the sign?" Jody asked, "They sell lingerie here."

    "Underwear?"

    "Bras, panties, pajamas, slips, that sort of thing. Don''t tell me you''ve grown accustomed to commando. That would be ultimate gross! We''re going to make sure you wear something appropriate."

    Before Nadia could protest, Jody took her by the wrist and forced her inside. Rack after rack of bras of multiple sizes and many styles were the first thing she noticed. Back in the center third of the store were bins, racks, and packages of underpants; the distant back third of the store specialized in pajamas, night gowns, and even some of the more suggestive apparel.

    The shoppers were diligent, and the lines at the counters were not short. Mrs. Fischer took a cart. Then the girls dispersed, easily finding the areas containing their favored styles. Nadia waited in the aisles while playing with her hair and staring at the floor to avoid looking at anything else. After a few minutes of shopping, Jody left her stuff on a counter and examined Nadia closely to estimate the shape and form of her body.

    Hands pushed Nadia''s hips to judge their size before a simple cotton bra and a pack of underwear fell in her hand.

    "What are you doing?"

    "Taking a quick measure. Your parents must do all your shopping because everyone can see you''re totally lost in here. Try on this bra, it''s bound to be your size, and that underwear should be perfect. Try them on, you''ll find I''m pretty good at this."

    "You want me to wear these?"

    Jody laughed, "No, I want you to eat them."

    Five dressing rooms were lined up at the back of a secluded hall. Only one was empty; it bordered the left exit. Upon being coaxed inside, Nadia found a small bench. Once the door was closed and the privacy bolt in place, she took the opportunity to sit quietly with the undergarments resting in her lap.

    This was absolutely the worst; she wished the cliff and her attacker had taken her. She felt the scratch on her forehead; it was slightly raised and the scab was crusty. Jody pounded on the door a few minutes later and asked if the clothes fit. When she heard out Nadia hadn''t started yet she said she''d wait on her after chiding her for the lack of activity.

    Nadia couldn''t believe she was doing this, forced to change into woman''s underwear behind the thin seclusion of the panel door. She stood up and stared at her reflection before her shirt went over her head and dropped at her feet. The hook for clothes remained overlooked as she fixated on her reflection. A flush hue bloomed across her cheeks as she covered with her arms. She had to tell herself she could put a bra on, she looked toward the wall as she whispered encouragements to herself.

    The bra was pink, simple enough, she''d have prefered white. It took her a few minutes to force it on as she fumbled with the hooks and kept dropping the straps. Nadia could hear Jody sighing outside and saw her sneakers beneath the door.

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Next was the underwear, soft pink cotton with lace at the edges which Jody had forced on her. Oddly enough, they were much more comfortable than she thought they would be. The men''s briefs were caught by Jody''s foot and drug out of the dressing room. They would be dropped in a trash can. Nadia stared blankly into the mirror until she heard Jody pound the door.

    "Everything fits."

    "Let me see."

    "No way!"

    "Geez, you''re too uptight."

    "Fine," Nadia unlocked the door and stood before Jody in her new lingerie, blushing furiously, "It fits, I''m going to change back now."

    Jody squealed as she got really close, "You have the perfect figure! You have a skin tone to die for. Your hair shimmers even though it''s really dark. Hazel eyes might look good with green or white, but you''d look really good in a light blue with some touches of pink. I need to talk to Trish about your outfit some more."

    "What are you talking about?" Nadia held her oversized shirt in front of her waist, "Why are my- the other underwear missing?"

    "Because I threw that stinky stuff out after I bought you those. I knew they''d fit so I bought them ahead of time, now you don''t have to wear boy''s briefs anymore. I already paid and talked to the staff." Jody raised an eyebrow and spoke sarcastically as she leaned in so close that the tips of their noses were nearly touching, "Or do you like wearing your cousin''s underwear?"

    Nadia needed another excuse to get her normal clothes back!

    "I can''t wear new stuff yet."

    "Why not?"

    "It''s- new! What if somebody tried it on before?"

    "Don''t be such a baby; besides, they were in a sealed pack. You secretly have a thing for your cousin, don''t you!? You like wearing his clothes?"

    "How dare! No way!" Nadia pulled her shirt on over the bra, and replaced her oversized jean shorts. She''d rather deal with new undergarments than be treated like a pervert. "That was uncalled for. I''m going- going- to shop for pajamas. So there!"

    Nadia stammered away angrily for the moment. Jody smiled mischievously behind her. Soon the other girls had convinced her, through sheer peer pressure, shame, force of argument, and numbers, to allow them to supervise her choices in the way of night clothing, making sure she didn''t violate the cute factor with choices such as dark flannel night suits.

    Once the bags of new merchandise were safely in the back of the station wagon, they went to the upstairs portion of the outlet, where woman''s outfits were sold. It was a place where a girl could live or die through the process of trying on new clothing. Once inside, Nadia sighed again, trembling slightly because the other girls were whispering plans behind her back, it was like they knew she hated this and enjoyed tormenting her. She said goodbye to her loose polo shirt in advance.

    -----

    The denim outlet had a small food court that sold soda, some poor-quality burgers, hot dogs, and other junk food in small stands within the walls. The girls sat together at a round fiber glass table that rattled and wobbled. Nadia the tomboy had been defeated as far as dress was concerned. She was no longer wearing her boyish jean shorts, flip-flops, or the oversized polo shirt. In exchange for those articles, she found herself in an outfit that was a degree more flirtatious. Her flip-flops had been disposed of for a pair of blue and white sneakers with light blue socks that hugged her ankles.

    Her new skirt was of light blue elastic fabric; it was cut above the knee and hugged the curve of her hips. A light pink blouse with blue trim flowed over her torso. They had even decorated her hair on the sides with a few pink and blue barrettes to add color, and combed it so that a healthy lock fell over the front of her shoulder. Some of the boys at the counter kept looking at them, one eyed Nadia specifically. They were making Nadia lose an appetite that wasn''t good to begin with, so Nadia ended up throwing most of her food away, saving only a few french-fries for gnawing.

    "You''re not still angry that we convinced you to change outfits so quickly?" Jody asked.

    "You poured soda all over my other clothes," Nadia growled, "It wasn''t exactly convincing."

    "It was an accident. We did you a favor," Tish said, "Wearing your cousin''s clothes is awful."

    "I don''t like to wear new stuff before washing it."

    "But you look so cute," Amanda said.

    "I didn''t really find that much here," Tish said. "Bargain clothes aren''t my thing but this was a novel experience. I think I''ll stick with catalogues. It was a good thing for Nadia though, she needed something to wear in a hurry."

    "I think our makeover was a complete success," Jody declared, "She needs something though, wait, I know. She needs a purse to match the outfit. There''s a purse store just across the way, she can buy one there. And she needs some lipstick, her lips are a bit pale."

    "I really don''t think I need a purse. And I don''t wear make-up!"

    "Of course you do!" they said as they started toward the purse outlet.

    "I''m not going with you!" Nadia yelled, on this one she would hold her ground "I don''t need a purse! I''m going to buy jeans!"

    "Make sure they''re form fitting. By the way, that boy over there is looking at you," Jody teased.

    There was a red-haired boy, very thin with a face full of acne, at the next table, who devoured a burger. She looked his way and he did something that could have been interpreted as winking.

    "Fine then," Nadia muttered, but they were already well on their way. "All right, just don''t leave me here!"

 18. Help! Nobody Lives Without Fear!

    A little pink purse rested over her right shoulder while she searched through bins of jeans. Now her ensemble was complete. At least jeans were pants, she thought. She thought about ditching the skirt, as she thought herself determined to stab herself in the eyes with razor blades rather than be caught in one ever again. And yet.

    Unfortunately, nobody was interested in helping her anymore, and the sales clerk was only interested in ogling her. By the time she tried five pairs she found a pair that fit. After noting the size, she quietly folded six pairs into a pile and took them to the sales desk.

    ��Are you from around here?�� the clerk asked.

    ��No, I live closer to Pittsburg.��

    ��Are you a model- you know- clothes- fashion?��

    ��No.��

    A salacious wink caught her attention, ��That��s too bad, a body like that belongs on the cover of a catalogue.��

    ��Just ring up the jeans.��

    She turned away for a minute to look at some other clothes that caught her eye, but mainly to avoid looking at a guy who just hit on her. She tried not to blush, but did slightly. It was simple reaction, almost as simple as the one that made her want to jump over the counter and knock out his teeth. Was every guy she ran into today going to act like this?

    If only that idiot knew more, she thought, then he wouldn��t be so eager to comment.

    "Hey, know what, I have a-"

    She looked up. The cashier was gone, so were the other people in line. Her jeans were on the counter, the sale had been rung, but everyone was gone. Their carts were still behind her, but the people had disappeared. There wasn��t another shopper as far as she could see in the entire outlet. Then she saw one other person there, the dusty blonde-haired guy with the half ear. Josh smirked menacingly as she assumed a fighting stance.

    ��Wow, you��ve gotten hotter since we last met, clothes do make the woman I suppose.��

    ��What did you do with everyone!?��

    ��I didn��t kill them. They felt the influence of the terror incubus, just a tiny bit of it really. The fear gave us a little privacy. This is the perfect opportunity to finish our fight.��

    ��Well then, Bring it!��

    The expression on Josh��s face indicated that her reaction was not one he was used to. This woman had something special that he couldn��t quite grasp. He feared her clenched fist, and felt that he could be killed dealing with her. He was scared enough to keep talking.

    ��You resisted me. Those punches back on the road were pure meat. Who would have ever expected it from such a petite thing? I thought the old man was lying when he said you��d be a challenge. I even have a question for you. Aren��t you afraid?��

    ��I don��t feel anything. What��s all this talk about feelings all the sudden? Come over here and get beaten so we can finish this stupid fight!��

    ��Fine, we finish this now!��

    With one long lunge, he aimed his fist full force. Nadia dodged to the side, and using only her opponent��s motion to provide the force for impact, her fist met his gut. Saliva flew from his lips as he fell backwards. Less than a second later she gripped his neck to keep him from recovering.

    ��I thought about your move a little bit, not that hard. A little pressure to the right spot and your opponent is paralyzed from the neck down. A little too much pressure and I could kill you, but since you were so complimentary, I��ll let you go if tell me why you''re after me.��

    Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    Josh smiled, whispered, ��Don��t wet yourself.��

    A tsunami overcame the island of her thoughts. Perspiration gathered over her forehead. She felt her heart beat faster and harder. Her trembling hands slipped from Josh��s neck. Gasping, she stumbled backwards into a bin of jeans. Cold wires wrapped her as she burrowed inside the bin and hid herself. She became a lead ball.

    Every time she closed her eyes visions of death, gruesome dead, grasping corpse-like figures screamed in agony as they clawed her. Josh flung away the jeans Nadia used to hide her huddled form. Nadia wanted to jump out and defy him, but the words she heard herself utter shocked her. The cowardly mixed with a soft feminine tone.

    Josh drank it like a cocktail.

    ��Please- don��t hurt me... please.��

    ��I��m surprised you haven��t wet yourself.��

    Thousands of baby spiders crawled over her.

    ��Go away!��

    ��Fear is such a powerful emotion. You��re experiencing the full effect of my terror incubus. I want to see you overcome by it.��

    She could barely breathe, ��I can��t- I can��t- I- I- please take it away. Somebody help me!��

    The bin fell over. She slowly crawled out, but all her effort couldn��t prevent him from petting the back of her neck. Cold sweat formed at his touch as he unlatched chain that held her pendant, as if he knew the mechanism already. Josh took it for himself, covering it slowly within his palm.

    ��You talk tough, but deep down you��re just a scared little girl. Lucky for you, it wouldn��t be honorable to kill you. But I still get paid if I take this pretty little necklace.��

    With the pendant off her neck, Nadia could hear him walking away. She forced herself to stumble upright, even though her legs were unsteady. ��This has nothing to do with me being a girl! No! I don��t care anymore. I can��t let you can��t take that pendant!��

    The footsteps stopped as he turned around, ��You��re standing? Man! You��re full of surprises, aren��t you?�� He tossed the pendant high and caught it. ��You want it, come, and take it from me. I- won��t- even- move- an inch.��

    Nadia drug cement feet across the floor. Forced fear. With each step, she could feel herself going faint. Blood rushed to her head and her breath became heavy. It felt as though she could drown in her own tears. Every fiber of her being cried until she became in her mind a child, a barefoot little girl in a sleeveless nightgown being chased by monsters from under the bed. The store disappeared, and she found herself alone at the edge of a forest. The trees were adorned with grisly black bark complimented by dark blue leaves. The grass of a meadow bordering the forest tickled her feet. Loose dirt found its way between her toes. A cold wind from above stung the bare skin of her shoulder.

    On a path into the forest stood a heavyset woman with salt and pepper hair tied in a bun. She wore a plain tan kimono with a brown sash decorated by white flower print. Nadia couldn��t forget the frown lines on that weary yet kind face. It was Lady Garasa. Yet her face twisted, the kind features becoming stoney.

    ��Wicked child, why did you come to our peaceful village. I would still be alive if you hadn��t charmed my son. You vile creature! The deaths of our people rest on your shoulders.��

    The lady vanished before Nadia could protest. Vines laden with sharp thorns slithered around the trees and coiled up their trunks. They lashed outwards from the edge of the forest to wrap her legs and arms. Thorns sliced her flesh deeply; a pain burned as venom dripped from their points. She slashed at the vines wrapping her left arm using a thorn protruding from the vine wrapping her right. Once her left arm was cut free, the vision dissipated, the store racks returned, and Josh waited with her pendant.

    She ran for him but it was like an invisible wall of mucus slowed her approach before her vision faded again.

    ��It knows your greatest fears.��

    Nadia leaned over a mirror, her hands beside the glass. A heavy purple kimono did little to hide her swollen abdomen. Something kicked her from the inside. The woman in the mirror looked older, even a bit tired. A little girl in a smaller version of Nadia��s purple kimono tugged at her mother��s robes in an attempt to get her attention. The little girl said something about her little brother being hungry, pointing to a screaming child. Nadia broke into a sweat; her hands shook. For a few minutes, she tensed before the child��s crib, staring. Then she picked him up and cradled him close to her chest. Lady Garasa stood in the background, visible in the mirror as she stared with a scowl.

    ��You��re not real. The person I met was kind.��

    The illusion dissipated once again.

    Nadia approached Josh full speed, fists clenched, red faced, and breathing heavily.

    "No! No, no, no! It will break your mind if you even try!"

    She came to a complete stop as Josh bulged. Clothes burnt away. Skin became charred. He grew to a size that towered over her as he transformed into a demon golem composed of burning coal. A deep red scar shaped like a cross ran across its chest. The beast attacked with glowing red disembodied eyes that burned as they swirled around her. Nadia froze in place as a terror chilled and burned in the same moment, only to gather her courage and punch into the midst of the beast.

    As her fist contacted the scar, it cracked open. A burning fire engulfed her fingers before flames shot up her arm. Her skin glowed and then darkened. Nadia screamed as her body became like coal.

    She stepped inside the opening.

 19. Help! Apocalyptic Visions Drained My Power!

    The sky burned bright red, darkened only by swirling scarlet clouds that grew darker towards the center until they became pitch black. The ground spit steam. Burnt stalks, formally trees, jutted from the terrain. Nadia walked at the side of a long black path of half-melted tar. A flap of metal stuck out of the asphalt; the street sign for Mackenloo avenue. Her home.

    The siding melted and charred, though the house looked mostly intact. She waded through piles of trash to reach the kitchen. Charred tile crunched under her sneakers. Broken appliances were piled on the counter. Blackened metal legs stood where the kitchen table had burned away. The trash can fell out from underneath the sink. A wave of maggots slid around her feet. Blistering air rolled into the kitchen as the ceiling smoldered open.

    A burning ember fell upon her cheek. The living room was there, though any trace of comfort gone. A portable metal chair with a burnt plastic seat lay on the floor amidst debris, the only furniture. Somehow, the wooden staircase remained intact, yet with rails severely charred. Red liquid smeared the stairs. Each of her steps blended the groan of the wood mixed with the squelch of the liquid against her sneakers.

    The trail led to the first bedroom. Her palm pressed the blackened door frame. A figure, sickly and drawn, knelt over the mattress frame. An emaciated body tangled itself within the coils, unrecognizable, and composed of maggots. The twisted figure pulled at the squirming larva, only to have the body crumble.

    ��Nadia, this is lifeless.��

    ��No! Dad!��

    It fell into her arms limply. The body disintegrated into a pile of maggots as if it never was. They entered her hands and squirmed upwards. Their bite inflicted a pain that made her scream at the top of her voice. She slowly began to lose her footing and falter. Her wrists tensed as her eyes dimmed. This vision took her. But before she gave way, she noticed a pendant hanging in the center of the room over a sinking carpet of squirmers.

    She reached.

    She cried and gasped for breath, but she continued to reach for it despite the gnashing pain. She moved in slow motion, as if under water, but Josh kept his promise by not moving an inch. Strength left every limb of her body as her fingers approached the pendant and scraped at it. She grasped it. The little beasts fell aside and faded away as the illusion broke.

    Nadia��s blood succumbed to gravity as she fainted over her enemy. Her face pressed directly into his chest as she breathed deeply. Josh blushed as he held her until the pendant dropped from her opening palm. It clinked as it bounced, then vibrated until finally resting flat. Josh knelt, put his arms under her to pick her up and laid her on a metal bench. He ran his fingers through her hair, listened for her breath, and felt the beating of her pulse before placing a stack of jeans under her head. The pendant went securely between her waist and palm. He rubbed her enclosed hand with his palm. A clean handkerchief wiped her forehead clear of accumulating sweat.

    ��A deal is a deal,�� Josh groaned, ��If it��s that important to you, I won��t take it.��

    He grimaced, then groaned while clutching his stomach. He pushed himself up and hurried toward the back of the store. Something rose beyond his control as a red glow swirled around him. Shards of glass and splintered wood flew outwards from the window he stood near. He clutched his head in a cold sweat as the terrors came snapping back into him. He jumped, rolled off a trash bin, and ran away.

    Nadia shivered when she awoke a little while later. The terror aura had faded and people were returning. She could hear an argument about a broken window. Jody stood over her closely, startling her again. Her head pounded. Her pendant, the chain open, rested beneath her hand. She examined it carefully with a puzzled look, having no idea how it remained with her. A shadow loomed over her.

    ��What are you doing?�� Jody asked.

    ��Got tired, took a nap,�� she explained, thinking quickly.

    ��Well, get the stuff you brought, we have four more outlets to visit. Did you see that broken window toward the back? They''re calling the police about it.��

    ��No, I didn��t. Wait, four more stores? Do I have to? I��m tired of shopping. I even dropped.��

    The attempt at humor was a total failure.

    ��You can wait in the car if you want.��

    ��Fine, I��m coming. I��m not that tired.��

    Nadia mentioned nothing of the conflict to the others, and made a successful effort not to complain about a painful lump on the back of her head. They weren��t suspicious in the least; instead, the other girls were only anxious to see what she had bought in their absence, wanting to get another idea of her taste in clothing. The shopping from then on mostly involved the other girls. Finished with her personal purchases, she only browsed.

    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    On the trip home she remained closed to all conversation, only saying the minimal required to be polite. And of course she thanked everyone for all their help and commented on the clothes. If asked how she was she''d simply explain that she was sleepy. She gazed out the window with heavy eyes as they rode along the highway. Yes, she still had the pendant. But those visions had sucked all the fun out this trip. They swirled heavily in her head as she tried to forget them.

    "A bit sleepy?" Jody asked.

    "Nghhh, yeah, I''m beat,"

    ��I��m having a pool party this weekend. You can come if you want to,�� Tish said.

    Nadia nodded tiredly.

    ��Well, what do you think?��

    ��Sounds great, sure,�� Nadia mumbled, without considering what she was agreeing to, or caring for that matter. She fell asleep sitting up. When someone spoke to her, she tried to act awake and agreeable despite the aggravating bruises and sore spots from two fights in one day. Jody shook Nadia��s shoulder, but she remained in a state of pseudo sleep.

    ��Nadia, I have a gold bikini that would go great with your coloring, you can wear it to the party if you like. It��s really skimpy.��

    ��Ya, sounds great.��

    The other girls giggled.

    -----

    It was almost ten o��clock by the time the station wagon pulled back into Nadia��s drive. Mrs. Fischer gave Nadia her bags from the trunk, but Nadia refused her offer to help take them inside. Norman waited at the door as she expressed her gratitude and waved goodbye before watching them drive off. Partly roused from the sleep of the trip home, she could see he was agitated from his scolding stare. She carried her bags to the sofa and sat down to rest.

    ��Where are the others?��

    ��Outside, except for Natalie. She��s in bed.��

    ��What do you think of my new look?�� she asked sarcastically. ��They forced me to go through a makeover because of you.��

    His middle and index finger pressed against his temple, ��Forced you?��

    ��This is all your fault. And to tell the truth, right now, I don��t feel like a man in any way at all. I don��t identify with anything that could be considered masculine, men��s underwear isn��t even comfortable anymore, and I don��t feel comfortable around men. Maybe we should be glad I��m still a person at all, you know, like you said before. And really, you were in on all of this as far as I''m concerened!��

    Norman played with his fingers, ��You��re really more comfortable in woman��s clothing then?��

    She got up and patted her father on the back, ��I��ve decided to wear clothes that fit. Don��t worry dad, this is the only skirt, and I didn��t even buy it. Most of what I bought were jeans and summer shirts. I also got some new shoes that fit, and most of my socks are white, not pink.��

    Norman rummaged through a bag.

    ��I see you��ve chosen a nice assortment of undergarments.��

    ��Don��t look at that!�� she pulled the bag from him, ��What kind of pervert are you!?��

    Her father gave her a knowing look with a poorly suppressed smirk. Nadia��s head went down, her cheeks flushed, she bit her lip and hugged the bag tighter than ever.

    ��Don��t look at me like that. It doesn''t mean anything. None of this means anything.��

    ��Well, you might decide to remain a woman the rest of your life, so I can��t really blame you.��

    ��Stop playing your stupid games! What was I supposed to do? You practically forced me to go and Jody decided to make me the center of attention. She couldn��t leave me alone for half the trip! None of them could!��

    "Is there something more you want to tell me?"

    Nadia dropped the bag on the floor and buried her face in her hands.

    ��I was reluctant, I mean, I wanted to get basic stuff, unisex clothes, and boys wear that I could get away with. I didn��t want to go off the deep end. One thing led to another and it just got easier to let them decide for me. I didn��t want to be rude or hurt anyone��s feelings and every time I got a complement from Jody, I just felt so warm inside. I-I-I... looked so different, I even felt different. After the first hour I stopped fighting it, I actually enjoyed it.��

    Her father rubbed the top of her head, ��Sorry. You have the right to enjoy yourself, okay. I��m sure you have a lot to work out, and you have a lot of decisions to make too. I want you to know that I��m here to support you, no matter what.��

    Nadia looked up into her father''s eyes, ��Thanks dad, once I get changed back, I��m going to burn all this girl stuff. I��ve already decided to get my manhood back and I��m not going to let anything stop me. I''m more determined than ever now!��

    ��I have a question.��

    Nadia looked up rather patiently, as it felt like a bad joke brewing.

    ��Which kind of underwear did you say is more comfortable now?��

    Nadia��s eyes widened as she stood and brushed off her skirt with her free hand.

    ��Good night; you��re a terrible father. I��m going to bed.��

    She went to the stairs coldly, then glanced back as he started to go to his office. She quietly placed down the bags and ran up to him quietly, then hugged him from behind, which caused him to freeze in a bit of shock.

    ��But I still love you.��

    -----

    After changing into white flannel pajamas, Nadia checked herself in the mirror. She played with the hair over the sensitive lump on her scalp. Then she fingered the scratch on the center of her forehead. She was astonished she survived with bruises and skinned palms. Her father was used to seeing her get cuts and bruises all the time, so he hadn''t asked any questions. That was a good thing. He probably hadn''t seen Josh attack her because he was busy with Dew and couldn''t be everywhere.

    A heaviness lingered in her head as the visions returned. The hardened, peeling skin that stuck to the center of her palm rubbed her forehead. Visions of death mingled with visions of birth. Repeatedly the emaciated figure of her father uttered the word: lifeless.

    With those thoughts, she crept into bed and slowly faded into sleep. The tossing and turning disheveled her bed sheets as her arms and legs flailed about. Once during the night, Norman would hear her talking and check on her uneasy sleep. A dull moan escaped and she began mumbling tearfully about lady Garasa as she tossed her head back and forth on the pillow.

    With a worried frown, he slowly walked back to his room.

 20. Help! Rematch!

    A swing set stood amidst a grass carpeted playground. Ovals of dust wore into the grass under each swing. The rubber seat cast a rectangular shadow over Josh��s mouth as he laid on his back. Rays of morning sun slanted against his left ear to turn it red. Josh pushed the black rubber seat; it swung back and forth from rusty chains as his bloodshot eyes followed it. Dust coated the inside of his dry mouth and caked his hair. It covered his pants and leather jacket in an even brown stain as it coated his skin. If he could have mustered enough saliva to choke down some of the dry dirt on his tongue, he would have spit.

    Josh rubbed his left eye before doing the same to his forehead. His head ached as he dug his nails into his palm to test his control. A small aura of fear was still in the air around him, but it quickly dissipated until he couldn��t sense the incubus anymore. Licking his sore dry lips, he got up slowly and sat on the swing with some effort. Loose strings of rubber pealed from the seat as he scratched with his nails. While gathering his thoughts, a large purple ball rolled in front of him. A little girl in pink overalls came to retrieve it.

    ��Are you OK mister?��

    ��You��re not afraid of me?��

    ��Why should I be? You don��t look very scary. You look silly. And dirty too.��

    ��That��s a new wrinkle. Most kids are scared of me.��

    Josh smiled without reservation, and she returned a gracious smile of her own. She laughed cutely, and soon they were both laughing for no particular reason. The last time he had heard a child laugh, he was one himself; he missed such little pleasures. Soon the child��s mother came and lifted her away with a warning against talking to vagrants. Josh sat stunned, too stunned to level the insults that crossed his mind. He remained sitting until the woman was gone, then pushed himself up, dusted himself off, and walked in the opposite direction.

    -----

    The warm beads of clean water allowed Nadia to forget about her bruises, which were considerably sorer than yesterday. Nadia struggled when the time came to turn the water off, enjoying it five minutes longer than she needed. A big blue fluffy towel helped her dry quickly, though her hair continued to drip. Beads of water fell over her shoulders, slid down her back, and ran along her curves as she rubbed the bruises on her shoulders and stomach. Her palms looked rough, so she took some rash cream from the medicine cabinet and rubbed it into the peeling abrasions.

    There was an old blow dryer underneath the sink that used to belong to her mother, since her long hair wouldn��t dry sufficiently with the damp towel, she pulled it out with a sigh and plugged it in. After playing with the buttons its air became warm. She lifted her long hair as the mechanically born wind pushed it back, creating waves of it. It felt bouncy when she was finished, and her scalp tingled.

    She checked the bruise on her stomach again, probing it with her fingers. It was sensitive enough to cause pain, but the one on her shoulder was worse. It bothered her when she straightened her posture, so putting on her bra became a minor ordeal, as did lifting her arms to drop into a big white shirt. Both bruises complained when she bent over to pull up her jeans.

    Everything except her shirt were items she had purchased yesterday. The new jeans hugged her hips. The bruise on her stomach complained again as she bent to put her sneakers on, so she lifted her foot onto her knee and put them on that way. She was about finished cleaning up after herself when she heard the phone ring. Her father answered it as she put her towel in the laundry chute and headed down the steps.

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ��Hello... This is Norman, his father... No, Nathan won��t be able to make it tonight... A promised rematch, maybe when he comes back from Montana.��

    Nadia hurried across the living room, stepping over the cards of a memory game that Luthial and Natalie where busily engaged in.

    ��Hey!�� Natalie sulked, ��Be careful!��

    ��It��s okay,�� Luthia said, ��Look, we can change the cards and play again.��

    Nadia grabbed the receiver from her father��s hands.

    ��I��ll be there, what time? ...And so what if I sound like a girl?!�� she blushed awkwardly upon realizing she��d forgotten herself for a moment, but that could be easily fixed, ��I happen to be his cousin, a girl, and yes I do know how to fence... even better than him. You��ll have your match.��

    Norman heard a laugh from the phone.

    ��Laugh all you want, you��ll be sorry when you��re beaten,�� Nadia slammed it back onto the receiver, ��That jerk, and to believe I actually thought he was pretty cool. I��m coming whether you invite me or not, so there!��

    ��That was before all this trouble, right?��

    ��I didn��t mean it that way,�� she started back up the steps to get her sword. ��I need to practice my technique, if you need me, I��ll be in the yard.��

    ��You better hurry then, you only have a few hours.��

    -----

    Wood chips flew from a dead silver maple as Nadia slashed it with her sword. They scattered across the grass like newly spilt mulch as she gouged three triangular openings in its trunk. At first, she had drilled a spot with her sword point to practice speed and accuracy, but she soon ignored the point drill and began testing her strength. Then she started chopping the tree from the side with her sword. She attacked from every imaginable angle, ignoring the sensitivity of her bruises.

    The sword would stick in the wood with every blow, but she would pull it out with an angry grunt and start slashing again while baring her teeth like a bloodthirsty wolf. The wood resisted stubbornly; even though it was dry and dead it would not be daunted by her simple fencing sword. Dew heard the violent slashing and approached from the forest. He watched her as she continued to beat the trunk mercilessly, then came from behind and caught her wrist before another blow could be struck.

    ��I would like to know what you��re attempting to accomplish. Please don��t tell me this is the way you practice.��

    ��Let go! It��s not your business.��

    His hand slid purposely against her wrist, over her glove, and hit her sword hilt with enough force to push it from her hand with his palm. The sword flew forward into another tree, like a javelin after being tossed. Nadia was left to stare quietly at her hand, still positioned as if still holding a sword.

    ��The way you abuse that sword is insulting. Practicing in such a manner will only decrease your skill. Worse, you could end up hurting yourself with your own uncontrolled anger.��

    ��I��m not angry!��

    Dew blinked.

    ��Yes, I see. So, who are you planning to kill?��

    ��Kill!?��

    She walked over to the other tree to pull her fencing sword from it. It took more effort than she anticipated and she almost fell backward when it popped out, ��You have the wrong impression. It��s only a tag match, I��m not planning to hurt anyone.��

    ��A tag match?��

    ��To win you tag your opponent with the tip of the sword three time. The first one to get three tags wins. No one gets hurt.��

    ��Sounds like a noble practice, so you might want to practice more nobly.��

    ��I can still wound his pride. He called me a girl.��

    Dew stared for a moment.

    ��Well, I can see why you are offended. You''re obviously not a girl.��

    She kept herself from grabbing his hands, "Really!?"

    "You''re a mature and beautiful woman."

    ��You dimwit, bug off!��

    Dew started walking back to the house, ��If he underestimates you, then you should use that to your advantage. There��s no use for such reckless anger. If your opponent has invaded your mind to that degree then you have already lost.��

    Nadia muttered under her breath.

    ��Keep your stupid advice to your stupid self, stupid.��

    She waited until after Dew had gone inside, and then began to aim her thrusts calmly at the point she had first carved. The point of her sword hit the target perfectly from that time onward, no matter how far or how fast she conducted herself.

 21. Help! Never Borrow Your Girlfriends Mask!

    The equipment bags of Darrell��s students lined the back wall of an otherwise empty gym. It had been emptied for the summer, and the basketball nets were retracted towards the ceiling. The heavy double doors nearest the activity of the fencing club were propped by a wooden doorstop to allow the summer breeze entry. After checking to make sure her shirt was tucked neatly into her jeans, Nadia entered calmly and surveyed the group.

    Four fully uniformed fencers were engaged in a two-on-two practice match. Darrell had wanted the rematch at the end of instruction time, so even though she had arrived earlier than what he had told her, the students were almost finished with their basic instruction. They practiced basic exercises in two lines under the supervision of Darrell himself.

    Nadia took her sword by the blade and waited by the wall, where she rested until Darrell finished with his students and came to greet her. Her eyes glowed for him. She couldn��t help smiling at the thought of her own cleverness before she clasped Darrell��s hands with academy award eagerness. He started to tell her that the lessons for the week were over and to welcome her to next week��s session, but she preempted him.

    ��I��m not here for practice. You must be the Darrell Flemming my cousin told me about? If I ever imagined you��d be so awesomely handsome I would have never thought of challenging you, but then a challenge is a challenge. I��m Nadia, please don��t go too hard on me.��

    All Darrell could do was stare at the smooth fingers covering his hands. She refused to let go, and he refused to pull away. ��Gee, I- ugh-,�� he blushed, ��Was that a little sarcasm? You must be the one who answered the phone when I called for Nathan. You really need to get a cell phone. Anyway, I doubt you��d be much of a challenge. But if you want to try, I won��t stop you, since you are Nathan��s cousin. But first, do you even have the proper gear?��

    ��I have a jacket and gloves; all I need is a mask. I��m sure one of those guys has something I could borrow.��

    Dew slipped inside and found a secluded spot on the bleachers. No one noticed him, as he sat so still, he was virtually invisible. He could see that Darrell hesitated, even as Nadia pressed closer and looked deeply into his eyes. Teeth clenched against each other as he gripped his knees while staring through Darrell. The thought of Nadia acting that way towards him! Even if she faked it, he could barely take it! She was so preoccupied with her rouse she didn��t notice him watching either. Dew wondered if she could handle herself well enough for a match, as she usually maintained awareness of nearly everything happening around her. Something about her felt off. She looked drained.

    ��That��s not good enough,�� Darrell explained, ��Now your cousin Nathan, I��d face him anytime. I��d win of course, but he would make it worth my time. He��ll be surprised to find I learned some of his techniques.��

    ��I can make it worth your time,�� she protested, her anger showing a tiny bit.

    ��I don��t know you from Jack, if you were lying, I��d just be disappointed.��

    ��If you win, I��ll go on a date with you. On my honor, and the honor of the sport.��

    ��Not good enough.��

    Her jaw almost dropped before she started to grind her teeth and make a fist with her left hand. She had already set this entire deal up. It would soon be time to show him good enough. Instead of leaving, a few of the people in Darrell��s class gathered to listen. His assistants joined him, and they whispered a suggestion in his ear.

    ��Forget the date. You��re not my type but you��re still really cute. We��ll make a real wager. If you lose, you must pledge on your honor to become cheerleader for my fencing team. You��ll cheer at all our matches to the best of your ability until the end of the next school year. You��ll also be required to wear an outfit of our choice while working with the team and it��ll be your duty to provide fresh water and clean towels to the members. If I lose, I��ll subject myself to the same basic terms. So, how confident are you now?��

    For a moment, a look of disgust, then she patted him on the cheek.

    ��Fine, I��d be honored to do that if you win. But I don��t need an attendant. I want you to agree not to fence until the end of the next school year, on your honor, and the honor of the sport.��

    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    ��Fine, it��s a deal,�� Darrell said confidently, ��And I��ll throw in a date as a bonus either way.��

    ��You��re another total jerk!�� Nadia said, blushing.

    ��If you win you don��t have to show.��

    Nadia pulled an adjustable jacket out of her black bag, the same jacket that she had worn when she was boy of thirteen, she had chosen it not only because it was smaller, but because it was the only one that could be adjusted to fit her almost perfectly.

    ��Only one problem, I still don��t have a face mask,�� she said.

    ��Jody, this girl that challenged me to a match needs to borrow your mask, is that okay with you?��

    Nadia��s jaw dropped, ��You��re taking lessons here.��

    ��Hi Nadia,�� Jody said, ��Surprised? He��s a good teacher. I��m hoping to learn some more.��

    ��Why didn��t you tell me. I would have- have.��

    ��You would have what?��

    Nadia playfully punched Jody��s shoulder as she borrowed the fencing mask, making something up so she wouldn��t blow her cover, ��I would have come here sooner. Is this jerk cute or what?��

    ��He may be cute, but I think you should cancel this match. You may have a crush on him now, but it won��t last long if you��re his cheerleader. The last person to challenge him like this had to take over chores at his farm. There��s no telling what he��ll make you do.��

    Nadia winked, then whispered through a smile, ��I don��t intend to lose.��

    Jody blinked. Was Nadia being incredibly naive, or incredibly stupid? There was something else on Jody��s mind; Nadia��s mannerisms were so much like her cousin��s that for a moment she felt as if Nathan was speaking to her. Everything about the girl, the way she talked, moved, her determination, even her attitude reminded her of Nathan.

    Nadia swallowed her pride to put Jody��s mask on. It was sweaty, and it had embarrassingly girlish, colored marker doodles on it, but it fit well enough. But it was sweaty. An entire mask filled with the scent of Jody''s athleticism covered her face. Nadia felt her heart race. It had been part of the plan to pretend she didn��t know how to signal her opponent that she was ready, but with how distracted wearing this scent bomb made her, she pulled off the confusion expertly.

    Darrell stood behind her and showed her how it was done by directing her arms within his own. A small group with time enough to remain watched with interest. Nadia held her breath. This would never work, not with Jody��s mask! Darrell touched her and moved her around like a mannequin. But all Nadia could think of was how everything smelled like Jody!

    The crowd joked that this match wouldn��t delay them too long. However, Jody had seen something in Nadia��s eyes that led her to see through the helpless girl routine. Nadia got her head together, concentrated her excitement into the match, and smiled sadistically behind the damp mask as she set herself into the guard position. She was sure by now  Darrell thought he was dealing with a total amateur, and he wouldn��t realize his mistake until it was too late.

    Nadia opened on the offensive with powerful jabs, one after the other. Their swords clashed as Darrel countered with perfectly timed parries and neither opponent lost balance. A battle of wills ensued that would send them back and forth across the tape line for an entire fifteen minutes without either one scoring a hit.

    The mask began to smell more of Nadia��s scent the longer she wore it. It became slightly less distracting. The swords moved so fast they were either a blur or invisible. Another fifteen minutes of the same and over half the audience had left, until only Jody, Darrell��s assistant, a few onlookers who were enjoying the struggle, and the stealthy Dew remained. Nadia tired first, and Jody realized it when she noticed Nadia��s sword more clearly when it moved, but not Darrell��s. Darrell pressed his advantage so fiercely that Nadia retreated to the end of the line, where he scored when the rubber tip at the end of his sword poked her chest.

    They both dripped with sweat when they realigned in the center of the black tape for the next set. Darrell��s attacks were stronger now. Jody had hoped Darrell would tire too, but instead, he had become more forceful and more powerful. Nadia avoided him by stepping up her mobility and giving every ounce of stamina to the battle. She attempted to ignore her exhaustion, the complaints of every muscle, and the crying aches of the bruises she had received the previous day.

    Slowly, she regained lost ground. For two minutes, she moved Darrell back by getting her sword near the edge of his coat and backing away before he could counter. She refused to slow down but Darrell saw a predictable pattern in her moves and reactions. Nadia forced herself to think with a handbook tactical mindset and consistently dodged to the left after his parries, so he launched a counter thrust in that direction. The tip of his sword poked her stomach. They repositioned to the center for the possible match set.

    It lasted a minute.

    Nadia launched a mass of feints to cover for her weakness, and dove sloppily in an attempt for her first point. When he turned sideways, she forced herself to pull back but lost balance. Darrell knocked her sword out of her hand with a fierce counter parry, taking advantage of her weakened grip. The match over, she slumped downward with her legs folded against her sides so that her heels slid beside her hips. Nadia threw off the borrowed mask and stared at her sweat soaked jeans in astonishment. Sweat streamed forth from her hair as she panted like a dog that had been locked in sauna.

    Gassed.

    The final humiliation came when the tip of Darrell��s sword gently poked her shoulder.

 22. Help! Pick Up Hitchhikers At Your Own Risk!

    The first time she had ever been defeated stung deeply. Losing such a challenging match where she had put her all into it shot rays of darkness into her psyche that the terror incubus could only have dreamt of. Nadia pushed her hair back not only to get air through it, but to prevent herself from fainting. She was ready to cry, but hid it well. A red overheated face and the sweat dripping from her brow hid any tears. Her lip quivered.

    ��I actually lost!��

    ��Nadia, right? I suspected you were trying to fool me into complacency, so I decided not to hold back. It��s a good thing I didn��t, you were a superb challenge. I really enjoyed that match, too bad your stamina couldn��t hold. You should practice more, maybe some cardio. Don��t forget our little agreement. See you next week.��

    Dew jumped from the bleachers. He wore Nathan��s clothes predating the change, so he didn��t look as strange as he could have. Though he had jumped down unexpectedly from the top bench. He wasted no time in pointing out Darrell.

    ��Now you will face me.��

    ��How about next week? I��m tired.��

    Dew snatched Nadia��s sword, ��Face me, or perish.��

    ��Do you know this guy?�� asked Jody.

    Nadia hesitated to answer.

    ��Relax dude, is she your girlfriend?�� Darrell asked.

    ��I am not!�� Nadia yelled.

    ��I��m going to marry her.��

    ��Don��t listen, he��s delusional!��

    ��We have to make this quick,�� Darrell said. ��To win you have to score a hit in fifteen minutes. If you don��t, I win, I also win if I hit you within the allotted time.��

    ��Fair enough.��

    Once the formalities were over, Dew burst forward with unprecedented speed, knocked Darrell��s sword to the side and scored a hit dead center in the chest. Darrell stepped back in shock.

    ��You��re deadly! Fine, but your fianc��e still has to honor her bet,�� Darrell hastily gathered his equipment, ��You��re something, A real S class if I ever saw one. I have to step up my game. I never knew there were so many ace fencers in this town. You must be that girl��s trainer I take it?��

    ��I am her future husband, you��d do well to Remember my name, Dew Nenkyo.��

    Nadia fainted. Jody ran forward, but to her astonishment, Dew already caught her and carried her outside to her father��s station wagon. So, this boy didn��t hesitate to hold her like that and he already knew the family? The sound of clashing fencing equipment echoed throughout the gymnasium. Jody glanced back at Darrell as he cleaned up in a certain type of way.

    Dew slid in the back after placing Nadia down gently where he could sit next to her. The car pulled away with unrelenting speed. It was on the road before Jody could even close the doors of the gym. She couldn��t wait to tell her friends, though she knew they would never believe it at first. Her father��s car waited in the parking lot as the last vestige of a sinking sun faded below the horizon. All became dark except the stars and the headlights of a few vehicles. She��d apologize to her father for the delay as she hopped in the front passenger seat.

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    While they were pulling away, she saw Darrell drop his fencing bag and kick the door shut before he finally locked it.

    -----

    A leather jacket hung over Josh��s back as he walked along the side of the highway. The summer air buzzed with life. Dragonflies darted past. A bright sun made the temperature cozy, but Josh��s spirits suffered the midst of a deep winter.

    He had lost his color. An earthquake rumbled inside him; it made him unsteady. His hands shook. His vision blurred. He kept telling himself to pull it together, that there was nothing wrong, that he should go forward. A feeling that he was losing a battle for his soul kept wrenching his gut. He couldn��t calm down because he was afraid of the chill in his chest.

    Icy vibrations spread through his spine until his head felt dark enough to torture him when he tried to suppress his thoughts. At times, a minor paralysis of the arms and legs left him kneeling in frustration. When it overcame him, he pounded the asphalt. A power welling inside of him coiled through his arm; it twisted his flesh before cutting loose with one of his punches to the detriment of the street. Asphalt crumbled and sank into a large pothole. As he stared at his bloody knuckles, he found the strength to stand again, though rather weakly.

    Finally, he put out his thumb in another attempt at gaining a ride.

    An old sedan stripped of its paint pulled to the side of the road. An unshaven man in a yellow shirt that had once been white, though probably many years ago, drove the vehicle. He wore oversized sun glasses with lenses so dust coated that only by divine miracles could any light pass through them. They served to cover bloodshot eyes. A scented board shaped vaguely similar to maple leaves hung from a broken rearview mirror.

    A layer of trash inside the vehicle could have been classified as geological strata. Among the most interesting were the ice tea bottles with dead yellow jackets trapped inside. There were small twirled rolls of burnt paper in an open ash tray. The driver mixed the ashes with his finger for entertainment when he wasn��t poking the holes in the upholstery. He drove with one hand on the faded steering wheel in consequence.

    The vehicle reeked of smoke; its driver smelt like bad meat, and the two strong odors mixed in complimentary putrefaction. Josh took the ride only because the vehicle was going his way and the driver would have him; unfortunately, they didn��t get much further than few kilometers when Josh doubled over and pounded the dashboard.

    His fist smashed through the glove compartment. Fragments of faded plastic scattered across the seat as Josh screamed. The driver��s jaw dropped and his face quivered as liquid energy streamed forth all at once from Josh��s eyes, ears, nostrils, and mouth; it formed an aura over his body that grew. The driver��s face turned white as his foot hit the brake.

    The little sedan burnt its tires as it swerved at a ninety-degree angle in the middle of the road with a screech.

    ��Dude! Hey dude! You gotta chill now!��

    A cylinder of dark energy swirling with velvet hate shot skyward through the vehicle��s roof and downward through its floorboards. Its thickness exploded with equal violence, swallowing the little sedan, and pushing a clump of displaced paving as it grew large enough to block the entire width of the road and high enough to attain the height of a four-story building. Two sets of fingers with long black nails sharpened into points separated the energy pillar��s wall.

    A coal demon of immense proportion struggled to free itself. Sharp ivory claws grew in place of the nails as the incubus extended its muscular fingers with a renewed effort to pry itself from the swirling pillar of red and black energy. A gray mane ran the entire length of its back. Its eyes were filled with the velvet hate that swirled much like the energy entrapping it.

    Its formidable jaws held gray fangs. As it pushed the wall of energy open further it revealed its abdomen, which featured a cross shaped scar. The deep scar burned like heated steel. The right foot burst forward; it crushed the asphalt and clawed the road. The demon almost tore free when a faint scream heard from inside the cylinder halted its progress. A roar shook the earth, but the cylinder still sucked the demon back. When the last tip of its claw was inside, the cylinder shrunk into the crater and reverted to a liquid form which flowed back into Josh. His only cushion against the jagged, hewn, terrain was an unrecognizable lump of smoldering leather that used to be his jacket.

    Josh awoke minutes later to the sounds of sirens and limped into the forest for refuge. The remaining leg of his pants was burnt. Nothing remained of his shirt except for a neck band, a single sleeve, and a few long strands of fabric too stubborn to burn away. He crept through the forest in one sneaker; his other foot bare.

 23. Help! The Beatings Caught Up To Me!

    The green gas oven from the seventies in Norman��s kitchen was extremely well kept for its age, apart from a few scratches on the door and worn paint around the burners. The clock hands stuck to around quarter after five, but the timer still worked, and none of the plastic knobs that controlled the burners were broken. Luthial pulled down the oven door to look at the racks inside. The oven walls had been scoured after the last use. They were clean enough to pass the white glove test. A faint and highly unfamiliar odor of oven cleaner struck her nose.

    ��It��s like a miniature cave,�� she said, ��So this is used for cooking. How does the fire burn without wood?��

    Nefri nursed a glass of ice water at the kitchen table, ��You shouldn��t tamper with magic you don��t understand. Remember, we��re only guests here.��

    Luthial closed the oven door and joined Nefri, almost nose to nose yet the other didn��t seem to mind, ��Tell me, what do you think of this realm?��

    ��It seems like such a peaceful place, but then we��ve seen so little.��

    ��Maybe we should explore some, find out what things are like. Maybe we could borrow one of those enclosed chariots that move by themselves.��

    ��You shouldn��t-��

    Luthial interrupted sarcastically, ��-tamper with magic you don��t understand. I want to explore. I want to see all the things. I want to go for a ride in one of those chariots. I want to see one of their towns. I want to try their strange clothing! There are so many wonders here. I could spend a year and not know them all.��

    ��Why don��t you play with the talking box some more?��

    ��I��m tired with it. The only thing it ever says to me is ��If you��d like to make a call, please hang up and dial again. If you need assistance, please dial the operator. Thank you.�� I tried talking to it, but then it just blares a loud noise in my ear: Burr Burr Burr Burr Burr Burr! Sometimes I envy Nadia, she can summon all sorts of voices with it.��

    ��I think they use it to talk to people who are far away.��

    ��They must not like to yell.��

    ��I meant completely beyond earshot far away.��

    Luthial slapped her hands down on the table, ��They can talk to ghosts!?��

    Nefri shook her head, ��I already asked, they have to be alive, and you have to press the right buttons. Plus, they have to be near another talking box. So that��s probably why you are hearing the angry voice so much.��

    The front door opened without warning. Nefri almost dropped her ice water. Norman entered. He laid a towel on the sofa before going to the kitchen, where he filled a plastic bucket with ice. Dew followed with Nadia in his arms; she was unconscious. He laid her on the sofa before removing her protective fencing vest. Sweat drenched her clothes and soaked hair; her blouse clung to her frame, and her jeans were wet from the knee up.

    Dew felt her forehead and her velvet red cheeks; they were burning hot. A check with a thermometer registered a hundred and two-degree fever. Norman gave Luthial a plastic bag filled with ice and told her to place it on Nadia��s forehead while he retrieved fans from upstairs. On the way up, he turned the ceiling fan on to full speed. Nadia awoke while he was upstairs and pushed herself up. Nefri gave her a glass of an iced sports drink Norman had prepared, which Nadia devoured in one voracious gulp before she fell back to the sofa. She looked pale, like she was ready to faint again.

    ��What��s wrong with her?�� asked Luthial.

    ��She outdid herself. She needs time to recover,�� Norman said on his way back downstairs.

    He threw the girls some folded towels and asked them to dry Nadia. They finished in fifteen minutes. Dew kept watch on the steps, and the girls stayed in the kitchen until midnight as Nadia slept on the sofa, shivering with the chills. Dew was going to stay awake through the night, but Norman dissuaded him because he needed some time alone with his daughter. She had fallen into a delirious sleep, and he didn��t want him to hear her say anything embarrassing. He leaned in his arm chair and talked to her in a quiet voice.

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ��You really did it this time. This isn��t at all from the fencing defeat, you��re tougher than that. You faced an enemy you were scared to talk about.��

    ��Incubus,�� she whispered. ��So- afraid.��

    Norman thought silently to himself until he fell asleep while sitting beside her.

    At three o��clock in the morning, Nadia��s cries woke him. Her legs tucked together, she grabbed the sofa cushions and reached above her head with her right arm while mumbling. The fever had gone down but still persisted, so he placed a cold damp cloth on her forehead.

    ��That��s cold. I��m okay mom,�� she muttered, ��I��m fine, really.��

    Norman squeezed her hand and she fell asleep again.

    -----

    Nadia awoke in the early morning to find her father hunched over a chair with his mouth hanging open as he slept. She carefully sat up so as not to wake him before trudging upstairs to take a nice hot bath and get some clean clothes on. The dried sweat made her skin feel tight. The bruises on her stomach and back were extremely sensitive; it hurt to go up the steps. She believed the fencing match had been ill timed. Her spirit was drained and her body battered from all the battles.

    Nadia decided to stick around the house and take it easy for the day. After her bath, she put on a pair of soft pink pajamas and went to the kitchen with the intention of eating a bowl of cereal. Dew scrubbed the kitchen floor while on his knees underneath the table. Nadia almost tripped over his legs and fell back to the oven with a frightened squeal. He apologized for frightening her, but didn��t bother to stop working. Before getting the milk, she kicked him in the rear hard enough to make him yelp in protest. But he remained busily at work while she crunched her cereal; finally, she looked under the table after taking a fresh mouthful.

    ��What are you doing? Would you please go away so I can eat in peace?�� she asked with her mouth full, spitting droplets of milk over a freshly cleaned floor. Cleaning the kitchen was her job, so she didn��t care about the milk, and she certainly didn��t feel like going through the effort of having manners while Dew was underneath the table looking over her legs. It didn��t matter that they were covered by pajamas. She didn��t want him looking at them. The roar of a vacuum cleaner came from upstairs, diverting Nadia��s attention toward the living room. Nefri scrubbed the sofa pillows with a bucket of sudsy water and a brush.

    ��Your father wants you to be able to rest for today because your training is going to be all the tougher until it��s time to go back to Pozalm,�� Nefri explained, ��He asked us if we would help with the chores. Seeing as we are staying here free of charge, we couldn��t refuse him.��

    Nadia swallowed, laughed, ��So he conned you into cleaning too, you better not slack. He��s a real neat freak.�� She slurped the last drop of milk and took her utensils to the sink for washing. Dew pulled her shoulder from behind to stop her.

    ��We��ll handle that. Your father said you must rest for today so you can overcome your exhaustion. The sickness must work free of your system. Your bed has been cleaned, and made ready for you.��

    She didn��t feel like arguing against it. Her bruises were still tender and she was incredibly tired, even somewhat faint to the point where she could barely keep her eyes open. When she made it to her room, she crawled in bed, pulled up the covers, and fell into a deep sleep almost immediately. She remained there until the next morning.

    -----

    The side of Nadia��s hands were quite acclimated with the fine art of chopping logs lengthwise. Yesterday��s rest had restored her, but little remained to be done since the house had been cleaned by the others. She wasn��t comfortable with being shut inside her room in self-imposed exile anymore, so the pile of chopped logs grew, even though barely a dent was made in the imposing pile of firewood. Nadia kept her total concentration on the wood. She did the work silently, breathed calmly, and kept an even chopping pace.

    Every minute another log thumped against the old stump; the sound of chopped wood hitting the pile soon followed. Nadia thought her father hadn��t put her through any rough training lately and she thought it possible that he didn��t think she was capable anymore. If only he knew the hell I��ve been through, she thought with a grim frown, then he wouldn��t take me so lightly.

    A few beads of sweat fell across her brow, so she took off her shirt, wiped her forehead, and threw it aside, continuing her work in a sports bra. A branch creaked above her, alerting her to a presence above. A halved block of wood hurtled upwards; it smashed squarely into the middle of Dew��s forehead. He fell from his perch into a pile of leaves and debris. Nadia blushed, quickly found her shirt, and pulled it back on as Dew laid with his nose pressed into the lawn.

    She continued chopping wood with a twisted smirk, her skin a deep shade of red.

    Dew finally sat up, ��I was only checking to see if you were all right. I��m completely innocent.��

    ��Is that why you were hiding in the trees?��

    ��It��s not like I haven��t seen any part of you that I haven��t seen once before or will see again when you are my wi-��

    The other half of the first block struck his forehead in the same spot. As he lay half conscious, he noticed Nadia wore shorts that allowed him to stare at her legs from the ankle to the knees. Almost as if she knew what he was thinking, Nadia took a bunch of chopped logs from the pile and dropped them over his head. Finishing with him such, she knelt beside him and pushed one of the logs away so she could see him.

    ��Dew, I want to make this clear right now. If you ever spy on me, or mention me and marriage in the same breath, ever again, I��ll cut out both your lungs among some other things that come in a set and make you eat them. Got it?��

    Dew blinked in protest, frowning.

 24. Help! Babysitting My Assassin Is Not My Job!

    Delia sat under cover of brush with her chin tucked over her knees as she scribbled swirls in the dirt with the broken tip of her bronze spear.

    A rustling of the high brush nearby caused her to investigate. She poked her spear tip into the weeds. At once a loud exclamation of pain came forth, so she urged whoever was there to show themselves. Josh stumbled through the bushes, his arms hanging limply and his back tilted as he looked at Delia quizzically. Oh, she had to be a halucination. He lifted the hem of her dress skirt away from her thigh and rubbed the fabric between his thumb and forefinger.

    ��So where exactly is the kung-fu tournament baby?��

    She stared at his scratched face before pinching his cheek incredibly hard, but he didn��t respond to the stimulation. That��s when Delia noticed a deep blistering burn ran the entire length of his right arm.

    ��You��re hurt.��

    ��No, I��m fine.��

    ��No, you��re a moron.��

    She grabbed his hand and led him across the lawn without much effort. She passed both Nadia and Dew, the former still busy chopping logs to strengthen her powers while the later sat on the pile of wood sulking. Nadia saw Delia drag Josh across the yard; she recognized him immediately, though he looked wounded. She quit her self-imposed training to follow them to the porch. The pendant around her neck emitted a faint blue glow that Nadia failed to notice. Norman and Luthial were working on dinner when Delia came inside and sat the wounded young man on an arm chair. He rested limply and barely registered any awareness of his surroundings.

    ��This boy was hiding here,�� she announced coldly.

    Luthial checked him, pulling out his wounded arm for a closer look.

    ��You��re burnt badly along the arm. Who did this to you?��

    ��Why sslhould I tell you?�� Josh slurred.

    Norman left his cooking and confronted the straggler, ��You don��t have to tell us anything young man, but I know quite a bit more about that injury than you think. You are going to die soon, releasing a demon into the world. I suggest you find the person who resisted the demon possessing you.��

    Josh hid his face, ��How in the world do you know about that? I never even asked for her name. What in the world was I supposed to do? I was sent to kill her. You don��t say ��Hi, I��m here to kill you, but first we need to know one another on a name-to-name basis.�� I��m going to be eaten alive until this thing escapes. Then there��s no controlling what it��ll do. I don��t care how much you know; you people have to let me go for your own sake. Look at this, it��s spreading again!��

    He pulled up his arm for all to see the blistering burn that covered it. It now started at the back of his hand and reached his elbow. Then suddenly the blisters healed as the edges of the burn retreated. Nadia entered the living room from the back. Josh jumped from the chair when he saw her, pushing Delia and Norman aside. Nadia took up a fighting stance.

    ��Sit down, both of you just sit down!�� Norman ordered.

    Nadia wasn��t ready to listen, so the other girls held her back.

    ��Why��s he here? And why won��t you let me punch his lights out!��

    ��Quiet Nadia!�� Norman scolded.

    Nadia immediately obeyed her father��s order, falling limp in the arms of the other girls with a muttered apology. They let her down, leaving her half in tears, so they could help Norman lead Josh to the kitchen.

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ��I don��t know why you tried to hurt my daughter, but you do realize that the only thing keeping you alive is her power.��

    Nadia entered the kitchen quietly, ��My power is the only thing keeping him alive?��

    ��This young man has a vested interest in keeping you alive, and keeping that pendant around your neck. If your powers are stopped, the incubus using his body will devour him. Seeing as he tried to kill you though, I couldn��t possibly force you to help him. The very nature of his curse is draining your will constantly.��

    Josh looked at her with a weak smile, ��Hey, I��m really sorry about all that stuff on the road, and the mall. No hard feelings? Right? I��m pretty desperate if you know what I mean. I don��t care about myself, but if my incubus gets loose, a lot of innocent people are going to die before it wears itself out.��

    ��So that��s a threat,�� Norman growled.

    ��No!�� Josh said, taken aback, ��I didn��t mean it that way. It��s just the truth, if you find a way to kill me without freeing it, I��m fine with that, even though I really don��t want to die.��

    Nadia fell into the sofa, put her hand to her forehead, moaned, ��Not another headache for me to worry about.��

    ��Me, me, me, to these women it��s all about them,�� Josh said, ��I��m the one who��s gotta live with the threat of being cracked wide open like a bad walnut.��

    She threw a sofa pillow at him, yelled, ��I want to know everything! Why did you come after me? Who put you up to it?��

    ��He calls himself Dead-leaf, offered to do me a big favor- said you��d be a challenge too. He gave me your picture and your address.��

    ��Dead-leaf,�� Dew said quietly to himself, ��Could it be?��

    Nadia almost tore another pillow in half at the mention of that name.

    -----

    Nadia pulled a sweat band over her head before pointing at Josh. Her sneakers were tied tight, her shirt was loose, her jeans fit, and she was ready to practice beating the first hapless creature that offered his services.

    ��Since my dad is too busy to practice with a girl, you��ll have to do,�� she explained forcefully, ��I��m tired of training by myself, so I expect a good workout. Besides, since you��re the one who is draining my strength and will, I have the right to treat you as a training device.��

    Josh looked up at the trees, there was nothing, not a breath of wind to cool the stifling heat that baked the shade.

    ��I ain��t no practice pad for some macho chick like you; besides, it��s too hot for a fight.��

    ��I��m the only thing keeping you alive you total coward. You��ll fight me whether you like it or not!��

    ��I don��t like bossy chicks with muscular arms. Go take out your anger elsewhere. I might hurt you or something.��

    ��That didn��t stop you before. And my arms aren��t muscular, they��re toned for your information.��

    ��Oh, someone is sensitive about her appearance. I��m not going to fight you, even if it��s just practice.��

    She walked over and slapped him in the face, ��You ungrateful jerk. You tried to kill me. But we��re taking care of you for free because I agreed to it! My dad is angry because I didn''t say anything about you. I agreed to help spare your life, and you��re leaching my powers, so act like a man and fight me!��

    He threw a lackluster punch that she dodged easily, ��It��s driving you nuts, isn��t it?��

    ��What are you talking about?��

    ��You��re used to being trained all the time by that old man of yours, but now that he stopped it��s driving you nuts. Have you ever thought that possibly the time for training has passed. From what I heard; you have serious issues to deal with.��

    ��You��re so full of it. You just want to get out of practicing.��

    ��Look, I��m flattered that you like me so much you want to practice with me, but there��s simply no way I can beat you. And I don��t enjoy fighting with girls.��

    Her eyes became red, her hands formed into fists as she became the most fearsome woman Josh had ever seen.

    ��I am not! I am- I am not- I am not- a GIRL!�� she yelled before she attacked full force, sending them both down a dirt hill until Nadia grabbed hold of a pine stump to keep them from sliding any further. Josh hit his head on a rock, which knocked him senseless. Dragging him back up to edge of her lawn sapped a great deal of her stamina. She sat him by the trunk of the big fir tree and knelt beside him. An ugly discoloration formed on his left cheek. Nadia felt her heart skip a beat as she gently pressed her fingers to it. A bit of energy flowed into the battered flesh.

    ��I��m sorry,�� she said before walking slowly back to the house.

    Josh kept his mouth shut while watching her return crestfallen to her house. During their first fight, the incubus revealed within her a deep struggle to maintain an identity. It went beyond the typical teenage angst. Even now, he sensed her emotions tearing her apart inside. Her mind was too guarded for him to read it clearly, but she obviously had difficulty coming to terms with something. He thought she must have been a real macho tomboy kid and had trouble growing up.

    Yeah. That had to be it.

 25. Help! Wealthy Girls Throw The Best Pool Parties!

    What a stupid Saturday, Nadia thought, as she pulled a can of grape soda out of the refrigerator and a small bag of chips from the snack bin. The phone rang before she could sit down; it was Jody.

    "Who was that guy who challenged Darrell at the gym? He seemed to know you. He said his name was Dew and that he was going to marry you before you passed out. Are you okay? Are you really engaged? Darrell looked so angry when he carried you out like that! But it was so cute! But are you okay? You looked so exhausted and I''ve been worried."

    Nadia spit grape soda, "No! But yes I''m okay, I''m fine. But NO! Look, he''s a friend from Montana with a crush on me and he sort of followed me here. I haven''t even known him very long. But I don''t have any interest in him except for being a friend. And that''s being really generous! I just want him to understand that!"

    "Oh really, you seemed like such a cute couple," Jody teased, ��But he sounds obsessed so I hope he''s not causing you problems."

    "It''s nothing I can''t handle. I''d rather not talk about him anymore, okay."

    "The curse of beauty. Anyway, are you coming to the pool party this afternoon? You did promise to join us and everybody��s going to be there.��

    ��I��m afraid I can��t. I have a ton of unfinished chores. Nice talking to you though; Bye-��

    ��Hey, don��t make me come to your house! Why is it like pulling teeth to try and get to know you better? You promised, and Tish��s birthday party is the most fun you��ll have around these dry and boring parts this summer.��

    ��I don��t really. I mean, wait, her birthday is in August and this is June.��

    ��Tish is going to Europe in July so she��s holding it early. Wait a minute. How would you know her birthday was in August, anyway?��

    There was an awkward silence. Nadia knew she had just made a terrible blunder, an outsider wouldn��t have known that; unless, she found out about it from someone else. The coiled green cord of the phone wrapped Nadia��s index finger.

    ��I think someone told me on the t-trip for the shopping. Anyway, no offense, I really do like everyone, but I get nervous in crowds. I��m not feeling well either, just got over a fever. Really, I��m not up for it.��

    Jody decided to play her trump card, ��I think I might know something that��ll change your mind.��

    ��Go for it.��

    ��Darrell is going to be there.��

    That was the whole point in not going, not only Darrell, but Bill, Howard, and a bunch of other friends from school would be there. If she acted like herself, she risked giving herself away, but she didn��t know how to act otherwise. Worse, she found herself blushing at the thought of her friends seeing her like this, even if they couldn��t possibly realize who she was. As the purple can pressed against her forehead; a drop of moisture ran down her nose.

    ��I��m- I��m... going to have to say-��

    ��Please, I��m begging you to come out of your shell a little. Nadia, I really want us to be friends. I like you so much. Could you please come?��

    How could she possibly say no to this?

    ��Fine. What time?��

    ��One o��clock sharp, so you still have a good hour to get ready. You can even bring your friend Dew if you want.��

    "That''s absolutely not happening, I''ll come on my own."

    Short notice, of course. There was time for a quick shower and a change of clothes. When she came down the steps, she wore an oversized shirt with a big white pocket and a pair of blue swim trunks that reached down to her knees. The trunks had a tie which allowed them to fit her frame, though the hem bunched awkwardly. Her white sneakers with the pink trim were worn with white ankle socks she��d bought on her trip.

    ��Dad, Tish is having a birthday party today, it��s early because she��s going away somewhere over summer, can I go, can you give me a ride, please?��

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    ��So, you��re actually going to that pool party. I would have never thought you one to give in so easily.��

    ��I don��t want to disappoint Jody and I��d kind of like to relax little anyway. And I want to see how everyone is getting along without me. Please, I''m begging you, help me out and keep Dew from showing up at the party.��

    ��It��s hot today, and you deserve a little time to cool off and have fun. And by cool off, I mean keep it cool. All you have to do is obsess over some boy and you��ll never be able to change back, ever.��

    ��What kind of girl do you take me for?��

    What she had really wanted to ask was whether or not she could obsess over Jody.

    -----

    Jazz tunes from a live band drifted through the air. They hovered over the refreshment tables, animated the crystal blue water of the grand swimming pool, and welcomed newcomers who were allowed to pass through the side fence. There was a nice bowl of watermelon cubes at the nearest table; Nadia plopped a few in her mouth before she laid her towel over a big plastic lounge chair.

    Quite a few of the other guests were already swimming. She surveyed the party; Tish sat under a canopy chatting with Jody, Amanda, and a few other girls Nadia knew from class but never bothered to pay much attention too. Bill swam back and forth from end to end in crystal blue water of the huge pool. There were banquet tables spread with fruit bowls, salads, and snacks one would normally find at a party.

    The aroma of sizzling meat came from a large brick grill; a few people were already eating hot dogs and burgers. Nadia noticed that the bathing suits tended to be trendy and colorful. She soured at the thought of not enjoying the sight of the girls enough as she applied sunscreen over her legs and arms, and then to the skin under her loose outfit. Normally an event like this would be visual overload.

    ��It would be easier to put on if you sat down and lost the shirt,�� said a heavy muscular boy with brown hair and a light mustache. It was the first time she saw Howard Slemsky since her transformation. They had been best friends since the first grade, so she loathed having to act like she didn��t know him. If she had to rank him, he''d probably be number two. His bright yellow swim trunks were about knee length and had a dark green wave on the left side.

    ��Are you Howard?��

    ��Ya, how��d you know? You��re Nadia right, Nathan��s cousin?��

    ��My cousin told me all about you.��

    ��It��s all lies. I��m really a very nice guy,�� he joked, ��Actually, Nathan and I are best buds. So umm... Do you want to get a hot dog- I mean a burger... something to eat.��

    ��Okay, Race you.��

    She punched his shoulder in a friendly way and darted to the grill. When she turned back, she realized Howard had not raced her and his eyes were focused on her chest. Flushed with embarrassment, she couldn��t help but feel silly. She looked back toward Howard, who hadn��t moved an inch; he rubbed his arm where she had hit him like it had become a sacred spot. His face looked a bit red.

    ��Umm,�� Nadia said, ��would you like a burger or a hot dog?��

    ��A burger would be great... Thank you!�� Howard''s lips quivered.

    ��Okay, you get the soda.��

    She started to walk off towards the grill.

    ��What kind?�� Howard yelled.

    ��I��d really like grape if they have it.��

    With a relaxed smile, she turned away. Howard felt his heart hit the wall of his chest as he stared at the way her body moved. He checked out her backside as she walked to the grill before he managed to get the soda as promised.

    The promising aroma of flame broiled burgers and plump hot dogs induced salivation; Nadia wiped her lip with the back of her hand and swallowed before grabbing a plate. It was a help yourself affair, which presented no obstacle to Nadia; she piled two burgers on her plate and two hot dogs while fetching one of each for Howard, who met her halfway back toward her lounge chair.

    ��These smell delicious.��

    ��Umm, are you sure you want to eat so much before going swimming?��

    ��Who said I was going swimming?��

    ��Well, we can always wait a half hour.��

    Howard sat next to her, placing the cold purple can on her side of the table. They both started with a burger. A mix of condiments and tomato juice ran down Nadia��s chin when she attempted to take a bigger bite than she could handle. Tilting forward prevented a piece of condiment-soaked lettuce from falling on her shirt. She grabbed a fluffy white napkin and wiped her mouth. Embarrassment caused the skin under her eyes to redden as she forced a nervous smile. Looking away was not an option but she managed to force her smile to disappear, then slowly get her color normal. Another bite and the same thing happened; this time she didn��t have a napkin. Howard stopped eating.

    ��No problem, I��ll get some more.��

    With an eager smile and a gleam in his eye he quickly retrieved a neat pile of about ten napkins. Nadia wasn��t comfortable with his behavior, normally Howard was the type of guy to tell someone to get it themselves. The only person she ever witnessed Howard eager to do a favor for was his mother.

    The napkins were much needed however, so Nadia took one. From now on she had to remember to take smaller bites; it seemed not only more difficult to envelope the burger in a gaping bite. It seemed impossible. She took smaller, more delicate bites, just enough to get as much food possible without making a mess. Taking two bites in quick succession worked just as well anyway. Howard waited for her to swallow before speaking.

    ��So, you��re Nathan��s cousin or distant cousin? He never said anything about you, though you might pass for his sister.��

    ��I never said much about him either, I guess. We shared some info before we traded places, so I know a little bit about things around here, I think.��

    ��Really!? Anything he said about me is a lie.��

    Nadia smiled, ��Actually, he said you were one of his best buds and that you were actually a pretty cool guy, someone who��d never hesitate to be a good friend despite the rough edges.��

    Howard did a double take, ��Really, he said that, about me?��

    ��He certainly did.��

 26. Help! Jody Is The Final Boss!

    She felt the presence of someone behind her and Howard was suddenly looking over her shoulder. Jody was there, kneeling over the lounge chair pensively. The carefully arranged freckles over her cheek had already grown darker and more numerous with the usual summer sun exposure. Her bikini was a splash of neon blue, purple, and red that seized Nadia��s attention.

    ��Are we having fun?�� she asked with a smile, ��Stop trying to hog her attention and shoo. She��s Nathan��s cousin and he��ll pound you if finds out you were trying to put the moves on her.��

    Nadia turned bright red and grabbed the remains of her first burger to take a series of bites that finished it off. Just eat, just eat, don��t look at Jody.

    ��That��s very blunt of you!�� Howard protested.

    ��Sorry, but she already has a crush on Darrell from Methodist.��

    ��What!?�� Howard said, turning a shade paler.

    ��Nadia cleverly worked her way in by challenging him to a match she knew she couldn��t win and agreed to be the cheerleader of the hottest boy in the county. All the girls are talking about how clever that stunt was.��

    Howard lost another shade of color, saying nothing.

    ��It wasn��t a stunt and I do not have a crush on him!��

    ��Really,�� Jody said, poking her nose, ��Then why are you blushing?��

    Nadia shook her head as she finished her burger while Jody��s finger rested on the tip of her nose, ��Because you''re poking my nose. Would you just stop it already!��

    ��Really, I��m only teasing,�� Jody said, though Harold still looked like he was about to drop over backwards and melt away, ��Anyway, why don��t you come sit with us. Really, you shouldn��t eat until after you��ve swam a little anyway. Did you bring your bathing suit?��

    ��I��m okay, he isn��t doing anything wrong, really, besides I don��t plan on swimming.��

    ��Why��s thaaaat?�� Jody asked.

    ��Because- I- don��t- like- tight- swimsuits. That��s why I don��t have one. I just kind of wanted to hang out with- some people my age.��

    She had wanted to say her friends, but to these people she was a stranger, no matter how familiar they felt to her, they saw her as a person they never met. It kind of hurt.

    ��Lighten up. This is a pool party. You could always borrow one of my spares, we��re about the same size though you are a bit heavier up top.��

    Nadia sat straight on the side of her chair, ��How can I lighten up at the thought of parading myself around in a bikini like a piece of meat. I don��t get you, don��t you- I mean, I thought you didn��t care about impressing boys.��

    ��Of course I do, if they''re worth my time. Though I want to impress you too.��

    ��I��m impressed by both of you,�� Howard said.

    ��Stay out of this!�� Jody and Nadia yelled together.

    Howard rubbed the back of his head, ��Since when was I booted from this conversation?��

    ��You��re one of the cutest girls in the entire school,�� Nadia believed this line of flattery would end the subject, ��I can��t compete with you. I��ll look ugly.��

    ��You really mean that?��

    Nadia took her hands, ��Of course I mean it. I always thought you were pretty since I fi-"

    ��This is getting pretty weird, seeing as you��re both girls.��

    ��Sorry- I didn��t mean it that way,�� Nadia said, blushing and pulling her hands away.

    ��Don��t let him intimidate you, that was a rude comment!��

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    Howard looked a little ashamed.

    Jody continued, ��I did want to ask you if you can give me a phone number, or even an address where I could reach Nathan. He left without saying a word, and the jerk hasn��t even called me or sent a postcard. Some friend he is.��

    ��Hey,�� Howard said, ��He��s my best friend too, so I think I have just as much a right to ask that. But you know how things are, he still doesn��t have a cell phone.��

    ��Can I tell you both something in strictest confidence?��

    ��What?�� they both said.

    ��Nathan��s dealing with some major league, life changing problems right now. I don��t know where he is, so I can��t give you any information. But I��m sure he��ll contact you anyway. Be patient. Hopefully he��ll be back sooner than you think.��

    ��No,�� Jody whispered, ��Is he sick? Is he dying of something?��

    ��No, nothing like that, he just made a few mistakes and needs time to get his life straightened out.��

    ��Nadia,�� Jody said.

    ��Ya?��

    ��You��re a really good person,�� Jody grabbed her by the arm and tugged her off the chair, ��Now let me reward you with the worlds cutest bikini before Darrell gets here!��

    Jody pulled her toward the dressing room.

    ��Wait... what!? Howard, she��s crazy, tell her to lay off. I don��t want to swim!��

    Howard started eating, he wasn��t about to interfere with Jody anytime, especially when there was a chance she might convince the new girl to dress down and go swimming. Nadia found herself pulled into a private changing room with Jody and blushed at what she considered the absurdity of the situation. Her heart wouldn''t stop racing.

    A brand-new bright orange bikini hung inside the single locker, which Jody displayed for Nadia. It was a modest style with a sporty top. At least that much was merciful. An open yellow daisy was printed on the upper right bosom while the bottom had a pink daisy on the front of the left thigh.

    ��I bought this for you because you forgot to buy a swimsuit,�� Jody smiled excitedly, ��what do you think?��

    ��I think it��s too small. I can��t wear that, sorry, but no.��

    ��Look, it��s a cute, normal swimsuit. It''s not too small. I had to make sure it wasn��t too small because you seemed kinda modest and honestly very shy. There��s nothing wrong with it, in fact I think it��ll be adorable. Just try it on and see how you look. If you��re not comfortable with it, you don��t have to wear it. But at least let me see how it looks on you.��

    Jody leaned in so closely they were almost pressed up against one another. Nadia took the swimsuit, looked at it curiously, her face burned, and her voice lost all power to become a squeak, ��Okay. I��ll give it a try, just, give me a few minutes of privacy.��

    Alone in the dressing booth, Nadia considered her options. Seeing the crystal blue water undulating in the searing sun had made her very eager to go for a swim, besides, she longed to have a good time with her friends, even if she did have to make friends with them all over again. With everyone having a good time, she wanted to join in. She wanted to play pool frisbee. She wanted to smack Jody with a noodle. Yet, she didn��t want to enjoy herself too much, the thought of enjoying herself while still a girl scared her. What if she decided she liked her current form better than her old one?

    As she looked over the bathing suit one last time, she remembered all the times she had gone swimming before the change, usually the memories were good ones. Right now, she desperately wanted to swim and desperately needed swimwear. She rationalized as she stared a hole through the garment. The fact that she wore swim shorts conveniently became forgotten. The swimsuit may have been two pieces but it just happened to fit, was appropriate for her current form in this situation, and even somewhat modest.

    What was the worst that could happen?

    About five minutes passed until Nadia finished changing and made her appearance at the doorway. The color of the tight bikini blended well with her dark hair and light skin tone. Her heart pounded as she put her hand against the doorsill and looked out toward the pool. Howard still leaned back on the lounge chair across a table from her own. He waved her over and immediately she blushed brightly while looking down. She forgot that bikini tops showed cleavage. The world spun. Maybe being so daring wasn��t such a bright idea.

    Someone tugged on her wrist. Looking up, Nadia stared directly into Jody��s face, Tish and Amanda stood behind her. Amanda was in a yellow one-piece swimsuit; her glasses were sliding off the bridge of her greased nose; a red book tucked against her thigh stayed tightly clasped in her left hand. When she smiled, Nadia noticed the gray wire of her retainer for the first time.

    Tish wore a black designer bikini with blue lining, her skin glowed with a golden-brown tan; in contrast to Amanda��s farmer��s tan with a mix of sunburn. Nadia found herself rubbing the bottom of her sandal against the concrete while looking away. Her hands stayed folded behind her back.

    ��Hey, guys... uuhmm... I never really thanked you for helping me out, did I? Umm, what��s up?��

    ��Oh my God!�� Tish exclaimed, ��You��re so adorable, that swimsuit is perfect for you! Is that the one Jody picked out!?��

    Nadia��s blush turned two shades darker as her head went down three degrees further, she had never regret a decision more, and yet, ��Come on, I... I��m not... I��m not adorable, makes me sound like a puppy.��

    ��Ya Tish,�� Jody said, ��You sound like my grandma. I think she��s sexy.��

    Tish snickered, ��You find your grandma sexy?��

    As she turned a deep crimson, Nadia wondered when the torture would end, possibly when her head exploded, ��I��m not adorable, cute, or sexy, so just shut up all of you! It��s just a swimsuit, why are you making it such a big deal?��

    ��Please note that I said nothing,�� Amanda said.

    Howard worked up the nerve to approach and got their attention.

    ��Hey umm, Bill and I are having a diving contest, anyone want to join?��

    ��Sure!�� Nadia left her things on her chair.

    ��I��ll be the judge,�� Tish said.

 27. Help! Everything Is Not Perfectly Fine!

    At the northern end of the pool was a ten-foot-high dive into deep water. Bill was already leaning against the safety rails watching everyone approach. He waved for them to watch before running off the springboard and making a wide splash with his cannonball. Surfacing, he quickly swam to the side ladder so the next person could dive and Nadia met him there as he dripped.

    Before the change Nadia was about eye level with Bill, being an inch taller; now that she was several inches shorter and quite a degree slimmer than the husky running back it felt a bit disconcerting to even extend her hand and introduce herself, but she did so anyway. His eyes quickly scoped her out from top to bottom as they shook hands, they lingered on her hips, then tore away to make eye contact again as he returned his introduction.

    ��Jody told me you were coming,�� Bill said, ��You��re Nathan��s cousin, is he okay?��

    ��I hope so,�� Nadia rubbed her right cheek, ��I- I hope you don��t mind me being here in his place for a while.��

    ��No, I��m cool with it. I just think he could have said something, if not to me then to Howard. I mean, when do you forget to even say goodbye to your best friends? I mean, no calls? He can��t even send an email or a text, get real.��

    ��It��s not his fault! I��m just saying he��s going through something big right now and he has a lot to work through and even if he told you what was what you wouldn��t believe him anyhow.��

    Bill backed away a little, ��I��m sorry, is he dying or something?��

    ��Sometimes it feels like it,�� Nadia mumbled, ��I promise to get a hold of him as soon as I can and let him know everyone at home is worried, but I can��t guarantee that he��ll call. I really don��t want to talk about it anymore.��

    ��Not a problem, and if anyone gives you any trouble, I got your back.��

    She stepped away from the conversation. Something about the way Bill spoke to her made her uncomfortable. It had to be how he felt about hearing from Nathan. She excused herself and walked toward the fence. Behind the diving platform, a cement clearing bordered by a black metal fence separated the patio from rugged pasture lands.

    Tame horses grazed a grassy meadow. Nadia never had a great affinity for horses, but two purebred stallions captured her attention. She ignored the diving contest as she reflected on her friends while staring at the horses. She stepped forward to lean into the fence and unwittingly pressed herself against Darrell Fleming, who wore a pair of red swim trunks as he watched the horses.

    ��Those horses are beautiful,�� Nadia said, blushing and pushing sideways, ��I can��t believe I��ve never noticed them before.��

    ��I think they��re majestic. You seem out of it, something wrong?��

    ��What are you talking about?�� Nadia asked, pushing herself back from the fence and fidgeting somewhat.

    ��You��ve been staring out to pasture since I arrived about ten minutes ago. The way you challenged me before, I didn��t think you��d be so awkward around other people.��

    ��Awkward?�� she said, suddenly finding herself so nervous that she could barely speak. ��You really think I��m awkward?��

    ��Not really, you��re probably just nervous about how to make friends here. Don��t worry about it too much. I don��t know this gang all that much myself. I��m here because Jody invited me. How about this, just be yourself, if that means you like to stand by the fence and watch the horses, that��s fine. You don��t mind if I watch too?��

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    She blushed, ��For a few minutes maybe, then I��m diving in that pool.��

    There was a minute of silence.

    ��You��re an unusual fencer, nobody has ever beaten me before.��

    ��I could say the same for you. Your skills are off the charts, I actually had to struggle.��

    Nadia tightened her grip on the fence rail, her skin losing a shade of color, but she said nothing and Darrell simply returned to staring out at the horses. She started to say something but thought better of it.

    ��I��m amazed I can be here today; my parents are a bit strict,�� Darrell said.

    ��Really?�� Nadia raised an eyebrow, ��My dad can be a real pain in the butt. But he��s not that strict. I guess.��

    ��My parents are farmers; I have chores all the time. Nothing to brag about I guess, but people do need to eat, right? It��s hard to keep pace with my chores and practice fencing. I was thinking of joining the military. You know, training and all.��

    Nadia noticed that he had a thin muscular frame. He was built to near perfection, solidly, with powerful arms and legs. She gave a soft smile, then she pushed Darrell��s shoulder with both hands before bolting for the diving board. She gave her long black hair a flick, climbed the ladder and executed a near perfect dive.

    Crystal blue water parted around her as she resurfaced near the middle of the pool. The sounds of the diving board springing and a slight splash came from behind as Darrell dove. It was cold, quite a refreshing contrast to the stifling air of a humid summer day. A tug on her ankle pulled her underwater unexpectedly, though quickly released her. When she surfaced, Darrell popped up beside her laughing, so she splashed his face while scowling only to break into giggling herself. Splashing ensued.

    Sparkling droplets of chlorinated water flew out of the pool as a disorganized splash war erupted. It ended when Tish pulled out a giant white and red beach ball for an informal game of volleyball. They played for about an hour with the last game being a match between the girls and the boys.

    Torn between sides, she stood at the line looking back and forth, then down. Jody told her to stop spacing out and get with it for the final game. There was no choice but to play on the girl��s team, so she shook her head and tried to overcome her embarrassment as she took her position. A brisk game proved the girls victorious with Nadia being the game MVP. She managed three good saves and always aimed the ball to the most unreachable spots inbounds.

    After the games, the party became more relaxed, breaking into smaller groups. Nadia sat at the edge of the pool to rest but found herself involved in a game of pool tag for another hour. She had lost a bit of her edge in swimming because her arms were a little shorter, but she was still quick and a little more agile than almost everyone else. By the time the game ended everyone was near exhausted and Nadia was the only one who remained untagged. Throwing herself into competition allowed her to forget about herself for a little bit.

    With everyone beat, Jody, Amanda, and Tish invited her to sit with them; Nadia accepted. She dried her hair with a towel, only to be scolded about how she didn��t pat dry. It was always like this at Tish��s birthday parties, Jody would sit and talk whatever girl talk with her usual group while the guys would sit at the opposite end of the pavilion and talk about whatever guy talk came up. Bill would probably be talking about the type of car he was looking for this year, he already had his permit.

    In fact, Harold had his license already but his parents wouldn��t let him use the family car unsupervised and he couldn��t afford one of his own. Nadia tensed and looked towards the boys table, but sat down between Tish and Jody after getting a burger, a hot dog, and a soda. The aroma of a juicy cheeseburger complemented by steak sauce, ketchup, tomato, lettuce, and pickles caused her to devour it without paying much attention to the others. Half of it was gone in a minute.

    ��Well look at this, Darrell is sitting with Bill and Howard, it would be pretty cool if they became good friends,�� Tish said.

    Nadia started choking on her burger. Was Darrell pushing Nathan out of his circle!? Amanda jumped up and patted her on the back until she gasped burger back into her mouth. It would have been gross for her to spit food back on to her plate so she simply finished chewing and swallowed it again. That left her a bit out of breath as she looked over to the boys table and broke into a scowl.

    She immediately lost her appetite and stared down her plate so maliciously that the others were taken aback by the sudden darkening of her demeanor. Unfair, she thought, Bill and Howard were her friends who she couldn��t talk to and Darrell was moving in on them. Worse, they were laughing about something and having a good time. She found her eyes roving over in that direction until Jody��s voice cut through her brooding.

    ��Hey Nadia, is something wrong?��

    ��No. Nothing is wrong. Nothing at all. I��m perfectly fine.��

 28. Help! Emotional Spiral, Spiral, Crash!

    The other girls all looked at her. It was all too obvious that something was wrong. Nadia had just made it rather painfully obvious.

    ��I thought maybe Darrell did something to offend you,�� Tish said, ��He hasn��t taken his eyes off of you the entire day. I think he likes you.��

    Amanda flipped to the next page of her book, merely nodding her head slightly in agreement. She seemed to have no care for this conversation.

    ��Actually, I haven��t seen one boy here who wasn��t checking her out at one time or another,�� Jody said, ��But what would you expect from Nathan��s cousin.��

    ��What do you mean by that?��

    ��She means you have his natural charisma with the opposite sex,�� Amanda explained without looking up from her book, ��You��re a vixen and you don��t even know it.��

    ��What! Oh please, I mean, come on, I��m just the same as the next... girl. Look, I��m not trying to get attention and I��m not a vixen!��

    Tish folded her arms around her chest, ��It just comes natural for you, I bet if you really worked on your flirting technique you��d have every boy drooling at your feet. You are a dangerous girl, Nadia. But don��t worry, I won��t hold it against you because I��m not really the jealous type. In fact, it was my idea to bring out your full potential from the start. Stick with us, and you��ll be one of the most popular girls in school.��

    ��Why would you want to do that?�� Nadia nibbled at her hotdog.

    Tish blushed a little, ��Well, you kind of astonished me when I first met you. You were so timid about your looks and dressed so frumpy in your cousin��s clothes, yet you had an aura about you that just shone through. I just kind of wanted to see you have fun, like you did tonight.��

    ��We don��t know you that well, we only just met, but we all agree, we��d like you to hang out with us more,�� Jody said.

    Amanda closed her book, smiled, ��I��d like that, so far you��ve been a fun person to be around.��

    The tears coalesced in Nadia��s eyes to the point where she had to wipe them to prevent a stream down her cheek, she couldn��t understand how her emotions had become so unstable, wasn��t she livid with Darrell taking over in Nathan��s absence just minutes ago?

    ��I��m sorry, I... what can I say... I really like you guys, of course I��d want to be friends.��

    ��Then that settles it,�� Jody said, ��There��s one thing I want to know, how do you really feel about the Darrell Fleming? Do you like him? Hate him? Tell the truth. I can get you out of your bet if you really need it.��

    Nadia scowled, she couldn��t believe it was back to this again, ��First, why don��t you tell me how you feel about my cousin, the truth.��

    Suddenly Jody was the one looking down, whispering, ��That��s not the kind of thing you ask at a place like this.��

    ��And the same goes for your questions.��

    The conversation shifted to lighter topics. Nadia wanted to get her regular clothes on before the birthday cake was brought out and did so. Everyone enjoyed some very rich chocolate cake with yellow cream icing. Those who still wanted to swim took a second dip in the pool. Nadia took her cake and sat on a bench; Jody joined her.

    ��So, where did you go to school?�� Jody asked.

    ��I went to a one room school house. My parents don��t get out much and we live on a little farm in the middle of nowhere. It��s a completely boring and listless life unless you really like soybeans and cattle.��

    ��Wow, hard to believe you��re a farm girl, were your parents strict?��

    Nadia leaned back a little, she felt horrible having to lie so much, ��I worked from sun up to sundown, being with uncle Norman is like a vacation. I��m sure Nathan is training his butt off. They train in the martial arts too.��

    ��You said he has a lot to deal with?��

    ��Yah, I did, but I can��t talk about it. Are your parents strict?��

    ��No more than normal, I have chores and stuff, and since I��m an only child I have to mow the lawn. My mom is really cool; we do a lot of shopping and stuff together. My Dad works for Fabtech in Pittsburg and is rarely ever home, but when he is, he makes it a point to spend quality time with us even though he just really wants to go play golf. I guess I��m really lucky as far as families go.��

    ��Right, both your parents are alive, and your mom is actually glad to have you.��

    ��Hmm?�� Jody asked.

    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    ��Oh nothing, I had someone else in mind when I said that.��

    ��You really care about your cousin, don��t you. That��s why you came here for him. I know Nathan pretty well, but when it came to his mother, he never opened up to any one at all. After she died, he never even mentioned her name, not once, except maybe to his dad. I don''t really know. It was kind of funny, because when we were kids, he was always scheming to get her attention. Did you have the same impression I did, that his mom treated him a little coldly.��

    Nadia stood up and smiled the fakest smile ever in her existence of smiles but it was all she could manage, ��I have to go now, been a long day and I need a nap.��

    Jody forced a polite smile back, ��No problem, if you get in touch with your cousin, please don��t tell him what I said. Just tell him I said hi and I��m worried about him, okay.��

    "I''ll be sure to tell him. I''m sure it''ll make him happy."

    Nadia grabbed her little bag of articles and waved goodbye to the other girls. On the way out, Darrel��s voice startled her.

    ��Leaving?�� he asked.

    ��Hey, don��t sneak up on me like that,�� Nadia said, turning around.

    He stood directly behind her and she found herself staring up into his face, both their cheeks immediately flushing. He took her hand and she had to brace herself to keep from trembling as a silver loop with white and red feathers hanging from it found a place in her palm. She examined it with some confusion.

    ��What��s this?��

    ��It something Native American tribes use. It��s not a replica either, that��s a few hundred years old, pretty valuable, supposed to filter evil spirits from your dreams,�� he said with a flair for the dramatic, ��I want you to have it.��

    ��Really, I don��t-��

    ��I insist. Consider it my personal thanks for challenging me. I never met anyone like you before, umm, this is crazy because I couldn��t possibly deserve it, but I would really like to go out with you, on a real date, if that��s okay.��

    Nadia dropped the dream catcher at his feet and ran away without looking back.

    -----

    It was a long walk home. Her father met her in the driveway. Nadia wondered if he knew something, or if he just enjoyed the nice weather.

    ��Did you get to swim?��

    ��I did. But, apparently, it��s not just Dew. I��m a boy magnet.��

    ��Did you flirt back?��

    ��No way! I just walked around in that swimsuit Jody gave me. Just a normal bikini for swimming. But really. But I don��t want to talk about it. Nothing happened. It was just a fun party.��

    ��Just a normal bikini for swimming?��

    Norman examined his daughter; she had a slight glow in her eye.

    ��You like someone?��

    Suddenly she realized she was blushing again.

    ��I don��t know. I don��t want to talk about it. It��s my business who I like or don��t like anyway. It��s not like I��m going to do anything crazy. I can sort it out on my own. But thank you for keeping Dew out of my hair.��

    ��You don��t have to seek the reverse of the transformation for my sake. If you find yourself liking this arrangement, nothing will change you back. You have to remember that ultimately, what actions you take, are up to you. You control a portion of your destiny and a portion of the destiny of those around you, but you have to live with your choices.��

    He had spoken a bit too strongly for her and could almost see the responsibility weighing down her shoulders.

    She burst into tears, ��No! I can��t give up yet.��

    ��Nadia, calm down!�� Norman snapped, taking her by those slumped shoulders. He had to take a breath to calm himself as he sensed her anxiety getting worse.

    ��What��s happening to me?! I don''t want to be like this! Why am I like this!?��

    Norman gave up and simply hugged her. How could he tell her that it would be okay; that she would find herself one way or another and no matter what, he and her sister would be there for her? Nadia pulled away and sat on the step next to her father, staring blankly at her hands. Her father gripped her shoulder and shook slightly.

    ��You''re full of questions only you can answer. I want to get some pictures from the attic, maybe they will help you sort your thoughts.��

    -----

    The hatch to the attic opened with a creak. It wasn��t as hot and stuffy as most attics because of the multitude of trees that shaded the property. A layer of dust and cobwebs caked everything. A wooden transistor radio with faded hand dials stood to the side of the steps, blocking their way. They turned past it to a stack of marked boxes.

    By moving aside boxes marked Christmas decorations and baby clothes, they finally found five large boxes of books on top of a cedar chest marked with name Natalie, only this Natalie was the senior, or Nadia��s mother. Books were gently pushed aside so Nadia could rummage through the boxes as her father stood crouched behind her to prevent hitting his head on the slanted ceiling.

    A book fell at Nadia��s knees and released its bookmark, a picture of Nadia��s mother hugging a pajama clad baby boy. Her left arm was over the child��s chest, so he could be pressed safely against her body while he sat on her right arm face front. A tear slid across Nadia��s eye as she laughed at the brazen expression in the baby��s eye.

    She had always been there to calmly protect him, even gently intervening in training sessions against her father��s will. Staring into that picture made five years seem like an eternity since she heard her mother��s laugh, her tired sigh, or her gentle hum. Nadia tucked the picture back into the book and gently closed its pages.

    The next box was filled with cards and letters. In particular, there was a picture of her mother with her friends from before her parents were married. A tear she didn��t know about fell inside before she closed the picture book. It surprised her how much she was crying, but she couldn��t stop. The only thing she could do was lean over the boxes and wait. All the while she kept crying. Norman approached slowly and put a hand on her shoulder. Nadia glanced at her father with a red, tear-soaked face before turning back to the boxes.

    ��She wanted a little girl and got me instead, but I end up becoming exactly what she wanted and she isn��t even here to see it. I wonder how she would��ve felt to see me like this, what would she have said?��

    ��I think she would want you to be happy with who you are. I know how much it hurts that she''s gone. Sometimes the pain hits you at the oddest moments as if for no reason at all, and other times it��s a thing that brings back the memory. I know she wasn��t partial to having a boy, and she put you through a lot because of it, but she loved you a lot more than you ever knew. And she would tell you that she''d support you no matter who you are or what you decide to be.��

    ��I miss her so much.��

    Norman knelt beside her, allowing her to cry a little on his arm as he began to shed some tears of his own.

    ��I know you do.��

 28.5 Help! Pick It Up And Put It Down!

    The downstairs couch by the television enveloped her in soft cushions. Her father, Nefri, and Luthial were out running errands. Dew was running around chasing illusions with Delia. Josh slept on a cot in the garage. Melting into the tv room sofa after some improvised training on a boring Wednesday morning was as good an activity as any. Her favorite glass filled with cold chocolate milk sat on a coaster as she watched day time television: My boyfriend has another baby mama and she''s the queen-pin of the San Jose drug cartel! Nadia laughed and almost shot chocolate milk out her nose and over the blanket when the first chair flew.

    "Where do they find these people!?"

    Of course, as soon as the fighting started, they moved to a commercial break. Boo! Nadia sunk down into the sofa as the commercials droned on.

    "Have you been injured in an accident? Slips? Falls? Has a bus slammed into and rolled over your body? Are you suffering from back pain, neck pain, bursitis, or sinusitis? Call 1-800-555-1212 for the law firm of Good, Long, and Everhart. We know the law."

    It broke into a jingle.

    "You can count on us!

    For knowing the law

    Protecting your life!

    Above the law!

    Like the ruling class!

    You can count on us!"

    She''d heard this commercial a thousand times. They aired it non-stop. Stupid law firms. The television droned on with stupid boring advertisements bereft of baby mamas, maternity tests, flying chairs, or suspicious drug cartel overlords.

    "The sleek design and futuristic contours of the Seniormobile Steakcutluss won''t be the only thing to catch your eye. The smooth handling and quality transmission constructed by overseas sweatshop labor will ensure a driving experience like no other. Drive like a citizen, a senior citizen. Seniormobile."

    Something weird happened followed by a loud voice.

    "Spittles, Spittles, Spittles, Colors in your mouth! Tastes like cavities filled with rainbows!"

    Little animated elves were singing while working in a tree.

    "We are elves,

    who bake cookies in trees,

    even though they''re highly flammable!

    Our cookies are deliciously moist,

    So put them in your mouth.

    Look!

    Fancy colorful packaging!"

    The blanket went over her head. Would these commercials ever end? Would she ever find out who was the real mother of Steve''s twins? At this rate she''d lose interest before they brought out the maternity test. Wait, how did they not know who the mother was?

    A Village People song began to play from the television, Macho Man. Nadia peeked her head out from under the blanket.

    "Have you become puny and weak?!"

    Nadia nodded slightly, "Maybe a little, haven''t been training as much lately."

    "Is your body so soft and girly it''s like an evil wizard cast a spell on you to make you a girl!?"

    "Oddly specific but yes. One hundred percent," she nodded as she crawled out of the blanket and took a big gulp of chocolate milk, "It''s a huge problem."

    "Well, let''s make you a MAN again!"

    Nadia jumped over the table and stumbled toward the television down on all fours as her shorts swayed back and forth to the music.

    "You''re speaking my language!"

    "Our work out program is guaranteed to make you drop, and GIVE ME FIFTY! We build and sculpt only the manliest of manly men! If you can''t handle our workout program, then you can''t handle being a man! So, get to Scrummy''s Workout Warehouse at 21 Beefcake Street in Huntingdon PA and turn that soft shell feminine form into some premium testosterone infused MAN meat!"

    Stars shone in Nadia''s eyes as the light of the television screen flickered on her face and lyrics of Macho Man tickled her ears. Her hips bounced a little to the music as she sat on her knees with her arms against her pajama shirt.

    "I want to be a premium testosterone infused piece of man meat right now!"

    "Now running a limited time promotion. One Day Free! That''s Scrummy''s Workout Warehouse at 21 Beefcake Street. LIFT HARD! GET STRONG! BE A MAN!"

    The comercial ended with a huge explosion.

    "Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad!!"

    Oh wait, he wasn''t home. Well anyway, the show was finally back on. But she didn''t care. The TV went off because it was all nonsense anyway. She bounced up and went to grab a pen and paper before she forgot that address.

    Gym clothes? Some of her mom''s stuff was in the attic and would probably fit her near perfectly now. Problem solved.

    -----

    A metal shed stood in a loose gravel and stone covered lot at the end of Beefcake Street. A few cars sat on the lot as the afternoon summer sun burned. An air conditioning unit hummed to the left side. There were huge garage doors. The sign by a small metal door recently painted in white. She parked her bike in the grass nearby.

    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Okay, she was dressed in a spandex black gym shirt and shorts that she thought looked pretty good on her. She wore loose shorts over the gym shorts but only the tight short sleeved spandex shirt. The gym clothes under her tied shorts were black with dark red accents. Nadia was glad her mom hadn''t gone for the flashy designs.

    The cooler air refreshed her skin after a long bike ride. Black hair absorbed a lot of heat when riding in the sun it ran down most of her back. She glanced around the gym as her gym bag hung over her shoulders.

    One or two working treadmills and a training bike stood nearby. They looked in poor condition. The focus of this gym was weights, weights, and more weights. A glimmer sparked in Nadia''s eyes as she saw a few muscular guys. One did bicep curls, another worked on bench press, and a particularly round muscle man practiced dead lifts. The leg press machine was empty.

    Rock music played in the background. The scent of sweaty gym clothes filled the stuffy atmosphere like a steam. Fans rolled air that seemed less cool the longer she stayed inside. It had been way too hot riding here. The man returning to the counter sweat profusely.

    "Welcome to Scrummy''s Workout Warehouse. Do you have a membership?"

    "I''m here for the free trial. I have my school ID, an ID card, and a letter from my dad. I should be good to go."

    The desk clerk slapped the counter and thumbed a sign, "Under 18 must have parental consent and be accompanied by an adult."

    A big sweaty guy with brown hair approached. He was pretty muscular and looked good in a tank top. Wait, Bill!?

    "She''s with me. I was waiting for her. She wanted to try the one-day thing but just register her as my guest."

    "Okay, sure thing Mr. Sloan."

    Nadia leaned forward, who would have guessed Bill would be working out here! Wait, they were the same age. How was he Mr. Sloan. Did he have a fake ID? Nadia followed him but then veered towards the free weights.

    "Why don''t you bench a bit? Nathan has free weights all over his house. But he doesn''t have benches or racks, at least from what I remember."

    Hair pushed back as she tilted her head and walked to the benches. It had been a little while since she tried bench press and she wasn''t sure how she felt about assuming the proper form in front of one of her best friends.

    She put a fifty-pound weight on one side.

    Soft hands rubbed her face. It didn''t matter, she just needed to exercise until she couldn''t anymore. Bill was right. There wasn''t much point of doing things she did at home all the time.

    She put a fifty-pound weight on the other side.

    The bench foam felt a bit flat. Her pendant hung over the tight spandex of her gym clothes. Her chest helped center it and keep it from sliding. The rule of the day would be no using her powers unless she absolutely needed to not be crushed. This was forty pounds less than she had been doing on her own, without using her powers for an assist, the last time she''d been at a gym.

    Bill glanced over but didn''t say anything. The bar lifted slowly off the rack and Nadia brought it down to her chest while breathing slowly and deliberately. Her chest tensed as she pushed the weights back up. Feet squared, back arched, and heels lifted as toes pushed up and calves tensed. A drop of sweat formed on her forehead as she brought the weights down and then raised them slowly and deliberately. Bill delayed his final set to watch her. He gulped silently.

    The weights on her bar matched his own but this was her warm-up. He couldn''t stop staring. This girl didn''t look out of the ordinary, but she flexed like a monster. Her thin arms held incredible tone. Suddenly, she just stopped the bar midway down in the center of her repetitions.

    And she just held it, then she turned her head to look at him. She stared at him. Bill began to sweat even though he merely laid and watched. Meanwhile, Nadia just held the weights perfectly still midway through a motion with her arms bent.

    "Are you using a fake ID?" she asked quietly.

    Bill sat up, walked over to the other side of the bench, and doubled his plates to match his body weight as Nadia shrugged and finished her set. Bill hopped back on his bench, set himself down, laid his back flat.

    The weights lifted off the stand as he grimaced. They shook, they wobbled. He managed the first lift, then barely managed the second as his feet lifted off the ground and the bar heavily listed. A petite hand caught the center of the bar. Bill turned bright red as the underside of Nadia''s spandex outlined chest hovered over his face. With one hand she helped him lift most of the weight and brought it back to the stand.

    "That''s a good way to hurt yourself," she said.

    His shoulder rotated as he tested to see if he pulled something. Then without a word he sat up, took a drink of water, and wiped his face. He turned bright red as he took some breaths and shifted to discretely adjust his clothes.

    "I can lift my own body weight easily. I''m just fatigued. And distracted."

    "Well, you shouldn''t be trying to lift much more than you can safely handle."

    "Yeah, yeah, don''t worry about me. That was my last set for this exercise anyway. And no, I don''t have a fake ID. My dad has a membership and since I''m almost 17 they are letting it slide."

    "Oh," Nadia said as she added ten-pound weights to each side of her bar, "Umm, would it be alright if maybe we worked out together?"

    He tensed, squinted, struggled with himself, and leaned slightly forward. His reaction brought back a memory. She wore spandex; it pressed her chest really tightly. It outlined her waist and the top of her hips. Her red over-shorts were loose but very short, as they were for wearing to bed on hot days. The spandex hugged her thighs down to the bare knee. Nadia realized what Bill might be having trouble with. Leaning over him so closely she practically breathed on his ear only made it worse. She backed up and started putting the plates away while Bill limped to the locker room. Then she took a long deep breath.

    "No, that''s his problem, not mine. I''m doing a full workout."

    The plates went back on and Nadia started her second set. She added more weight for her third so that she had twice her body weight on the bench. Some of the other lifters began to stare and Nadia wasn''t sure if it was because of how much she lifted. There were no other women here. Bill came out of the locker room wiping his forehead and went over to the squat racks. She decided to join him.

    "Feel better?" she asked.

    He frowned, "I''m fine. How''s your cousin doing? He sent me a letter but the handwriting looked a bit off. It looked like he had someone write it for him."

    "I''m pretty sure he wrote it himself. He wouldn''t pass off something like that," Nadia said with a bit of offense taken because she had written it herself, "Why would you even think that?"

    "Okay, so it was like his notes but only super neat and smaller. Everything was easy to read. I could read every word. That''s not Nathan. It was also stupid-dumb, emotional, and sentimental. Like getting a letter from my mom. I swore any minute the i''s would start being dotted with hearts. Is he dying?"

    Nadia slapped his shoulder, hard, "He''s going through a lot right now. That''s all I can say."

    They both started with their own body weight at the squat rack. Bill looked relieved when she saw Nadia using smaller weights than him. A devilish eye glared at Bill as they started their warm up squats.

    So, she wrote like a girl? But would she lift like a girl?

    -----

    It was nearly sunset when she returned home. She walked to the TV room, flopped on the sofa, and melted into the cushions. She heard the sound of sloshing water and dishes clinking about in the kitchen as her little sister jumped on her lap and got cozy.

    "Nadia home!" Natalie shouted.

    "Yes, I''m back!"

    "How was your work out?" Norman asked, "Was the new gym nice?"

    "The place was a dump, but they had racks and benches. I had a good work out and I didn''t use my powers. Just my muscles. I can barely move! I''m going to heal myself for a faster recovery."

    "That''s nice."

    "And I met Bill there. He almost died trying to keep up with me on squats. I lifted so much they took some instant pictures. No powers!"

    "That''s nice."

    "They had to call an ambulance for Bill, possibly a hernia."

    "That''s nice."

    "That''s nice! That''s nice! That''s nice!" Natalie yelled before hugging her sister and getting her hair mushed about playfully.

 29. Help! Vicious Cycle!

    A battered black and white mountain bike stood upside down at the side of the garage. An adjustable wrench removed the bolts that held its twisted front tire. They were tighter than Nadia had expected, but removing them didn��t guarantee an easy task in so much as the rim stubbornly refused to be removed; she had to wrest it from the frame, getting dirt and grease over her elbows. Hands, slightly swollen from the work, tinted red.

    She checked the spare rim she had found that morning at the salvage yard to make sure the tire fit all the way around. Odd patches of grease and dirt stained her clothes. Finding a tire for the rim hadn��t been a problem. The spare tube from the garage worked fine underneath the tire from the damaged rim, which was still nearly new. The scent of grease and metal wafted to her nose as she bolted the new wheel to her bicycle and filled the tire with air. As she moved to turn the bicycle upright Josh picked it up and did it for her.

    Nadia scowled at him, hands on her hips, ��I don��t remember asking for your help.��

    "Fixing your dad��s bike to make up with him?�� he asked.

    ��No, sorry, wrong answer, this one��s mine.��

    Josh patted the seat, said, ��Really, a rugged black and white mountain bike with a male seat? Can you even reach the pedals? Is this a joke?��

    Nadia lowered the seat a few inches and tightened the bolt without responding. On finishing, the wrench clattered on the floor. Nadia pressed her abdomen with her hand while wincing. Her skin paled a bit, some sweat developed on her forehead as she grimaced. After a moment she neutralized her expression, stood and left her arms rest at her side. Dew saw Nadia with Josh as he walked past the garage and joined them.

    ��I was just walking by this garage. Funny, why would you name your stable after such vile creatures? It strikes me as odd.��

    Silence.

    ��How are things here?�� Dew asked.

    Nadia waited a few minutes to answer, ��Things would be fine, except that everyone here is bent on ruining my day. All I need is a little time by myself to get in touch with my masculine side. But instead; I have to deal with you two stooges watching my every move. Can��t a guy get any privacy around here?��

    Tools were picked up and tucked them under her arm before she set them in their places. A wrench slammed into a drawer so forcefully that both men winced. Nadia stormed towards the kitchen but found herself blocked by Delia.

    ��May I inquire as to who is committing such a violence? There is a child living in this abode and she doesn��t need to hear such angry slamming of weapons.��

    ��Wait, now you��re telling me how to behave on my property!? This is a new one!��

    Instead of going inside, Nadia threw up her arms and walked to the end of the drive way. Feet clutched a tree and arms hugged the sides as she climbed to a sturdy branch. Traffic passed on Mackenloo avenue. Josh shrugged before he leaned against the tool cabinets. Dew watched from under the garage door as Delia laid her hand gently on his shoulder.

    ��She��s a strange girl with many secrets. I wouldn��t pine for her.��

    ��I can do as I please.��

    Josh spit on the garage floor, ��That girl has some serious problems. Of course, you find out everyone does after you see their nightmares. Still, she��s a lot better off than me.��

    Delia tugged at Dew��s arm, ��Why don��t you forget about her?��

    ��No, something��s wrong, I intend to find out what and help her any way I can.��

    ��How many times have you been told that your help isn��t wanted? Do you need a gahrahge to eat you before you understand? You��re in love with her, aren��t you?!��

    ��Is there anything wrong with that?��

    ��Yes, she despises you. What about your village? They need you. What if they fall under attack again?��

    ��I have ways of knowing, and it will not be unprotected. I also know Nadia is a woman of guardian blood, and she is coveted by the wizards. She needs our friendship.��

    ��She��ll have me,�� Josh said. ��I can fight, and I can��t leave her far behind without releasing this nightmare inside me. I��m the perfect bodyguard, strong and completely beholden.��

    ��I��m afraid you��re one I��d have to protect her from,�� Dew said.

    Delia pulled out her spear and pressed the broken tip against Joshes�� throat.

    ��I��m speaking to the protector of Nenkyo Village. Interrupt again and my spear will end your nightmare.��

    ��I know when I��m not wanted,�� Josh pushed the spear tip aside before entering the kitchen.

    ��If you are worried about my village,�� Dew said, ��I will let you stay and protect it.��

    ��I have no ties to your village yet.��

    ��Delia, what are you trying to tell me?��

    ��I just want you to know that I��m your friend, and I��m not going to let anything happen to you or those you care about. I can��t speak for my sisters, but I will not fail you, whatever course you take.��

    ��There��s little wealth, honor, or glory in the road I��ve chosen.��

    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    She leaned with the support of her spear and sighed sullenly at the ground.

    ��I don��t care. You��re doing what you think is right. I��m doing the same.��

    ��Thank you, Delia.��

    A light wind worked through the trees and entered the open garage to gently push the cloth of Delia��s outfit. Dew��s heavier robes refused to budge. He worriedly looked to Delia as she stared at the ground.

    Nadia hopped up the branches of the oak tree behind her mailbox until she reached another strong branch that was midway to the top of the tree. The branch provided a stable surface overlooking the passing traffic. The vibrant wind animated her hair as the leaves shook around her. The breeze cooled her as she smiled at the clouds. Suddenly, falling from above, Nefri sat beside her; Nadia squealed in mild shock.

    ��Hey, this is my spot to be alone!��

    ��I thought I��d be alone with you.��

    Nefri took a deep breath with some relish. They both watched the clouds; Nadia said nothing, but Nefri swung her legs from the branch and kept her eyes on the clouds as she hummed. Nadia kept her focus on the passing traffic.

    ��Nadia, do you dislike us because we��re from a different realm?��

    ��That��s not it. I...�� Nadia paused, then took a deep breath and tensed her posture until she could relax again, ��You��re all great people. I just don��t feel good about dragging others in on my problems. You guys don��t have to help me you know. I don��t really need it.��

    ��You��re very moody today,�� Nefri spoke calmly amid another breeze.

    ��I don��t feel good; my stomach hurts and I have a lot on my mind. I don��t know who I am anymore. You don��t know what it��s like when you don��t fit in anywhere. I don��t know what to do about it. When I became a woman, I thought at first that it was the worst thing that could possibly happen to me. Now I don��t know what to think.��

    Nefri didn��t know if Nadia knew what her father had told them, so she decided to be cautious and spare her any undue humiliation.

    ��So, you feel like you��re a young woman now? I thought of myself as a girl until I was twenty, but then I was rather immature. Why would you think that growing up is the worst thing that could happen to you? Life is a journey through many stages, you should enjoy them as they come without dwelling on the past.��

    With a timorous laugh Nadia blushed, then paused a moment, ��The more time passes, the more natural it seems. I still like the things I used to do, but I like some new things that I can��t stop myself from liking as easily as I thought I could,�� Nadia swallowed before turning a little red, ��I think I have an actual crush on this guy. When I��m around him I find myself wondering if I��m worth his attention, and he makes my heart beat faster. I��m not supposed to feel that way about another guy!��

    Nefri smiled, marveling at how complete a change the transformation of Ambrosia wrought, ��So who��s the lucky boy?��

    ��You don��t understand. This complicates things way too much. It isn��t normal. I never wanted anything like this to happen. It was supposed to be a fencing match. You don��t get feelings for someone just because they beat you in a fencing match! It doesn��t work that way!��

    ��It sounds perfectly normal to me, but if you don��t want anything to happen, then you should avoid him. Them.��

    ��I can��t do that.��

    ��Why? Is he Dew?��

    Nadia stuck out her tongue, ��Thank goodness no!��

    ��A boy from this realm perhaps?��

    Nadia stared ahead calmly and became lost in thought. While she was thinking about Darrell, she thought of herself even more firmly as Nadia, and she began to think in terms of remaining a girl.

    ��He��s in a class by himself,�� she whispered.

    Nefri snapped her fingers in front of Nadia��s face to get her out of her daydream. Upon waking, Nadia buried her face in her hands.

    ��Oh no! What in the world am I thinking!?��

    ��There��s nothing wrong with liking a boy. You just have to be careful about getting to know him better. You��re young, you have all the time in the world to explore your options.��

    ��What if I make a bad choice? I could end up wrecking my life forever!��

    "I��m sure you��ll figure it out.��

    ��I have to see him one more time before I go back there. Then I��m going to decide what I want to do. I might even decide not to go with you. Maybe this might not be a curse after all.��

    ��How are you cursed?�� Nefri asked, pretending to know less than she did.

    ��I guess I shouldn��t have told you that much, but you probably wouldn��t understand anyway,�� Nadia started playing with her fingers and twiddling her thumbs. ��I may decide I like being a girl, or I may decide to try and become a boy. Right now, I just don��t know what I want. There��s another person I really like too. I��ve liked her for a long time. And I kind of feel like I��m betraying her by feeling this way.��

    ��Nadia.��

    ��Yes?��

    ��You��re quite confused about your emotions. Maybe you don��t realize this, but you��re a beautiful person in every way and any person you care about, for any reason, is very lucky.��

    Nadia couldn��t help blushing again, ��Do you really think so?��

    Nefri socked Nadia on the shoulder lightly, ��You have nothing to worry about. If this boy doesn��t like you, or that girl, the right one will come along eventually. It seems like there is a crowd of suitors already. Sometimes I wish I knew what it was like.��

    Nadia relaxed, ��Then I��m not going to worry about it anymore.��

    ��I once had a crush on a boy too.��

    ��Really, was he cute?��

    ��Only the cutest. I used to dream about being held in his arms underneath the moonlight of a warm summer night. That never happened though. He eventually bored me. All he ever thought about was tilling the soil, so I gave up trying to get his attention and became a wanderer. I found adventure instead of romance. Sometimes I still wonder about him though. But now I have Lu- really good friends.��

    ��All he thought about was tilling soil? Maybe you��re better off.��

    Nefri��s bright red hair shown as the afternoon sun broke through the shade. The ends of her light pink silk bows waved gently with the breeze while she watched the forest around her stir.

    ��I��ve seen so little of your world, yet I think it��s strange and wonderful at the same time. Luthial longs to ride in one of the chariots of fire again to see even more of your civilization.��

    ��I wish we could take her to New York. Then again, even Philadelphia might be too much for her. She��s probably the only girl I know who��d be thrilled to take a trip to Scranton. But then Jody did drag me all the way to Reading for a sale.��

    ��I��ve never heard of those places.��

    ��They��re big cities, millions of people live and work in them, except for Scranton and Reading.��

    ��Are there castles and shops?��

    ��Plenty of shops, but no castles, though they have something better than castles. We call them sky scrapers.��

    ��Sky scrapers!?��

    Nadia laughed as she reached up and made a scraping motion.

    ��Tall buildings that seem to touch the sky. Kind of like really high towers. And they��re made of glass.��

    ��I��d like to see them. Promise me you won��t tell Luthial about such things. She may wander off! But oh, how I��d really just love to see such things.��

    ��I have some pictures I can show you, but there��s nothing like being there,�� Nadia looked again at Nefri��s hair, which was so long it hung below the branch where they sat.

    ��Why did everyone from your village want me to marry Dew so badly?��

    ��Dew was never much affected by women. He just never found one that lived up to his ideals. You��re the first and only woman Dew has ever shown ANY interest in, and they��re anxious for healthy heirs that will continue to protect the village. Don��t worry, they can��t force you to be the village matriarch if you don��t want him.��

    ��I can��t care for him in that way,�� she clutched her stomach again and took a few deep breaths, she clenched her eyes and shook her head, ��I shouldn��t care for any man in that way, really.��

    ��Are you okay? You look a bit ill.��

    ��I don��t feel good right now. My head hurts too. But don��t worry about me. It��s probably something I ate. I think I need an aspirin or something, but I��m glad we had this talk.��

 30. Help! Can I Exchange My Crew For Geoffrey?!

    Nadia climbed down the tree carefully. The muscles in her abdomen tightened with each shuffle against the trunk until her sneakers plopped into the grass. While halfway down the poorly paved drive back to her house, thoughts drifted to the medicine cabinet. She heard Josh holler. Dew chased him. He swung his sword while Josh dodged each swipe of the blade with swift retreats. Joshes�� fierce counter punches couldn��t land either. They fought their way in front of her.

    ��You��re a vile slanderer. My love is not a case of hair moans! You will take that back or forfeit your life.��

    ��Come on monkey butt face, you swing like my grandpa!��

    Dew��s sword swung for Josh more fervently. He Dodged to the side of Nadia as she approached. Momentum carried the tip of the blade against Nadia��s upper right arm as she pulled away, but not enough to avoid a sliced sleeve and the smallest cut. She felt the wound. Blood stained her fingers as she gasped before furrowing her brow and clenching her teeth as her fists curled. She kicked Josh deep into the yard without holding her power. He essentially flew backward. Then she clutched Dew��s arm before he could swing his sword again. As soon as he saw the sliced sleeve and the slight line of blood oozing from the scratch, Dew went to his knees and begged her forgiveness.

    ��This is my world now. So please refrain from trying to kill people you don��t like,��

    Dew took hold of her arm and slid his hand toward the wound. Nadia closed her eyes, clenched her teeth while remaining still.

    ��I was only trying to humble him in defense of your honor. He called you a crazed moaning hair! Is the wound deep? Can you move your arm?��

    ��Let��s find out,�� she pulled out of his grasp and smacked him in the jaw with the back of her hand. The force with which she hit him was sufficient to knock him backwards. It felt just as good as the first time she slapped him silly, actually better because she backhanded him. Nadia clenched her fist and made a muscle.

    ��Hmm, works perfectly, it��s probably fine.��

    She walked back to the house flexing her fist proudly. Josh strolled calmly back from the yard and waited for Dew to revive. Blood dripped from Dew��s nose as he stood.

    ��Like I said, violently hormonal.��

    ��How dare you sully her name! Raise your fists cur!��

    Dew sniffed blood up and wiped his face. A light streak of blood smeared across the hairs of his right arm. Josh made his fists ready. Dew jumped back to his feet. They resumed the fight, but this time with fists.

    Nadia entered the kitchen through the garage and retrieved her favorite glass from the cupboard. Orange juice filled it before she sat at the kitchen table. Barely a sip later, Delia rushed in from the back door.

    ��What type of girl are you?��

    ��Huh?��

    ��No, what kind of monster are you that you would attack your own ally as he tries to defend your honor? I think you should go back out there and apologize on your hands and knees this minute.��

    ��To Dew?��

    ��Who else?��

    ��Are you ignorant!? Mister ��control your anger�� nearly cut off my arm. Maybe next time he��ll think about being more careful. As far as I��m concerned, he deserved whatever I gave him.��

    Delia thrust her spear through the table without care for the violence or the noise, ��You��re such an ignorant peasant girl, completely unworthy of Dew��s reverence.��

    Nadia pretended to be calm as she finished off her orange juice with shaking hands. Delia pulled her spear from the jagged hole in the center of the kitchen table.

    ��This is my house!�� Nadia screamed as she slammed down her favorite glass, ��My house!��

    Delia stared at her angrily before retreating outside.

    ��What is wrong with you people!? I can��t take this anymore!��

    Nadia charged through the garage without looking for anyone, hopped on her bike, and rode away as the fist fight in the yard continued.

    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    -----

    A large square building adjacent a large parking lot served as the gymnasium of the public high school. The road leading to the school rose in a steep incline, but she climbed it easily. Anger assuaged her pains. The racks outside the gymnasium provided a safe place to deposit her bike. The parking lot remained empty, but she didn��t care because she had some peaceful time to fall into an uneasy sleep while sitting by the door.

    An hour later, the sound of the big metal double doors slamming shut woke her. She found them unlocked and went inside. A teenage boy in a red ball cap and brown glasses looked over the gym. He held a vinyl case designed to protect delicate clothes while he stared toward the basketball hoops that had been folded into the ceiling. Nadia waited by the door until he gave her attention.

    He waved with his left hand and spoke in pleasant high-pitched tone, almost singing his words, ��Hmm, would you be Nadia?��

    He put his case down to offer her a hug, but since she refused to accept it, he offered his hand instead.

    ��I am. Who are you?��

    ��I��m Geoffrey, Darrell��s best friend. Well, not really but anyway. I��m here exclusively because Darrell asked me to design a uniform that would boost team morale. You��re his new cheerleader, right? I never heard of having a cheerleader for fencing, but with Darrell there��s a first time for everything.��

    ��I suppose so.��

    ��I have a completely sensational outfit ready. It��ll fit you like nothing that has ever been made. Don��t worry, Jody gave me your measurements and description beforehand. That girl has an eye.�� He pulled her hand up and examined her fingers. ��You have such gorgeous little fingers; do you mind if I paint them tropical colors for the matches? Would you be okay with that kind of style for the summer?��

    She pulled her hand away.

    ��I��ll wear what I have to wear within the bounds of decency, but I won��t let you use make up.��

    ��It would have highlighted your appeal so much. Not that you need it, you��re absolutely perfect the way you are. I��m only here to adorn said perfection, not make it. Now, I��m glad you remember that you agreed to wear a uniform, because I would be absolutely forlorn if you rejected my masterpiece.��

    Geoffrey opened the long bag and pulled out a hanger with a dark plastic dry cleaner��s cover hanging over it. The utmost of care and caution went into its handling. He placed it ceremoniously in Nadia��s arms before escorting her to the girl��s locker room.

    ��You��re clean right?�� He sniffed.

    ��I showered this morning, but I��ve been pretty active most of the day.��

    ��Well, it is for you so I suppose there��s no helping it. Once you get it on, come out here and I��ll adjust it. It may seem a little complicated at first but you��ll grow to love it. It��s a good thing you came early so we could straighten this out.��

    For the first time, Nadia found herself in a girl��s locker room, even if it did happen to be empty. She found a bench near the shower and pulled the outfit out of the plastic covering. There was a pink ruffled mini-skirt, a dark purple tank top, a pair of heavy pink workout socks, and a swimsuit slathered with colorful triangles of every type in the pattern. An empty bag labeled clothes had been provided for her street clothing. She took a deep breath before pulling herself into the swimsuit first. She was surprised how well it fit once she buttoned the straps in the back correctly on the third try.

    As she faced her back towards the mirror, she could see the two triangular holes that displayed the base of her shoulder blades and the two long oval cuts centered over her spine. The strap between the two cuts was almost completely invisible. In the front was an open triangle along her waist that served as a window to her navel. Another strange feature of the swimsuit was the tight sleeves that extended to her elbow. But she liked them because she could lift her arm and easily examine the various neon-colored shapes on the fabric. A fencing rapier centered each shape.

    The colors contrasted as well; hot pink triangles had electric blue rapiers. Neon green triangles held an epee of a flashy red. Next, she placed the ruffled mini skirt and the loose, short sleeved, halter top on over the swimsuit. Lastly, she changed into the new socks and pulled them up over her calves. When she came outside, Geoffrey approached with a judgmental eye.

    ��Shocking. Fabulous. Amazing. May I make some adjustments?��

    ��Sure, I guess.��

    He adjusted her skirt until it fell diagonally from left to right. Then he folded her socks back down until they hung loosely over her sneakers before asking her to sit down.

    ��Can I have permission to braid your hair, it��s literally essential to the vision I have in mind for a cheer leading goddess.��

    Nadia relaxed, ��Sure, go right ahead.��

    He gently pulled at her hair and started to quickly yet gently braid it into one massive tail. Armed with a comb, he began to remove unwanted remnants of nature from the poorly kept strands with a heartbroken expression.

    ��I��m surprised. You must have put a lot of work into this. Are you sure you��re a high school student?��

    ��It��s nothing. I live for this kind of thing.��

    ��Will this damage my hair?��

    ��Honey, the leaves and twigs stuck in it are going to destroy it, not a braid. You can undo it any time as well. Forgive me if I request you to use a little conditioner and take better care of this hair. It��s positively beautiful but you mustn��t abuse it so. You are far too lucky to treat it like this.��

    Geoffrey finished braiding her hair by tying a thick yellow ribbon into a bow. She pushed herself up, stood on her toes, lifted her arms level with her shoulders, surveyed herself calmly without the aid of a mirror, and smirked.

    ��All I need now is a space ship.��

    ��Was that a compliment, because I��m taking it as one. It took me far too long to find that pattern for it to be otherwise.��

    ��So besides wearing this uniform, what else am I supposed to do?��

    ��Not much except serve as a backup for the fencing team. You��re the lucky one, last time I lost a bet with him I had to work on his father��s farm for a whole summer.��

    ��That was you!?��

    "So you''ve heard, well most rumors are completely unfounded."

    Nadia couldn''t help but giggle, "Well, I haven''t heard any rumors aside for some poor guy got stuck with the most horrible farm internship of his life."

    They sat down, she relaxed as they continued a light conversation around farm work, fencing, fashion, and other small talk while waiting for the others to arrive for practice.

 31. Help! A Rose On Stone!

    After several minutes of conversation with Geoffrey, the others began arriving for practice. She joined the group, took a bottle of water from the cooler, broke the seal, and squirted its contents into her mouth as she watched the boys go through warm ups. Darrell kept to the back of the group. When he recognized her, he took a break from his routine exercises.

    ��Hi. Geoffrey really did a great job with your uniform. I told him it should subtly convey your skill and athletic power while highlighting your beauty.��

    She watched his eyes, smiled, blushed a little.

    ��You never said that.��

    ��You��re right, it��s one of Geoffrey��s lines. But I think it does exactly that, so it��s yours to keep. You��ll have to remember to wear it for every practice and every match, and keep it in good condition. That��s part of our bargain.��

    ��I don��t mind it, really, I don��t. It suits me. I really like it! And, thank you for the present, the one from the party. I got the package in the mail. You didn��t have to apologize. I��m sorry about throwing it. I was just feeling angry about something and I kind of acted a little crazy. I had to go home and cool off.��

    ��That��s fine. You can tell me more later if you ever want to talk about it. I��m just glad you��re not mad at me for sending it to you. Umm, I��m going to finish my warm ups.��

    She pulled at his arm and enjoyed his flustered reaction, ��Wait a minute. It��s kind of awkward just standing here. This is just your practice. It��s not like I can cheer for that.��

    ��You can go home if you want, but I was hoping you��d help me supervise after we finish the warm ups. If you want to participate, get out here on the gym floor and warm up with me.��

    She had no problems with the warm up exercises. Being limber was something that had been drilled into her training since birth, and she found that quality had improved. After the exercises, Darrell taped ten papers to the wall and drew a red dot in the center of each one with a magic marker.

    ��Is anyone unfamiliar with the drill?��

    Nadia almost raised her hand but she had the idea before it was quite there. The fencers poked the paper with the edge of their swords, hoping to hit the red spot with a decent pressure while not tearing the thin paper, or allowing it to fall from the wall. The exercise caused a great deal of frustration, as each time the paper was torn even slightly it had to be taken down, thrown away, and replaced. The only student who hit the spot without tearing the paper moved his sword in slow motion, twice a minute. There was one paper unused. Darrell tossed Nadia his sword, which she caught by the handle easily.

    ��Why don��t you show them how it��s done.��

    Darrell had a clicker and stop watch ready to keep tack as she stared down the red spot and aimed her sword.

    ��Watch and learn boys, watch and learn.��

    Her sword hit the mark, was withdrawn, and hit the mark again in such quick succession that her arm, even more so the blade, remained a blur. Darrell could barely keep pace with the clicker. After fifteen seconds, she had hit the mark thirty times without damaging the paper; everyone gasped.

    ��We need a movie camera with slow motion to capture that speed.��

    ��She didn��t fully retract her arm.��

    ��I��m pretty sure she did, she was just really fast.��

    ��No, that��s impossible, there��s a trick to it.��

    ��Look at the tone on that bicep.��

    While holding the sword behind her back with her right hand, she raised the bottom of her left leg.

    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ��So, what do you think?��

    Darrell clapped, and soon every one joined in. With a delighted smile she bowed humbly to cap off the performance, after which she spent time supervising efforts at hitting the paper. Fifteen minutes of this activity passed when Darrell announced the time for the balance test; a test that involved balancing the sword upright on the flat of the palm by the tip of the handle and walking a straight line the length of the gym. Nadia ran forwards, backwards, sidelong, skipped, and even jumped without once causing the vertically standing sword to sway from her palm. However, when it was time to supervise the practice matches, she gave pointers and cheered. There weren��t any fighters at her level, plus her stomach still hurt at odd intervals, so she decided to back off and get another bottle of water instead of matching up.

    ��You��re good with the students,�� Darrell said, closing the distance between them.

    She instinctively pursed her lips before she took a step back while scratching the back of her neck, ��It��s nothing. Just comes naturally, I guess.��

    They watched the others and conversed about technique, equipment, and how the skills of the students could develop until it was time to clean up. Afterwards, she waited to say goodbye to Darrell, who walked her to her bike.

    ��I see you don��t drive yet.��

    ��I��ll get my license soon enough.��

    ��Is something wrong?�� he asked, noticing she looked a little pale.

    ��No, just a little stomachache I��ve had since lunch,�� she forced a smile. ��But everything��s fine. I needed this. I had such a great time. You have no idea how much I needed this.��

    ��You were great tonight. Are you into gymnastics.��

    ��No, but I guess I could be if I wanted to.��

    He pulled a rose out of the side pocket of his fencing bag, said, ��This is for doing such a great job tonight. If you don��t want it, that��s okay.��

    She took it. It twirled between her fingers as she suppressed a smile.

    ��I think I have a good place for it.��

    ��You��re going to be an opponent I��ll have to watch out for. Were you distracted during the first match? How did you get so good?��

    She leaned a little bit toward him, ��I was a bit drained. Next time you won��t be so lucky. Talent runs in my family.��

    She backed away before he got too close. Then she waved one last time and then jumped on her bike for the trip home. She placed the rose between her palm and the handlebar. As the school became more distant Nadia became pale with the realization that she��d almost kissed him twice.

    -----

    A small church with a fenced graveyard stood tucked away only a few hundred meters from the school. Nadia rode past the open gate to a glossy brown stone rectangle that marked an open patch of freshly mown grass. She stood her bike to the side before kneeling in front of it. The rose she held went atop the grave marker. A loose piece of flat slag served to weigh it against the stone, holding it against the breeze. While still on her knees she folded her hands and remained silent, eyes closed for moment, just how she��d been taught. Then she looked up at the smooth stone carved only nine years back. The same age as her little sister.

    ��Mom, what am I supposed to do? I need you more than ever. Please help me.��

    She put her hands over her face as a tension more powerful than any previous burned through her midsection. She thought the pain had mostly subsided even though she hadn��t even been given a chance to take a pill. As she stood up, a bit of vertigo struck her. She had to get home without being seen. This was really bad.

    -----

    Cool night air settled through the bedroom. With four woman and one girl in the house Norman felt compelled to wear his white flannel suit pajamas. Cool air helped negate his discomfort as he thrashed in bed. Two-thirty flashed on the radio clock on the bed stand. Pushing the covers aside, he slipped into a pair of plastic soled moccasins and buttoned his collared pajama top. Out of respect for his guests, he avoided turning on any lights that might have roused them. He quietly felt his way across the hall and down the steps. On the fifth step, downward he heard Nadia whisper for him. He tread on her foot and almost fell over her. Nadia uttered a high-pitched squeak as she shoved an open palm into his face. They both backed up one step.

    ��Dad?�� Nadia asked cautiously.

    ��It��s me.��

    ��Don��t do that, you scared me.��

    ��Sorry. I want to make warm milk because I can��t sleep. Also, there was a hole in the kitchen table when we returned from the supermarket. Are you feeling all right?��

    ��Everyone keeps asking me that. Do I look all right?��

    ��It��s dark. I can��t see you very well. Where have you been? The others said you were upset when you went to practice. Dew apologized to me thirty times. I��d have been worried sick if it wasn��t for the groeble. But I didn��t pry, just wanted to make sure you were safe out there. I don��t know, the thought of you being in danger hurts me, okay. All I can do is think about when you have to go back to Pozalm and how you won��t be here. And I can��t sleep.��

    Nadia blinked, almost in shock.

    ��Who are you and what have you done with my dad?��

    ��I��m just trying to say that I have trouble letting go of the reigns.��

    ��Of course you do, that��s why I love you. But I��ve been home for hours. I��m doing some laundry. Didn��t you hear the machine.��

    ��Laundry? I must have actually slept through it.��

    ��Yes, laundry. We need to talk.��

 32. Help! The Return To Pozalm Is Off To A Bad Start!

    A mug of milk followed a circular path on the rotary tray. A butter knife dug soft butter from a tin, which spread thinly over crackers on a snack tray. Nadia did not want anything, so Norman pulled a seat at the side of the kitchen table before biting a buttered cracker in half and taking a sip of hot milk. The crackers were eaten meticulously, so as not to spill crumbs. Dim light from the kitchen ceiling reached into the living room. It created furniture shadows that stretched across the carpet. Norman made a joke about a professional football team that hadn��t done well last year; it didn��t land. Nadia stared blankly for a second before changing the subject.

    ��Remember that thing you warned me about that might be tough to get through but it would be perfectly natural. I��m having it now. You never warned me I��d bleed to death, or that I��d feel so bad! I can barely move!��

    Norman coughed up a chewed cracker and swallowed again, ��Some have more trouble than others? It should be over in a few days. I already told you what to expect; you should have been prepared. What about the supplies?��

    ��I��m using them, but it still sucks! I ruined the outfit Geoffrey made. I can��t sleep for thinking about it. And if I��m a girl for another month, I have to go through this again!��

    She cradled her head in her arms as she pouted, then let her forehead hit the table. Nadia pulled at her hair. A muffled yell escaped. Then she sat back up.

    ��NO! This isn��t fair. I��m making a decision. I��m putting my foot down! I��m going back to Pozalm. I have to reverse this. I can��t take it anymore!��

    ��We have three more days until the next full moon.��

    Nadia stole a cracker, nibbled on its end, ��I��m going to find out where the Tramen Fohar lived. If I can change, I can change back, and they must hold the key to reversing this. Even if they don��t, their lands should be a good starting point. I��m sure to find something.��

    ��Are you sure you want to go? You seem to be taking things rather well except for complaining a lot. Perhaps you��re starting to prefer things this way?��

    ��Are you crazy!?��

    Her father thought maybe she protested too much, as she refused to look him in the eyes, her face reddened, and she said, ��I -how could you -well you make it sound so bad. I can like whoever I want, so there. There��s nothing wrong with liking someone and it doesn��t have to be a big deal or something. Just drop it.��

    ��Oh, Darrell Flemming? Seems okay, could be worse.��

    She folded her hands on her lap while nodding nervously. There was some bewilderment over how he already knew the boy she had feelings for. Had Nefri betrayed her?

    ��I��m your father. I pry.��

    ��It��s nothing perverted. And you need to stop nosing around in my business. Besides, when I��m travelling in Pozalm, I��ll have time to get over this stupid crush that is probably just part of my curse anyway.��

    A pint of cookie dough ice cream retrieved from the freezer proved to be a decent consolation for her mood. She dug into it with a big spoon once she returned to the table, speaking between mouthfuls. This would be claimed as her pint of ice cream, so she had no need for a bowl.

    ��I know full well what I am every time I look in the mirror, take a bath, or even talk. I��m even a girl in my dreams now. If this is the way I��ll be the rest of my life- the rest of eter- I��m not going to make excuses. If I can��t change back, I can live with it. But that doesn��t mean I don��t want to go and try to get this fixed before summer vacation ends!��

    ��I know of no fool proof way to reverse this, even in Pozalm. It��s been so long since I��ve been there. Before I was married even. I have a few maps of the western half of the Great Skull continent, but the rest is unknown to me. The Tramen Fohar were rumored to inhabit an island continent to the south of the western lands. You may need to rely on directions more than maps to find it. I��ve been giving another matter serious consideration. It would be wrong to drag Dew along under false pretenses. Once you arrive in Pozalm, you should talk to him frankly until he gets the picture of what you really hope to achieve. It would be wrong to deceive him, and the same goes for Josh and the others.��

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ��I planned to tell him once we arrived in Pozalm anyway. I tried to tell him before, so I doubt he��ll get the message. It seems to make him like me more. I want to get rid of him; he��s a big pain.��

    The chirping of crickets accompanied by a light wind through the trees sounded quite comforting. Nadia continued eating as her father sipped at his warm milk. She finished her ice cream in silence. A fugitive moth flew to the kitchen light; shadows danced in the living room as it bounced against the glass.

    ��Really though, it��s no big deal being a girl. I could manage it for a while.��

    ��So, which is it?��

    She opened the cabinet under the sink and threw the empty ice cream container in the trash, ��You know what I mean. You just wait, I��ll be a man before I have another. I��m going back to bed.��

    She quietly returned upstairs. When Norman heard the door to her bedroom close, he downed the remains of his warm milk in a single gulp.

    -----

    A packed bag sat in the corner of the garage. Another open bag contained some other odds and ends. It included a bag of her old men��s clothes for two reasons: Josh, who had nothing, and for herself when she changed back. A tool kit held small picks, other tools for climbing, a small ax, and a good knife. A medical box packed with gauze, bandages, and peroxide peeked from the side. She hugged her father before pulling her bike out of the garage and into the forest lit by the full moon on a cloudless night. The groeble stood like a strange modern statue while Nefri, Luthial, Delia and Dew waited around it.

    ��Don��t worry. I��ll be back before school starts,�� Nadia said aside to her father, who seemed to be twisting his fingers off.

    ��Your sister and I will be waiting for you. Safe travels.��

    The great dome that served as the groeble��s head became dark as the void as a circle of purple light swirled counterclockwise between two trees. The direction of its swirl reversed to clockwise and the vortex deepened into a cone shape. Delia, Nefri, and, Luthial jumped through without hesitation. Dew wanted to take Nadia��s hand, but she pulled it away and gave him a push inside. She stepped to the front with her bike, then nodded to Josh. He needed to follow her quickly due to threat of his incubus breaking free without her presence. She glanced at her father, and began to say goodbye when she saw Darrell running toward them from the driveway.

    ��D-Darrell! What are you doing here?!��

    Josh looked at Nadia, then towards Darrell, then towards Norman. Nadia took a few steps away from the portal. When Norman jumped from the porch, Nadia ran forward to get between her father and Darrell.

    ��How long can this thing stay open?�� Josh asked.

    ��Soon it will close,�� warned the groeble.

    ��It��s okay!�� Nadia blushed, ��He��s completely innocent.��

    Darrell stared at the portal, then his eyes caught sight of the golem like creature. He saw slithering fingers extending like the tendrils of some ancient horror.

    ��What is going on? What is that thing?��

    Norman backed away but glared warily and kept a loose stance with his arms raised. Nadia ran to Darrell and gently shook his shoulders.

    ��I��m leaving now. If you care at all about me you won��t tell anyone a word about this. Promise me you won��t tell.��

    Darrell tilted his head at her, then at the portal, and then the groeble. He laughed nervously as the groeble began to roar in a raspy deep voice.

    ��Close it soon will. It will soon close. Close soon it will!��

    ��We get the point,�� Josh waved his arms, ��Hurry up! Old rock head says this thing won��t last.��

    Nadia let go of Darrell, pushing him into the arms of her father. ��I have to go now. I��m sorry. Goodbye.��

    ��Goodbye?! Wait a minute!��

    Norman could hold Darrell back for only a moment. The boy elbowed him in the stomach and then darted forward as Norman fell on his butt. Darrell managed to grab Nadia��s arm. He pulled her away from the portal just as Josh entered with the bike. Nadia scrambled over the wet grass to dive inside, yet Darrell pulled her by the arm in the opposite direction.

    ��What are you doing? Let me go!��

    ��I��m trying to save your life!��

    ��Stupid! He��s going to die without me. People could die!��

    ��Will close it soon!�� hollered the groeble. Nadia managed to break away long enough to scramble for the portal, but Darrell had her arm again before she could jump.

    ��I can��t let you do this! Something has to be wrong.��

    ��With you!�� she struggled to pull herself ever closer to the now shrinking portal. ��Why are you trying to stop me? Let me go!��

    ��Maybe I find it scary that the girl I like would want to throw herself in some strange swirling void.��

    ��I��ll be fine. Now let me go!��

    ��No, I can��t take that chance!��

    She grabbed the arm he was using to pull her and jumped backwards, but she couldn��t gain enough ground to get inside the portal. Darrell remained undeterred by the threat of following her inside it. As he pulled against her, his strength proved itself sufficient to stop her at the entrance until Norman rammed his back from behind. Darrell lost his footing as he fell into Nadia and they both tumbled through the portal together. It closed the instant they disappeared. The groeble then took a deep breath, something rare for their kind.

    ��There was commotion. I could not follow. What now?��

    ��Now we figure out a way to hide yet another disappearance. I��m sorry friend. Your services will be required to prevent greater trouble.��

 33. Help! Faker, Fraud, Deceiver, Seducer, Exposed!

    The exit portal opened a few feet above a turnip field in the garden hub of Nenkyo village. Nadia dropped from the portal with Darrell in her arms. They fell against her bike, which had landed on Josh. Darrell fell on top of the pile. His palm pressed Nadia��s bosom. He rolled off her quickly. She pushed herself off the bike and dusted her clothes. Meanwhile, Luthial helped to pull the bike upright so Josh could stand.

    Once the purple iridescence of the portal remains failed, a full moon illuminated the fields. The circle of wood buildings gave pale yellow lights from their windows. Dew recognized Darrell in the moonlight, scrutinizing him as electricity pulsed through his eyes.

    ��Why is he here? What possible use do we have for this knave?��

    Darrell confronted him until they were close enough to rub noses, ��Watch who you call a knave, knave.��

    Nadia pushed them apart, ��This doesn��t serve any purpose.��

    ��She��s right, we don��t even know where we are,�� Darrell said.

    ��Speak for yourself, knave. This is my ancestral village.��

    ��I��m not a knave. Your home?�� Darrell turned to Nadia, ��One minute I��m planning to ask you to a movie, and the next minute, I��m being pulled into a wormhole. What��s going on here?��

    Josh laughed.

    A light shone from one of the buildings. Awlena appeared in white robes and with her dark hair tied behind her back. Her smile could be seen via moonlight as she embraced Dew warmly. A long hug held between the siblings.

    ��Brother! You finally returned. I feared you were never going to come home. Is Nadia with you?��

    ��Yep, I��m here.��

    ��Nadia!��

    Awlena rushed into her with an enthusiastically firm hug that pressed them together before she finally pulled back and took Nadia��s hands, ��Then this means we are sisters?��

    ��Sisters?��

    ��Of course, you are one flesh with my brother, so we are sisters!��

    Dew shook his head, widened his eyes, and made a slicing motion across his neck with his index finger but Awlena pretended not to notice.

    ��One flesh?!�� exclaimed Darrell and Nadia.

    ��One flesh!�� Josh bent over slightly as he laughed and slapped his thigh.

    ��You��re making a mistake. That��s not the case!�� Delia almost shouted.

    Awlena��s smile became a sharp downcast gaze, her mouth pursed slightly, but she kept holding Nadia hands and even gave them tender squeezes, ��Well, it��s late and you must have had a long journey, why don��t we go inside?��

    A pot of steaming eggplant soup with thin noodles cooked on a small stove in the center of a cozy room. Awlena poured the soup into bowls which were passed around. Dew and the three warriors drank the broth directly from the bowl and slurped the noodles. Nadia followed suit, drinking the noodles with the broth but avoiding the sliced eggplant. Josh waited for the others to eat, then sucked his down greedily. Darrell sat the bowl on his lap and stared.

    ��When you��re all finished, Dew will take the men to their quarters for the night. The women can stay here. You do intend to stay the night at the very least?��

    Dew nodded his approval, so Awlena stepped gently down to the garden path and walked quietly away.

    ��Where are we?�� Darrell asked.

    ��Do you have ears? This is the village of Nenkyo, the home of my family. I would advise you to treat it with respect.��

    ��I wasn��t asking you. Where are we Nadia, and what are we doing here?��

    Nadia sighed, ��What he said. Believe it or not, this is not earth. I��m here to search for something I lost; that guy��s here because he��s possessed by a fear demon; you��re here because you can��t mind your own business; and everyone else is here because they belong here. Does that answer your question?��

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    Darrell squinted. Then laughed nervously, ��You��re kidding me.��

    ��No, welcome to Pozalm. The only way to return home is through a portal, and I haven��t mastered the ability to create them.��

    ��So, I��m stuck here. In this place? Amazing, I wonder what my parents are going to think. They��ll probably think I was kidnapped.��

    ��Don��t complain. You didn��t have to play hero when you didn��t understand what was happening.��

    ��Forgive me for trying to help.��

    ��I like the other realm,�� Luthial said, ��There are so many wonders I have never seen there.��

    Josh pulled her close and pointed at himself with his thumb, ��And I��m one of ��em baby.��

    Luthial pushed him away. Not knowing her own strength, she sent him sliding against the wall at the other side of the room. The whole building shook as he hit and thumped to the floor.��

    ��Sorry, I��m not good around men.��

    ��No problem,�� he said as he peeled himself off the floor and crawled to his place, ��So what the heck are you searching for Nadia, not that I don��t already have an idea?��

    ��I know, you��ve seen my nightmares.��

    ��Yeah, still sorry about that whole affair.��

    Nadia nodded, ��You couldn��t help it, and I have to be honest with everyone here. I believe you are all my friends, so I owe everyone an honest explanation. Dew, have you ever heard of the curse of the Tramen Fohar, or the transformation of Ambrosia?��

    ��Vaguely.��

    Delia spoke up, ��I heard the story of the Tramen Fohar. They were trading partners with my kingdom before they diminished to nothing. They valued their warriors so highly that they killed their patron of fertility thinking it would make them breed fewer women and stronger men. They got what they wished for; no women were born. In desperation, they preserved the remains of the goddess they murdered and kept the pieces in books so they could be used to create women. Even though the change was perfect, there were never enough woman to keep their numbers from plummeting. The entire nation disintegrated into a small tribe, then withered away. How would you know of them?��

    Nadia froze before taking a deep breath, her body stiffened. She didn''t think she''d have to say this in front of Darrell.

    ��Because I wasn��t born a girl, one of Ambrosia��s books changed me a little more than a month ago. I used to be Nathan. I��m barely even able to say that name anymore.��

    Darrell dropped his left hand into his soup, pulled it up, shook it off, and left it over the bowl so the remaining broth wouldn��t drip over his pants.

    ��I��m here to find a way to change back. Dew, I hope this doesn��t come as too much of a shock, but I really meant it when I tried to tell you I was a boy. If you don��t want to help me now, you don��t have to. I��ll understand.��

    Dew clutched his forehead as he stood, ��I can��t believe it. I won��t. You��re telling me that what I saw with my own eyes wasn��t real?��

    Nadia stared into her empty bowl, ��It��s not the way I was born. It��s not who I spent the first sixteen years of my life as. I don��t want to deceive anyone. No one should help me under false pretenses. I don��t plan to remain a woman.��

    ��You are not a boy,�� Dew said with a nervous laugh, ��We��ve been through this before. There��s no way you are a boy. It��s impossible!��

    ��Of course she��s not a boy now, but she was a boy once if she��s telling the truth,�� Delia said. ��And I for one, can��t see the harm in her seeking to return to her original identity. There��s no sense in remaining something you��re not.��

    ��She is a girl, but she was a boy?�� Dew questioned, ��How can you be certain she��s not a girl trying to say she is a boy. What if she always was a girl and is trying to become a boy?��

    ��Does that even matter?�� Nefri asked, ��How would that really change the situation?��

    ��Why would a girl want to do that?�� Luthial asked.

    ��Right, it would obviously be a curse,�� Dew said.

    ��She��s actually Nathan the monster fencer? You��re all asking me to believe a bit much,�� Darrell interjected as he got on his hands and knees and stared at Nadia like she was a science exhibit, "So you''ve been faking the whole time?"

    Nadia sunk into herself, ��Strange as it is. I��m telling the truth.��

    ��Geez, I suspected some dark secret when I saw your nightmares, but not that. You��re in one heck of a pickle. Even if it��s a cute one.��

    ��Just for the record, I don��t date guys,�� Darrell added defensively.

    ��Like I��d date you even if I was a real girl,�� Nadia stuck out her tongue, but then held her knees as her head sunk behind them, ��I didn��t ask for this; Dead-leaf attacked me with that book thing. Though I think I lost track of the book along the way.��

    ��He��s the wizard who sent me after her. Small world, or worlds,�� Josh looked around the room with a smirk, but no one laughed.

    ��Maybe you��d find peace of mind if you stayed a woman,�� Luthial suggested. ��Make peace with yourself.��

    ��You heard them. This is not myself! I��d just be a fake,�� Nadia folded her arms into her chest, made two fists, sunk her head between her knees, and looked toward her feet shuffling over the smooth wood.

    ��I don��t want people to think I��m a fake,�� she whispered.

    ��Not to mention you came on to me,�� Darrell said, ��Under false pretenses if any of this is even real.��

    ��I��m sorry, I didn��t think I was hurting anyone.��

    Darrell rolled his eyes, ��Pfffht.��

    Nadia bit her lip and tightened into her ball form.

    ��How can this be?�� Dew said, ��If this is your true goal, then the winds of my future are a foul stench growing from the lowest pit of despair. Tell me otherwise.��

    Nadia wanted to hide, she wanted to crawl under the floor and curl up into a ball that would compress into the earth and get buried.

    ��If I did, I��d be lying. I''m a fake. I tried to tell you before.��

    ��Well let me tell you this. You are no fake! You are very real and fine as you are now. No matter what happens or what you have decided, I never want to hear those words befoul such beautiful lips,�� Dew glared at Darrell, ��I think I��ll take a walk. If I stay here any longer I might regret my actions.��

    ��I��ll go with you,�� Delia offered.

    ��I��d prefer solitude.��

 34. Help! Crushed By My Crush!

    The screen slid shut with a thump as Dew hurried out. Nadia played with the empty soup bowl by tilting and twirling it. She scowled because she was unable to look at anyone else. The fact that all the remaining eyes were still on her didn��t help.

    ��I��m sorry. I didn��t want to lie. I- I just- I didn��t know what to do. I won��t get anyone involved any further. I planned to do this on my own anyway. There��s no reason any of you should help.��

    ��You��re right, if you don��t appreciate womanhood then we have no business helping you,�� Delia scowled, ��There��s nothing wrong with being a woman.��

    ��Then you think I should accept myself and take Dew��s offer?��

    Delia waved that suggestion off immediately, ��You can��t pretend to be what you��re not. I would get started tonight if I were you. Nobody wants to associate with a fake.��

    Nadia suddenly burst, ��I didn��t ask for any of this to happen! I want to be alone too! Just leave me alone! All of you! Don��t even talk to me! I��m going outside for a minute!��

    She ran outside.

    ��I��m disturbed and deeply confused,�� Darrell muttered.

    ��You��re also a-�� Josh said.

    Nefri glared at Delia, ��What��s wrong with you? How can you be so cruel when you already know what she��s dealing with? Are you trying to insult and confuse her more? Why don��t you think about the effect of your words for once? There��s no reason to torment her when you know her search might well be in vain, especially considering that we��ve been hired to help. If you had a speck of decency, you��d go out right now and apologize on your hands and knees for your ridiculous behavior.��

    ��So, her old man paid you clowns to help her out? Why��d he even bother, she has me, and I��m a one-man army,�� Josh said.

    ��I pity her,�� Luthial said, ignoring Josh, ��I know how terrible I would feel if some book turned me into a boy.��

    ��I��m going to look for her,�� Nefri said, ��She needs at least a night��s rest before she starts this difficult journey, and the village should provide some provisions at the very least.��

    ��Can I come too?�� Luthial asked, ��Nadia is my friend. I don��t want to see her like this.��

    Nefri nodded.

    ��I hope you��re not going to let her sleep in the same room with us,�� Delia said.

    ��Why not? She��s a woman. Or do you think she belongs with the men?��

    ��Let her sleep outside with the frogs for all I care.��

    Luthial stuck her tongue out as she left with Nefri, ��Honestly Delia, you��re being paid too, stop being so jealous.��

    ��I��m not jealous of that fake!��

    Silence reigned for the next fifteen minutes, then Awlena entered with two mats. ��It has been decided that the men will bunk here. Do you wish to stay with them Delia?��

    Josh poked Darrell in the side with his elbow, ��We don��t mind, right buddy.��

    ��I��m not your friend.��

    -----

    Awlena leaned near the window to listen to the conversation. She made herself less visible but had little to worry about as Nadia looked straight ahead while storming out to the edge of a rice pond illuminated by moonlight. Awlena swallowed and then slightly tensed before running up to Nadia and hugging her from behind. Nadia flailed a bit at the sudden hug, and at the sensation of Awlena��s chest pushing against her back. Hands raised to wipe her eyes as she got better control of herself.

    Stolen novel; please report.

    ��Sorry if I scared you, I just wanted to thank you for saving our village. I never properly thanked you. If only I had time to organize a great feast in your honor.��

    Nadia felt her own chest tense as she took a deep breath, ��I thought you hated me?��

    ��I didn��t like you at first, but feelings change. You proved yourself to be a worthy wife to my brother, or a worthy husband to me if you prefer. Or perhaps you can marry Dew and have me as well? Sorry, I heard everything.��

    ��Wow,�� Nadia said, ��You��re kind, and pretty too, but for right now, I just want to be by myself. I��m trying really hard to not even think about that sort of thing.��

    The grip slowly released and Nadia felt the pressure of a soft bosom lessen and then pull away from her back, ��I��m forever humbly in your service.��

    The croaking of frogs continually burst from the moonlit rice pond. Nadia stood and looked up at the moon as Awlena''s steps become distant. Tears glistened in moonlight as they streamed down her cheeks. Her body felt like it might sink into the earth. The cloudy sky blew a cool breeze as insects buzzed. A large moon became partially obscured by clouds. Nadia put her hands to her face and wanted more than anything to yell, but she��d be disturbing this peaceful village.

    Nefri and Luthial didn��t have much trouble finding her. Nefri took the initiative as Luthial stood in the background. A gentle hand rubbed Nadia��s trembling shoulder. There was a slight heave as Nadia sniffed and wiped her eyes.

    ��Are you okay? You should get rest soon,�� Nefri said.

    Nadia pressed her fist against her forehead, ��I still like him, but he hates me because I��m a fake. And there��s nothing I can do about it.��

    ��Delia is just jealous. She doesn��t even mean her words. If you believe any of that talk, then you��re an idiot. And anyone who thinks like that is an idiot that doesn��t deserve your company. I don��t sense hatred, but if that��s the way your love thinks, it��s best to move on. I doubt he can be more than an acquaintance.��

    Nadia nodded as she wiped her eyes, ��I think I know that, but it still hurts.��

    Nefri hugged her.

    ��Why is everyone hugging me all of the sudden?��

    ��Me too, me too, group hug!��

    Luthial joined the hug. Nadia laughed and cried at the same time.

    -----

    Awlena laid bedding mats for the men and gathered the empty bowls while Delia left for the woman��s sleeping quarters.

    The others were already asleep when she arrived. They must have spoken with Nadia, for she laid on her back, eyes moist, breathing softly in her sleep. Delia watched silently, frowned angrily, tucked herself into her own mat, and concentrated on falling asleep. Yet she remained awake for too long before finally succumbing to exhaustion.

    -----

    A tap above Josh��s ear woke him a few hours before the morning light had a chance to appear on the horizon. He propped himself by the elbows to see Nadia leaning beside him. A travel pack hung over her left shoulder. Another one pushed into his stomach. Since Josh had slept in his clothes, it was no problem to cast the sleeping mat aside and take the bag over his own shoulder. Prompting him to follow, she quietly led him outside where the bike waited, propped on its kick-stand amid a path between the rice fields. She placed her bag in a basket on the handlebars, Josh kept his strapped to his back. With a swift jerk of her foot, she folded the kick-stand and hopped on the seat.

    ��It��ll be better if we��re gone long before they wake up.��

    ��Do you have any idea where you��re going?�� Josh asked.

    ��The map says there��s a port. I don��t know the exact distance, but if we go south and follow the coast we��ll get there sooner or later. Once we get to the port, we��ll set sail for the Tramen continent.��

    ��What about Darrell?��

    ��Oh him, I think I��m very much over him. He��ll find someone else.��

    ��That��s not what I meant.��

    Nadia blushed, ��It��ll be easier for him to return home if he stays at the village. I��m sure he��ll figure that out. I even left a note.��

    ��And where do I go?�� Josh asked, ��I can��t keep up with you on a bike.��

    ��I installed oversized pegs. Ride the back, put your feet on the pegs and hold my shoulders. If you can keep your balance, I can do the work for both of us.��

    ��Fine.��

    They passed the rice fields quickly to reach the borders of the worm forest, which Nadia refused to enter. She assured Josh that the path around the forest was safer and eventually led southeast. When the sky finally filled with morning light, they were well on their way. He yawned, but she looked ahead and kept pedaling. Cool morning air invigorated her mind. The power of her guardian blood made her pendant glow a slight blue.

    The trail left by her bike disappeared when it took to the air and they flew just slightly above the path.

    ��You can fly!?�� Josh yelled.

    ��I guess so,�� she said as the wind picked up her hair and it waved around him like streamers, ��Don��t fall off!��

    ��When did you learn to fly a bike?��

    ��This is my first time!��

    ��That��s incredible! Friggin'' awesome!��

 35. Help! River Snakes Attack!

    The wind caught her hair and eased the heat as her cheeks brightened. She put her legs out to stretch them as she no longer needed to pedal. They weren��t high in the air, but the view off the path still offered bucolic scenery and the occasional dwelling. An hour of nonstop flying had passed when Nadia reached the path that headed southeast from the forest through wild grasslands toward the coast. The path was firm, compact, and fairly level, so she geared up for a long bike flight after a short break.

    For another three hours, she flew nonstop faster than any competitive motor bike racing speed while Josh braced himself on the back edge of the rim. White knuckles gripped her shoulders. They passed a vast expanse of untamed grassland, the grasses taller than people in places. After the third hour, the land varied some. A few trees, and even some slight hills, gave relief to the eye. Then they came across a shallow brook with nothing bridging the path.

    Nadia finally let the tires touch the dirt. Exhausted of her powers, she dismounted the bicycle to ford the brook. Flying over water wasn��t something she could do with ease and she didn��t want to crash because her powers were draining.

    Trees were scattered across the mild hills; large, leafy, green ones were clustered in shady pockets around the water. Birds sung happy sounding notes. Crickets chirped from their hiding places under the rocks. Nadia took her sneakers off to stuff her socks inside them, as she intended to cross the brook without getting her clothes wet. She folded her jeans as close to the knee as possible, and was just about to step in the water with the bike when Josh complained.

    ��Come on, I��m so hungry I might fall over. This is a perfect shady place to eat and catch some shut eye. Can��t we relax a little bit?��

    ��Fine, I guess we can stop here and rest a bit. But we have to keep it short. I want to get this trip over with and go home.��

    Nadia pulled the bike back and propped it against a nearby oak. Inside her pack were two egg and olive sandwiches wrapped in plastic. Two half pint sized cartons of apple juice came from one of the supply bags. One sandwich, along with one juice, was thrown to Josh. He smelt the sandwich and gagged.

    ��Ohh, man! Egg Salad! Gross. Are you trying to kill me?��

    Nadia didn��t pretend not to be annoyed, ��There��s nothing wrong with it. Eat it.��

    ��I can��t. No way! It��s just too disgusting. You gotta have something else.��

    ��It''s going stale already. If you don��t eat it now, it��ll just go bad.��

    ��Rather starve.��

    ��Don��t be a picky eater.��

    ��Says the guy who picked all the veggies out of his soup. Or do you prefer the girl who picked all the veggies out of her soup? I��m fine with either.��

    ��It doesn��t matter to me,�� Nadia said with an angry hue to her face.

    Reluctantly returning to the bike, she pulled a fruit cup out of her bag and traded it for his sandwich, which she unwrapped from the plastic and promptly threw the sandwich she��d made in the brook. It floated downstream a few feet, leaving a trail of dissolved egg. Once it was completely soggy, it began to sink.

    Something snapped from the brook bed to tear the sandwich apart, bite by bite, before it could completely dissolve. Nadia shunned Josh as she ate her sandwich. She downed the entire thing while Josh stirred his fruit cup slowly. First, he picked a split cherry with his plastic spork, then a bite of pineapple, next a half slice of peach, and continued eating one single piece of fruit at a time. Nadia, who finished long before him, stared at him a moment while twisting her fist in the grass. She got up and walked the bike to the edge of the brook. The water moistened her feet as she waited for Josh, who watched her out of the corner of his eye. He smirked when she wasn��t looking.

    ��We can��t afford to waste any more time. Or do you plan to stay here?��

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ��Or do you plan to stay here?�� he mumbled under his breath as he got up.

    There was only juice left in the cup, so he swallowed what remained and pitched the plastic before following her into the brook, where he at once took hold of an idea to wrest the bike from her.

    ��It��s my turn to ride.��

    She pulled it back.

    ��It��s my bike, and you don��t even know where we��re going. You can��t even make it fly.��

    He pulled it toward himself, said, ��My feet hurt from being braced on that rim; besides, you can give me directions.��

    ��That would be far too slow!��

    ��Your way is far too fast!��

    They viciously stared. A tug of war for the bike ensued in the middle of the brook. Nadia pulled at the rim from underneath the seat, while Josh pulled it his way by clasping the handle bar pole and the rim of the back wheel. Ground exchanged over a few feet, but neither combatant gained the upper hand until Josh let go of the back rim.

    The momentum of the bike turned against Nadia and knocked her off balance in the middle of the brook, where she found herself seated. Josh lifted the bike over his shoulder victoriously with one arm and splashed her thoroughly with a kick. Water in her eyes prevented her from striking back quickly. She wiped them clear as Josh crossed without her.

    ��No time to waste for a swim Nadia. Or do you intend to stay here?�� Josh mocked as he mounted the bike.

    Nadia remained in the water holding her ankle with both hands, wincing. When she tried to stand, her foot collapsed and she found herself back in the water. Her anger and embarrassment were so great that she refused to look at Josh, who dismounted, returned to the edge of the water, and ventured to middle of the brook where Nadia sat. For the first time, he noticed how cold the water was.

    ��C��mon, you��re soaked. I��m sorry.��

    ��I can��t feel my foot. It hurts.��

    ��You��re lucky I have a soft spot for cute girls,�� Josh lifted her ankle, ��It��s not swollen. How can it hurt if you can��t feel it?��

    ��How would I know, I��m just a girl! A stupid weak fake girl.��

    ��I didn��t say that. Come on, I��ll help you up. We��ll put a splint on it or something.��

    She patted his cheek with her left hand while balling a fist underneath the water with her right.

    ��I can��t walk. Do you think you could carry me?�� She asked softly, so he braced himself and gently placed his arms beneath her.

    ��Sucker!��

    A good stiff right hook to Josh��s jaw knocked him into the water. Afterwards, she jumped up to perform a victory dance in the midst of the brook, kicking water and laughing that she reigned supreme. Josh countered during her celebration by tackling her and sending himself over top of her.

    By kneeling over her hips, he kept her seated and caught her first punch from beneath the rolling water, only to miss a painful chop to his left shoulder that sent him rolling away. With that hit taken, Josh dashed back to the other side of the brook and took cover behind a tree. It was a wise decision, for she narrowly missed him with a large stone. She lobbed stones and pebbles with the intensity of a cannon, splintering the tree that Josh used for cover.

    ��You just had to get me soaked, didn��t you?! You jerk! You bastard! You started this fight, now get out here and finish it!��

    ��Me!�� He was tempted to peek around the tree trunk, but more stones flew his way and forced him to take cover, ��I started this?��

    ��What��s the matter, afraid to lose because I happen to be a girl?!��

    She reached for another pile of stones. The second her arms submerged a brown tail launched from the mud and failed to wrap her wrist. Since she was only vaguely aware of its attack, she swore she imagined it, and continued bombarding Josh��s cover until two snakes wrapped her ankles. They twirled over her soaked jeans until they reached her knees and pulled her from below. Nadia dropped the stones and struggled to pull her legs from the ground with a desperate cry.

    Three more river snakes whipped from the brook to wrap around her waist. Swift chops to their wet, slimy bodies didn��t loosen their grip as they anchored her to the bed of the brook. Her chops just slid along the flesh ineffectively. As she attempted to pull herself to the shore while more attacked from below to anchor her waist.

    Silently, they came from the water in greater numbers. As she struggled to move against them, the wet, slimy bodies of two snakes wrapped her wrists. They pulled her arms behind her back and anchored them into the mud so that her body arched backwards. Their methodical organization and stealthy maneuvering helped them catch their prey.

    Now, they relied on power in numbers to pull her down and drown her. Nadia refused to call for help; instead, she wriggled like an insect as the snakes worked. No way, she wasn��t begging her assassin for help when she was more than strong enough to get out of this on her own, especially when she��d already deceived him once.

    Josh hid behind a tree. He probably expected more stones if he even dared to break cover. It sounded like she was gathering every stone in the brook. By the time he peaked from behind the tree to ask her if she had calmed down, the snakes were arching her body backwards so tightly she couldn��t move. A fat snake wrapped her neck and pulled her head to the water line while choking her. Her legs folded over themselves as she was pulled into the water from behind. With her last breath, she finally conceded a fading choked gasp for help.

    ��Help! I can��t move!��

    Snakes pulled her under the water.

 36. Help! Im Not Snake Girl!

    Josh jumped into the brook. Dozens of brown and white speckled guardian snakes stood from the water, bearing sharp fangs to warn Josh against interfering with their catch. He didn��t heed their warning and punched through the ones directly in front of him. The beast��s heads popped open from the incubus force in his punches. By clutching the fat snake around Nadia��s neck and pulling upward he could get her face above water, but it still strangled her. Nails dug into its flesh and scales. When that failed, he gripped it with both hands, lifted and bit into its scaly skin.

    It yielded to his teeth and let loose from Nadia��s neck. Its face popped above the water as it thrashed free from the mud below. With long fangs of bone white ivory, it retaliated with a snap at Josh��s neck. Jaws snapped an inch away from Josh��s exposed flesh as Nadia pulled it back with one freed hand while catching a deep breath. The freed hand quickly became coiled again and pulled behind her back. Her body dipped back under water.

    More snakes whipped their tails from the mud. Josh ran back to get the knife from the supplies and jumped back into the fray. He pulled Nadia up to slice through the snakes anchoring her arms with a few swift slices. He grasped her with one arm to pull her completely above the water, then he freed her completely by slicing the snakes holding her feet, arms, and waist one by one.

    Nadia jumped toward the edge of the water. A snake multitude attempted to tie her legs as she thrashed across the brook. Josh wasn��t so lucky; they caught his wrists and pulled him under. It was as if he fell into a pit. The dropped knife pulled into the sinking sand with Josh. Before she could touch dry land, Nadia realized Josh had sunk underwater. She turned back. The brook became far too quiet. For a moment, nothing, then a bubble burst through the tranquil stream.

    Ferociously she dug, not worrying about the mud, the water, or the threat of being caught again. Then a palm burst forth from the mud and sand pit, and she pulled it with every fiber of her strength. Searing pain flowed into her arm. The large snake sunk its teeth into Nadia��s wrist. The bite went deep. Josh pulled himself up suddenly, and stumbled through the water before passing out. When Nadia picked him up, he was limp and heavy, but she managed to hoist him over her shoulder before the other snakes resurfaced.

    The dirt path darkened where their wet bodies touched. The spot where Nadia laid Josh became a shallow layer of mud, as they were both soaked. Nadia��s hair fell flat, dripping with muddy brook water as she listened for his breath and checked his pulse. There was a heartbeat, but he wasn��t breathing.

    Cursing, she lifted his chin, held his nose, pressed her lips against his, and blew three breaths into him. After a few seconds, she breathed into him again. He coughed up some water, then spewed up some more, and started breathing again on his own. It didn��t take him long to sit up, though a nasty concussion on the back of his head made him nauseous. Nadia backed away, turned, and knelt in the opposite direction so he wouldn��t get the wrong idea. She couldn��t stop twiddling her little fingers.

    ��What happened? Did you just? Mouth to mouth.��

    Nadia didn��t respond right away; instead, she turned bright red and her voice failed her.

    Josh stood, said, ��Hey, it couldn��t have been all that bad! You can cut the dramatics!��

    She didn��t move. Josh slapped his forehead.

    ��Look, it doesn��t count when you have to save somebody��s life. I don��t like you but I��m not going to let you die.��

    With a faint high-pitched sigh, Nadia fell face first into the layer of mud they had left on the path, her rump in the air. Josh lifted her before slapping her face to revive her. Her wrist fell limp. Two punctures still bled. He wiped the bite with his thumb. Fresh blood made a line across it. One good turn deserves another, he thought as he sucked what he hoped was the poison from the wound. He sensed time was short. His instincts could feel the beat of her heart becoming laconic, labored, and lethargic. Her breathing shallowed. Punching the dirt and kicking over the bike didn��t make him feel any better.

    A company of horsemen blocked the path from the nearby hills. Maybe he was too distracted by his fit, or the fight, but Josh swore he never heard them approach. They were arrayed in loose leather pants and vests with velvety finish, but their feet were bare. With Nadia out cold, and the only free path heading back across the brook, it wasn��t possible to escape them. Their leader, a tall man with a short red beard, came forward, and Josh found himself staring at the end of a sharp spear.

    ��What are your intentions here?�� the horseman asked.

    ��Great, I��m completely boned now. You can kill us, but I won��t go down without a fight.��

    ��We��re not here to fight you. We came for water.��

    ��Then get that spear out of my face!��

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    The man holding the spear rubbed his beard while Josh stared. He glanced at Nadia, then signaled one of his men to check on her with a motion of his finger. A boy dismounted and rolled her back against the ground, he too saw the bite on her wrist. Another hand signal informed the captain of what he discovered.

    ��Your woman was bitten by the brown water serpent. If you care for her chances, you��ll come with us. You can ride with Knife.��

    A big man in a baggy brown shirt rode a few feet forward and held a hand to Josh, who climbed on the back of the horse. They wrapped Nadia in a blanket, seated her behind another horseman, and tied her over his back. They rode north past hill and meadow for no more than fifteen minutes until they came upon a settlement of tent dwellings in a grassy valley. A heavy-set woman waited for their return. When the captain dismounted, he called for her.

    ��We have returned.��

    ��Who is the boy, and who is the woman?��

    ��We found them on the path struggling with the brook serpents. Strange but harmless travelers, I��m sure. The young woman was bitten,�� The bearded man looked toward Josh, ��His name is Josh, his wife��s name is Nadia. Josh, this is Conya, my wife, she will look after your-��

    ��Nadia is just a friend. We��re not married.��

    ��The woman looks ill,�� Conya said, ��We should help them.��

    ��Do what you can, but we must move by tomorrow��s dawn,�� He turned to Josh again, said, ��Your woman may not be well by then.��

    Conya nodded. The captain slapped his horse on the hindquarters to let it run free. Conya supervised Nadia��s removal from another horse, and Josh followed them into a brown tent. A small fire lit the interior. They laid Nadia besides it to dry as the smoke churned upwards. Conya added a drop of brown liquid from a ceramic vial into a cup of water. She lifted Nadia��s head and helped her drink until she coughed, then wiped her lips with a whisper of soft encouragement before turning to Josh. Her deep-set eyes of crystal brown convinced him that her intentions were benign.

    ��She saved your life.��

    ��How did you know?��

    ��The brook serpents can��t digest their own poison. That��s why they work in groups to catch large prey. They only bite when they feel the need to protect themselves. Take this,�� Conya handed Josh a thin white hair barrette, ��It will glow red when water snakes and other such dangers in the waters are near.��

    A soft purple mark formed around the bites on Nadia��s wrist. Josh crawled beside her, noting the calmness of Nadia��s expression as she slept. Moist clothing clung to her frame. Conya walked to the flap of the tent before staring back at them expectantly.

    ��She��ll be all right now?�� Josh asked.

    ��Give me some time with her,�� Conya rummaged through a bag and set a folded dress on a wicker chair. ��I wish to get her into dry garments. As for you, there are some spare clothes in the men��s quarters if you wish. You should get into something warm and dry.��

    ��You really mean it. Thanks a bunch.��

    Suddenly Nadia sat, her face bright red. She didn��t appear too stable as she pressed the bottom of her palm against her forehead.

    ��What��s going on?�� she asked sleepily.

    ��That was fast!�� Josh exclaimed.

    Conya helped her up and walked her to the back of the tent, ��Well now young lady, let��s get you into something dry and comfortable.��

    ��I��m not... Ah wady,�� Nadia mumbled, barely able to stand.

    Conya ushered Josh out of the tent with every intention of helping the girl change into a plain, comfortable, cotton and hide dress. Afterwards, Nadia laid down on a furry rug with a thick down pillow. A heavy blanket gently placed over top of her aided a quick lapse back into a sound sleep. Conya left soon afterwards, and Josh returned in leathery pants and a brown baggy shirt. He checked Nadia, finding her warm, snug, and soundly asleep. Ignoring his bedding, he instead fell asleep sitting beside the fire.

    The next morning, he awoke in the open air by the slowly dying embers of last night��s fire. A quick glance to the left and he saw Nadia sleeping peacefully with blankets around her. He supposed they were a gift. The bike laid on the other side of the fire, and Nadia��s pack sat next to it, seemingly untouched. Their wet clothes from yesterday hung from an improvised line nearby and had dried overnight. A trail of hoof prints led back to the path they had been traveling. Josh roused Nadia, who pulled herself out of her bedding quickly. A soft brown dress of light cotton hung gently from her shoulders. A brown sash tied it about her hips to hint her figure. The dress extended to her calves, though her feet were bare.

    ��You feeling okay?��

    ��What in the world?�� she muttered as she looked herself over and felt the soft fabric. Her wrist ached when she wriggled her fingers. She noticed the scabs where the snake had bit her.

    ��Why am I in a dress, and what in the world are you wearing?��

    ��We were helped out some by some strangers. It��s a long story, and I don��t care if you believe me or not, but they might have saved your life. You were poisoned by one of the snakes we fought and they gave you an antidote. They even hung your clothes to dry, so you ought to at least be grateful.��

    ��Why��d they run off then?��

    ��Dunno, maybe they knew you were going to be okay. They left hoof prints in the direction of the road, but all the other ground is clear. How do you suppose they did that?��

    Nadia pulled up her bike and checked the supplies. She found that her sneakers had dried by the fire and her socks were ready as well.

    ��Irrelevant. Well, we better get on our way. I don��t want to start school as a girl.��

    ��Geez, is that all you think about? Don��t you want to get out of that dress then?��

    ��And where do you think I could safely change here?�� She pulled the bike along the horse prints, heading south. ��The last thing I want is you seeing me naked.��

    ��Scared I might find a snake?��

    Suddenly Nadia turned bright red and rolled her eyes.

    ��Then you really didn��t try anything?��

    ��Why would I want to do that?��

    ��Maybe I misjudged you.��

    She continued walking with her bike. As Josh approached, she turned and punched him in the gut, hard. The attack came as a surprise and had force.

    ��That��s for insulting me. I don��t have a snake!��

    ��Sorry,�� Josh writhed on the ground, ��It was just a dumb joke.��

    With a kick to the gut, she knocked away what wind remained in his sail, ��So is my foot.��

    ��Touchy... a little about snakes... ugh.��

    He gasped but Nadia kept walking.

    ��I don''t have to prove anything to you, so go stuff it.��

    Josh pulled himself up slowly and muttered under his breath when she was a bit distant, ��Snake girl says what?��

 37. Help! Dew Is Planning Pursuit!

    A red butterfly with yellow stripes landed on the windowsill. Rays of morning sun streamed over Awlena��s face as she sat up from her mat and stretched her arms. A slight breeze pulled into the room as the butterfly landed on her head. A bright blue dragonfly buzzed past her face. The song of the birds echoed from the fields at full force. She hopped to her feet and exchanged her night robes for darker cotton robes with a decorative sash printed with a multitude of colorful dragonflies. Dainty feet slid into wooden sandals as she rushed outside. Villagers were arriving at the fields for morning work, as the sun had just risen. She could here a bit of discussion from the cabins nearby. Dew stood in the grass with Hiruku, who looked as youthful and vibrant as ever considering his position among the elders. Hiruku held his arms akimbo as he spoke with the young prince.

    ��So, she left without a word, only a note in those otherworldly scribbles of hers?��

    ��I can read it somewhat, as can Nefri, Luthial, and Delia. The portal gifted us with a basic understanding of their common language. Nadia and her friends have been granted a basic understanding of our Eastern Common as well. They��ve been speaking it as if it is their own language since they arrived and the knave has demonstrated the ability to write it. Nadia is doubtlessly traveling east, so I doubt she��ll need an interpreter. But it is foolhardy that she sought to leave us behind.��

    ��So, he insulted your princess and is the cause of all your hardship? Would you prefer he be kept chained in the stables or would a public execution be preferable?��

    Dew winced, ��That won��t be needed. I had harsh words with him. He is a guest from another world and our princess��s responsibility. We will tolerate his antics and keep him here as an honored guest. As he is an envoy from another land, we can afford no harm coming to him.��

    ��I see, when will you be heading out after the princess?��

    ��I��m not sure what path she has chosen. The tracks from her cart disappear south of the Worm Forest, where the roads branch in many directions. She could have met with trouble, but most likely she hides her trail. I��ve sent the mercenaries ahead to scout in various directions. The mistress of the worms confirmed that the princess has not entered the forest. I plan to leave today after gathering supplies and instructing the knave on proper guest behavior. I have a hunch as to what path our princess has taken.��

    Dew opened the note Nadia had left on her bed. The addressed recipient had still been sound asleep when he took it. Despite it being written in tightly formed cursive of her native tongue, Dew had spent long enough in the other world with his ability enhanced by the portal to be able to read it completely.

    Darrell,

    I��m going on alone. Josh has to come with me because he��d die other wise. Don��t follow me. I can handle this. I don��t need help. I never really liked you anyway. I just wanted to win a fencing match. It was you who liked me then. I was just trying to honor a bet. I didn��t think I��d lose. Anything beyond me acting stupid before the match is on you not on me and I wasn��t trying to make you like me and I was trying to avoid you and I never really liked you in that sort of way because you��re anoying and kind of a show off who thinks he��s big deal because he��s popular with other girls. So stay put and don��t cause the people here trouble. I��m sure my Dad will find a way to get you back home quicker if you stay put. And try not to blab about our magic and stuff, it won��t go anywhere, trust me. I hope we can still be freinds despite all the trouble but you should��ve listened to me when I told you to stop.

    Nadia

    There was a doodle of a flower sticking out its tongue at the bottom of the page. Dew did his best to handle the note gingerly as tears squeezed out and his nose ran slightly. The paper slowly folded exactly as he found it and went back inside his robes.

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    ��To think she would spend so much time writing a note for that knave and not leave me so much as word,�� he sighed, ��She even drew him a picture.��

    Awlena grabbed her brother��s arm and blinked at him, ��Morning brother! What is all the fuss about? You look like you are about to cry. Did something bad happen!? Is everyone well?��

    ��Nadia snuck off in the dark of night without telling anyone.��

    ��You mean the princess?�� Hiruko asked.

    Dew shook his head at the youngest elder.

    ��Princess?!�� Awlena snapped, ��Does Nadia know of your plans. Did you get her permission to title her as such? Were the elders consulted?��

    Dew rubbed his cheek, ��I consulted with the oracle on my walk last evening. She told me that in five years Nadia will become the princess of this village. Word trickled down upon the elders. I suspect a spy. Alas, the oracle also warned that I will nullify her prophecy if I attempt anything other than remaining in her service for the next three years. If I fail to keep it so, Nadia will come to hate me and spit on my name for all her life. Let��s keep this knowledge buried firmly in that fertile head of yours.��

    Awlena almost pumped her fists and her hair swayed about with her sudden motion, ��If you are in her service than I am as well! Why are you lingering here? Do you intend to let her undertake such a perilous journey alone?��

    ��She moved early and covered her tracks. She must have been a quiet as a wisp, nobody heard her and nobody awoke. I do confess exhaustion after staring up late to prepare a sacrifice and consult the oracle. But the mercenaries were baffled. It��s not often someone can slip them, all three of them, so easily. It might have been a bewitchment.��

    Awlena leaned forward with a smile, ��Sounds like your future princess is quite the handful. You��ll need all five of those years to tame her heart at this rate.��

    Darrell couldn��t help but hear the conversation outside his window as he rubbed eyes still groggy with sleep and cracked his lips. The sun struck his face as soon as he sat up. He could hear the voices outside his window and glanced to see Dew with the beautiful young woman from last night and a rather clean looking man, all in robes. It made Darrell feel out of place to still be in jeans and a printed shirt. He looked to see that Josh��s bedroll laid empty and then went outside. Dew ignored his presence, Awlena continued to attend to her brother, and the elder became dignified and distant. Nadia had left him alone with these people! He was the only foreigner now! At least he could speak the language somehow, even read it a little.

    ��Umm, morning everyone. I��m still here. It wasn��t a dream. Being home and getting told to do my chores was the dream. Have you ever had that kind of weird dream where wake up and start brushing your teeth at the sink and then you wake up again?��

    They all finally looked at Darrell, ��What��s a sink?�� Awlena and Hiruko asked.

    ��It��s a basin with flowing water, they call it that,�� Dew explained, ��You don��t have to use buckets to fill it. It��s not that special, they have them in Lothalos.��

    Awlena and Hiruko gazed at Dew awestruck, but he simply sighed and pulled the note from the folds of his robe, ��I could not be considered in Nadia��s service if I didn��t deliver her note for you. She requests that you stay in our village as a guest. Despite your being a buffoon and an ignorant peasant knave I��ll see to it that you are hosted as royalty and want for nothing that we can provide.��

    The letter slowly opened and Darrell winced a little upon reading it. She actually drew a flower, and it was actually pretty cute. But his face continued to sour as he finished reading.

    ��No, no, I��m coming along. We can catch up to her. There��s no way I��m going to sit in some village and waste away. You��re going after her, right? Then I��m coming too.��

    ��I��m going after her," Dew corrected, "You��re being placed in the care of the elders.��

    ��No, you can��t keep me as a prisoner.��

    Despite being shorter than Darrell, Awlena managed to look down on him. Her soft voice registered firm and her eyes the same fierce coldness that Nadia once encountered, ��Do you have a mount?��

    ��No.��

    ��Do you have a weapon?��

    ��I can use a sword! But have a sword, no, can��t you people give me one?��

    ��Do you have a map or any familiarity with this world?��

    ��Ummm�� a map will do.��

    ��Maps are expensive. Very expensive. As are weapons, mounts, provisions, and armor, and a guide to protect you from thieves and brigands. Plus, you know nothing of the wild beasts that roam the grasslands. Nor do you have magic abilities to plow your way through danger.��

    ��But����

    Awlena smiled that polite, condescending smile reserved for village children that spoke foolishness, ��But nothing. We are pleased to keep you safe and cozy here in Nenkyo village!��

 38. Help! Murder Death Kill Assassin Has Blisters!

    The power to fly couldn��t be properly utilized. Something inside Nadia felt exhausted, almost empty as she couldn��t stop dwelling on her arguments with Josh. A series of slopes and inclines with rocks, mounds, holes, and bumps caused the bike to jostle violently on the dirt path as she pedaled at full speed. For two days, the weather had remained hot, dry, and cloudless. The sun beat oppressively. The field grass withered low. Trail dust coated lower portion of the bike as well as the legs of its riders. Josh licked dust from the roof of his mouth. Long midnight ink hair turned a morning breeze into a stream of heated air with an odor of dusty oil mixed with sweat.

    Without a consistent flight ability, the trip became rough. Two days of standing on the thin extension bolts of the bike��s rim tore through the soles of Josh��s sneakers, leaving his bottom feet bare but for socks. Now they were sore and blistering from hours of bracing. Skin pulled every time the bike jostled. The path turned so that that the glare of the sun burned his eyes.

    After a few minutes of squinting Josh tapped Nadia��s shoulder; she didn��t respond. He did it again, nothing, so he shook her left shoulder with enough force to interrupt her concentration. The bike swerved off balance. Nadia forced a stop to avoid falling sideways. Josh jumped from the bike and dusted off his shirt.

    He limped away as he tried to stretch out the stiffness. A grassy knoll ran parallel to the north side of the road. He found a still green spot to rest and collapsed. After checking the chains on the bike, patting some dust off her jeans, and stretching a bit, Nadia approached Josh. She gave him a kick against his shin. Josh pretended to be unaffected by the pain.

    ��Are you a total moron? What kind of stunt was that?!��

    Josh put his hands behind his head and sighed, saying nothing.

    ��Let��s go stupid! I still have a long way to go, do you want me to leave you behind?

    ��Do what you want. I��m not going to be pushed around by you anymore.��

    ��This is about me being a girl, isn��t it? You wouldn��t be giving me such a hard time if I was still a boy. Face it, you just don��t like taking orders from a girl.��

    ��It''s not about you! Do you even see or care what happened to my shoes!? Boy, girl, whatever! I��m nobody��s slave, certainly not yours.��

    ��Excuse me mister murder assassin death killer, but you have to do what I say. I��m the only reason you��re still alive right now, and if you don��t get on the back of that bike right now then I don��t care what happens to you.��

    She walked back to the bike angrily and lifted it from the dusty trail. Josh didn��t make a move, so she found herself looking back rather anxiously.

    ��I know what you��re after,�� Josh said, ��and it��s not that I don��t admire your determination, but I��ve been drug along on the back of that damn bike of yours for five days straight now, morning till night. I��ve barely been given time to eat. My shoes are ruined and my feet are bleeding. I��m thirsty. I��m tired. And I��m hot. All I want is a day off. If not, then go ahead and carry out your little threat. I��m getting some rest. Go on without me. I��ll find a way to control the Incubus on my own if I have too.��

    ��Don��t talk nonsense. It��ll kill you before I ever reach the port.��

    ��If you don��t kill me first. Like it or not, I��m taking a breather. Got that?��

    While Nadia brooded, she spotted an orange grove over the knoll. There they would have shade, fruit, and solitude. But before climbing the hill she took a deep breath and summoned a great deal of scorn.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ��If I was still a guy, I wouldn��t pity you so much. I haven��t forgotten that you were paid to kill me. I��m going up the hill to that shady forest. Don��t try to come and find me either.��

    ��I��ll go where I want. If I find you along the way it��ll be an unpleasant surprise.��

    Once she disappeared into the grove, Josh broke a thick blade of high grass and chewed on the stem. After a half hour of chewing, its thick end had practically dissolved in his mouth. As the sun reached its height, it couldn��t be easily avoided by changing his position along the hill, so he abandoned his spot. There was no reason why Nadia should have a big shady grove all to herself when she hadn��t wanted to stop in the first place. The orange trees arranged in neat rows provided shade. The branches were endowed with large round oranges ripe for the picking.

    Josh picked two. They had thick peels which were soft and easy to remove. Their sweet, mouth-watering, center begged to be eaten. He devoured one, spit out the seeds, and mashed the leftover peels into the dirt with his foot. The peels made his wounds burn and he squinted, but despite that he had no trouble helping himself to the other, and picking a third after that. In the center of the grove he found a small lake, created by a beaver dam that held back the flow of a stream.

    Water glistened temptingly healthy, deep, and clear. Splashing a handful on his face, he found it cool and refreshing. Nothing stopped him from drinking his fill. He checked the beret. It remained pure ivory white. There were no snakes here if Conya was true to her word.

    Meanwhile, Nadia rested her head under an orange tree with a thick trunk as she sat by herself with her knees folded against her chest. She gazed into the forest ceiling as the noon sun��s rays peeked through the canopy. Slender patches of light wavered on the grass. A scent of citrus filled the air as Josh came from behind the tree and stood beside her. She turned her head in the opposite direction. Josh laughed as she frowned and grumbled.

    ��You better be ready to go.��

    Josh laughed again, ��You act like such a girl. Why in such a hurry to change back?��

    ��What? I didn��t even hear you.��

    ��I found a nice lake, and I��m going to take a swim. Just thought I��d report to you first.��

    ��Why is that, afraid I might leave without you?��

    ��No, you��re too damn busy feeling sorry for yourself. Know what, you need to lighten up before you go mental. Sure, you have problems, we all do, but it won��t do you any good to press yourself and everyone else insane over it.��

    ��That��s easy for you to say, but I��m the one who��s lost the most.��

    Josh walked to the next tree. A rain of oranges fell around him after he punched the trunk, leaving a splintered dent. One rolled until it reached the front of Nadia��s feet. Most of the others broke. Juice leaked into the soil. Josh held his tongue and took deliberate breaths until he calmed down. His eyes became moist, so he squinted before wiping them.

    ��What do you know about loss!? Just because you do nothing but whine doesn��t mean you��re the only one with problems. You got an even trade, you didn��t want it, but it��s still an even trade. I lost everyone and got a curse devouring me from the inside! I watched it devour my family!  Do you know what it��s like to lose control over yourself? Do you know what it��s like to live with a hatred that doesn��t even belong to you!? I��m not denying you your little quest! But the least you could do is lighten the heck up. World doesn��t revolve around you.��

    ��I��m sorry. I never thought about it like that,�� she saw the stains on the grass and on his sneakers, ��I haven��t- I can��t- You��re right. We should take a break today and maybe bandage your feet. I��m sorry.��

    Josh tilted his head while his mouth hung slightly ajar. He removed his fist from the tree, scratched the back of his neck, and rubbed the sore fingers, ��There��s a nice lake up ahead. I think I��ll swim the stink off.��

    ��What about the snakes?��

    ��I��ll take the risk. Anyway, the nomad lady gave me this warning barrette. It turns red if they get close.��

    Nadia nodded faintly before smiling briefly. It was a weak smile, but Josh couldn��t help noticing. Back at the bike, he found a pair of black swim trunks folded in with the men��s clothing. One thing about her, he thought, she excelled at packing luggage. Her old man seemed like a complete freak when it came to housekeeping, so she probably gained the skill honestly. Josh wished he��d had a father like that.

    After finding a private spot to change into the swimsuit and hanging his other clothes on a limb, he returned to the lake. Fingers rubbed together as he contemplated an approach strategy. Then he ignored his blisters and ran full force into the water recklessly. The crisp, crystal clear lake revived him, and the energy enabled him to swim it twice from end to end. The barrette didn��t warn of danger when he checked it.

    A small cliff that fell into deep water became a challenge. First, he dove in feet first to gage the depth. It was quite deep, so after that it was head first every time for the next ten tries, even if he had to limp a bit before each dive.

 39. Help! Fun Is Not Flirting!

    Josh floated free on the surface. Cool water soothed his feet and back. The sun caressed his chest. He heard his name.

    ��Hey Josh!��

    Nadia called his name from atop the diving cliff. The sun reflected radiantly from her hair as she stood atop the diving hill in a modest light-blue one-piece swimsuit patterned with dark blue stars. A long pair of matching swim trunks covered the bottom portion.

    ��Here goes nothing,�� Nadia yelled before diving head first into the water, which reflected resplendently from the spot where she surfaced.

    ��Wow, this feels so great! I��m glad you threw a tantrum!��

    Once underwater again she swam stealthily until she surfaced in front Josh. A fierce splash stung his cheeks, but Nadia was under again before Josh could return fire. She surfaced cautiously beyond his range, giggling before breaking into bolder laughter.

    ��What��s the big idea? You gone soft in the head?��

    ��You were the one who told me to lighten up. Can��t you take your own advice? Haven��t you ever had a splash war?��

    She swam back to the shore from underneath the water, came up where it was shallow, and pushed herself into the deeper water again. Josh floated in place, ignoring her while she swam back and forth past him. Once his guard was down, she sprang from the water with a giggle and splashed him again. Instead of falling back into the water, she dodged his splash and tagged his shoulder.

    ��Tag, you��re it,�� she announced before swimming away.

    ��Don��t really want to,�� Josh smirked, ��My feet are killing me.��

    ��That��s because you��re not fast enough. My little sister is faster than you,�� Nadia stretched her lips with her fingers and stuck out her tongue.

    ��I don��t chase after girls.��

    ��Does that mean you chase after guys?! It doesn��t count if you��re only a girl temporarily. Look, are you going to chase me, or float around like a dead log all afternoon?��

    ��Dead log. My feet hurt. And I don��t rough house with girls; besides, I already know you��re faster than me.��

    ��Tag me once and I��ll stand on the pegs until we get to the port.��

    ��Are you serious?��

    ��Deadly serious. I won��t even leave the water.��

    ��Then prepare to play some tag.��

    Even at full speed he couldn��t match her, he knew that just from watching her take a few leisurely laps around the lake. She swam like a water nymph. His only chance was to predict her moves, plan a superior strategy, and outmaneuver her. He kept his eyes open under the water, saw her coming, stayed to right, but then she veered to the left. After turning beneath the water, her tongue came out mockingly as she kept her eyes open.

    They both surfaced, stared one another down, and then swam to opposite sides of the lake. Josh turned away from his side first and swam to the middle of the narrow width of the lake��s eastern half, where Nadia floated in place above the water. He had the advantage now. If she stayed put, he would corner her by reducing her area, because if she swam past it would be a short dive to her from either side.

    By keeping track of her speed, he could catch her. He moved in for the final strike. A pair of wet swim trunks smacked against his face. Nadia swam past him while he was distracted, so close he could have caught her feet. The other side of the lake bordered by the beaver dam was rounded off. It wouldn��t be so easy to catch her on that side. Nadia laughed as Josh threw the swim trunks that had left a red mark on his face ashore.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    ��I really didn��t need them anyway. What I��m wearing is modest enough, don��t you think?��

    ��You laugh like a girl!��

    ��Well, I can��t really help that right now, can I?��

    He ran the shallow waters despite aching feet and launched himself from the shore fiercely as she sunk herself to avoid him. Then he chased her in a circle, a complete waste of energy on his part. Soon he broke from the circle, reversed, and swam straight to the dam to launch himself from it. She swam away too fast for him to catch her, but she didn��t get as much distance as she thought. While she made fun of him, he sprung from the water to jump for her ankle. She backed away, safe from the tag by inches. That confidence breaker sent her back to the middle, and Josh even splashed her before she got away to the shore.

    ��You said you wouldn��t leave the water.��

    ��My feet are still soaking. I haven��t left anything.��

    He chased her around the outer edges of the lake. She splashed him before going back into the deeper waters, but he didn��t follow. There was no prohibition on him leaving the water altogether, so he dashed for the diving cliff and waited near the top, ready for an ambush. That��s when Nadia lost track of him and began to get nervous. Water submerged her feet as she returned to the shore and scanned the lake three times between wringing out her hair. Ripples of displaced water came forth as she waded deeper.

    ��Have you given up?�� Nadia thought he could be way too stealthy when he wanted.

    She walked and then swam into the deeper water near the small cliff where he waited. She drifted a few meters forward, getting closer. Two clumps of dirt fell into the water before Josh dove in feet first, giving her enough warning to swim just out of reach.

    ��You can��t leave the water like that!��

    ��You can��t make up new rules.��

    Nadia swam away backwards, and even so she was still too fast. They continued the chase in shallow water for a while and lost track of time. An hour passed in the lake with intervals of resting and tag. Nadia teased a bit, often letting him get close only to dart backwards. Josh made a habit of punching the water��s surface. Finally, he tried to pull her back by the hair, but with one swift turn of her head and a glow from her pendant she sent it into his face with a smack. He backed up in a bit of shock. She left it fall over the front of her swimsuit and ran it between her fingers while swimming backwards one-handed.

    ��Now you��re just showing off!��

    Tagging her from behind didn��t work either, she always jumped away and turned to face him. He tried a desperate run on the shore. She jumped backwards as Josh chased.

    ��Tag me and I��ll kiss you,�� she mocked.

    Whenever he thought he had her, she dodged to the side and leapt away either backwards or right past him. This continued until Josh, out of breath, collapsed on the shore and gave up. He watched the afternoon clouds as she knelt beside him and smiled.

    ��You lose,�� she said with a smile.

    ��No duh.��

    ��Are you okay?��

    ��Fine, I��m just going to relax for a few minutes if you don��t mind.��

    She smiled again, ��Not at all. We can spend the night here. How are your feet?��

    ��Hopefully not as bad as they feel.��

    She went back to treading water when Josh finally pulled himself ashore to dry. It was pleasant to hear her splash around and let loose, even after being unable to catch her. The swim trunks were still on the shore. They were already fairly dry, so he took them and soaked them in the water.

    ��Hey Nadia. These belong to you?��

    He gave them a good fling, but she caught them with her right arm before they could hit her face.

    ��I said I don��t need these.��

    The trunks flew back to smack Josh twice as hard as they did the first time. As he peeled them off his face, she came ashore. For the first time, Josh found himself unable to fight the temptation to stare. He closed his eyes. When he opened them again, she stood while balancing herself on her heels in front of him. Hands folded over the center of her thighs as she stared at him with a smile.

    ��Do you think I��m pretty?�� she asked, blinking twice.

    ��What does it matter to you, you��re g-g-going to be a g-guy soon,�� he stammered.

    ��Tell me anyway.��

    ��I can��t lie to you.��

    ��Tell me the truth then.��

    ��No.��

    ��Really!?�� she said, still smiling but slightly less, ��Don��t think I didn��t notice the way you were staring at me.��

    Josh grimaced, ��I meant I��m not going to talk to you about it. But how about this. I wouldn��t stare at you if you were the last the woman on earth. I swear on my honor.��

    She slapped him and he fell back against a tree, hitting his head.

    ��Why are you so violent?��

    Nadia pumped her fist, ��Because violence is the essence of manhood!��

    ��Oookay?��

    Nadia braced his shoulder with her grip until he regained his senses, yet kept a satisfied grin, ��See, you''re strong, you can handle it. I told you couldn��t catch me. Bandage your feet and let��s try to fix your shoes. If you can help get a fire ready, I��ll heat up some noodle soup. Let''s eat!��

    As she walked away Josh realized he''d never seen her act like this, so unguarded. He rubbed his pained cheek, but couldn''t supress a smile as he went to get bandages from the supply bag.

 40. Help! Unexpected Motherhood Acquired!

    Josh wrapped gauze around his feet so he could gather a good heap of dry wood, set it in a clearing, and border it with stones from around the lake. He tried to start a fire with sparks from a stone. Nadia came back in blue denim shorts, sneakers, and a light blue shirt. A towel draped her wet hair. In her arms rested a can of soup in a pot, a folded towel, a box of matches, and set of clean clothes. Josh took the clean clothes to a far end of the grove.

    ��Where are you going?��

    ��To change. I��m not going to do it in front of you.��

    ��I won��t look. I mean we��re both- well, you don��t have anything that I haven��t had.��

    ��Still, I��m not changing in front of you.��

    Nadia turned away blushing, then fumbled with two matches. The fire started from the third before Josh came back dressed in jeans and a big white shirt. Deciding not to sit by the fire, he waited against one of the trees. Nadia opened the canned soup and poured it into a pot. She swirled it over the fire calmly, heating it evenly.

    ��How many oranges did you eat?��

    ��Three.��

    ��I had two, they were really good.��

    Josh crept a little closer to the fire, ��Canned soup? Well, at least it smells good.��

    The soup was soon hot enough, Nadia poured some for herself in a cup and left Josh eat the rest from the pot.

    ��I thought about what you said today. It made me mad, but you were right. Mostly. I��ve been acting like I��m the center of the universe lately.��

    ��You mean you learned something from city scum?��

    ��So, you��re a city boy? And yes, I did learn something. I really don��t mind this at all, you know, this place, nature. I��ve decided to help you get rid of the Incubus for good no matter what. I want to see what you��d be like without it.��

    ��Do you really mean that? Because- I would like to be free of it- if it could be done. I never asked for it. Honest.��

    ��I swear on my honor.��

    He leapt to hug her with such velocity that he fell over top of her. She found herself pushing his chest away with her right hand while keeping her cup of soup from spilling with her left.

    ��Sit boy.��

    Josh pulled back immediately, and she finished her soup.

    ��Josh, you have to treat me like an ordinary guy at all times. Would you hug a guy?��

    ��No, guess I wouldn��t, unless he told me something like you just told me, even if he was the grim reaper.��

    Her face became red, ��So I look like the grim reaper to you?��

    ��Geez, I didn��t- you��re still awfully touchy about your appearance, know that?��

    ��You��re awfully big mouthed for a stupid jerk, know that?��

    The pendant glowed. She placed an empty soup can on his head and laughed, or at least she had meant to place it. Josh passed out. Nadia gasped in panic. A few minutes later he came to with his head on Nadia��s lap. She pressed a moist towel over the bump. He pushed himself up, his skull throbbed. Nadia looked worried and apologetic.

    ��I didn��t mean to do that. I��m really sorry. I just wanted to place it and forgot myself,�� she twisted her arm, ��But at least my pitching arm is still strong as ever!��If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ��You slammed it into my skull! But fine, I understand.��

    She laid him back down on his sleeping bag, put the compress over his head, and tended the fire to keep it burning until he tugged on her jeans.

    ��What��s the matter?��

    ��I know you didn��t mean that last one, don��t worry about it. And I didn��t mean to dismiss the stuff you��re dealing with either.��

    ��You��re not as bad as I thought, so I��ll try, to go a little easier on you. If you want to talk about something, anything really, I��ll listen. We have plenty of time.��

    He turned away.

    ��This is the first day you ever smiled. That��s kind of special, in a way. I mean, I��ve never seen it before so. You��ve been trying so hard to be this stoic pillar that it��s funny sometimes.��

    ��What else am I supposed to do? Stoicism keeps me in touch with who I really am.��

    ��Do you even know who you really are?��

    Nadia remained quiet.

    ��Don��t worry about your behavior so much. Just be yourself. You��ll figure it out eventually. You��re strong, so I��m sure you can protect yourself until you figure things out.��

    ��But why don��t we talk about you for a bit? What��s going on with your powers? What happened? If you don��t want to talk about it though...��

    ��I don��t remember how I ended up with a demon.��

    ��Really?��

    ��It��s a long sob story. I��m not going to bore you with it.��

    ��Who says your story would bore me?��

    ��It��s not easy to talk about. Let��s just say that you should probably be grateful to your old man. Not everyone gets good parents.��

    He became quiet, almost brooding.

    ��Oh?��

    Instead of saying anymore he stared though the treetops, past the stars that were peeking through. Nadia joined him in star gazing, both of them silent and listening. Then with a brief sigh she stuffed herself into her sleeping bag.

    ��Time for bed, night.��

    ��Yah, night.��

    She tucked herself in tightly, but continued to move and turn with discomfort, which kept Josh awake. The dishes stacked by the fire were still stained with the remains of the soup, so he took them to the lake. After checking to make sure the barrette in his pocket was still white, he rinsed them. Upon returning to the camp site, he noticed that Nadia��s jeans were hanging on the branch above where she slept. The night air lingered uncomfortably hot. He sat down to nurse the bruises on his head and rub his feet. Then, as the fire waned, he removed his own jeans, crumpled them in a ball that he threw on the grass, and stuffed himself into the long black sleeping bag.

    -----

    A child��s cry echoed from deep inside the grove. Nadia awoke to it sometime in the early hours of the morning. Moonlight leapt through the trees. Light wind disturbed the leaves. The rhythm of Josh��s breathing accompanied the crackling embers of their fire. Nadia unzipped the sleeping bag, felt the cool night air against her shoulders, and used the last remaining embers of light to adjust her bra and find her jeans. Half dressed; she kicked her sleeping bag a safe distance from the sparking embers. Crying continued from the depths of the grove.

    With each sob, she felt a dull pain proceed from her bosom and reverberate through her body. The orange trees themselves responded to the sound by swaying as if in mighty wind. They thrashed with such ferocity that moonlight lost form on the grass. Nadia recognized the cry of a little boy as she came to a spot where the scent of citrus remained heavy, where the oranges that Josh had sent to the ground still lay bruised.

    Thick sticky citrus juice stained her bare foot as it crushed one. A boy sat amidst them, a small child in a short brown robe and a pair of worn shorts tied by a withered hemp rope. Nadia knelt beside him and patted his dull black hair, which was dirty and greasy. A faint sparkle of moonlight reflected off his tears as they fell against the moistened soil.

    ��Don��t cry little guy. Tell me what��s wrong.��

    He looked at her cautiously, but didn��t speak.

    ��Are you alright? What��s your name?��

    ��Sanguin.��

    ��You don��t have to be afraid of me.��

    ��Someone knocked down the oranges.��

    Nadia hesitated for a moment, ��Well, my friend- No, I��m responsible too. I took a few, and my friend hit one of the trees. If that��s the problem, I��ll do anything I can to make up for it. Tomorrow morning I��ll talk to your parents. Do they own this grove?��

    ��No, I do.��

    ��You! You��re not joking, are you?��

    The little boy looked at her softly with a happy smile, ��You said you��d do anything to make up for it. I want you to be my mommy and stay here with me.��

    ��I can��t do that, but I might be able find someone to take care of you.��

    ��I don��t need somebody to take care of me. I need a mommy.��

    ��Sorry, but I��m not your mommy.��

    He stared into her with eyes that glowed with a bright green luster, while her own eyes dulled into a dim, brown, complacency. She continued to watch him until his eyes stopped glowing, then she pushed her hair back calmly.

    ��Sanguin, my little boy. I love you,��

    It felt as if the words were pulled from her mouth, but when the child fell into her arms and nuzzled his head into the warmth of her chest, she fully embraced him as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Another presence filled her and took control.

    ��Don��t ever leave me mommy.��

    ��I��d never dream of it.��

 41. Help! My Soul Is Going To Fade Away!

    Mother and son embraced as Josh stepped into the clearing with Nadia��s shirt, his eyes still heavy with sleep. Nadia edged away, hugging the child all the tighter, as if Josh was a mugger who intended to throttle the boy. Josh scratched his forehead.

    ��Why are you hugging the air?��

    ��Go away, I found my son now. I��m going to stay with him because he needs me.��

    He threw the shirt her way, causing her to flinch awkwardly. ��Get your shirt on, and stop talking like a loon.��

    She stood defiantly, screaming, ��How dare you! You ignorant insolent beast. This child is my son, and I demand that you apologize to him.��

    ��Now have you totally lost it?��

    Sanguin floated to pat her on the cheek.

    ��Not to worry mommy, I��ll make the bad man go away.��

    She accepted a kiss on the cheek before Sanguin faced Josh with a hostile stare. Suddenly Josh saw him too. They watched each other cautiously for a moment. Josh maintained a tense stance as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.

    ��Come off it, kid. She isn��t your mom. What did you do to her?��

    ��You��re wrong mister, this is my mommy, and we don��t want you here.��

    ��I��m not going anywhere without her, got that kid?��

    ��You��re a mean man, and you hurt our oranges.��

    ��Give her back!��

    Josh reached for the boy��s shoulders, but the force of a swirling wind lifted him above the trees and pushed him to the path outside. It dropped him right next to Nadia��s bike. The pot, the sleeping bags, and a few other camping implements then came raining down.

    A blue wisp descended over the grove to form a dome illuminated in fluorescent purple. Josh walked to it but couldn��t pass. He tried a running start, but it threw him backwards. Again. And again. Then again. He ran into the barrier full force and flew back into the grass hill across the path with only bruises gained. The full physical force of his kicks and punches in the next attack crackled back through his limbs. His last punch curled around and slammed into his own forehead, which put him on his knees. After shaking off his own blow, he pressed the barrier with his finger and watched as it pushed him away.

    The scar on the back of his arm widened slowly. He felt the hatred burning inside, devouring his flesh once again. Whatever this force field was, it blocked the sealing effects of Nadia��s powers. His fists slammed the grass as he knelt before the purple glow. He hurtled against the barrier only to be thrown back again. Getting the idea that strength alone wouldn��t work, he doubled back to the bike and removed everything that was tied to it before riding away. He hadn��t ridden for five minutes when he noticed other land under cultivation.

    Goats, cows, and oxen roamed in fenced pasture land. Next, he saw well organized and square rice beds at each side of the road. The pedals received the full force of his body weight as he stood. A village of small wooden dwellings approached, each with their own gardens. He left the bike fall sideways after hopping off. The inhabitants obviously slept, since it was very early morning, but he yelled desperately into windows until a lantern lit. A young woman in white robes came forth as he hyperventilated.

    ��Please you have to help me. My friend is trapped.��

    ��Oh me, may I inquire where?��

    ��An orange grove with a big purple blockade around it. I need someone who knows somethin�� about that kind of magic.��If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    The girl looked back inside the house, then to the side, ��I��m sorry. I''ll bring my father.��

    She whispered deftly for her father, and told him much more than needed if her only intention was to bring him forth. A tall muscular man came forward and greeted Josh cautiously.

    ��Can I help ye sir?��

    ��There��s an orange grove not far from here. My friend is trapped inside by some child with a magic blockade, and I can��t get inside to help her. If no one can help me, then at least let me borrow a shovel. I��ll dig my way inside if I have to. I��ll give you anything I have for it.��

    The man blew out the lantern, ��Ye best be on your way.��

    Josh grabbed the man��s shoulder, pointing westward, ��That��s bull and you know it. What are you trying to hide? You mean to tell me you can��t see that purple light over there?��

    ��There��s nothing to be done for your friend, sir�� he said as the girl came from the house and handed her father a shovel, ��The grove is accursed, and if ye go back, ye might disappear as well.��

    ��I��m not giving up like that.��

    The man pushed the shovel into his chest.

    ��Bring it back if ye survive.��

    ��So that��s how it is. I��ll be sure to leave it by your door with a thank you card.��

    Josh hopped back on the bike for the ride back. Instead of an entire village with torches and pitchforks, he brought back himself and a shovel. Some help they were. Halfway back to the orange grove, a sullen shadow of a figure robed in brown came from the fields and hailed Josh��s bike. Josh ignored the figure, but the cloaked persona crouched down, reached out, and grasped the front tire, instantly stopping the bike��s forward progress.

    The sudden stop flipped Josh over the handle bars; he rolled on his side after hitting the dirt road. A purple glow extended from the robed man��s hand, surrounding the bike with an aura while holding it motionless and upright. Josh gave the figure a bewildered stare as he held his right arm. The cloak pulled back to reveal a withered face, a bald dome with random tufts of dirty white hair, a large crooked nose bristling with course hairs, and a left eye that squinted dementedly.

    ��I hear much from afar this wicked night. I heard your cry, and wish to save your friend from within her plight. The boy who dwells within summons a host; actually, you see it is two ghosts. A disenfranchised soul it truly is, a double forlorn spirit known as Kadiz. You see, this ghost will toss a soul, to make the mother''s spirit whole. A body without the original soul won��t last. So, his victims soon die. Their souls disperse into the past. Thus, he haunts cursed orange grove, seeking victim to make soul rove.��

    ��What?��

    ��At daybreak her soul will belong to him. If you don��t break the spell before sunrise she will be cast aside from her body, and the ghosts will dim. Then there will be nothing left to save, only a body empty like cave. I advise haste, I must, I must or your friend will be but bitter dust.��

    ��Thanks, I guess... Need a lift?��

    ��Go now, go now, I am most spry, I��ll meet you there to help you try.��

    Josh didn��t need any more prompting than that. He pushed forward at full speed while the old man followed on foot.

    -----

    The oranges glowed brightly, like miniature suns, as they hung heavily on the branches above. They were the lanterns of the grove, which outshone even the barrier above. The grass stood tall, tickled Nadia��s bare feet and popped up in-between her toes. Enchanting wisps filled the air, floating around her as she watched Sanguin dash from tree to tree with unmitigated delight. After finding a suitably noble specimen, he shuffled up its trunk and climbed its branches until he sat at the highest spot possible. He looked down. She looked up worriedly.

    ��Sanguin, please come down before you fall.��

    ��Don��t worry mommy. I can��t get hurt anymore, and you don��t ever have to worry about being poor. I��m going to take care of us from now on. We��ll even have nice things too. Then we��ll be happy.��

    The straps of Nadia��s bra expanded into long loose sleeves as the fabric of the cups loosened into the form of a silk shirt. Fabric extended downward to cover her exposed waist before connecting with her jeans. The blue jeans lost their color, their fabric became silk, and the pant legs blossomed into a dress. At first a silk robe formed, but the fabric separated and folded up the middle to take the form of an elegant kimono style gown that hung delicately from her shoulders to her ankles.

    A pink ribbon formed to tie it together, matching the delicate pink flowers of the light silk thread. The sleeves, the folds, the bottom, and the neck became lined in pink. The child lifted a finger to direct a stalk of grass upwards. That same stalk glowed brilliantly before her and became a light emerald jewel resembling a cat o�� nine tail. Nadia lifted her arms to grasp the jewel, and then turned her head to look over her back. When she stepped forward, she heard wooden sandals on her feet.

    Nadia stepped forward and knelt to bow low, almost in tears ��This is so beautiful that I couldn��t have ever hoped for anything like it. I don��t deserve a son like you.��

    ��We��re going to be together forever. No one��s going to hurt us this time. We won��t be cast aside like before. Because we own land now.��

    Nadia nodded in agreement.

 42. Help! Rhyme Leaf, Ghosts, And Spiders All In One Night!

    When Josh made it back to the barrier, the old man in the cloak already had arrived and bowed before it as if it were something to be finessed with worship. The bright violet glow cast an eerie pallor on the old man��s wrinkled hands as he slowly straightened his back to stand.

    ��An opening I have prepared.��

    ��Well, let��s go then.��

    Josh ran head first into the barrier and was thrown backward.

    ��Wait fool! If you move too fast, you shall be snared!��

    Withered hands raised as he looked upwards to the stars. A brief incantation sounding like gibberish muttered in a scratchy voice preceded him placing his hands against the barrier. The purple glow gave way like plastic melting. A hole grew into an opening large enough for both to pass. With a sly smile, the old man went through.

    ��Never underestimate an old one.��

    ��Wait. One question.��

    ��Hurry fool, this opening closes fast and is done!��

    ��Never mind.��

    Josh intended to ask the old man why he was helping, but it occurred to him that he was being overly suspicious, as that was his nature; besides, it wasn��t as if there were any other options. He walked through the opening not a second too soon, for it closed instantly behind him.

    ��You��ll have to fight the citrus spiders off my child, for I��m just a simple old man whose strength is mild.��

    ��Spiders?��

    ��You��ll soon see. They approach near, I do decree.��

    At that, the old man disappeared and Josh found himself alone in the darkness of the grove. The leaves of every tree rustled as peering red eyes glowed from the darkness. Spiders with bloated abdomen lowered themselves. Josh ran; unfortunately, he didn��t get far before he met a spider twice his size and realized that he was surrounded by others of the same girth. Red glowing eyes contrasted bloated black bodies. Pointy legs clicked as sharp incisors dripped milky toxins. Josh signaled the largest beast to come at him.

    ��I��m not a hit man for no reason.��

    In the center of the grove, the old man spied Sanguin and Nadia together on a white blanket. A hot pitcher of tea steamed nearby. Two ceramic cups full of the steaming liquid rested on the grass. Sanguin peeled an orange. Nadia took a sip of her tea while she knelt patiently in anticipation of receiving a slice, which she gingerly bit in half. A white aura formed around Nadia��s body. The old magician grinned as he peered from behind a tree. The peeled orange dropped and rolled away as the old man revealed himself. Nadia put her fingers over her lips and stared.

    ��You��re back,�� said Sanguin. ��No, not this one. You can��t take this one too! We��re going away together. Far away from you!��

    Sanguin clapped twice, but nothing happened.

    ��Your guardians are occupied. I left them a rather tough morsel, with whose time they will bide. I��ll have more than enough time to collect this prime witch soul. My magic shards glow, so thanks once more for making her ready and whole.��

    ��You shouldn��t have come back here. I won��t let you be mean to me. I won��t let you take her away from me again. You��re not going to hurt my mommy!��

    ��You picked a fine soul this time, the potion I make will be sublime.��

    Sanguin ran to the old man and pulled on his dirt brown robes to no avail, as the man flicked his finger over the boy��s forehead to send him on his back. Chains with the power to subdue disembodied souls materialized over Sanguin. The wizard pulled a white vial of bone colored glass from his cloak, opened it by removing a white cork, and set it on the ground. A fragrance of spring flowers came forth which only Nadia could smell. It put her in a trance, then she floated above the ground. The aura around her drew into the bottle as she began to lose consciousness.

    -----

    Power burst from Josh��s hand as a red and black swirling aura burnt his skin. Josh��s eyes turned to red and narrowed to burning slits. A spider extended its sharp leg while charging at Josh with a deadly swipe. Shirt ripped as Josh angled backwards. The claw scraped flesh and opened a line across his stomach. Red life oozed from the shallow laceration. A punch forward sent a blast of energy through the spider��s abdomen. Slimy innards splattered away from the blast. Others spiders attacked one after the other. Josh stood his ground, dodged their fangs, and ventilated their abdomens with his punches. The orchard trembled as they gave chase. Sharp legs broke the soil. A circle of fangs surrounded him. As Josh faced the largest one, a steamy growl escaped his clenched teeth. He ran forward and slid underneath its fangs, which were so huge that when they thrust downward into the ground, he slid between them.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    The great spider��s abdomen absorbed a punch without bruising; Josh rolled away before it crushed him. He took refuge against a tree trunk as another spider attacked. Its legs became stuck in the tree, but Josh found himself wedged between trunk and spider. Sharp claws extended from Josh��s fingers. With one hand, he held the creature��s fangs back, with the other he tore through the midsection of the spider. Lubricating slime from the spider��s splayed insides allowed him to slide down the trunk and slip to freedom. Two more spiders approached as soon as he escaped. He ran in-between them and jumped on the abdomen of the left one. His fist punched through the top. The other spider attacked the wound and feasted on its kin. Josh jumped to the other and gave it a matching wound. With that finished, he hid from the flock headed in his direction. They smelt his blood, so he soon found himself flanked again. He counted more than twelve sets of eyes. A spider grasped him from above, grappling his shoulders with all eight legs as it lifted Josh into the tree tops. A scream spread through the forest.

    -----

    Nadia��s soul dispersed far too slowly for the old man��s patience. The boy continued to struggle against the power of the chains. The aura dripped into the bottle until Josh��s scream penetrated the clearing and woke Nadia.

    ��Josh,�� she muttered as she fell over.

    The old man cursed and corked the bottle before his extractions escaped back to her. A beast entered the clearing. Boiling spider entrails covered its blistering skin. The beast stood almost twelve feet tall; clothes were torn. Blistering burns covered exposed skin. Fingernails grew out into ivory claws. Fire burned from slit-like eyes. Fangs revealed themselves as the creature snarled. The demon picked the wizard up and hurled him against a tree. Nadia pushed herself onto all fours, but she felt too weak to stand or crawl.

    The vial landed just out of reach but she felt compelled to reach for it. The ever-larger demon wrapped its arms around a tree to pull it out of the ground. Soil flew loose. Roots snapped like twine. Oranges rained to splatter over the clearing as the beast swung wildly. A burning cross shaped scar opened on its chest. A piercing shriek forced Nadia to cover her ears. That��s when she saw the little boy before her, freed from the old man��s chain spell. He held the vial before her.

    ��I��m sorry, but you��re not my mommy. You must drink this right now.��

    Nadia took the vial as the child disappeared. Rays of sun spread from the horizon, destroying the barrier as they reached the clearing. She opened it and drank the contents before the first ray of light hit her body. It tasted like light milk, but hit her stomach heavily. The thrashing monster became disoriented, collapsed, and began to shrink as the fires waned. Once Nadia recovered her stamina, she went to the old man, opened his cloak, and found a collection of colored vials. She uncorked one, a darkened aura escaped. Then she tossed the empty vial.

    ��I��ve made a mistake this cursed day. You mustn��t let my souls get away!��

    ��You have no right to them!��

    The old man quivered, unable to move as she uncorked and broke every vial. Auras and wisps flew into the morning sky until they were beyond sight.

    ��That was my entire stock. I��ll be ruined. I��ll be mocked.��

    ��Okaaay. Please stop.��

    As she walked away, she saw Sanguin��s ghost in the arms of another apparition, a young woman with long black hair. Both were oblivious to everything except each other, smiling. Two beads of light shot into the sky as Nadia waved them off.

    Meanwhile, Josh laid in front of a giant tree. Stab wounds were over his shoulder, bleeding rather badly. When Nadia came to the spot where he lay dazed, she had her pack of clean bandages, gauze, and peroxide. The stun of the disinfectant revived Josh from a trance.

    ��Nadia! You��re not the kid��s mother. It��s a trap. You have to snap out of it!��

    ��It��s all right. That��s all over now. He won��t cause any more trouble. He wasn��t evil, he just needed his real mother back.��

    ��Behind you!��

    The old man held a rusty knife with both hands, ready to thrust it into her back. She twirled around and kicked it from his hand. Then she halted her motion, angled her leg straight, and kicked him in the chest hard enough to crack a rib while sending him down. He got up, but limped away as fast as he still could.

    ��And there��s more where that came from if you dare,�� she said mockingly, ��Try me, try me, I don��t care!��

    She leaned over Josh��s shoulders to wrap his wounds, careful to make sure they were bandaged before she helped him get a new shirt on. He couldn��t help looking downcast as she put a new set of clothes in front of him.

    ��We��ll have to get you a new pair of shoes, I guess. I hope we can find something suitable for you,�� she said, fingering her somehow unsoiled elegant silk kimono as she watched the wizard slink away, ��Whatever this is didn��t go away. While you��re here, I think I��ll go change into something more suitable for travel.��

    She stood and began to look for anything else she might need to gather and a spot to change. Josh continued to sit cross-legged in the grass where he��d fallen.

    ��Nadia?��

    She turned to face him, ��What��s the matter?��

    He had never seen her look so concerned for him before. What had happened to the harsh Nadia that hated him? Josh blushed, unable to tear his gaze from her. He was afraid he��d never see such an image again. She smiled and he wanted the moment to last longer.

    ��Thank you,�� she said, ��For everything. I think you saved my life.��

    ��It��s not a problem.��

    ��I might have enough power to get us flying again. I��ll ride the back for a while. You��ve earned it friend.��

    Josh looked at her; Nadia stared for a moment, then facepalmed.

 43. Help! Its Kind Of Like Ohio!

    Five days of riding passed since the incident at the orchards. They rode, they flew, they set-up camp, they buried garbage, they broke camp, but most of the time they traveled and made only the slightest of idle conversation. They put the incident at the orchard behind them and agreed to not talk about it on the second day. Nadia remained quiet and reserved, except for when she made all the decisions about where and when to camp, what to eat, and how long to rest. Sometimes it had felt like a fun camping trip with a new fried. They��d even done some careful insect hunting. The packaged food from home began to run dry, but that also made their luggage a bit lighter.

    On the fifth day from the orange grove, the air gained a faint hint of salt. Having agreed to relieve him occasionally, Nadia balanced herself on the back rim while Josh rode. With ease and adroitness, she rested her back against his to watch the path behind them. Not that she wouldn��t have rather seen what was ahead, but the thought of looking over his shoulders and pressing her chest against his back made her uncomfortable; back-to-back seemed less personal. The variety of sights was poor anyway, for the greatest portion of the flight was through relatively flat farm land. Occasional hills, pastures, and rice pools offered visual relief.

    ��It��s kind of like Ohio, but not nearly as bad. Just bigger. And hot.��

    The smell of the salt air aroused Nadia��s sinuses. She jumped from the bike, which quickly returned to the path. She grasped the pole supporting the seat and plowed the path with her wooden sandals to bring it to a halt. Josh braked to avoid dragging her further.

    ��What��s with you? That��s five times now. Can��t you just tell me to stop?��

    She pulled a map from the duffel bag tied over the handle bars. After checking it, she looked down the road and spotted a collection of quaint cottages in the distance.

    ��I can smell the ocean. I bet we��re near the Port of Reeds. The last time I smelt the ocean I was ten years old. This smells exactly like that, only fresher, absolutely pure. I��m going to be a guy again, nothing��s going to stop me. I��ll be back to my old self again even before school starts! Oh, I can��t wait, I��m going to sign up for every macho contact sport that��s available. And I��ll find girls attractive, just like I used to. I��ll be able to pee while standing up. Even better, I��ll be taller than everyone again!��

    ��You��re not exactly short.��

    ��Not short for a girl, but when I was a boy, I was six feet tall. The change cost me at least five or six inches.��

    ��How sad for you.��

    She laughed, ��Let��s walk the rest of the way. I��ll let you wheel the bike for me.��

    They entered a small village with thatched roof stone cottages straddling both sides of the road. Old weather worn stone walls crumbled in disrepair, and the dirt in-between the stones allowed weeds to invade them. Gaping holes fell through many of the worn thatch roofs. One of the cottages was nothing more than a crumbling stone shell. An old man in a smock and black boots rested near the ruined building.

    ��Are we near the Port of Reeds?�� Josh asked the old man.

    ��You��re not far youngling. These here are the dwellings Lord Nostrum rents cheap to poor travelers who come to his harbor,�� He laughed. ��It��s a mite empty by daylight, most of the renters work in the service of Nostrum. You��ll find the port a mite more full of the personage. Don��t get much traffic from the west road these days, any news from the west?��You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ��No news. All is well. This Lord Nostrum, does he have any ships?��

    ��Enough for the trade I��d say.��

    ��The trade?�� Nadia asked.

    ��What other trade is there youngling lass? The trade in fish, the bounty of the sea. Shrimp, flounder, blowfish, lobster, crabs, halibut, salmon for the entire region since time began. Everything you can pull from the ocean, though at a premium of course. Go see for yourself.��

    ��Thanks a bunch for the information.��

    ��Welcome to it lass. Be discreet, and keep yourself near your man lest you find yourself wont for protection.��

    Nadia blushed and walked forward quickly with the bike, which forced Josh to keep pace, ��Why does everyone assume that I��m your wife?��

    Josh put his arms behind his head, ��What else would they think?��

    Nadia elbowed him in the ribs.

    ----

    The Port of Reeds was a sprawling seaside fishing village that hugged the juncture of three roads leading into the northern, western, and the further eastern lands. Most of the stone cottages let smoke drift upwards in the late morning air. Thick chimneys extended from the center of their tightly-woven, sun-faded, thatch roofs. A group of children played a variation of kick ball in an empty field outside the crumbling low wall that surrounded the village. Horses trod the dirt roads, especially the main road; large, brown, rugged horses clomped their hooves.

    Stone structures lacking front walls served as stables, and sometimes the chained horses within were offered for sale or trade. Merchants posted along the road sold from their carts. There were big carts, small carts, carts drawn by man and carts drawn by beast. They were filled with everything from grain to garments, from building materials to curious trinkets. Merchants called to the populous, all vouching for the freshness, durability, or some other quality exhibited by their merchandise. Nadia and Josh heard the low rumble of ocean surf. Stalls preparing and selling fresh fish surrounded them.

    The morning��s work of gutting the fish had been done, as attested by the piles of innards in wooden barrels behind each stall. The odor of fish lingered in the air. A great range of cleaned saltwater fish were on display, kept in shade by the overhang of each stall. Some stalls even featured shellfish, shark, turtle and porpoise, the latter of which made Nadia grimace. Piles of salted and unsalted fish were loaded on a horse drawn carts to be shipped inland. Women pressed at the stalls as they angled for bargains. The wives of the fishermen were special customers in their own lines, each entitled to a measured amount of meat for their daily needs. They spent their time in line conversing, or pointing out newcomers to speculate on.

    Much attention fell on Nadia and Josh. They ignored the gossips and gawks to find a fish stall that wasn��t busy. It��s patronage at the time consisted of a few stray cats and a small but heavily pregnant woman in a yellow kimono. The stall keeper first chased away the cats with a broom before attending to the woman. When he finished measuring her due portion, he wished her and her family well before seeing her off with a smile. The woman glanced at the strange pair quickly as she left, but otherwise took little notice. The stall keeper paid little attention to them until he realized other people were in line and they were in the way.

    ��Go away. I don��t sell to traders who haven��t negotiated a price with Lord Nostrum.��

    ��I��m not here to trade.��

    ��If you wish to buy, the market price is twelve copper tethers per pound. Better yet, why don��t you go to the inn for a cooked meal.��

    ��I want to see Lord Nostrum,�� Nadia demanded, ��Where can I find him?��

    The stall keeper separated the falling piles of herring and carp while staring brazenly at the two, ��Since you search so blindly, for two tethers I can give you a clue as to his whereabouts.��

    ��I don��t have any tethers.��

    ��Then you won��t get any help from me. Now get before I call the guards; I have legitimate business to take care of.��

    They left the stall and walked down the road a bit.

    ��That was helpful, didn��t your dad put some, and by some, I mean a ton, of that local money in your bag?��

    ��Yes, but it��s gone.��

    ��Gone?��

    ��Yep, gone.��

    ��How?��

    ��Probably the friends who rescued us at the brook. Not like I was willing or able to go after them.��

    ��Are you serious? Those crooks!��

    ��They might have saved our lives. Fair trade. Anyway, why should we have to pay that salty dog? I bet we��ll get the information for free at the inn.��

    She smiled as if she was quite sure of herself.

 44. Help! Mysogyny!

    They reached a beach side road. A sign advertised the Swimming Shark inn. They passed a small harbor and a shore laden with small wooden boats. A stone building with a wooden roof stood across the road following the shore. It was a much larger, better kept building than the cottages seen so far. A great healthy plume of thick gray smoke rose from its chimney. Josh stood the bike against the wall while Nadia went in ahead. The floors were a fine yet worn hard wood with many opening seams and abraded spots. Plaques of large trophy fish lined the wall.

    There were shark jaws, giant clam shells, and a collection of brilliantly colored tropical fish. A white-haired man stood behind the counter before a heavy shelf displaying kegs of liquor, ale, sake, and wine while; he busily conversed with two other old men. They were patrons of the emaciated, feeble variety with white beards and no teeth who nursed ale from thick pewter mugs held with both hands. The rest of the counter, and all the tables in the establishment, were empty. Josh entered after Nadia and stood behind her as she approached the bar.

    ��Welcome fellow travelers,�� greeted the barkeep. ��A vibrant young couple that would hail from... hmm?��

    The barkeep put his fingers over the counter and stared keenly at them, as he wished them to finish his sentence.

    ��It doesn��t matter where we��re from,�� Josh said.

    ��And we��re not a couple. We��re merchants, business partners. I��m looking to meet with Lord Nostrum.��

    ��And what would this be about, love? Strangers just don��t walk into town and simply meet the Lord.��

    ��I need to get to the Tramen continent.��

    The barkeep raised an eyebrow, ��Considering your middle accent, I figured you for a team of explorers from Doran maybe, but not for a couple of fools. What business would you have on the Tramen continent? Leave it to the goblins, trolls, and wizards. You��ll be better off.��

    ��If I have to swim there myself I will.��

    ��That would be a fool��s death unless you can tread a thousand kilometers of water. What you need is an explorer��s ship, one large enough to take on stores. That costs plenty, and you have to provide your own crew as well. As for now, you both look hungry to me. Why don��t you both take a meal here to build your strength?��

    ��Not right now. Does this Lord Nostrum ever come by here?��

    ��Not too often since his wife took ill.��

    ��Do you know where we could find him?��

    ��Were you not listening lass? You don��t just find him. He��s a very busy type, but he��ll send someone for you if he��s interested. Why don��t you wait here? For a few silver tethers you can stay the night.��

    ��I don��t have that much time.��

    ��You young people, always in a hurry.��

    At this the barkeep returned to his former conversation with the other patrons. Nadia took the hint and sat at one of the empty tables. Growling issued from her stomach the minute she sat down.

    ��We��re out of food,�� Josh said.

    ��Not so loud,�� Nadia whispered. ��If they think we don��t have money we��ll never get to see Lord Nostrum.��

    ��What��s the point in seeing Lord Nostrum if we don��t have money in the first place? Sitting around doing nothing certainly doesn��t seem right. If we sit around here without ordering anything, they��ll know we have nothing. Let��s order something, I��m starving to death.��

    ��I have a plan, let��s say we have money saved for the trip but can��t spend any of it.��

    ��But we don��t have any money saved for...��

    ��We know that, but they don��t. We��ll do some honest work and replenish our provisions. We really don��t need shelter, since it��s been warm and we��re used to camping out. In the meantime, we can search out an opportunity to get across the ocean. There must be trading ships coming here all the time, maybe we can hitch a ride.��Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ��You heard what he said? Nobody goes there. That means until somebody decides to go to Tramen and let us tag along, we��re stuck here, aren��t we?��

    ��I never thought that we might need so much money.��

    ��Hey mister, over here,�� Nadia signaled to the barkeep. He came to the table promptly. ��All our money is needed to secure a trip across the ocean, to the Tramen continent. That leaves very little for anything else... so I was wondering if there was any place we could get some work around here.��

    ��I am in desperate need of a hostess, won��t pay much, but your meals are free if you want the job.��

    ��That��s great, but what about him?�� She pointed to Josh.

    ��We��re always in need of a good cleaning boy, that is, unless he��d rather work loading the daily catch. He could even do both.��

    ��No problem, I can clean up around here. When do we start?�� asked Josh

    ��The lass can start tomorrow. You can start tonight. You two hungry?��

    Nadia smiled, ��You bet we are!��

    ��I��ll fix you two some bread to hold you until supper.��

    As soon as the barkeep was gone, she smiled, ��Am I good or what? That worked out perfectly.��

    -----

    Josh busily wiped tables and cleaned stools when the late afternoon hours approached. He was finishing that task when the barkeep called from behind the counter with a question about supper. Since the inn had nothing that wasn��t made from seafood, Josh asked them to bake something and told them it would be appreciated. Nadia, who had been standing outside by the entrance guarding the bike, came in as soon as she heard it was time to eat. She made a point of ordering hot tea in lieu of the alcoholic beverages.

    While they were eating, a band of four travelers entered the inn and took their seats at a table across from them. Two were gentlemen in fashionable robes, one of dark blue and the other a pine green. They carried swords which they kept sheathed inside the silken belts. The elegantly carved handles remained exposed for show.

    With them was a heavy troll and a short, bent over goblin like being with an angry beak-nosed face. They both wore simple brown flax pants tied at the waist with heavy rope, and loose brown shirts without sleeves. All received wooden cups filled to the brim with their preferred spirits, then they ordered two meals of chicken, a rare steak, and a baked tropical fish. After their consideration of the spirits, they began to strike up a low conversation as fishermen from the village filtered into the inn. The short, angry looking, beak-nosed human-imp-goblin spoke first.

    ��As I was saying before we arrived, the Freelands need to be stirred up from their content little village fiefdoms. Once the protector of Sarsin consolidates the Delva coastlands under his domain, he��ll be on his way to establishing a new kingdom of the Plains that will rival even the power of Lothalos.��

    The man in the green robe spoke with a skeptical expression, ��Sarsin, he��s just another warlord. A little success in battle doesn��t guarantee domination of the plains. He��ll have enough trouble holding what he��s already taken.��

    The man in blue robes sipped his sake, ��The Freelands are rather weak because of the villages and their petty squabbles. They need someone strong to consolidate power, or they��re really no better than the barbarians.

    Yet Sarsin still hasn��t taken full control of the fertile rice plains southwest of the coast. You can��t feed an army powerful enough to overpower the valley of men without rice, and Lord Fudri of the north is not one that is so easily conquered. Besides, the Delva coast is nothing, warlords have conquered it for decades and have been unable to hold it together.��

    ��Sarsin is different!�� protested the short impish man.

    ��That��s what they all say,�� said the green robed traveler as the food arrived.

    ��His plans are beyond our comprehension. I saw him in person once, and sensed immediately that he is destined for greatness. One thing I know for sure, he��ll bring the nomads and the farmers of the south to their knees. He has infiltrated even here.��

    ��The other villages must know something of his plans,�� said the man in blue robes, ��With so many loads of salt and ore from the mines of the Metis mountains arriving in Forensian plains, they must be suspicious.��

    ��They wouldn��t dare attack Sarsin openly. It would be foolhardy.��

    The half-troll picked up his steak with his bare hand and shoved half of it into his gaping mouth.

    ��You might want to cut your steak before you eat it, and chewing would be advisable,�� suggested the man in the green robe. There was no response to the suggestion, so the green robed man turned his attention to the half-imp, ��Anyway, we hired you to ensure us safe passage north to the twin cities. Is the road up the Delva coast safe for us?��

    ��Sarsin controls the entire length of road along the populated coast. For a small toll his men let all who pass travel freely. There are some bandits, but Lobar and myself will take care of them easily.��

    Nadia had been listening to their conversation circumspectly, but the half-troll��s swallowing of half a steak left her gaping wide eyed at the creature, and the men at the other table caught on. Josh tapped her hand, but the man in the green robe had already taken notice of her.

    ��This strangely attired maiden seems interested in our conversation. Surely she wouldn''t understand or have interest in the business of men."

    He adjusted his green robes, looking offended while turning his attention to Josh.

    "What does your woman want from us?��

 45. Help! A Couple Of Half Whats!?

    They stared down towards her, these men, judging every aspect of her being. It felt like being in a spotlight for debate team.

    ��I��m sorry,�� Nadia said, ��I just never saw anybody eat like that before.��

    The pendant hanging over Nadia��s shirt glinted in the half-imp��s eye.

    ��Hmmph!" The man looked Josh in the eye, "Perhaps, your wench thinks this is Lothalos where women don��t know their place? She��s probably here to spread her uppity superiority complex to our wise and obedient women! Well, the eastern jaw is called the Plain of Free Men for a reason. It��s rude to stare, especially for the weaker sex, who should be taught to keep their heads down. Teach her better manners.��

    Josh attempted to hold her, but Nadia stood and slapped her hands on the table forcefully enough to make her plate vibrate. Her lips pursed and as her body tightened and trembled with the red hue crawling up her strained neck, she bowed her head and let her pendant dangle, ��My apologies, I��m not here to do any such thing. I��ll mind my behavior from now on.��

    "Did anyone invite you to speak?"

    Josh stood, ��I��m sorry. We''re travelers... ummm... my adorable wife has never seen a guy that big eat like that before! She just forgot herself. I��ll make sure she behaves from now on," he looked at Nadia, "Honey, it��s rude to stare.��

    Nadia felt a thump in her chest that made her cheeks redden more.

    The man in green turned back to his food and began eating. The man in red laughed and took a sip of his drink, ��Honestly, she��s about to have one of those hysterical outbursts, no self-control. But this isn��t the twin cities, the training of these wenches leaves much to be desired.��

    Nadia put her head down and stared at her lap while gripping her knees. Her posture tensed as she gripped at her knees. A hand went softly on her shoulder that made her body shudder. A hand raised toward her shoulder only to slap back down on her knee as she stared at a single point along the edge of the table. Left fist clenched red, then pale. The half-imp turned and leaned towards her.

    ��Don��t mind my companions,�� he whispered, ��They rarely leave the Twin Cities. They don��t realize that the southern plain is a bit less restrictive toward the weaker sex.��

    ��Shouldn��t you be talking to my husband,�� Nadia said through half clenched teeth.

    ��No, no, I��m only half human so I only need to follow human rules half the time. You wear explorer��s garments, yet you��ve never seen a troll before? No need to worry though, Lobar is only a half troll. I��m Groli, at your service. Are you interested in selling that jewelry of yours, we��ll pay top price for it.��

    ��It��s not for sale,�� she turned away with her plate.

    Groli looked at Josh, ��I��ll offer you a generous amount for your wife��s pendant. It��ll solve all your financial problems for at least two years.��

    Nadia sat straight with her eyes on the table and kept quiet.

    ��It��s not for sale bird nose,�� Josh said.

    Groli grumbled, turned back to his place, and whispered to his big companion. From that time on he didn��t talk with the two men, but kept glancing over at the table next to him.

    ��How come we only have fish as an option? It seems like everyone else is having something different,�� Josh complained.

    Nadia kept her voice in low whispers and struggled to avoid eye contact with anyone except for Josh, ��Supply and demand. Fish is cheaper here, we��re low on cash, thus we eat fish.��

    ��The weird looking man is a merchant. Maybe you could sell that white robe of yours. The one that little brat created. You��re certainly not going to wear it. We��ll sell it here, then we��ll have more than enough money to buy a trip across the ocean.��If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    Nadia looked disheartened at the suggestion.

    ��You honestly don��t want to part with it, do you?�� Josh asked.

    ��No, I��d be glad to get rid of it. I don��t like it at all.��

    ��Does your face always look like that when you lie?��

    ��I��m going to sell it, but not now, and not to them! I have no idea how much it��s worth. I don��t want to be swindled, and I certainly can��t trust a clod like you with it.��

    ��Who are you calling a clod?��

    ��You.��

    ��So now we��re back to name calling?��

    ��I don��t say it without justification.��

    ��What justification?��

    ��I don��t have to explain myself.��

    ��That is exactly what a girl would say.��

    She hissed in a whisper, ��Don��t start with me right now. Not when you can obviously see what I��m dealing with. You��ll regret it.��

    They stared angrily at each other until they turned their heads. She folded her arms in front of her chest for a minute, but soon began to feel silly. As she finished the remains of her baked fish, she refused to say another word. The inn filled with fishermen back from a long day at sea. The reek of salty bodies mixed with the aroma of hot food created a unique scent. The conversation became a ruckus which affirmed a general state of merriment. A cheer broke out over the bountiful haul. A few men sang a song comparing the sea to a wild maiden and more gradually joined in. After the song, a general cheer raised throughout the inn. It took a while for the discourse to settle into its previous cacophony.

    When the two robed men had finished their meals and settled the bill. The half imp told them to start ahead without him because he had private matters to attend to. He continued to sip slowly at a wooden cup of sake as he kept watch over Nadia out the corner of his eye. The seven-foot half-troll sat stupidly, chewing on the large round bone that remained of his giant steak. Nadia remained aware of them, and nervously sipped at a cup of tea. Finally, the two half-humans abandoned their chairs.

    They moved past Nadia and Joshes�� table towards the door. The short man glared at Josh, who glared back. Nadia tried to continue keeping a low profile. A beam fired from the imp-man��s left eye. Josh leapt from his chair. The beam melted a stuffed Marlin into a clump of hot clay which ran down the wall. Lobar pulled the chain from behind Nadia��s neck and attempted to break it off while lifting her off her chair. She pulled to fight asphyxiation. That��s when Lobar twisted the chain and pulled it tightly around her neck.

    ��No break!�� yelled Lobar.

    Groli hopped on the table, ��Tear her head off if you must. It��s not like anyone here can stop us.��

    Josh confronted Groli��s nasty stare as he jumped to his feet. He tried to attack Lobar with punches, but the rays from the little man��s eyes kept forcing him to retreat.

    ��Hey! Leave that lass alone. You��re going to kill her,�� hollered one of the braver fishermen.

    Lobar��s growl approached the sound of the roar. All who would have dared to approach were intimidated. The laugh of Groli became a mocking screech as he entertained himself by trying to turn Josh into a melted clay doll. Lobar dangled Nadia from the pendant��s chain with a grin as her struggle grew weaker and her coughs fainter. Red trickled from her neck line as Lobar turned her so he could breathe in her face with his meaty breath. The choking process so fascinated both Lobar and Groli that the barkeep managed to strike Lobar from behind with a black iron pot.

    A mere flick from Lobar sent him against the bar like an errant fly. But Lobar took one hand from the chain. During the distraction Nadia pressed her legs into the troll��s chest and managed a deep breath. She kicked her legs up his chest and wrapped them around his neck, pulled at his hand and bit it. A death piercing roar flooded the tavern as Lobar released the chain. Nadia karate chopped the middle of his face with her log chopping skill before pushing off his shoulders and jumping next to the table behind him. She gurgled, then coughed, as she attempted to catch her breath. A wet red impression mark crisscrossed her neck.

    ��Lobar pain!�� cried the half-troll as he sat down on the floor and burst into tears, ��Lobar no like pain!��

    ��Can��t you handle a simple woman?��

    Groli continued to fire upon Josh with his eye-beams. He no longer laughed, as Josh proved quicker than he reckoned and his power wasn��t limitless. Three blasts were dodged in succession. Groli found himself swaying dizzily when Josh delivered a knockout punch squarely against his forehead. Nadia collapsed to her knees and continued to gasp deep breaths while rubbing her neck. Josh went to her and winced as he felt the bloody impression on her neck.

    ��That doesn��t look too good.��

    ��It��ll heal. I have powers, remember. I��m all right.��

    The patrons took the opportunity to bind both creatures with the heaviest rope available, while another party was dispatched to get chains for Lobar. Groli remained out cold when they put three heavy blindfolds over his eyes. A man with crusts of sea salt in his hair came forward to help Josh lift Nadia into a chair. Nadia faintly sighed as the two assailants were chained and taken out of the building.

    ��Not a bad bit of luck you survived that,�� said the man.

    He got everyone seated.

    ��I know better than to think it luck though,�� he whispered, ��I��m Bowler Nostrum, fisherman, innkeeper, tradesman, at your service. Now why don��t you tell me why they wanted your pendant, and how you had the ability to stop them?��

 46. Help! Mistakes Have been Made!

    Nadia pulled down her pendant and rubbed the tender flesh around her torn skin as the sought-after Lord Nostrum sat before them. He looked no older than a boy in his late teens with his underdeveloped beard, skinny frame, and lively brown eyes. Unkempt brown hair bleached from the ocean laid on his head like a mat on one side, and raised itself like a fire on the other. He smelt strongly of the ocean, and fish. He wore a single pair of brown overalls, thatched sandals, and a shark tooth necklace.

    ��You put up quite a fight.��

    ��What are you going to do to those two creeps?�� Josh asked.

    ��They��ll be executed next morning. We don��t believe in wanton violence against innocents who visit our village. Though I wonder why your lass��s necklace was such a worthy prize that they attacked you openly?��

    Nadia held her pendant, ��It seems to have been my curse to carry it, but I��ve never understood all its powers. One thing I can tell you, it didn��t have anything to do with my escape. It has no effect on combat skill, not anymore.��

    Lord Nostrum pawed it for a moment, then let it drop back against her chest.

    ��You best keep something that valuable tucked in your bosom.��

    ��Hey!��

    Josh had to fight to keep from laughing.

    ��I hear many things about the world that most people would never care or dare to know. The big man is half troll, and the other is at least partly a stone imp, goblin, and human. A pair like that will take what they please, when they please, with no regards for situation. About situations, what��s yours. A couple of explorers maybe?��

    ��Why does everyone assume we��re explorers?�� Josh asked.

    ��Your garb seems closest to that, though I��ve never seen such odd clothing for the feet. What are they perhaps?��

    ��They��re called sneakers,�� Nadia said, ��But I have a pair of wooden sandals as well.��

    ��Sneakers now? Would they be for sneaking?��

    ��No, now let��s forget about that. We need to get to the Tramen continent, and since you��re the leader of this village, we wish to ask for your help.��

    ��The Tramen continent, now really. That��s far too dangerous a place for a lovely lass like yourself. Why would you be wanting to go there?��

    ��It��s very important, any way you could help would be appreciated.��

    ��The traders don��t sail there no more,�� Nostrum explained, ��I��d give you one of the fishing boats if I wouldn��t feel guilty about sending you to your grave. You couldn��t load it with enough stores. Nay, one major storm would do you in. I could have something built for you, but wood comes at a premium in these parts. It would be expensive.��

    ��We don��t have any money, but we do have some items we could trade.��

    ��I doubt they��d be worth the cost of the boat. If you work here for half a year, I��m sure you could save up the funds for a bare-bones vessel. I��ll get work on the vessel started right away if you like.��

    ��I don��t have that kind of time,�� Nadia said.

    ��Well, you were attacked in my inn so I have to make amends. And since I have such a weakness for beautiful women, I��ll make a deal. You give me everything you own of value, you work here as hostess for a month, the man works for me as well, and I��ll have the boat ready by the end of the month. Consider it a big favor, as I��ll be losing tethers on the deal.��

    ��It��s a deal if you cut the time to a week.��The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ��Can��t do that. Look, you two look a little rough from all that travel. Work for me and you��ll both have a meal and a room, plus a boat being readied for you. If you want to quit before the month��s end, I won��t be upset; I��ll just keep the boat. Of course, you won��t receive any tethers; those will be going to help pay for the boat.��

    ��Fine then, it��s a deal,�� she said.

    ��Great, I��ll have my men take that contraption you wheeled into town, and we��ll send you back what we don��t want. That��ll cover the trade part. Have Swabert, my barkeep, give you the key when you��re ready. That��ll cover the room part. A pleasure doing business with you.��

    At that, Nostrum got up and left. A few minutes later, Swabert came and presented them a key to their room. Inside, they found two mats on the floor, a small wash stand with a little bowl for water, and a desk with two stubby candles. It was small, but the open window allowed the day��s waning light to enter and made it airy. Nadia leaned outside and discovered two wooden shutters that could be closed for privacy. She pulled a pair of nail clippers from her pocket, kicked off her sneakers and socks, sat on her mat, folded her legs into her chest, and started clipping her toenails. The nails of her right foot shortened first, but she paused before clipping the big toe of her left. Toes wiggled as she stared at them.

    ��What are you doing?�� asked Josh as he leaned against the wall.

    ��My feet... it��s just... this is the first time it hit me... they��re so, tiny.��

    ��So, a lot of women have delicate feet,�� Josh said as she started clipping again, ��You just let him take everything we own. I can��t even brush my teeth now.��

    ��We��ll get the cheap stuff back.��

    ��How do you know we haven��t been double crossed.��

    ��They wouldn��t dare. I mean, not after they saw us fight.��

    ��Some man calls you beautiful and you forget to even let us keep the essentials. What about our clothes? What about your map stupid?��

    Nadia smiled as she finished with the nail of her small toe.

    ��You��re jealous that he thought I was beautiful? A compliment I didn��t even respond to.��

    ��Right, you claim to hate being a girl so much, yet some guy calls you beautiful and you��re ready to give him your panties, and my underwear.��

    ��He said he��d return what wasn��t of value to him. That means he��ll keep the bike, and the gown. There��s not that much else they��d want from us.��

    ��I hope your right,�� Josh said.

    She placed the nail clippers on the wash table, ��We need this guy��s help to get to the Tramen continent. Who knows, maybe a little feminine charm helped our cause.��

    ��I just hope you were the one doing the charming. Are you sure you don��t like being a woman?��

    ��Would you like having an attack of cramps and bleeding? It��s a real blast, you should try it some time,�� she covered herself with her blanket, ��You should really get some rest instead of talking stupid.��

    ��Okay, I really didn��t need to hear that, so stop bringing it up.��

    ��Then don��t ask stupid questions. And it��s biology, don��t be afraid of human biology. I bet I could really freak those two blowbags out if I started talking about it in front of them. Their heads would probably explode. I hope they get found and thrown in jail!��

    She snickered to herself. Then she remembered something awful and sat back up quickly in a slight sweat.

    ��What��s the matter?��

    ��Nostrum has all my padded liners.��

    Josh shrugged, ��Hmm, you��ll get them back I suppose. It��s biology after all.��

    ��You��re dumb. What did you think of that conversation though? Sounds like someone is making war. They mentioned some Sarsin guy controlling the north. I wonder if there��s going to be a battle soon?��

    ��It doesn��t have anything to do with us so we��re better off keeping out of it is what I��d usually expect you to say. Sometimes you surprise me. Let��s get some sleep.��

    Nadia took a deep breath, returned under her blanket, and let sleep take her.

    ��Night,�� Josh said, though she already relaxed and breathed softly. Her neck looked much better already, so he took a deep breath himself before hopping into his bed.

    -----

    Quiet. So much so that the beak nosed imp-man couldn��t take any more. The blindfold was itchy, so he risked turning it into brittle clay and banging it against the wall. The pieces scattered over his clothes. He performed the same operation with his chains before stumbling around into the dark and feeling his way through the bug infested straw. A guard yelled for him to keep it down after he bumped into the wooden cell door.

    After quietly sneaking around every square inch of the cell, whispering for his companion, he realized that Lobar was being kept somewhere else, which ruined his first plan until he heard a faint gurgle like snoring from the next room. He pressed his ear against the wall and recognized Lobar��s sound. Melted stone allowed him to sculpt an entrance noiselessly. Once found, Lobar��s chains melted. Then he turned a section of the back wall into soft clay, which he quietly molded into a large exit.

    ��Lobar, we have a contract to fulfill. No time to be executed. Don��t worry about my trinket. One of these days we��ll come upon that stupid little witch unawares, then I��ll have what is mine. Let��s go.��

    When Lobar sat up his clay chains crumbled. The troll remained surprisingly quiet and crept on all fours with its impressive belly hanging down like a bear. The imp-man guided him carefully through the clay-lined hole. Once they were in the open, Groli jumped on Lobar��s back and rode away. Slowly at first, as a few guards stood in hearing range.

 47. Help! My Plans Are Clever!

    A blue butterfly landed on the windowsill and fluttered its wings amidst the morning sun, which woke Josh with a gentle warming light. He sat up from his mat, yawned with arms outstretched, scratched his back, and saw the butterfly fly away as he threw aside the covers. He didn��t have to put on his clothes, as he had worn them to bed, so he quickly slipped on his sneakers before leaving the room. The smell of baked fish wafted through the simple stone hallway and guided him to the bar. No one tended the counter, but the sizzling of an oven fire complimented the aroma. He wondered where Nadia had gone so early when he heard someone speaking instructively, and then the soft pitch of Nadia��s voice replying.

    Fish were grilling, baking, and boiling as Nadia rolled batter dipped meat into bread crumbs under the instructions of Swabert, who pressed his mustache while watching. When she saw Josh, she went to wipe her batter drenched hands on the light brown kimono that had been provided for her, but Swabert swiftly caught her wrist before providing a damp cloth.

    ��I won��t have you ruining your clothes. You need to look your best at all times for the customers. Use a towel and keep your hands clean.��

    A circular patch composed of dark brown and white halves with characters that represented the name of the inn featured prominently on the right side of the gown��s chest. The letters displayed boldly because they were the opposite shade of their background. Nadia��s hair held firm, tucked into four tailed buns at the back of her head and neck. The longest tails fell over her chest, while the two from her neck hung behind her. Every move caused them to swing delicately. A smile formed when she saw Josh.

    ��Morning sleepy head. What do you think? Do I make a great hostess or what? Sit down, I��ll bring you some breakfast.��

    ��Okay?��

    He returned to the bar and sat down with a blank stare until Nadia sat a tray of food before him. A fluffy mass of scrambled egg and a poached fish rested on a plate with parsley garnish. A bowl of thin lukewarm oatmeal sat next to the dish. She smiled warmly.

    ��Here you go sir, please enjoy,��

    ��Did you make this yourself?�� Josh asked.

    ��The more I do, the more credit we��ll earn. All I have to do is assist Swabert, and provide service with a smile. Try the oatmeal.��

    He picked up the bowl and took a sip, ��Not bad if you like oatmeal shakes.��

    ��Try the whipped egg. It��s my own recipe.��

    He ate a spoonful, then another. It was surprisingly sweet.

    ��It doesn��t taste like an egg, more like a whipped sweet cake. What did you do to it?��

    ��Did you taste the hint of vanilla?��

    ��Vanilla? In eggs? Vanilla eggs?��

    ��You like it. Admit it, I��m a natural.��

    ��Are you sure you want to do this? Don��t you have this thing against getting in touch with your feminine side?��

    Josh took another bite of fluffed egg.

    She smiled, ��First of all, who said cooking was either feminine or masculine? You''ve been in this world too long. Second, I don��t mind one bit because it��s all part of my master plan. Wait and see. One way or another we��ll have our trip across the ocean before the week is out.��

    She pulled a brush and a bucket of soapy water from beneath the counter.

    ��By the way, I hope you didn��t forget that you��re working for Nostrum too. When you��re done eating, you should scrub the floor, and don��t forget the hall. And in the afternoon, you��re going to help transport the daily catch. While you��re at it, you can scout for other ways we can earn money to get to Tramen.��If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Josh looked at the bucket, resisting the urge to tip it over, ��And since when have I become a cleaning boy?��

    Eyes narrowed and cheeks turned red as she stared.

    ��I��ll do it. I��m really not in the mood to pick a fight.��

    At that moment two men entered the inn. Nadia��s attitude instantly changed. She bowed toward them, smiling graciously.

    ��Welcome to the Swimming Shark! What can I get for you?��

    After finishing his meal, Josh took his bucket, pretended to vomit in it, and found an appropriate corner to start cleaning from.

    -----

    Nadia waited on an entirely filled tavern by herself and kept a brilliant pace to entertain the patrons. By balancing several dishes over her arms and sliding them onto the tables she inspired cheers from the fishermen. A short man stood atop a table playing a flute. Those around him banged the table and stomped the floor in sperate rhythms. The skirt of her kimono was pinned above her ankles to keep her from tripping, but it became a catch for tethers of leather, copper, and bronze, even a few silver. Nadia hastened to catch them with quick moves.

    At dusk, Josh returned from his work unloading the fishing boats. His clothes were soaked, his wet shirt clung over his back. He took a seat at the bar and wondered how the others had energy to celebrate as he leaned over it. He watched Nadia go in and out from the kitchen, many times with as many as seven plates across her arms, and her robes as clean as they had been in the morning. She seemed to be going strong. Though her hair looked a little frazzled and somewhat out of place, and darkness grew under her eyes. Josh pulled her back to him by the shoulder while she balanced two wooden pans of dirty dishes. She told him to wait at the counter, delivered some more food, caught some more tips, and finally returned to talk with him.

    ��Don��t you think you��re over doing it a bit?�� he asked.

    ��Didn��t you do anything useful?��

    ��I��ve been too busy hauling fish to do anything useful. Though the fishing boats seem good.��

    ��I figured as much from you.��

    At a table nearby, two men struck up a conversation about Lord Nostrum��s wife. Nadia left Josh abruptly to investigate under the pretext of collecting dirty dishes. She leaned into the conversation.

    ��Lord Nostrum has a wife?��

    ��You��re the hostess and you haven��t heard?��

    ��No, I thought he was single.��

    ��He may be soon enough love. Mardela has the green mushroom poison. It won��t be long now.��

    ��They always say that,�� said another. ��She��s been going sick for two years now, but the healer keeps her from dying.��

    ��What��s green mushroom poison?��

    ��She was bitten by one of them green mushrooms. Once the wound gets infected there��s nothing anybody can do. A real sad state of affairs. I don��t know how the lord keeps his spirits up sometimes.��

    ��The mushroom bit her?��

    ��Has you got a hearing problem. That��s what I said.��

    ��Well... that��s just awful. Can��t anything heal her?��

    ��No hope of that. Even the healer from the twin cities failed. It��s that bad. He keeps her alive longer, but it��s all in vain I think.��

    ��I��m sorry to hear that.��

    She collected the last of their dishes.

    -----

    Late in the evening, after the inn was emptied, they began to clean. When all the dishes were washed and the inn had been thoroughly scrubbed, Nadia and Josh returned to their room. Swabert met them at the door. He handed Nadia the duffel bag that had hung from their bike. Yet she acted like she barely had energy to take it.

    ��Miss Mavenslick, the Lord Nostrum is returning all the possessions you purchased with your tip money. I must say you liven things up around here, and the men appreciate it. They may even bring their wives to see you perform.��

    ��Thank you Swabert. That��s good to hear.��

    Josh smirked as he retrieved his tooth brush from the bag, ��Yah, thanks a bunch.��

    ��You��re welcome, sir. Good night to you.��

    ��That was your big plan, use your tips to get our stuff back?��

    ��I put a substantial down payment on my boat as well. But I have another plan.��

    Josh looked away as she undid her robe; her street clothes were underneath it. She laughed briefly at Josh��s embarrassment. A hook hung over one of the belt loops of her jeans that had a coiled rope around it.

    ��You actually think I would undress in front of you?��

    She crawled through the window to sneak outside. Josh grabbed her by the ankle.

    ��Where do you think you��re going?��

    ��Lord Nostrum��s estate isn��t far to the east. Don��t you think if I managed to help his wife he��d be grateful? In any case, it wouldn��t hurt to try.��

    ��Any reason for being sneaky?��

    ��I heard he hasn��t been open to house guests, and is suspicious of people who make big claims. That��s why I don��t think it would be wise to suggest it to him personally.��

    ��This is so stupid. It��ll never work. And we need rest. Why don��t you just talk with the big guy later. You can even demonstrate your powers. So, give it a rest for now.��

    ��Then I guess you aren��t coming. Bye.��

    She shook his hand off her ankle, jumped out the window, and ran off through the meadow. Josh pushed himself out the window and raced to catch up.

 48. Help! Intruders!

    The cottage of Lord Nostrum loomed uncommonly large over the village. The well-kept stone masonry of the two-story structure contrasted from the dilapidated stone and wood dwellings, stalls, and stables throughout the village. Every other building in the town stood at ground level cottage, even the inn lacked a second floor. A sturdy wooden roof distinguished the manor from the typical thatch that sheltered everything else. Large windows flanked by sizeable brown shutters were evenly placed into the wall to protect thick panes of glass. Light shone from all the first-floor windows and a few from the second-floor.

    A short stone wall around the building contained intermittent look outs. They avoided the guards by going a distance around the wall and approaching from the back, where there were less look outs and quite a few trees to provide cover. From there, they climbed over tumbling stones where the wall had crumbled and his behind a tree. Nadia had counted three guards with spears total. Their leather armor looked half rotten. One nodded into short lapses of sleep as he stood in place at the corner. Nadia and Josh snuck directly underneath an open window into the second floor with no light.

    ��So what now Sherlock?�� Josh asked.

    ��Don��t worry, I scoped the place out on my break,�� Nadia pulled the big hook from her jeans, ��I borrowed this baby from the kitchen. They use them for cleaning the big fish.��

    One quick fling and she had the rope up to the window. The hook hit the wood with a loud knock. None of the guards noticed. Nobody came to the window to check. She began climbing immediately. Josh shook his head.

    ��This is just an adventure for you, isn��t it?��

    ��I��m not going to wait for you,�� she said, before quickly scaling the rope and crawling into the house. She didn��t have to wait; he climbed up right behind her and with less noise. They found themselves in a library. Shelves of paper and old books collected dust.

    ��How do you know he even keeps his wife here? What if she��s in the hospital?�� Josh whispered.

    ��Does this strike you as the kind of place to find a hospital?��

    ��I don��t know, did you just assume they keep sick people at home?��

    ��Look, she��s somewhere in this house and I intend to find her.��

    ��This is so stupid.��

    ��Shh,�� Nadia chided as she opened the door.

    The upstairs hall was dark and unoccupied with one of the rooms open. Flickering light from a candle escaped the entrance. They kept to the walls and tiptoed quietly towards the room. Nadia peeked inside. A soft bed centered amid fine ivory posts held a woman with pale green skin. A light blanket of pink silk laid over her body.

    A tall man with a long white beard and white robes to match it whispered an incantation by her bedside. Nadia��s foot made the floor creak as she looked inside while Josh faced-palmed. He wondered why she hadn��t just sent him to scout the place and get information because she was terrible at being an assassin. Nadia pulled her head back to avoid being seen, but the bearded man already detected a presence. He grabbed a staff from against the wall and used it with both hands to assist in standing.

    ��Lord Nostrum, I��ve been expecting you. I��m keeping her condition from deteriorating.��

    Nadia and Josh clung to the wall, not daring to make a sound. The healer became suspicious when nobody answered, ��Lord Nostrum, is it you, or is it somebody else maybe? You don��t smell like the lord, definitely not.��If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    Nadia came forward modestly, as the old man seemed harmless enough. She knew they were discovered anyway.

    ��Who are you? Have you permission to enter the lady��s bedchambers? What manner of thievery is this?��

    ��We��re not thieves, we came to see if we could heal his wife.��

    ��You have no permission to be here!�� yelled the old magician at the top of his voice, which wasn��t very loud, as he was old and feeble.

    Nadia walked past him without another word. She knelt by the bedside and took the lady��s hand. The pale green color lifted from the stricken woman��s limb. A healthy skin tone traveled up her arm as the old healer glared.

    ��Guards, guards, they��re killing her. Help!�� he yelled as loudly as he could while running for the stairs.

    ��I��m healing her,�� Nadia said calmly.

    Suddenly, Nadia��s stomach jolted, and it felt like something squirmed inside her mind probing for the worst nightmares of her soul. The lady��s hand turned a pale green again, then her entire complexion darkened into an ash. Guards came to the door with spears pointed, one unsheathed a sword. Lord Nostrum himself ran past them before they could interfere. The magician in white robes stood still, as if concentrating on a single thought. Still, the old healer in white robes diverted enough attention to focus on Nostrum.

    ��This intruder, is her intention to kill the maiden?�� the healer gasped, ��She drains my ability to keep her health stable with some misguided power.��

    Nostrum pushed Nadia away from his wife. Her color stabilized into a pale green. The magician, covered in sweat, took a deep breath, and wiped his forehead.

    ��What are you doing here!?�� Nostrum yelled as he shook Nadia. ��What are you doing to my Mardela!? You don��t belong here! You don��t belong here!��

    The old healer hovered over Nostrum fretfully, ��I tried to warn her, but she insisted on using such dark magic on Mardela, terribly dreadful my lord. Maybe she was jealous; maybe she wanted you free from the commitment of a sick wife.��

    ��Have you no response lass!?��

    Nadia became pale, almost in a trance herself, and she couldn��t speak. Nostrum pushed Nadia against the wall and checked on his wife, who had stabilized to her former condition.

    ��She would have certainly died if it wasn��t for me. You must deal harshly with these intruders. They should be made an example of.��

    ��Wait a minute!�� Josh protested, as two guards grasped his arms. ��This old man is lying through his teeth; she came here to heal your wife. She can do it, she��s done it before, and she almost succeeded here.��

    ��Almost succeeded in sending my wife to the grave.��

    Nadia started to stir. She slid down with her legs folded against the floor and spoke in a weak monotonous voice, ��She was almost well. It all seemed so easy and then something... something. I don��t know, I just don��t know. Josh, did you do something?��

    ��Me!?��

    Tears dropped as Nadia cried, ��I didn��t mean any harm. I really didn��t. Something went wrong.��

    ��Nadia, now is not the time to have a breakdown!�� Josh turned to Nostrum, ��You have to believe us; we were trying to help. We had the best of intentions.��

    Nostrum looked at Josh, then sympathetically at Nadia.

    The healer stepped forward quickly and whispered in his ear, ��Even with the best of intentions, they still broke into your home like thieves and almost killed the lady with their ��so called�� healing powers.��

    ��Get them out of here,�� Nostrum said, ��Take them to the jail and have a guard posted. If these two escape, no pay or rations to those responsible for an entire month.��

    Two guards grabbed Nadia from under the arms. Her head went down as she offered no resistance and consented to be taken peacefully under Nostrum��s order. Josh consented likewise. The healer gently tilted the lady��s head after they had been led away.

    ��I��m sorry, Healer Braddox,�� Nostrum sighed, ��This is a peaceful village, the few guards we have don��t have much experience with intruders or spies.��

    ��As I explained before, the bite of the green mushroom is unforgiving after the wound festers. She must survive ten years of woe to recover, quick attempts to heal her will lead to death. It��s lucky I maintain my post here with all diligence. You should double the guard, just to be safe. I fear they may try to pull this folly again.��

    Nostrum held his wife��s hand, sighed, ��Thanks for your efforts. Misguided as it was, I feel they were trying to help. The woman merely wished to curry my favor. How I wish they could have succeeded. How I wish.��

    ��They can��t, they won��t, and such an intrusion must be severely punished for the lady��s sake. I doubt her motives are so noble. Perhaps you have an eye for the younger woman? She should be made an example of before your people get the wrong idea.��

    ��That will be my decision, and mine alone.��

 49. Help! Sickness And Health!

    Moonlight shone through the bars of the prison door, barely illuminating a section of uneven stone wall. Nadia stood in the center of the room, shivering in the dampness, and occasionally shuffling her sneakers over the dirt. Eventually she felt the walls rotating around her. She closed her eyes, but it started again whenever she opened them. The spinning became faster, until it felt as if the whole room engaged in a mad whirl and her head felt like an anchor. Barely able to stand, she stumbled into the back wall and pressed herself into bricks which felt as if they were made of ice.

    A pile of straw felt more inviting, yet even the straw felt cool as its thin grasping arms enclosed her torso and cleaved to her hair. It felt protective compared to the feeling of touching cold steel everywhere else. Cold vibrations moved like ice picks into her body, so she folded her arms and legs into her chest so the straw provided more insulation. She became comfortable for a few minutes, but then her clothes moistened with sweat, which irritated her condition in the humid cell. It wasn��t long before she shivered again. Sweat beaded on her forehead. A relentless migraine stole what remained of her comfort. Finally, with her sanity just about torn apart, she groaned before passing out. Her shivering continued.

    Josh sat on a pile of straw in a separate cell, watching the moonlight change shape as it passed the through barred opening of the thick wooden door. He chewed a long piece of straw until the door opened and he stared blankly at the guards. A guard in a blue shirt, thick shorts, and a brown belt with a holstered sword entered first, holding a small lantern in his left hand. Another man followed from behind, ready with a sharply tipped spear. The first man surveyed Josh discerningly.

    ��What��s this about?�� Josh asked.

    ��Lord Nostrum has decided to show you his mercy, but if you dare approach his dwelling again, it��ll be considered an unforgivable crime.��

    ��Fair enough. Where��s Nadia, shouldn��t she be with you?��

    ��We��re retrieving her next,�� said the second guard, ��I understand you two have a business arrangement with the lord. Fulfill your obligations without further disturbance.��

    They led Josh to a cell at the opposite side of the long building, which looked as though it might have once been a stable. There were no guards posted at her door when they arrived. The guard with the sword pulled a key chain from his belt and opened the door with a heavy lead key. He waited outside while Josh entered with the other man. The room looked desolate but for the pile of straw to the back.

    ��We have another escape. Call an alarm!��

    The straw shifted slightly, but the guards hadn��t noticed.

    ��Not so fast!�� Josh said.

    The guard retreated quickly, assuming Josh��s words to be a threat. The door slammed shut before he could explain and the latch locked. Once they left, the moonlight shone through the bars to provide the only light. Josh brushed away straw until he found Nadia curled up deep within the center of the pile. Her clothes were soaked with sweat, she shivered violently as her pale skin rivaled the moonlight.

    ��You don��t look so hot,�� Josh replaced some straw, stood, and rushed to the door, ��Hey you people, she didn��t escape, she��s still in here. Isn��t anybody listening, she��s sick! What��s wrong with you people?! Don��t you people get it, she��s gonna die in here.��You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    Josh leaned against the door and waited until he heard something, it was the guard with the lantern approaching. The guard stopped by the door and lifted his light until it shone through the bars.

    ��Answer my question, where would your partner be most likely to go if she escaped?��

    ��She hasn��t gone anywhere! She��s laying in that straw pile burning up with fever.��

    ��Let me see,�� with the help of the lantern the guard saw as much of Nadia��s outline which wasn��t covered in straw, ��Get her up, we have to be sure this isn��t trickery.��

    ��She��s half dead and you want her up, what next?��

    When she didn��t respond to his urging, he lifted her into a sitting position by pulling from under her arms. The guard, satisfied with a look at her face, opened the door and entered the cell. Nadia pulled away from Josh in a half-conscious attempt to sink back into what remained of the straw pile, but before she could accomplish it, the guard shook her forcefully by the shoulder. It aroused her senses somewhat. She glanced at Josh tiredly and started shivering.

    ��This lass isn��t well. Wait here until the search is called off.��

    The guard hurried from the cell without closing the door.

    Nadia stared at Josh blankly through her shivers and spoke in a barely audible rasp, ��What are you doing here?��

    ��Hey. Don��t look so glum, we can go now.��

    First, she grasped the top of her head, then she squirmed with a gruesome whine, ��Why does it feel like my head is cracking open? Why can��t I pull it together?��

    ��You��re just feeling a bit sick.��

    She leaned against him, nestling close.

    ��Warmth����

    ��You must be really sick. You feel like a furnace!��

    The guard returned a few minutes later to escort them back to the inn.

    ��I��ll carry you back to the inn.��

    ��No. I won��t let you do that,�� she weakly pushed herself to her feet. She stood convincingly at first, but after one step she twirled right into Josh��s arms. He put his hand over her forehead.

    ��She��s burning, what��s wrong with you people!?�� He yelled, tapping her face to keep her awake. ��Nadia, we have to get back to the inn. It��s just a little way from here.��

    ��Not sick,�� she muttered, ��I d-don��t need your help.��

    Her left hand grasped his shirt collar as her head fell limp over his right shoulder.

    ��Do I have to carry you?�� Josh asked.

    ��Don��t you-��

    She squeezed his shirt collar weakly and didn��t struggle when he lifted her. Her head fell back and her arms hung loose, like a body no longer animated by a soul. They were halfway to the inn when without moving anything other than her lips, she suddenly finished her sentence.

    ����dare.��

    Not another word came from her for the rest of the night. He carried her body back to the inn. They placed her on a long straw mat in the center of the room. A thick black blanket provided by Swabert covered her snugly. Several towels were helped keep her dry. A rolled mat of soft hay served as her pillow. Swabert provided a compress, a bowl, and a bucket to show Josh how they tended to someone with a high fever. He listened intently and made a cold-water compress. Nadia grimaced when it went over her forehead. Josh looked to Swabert.

    ��Thank you for everything you��ve done tonight.��

    ��She��s still contracted to the lord, consider it my obligation.��

    Swabert left her in Josh��s care once the initial preparations had been completed. An owl hooted outside the window. Moonlight shone inside but the lantern outshone it. With no glass or screen in the window, only the scented candles kept the insects at bay. Josh kept a towel for himself to deal with the sweat as he occasionally fanned Nadia. Once the ocean breeze flowed the insects retreated, though the cooler air made Nadia shiver more.

    After fifteen minutes, the wet compress on her reddened forehead became warm again, so Josh removed it. He wrung the warm water into the old metal bucket, then dipped it in cold water from the ceramic bowl. He wrung it out again to release the excess water, folded it, and replaced it. Heat radiated from her cheeks palpably as she sighed. She muttered something that sounded like the incoherent language of the feeble. Josh had fifteen minutes before the compress would need replacing, so he folded his legs and sat back in the corner to watch over her as crickets chirped in the grasses outside.

 50. Help! These Delusional Visions Wont Ever Happen!

    Solid white clouds dotted a pale blue sky. Violet dahlias gazed into his eyes as Nathan lay in their midst. The wind perfumed the air with their scent. The smell bothered Nathan as he sat up. He walked the field in a dizzy fog without a direction in mind. The leaves of the flowers tickled his bare feet.

    Wait a minute! He wasn��t a girl anymore. He patted his flattened chest and checked the important part. Victory, but how? He hadn��t even made it to that Tramen continent! With that settled, he ran aimlessly through the fields, yelling a victory cry with all the power of his deeper voice. He passed from the dahlias to another field filled with intense blue pimpernels and wondered why there were so many flowers.

    What was this place? It felt suspicious. It couldn��t be home, any place as strange as this had to be in the realm. The only question was, where? For a few minutes, he walked carefully around the field, purposely going in circles until his foot caught a vine that wrapped his ankle and grew up his legs. The harder he pulled, the tighter it held him. Soon, a vine slithered up his other leg. They sprung forth from the soil like the river snakes to grab his arms. Large morning glories in brilliant pink sprouted from the vines holding his arms. Bright orange climatis bloomed around his legs, spraying him with a pollen of yellow that made him sneeze, delicately. No, not again, he thought, don��t make me go through this again!

    When the pollen cleared, she was a girl once more. Vines held her legs, waist, and arms. Forced to her knees and unable to move, she struggled vainly against the flowers until a great white morning glory grew over top of her and swallowed her completely. Her arms broke through the soft fabric of the flower easily as it transformed into a white sundress; the other flowers melted into it as a pattern. The soft stems of impatiens broke beneath her feet with her first step. She lifted the broken flowers to feel their petals on her lower lip and stared at them softly for a moment before she laid them back down.

    What��s come over me, she thought. She angrily crushed the fragile flower with her foot, smashing it against the soil. When she looked at its mushy remains, her eyes filled, and she began to cry. She couldn��t stop, even as she ran through two fresh fields of flowers, she couldn��t get that crushed impatien out of her mind. Its broken stem with its life juices escaping into the soil, its torn petals, how could she be so cruel to something so beautiful?

    A forest of giant bleeding hearts stood on the horizon. The flowers hung in rows from long sturdy stems tilting heavily with their weight. Some hung over the path and mingled with every passing breeze. Each flower was a bell determined to hear its neighbor ring. She reached to feel the lower extension of a heart-shaped flower in her palm. It was soft and red, resembling a droplet ready to fall. The light from above remained cheerful as it passed through this forest, sometimes taking a reddish hue when she passed a line of bleeding hearts.

    She wondered what it would be like to marry Dew. Her guess was that he would make her his queen. She would be expected to have lots of children. It wasn��t hard to believe that Dew would always be faithful, unlike Josh; who she suspected to be the type that liked to carouse. Then there was Darrell, who was incredibly cute and knew how to handle a sword, just thinking about him made her blush. Maybe I could let him hold my hand, she thought, but no kissing; I��m not ready to kiss just yet. That was no good though, they already knew that she wasn��t always a girl. A fake.

    A sudden headache came so sharply that she fell on her knees. I��m giving in, she thought, I was a guy only moments ago and I��m thinking like this now. After a minute of trying to think, she clutched her forehead, and realized that she didn��t know who she was anymore. The bleeding hearts burst into flames.

    The stone walls of a huge city stood in the distance. A castle towered above them. Nadia watched from a ruined tower on a hill. Armies arrayed for battle. Trebuchets and catapults lined the grassy fields before the gates. Boulders flung into the moat created an improvised bridge. They stacked ever higher against the walls. The stone piles bridged the moat and became improvised ramps.

    A flurry of arrows rained from the city. They thunked against the wooden shields of the phalanx formations. The archers from behind the shielded spearmen returned a volley over the walls. The cries of the dying whispered from the city. On the ruined tower, standing right next to Nadia, was a stately woman with long dirt blond hair and shining blue eyes. The armor she wore had a silver glint and the crest of chrysanthemum flower colored in pink and blue dominated the chest plate. A silver sword hung from her hip. Her rugged smile beamed as she surveyed the battlefield.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    ��The cities will be ours by the next moon. I can feel it.��

    The voice felt familiar and strange all at once. Was she talking to her? Nadia mumbled something incomprehensible but nobody on this ruined tower took notice. A creature of a feminine shape manifested, a fiery entity with a cross shaped scar. A swirl of orange and red energy flowed from the elemental flame that formed its humanoid shape. The woman spoke to it.

    ��But what about me?�� Nadia asked.

    The vision faded to a brilliant light from a crystal chandelier which hung over a red and gold draped carpet path. Golden hued frames contained paintings of stately women in flowing gowns, glinting armor, the violet and gold robes of a mage, explorer��s garb, or the simple suits of the diplomat. Great marble statues of imposing armor-clad women glared down upon her in assessment of her worth. The path led to a regal woman seated on a great gold throne. Nadia approached.

    The queen��s flowing red hair moved as if being blown outwards by the wind, or as if it were rays of sun. The red dress trimmed with gold ran heavily over her lap and trailed across the floor. A red crown lined with gold stars floated far above her as a gold scepter tipped with flawless rubies floated upright by her side. A woman in leather armor who looked so much like Nadia, with long black hair and somewhat pale skin, bowed before the throne. A scar ran the length of the right cheek. The queen rose from her throne. The dress hung down like a curtain as her body defied gravity. A figure of imposing height loomed over the leather clad mercenary.

    ��You realize the danger of this errand yet still wish to undertake it?��

    A hand went over her heart as she knelt, ��In honor of my sister��s sacrifice, I must.��

    ��Your sister was a powerful witch, but you are cursed born. Even a common blood can benefit from magic, but you cannot even be healed by it. You had to study five years to understand our tongue. You fight well, but have no magic to assist you in battle. Using a portal comes at the risk of your life. How will you stand before the lifeless? With what will you seek your vengeance? What chance would you have to even delay it? Stay here and remain my advisor on all matters related to your world. You serve us all best by training your nieces and nephews in the sword.��

    The young woman in worn leather armor looked up at the queen with determination in her eyes and began to speak firmly as the scene faded. Nadia couldn��t hear the words or see her lips clearly enough. She reached out to the determined woman who looked so much like herself, only a bit older. A scar ran the length of the right cheek. A heavy thump in Nadia��s chest accompanied her waking suddenly with a gasp.

    -----

    Wrens warbled their early morning songs. Nadia��s eyes opened as she clutched her chest and steadied her breathing. She didn��t bother to get up; instead, she turned her head sideways and saw Josh, his head hanging limply over his shoulders as he dozed in the corner. She smiled weakly. A faint cough woke him unintentionally. He opened one eye, then the other, shifted in discomfort, and lifted his head slightly.

    ��You��re awake. Feeling better?�� he asked.

    ��I��m sorry about this.��

    ��You don��t have to apologize for nothing.��

    She pushed herself up a little by the elbows, resisting a growing feeling of faintness. ��Thank you anyway, for taking care of me.��

    ��Don��t thank me. If you die, I get torn to shreds.��

    ��I still want to thank you.��

    ��About what?��

    ��You really are clueless,�� she sighed.

    ��Damn right. Clueless as ever.��

    She pushed herself to her feet. Legs shook and her stance proved unsteady, ��I have to get back to work. I could get to like you too much, and I have to avoid�� at all costs. You��re an assassin who tried to kill me. I��m supposed to not like you.��

    Josh felt her forehead, then her cheeks, ��You need more rest. I��ll fill in for you. That guy who runs this place said it��d be okay.��

    ��Who, Swabert? No, he��d never. Don��t worry. I��m not tired.��

    ��Yeah, right, you look like you��ve been hit by a Mac truck.��

    ��I can run circles around you any day.��

    Nadia suddenly went pale before collapsing back onto her sleeping mat, passed out completely from a fainting spell. Josh laid her back so the pillow rested under her head before covering her with the blanket.

    ��I had a terrible dream about Natalie. I��m so dry dad. Can��t I have a drink of water?��

    ��I��m not your dad, but I��ll get you some,�� Josh placed the cold wet compress back over her forehead. ��Just don��t go nowhere, got that?��

    ��MmmKay.��

 51. Help! Storms On The Horizon!

    Bradox latched the five locks of the bedroom door. He was certain that Lord Nostrum wouldn��t disturb him during the time he spent alone with Lady Nostrum. The intervention of that meddling witch caused him no small trouble. He didn��t have enough power to keep both Nadia and Lady Nostrum sick. If he proved unable to maintain either of the poison curses, they would both turn back on him two-fold. The condition of Lady Nostrum improved; her skin no longer pallid green.

    If she awoke, all his carefully laid plans would be ruined. Bradox gripped the window sill and clenched his teeth as he kept his eyes on the horizon. Word had to be sent to Lord Sarsin about the recent developments. This new girl with the pendant, whose soul he was unable to restrain, was something the great Lord Sarsin might take an interest in. Maybe it would finally hasten Lord Sarsin��s hand concerning the situation here. Unfortunately, this meant he had to meet with that despicable imp. The sun was almost completely behind the horizon, meaning it was about time for him to show.

    The beak nosed imp jumped to the window sill as if from out of nowhere. The old man stumbled back but kept on his feet. A toothy grin formed as Groli sat like a toad.

    ��So, Old Wizard Bradox requests my services once again. How much do you intend to pay this time?��

    ��You��ll get your due from the great Lord Sarsin himself, if you make haste with my word.��

    The half-imp��s voice became a mocking high pitch, ��Does Old Wizard Bradox have good news for the great Lord Sarsin? Do you really need to report about the village��s defenses so often? Even I could tell him they are nonexistent, Old Wizard Bradox.��

    ��I report on many things besides that! Now, how fast can you reach him?��

    ��In two days, a day if I take little time for meals, but that doesn��t make Lobar happy and will cost you three times as much, Old Wizard Bradox.��

    ��I already told you; Lord Sarsin himself will give you your due.��

    ��Hee hee! You sound like your poet brother. Why must Old Wizard Bradox be so hasty. Lord Sarsin is a mere bonus. If I can��t collect from Old Wizard Bradox, I have nothing to defray my expenses. I think three hundred gold tethers should suffice quite nicely. You needn��t worry about paying later, Old Wizard Bradox, because you can pay me now. I��ll be sure to keep them in a safe place, as they were given to me by Old Wizard Bradox of the poison leaf.��

    ��Stop uttering my names so sickeningly! And don��t dare speak my true title. Three hundred gold tethers! That is an outrageous price for delivering a simple message, especially when all you are concerned about is stuffing the face of that obnoxious troll.��

    ��Do you really have any other choice, Old Wizard Bradox of the poison leaf?�� The grin grew wider after the mock obsequiousness. ��For speed, reliability, and, of course, complete secrecy, no one will do the job like us. And we both know how well compensated you are for your care of Nostrum��s wife, from both Nostrum and Lord Sarsin. No doubt.��

    ��Two hundred gold tethers is what you will receive. Far more than you��re worth!�� The old man pulled a brown bag from a hidden hollow underneath the window sill. Two wrapped bands of golden tethers were pulled out and thrown at the little man, who caught them against his stomach. Then, from his robe��s inner pocket, Poison-leaf handed him a vial with a roll of paper inside.

    ��The message inside this vial is crucial, protect it with your life.��

    ��For two hundred gold tethers, I��ll protect it as I see fit,��

    ��Just see fit to protect it!��

    At that, Groli jumped from the window. Poison-leaf scanned the area from his perch, but it was to no avail; the goblin, human, imp mix breed whatever he was had vanished.

    -----

    Rain assaulted the road until it was a stream of mud which sucked at the hooves of Darrell��s gray mare. He cursed Awlena, who had long over taken him because she had a well-trained horse. It simply wasn��t fair for Awlena to give him an old horse and dare him to keep up. But it was a stroke of luck that she wanted to follow her brother. She would know how to get back to her village if there was a problem. The weather didn��t bother her and she didn��t fatigue too easily.

    Was she really a princess? Darrell managed to keep close behind her, but only by working both himself and the horse to the edge of their endurance. They traveled constantly, with little time to eat and less to rest, and with every day of deprivation Darrel envied these hardy people a little more. Mud slowed his horse, which plodded forward tiredly as he clung to its reigns in defiance of the stinging rain. His bag of provisions hung empty, mud coated his pants clear up to the saddle, his soaked shirt clung to his skin. Wet hair stuck against his forehead. Water raced in streams down his chilled cheeks.

    He finally saw a blurred line of stone that resembled a square. It looked cold as there were no lights in the window, but as he approached, he could tell that it was a cottage nonetheless. There were other cottages too. Some had fires burning within. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief, yet the sight remained. The horse received a gentle pat on the side of the head before he pulled the reigns to bid it to halt. Good thing he had learned to ride on the farm.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    He dismounted. Ankles disappeared in rich brown mud which sucked at his feet as he plodded to the first lit cottage he��d seen. It became dark inside and the shutters closed tight with bang. After a deep breath, he walked across the road to a home from which he could smell smoke sneaking from a chimney. A frowning plump woman in a brown dress with a small white frock opened the door.

    ��What do ye be needin��?��

    ��I need to get to the Port of Reeds. Could you give me directions?��

    ��Directions? Ya jest keep goin�� straight as the crow flows along the road. It turns south, and a small walk ill take ye to the willage ort.��

    ��It��s that close.��

    ��That��s what I said, wiscuit head. It��s south now, so don��t ya go gettin�� lost,��

    The door slammed shut. Darrell trudged through the mud back to his waiting horse. They both stared at the road at the head together limply.

    ��Medieval idiot,�� Darrell muttered.

    -----

    Nostrum knelt at his squat dining room table with his hands clasped around a cup of cold water. The intense storms brewing off the coast had convinced him, albeit reluctantly, to call off the daily fishing expedition. It was a tough decision for many reasons. These days the ocean brought him the few comforts he had left. He longed for the salt spray, for nets loaded to the brim with fish, and for the jocular solidarity of his crews. The storm had to end soon, he hoped, or he would lose his sanity in this cursed house.

    The house was cold, for Nostrum, it was a place of darkness and shadow. A few scattered embers with dark red hues burned in the chimney, but their warmth proved negligible. The rain pounded relentlessly. A drop of water fell into the generous brick heart, and hissed hysterically on an ember of coal. Nostrum took a sip of water, clasped his hands together, and continued praying. Bradox the healer had recommended a day of fasting and prayer for his wife��s sake and he was determined to see it through. Amid this, the door opened and Nostrum looked up. One of the house guards, his garments soaked completely, hailed him.

    ��I��m sorry to disturb you, my Lord. Dew Nenkyo has arrived in our village and is waiting at the guard post. He requests an audience with you.��

    ��Lord Nenkyo, here?�� Nostrum ran his hands along the smooth surface of the table. ��How long has it been?��

    ��Six seasons at least, sir.��

    ��Don��t keep him waiting. Bring him here!��

    Many minutes later Dew arrived no less soaked than the guard. He dried off with an old towel as he entered the dining hall. A servant came forth and took his outer garments. Coal added to the chimney agitated the fire until it roared. A cup tea soon steamed in front of Dew as he knelt by the low table. He gulped half the tea without flinching, even though it was almost boiling hot.

    ��What brings you back to the Port of Reeds, my friend? Do you long for the taste of the world��s finest sea creatures at their freshest?��

    ��I wouldn��t come here without keeping that in mind. But I��ll have no real appetite until I find who I��m searching for.��

    ��That��s well with me, I don��t think I��d be able to bear watching you eat here. I��m fasting for my wife��s sake, so these stormy days are going to be lean ones. If you do get hungry, feel free to dine at the inn. Tell them I sent you; they��ll make a place for you and you��ll eat courtesy of myself.��

    Dew lowered his head and clasped his hands together, ��Thank you for a most generous offer, but I may not have time or chance to take advantage of it. I sincerely wish things were different.��

    ��I too my friend.��

    ��I��m searching for a woman.��

    ��I could say you��ve come to the right place. This village has plenty of fine candidates for you.��

    Dew blushed a little, waving his hand as if it would clarify what he meant. His voice became hazy and his eyes glazed over as he spoke.

    ��Not just any woman. I��m looking for a woman with hair like long strands of soft black silk that beg my fingers to comb through them, with lively eyes that would remind a poet of the autumn foliage scanned by birds of prey, with smooth skin the softness of woven silk cannot rival, with a potent life force that flows from her every word, and talents for martial arts beyond the capacity of warriors filling the great legends. You could search this continent for a thousand years, and you would not find a woman so healthy, so strong, so beautiful, and so brimming with life. How I long to glimpse her eyes once more.��

    ��So, what��s the name of this woman you��re so in love with?��

    ��Yes, I love her. How could you tell.��

    ��It��s quite obvious,�� Nostrum laughed, ��Could you describe her more briefly? You told me she has long black hair for a start.��

    ��And hazel eyes,�� Dew stood to flatten his hand and hold it slightly above his shoulders. ��I would say she��s about this tall. I suspect she might be traveling with a man of smoggy sunshine hair. He would be only a little shorter in stature than myself.��

    ��Interesting, what would their purpose be in coming here?��

    ��Someone, I suspect an evil wizard, has managed to curse Nadia and her family into believing that she was once a boy. With that false belief inside her, she��s been seeking to reverse the flower of her womanhood to become�� a man. Such a cruel, cruel curse; it��s as if the wizards had it in their mind to torture us both.��

    ��Familiar. Not three days ago a young girl like the one you described came silently into my house and attempted to heal my love. In the attempt, my Mardela was almost drained of what little life she has. Luckily for you, I sensed she had attempted a good deed and didn��t see fit to punish her. The girl has taken ill, and from the news I heard recently, she has taken quite a turn for the worse.��

    ��I must see her, where is she being kept?��

    ��At the inn- in the third room.��

    Dew stood and bowed politely, ��Sorry to leave suddenly, but I must go now.��

    ��Your garments aren��t dried yet.��

    ��I��ll come back for them,�� he said as he rushed outside.

    ��You have my blessing,�� Nostrum whispered between sipping his water, ��You have my blessing.��

    Not long after Dew left, the creaking sound of slow footsteps approached. Nostrum put his water down, sitting quietly as Bradox made his way to the door. Bradox��s features looked haggard and shaken, as if he would come apart with the slightest pressure.

    ��You don��t intend to brave the weather in your condition?��

    ��I intend to heal the young woman.��

    "I thought there was nothing you could do for her. Didn��t you tell me she deserved death?��

    ��I��m a healer first beyond all other things, and not required to make judgments.��

    ��Ah, I can see right through you, my love-struck guest convinced you to change your mind.��

    ��You had a guest? You��re not supposed to entertain during a fast. How can you expect me to keep your wife alive if you don��t do your part? Don��t move from that spot! Maintain your prayers!��

    Nostrum winced as Bradox closed the door forcefully. Prayers resumed silently.

 52. Help! The Healer Is A Dirty Dealer!

    The rain thumped steadily against the roof. Intermittent gusts of wind assailed the tightly drawn shutters, which rattled loudly each time. A squat candle dimly lit the room with flickering lights. A bra hung over the dressing stand. Nadia nestled underneath two blankets. No fire gave warmth to the cool, humid room. The dampness made her shiver. She wanted nothing more than to get up, get dressed, and do some work, but every time she tried to stand, she eventually fainted. A high feverish heat burned over her forehead down to her cheeks and ears. Josh was out fetching water.

    For two days, she had endured lying on her straw and fur mat almost nonstop, so she determined to sit up, at least for as long as she could manage. She tucked her blankets around her hips and let the cool, moist air hit her sweaty undershirt. The shirt pulled from her skin with some resistance before she fanned it; the wet fabric cooled her too quickly. Chills ran through her body and made her teeth chatter. Not again! She folded one of the blankets around her torso to warm up. A pain burst from deep inside her skull, like an intense drumbeat reverberating deeply. She pressed her hands against both sides of her head while clenching her teeth.

    Outside, Bradox stooped into the mud; his spell backfired and caused him to suffer a share of the poison he manifested. The only way to rectify the situation before he lost control was to release the girl from his spell. Rain poured over the back of his cloak as he knelt in the mud bracing on his staff. Bradox concentrated especially hard to return his malevolent power to that witch at the inn. If this struggle continued, he would be unable to preserve Nostrum��s wife as he wanted her. Once he released that meddlesome witch from his power, he could take credit for healing her. He thought that might prove to be some consolation. The time it took to finish with this counter attack was alarming, but once the onslaught had been dealt with, Bradox allowed the rain to wash the mud from his hands and robe before continuing to the inn.

    Back at the inn, Nadia fainted. A wave of pain struck her with terrible force. She fell back like a shotgun blasted her forehead. A dull thump came from the mat. Her right hand pulled at her blanket, leaving it to crisscross her chest. Her left hand shot upwards and landed behind her head, while her right leg kicked itself out from underneath.

    She didn��t hear the swift rap of Dew��s knuckles against her door. After knocking a second time to be polite, Dew checked the knob and found the door unlocked and unlatched. Nadia lay unconscious over top her mat, her eyes still half open, and her blankets in disarray. Dew took her pale clammy hand as he listened to her heavy breathing. Her eyes slowly closed without acknowledging him. It felt as though her skin left a cold wax on his lips when he kissed the back of her hand. Since he wished to see her more comfortable, he took it upon himself to push her stray limbs back on the mat and underneath her covers, which he took the time to straighten.

    Once tucked neatly in the mat, she rolled to the left and sent her left foot venturing outside. His fingers went through her hair, of which he lifted a few strands. The tap of a bowl against the table along with the gentle sloshing of water pulled Dew from his trance. Joshes arms held dry towels. They stared each other down, but then both men took a breath and nodded with an identical sense of purpose.

    Josh turned away to examine his reflection in the water bowl, ��She��s been like this ever since she tried to heal that woman a few days ago. She faints whenever she tries to walk somewhere. I think it��s a bad case of pneumonia.��

    ��How long exactly is that?�� Dew started playing with her hair idly.

    ��This would be the third day.��

    ��This sort of illness isn��t common.��

    ��It doesn��t take a brain surgeon to figure that out! And why do you keep playing with her damn hair! How��s that supposed to help?��

    Nadia suddenly sat up and looked straight at Dew with a puzzled expression. She rubbed her forehead, then looked at him again, ��You? Are you even real?��

    ��Of course I��m real. Don��t you remember me?��

    She sighed, ��Don��t treat me like an idiot. You must be real. Illusions don��t treat people like idiots. What are you doing here?��Stolen story; please report.

    Dew took her hand, ��I��ve decided to help you. I��ll do only as you wish.��

    ��You can start by not touching me,�� she glared as if her hand was between two soiled rags. ��I wouldn��t find you half as repulsive if you��d mind your own business. I told you to leave me alone. Didn��t I leave you with Darrell?��

    A sudden burst of pain rushed through her entire body. It felt electric this time. She pulled her hand away from Dew and punched the floor. The wood dented under her fist. Her scream pierced. Josh covered his ears while Dew attempted to put his arm around her. She cried desperately as wave after wave burst from inside her chest before spreading through her arms and legs. Nadia jumped from the mat, thrust herself against Dew��s chest, and clutched his shoulders so tightly that he winced as his collar bone compressed, but he cradled her anyway as he looked to Josh.

    ��She��s never acted like this before.��

    Bradox was so close to the door of the inn. A searing pain circulating through his limbs kept him from reaching for the handle. His body staggering upwards, then slammed against the door. The little witch��s resistance to his powers strengthened faster than he expected. Damn her, he thought, she��ll ruin everything. Bradox put a finger to his forehead and concentrated fiercely. The pain subsided just as Swabert opened the door he now leaned against. Bradox fell inside, bruising the shoulder he landed on as his staff clattered. Swabert extended a hand to help him to his feet.

    ��Oh, Healer Braddox! I��m dreadfully sorry! You don��t look well sir. Is there anything I can do for you?��

    ��The girl. What room is she keeping?��

    ��What girl, sir?��

    ��The only girl staying here, you dolt! The one who is ill.��

    ��Number three.��

    ��Thank you. That��s all I need to know.��

    Nadia fainted, again. Her breathing became shallow as her head went limp against Dew��s shoulder. He laid her atop of one blanket, then placed a pillow of rolled straw under her head before covering her with the other. Hands pushed against his knees as he got up and went to head out.

    ��I know of some healing herbs that might help. I��ll pick some.��

    ��I suppose it can��t hurt.��

    A reassuring voice came from the hall, ��No need to worry about herbs now,�� Bradox walked into the open doorway and leaned against its rough beams for support, as he was quite winded. ��If I heal her now, she��ll be normal tomorrow. Let me pray over her.��

    ��We don��t need help from you.��

    ��I��m not sick,�� Nadia mumbled, ��I��m nod sick. I don��t need your help. I can do it myself.��

    ��You heard the girl, as far as you��re concerned, she��s not sick.��

    Dew stepped in front of Josh, ��I think she��ll be grateful for any prayer she receives. You have our permission to pray over her.��

    ��Wait a second! I don��t trust him. He wanted our heads just a few days ago. Why the big change all the sudden?��

    ��Lord Nostrum made his decision. I harbor no grudges because my advice wasn��t taken. Do I not have the duty, as a healer, to help those in need?��

    ��Let him try. If he tries any dark magic, I��ll sense it.��

    ��Fine. Do your stuff, but we��re not going anywhere.��

    ��So be it. I hope I prove my good intentions to you this day. As I��m going to relieve the plague she brought upon herself the day she snuck into the chamber of Lady Nostrum.��

    Dew had his sword sheathed at his hip and the hand rested on the hilt.

    First Bradox pulled back her blanket. Then he pulled up her undershirt and rolled the bottom portion tightly to the chest. Josh focused his attention on the window shutters. Bradox motioned an invisible pentagram on her stomach with a clammy index finger.

    ��Is this healing? I thought you said you were just gonna pray or something.��

    ��This is what must be done. Do you want her to be healed or not?��

    Bradox continued to make the sign over her waist, then he mumbled, ��Domas Iparox, Edos Nay Releasum�� repeatedly, each time louder until finally shouting. He pushed against her waist with both hands. Dark fog flowed from Nadia��s mouth. As she gasped, dark fog formed into a ball that Bradox took into his right hand, where it compressed and disappeared.

    ��She will recover quickly. I excised the spiritual poison causing her illness. It was far worse than I anticipated, if I had arrived a moment later, it might have been too late.��

    ��What should we do now?�� Dew asked.

    ��Leave her sleep. Her clothes and skin are stained with illness. It could take root again. She must take a long bath in a hot herbal solution as soon as she awakens. It��ll take a good hour, maybe two, before it cleanses her spirit completely. Once done with, there��ll be nothing more to worry about. Use these,�� Bradox tossed Dew a small bag of scented bath beads, ��That solution will rid her body of any lingering illness. I must hurry back to attending Lady Nostrum. I wish you all well.��

    He made a show of returning to the hall enfeebled by his efforts, yet refused the help Dew offered him. Once outside, he chuckled quietly to himself and walked in the rain briskly.

    Josh continued to look at the shutters as Dew covered Nadia with the blanket once more.

    ��Did the old man do right by her?��

    ��He removed a curse, yet strangely enough, the essence of the curse seemed to be the nature of his power. Though, I could be mistaken. Killing him would have been a terrible mistake. His efforts saved her life.��

    ��As long as she gets better. If something terrible happens, I��ll never forgive myself for letting him near her.��

    ��No worries. She��ll get better. If I had detected otherwise, that healer would not have left with his head on his neck.��

 53. Help! Sneezing Fit!

    A few hundred kilometers north of the village of Nostrum was the Forensian Plain, a grassy swamp between the southern and northern oceans. The road cutting through to the twin cities ran along the coast of the Mouth Sea overlooking the Teeth Islands. Lobar moved faster than most horses, only slowing down when they approached the wooden barricades blocking the trade road. An encampment so large that it could be a city of its own accord housed several toll stations and checkpoints. Stalled carriages, carts, and travelers on foot waited to pay the tolls and receive inspection of their goods.

    Inland, tucked against a small forest was a high wooden fence surrounding the inner compound. Outside the gates, on once barren grass fields stretching towards the shore, were barracks, scattered wooden dwellings, improvised straw huts, stables, and slews of dirty linen tents. Groli rode Lobar��s back past the checkpoints without being stopped. The toll collectors and the inspectors employed by Lord Sarsin paid them no mind. Men marched in formations over empty fields.

    Armored pikemen mulled about the encampments with their spears at their sides. Five freshly constructed catapults hitched to teams of horses passed on a freshly flattened road. On an especially long field, fifty horsemen practiced wielding axes and swords from horseback. Groli commanded Lobar to stop as they approached the wooden gates of the center compound. The forbiddingly high wood logs were painted dull red. Groli climbed behind Lobar��s head, then wrapped his legs gently around the troll��s neck before he put his hand to his mouth and yelled to the tower guard.

    ��I have business with Lord Sarsin! News from Poison Leaf!��

    ��Wait here, we��ll need permission to let you in.��

    Groli grumbled but hopped off Lobar and let him sit to the side of the path. No sooner than the troll��s butt hit the grass he heard an annoying voice. It was the robed men they had promised to help escort and had already accepted payment from. Eyes clenched shut as Groli rubbed his face.

    ��Caught you!�� said the green robed man, ��We hired you for safe passage to the Twin Cities but you vanished. I demand compensation!��

    Groli growled as he reached into a satchel at Lobar��s side, ��We were caught in some misfortune. I��ll give you your tethers back. Ten gold it was.��

    ��My friend was robbed of goods worth two hundred gold tethers and I was robbed fifty gold tethers by bandits because of your failure. I hold you responsible for half the total sum plus your fee. One-hundred and thirty-five gold tethers in total.��

    Groli threw two gold tethers at their feet, ��I��m not paying you that! Why don��t you go and join Lord Sarsin��s army? That should help you buy your gear.��

    The man in green robes didn��t hesitate to pick up the gold but the other stomped his feet, ��We��re not leaving your side until we are escorted safely to the Twin Cities! You don��t know who we are. We are wizard acolytes and we will have this debt settled.��

    The gate opened.

    ��Suit yourself,�� Groli mumbled as he hopped on Lobar.

    The guards let them pass without a hassle. The men in robes didn��t hesitate to follow. Long weeds grew against wooden sheds to the side of the inner wall. Stone lanterns adorned the path. A small wooden palace faced them. On the pavilion, before the front entrance, a woman in a trailing red kimono watched. An uchiwa depicting dragons and demons in battle on a mountainous landscape cooled her skin as it delicately fluttered.

    "It��s you,�� she brushed aside a lock of oily black hair across her forehead, ��I suppose you want to see the Lord. Who are your companions?��

    ��Is this the palace of the great Lord Sarsin?�� said the green robed man, ��How disappointing. You! Woman! You disrespect us! Either kneel quietly or retrieve your lord.��Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    Lobar moaned.

    ��Be quiet, you knaves, have respect for Lady Forscythe,�� Groli whispered, then spoke up to the lady, ��We would like to report to Sarsin, if it wouldn��t be too much trouble my lady.��

    ��I��ll take you in,�� she pointed to the imp-man, ��The troll and those two fools must wait.��

    ��Another western woman with a superiority complex. Did Lord Sarsin import you for his harem? Did he forget to train you properly in the ways the free -oooooof!��

    A battered hand stuck out of the red stained dirt. It clawed at the ground leaving streaks of red before it stopped moving. Large beads of sweat formed on the brows of Groli, Lobar, and the blue robed man. But the man stepped forward and threw off his robes. He wore waving blue pants tied by a red sash and a cool blue sleeveless shirt. His arms were defined by tight muscles. Snakes of fire rose from his back and hissed at the woman on the pavilion.

    ��Western witch! I��ll end you for this crime!��

    Forsythe gazed upon the man with undisguised contempt and gently sway her fan. He burst in a fine red mist. Groli and Lobar dodged to the side so they didn��t get sprayed. The glare of contempt turned to them as she hid her mouth behind the fan.

    ��Tell me why I shouldn��t end you where you stand?��

    Lobar��s jaw dropped as Groli cowered on his back, ��Lobar go! Lobar go!��

    Forscythe glared upon Lobar with the same undisguised contempt. Groli gave him pats and whispered in his ear, but her eyes turned a bright, glowing red. Her stare touched Lobar��s eyes and she smiled as his mouth dripped foam; he pounded his chest before rushing forward. Groli fell on his back with his legs tucked. As Lobar charged, she sliced the air in front of her with a long black fingernail. A whispered breath opened the ground as a hollow column of roughly hewn stone enclosed Lobar��s legs. Stone wrapped the troll��s body. It anchored him while growing over his form. Muffled grunts escaped the tiny breathing holes of a stone column.

    ��Lobar! Calm down!�� Groli jumped around the rock formation, ��See what happens when you��re disobedient to your betters. I tried to warn you, but you never listen, you dimwit.��

    Lady Forscythe smiled, ��Lord Sarsin won��t be kept waiting long.��

    The doors creaked open. A man in a red silk robe patterned with flames walked to Forscythe��s side. The red sheath of his odachi matched his robes. Thick white Tabi socks sewn from cleaned cotton clung to his straw sandals. He stood as if the gap between his legs spanned the length of the world. A long pony tail of slick black ran down to the center of his back.

    ��Unless the wait is worthwhile,�� Sarsin��s hand rested on the hilt of his sword as he smiled at the lady, ��You were quite magnificent, let��s find out if the imp-man is worth his words today. If I find myself unsatisfied, you can toy with them as you please.��

    Groli trembled behind the pillar entrapping Lobar, ��That won��t be necessary! I have news from the Port of Reeds, and a communication from Old Wizard Bradox of the poison leaf.��

    ��What are you waiting for?��

    Groli scurried towards the pavilion and nimbly climbed a straight wooden column. A besotted roll of paper from his leather vest dropped it in Sarsin��s palm. He read it, chuckled, and tore it to shreds as he turned to the lady, who directed a stare of disguised intentions at the sweaty imp-man.

    ��Bradox is coming undone,�� Sarsin looked up at Groli, ��What is the state of their defenses?��

    ��Pitiful, there are no men guarding the village wall, nor the entrance to the village. They have but one man who rides on horseback to keep an eye for threats. Lord Nostrum has a small guard, but none of his men are capable warriors. The village is ripe for your will.��

    ��Afraid to strike because of a little witch! Unbelievable! After all his bickering over the initial wait, he hesitates against my command because he��s afraid of a trinket! Imp-man, you will assist the attack on the Port of Reeds, accompanied by Captain Morgul and his horsemen. Their strength is far beyond whatever you could possibly need in the worst of circumstances. As for Bradox, you can use him as you wish, on the condition that he��s a casualty when the task is complete.��

    ��Sir,�� Groli scampered down the pillar and hurried back behind the grunting rock formation, ��What of our compensation?��

    Sarsin stared at them with a wry smile. He went inside, and returned with a servant carrying a bag full of gold tethers. He tossed it at the imp-man��s feet.

    ��There��re five hundred gold tethers. Come back when Morgul is in command of the village of Reeds, and you��ll receive four times in addition.��

    ��Most generous!��

    Sarsin nodded to Forscythe before returning to his castle. The quartz prison disintegrated from around Lobar as her fan waved. She stayed behind to watch as the two exited. The shredded paper of Bradox��s message floated to her open palm. The pieces compressed in her fist as she closed her eyes, waited, then released them into a strong breeze scattering them over the walls.

    ��Intriguing,�� she licked her lips, ��Let��s play together someday, little Nadia.��

 54. Help! Whispering Bath Spirit!

    Heavy stains speckled Nadia��s wrinkly jeans. The dark skin under her eyes drooped slightly as she yawned. Still groggy, Nadia tried to press the wrinkles out of an overused T-shirt. When she sniffed a section of greasy hair her nose wrinkled in disgust. It reeked of fever perspiration. Upon lifting her arm and sniffing an armpit, she found it was ten times as bad. The click of the doorknob caught her off guard. Arms slammed down on her thighs so hard her shoulder popped. The door squeaked at Dew��s entrance.

    ��When did you get here?��

    ��Unfortunately, I��ve been here but a short while. You managed to lose us quite skillfully, but we eventually figured out how to find you. Josh has been taking care of you the past few days. How do you feel? That��s all that really matters to me right now.��

    ��Like I just got over the flu,�� she rubbed her throat, ��And I smell worse than ever. How much time have I lost?��

    ��Three or four days at the most, according to Josh. Don��t you think it would be a good idea to take a bath?��

    ��I was just going to ask Swabert for the key to the bath house. You noticed so quickly, do I really smell that bad?��

    ��No,�� Dew protested as he pulled the bag of salts and herbs Bradox had given him from underneath his kimono, ��I could never be offended by your scent. I only want you to wash the fever out of your system. The mystic who cured you gave me these. Sprinkle those in your bath water to dispel the curse permanently.��

    Dew took Nadia��s hands and carefully placed the bag in them, as if they were made of delicate china.

    ��You��re saying I was cursed?��

    ��The mystic who cured you didn��t say so, but it was fairly apparent as soon as he removed the dark energy trapping your spirit.��

    ��I��m just glad it��s over, did you catch this guy��s name?��

    ��His name was Bradox.��

    ��The same Bradox who cares for Nostrum��s wife?��

    ��Yes, the very same.��

    A shiver went up Nadia��s spine.

    ��Are you sure this bag is safe?��

    ��Be assured, I checked through it carefully and found nothing other than a collection of natural healing ingredients. It��s a very expensive mixture, and he said it was vital if you wished to be fully restored.��

    ��Then I suppose I don��t have much of a choice?�� she took the bag.

    The inn��s moldy old bathhouse wasn��t completely strange to Nadia, as she had already used it twice in the time she had spent here. A redbrick basin lined on the inside with smooth red tiles sat atop a step in the center of the room. The clean water filling the basin was heated by a fire underneath it. This was the first time she would bathe in new water; the last two uses had been taken after every other woman in the village had bathed, and she had accepted that in order to bathe privately.

    The herbs and salts from Bradox��s bag dissolved quickly in the steaming water, giving it a lilac scent. A small white bead went unnoticed because it immediately sunk to the bottom. She placed her folded jeans and shirt in a narrow shelf. With a relaxed sigh, she slid into the tub slowly and sat on the ledge with her legs folded so water reached her neck.

    How in the world was she supposed to summon Ambrosia when she couldn��t even get on the same continent as her temple? She thought about stealing a fishing boat, but that would be useless; those little boats weren��t designed to traverse a thousand miles of deep water. Maybe the best solution was to go home, buy a speedboat, and bring it back. If only she could buy some extra time from her dad; if only she could fly over that much ocean. This was a great time to get sick too.

    The loss of the past few days was a major setback. At this rate, summer vacation would be over by the time she had enough money to reach the Tramen Fohar continent. Her father would never let her ditch school. Even the need to reverse an impromptu sex change wouldn��t convince him, and she didn��t even want to think about working through the eleventh grade as a girl. Only a month of vacation time was left, so pulling something off now would be a miracle. To think she had traveled over a thousand miles in a week only to be stopped because these stone-aged morons didn��t know how to build a boat.

    Nadia puffed her cheeks then sunk underwater completely, blowing bubbles as she sighed. At the bottom of the bath water, the white coating of a bead dissipated; bubbles fomented from its thinning surface.

    <hr>

    Half-dried mud coated the bottom of Darrell��s jeans and covered his sneakers. Clothes were moist from last night��s rain. His skin pale. He had enough tethers to put his horse in a rented stable. Awlena or her horse was nowhere to be found. He searched the village on foot for any sign of her, without luck. Sunlight broke through the clouds, but the cool morning breeze chilled moist clothes. The village inn offered the prospect of refuge. The hearth glowed beneath a giant mounted clam. Swabert, apron sullied with fish entrails, came from the kitchen with his usual blithe gait.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    ��Can I help you sir?��

    ��I��m looking for a man in a white kimono, with a sword over his back, about this tall,�� Darrell held his hand in the air, ��Or a slender young woman in traveling clothes with long black hair, his sister. She��s about this tall.��

    Swabert gave the matter some thought, ��A kimono? I��m not sure. Though there are quite a few in white garb. What might this man��s name be?��

    ��Dew Nenkyo. His sister��s name is Awlena��

    ��Ah, I��ll ask about. Would you like to rent a room?��

    Darrell held out a few wilted leather tethers, ��What can I get for this much?��

    ��I see. Let me fetch you a biscuit and some hot cider while you wait. On the house.��

    Swabert set the teaming mug on the counter next to a plate with a hard tac biscuit. Darrell took a huge swig only to spit the entire mouthful over the counter.

    ��You didn��t tell me this stuff was spiked.��

    ��Spiked!�� Swabert snapped as he cleaned the mess with a rag. ��There��s no spike in that cider. It��s the finest brew in the village.��

    Darrell lifted the mug slowly and took a cautious sip.

    ��It��s fine. I just, never really, had anything quite this strong, ever. Do you have any water? Any juice? Milk?��

    ��Ah,�� Swabert shook Darrell��s shoulder playfully, ��It��ll put hairs on your chest, boy.��

    The stuff wasn��t half bad after he got used to it. It reminded him of the one time he had stolen a sip from his dad��s whiskey bottle. Dad would be jealous, this stuff had way more kick and burned all the way down. Darrell polished off the mug with a sense of smug satisfaction before asking if he could afford a second. It was half finished when he heard a scream from a narrow hall. He stumbled from his stool while grasping the bar��s ledge.

    The furniture took kicks as he bumbled toward the hall. He slammed his shoulder into a door with no lock, so he fell, slid his nose against the brick floor. A dab of red trickled from the skinned edge as he pushed up to look around. Nadia peered over the edge of the bath as he rolled on his back. His cheeks were bright red.

    ��Hi Nadia, everything okay in here?��

    ��You! How!? Excuse me! I��m taking a bath here!��

    ��I heard a scream from the bar.��

    ��I thought I felt something on my foot, that��s all. Sorry, I didn��t know I was that loud.��

    They stared. She pushed herself out of the tub and sat on the ledge. Long loose swim trunks and a water bandeau graced her form. This was a public bath after all.

    ��Are you happy enough to leave?��

    ��Bud I finally finded you! Can I have some of that wader? They didn�� gimme me any wader.��

    A translucent creature with long tendrils along its body grew behind Nadia until the top bumped the ceiling. Darrell stumbled backwards.

    ��Are you deaf! Or do I have to beat some hearing into you?��

    Darrell raised his open hands in front of his chest, ��Nadia, ged out of the tub! There��s something behind you.��

    She felt a soft slime rub her foot. A soft whisper encouraged her to slowly turn. Translucent flesh dripped over her. It bent forward, then lunged for her neck. She submerged. It flailed in multiple directions. The stretching form slapped Darrell in the face. Nadia jumped on the edge of the tub. The tendrils jabbed from both sides while she dodged. Darrell threw a stool, only to have it lodge in the creature and slowly sink into the large bath. Nadia dodged another whip while Darrell took a slap to the floor. She tip-toed across the ledge of the bath while playing jump rope with the swirling tube until she hopped down and fed it another stool. It bounced into the bath.

    The outer membrane of the creature��s growing coils slapped Nadia against the wall. They whipped at her like water from a fire house as she put her arms up. A crouching dodge escaped the blows. Tendrils beat themselves into the wall as they burst like water balloons. Nadia crawled to the bath and hopped into increasingly shallow water. A stool blocked the drain so she tossed it away, but tendrils lifted her by her arms then secured her ankles.

    ��The stopper, drain the tub!��

    Darrell laid sprawled across the floor with red welt across his cheek. A tendril slid around Nadia��s neck and squeezed. The pendant glowed slightly but she had nothing to grab onto. Fist pulled against the tendril wrapping her wrist while feet kicked against the tendril wrapping her ankles. Nadia tried to dive toward the ledge of the tub for leverage but the creature kept her in the air. Darrell forced himself up.

    "Awaaaaaaa," it whispered.

    The drain! He jumped over the ledge and felt around the bottom franticly. The creature ignored him as its every limb wrapped Nadia. It focused on tightening around her neck. Why did everything here want to strangle her? Darrell found a pad. Underneath it, a cork flush with the smooth floor plugged the tub. A rusted lock in the center only allowed it to be removed by key. Darrell stuck his finger inside and pulled, but it wouldn��t budge.

    ��It needs a key! Why does it need a key!?��

    Swabert entered with a long metal key bar and tossed it to Darrell, ��Use that to open the plug. Hurry, I��ll try to buy you time,�� He balanced himself on the ledge and pried his fingers into the liquid whip wrapping Nadia��s neck. She grabbed his arm. It was just the leverage she needed to thrust her own arm free. She kicked an ankle free, but she couldn��t turn without twisting her neck. Worse, she felt herself blacking out. Darrell��s hands shook as he placed the key into the cork, turned, and pulled three times before it popped out. He fell back and hit his head, but the drain opened wide enough to suck water out of the bath.

    "Shhhhhhh."

    The creature weakened, then withered. It dropped Nadia, who fell in the bath and rolled over top of Darrell. As the water tendril shrunk to earthworm size, it slid down the drain to a waste-water aqueduct. Nadia caught her breath in gasps as she rolled to her side while rubbing her neck. She pushed to her feet with her hands against her knees. Darrell pushed himself straight back against the edge of the bath.

    ��Are you okay?�� Swabert asked.

    ��I think so?��

    ��Haven��t seen a whispering bath spirit in an age. Apologies. I should have been more cautious seeing as you were washing off a curse.��

    A towel landed on top of her. Darrell pushed himself out of the tub, laid over the wooden boards, and fell asleep in his soaked clothing.

    ��Is he a friend of yours?��

    Nadia nodded as she dabbed her hair with the towel.

 55. Help! Fishing Trip!

    A shallow inland pool sheltered from the direct beating of the tides served as the village harbor. Several piers with posts from oak tree trunks extended into the water; hundreds of fishing boats were moored with thick ropes. Small row boats rested by wide sailboats. The nets of the smaller vessels were compacted into piles at the corners and were worn from exposure. Some of the larger vessels had masts, boxes for the fishing equipment, and deep hulls suitable for a heavy catch. A few large vessels were loaded with rusty lobster traps. Teams of small boats nearby shared shrimp nets. Barnacles clung to the sides of their hulls and their equipment sat in salt-stained piles.

    A three-sided building directly behind the center of the piers had fish piled for cleaning, salting, and weighing. It was empty as the early morning sun glistened against the remains of yesterday��s work. The huge table had gouges from knife and cleaver work. A balance scale had rocks piled on one side. Rolls of woven flax sat around numerous clay jars filled with herbs and salts. Fresh blocks of salt waited on benches. At the far sides of the piers were piles of driftwood, broken oars, ripped sails, torn nets, and other damaged items left for anyone who could find a use for them. Men gathered at the piles in the early morning twilight to pick through them, while others tossed unwanted items.

    As the sun reached halfway above the eastern horizon, Josh found himself confused because it rose over the eastern side of the beach; instead of above the ocean, as it did in Jersey. Then again, this place was different. He thought there were places on earth where the sunrise might be like this. A light burn developed over his arms, face, and neck yet gave way to a subdued tan that complemented his muscular build.

    Lord Nostrum was leader of the fishermen in this village, practically all the larger boats were his, and most of the fisherman worked solely for him. Eighty percent of the village��s catch belonged to him. That��s where Josh came in, he was hired to load the carts that hauled Nostrum��s catch from the harbor to wherever it was to be taken. He cleaned the chopping station by scrubbing out guts and bones that were ground into the floor. When that was finished, there wouldn��t be much work until the boats returned, so he planned to go relax. The harbor foreman hollered for him just as he started for the inn. Josh pointed to himself.

    ��Yes, you. You��re sailing with Lord Nostrum. Consider yourself lucky.��

    ��No way. I can��t go out on the water, not my job description.��

    The foreman laughed, ��Wants to work for a boat, yet he��s afraid to go out on the water. If that��s how you feel then find work elsewhere, and see if they��ll build you a boat.��

    ��I��m not afraid of the ocean.��

    ��Then there��s no problem,�� the foreman grabbed Josh by the arm. ��Come along now kid.��

    ��Wait, if I go out to sea, then Nadia has to come with me. The inn is less than half a mile away. Let me go back for her. I��ll be back in five minutes or you can have my job.��

    The foreman squeezed Joshes�� upper arm. Josh pulled from the foreman��s grip before backing away.

    ��Keep your distance.��

    ��Listen foreigner. The boats are no place for women, so if you want to keep your precious lungs free of salty water, I advise you not to entertain such loathsome thoughts.��

    ��Give me a break, it��s not like she��s bad luck.��

    ��That��s exactly what she would be. I��ll tell the Lord you don��t wish to sail with him. You can beg for his mercy later.��

    ��No way,�� Josh outpaced the burly man, ��I��ll tell him myself.��

    Folded sailcloth hinted of a colorful pattern as it hung from the rigging of a large fishing boat at the end of the central pier. The sturdy hull was scoured of barnacles. The interior had a highly polished finish. A short plank formed a bridge. Lord Nostrum wore a pair of old linens torn around the knee while leaving his feet and torso bare. There was another aboard in similar fashion, except with the addition of a faded red bandana around his head.

    ��This is the one, right?�� the foreman stayed on the pier as Josh crossed the plank.

    ��He��s the one. Welcome aboard the Quagmire.��

    Nostrum bowed heartily. Josh was struck funny by the name and the greeting, so much so that he never noticed the foreman pull the plank or untie the mooring rope.

    ��You��re kidding me, right?��

    ��I don��t have any children,�� Nostrum said.

    ��I mean you��re joking. Why would you call your boat the Quagmire? You might as well call it the Lead Weight, or the Leaker.��Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    ��Ah, but you��re not thinking like I��m thinking. You��ll get the idea when we go sailing though. I��m sure of it. I can tell a strength when I see it, so I��m sure you��ll make a fine fisherman.��

    ��That��s the problem. I have to refuse. Nadia asked me to stay on shore at all times, I have to be available in case she needs my help.��

    ��Your woman is well protected; I can assure you that nothing bad will happen to her at my inn. Don��t tell me she makes your rules for you!?��

    ��Wait a s-sec����

    ��At least for the time being, you��re both working for me, so I��m sure she��ll understand. I��m shorthanded today, and in desperate need of a third man. What harm could possibly come of it?��

    As the sails came down, they revealed a school of brilliantly colored fish sewn into their fabric.

    ��Mardela sewed that pattern into these old sails. It��s been torn and repaired countless times, but I can��t bear to part with it. My father used to say: the best way to get to know what��s in a man��s soul is to fish with him. I hope you��ll consider that.��

    ��How far out do we go?��

    ��About ten nauts, if the weather��s fair.��

    ��Fine, I��ll go.��

    ��That��s grand,�� Nostrum laughed, ��I thought you��d have a change of heart; after all, I wouldn��t want you to have to swim back.��

    Josh then noticed they had already set sail. The boat was the first to leave the natural jetty protecting the harbor. Not far behind, other vessels of various sizes competed to woo the ocean. A man in a red bandana, his face blotched by sun, stood atop the mast. He licked his finger to gauge the wind before checking the sails. Then he climbed down, jumped in front of Josh, and introduced himself with a toothless grin. His odd name was Deagle, and for the next hour, he worked by adjusting the sails. There were large oars attached to hooks at both sides, but they were unneeded because the wind was favorable. Josh laid in the shadow of the boat��s side. He avoided the harsh sun because he didn��t want the sunburn that gave fishermen their leathery complexions. Nostrum eventually asked Josh to help him ready the nets. They pulled them from their box and stretched them across the ship. They each unfurled nets carefully to avoid tangling the wide laced mesh.

    ��I was wondering a bit; from where do you hail? Why do you wish to go to Tramen?��

    ��That��s our concern,��

    ��But you come from someplace. Certainly, you come from someplace: a village, the Sapline coast, the great twin cities of the northern republic, the forest of Nomphler, or maybe you hail from distant Lothalos.��

    ��I��m from a little village called Trenton. Nothing to talk about.��

    ��Where would this place be?��

    ��Far to the west of here.��

    ��And the girl?��

    ��I haven��t a clue. I��m hired to help her find something, that��s all I know.��

    ��I hope you��re accompanying her of your own free will. My sources tell me that your companion is a powerful enchantress, who forces men to do her will as mere puppets.��

    ��Did that old fart tell you that? If that was the case, she wouldn��t have to work so hard to get across the ocean.��

    Nostrum smiled, ��Yet the men tip her so generously.��

    ��They don��t get to see a one-woman circus delivering their food too often; besides, they��ve already gotten bored with the act. You don��t have anything to gripe about though, we��ve given you everything we got.��

    Nostrum clenched the net and winced at the sky, ��Still, there��s some truth to what��s been said. She��s a gifted warrior, and I believe she has some power in the way of healing. It��s too bad Mardela couldn��t benefit, but if an experienced sage like Bradox can only barely keep her alive, then a young lass shouldn��t go so far as to think of attempting to help.��

    ��She can heal your wife. I know she can.��

    ��Nonsense, pure nonsense. Keep her from getting ambitious ideas. I won��t risk losing my Mardela.��

    The sails folded so they would drift with the tide as they cast their nets. Deagle checked the ropes used to pull the nets. They were tied to stubby posts at the edges the hull. With luck, the net would trap many fish as it folded during the return.

    ��We��ll leave it ad it id for a few minutes,�� Deagle explained, ��Brin it up, and do it all ower again till the boat id full up with the fish.��

    There was a pause, Josh laid face down again; he enjoyed the sound of the water against the wooden hull. The gentle rocking made him somewhat sleepy. For the first time, he couldn��t hide himself in the shade, and the sun started to bite the back of his neck. He knew he was getting a sunburn anyway, so he decided to let it tan back there where the flesh was less important.

    ��Time to pull her up,�� Nostrum declared.

    The net pulled up with little resistance until the bottom folded over the top. The two ends of the net were laced together and tied shut before they hauled the catch. It was too heavy, so Deagle checked the lines before briefly opening the ends of the net to allow some fish to escape. Each pull chaffed at Joshes palms, but as the task came closer to completion, he could see that they had trapped a decent load of fish.

    ��A great day to be livin��, that id for sure! We don��t oftener get thad many on the fird haul.��

    ��Keep pulling,�� Nostrum said.

    The left section of the net pulled inside the boat and reopened. The fish were hauled inside one small load at a time, until the net emptied and the vessel��s bottom was half full. Fish flopped about at their feet.

    ��A fine assortment of flatfish, if I do say so,�� Nostrum brimmed with delight, ��Let��s get the net ready for another go. If the next catch is as good, we��ll have to unload.��

    As the net was prepared for the second haul, Josh felt something like the hot ends of automobile cigarette lighters being drug across the backside of his arm. He winced as they threw the net back into the water, then he went to the backside of the mast and took a quick glance. A dark rash had developed where he felt the digging burn. With one arm, he clung to the mast. Dizziness overtook him. The sun pounded relentlessly. The heat seared exposed skin. With the coming of noon, there was no place to hide from the rays directly overhead, so Josh laid against the stern and intentionally tucked his right arm under his stomach.

    ��What��d the matter? Feelin�� a bit weewick already? A fine good explorer you��ll make out.��

    ��Leave him alone,�� Nostrum commanded, ��We weren��t all made fit to deal with the sea,�� He turned to Josh with a disappointed look. ��You were doing so well for a while; doesn��t the smell of the catch agree with you?��

    ��The sun doesn��t agree with me. Don��t worry though, I can still help you pull the catch in.��

    When Nostrum called for the nets to be brought in, Josh checked the rash on his arm. It hadn��t spread. He sighed thankfully, then readied himself for the next haul.

 56. Help! The Mercenaries Have Returned!

    A well-kept lawn interlaced by small gardens sheltered within a short cobble stone wall marked the village boundary. Stone cottages with tightly thatched roofs stood nearby. Outside the village wall, a narrow clearing of short grass dropped into a marshy field of wild reeds. With a ball of stuffed sharkskin, the older children played a game resembling soccer on the lawn outside the wall. A stately maple pushed the wall apart. The sturdy trunk knocked shallow stone aside.  Dew spotted Delia resting on a large rock wrapped neatly by the tree��s roots. A strong breeze swayed her braided hair and furled the velvet green cloth around her knees. She bit into a half-finished apple, but calmly placed it down as he approached.

    ��News is spreading across town that a dangerous mercenary is camping here,�� Dew smiled, ��Where are the others?��

    Delia reddened slightly, ��Nefri, and Luthial went north while I followed the southern coast, it only stands to reason that I would be here first. Did you find your prize, or must we wait for word from my sisters?��

    ��I��ve found her, this was where we expected to find her after all. But we��ll still wait for the others. Nadia intends to procure a boat for the continuation of her journey, and I intend to expedite her efforts to the best of my ability.��

    Delia stood, ��The idiot is here as you already know. And your sister is skulking about like a spy. What would you have me do?��

    ��They can wait. Nadia was attacked by an evil spirit during her bath today, she was unharmed, but regrettably, it was not I who was there to save her.��

    ��I��m sure you regretted every minute.��

    He pulled a rubbery coating from a broken bead out of his robes, balancing it on the tip of his finger.

    ��I found this by the marsh. A spirit container that partially dissolves in water.��

    ��How did it get in her water?��

    ��A healer known as Bradox gave her an herbal bath solution after removing a fever, which I believe may have been induced by a curse he inflicted. I thought I had checked the bath salts thoroughly, but if it was among them, it was well disguised. I missed it. He lives in the lord��s mansion to care for his stricken wife. Unfortunately, this capsule is not enough evidence to risk accusing him. I need more.��

    ��Should I keep an eye on this Bradox?��

    ��Do not let yourself be discovered.��

    ��I won��t fail you, Lord Nenkyo.��

    She was gone in an instant, leaving only the unfinished apple behind.

    <hr>

    Darrell almost finished scrubbing the final corner of the restaurant when the grandfather clock behind the bar struck four. Nadia came from the hall to inspect his work; her affectation was that of a dignified young woman as she sipped warm tea from a small ceramic cup, although she remained pale and slightly perspired.

    ��Not as clean as I would like, but it��ll do. Better get ready, the fishermen are going to start trickling in fairly soon.��

    "No way,�� Darrell said, ��I��ve done nothing but clean all day, even after I saved your life, which I think more than makes up for everything I saw.��

    ��Maybe it does, but don��t ever expect me to forgive you for following me here against my orders. Plus, you walked in on my while I was taking bath while drinking. I can��t salvage my pride from this.��

    ��How about this? If I had told you to stay put, and you followed me here, would you still be so upset?��

    She paused to think but his logic made her head hurt, ��Of course I would!��

    ��I give up. Where��s my apron?��You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    Nadia stretched her back and cracked her knuckles before releasing a long yawn.

    ��In the back. Have fun tonight; I��m going to take a nap until the crowd gets heavy. Better get prepared. Swabert will work you like crazy once the customers start coming in.��

    <hr>

    The docks were almost empty as Nostrum��s fishing boat entered the harbor. Josh checked the back of his arm. The rash dwindled as they approached the shore. The wagon rolled down the pier with the help of some strong older men. Josh wasted no time helping to scoop large bucketfuls of fish out of the boat because the nets were too heavy. Together, Nostrum, Deagle, and Josh took almost an hour to transfer the load. At the trading station behind the pier the fish were weighed, gutted, cleaned, salted, and prepared for sale. Josh stood by the carts that would be pulled into town, waiting to help load the prepared fish. The foreman ordered him to unload the catch designated for the afternoon market when Nostrum, in obvious high spirits, approached him with three large flounder.

    ��Today��s total catch looks to be staggering, we certainly did well, and the boats returning appear heavy. Deagle and I are going to the inn to have a pint with a baked flounder. I already selected the three best examples of our catch. We wouldn��t have done it without you. Why don��t you join us?��

    ��I��m so hungry even fish sounds good right now. And the pint? Certainly!��

    When they arrived at the inn, many of the customers were already situated. Boisterous conversation filtered through the restaurant. In the center, a specially reserved table kept spotlessly clean awaited. Josh took a seat with Lord Nostrum and Deagle. Darrell was immediately available to wait on them.

    ��Umm, what can I do for you. I mean. What would you like to eat?��

    ��Where is Nadia? I want to see my lovely hostess.��

    ��But she��s resting.��

    ��Well, if she��s feeling better, then tell her to get back to work because tonight is important. My men don��t want to see some bumpkin off the paths. They want Nadia. This is a celebration, so I must insist.��

    Darrell bowed awkwardly. After few minutes, Nadia bowed low before them in a new kimono as clean and blue as the morning breeze over the ocean. Her hair formed into two puffs, each with a light tail attached that swished as she straightened while maintaining a composed slight bow.

    ��Where were you tonight?�� Nostrum asked, ��Did we miss anything?��

    ��Apparently not,�� Deagle said, ��The fold of her robe id turned up to catch the tipped already.��

    ��Apologies for not being here to greet you gentlemen. What would you like?��

    Her polite smile felt a bit forced. Whenever the others weren��t watching, Josh sensed an angry glare and began to sweat. Nostrum slapped three of the biggest flounder he had ever caught on the table. The entire restaurant silenced itself and stared in awe at the perfect specimens. What would the lord of the village do with such fine fish?

    ��Have Swabert bake these to perfection, and bring them out with three pints of the finest ale! A special thanks to the newcomer, Josh. His hard work brought me luck in today��s catch. Cheers all around!��

    Nadia took the fish on a tray to be prepared by Swabert as the entire house roared for Nostrum��s good fortune. Conversation among the fishermen rambled on louder than ever. Work began. Nadia balanced multiple orders on her head and arms, yet every time she came from the kitchen, she did so with a grace that hid exertion.

    When the hour came for Lord Nostrum and his company to enjoy their flounder, Nadia seemingly skated across the hardwood floor while laying meals down one after the other. She was pale, sweaty, and slightly short of breath, but she laid each meal on the lord��s table with a curve of her arm that portrayed an air of elegance. Nostrum thanked her warmly. She bowed, took a few steps backward, and turned away to collect plates and bowls. She entered the kitchen with a tray of dirty dishes almost reaching the door top. A familiar brunette stood absentmindedly close. Nadia halted too quickly and almost lost her pile of dishes to the floor. She recognized Luthial as she struggled to balance the dishes.

    ��Luthial!? You��re here too?!�� Nadia asked from behind her dishes.

    ��Nefri and I both,�� Luthial pointed to Nefri, who dried the dishes that Darrell washed. ��You��ve been working far too hard, so we��ve decided to help out.��

    ��That��s really nice you guys, but I don��t need-,��

    ��No buts about it, we��re helping and that��s all there is to it! Got that!?��

    Nadia sighed as she carefully placed the dishes by the sink with trembling arms, ��I suppose I could use a little more rest,�� She removed the tethers from the folds of her kimono and stuffed them in a bag tied to her leg. ��I already raked in more than enough tips tonight.��

    Luthial began gathering clean dishes for the next delivery as Nadia stood to the side of the door, ready to leave her duties in their hands.

    ��Thanks guys, you��ll never know how much I appreciate this. I never thought I��d say this, but I��m glad you all followed me.��

    ��Three meals are ready,�� Swabert yelled from the kitchen.

    Luthial took two trays, gathered everything together, and then took one in each arm.

    ��Well, here goes fun!��

    Luthial slid the door open with her toes on the way out, and then shut it with her heels.

    ��Where��s Nadia?!�� hollered someone from the back; all other conversation immediately ceased.

    ��We want some more entertainment,�� came from the other side of the restaurant; half the men hollered in agreement.

    ��Nadia��s done for the night, but I��m very pleased to be waiting on all of you. I may have some tricks up my sleeve as well.��

    Luthial never stopped smiling, despite a reception of whistles and catcalls.

 57. Help! Girl鈥檚 Love For The Halibut!

    Josh excused himself politely and went back to their room once he finished his meal with the lord of the village. A candle on the window sill provided flickering illumination against the sky-blue kimono hanging nearby. Nadia slept on her side with a heavy blanket covering her from her neck to her ankles. Josh brushed past her tote bag as he reached for the candle snuffer, but Nadia sat up and grabbed his ankle. Her grasp caught him by surprise.

    ��Not so fast, you��re not off the hook that easy. What about your trip out to shore? You never told me anything about it.��

    ��You don��t have to tell me off. I can explain.��

    ��I don��t want an excuse. I almost lost the ability to seal the incubus. What if it would have gotten out of my control and came to the surface? It��s no small effort to control when you��re this close, but I can��t contain the incubus forever if you get too far away. People could��ve been killed, including yourself!��

    ��I was prepared to drown myself. There would��ve been no big loss.��

    ��That��s not funny! You��re my friend. If something happened to you, I would have never been able to forgive myself.��

    ��Isn��t that funny, I tried to kill you, and your family becomes the first people to treat me like my life matters. Is that supposed to be funny?��

    Nadia fell back against the mat, her head smacked the pillow, and she sighed. Josh knelt beside her.

    ��You okay?��

    ��If you hadn��t drained me so badly, I would��ve knocked some sense into you, the hard way. Please don��t do something like that again.��

    ��I��m sorry. You really strained yourself tonight and it��s my fault. I��m a jerk.��

    ��That goes without saying.��

    ��Hey, you don��t have to agree with me!��

    ��I was almost killed this morning.��

    ��Come on now, I already feel bad enough.��

    ��Not by you, stupid. Some monster grabbed me in the bath. Dew found a broken shell. It could��ve been in the bath salts Bradox gave me.��

    ��Then what are we waiting for? Let��s go confront the creep.��

    ��For one, we don��t know for sure. Second, how am I supposed to confront him when my powers are drained from your stunt? I barely have the strength to move. Sorry, but I��m going to wait until I��m ready.��

    ��When do you think that will be?��

    ��I should have my strength back by tomorrow night,�� Nadia yawned, ��but I don��t know for sure when I��ll be able to use the pendant again, so stay out of trouble.��

    ��Will do. Go ahead and get some sleep. You look like you need it.��

    Josh didn��t need to tell her; she slumped her head against the pillow, pulled up her blanket, and breathed heavily into a sound sleep.

    <hr>

    Early next morning, Nadia found herself with free time. Darrell faithfully applied himself to the many chores she had passed to him. Balmy weather enticed her to take a walk around the village. She wore her brown kimono, pinning the bottom hem above her ankles so it wouldn��t get dirty; she would have preferred jeans and a shirt, but her regular clothes would attract unwanted attention. Even so, she refused leave behind her sneakers.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    At the village market many people, mostly the local seafood vendors, recognized her from the inn. They weren��t afraid to wave, or call to her. She said hello, nodded, or smiled pleasantly in response. The old merchant whom she met on her arrival provided rations to the same young woman who had been pregnant, only now her child was newly born, bundled and strapped safely to her back.

    ��Good afternoon, Lady Mavenslick,�� the old merchant called. Having the word lady in front of her family name made Nadia shiver, ��How goes your quest?��

    ��Then you know about it?�� she approached.

    "Know about it! Everyone knows about it. Who wouldn��t? Most think it��s suicide, but I admire any explorer willing to tread across forbidding lands. You know, I was a bit of an explorer myself once, in the days of my youth. I��ve been up and down the Delva coast hundreds of times. Have you ever been to the Foxlord��s Republic in the northwest? What I wouldn��t do for a cart load of Foxlord wheat. It��s easy to mill and makes the finest bread with a golden hue when baked. Wheat grown on the Delva coasts doesn��t compare.��

    ��I��ve never been there,�� Nadia admitted.

    ��Really, a renown explorer like yourself. Well, I must say you��re missing out. You go north to the Twin Cities. Then you go west until the people in the villages have bushy ears and long tails. Be careful if you see a fox at night though. It might be more human than you reckon! Now if you keep going, you��ll come to their capital, Forume. It��s a big deal, lots of people live there, humans too. Might rival the twin cities east of the mountains.��

    ��That��s incredible.��

    ��Well. You��re from the west I take it, nay Lothalos? Have you visited any of the eight islands of the teeth? I��ve sailed to them all. The shallow bay has some interesting fish and many of the islanders are pearl divers.��

    Nadia nodded politely as he continued.

    ��Now if you go to the bottom of the peninsula a few hundred kilometers to the north east of here, you can see the beaches where the turtles hatch their eggs. The eggs are worth about nay-��

    ��Well!�� she interrupted, ��I would have never known you were an explorer just by looking at you. Sorry, but can I have a fresh cut of halibut?��

    A soft push of warmth enveloped Nadia��s upper arm. She hadn��t even sensed the attack. Before she could push away, a cute girl in a brown traveling kimono nuzzled Nadia like a lost kitten. There was no escape now. Long black hair shimmered in the sun to match Nadia. The merchant blinked at the sudden display. Awlena looked up at Nadia and blinked twice while Nadia turned sun ripe red.

    ��What are you doing here!?��

    The grip on Nadia��s arm became tighter against Awlena''s chest.

    ��I couldn��t stay back in the village with everyone chasing you! Did you really think everyone was just going to let you go alone after what you did for us? Do you expect me to just let my stupid brother monopolize you? Well, I won��t have it. You��re just as much mine as you are his.��

    Nadia felt dizzy again, but it wasn��t Josh��s fault. Though she didn��t try to pull away from the embrace. It took a bit of effort to keep her hand in neutral.

    ��Umm, Halibut? How many pounds?�� the merchant asked upon spotting other customers

    ��Just two. I promised someone I would make a purchase today.��

    ��Oh, who did you promise?��

    ��I promised Darrell I would cook for him if he did my chores. But the thing is, I��m actually not that good yet.

    The merchant wrapped the fish in paper and tied it with thin twine as Awlena pulled at Nadia��s arm with her cheeks puffed out. Nadia pulled some marked leather tethers out of her side pocket to pay.

    ��I have an idea, let me bake them for you! I love baked halibut! It doesn��t matter who cooks them as long as he gets his payment, right?��

    After a short walk, Nadia became conscious of onlookers and slowly pulled away from the affectionate hold on her arm. Nadia couldn��t even manage to fake being angry.

    ��You really followed me all this way without using magic?��

    ��Hey, I can use a little magic. And I can fight too. I��ve been training really hard. See?��

    Awlena flexed her arm while sliding back the sleeve of her kimono. The once scrawny girl did define her slender arms slightly, just slightly. Nadia began to giggle as she held the wrapped fish under one arm and her stomach with the other.

    ��Don��t laugh! I refuse to live in the shadow of my brother. I��m just as good if not better and I��ll prove it someday.��

    ��I��m sorry, I just found you too cute.��

    ��Really!?��

    Awlena found herself unable to say anything else, or even look at her without brightening up, so they walked quietly as the breeze cooled them. Nadia whistled softly as she looked toward the trees and the little thatched cottages. The sun made her squint as worn sneakers shuffled over the sandy path.

 58. Help! Fox Brat!

    A group of children kicked a ball around in a long open field. Nadia spotted a boy in a heavy knit cap was sitting underneath a nearby tree. He held a white ball that looked much like the one the other kids were using, only clean. His bright green eyes looked familiar, Sanguin? After watching him for a moment she couldn��t resist sitting beside him. Nadia set her wrapped Halibut between them. Awlena stood nearby with her hands behind her back.

    ��Hey there. Shouldn��t you be playing with the other kids?��

    ��I don��t have to if I don��t wanna.��

    ��But you do, I can tell. I was sort of shy like that when I was a boy, but once I said hi and started playing, I got over it.��

    ��I don��t wanna play! You��re a liar anyway, because you��re a lady, and there��s no way you could��ve ever been a boy.��

    Now, Awlena giggled quietly.

    ��You wouldn��t be so miserable if you took off that hat. It can��t be comfortable; no wonder you��re such a hot head.��

    ��Go away lady!��

    ��Let me see that,�� Nadia swiped the hat and held it out of reach.

    ��Give it back!��

    The boy jumped for his hat. They noticed pointy, fur-lined, ears extending from his brilliantly red hair. Nadia knelt and gave one a pat, it smoothed down like a pad of velvet.

    ��You��ve got kitty ears!��

    ��That��s very disrespectful towards them,�� Awlena said.

    He grabbed his hat and pulled it over his hair tighter than ever, ��They��re not kitty ears, lady. They��re fox ears. Now that you hate me, just go away, and don��t bother saying anything mean, cause I don��t care.��

    Nadia laughed, ��I don��t hate you. In fact, I��d be honored if you��d let me play ball a little bit. But if you don��t want to that��s fine too. I��ll just be on my way.��

    ��With me? But, you��re an adult.��

    ��Not really, I��m a teenager, but would it matter if I was?��

    "I guess not? You don��t look like a bad person. It is day time. And there are people around. I��ll trust you a little bit. What do you want to play?��

    ��How good are you at two-man�� umm�� person soccer?��

    ��I��ll give it a try. Oh, I almost forgot, I��m Vestor. Don''t forget it.��

    ��I��m Nadia, don��t forget it.��

    ��I won��t. Nadia��s a very pretty name.��

    Nadia shook her head with a slight blush because she still wanted to say Nathan. This happened too many times before to bother her much.

    ��I��m really good at this kind of thing, so I��ll play with a handicap.��

    ��What��s that?��

    ��Something to make things easier on you, since I��m almost an adult. If you��re real good, I��ll remove the handicap and play you in an even game.��

    ��I guess it��s okay as long as you��re not letting me win. I want to take care of myself�� without help.��

    Nadia provided simple ground rules for the game while giving herself a tough handicap. Vestor��s goal was to defend the trunk of a thin tree. On the other side, Nadia had to defend the end of the entire playing field. Awlena would serve as the judge and keep track of points. Vestor served the ball first. He kicked it past the middle of the field. They competed for the first to ten points by kicking the ball into the other goal. To make things more interesting, Nadia told him that if she kicked the ball past Vestor��s tree; instead of hitting it, he would get the point. Once the game started, Vestor proved to be a decent challenge; he darted so fast that Nadia raced to keep up. She let him score the first point. The other kids gradually halted their game to watch the match. Vestor threw aside his heavy knit cap. A red and white tail appeared from the back of his pants. Sufficiently cooled, Vestor increased his speed and scored three more times. Nadia still won the match.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ��You��re really good for a lady. I don��t know how I can beat you.��

    ��You��re not bad yourself, kid. But I��m too powerful for a one-on-one match. Maybe you could get those guys to help?��

    Nadia pointed to eight other children who eagerly watched. Vestor turned to the others and pumped his fists. Awlena clapped.

    ��Hey guys, are you going to help me beat this lady, or what?��

    Most of the other guys joined Vestor right away. He explained the rules quickly before discussing strategy to defeat the lady. A little girl with wide hazel eyes and wavy brown hair stared wide-eyed as she tugged on Nadia��s robes.

    ��Can I be on your side?��

    ��Sorry, I only play solo. I��m too strong, so you have to help them beat me. Then you can form your own teams, make sure to pick Vestor, he��s good at all the games.��

    ��Okay! We��re gonna win.��

    In the next game, Nadia managed to make her loss convincing as Vestor led his team. They celebrated their victory with laughs and cheers while Nadia rejoined Awlena and picked her wrapped fish back from the roots of the tree. Vestor��s ball was tucked in her arm, so she threw it back to him.

    ��You have potential. That was some quick footwork and you really kept your team organized. Anyone who plays against you is in for a challenge, no matter what the rules are.��

    ��I agree, it was fun watching you play.��

    As they left, Awlena noticed a woman watching from the door of a derelict thatched-roof cottage. The woman signaled them with her hand and called softly.

    ��Excuse me. I��m Shikori, Vestor��s mother. Thank you for helping him. He��s been watching those kids for weeks, but wouldn��t dare approach them because he was scared they would be afraid.��

    ��I hope you don��t mind me asking,�� Nadia said. ��Where did he get those cute little ears, and that adorable tail?��

    Awlena nudged Nadia with her elbow and coughed.

    ��His father had gorgeous ears, and the most noble tail of all the Foxlords. Sometimes I wonder if it would have been better if I had never met him, but then I wouldn��t have my Vestor. I wish every day that he��d be here to watch Vestor grow. I know it would have made him happy.��

    ��What happened to his father?��

    Awlena��s elbow made Nadia wince.

    ��They punished him for his transgression.��

    Nadia could see a small, unlit, corner-stove. A pail of water sat on it. A child��s sleeping mat was tucked in the other corner. Two sitting mats rested near the window. That was the extent of the paltry furnishings.

    ��Can you do me a favor?�� Nadia asked. ��Help me cook this fish before it goes bad, and I��ll share it with you. I bought it fresh a few hours ago.��

    ��But, we don��t have any wood for the stove.��

    ��No problem,�� Nadia dropped the fish in the Shikori��s hands. ��I��ll go chop- buy some. We��ll need some tea as well. I can buy some. Do you mind if my friend keeps you company?��

    ��I can��t let you do that.��

    Nadia was already on her way.

    ��Thanks a lot, miss!�� Nadia yelled back as she ran off, ��You��re really helping me out big time. I don��t know how I��ll ever repay you.��

    Awlena made herself comfortable on one of the sitting mats. Shikori looked outside but decided to join Awlena, ��I- I��m sorry. I don��t have anything to serve you and your friend just ran off.��

    Awlena nodded, ��Yes, she tends to act on impulse. But I find that can be charming at times. It��s quite fine weather today. Why don��t we have a little chat and enjoy the ocean wind?��

    Nadia returned an hour later with a pile of wood, some salt, some spices, a pan, and a bottle of cooking oil loaded in her arms. Shikori took the extra stuff off the top of the wood pile so Nadia could set the wood by the stove.

    ��Can I cook it?�� Shikori asked as Nadia lit the stove.

    ��I don��t see why not. You would know better how Vestor likes it done.��

    Shikori blushed, ��I want to thank you again for everything, but why are you doing this for us?��

    ��You don��t need to thank me; I should be thanking you for helping me get rid of it. The only reason I had that fish was because the old man wouldn��t stop talking unless I bought something. It would have gone bad anyway.��

    Awlena smiled, ��Is that so?��

    Shikori nimbly unwrapped the fish, then prepared it with salt, spices, and oil before sliding it in the pan. Once the fire was lit, Nadia brushed off her kimono and walked quietly to the door. Awlena stood as well, ready to leave. Shikori eyed them, looking vexed.

    ��Vestor might be rambunctious, but I know he would want you to dine with us tonight, please stay a bit longer.��

    ��Okay, but only for a little while. I am a bit hungry.��

    It was one of the most delicious meals Nadia ever ate.

 59. Help! Attack On The Port Of Reeds!

    The scout hurried his horse along the winding path through swamps. Reeds whipped as wet thumps approached ever closer. He glanced back. Lobar, covered in swamp filth, roared. His meaty legs tensed before he jumped against the back of the horse. The spooked horse raised its front legs high. Lobar pulled the tail before lunging to put the horse in as chokehold. A loud pop followed a crack. Another snap followed as the horse fell on its rider��s leg.

    A ray shot forth from behind a clump of reeds. The pair melted into hot clay. Lobar smashed the newly formed clay with joined fists. Lumps flew everywhere as he punched and smashed the wet pile. Captain Morgul rode toward them on a black horse. Wet clay dripped from the embroidered plates of his armor.

    ��I commend Lobar for his enthusiasm, but was that really necessary?��

    ��I think he��s entitled to a little entertainment now and then. He had a stressful time of it back at camp. Right, Lobar.��

    Lobar released a deafeningly high-pitched squeal.

    ��With this one out of the way, there��s no one to give them warning,�� Groli said, ��You��ll take the village while the men are out to sea, and when they return, you��ll kill them.��

    ��And what threats will you eliminate?�� Morgul asked.

    ��Don��t worry about us. We know exactly what must be done, and your job will be all the easier for it.��

    <hr>

    Delia crouched on a heavy branch amidst the foliage of a tall oak. The window towards Mardela��s bedroom was directly ahead, about thirty-five-yard distance. It didn��t do her much good; Bradox was in the habit closing the shutters whenever he did something important. For now, the window remained open as Mardela slept. Bradox wasn��t with her, though he was somewhere in the home most likely. Delia cooperated with Dew on this watch, and neither of them had seen him leave.

    She heard footsteps below; Nadia approached the gate. Delia jumped down from between the branches to land in front of her with flexed knees, while Nadia skipped back a few steps with fists raised. Delia noticed the woman was back in her explorer��s attire of jeans and a purple short sleeved shirt with a loose collar. Such clothes were not appropriate for visiting a village lord.

    ��Didn��t Lord Nostrum prohibit you from coming here?�� Delia asked, ��What will he do if he finds out you were skulking around?��

    ��Oh, so you��re here too. Back me up, or leave me alone. I��ve decided to help Mardela.��

    ��Your main objectives would be better served if you left this family alone. This won��t serve you any purpose. The risk of trouble for everyone is too great if you interfere. You shouldn��t get involved.��

    Nadia pushed Delia aside and continued.

    ��It��s not about that anymore. I��m not going to sit idly by while someone��s being tortured, not when I have the power to stop it. Not after I felt what she��s going through.��

    A slight breeze pushed Nadia��s hair while rustling the branches of the oak. Delia swiftly jumped back into her perch. Nadia opened the gate to Nostrum��s estate and walked forward.

    <hr>

    A low note bellowed from a crudely fashioned horn echoed throughout the village. Captain Morgul rode into town at a trot on his black steed. Dual spikes of gold rose from the pinnacle of his lacquered green kabuto helmet. The back and sides of his head and neck were protected by plates of steel covered in green laminated leather. A red lacquered mask with a horrid grimace covered his face. Only his dark brown eyes remained visible through the holes.

    A sheathed odachi over ninety-one centimeters in length hung from leather cords. Cuirass of interlaced leather and iron plates protected his torso and back. Thick iron plates covered in laminated green leather rested over his shoulders. Plate skirting protected his lower torso. Plates of thick bamboo wrapped his shins and padded his knees. Treated leather sewn with green and red silk formed his sleeves.

    His two main lieutenants, Rigvan and Meerin, followed behind on dark brown horses. Meerin was in full armor, much like his Captain. Rigvan used old cuirass around his torso and small plates of leather strapped around the most vulnerable areas of his limbs. Directly behind them were two sullen men forced to tow a crude cart. Morgul��s foot soldiers lashed at their bare feet with whips. Morgul yelled from the top of his horse with a booming voice.

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ��People of Reeds, this village is now under the command of Lord Sarsin! Get out here and bring anything you have of tax worthy value for tribute. Do not let my men find it later. The consequences will be deadly!��

    They marched through the village without facing opposition. The villagers did as they were told. As the cart rolled past their cottages they came out with tethers, gold, jewelry, and other items of value as tribute to the new lord. With this completed peacefully, Morgul grumbled. Captain Morgul blew his horn at the town well.

    ��Out of your homes, out of your cottages. Get assembled! That��s more like it. What an obedient lot you are all!��

    A small mass of women, children, and elderly men were gathered at the well from the surrounding dwellings. Vestor clung to his mother as he watched the armored man on horseback supervise the gathering. Two guards escorted Awlena from behind a market stall, checked her for weapons, and then shoved her next to the other villagers.

    ��Stay put until you��re told to move!��

    Once a mass of people gathered, the captain��s horn blew again, ��You! Citizens! You��ll follow my men to the stables and stay there until the village is secure. Once the fighting is over, you can go back to your homes in peace. We are not barbarians! We��ve bought instructors and overseers with us. You��ll learn the laws of Sarsin and be released on my discretion while I head this village!��

    Next, Captain Morgul took nine men, including his two lieutenants, to secure the harbor. The remainder of his force split into four groups, each with an appointed leader. Three groups secured designated sections of the village until every citizen was in their custody at the stables. The fourth group took control of the stables to supervise the prisoners.

    <hr>

    The restaurant had no customers today. Nobody had shown up for a lunch. Luthial patiently stood behind the counter facing the door with a smile glued to her face. Even when the door was kicked open so hard it bust the latch and ripped hinges from the frame, Luthial kept smiling. Though there was a bit or an irritated twitch to it. The door had been unlocked. Five men entered, all clad in full armor, with katana holstered to their belts. Luthial bowed.

    ��Welcome to the Swimming Shark. Please have a seat so I can take your order.��

    ��Report to the stables, wench,�� said the tallest of the men ��and take everyone here with you lest you wish to taste our blades. This village is now under the command of Captain Morgul, servant of Lord Sarsin.��

    ��Oh, I had no clue. I suppose this means you won��t be having lunch?��

    ��Grendel,�� the leader pointed to a skinny man with shaggy whiskers, ��Take that stupid wench in the back room and do what you wish. You earned a five-minute break.��

    ��You��re coming with me.��

    Grendel attempted to grasp Luthial��s arm, but she turned it under his own and took hold of his wrist instead. She continued smiling, though her face twitched. The soldier froze in her grip. With a sudden twist, the joints in his shoulder cracked. She lifted him before slamming him back against the floor. Plates shook on the shelves. The wood floor cracked, along with both his front teeth as they slammed together. Grendel passed out.

    ��We should go boss.��

    ��You can leave,�� the leader said, ��but expect to die a deserter��s death at my hands once I��m finished with this wench.��

    They drew their swords.

    ��I see,�� Luthial said happily as she shrugged off her hostess kimono to reveal regal red robes of a Lothalos mercenary, ��Then I guess we��ll be doing this the hard way?��

    ��A mercenary, unexpected, this was supposed to be easy. She''s unarmed. Charge her, I doubt she can take us all at once.��

    Luthial pulled four grains out of a leather bag, one between each finger. With a single flick they stuck to center of each soldier. Vines sprouted that wrapped their limbs. Before the soldiers could struggle further, a purple lily sprouted from the center of each vine and closed upon their bodies, leaving only their heads exposed. Luthial flung a seed on Grendel for good measure.

    ��The customers just keep getting rowdier.��

    Josh came from the kitchen, saw what Luthial had accomplished by herself, and gave a slow clap. Darrell joined him, his hands wet and wrinkled from dishes. But when he saw the captured attackers, he whistled. Dew rushed in from the back hall, looking half asleep as his hand rested on the hilt of his sword. Finally, Nefri came from the kitchen and with Luthial��s spear and tossed it to her.

    ��You taught those guys,�� Josh said ��and I liked it.��

    ��Would you like to be taught as well?�� Luthial smiled, swinging her spear.

    ��Whoa!�� Josh raised his hands in the air, ��Stop the train and back up a little.��

    ��What��s a train?��

    Josh shook his head, ��Shouldn��t we question them or something?��

    ��No,�� Nefri said, ��We already know their intentions. I came to awaken the lord as soon as I heard the horn. They consider the village as theirs already and are spreading out warriors to secure it.��

    ��We don��t have time for this,�� Dew rubbed the sleep from his eyes, ��The village is under attack. That means Nadia is in danger! Josh, you must stay here or you��ll risk aggravating the incubus. Luthial will stay to protect you. Nefri, Darrell, you two go to the harbor, prevent them from killing Lord Nostrum.��

    ��Right,�� Nefri pointed to Darrel, ��We''re spread quite thin. I hear you fight well with the sword, take one of the dropped swords that you are most comfortable with.��

    ��What!? I can��t get involved with this!��

    Nefri frowned, ��You��re involved, no matter where you run to, so stay with me and learn to fight. Or you can hide in the oven like a coward?��

    Darrell picked up a sword, ��Don��t expect much out of me. And don��t let me die.��

    ��It��s settled then,�� Dew said, ��Nadia went to Nostrum��s estate. I��m going to protect her!��

    Dew dashed out the back. Darrell followed Nefri in the same direction. Luthial and Josh found themselves alone with the captured fighters.

    Their leader glared at them, then laughed.

 60. Help! Were In Over Our Heads!

    ��Divide and conquer! Divide and conquer!��

    Josh kicked the captured squad leader.

    ��Hey, sore loser! why don��t you shut up? Hey Luthy, why don��t we put these flower boys in the bath house, so we won��t have to listen to them whine?��

    ��Okay, you��ll have to guard the hall though. And only Nefri is allowed to call me that, call me Luthial.��

    ��You haven��t won yet. I��m still holding my sword.��

    Josh smirked, ��Not much good if you can��t-��

    The sharp edge of the leader��s katana sliced through the flower with a piercing crack. He rolled out of his sliced restraints then lunged for Josh, who back stepped as the smoking sword reached for his mouth.

    ��-swing it,��

    The giant purple flower deflated. The leather sheath of the swordsman smoked around a gaping cut. Luthial threw four seeds, but they were sliced in midair; not one seedling sprouted. The swordsman returned her feigned smile.

    ��Really mercenary? I won��t fall for the same trick twice.��

    Luthial thrust her spear at his neck. He dodged the point by leaning to the left. The smoking blade rotated; it sliced through the heavy brass coating of the pole as if it was butter.

    ��Distract him,�� Luthial mouthed.

    ��You distract him,�� Josh rolled up his sleeve, ��I��ll take him out.��

    ��No!�� Luthial dodged a swipe of the sword to retrieve the half of her spear that still had a blade. ��You don��t know what you��re dealing with. He knows advanced-blade techniques. He��ll kill you!��

    ��Know? I��m the master. You��ll regret those words when I��m slicing off your limbs.��

    Josh threw a ceramic mug from the nearest table.

    The swordsman sliced it cleanly through the middle. Luthial slid low. The halves of the mug shattered on the floor as the blunt end of her spear pummeled the swordsman��s gut. He gasped. It slammed him under his chin with enough force to lift him upwards. Before he could land, Luthial slammed his chest, sending him against the large clamshell.

    Despite the abuse, the swordsman staggered to recover his footing. Luthial closed in; kicked his sword hand, but despite a pained grimace he didn��t release the weapon. He swung for Luthial��s neck. She bent over backwards to avoid his blade. The swordsman sliced slightly wider than needed, giving Luthial time to execute a back-flip in retreat.

    The remains of her spear would never touch him if she didn��t fight close, but she knew he wouldn��t fall for another distraction. Josh tossed her a sword, which she threw at the enemy; her spear was made from a brass far superior to most steel.

    ��Don��t even try facing him with one of those,�� Luthial warned.

    ��Oh, you refuse battle?�� the swordsman smiled at Josh, ��Don��t have the guts to face my sword? You need a woman to fight your fights? How about I give you an advantage?��

    With one hand, he raised his sword over a dining room table and struck it with the blade. It became wedged in the oak surface.

    ��Still want to hide behind a woman?��

    ��Let��s see who��s afraid now,�� Josh dashed forward with a descending meteor of a punch.

    ��No!�� Luthial screamed, ��It��s a big lie!��

    The smoking blade raised above Josh��s head as he closed in with his punch. Luthial jumped to his side and kicked him out of the way. The swordsman redirected his swing for her. There was no time to attack first, no chance to dodge, and blocking it with the shaft of her halved spear would be futile against the piercing-sword technique. The swordsman��s eyes glowed as he sneered. His sword swooped for its prey. Red mist sprayed upwards from her shoulder, yet she caught the blade between her palms before it cut deeply.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    As Luthial wedged the sides of the blade between her palms, the swordsman looked unsteady. She kicked him backwards. He stumbled like a drunk, mumbled, and then charged again. A dried flower crumbled in her palm. As the drowsy swordsman stumbled forward, she dodged to the right and blew flower dust at him. Within a few seconds, he stumbled aimlessly and swung his sword in the air before dropping it. Luthial kicked the sword back toward Josh and used another flower seed to trap him before he fell over in a sound sleep.

    The red wet from her sliced left shoulder darkened her red dress all the way down to her hip. Josh turned pale and trembled at the sight of her sprinkling a crushed flower petal over her wound..

    ��You��re losing blood. We better do something.��

    ��There��s no time. If these men are this skilled, I have a bad feeling about Nefri. I have to help her, you stay here.��

    ��Hey! Look at yourself! You��re dripping on the floor!��

    ��I��ve suffered worse and come through without a scar. Don��t underestimate my healing ability. There��s no telling what might happen if you stray too far. Guard these prisoners and keeping the inn safe. If anyone wakes up, punch their lights out.��

    ��Guard the base,�� Josh made a fist, ��Yeah, you know it. You can count on me.��

    Luthial was gone before he finished speaking.

    <hr>

    The lone guard at Lord Nostrum��s front door raised his spear.

    ��You��re forbidden from this place. Turn back or I��ll arrest you. And you won��t be freed so quickly this time.��

    Nadia glared. The guard glared back. A slight glow appeared in her eyes. He turned pale and sweaty as he backed away. Then he threw down his spear and ran across the yard screaming ��witch!�� as Nadia entered the household. At the base of the steps, Bradox supported himself with a long wooden staff and refused to move.

    ��Lord Nostrum will see you dead if you go any further. Is this about the event in the bath house two days ago? Well, I have no idea how that bead got in your bath salts. You would need to speak with the merchant who sold them to me.��

    ��I didn��t say anything about the bath powder. How would you? So, it was you! Well, I don��t care! This is about what you��re doing to Mardela. I��m not going to let you keep hurting her. I want you to free her and I��m only going to ask once.��

    ��Watch your tongue! I��ve learned a great deal of your secrets while you were fighting my powers young lady, or should I say young man?��

    ��What��s the matter? Didn��t you know that Mardela is so weak she��s no longer any hindrance to dealing with you? You may consider what I��m about to do a high honor, because I��ll permanently lose some of my powers for it. In exchange, your ego will be erased. I��m going to make you my servile little apprentice. You��ll be powerless to resist even my most subdued suggestion.��

    Bradox raised his staff.

    Nadia envisioned a venemous snake slitering from the tip. It struck her. It coiled around her aura. Ethereal teeth bit into her spirit. She braced herself. A haunting darkness invaded her mind; she felt it filling her head. It crushed her thoughts before pushing against the base of her skull.

    The wizard couldn''t move while casting this spell, but she couldn''t move in her efforts to block it. She concentrated her abilities into the depths of her mind as Bradox continued to inject an ethereal venom. Personality subdued. Fears multiplied. Compulsive obedience implanted. Memories and knowledge compressed into a tightly wound ball. Even her taste in food shifted.

    The venom diverted into something superficial. Nadia pressed her palms to the sides of her head as Bradox breathed heavily. Now he was trying to absorb her will. The snake drank deeply as the pendant glowed. Nadia tightly packed her aura like a constricted spring. The depths of her mind overflowed with compressed power.

    Once enough poison had been injected, Nadia''s compressed energy snapped outwards. The snake disintigrated as the force catapulted back to Bradox. It appeared he had been struck in the face as he rolled over the railing with a shout. Knee cracked as he fell. He grabbed his leg around the injury with a shrill cry.

    Nadia, disorriented, felt much venom pulsing through her aura. She knelt by the wizard''s side without knowing why. A hand went over his knee with a gentle blue glow. He pushed himself to sit up and stared at her, but she stopped suddenly. She shook her head, stood up, and skipped up the steps.

    The staff, he grabbed his staff. The first attack had not left her undamaged! His spiritual poisons were trying to take hold. Bradox concentrated to infiltrate her mind again. A defensive aura repulsed his powers. This pain in his knee destroyed his concentration. He wrapped a dark force around his leg before limping away.

    As he limped away, the force Nadia catapulted into his mind tore at his own will. Bradox felt his head pulse as he struggled to walk. The poison he''d cast on Nadia had come back to him. He needed to find a place to lick his wounds and come back stronger. The only solace he found was that Nadia might die dispelling the poisons he had cultivated within Mardela.

    A beak nose and the wide grin of an impish man met him as he hobbled to theedge of the lawn. Groli glared down upon the wizard from the perch of Lobars''s bald head.

    ��You��re with the force Lord Sarsin sent then? Good. Help me deal with that witch. You��ll be well compensated.��

    ��Old wizard Bradox of the poison leaf. You don��t look so well. I have a message from Lord Sarsin: You are a thieving, backstabbing, fork tongued, two-faced wizard who dares to blackmail your Lord. Your services are no longer required.��

    Bradox raised his staff as Lobar charged.

 61. Help! Don鈥檛 Pull My Hair!

    Delia stood before a window, slightly winded, as Nadia entered Mardela��s room. She saw tears running down Nadia��s face.

    ��I had to fend off Nostrum��s entire guard, I��m not sure what is happening.��

    ��I think they were being controlled by the healer, well, not really controlled, but something like it. This village stinks of him.��

    Nadia wiped her face with her sleeve before kneeling over Mardela.

    ��I won��t let you die.��

    Waves of dark aura emanated from Mardela and gathered beneath Nadia��s palms, where they formed into dark orbs. Heavy black smoke engulfed Nadia��s hands while rising. Delia backed up towards the window then crouched low as smoke filled the room. Smoke flumed out the window. Far more power entrapped Mardela��s soul than Nadia had imagined. Dark aura burned at Nadia��s fingers. Sweat soaked her shirt. A sooty stain engulfed her hands, then traveled up her arms.

    Mardela��s frosty pale skin regained its vitality. Fog cleared from the woman��s eyes. She moved, her fingers flexed slowly and then a hand reached toward Nadia and felt her cheek. She turned her head toward Nadia. A few minutes later, the orb of dark power burst under Nadia��s palms. Smoking black soot stained her shirt. The room felt like it twirled as Nadia fainted into Delia��s arms. She became limp as a rag doll as she stared blankly. The soot-like coloring on her arms traveled past her elbows, then into her sleeves. Mardela slipped off her bed and sat on the floor because of her weak legs

    ��You��re awake,�� Delia said.

    ��I am,�� her voice was soft, almost musical as she grasped Nadia��s arm. ��The curse is in her skin, but if it goes deeper, she��ll die.��

    Delia knelt in front of Nadia, shaking her shoulders, ��You have to fight this. Nadia, do you hear me? Fight this. I said fight it!��

    There was no response.

    ��You can��t die,�� Delia cried, ��I��m supposed to protect you. You need to wake up and tell me what to do.��

    Nadia sighed, but her breath was shallow.

    ��Tell me what to do,�� Delia begged, ��Just please tell me.��

    Delia looked into Nadia��s empty eyes, clenched her teeth, and slapped Nadia across the face. Mardela shrunk back as Delia continued slapping her.

    ��I��m going to slap you until you start fighting. You��re a witch, aren��t you? Use your powers and dispel the poison!��

    Her cheeks bloated; Nadia regained a fraction of consciousness.

    ��White kimono,�� she whispered, ��Sanguin made it, for me. It has-��

    Delia slapped her again.

    ��That hurts.��

    ��This white kimono, where did you put it?!��

    ��I gave it to Nostrum,�� Nadia coughed and fell unconscious again.

    Delia thought for a moment, ��It would be somewhere here then.��

    She pushed open the sliding doors of Mardela��s closet. A white kimono patterned with light pink flowers shone with a luster that made the pretty garments hanging to the side look like dirty rags. Delia pulled it from the closet and set it on the edge of the bed.

    ��I��m going to try putting this one on her.��

    Mardela nodded, ��Hurry.��

    Delia lifted Nadia onto the bed. Then she retrieved her spear. A single slice starting at Nadia��s neck and down her torso sliced open stained cloths without touching skin. The sooty rags went in a pile by the corner. Nadia barely breathed as the poison aura crept into her shoulders. Delia took her time getting the garment on the limp body. It turned a dingy gray, and then pitch black as an inky goo oozed from the garment and dripped down the bed.

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    It melted into something like a formation of hardened coal before Nadia awoke. The sooty coloring of her skin receded, disappearing completely. Aside from a few burns on her hands and swollen cheeks she looked okay. The kimono lost its luster and pattern, yet remained clean and white. Nadia jumped from the lumpy formation, once a bed, and knelt into Delia as she failed to stand up.

    ��Sanguin made this to protect me. I didn��t realize that until now. Thanks, Delia, for saving my life.��

    Delia looked away with a frown.

    ��Thank Dew, he won��t pay me if anything happens to you.��

    ��And thank you for saving mine,�� Mardela said

    Nadia stood with some effort as her legs trembled.

    ��Mardela!�� Nadia knelt down to hug her, ��Lord Nostrum is going to be so happy! I knew I was doing the right thing.��

    ��Nostrum? Can you take me to the harbor? I want to see him.��

    Tears streamed down Nadia��s bruised cheeks.

    ��We��ll go right now!��

    Delia carried Mardela as Nadia followed behind. However, Lobar and Groli were in sight as they went out the front door. The huge troll held Bradox upside down.

    ��Mercy! Mercy! I surrender. I can still be of service. Please I beg you!��

    Lobar slammed him like a club. Bradox cried as Lobar lifted him.

    ��Oh my, that one is certainly going to leave a mark,�� Groli laughed, ��I��m sure your knee is the least of your worries now.��

    Delia saw Nadia turn to watch, ��Leave them be, we need to get back to the inn. Everyone is regrouping there.��

    Nadia clenched her fists. Groli and Lobar hadn��t noticed them, but they were abusing her master! Nadia squinted as she tried to get control over herself. He was not her master! Her lip trembled but she couldn��t stop herself.

    ��Leave my- him alone. Can��t you see he��s in pain.��

    Groli stared at Nadia wide-eyed. Delia retreated to hide Mardela within the house.

    ��Why are you helping me?�� Bradox managed a twisted grin, ��Oh yes, some of my work held after all. Witch, deal with these two and then heal my wounds!��

    ��You��re the pendant holder! I was having such fun I almost forgot,�� Groli slowly broke into a grin himself, ��Today is our lucky day Lobar.��

    ��Let him go!��

    ��Then consider this a favor,�� Groli said.

    Bradox melted slowly enough to release a dying scream. The pool of clay became tar as the wizard��s curses affected his altered flesh. Delia returned to Nadia��s side with her spear ready. Lobar snorted.

    ��This entire village is under our control. There��s nowhere to run. You��re going to pay for the humiliation you caused me.��

    ��Get Mardela to the Harbor,�� Nadia said, ��I��ll hold them off myself.��

    ��No way! You��re in no condition!��

    ��Lobar, attack!��

    The half-troll slammed Delia into the wall with a punch. Nadia landed a punch on it from the side, though it felt like she hit a punching bag filled with cement. The flesh of the troll barely gave. She dodged its counter attacks, barely able to keep her breath. Delia recovered and forced Lobar to back off by feinting with spear.

    ��Hide,�� Delia said, ��The only thing you can do here is die.��

    Nadia scurried indoors. Delia dodged beams from the imp-man. Sections of the wall melted instead. Lobar charged. Delia thrust her palm flat before Lobar��s face. A light poured forth that blinded the troll. Groli jumped from Lobar��s back. A renewed barrage of clay beams from his eyes forced Delia to dodge backward. Another stream of light from her palm hit Lobar in the face. The troll froze.

    Groli retreated into the trees and jumped between them. A clay-maker from the left hit the ground beneath Delia��s feet. She jumped before a clay pit formed. A heavy beam came from the right, leaving a muddy crater. The next beam fired directly at her. She dodged to the left. From the edge of the large crater, another beam fired. She ran forward while dodging beams. Now they came from the front. Delia dodged backwards until pinned against the side of the house. Why couldn��t she spot him?

    Nothing. She listened intently and heard something inside the house. The beams had stopped. Delia jumped past the clay pits, ran by Lobar, and through the door. Watery clay dripped from the ceiling as Groli confronted her in the sitting room. Delia threw her spear and charged. Glowing gold eyes shot a beam. The spear melted into a lump of hot clay splattering across the dining room table. Three punches to Groli��s bloated little gut knocked him down. Her went on is neck as she shot a beam of light into his eyes. He snorted in protest as the light stiffened his limbs and darkened his eyes as Delia panted.

    ��I��m sorry, but it��s too dangerous to let you two live.��

    A wave of debris flew through the sitting room as the front wall collapsed. Lobar charged through. He grabbed Delia��s shoulder and flung her outside. A hard landing on her left shoulder made her wince as she rolled on her back. Groli struggled to his feet amidst the wreckage with his eyes clenched shut.

    ��Sniff for the witch. Hurry, we can��t leave without her artifact.��

    Lobar took a deep breath through thick, hairy nostrils. A closet door under the steps caught his attention. The door ripped off its hinges and crashed into the dining room. Nadia crammed herself into a corner with Mardela. A thick hand grabbed hold of her hair to drag her out and lift her up. The little bit of squirming she managed only made Lobar roar in her face.

 62. Help! Trouble At The Harbor!

    Two-hundred and forty fishermen, all with crudely shaven heads, sat along the shore while Morgul assessed them. His men patrolled the harbor. They tossed rusty tools into a pile by the sand banks. The wind from the ocean rusted the dried grasses off the beach. Lord Nostrum sat in the center of the group with his leg folded, back hunched over. Wavy blonde hair floated somewhere in the bay.

    Captain Morgul scanned the prisoners. He hadn��t bothered to ask that despicable imp man about Nostrum. This oversight would have him punished by Lord Sarsin if discovered. He knew Lord Nostrum fished with his men and he most likely sailed the Quagmire. But somehow, the fishing crew learned of the attack. They gathered here when his force arrived. The boats had already been disembarked.

    ��I see you think yourselves clever. Well, I know your lord is among you. I demand he stand up like a man and accept his fate.��

    Nobody moved. The crew stared at him before returning their attention to the sand.

    ��One hundred gold tethers to the man who gives me Lord Nostrum.��

    They continued looking down. Rigvan received a nod from his captain. He rode to the outskirts of the group and thrust a thin spear against a bare chest.

    ��You��re a young man, is your father here?��

    The man refused to speak.

    ��Does he have family? Because they should know that I��m about to take his life if Sir Nostrum continues his cowardice.��

    ��He��s not with us!�� cried an old man.

    ��Lies!��

    Rigvan raised his spear.

    Lord Nostrum resisted Deagle��s attempts to pull him down. Captain Morgul and his two lieutenants surveyed their prisoners from horseback with careful attention.

    ��Stop! I��m Lord Nostrum. Don��t harm my citizens!��

    Nefri and Darrell snuck in from the outskirts of the harbor. They witnessed everything. Nefri crouched behind a junk pile; Darrell crawled and rolled through the sand to hide behind a nearby boat. As he brushed himself off, Nefri climbed the pile and surveyed the situation. Darrell begged her to stay unseen with a frantic whisper as she pulled the spear from across her back.

    ��Are you really Lord Nostrum?�� Morgul shouted, ��That��s a bad look for you.��

    ��I am. Your business is with me, leave these men alone. They��re simple fisher folk who know nothing of war.��

    ��Lord Nostrum, why leave your village defenseless? Did you think your poverty would spare you? Come here and face my blade for your stupidity.��

    Nostrum approached without hesitation. Sand shifted beneath bare feet.

    ��On your knees,�� Morgul commanded.

    A long sword with a finely polished blade withdrew from the sheath besides Morgul��s horse. He raised it over Lord Nostrum��s head.

    Licking her lips, Nefri focused on Morgul��s head as she tossed her bronze spear like a javelin.  It flew with uncanny precision for twenty-eight meters. The tip of Nefri''s spear hit the steel as it swung. CRACK!

    The sword deflected. Morgul dropped it. It fell into the sand and stood by the blade. Nostrum caught the spear,  knocked Morgul off his horse with the pommel, and pinned his chest against the sand.

    "Think twice next you call a village lord weak."

    Six sword wielders rushed toward the junk pile to confront Nefri. She dove underneath their attacks until they were behind her. Crouching, she kicked two men behind their knees with a twirling low kick. It threw them off balance. Nefri quickly stood and knocked their heads together; the men fell unconscious.

    Four guards remained, two attacking from either side. Nefri slid to the left and took a man by the legs. She swung him around in a circle. The katana he clung to swung with him; he became a whirling blade. When Nefri let go, he released his sword. It flew into the chest of another fighter. The remaining guard dropped his sword and begged for mercy by grovling in the sand.

    Lieutenant Meerin sneered. A diminutive mace slammed into the surrendering guard��s back. Nefri looked to the fishing crew. With Morgul pinned and so many of their enemy taken out, the prisoners tensed. Nostrum remained standing atop Morgul, which kept the two lieutenants at bay for now. One by one, the fishing crew stood.

    ��Retreat from the beach and get to town!�� Nefri warned, ��You have no idea what those two are capable of!��

    They chose to charge the two lieutenants, who remained on horseback and kept some space before them. Meerin flung a spiked iron flail. Rigvan jumped to stand atop his horse��s saddle with acrobatic ease. He sliced with a pair of silver daggers.

    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    "Listen to her! Run!" Nostrum commanded.

    The pressure from the pummel of the spear slackened as Nostrum turned to scold his men. Morgul grabbed the spear and fought for control. His leg curled, then struck the bare chest with a powerful kick. As Nostrum lost his grip, Morgul kicked him to the ground with his other foot. Nostrum found himself pinned between the blade and the sand.

    ��Don��t let them massacre my people!�� Nostrum shouted.

    Nefri jumped between the fishing crew and Morgul��s lieutenants, only to be ignored. Rigvan and Meerin split up and attacked the disorganized crew from opposite sides. Rigvan''s daggers sliced for open necks. Nefri kicked two men out of their way, bruising their ribs but saving their necks. She somersaulted to the other side of the crowd to redirect a flail with a chop and a kick. Her hand cracked. Flesh bulged in protest. She ran across the formation and kicked Rigvan��s horse. His loss of balance saved another pair from his daggers and forced his momentary retreat.

    Before she could deliver a finisher against Rigvan, Meerin yelled a curse. Three diminutive flails flew at another group. Nefri leapt to deflect the projectiles with her fists. But when she threatened Meerin, Rigvan whistled. The hostage from earlier proved barely able to dodge knife swings. In this way, they toyed with her. Nefri darted back and forth to defend men with no hope of a fair fight. It drained even her stamina.

    Morgul smiled, ��Your mercenary wench thinks she can save everyone. And did you honestly think the likes of you could pin me down? You lost by not taking the kill. Those are your final mistakes.��

    The bronze spear pierced Nostrum. The dying leader lifted. Liquid flowed down the weapon. Morgul steadied the spear with one hand as the weight of Lord Nostrum hung from it. Wind swirled with a spray of sand. He tossed the spear back to debris pile with a grunt. Nostrom landed on his back atop of the rusty tools. The spear pinned him.

    Darrell crept toward him. His heart was still beating and he could still feel breath. Afraid to pull out the spear, Darrell tore his shirt and pressed it around the wound. Two sword wielders Nefri knocked unconscious earlier revived, sat up and stared. The man she flung searched for his sword. Morgul laughed as he retrieved his long sword and pointed it at Darrell.

    ��Mercenary! Why tend your dead master when you can fight me? I see you have a sword.��

    ��Fine,�� Darrell''s knees shook, ��I guess if everyone else is going to die, I might as well join them.��

    ��Pity. You��re not a mercenary I take it. Just another weakling, aren��t you? I��ll let my men have the honor of keeping you from your master. You three, finish off Nostrum. Kill that boy if he gets in your way.��

    Two men charged toward Nostrum. A third man with a dagger ran from behind to join them. Blades met. Sparks flew as Darrell slowed their advance. He kicked one aside. The other charged for the injured lord but Darrell��s sword went through him.

    The sword remained stuck. Darrell turned pale, shivered, and froze in place as he stared his enemy in the eye. He watched as the fighter��s eyes widened and his body became heavy on the blade. A hot sting opened on the back of his arm. He turned. The next swing swiped across the back of the wounded man. Darrell pushed the body off his sword with a kick.

    Then he met the attack of the remaining fighter, steel against steel.

    Six from the fishing crew laid motionless in the sand as Nostrum��s men fled. Nefri fought to ensure their escape. Numerous cuts discolored her fingers, wrist, and palms. A gash above her left eye drained over her eyebrow. Meerin and Rigvan kept their distance. Without villagers to threaten, they couldn��t play the same game as before. Captain Morgul jumped on his horse and rode behind her. Nefri tried running past Rigvan. He jumped at her and swiped at her side with his daggers. Evasion led back into containment. Morgul advanced, raised his odachi, and took his swing. The left side of her silk uniform blouse sliced open without harming her skin.

    ��I could have killed with that strike,�� Morgul smiled.

    His blade came for the right side. She kicked his horse to bounce backward. The force of her kick caused the animal to groan, its knees buckled. Nefri winced for the beast. Captain Morgul turned his blade outward as he rode past her. Before she could strike, the grip of his sword slammed into stomach. Morgul��s lieutenants put away their weapons. Nefri tried to counter, but Rigvan jumped down and kicked her to Meerin.

    A flying uppercut sent her back to Morgul, who didn��t bother to finish her with his massive blade. Instead, her upper arm snapped as the grip of his sword slammed it like a battering ram. She cried sharply after landing over the sand. The broken mercenary pushed herself onto all fours, then forced herself to stand. The three men encircling her laughed. Her left arm hung limp. Red stained her face and ran down her shoulder as she panted.

    ��Face it woman, all that lifesaving tired you out,�� Rigvan said, ��You can��t beat us.��

    ��Give me your sacred promise to submit your power to my command, and I��ll spare your life. Rigvan and Meerin here are well taken care of. You are much stronger. And by far more beautiful.��

    ��No. I won��t allow it. I��ll take death or victory, nothing else.��

    ��I don��t recall giving you a choice. I��ll have you begging me to take you within the hour!��

    The end of his sword��s grip connected with her stomach once again. Her eyes gleamed as her hands wrapped around the base of the steel blade. She ignored the metal slicing her palms as she forced the hilt from his hands. With all her strength, she pushed the blade��s tip against the front armor plate. Morgul sneered. The tip penetrated his leather armor between plates. He felt it scratch his chest and laughed because she didn��t have the strength to stab him. Nefri glared.

    "You lost by not taking the kill. That was your final mistake."

    Her right hand wrapped tightly around the base of the blade. Metal cut her fingers. Liquid squeezed around her hands. Nefri whispered. A streak of electricity wound around the blade, through the tip, and into Morgul��s heart. The captain gasped before collapsing. Nefri struggled to keep control of the long sword with one sliced hand as she faced the two lieutenants. Rigvan backed away.

    Darrell, badly cut and scratched, knelt beside Nostrum. Luckily, the men stopped fighting when Morgul fell, so Nostrum remained safe for now.

    ��Very good,�� Meerin said, ��I��m surprised you were clever enough to kill the boss with such a weak lightning spell. But you must be completely exhausted.��

    ��What!?�� yelled Rigvan.

    ��Rigvan!�� Meerin shouted, ��Her spells are too weak to work against us. Captain Morgul was careless. That spell went directly into his heart. It��s a trick. This mercenary is almost dead. If we hurry, we can get our captain revived.��

    ��That so,�� Rigvan said, ��I��ll take care of her myself then.��

    Rigvan jumped at Nefri with a deranged laugh.

 63. Help! Reflect Upon This!

    Women, children, and the elderly packed the dilapidated stables being used as a prison.  The infirm, elderly and women in late pregnancy were allowed to sit outside among the trees, though under threat of execution if they wandered off. Twenty-three warriors watched over five hundred villagers. They frantically ran back and forth among the stalls while shouting orders. Awlena cried as a teenage boy who tried to run was cut down.

    Shikori held Vestor tightly against her chest as a guard pushed them toward the crowded stable. The guard twisted Shikori��s arm and shoved her into Awlena to further pack the improvised cell. Vestor dove from his mother��s arm. His hat flew to be caught by Awlena. A guard snatched him by the nape before he could get away. Vestor wriggled and swatted madly. Seeing Vestor��s ears, the guard recanted throwing the child back in with his mother, and shut the door instead. Shikori pressed her face against the square viewing hole and banged with her fists.

    ��Leave him alone, he��s just a boy! Don��t touch him!��

    ��A little Fox-demon spy, heh? Are you scared.��

    A dagger pressed against Vestor��s neck. The boy nodded. Shikori screamed and banged on the door. Dew landed quietly beside him. The handle of his sword cracked against the guard��s skull. Vester freed himself as the guard went out.

    ��An honorable warrior never harms the innocent or kills the defenseless.��

    Awlena caught Shikori as she fainted. Vestor checked the guard��s pulse.

    ��Hey, Mister. You didn��t kill him.��

    ��As I said,�� Dew spoke softly, as the others guards were too busy with the overflow of prisoners. ��I don��t believe in killing the defenseless. They��ll think you a spy and that makes this place dangerous for you. You��ll be safer with me for now, and I��m sure your mother and my sister will understand.��

    Dew took the child in his left arm and leapt back onto the roof of the building. There was a clear path to Lord Nostrum��s house, so he thought to check there next.

    ��Why did you try to escape?�� Dew asked.

    ��I smelled a friend in trouble,�� he squirmed to break free of Dew��s arm. ��You need to let me go so I can help her.��

    ��Who?��

    ��What��s it to you? her name��s Nadia, now let me go.��

    ��Where��s her scent coming from?�� Dew lifted the boy to his face with both hands. ��I need to save her as well, please tell me. Is she at the estate?��

    No sooner than Vestor pointed toward Lord Nostrum��s estate, he was tucked under Dew��s left arm again and they were off.

    <hr>

    Delia��s left shoulder drooped; her arm locked against her side. The stiff, swollen, arm snapped back into joint after she lifted it sideways with her teeth grinding. She approached the building quietly. Once she reached the house, she gathered pieces of wood from the wall Lobar smashed through. Then she crept slowly toward the back where she might enter from the kitchen unseen. Nadia needed to stall them a moment longer.

    ��Lobar! What are you waiting for, break her ne...��

    ��Stop!�� Nadia yelled, still dangling from her hair. ��If you kill me, you��ll never be able to harness any of the pendant��s powers. It��ll be a piece of junk, but I can teach you how to use it. You��ll have power you never dreamed of. It��ll allow you to do anything you want. I swear!��

    "I''m not convinced one bit. What can you possibly teach me?��

    ��I could teach you rejuvenation techniques that would make you almost invincible in battle. Whenever your body is harmed, it��ll heal immediately. Lost limbs will grow back. You could amplify your amazing powers. Your powers are really incredible by the way. Increase Lobar��s strength tenfold. Shield yourself from magic and spells. But I must teach you. I have to lend you the power.��

    ��Lobar, break the chain but leave her alive.��

    ��Wait!�� Nadia shouted, Lobar stopped.

    ��What now!�� Groli snapped, exasperated. ��I don��t suppose you��ll try to tell me that the pendant must remain around your neck to work. I��m not a total fool, and if that��s the case you would be useless to us anyhow.��

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ��No, I��m not trying to tell you anything like that. It��s just that the chain is part of the pendant. If you break it, all its power will be released at once. Even if we survive the explosion, it��ll be drained forever. There��s a device in the back that unhooks it without breaking the chain. You need to do it that way.��

    ��You can remove it of your own accord, right?��

    Nadia shook her head, ��Mmm, hmm,�� she whispered.

    ��Fine. Remove it now.��

    ��It��s kinda hard. Seeing as I��m hanging by the hair and it really hurts.��

    ��Lobar. Let her feet touch the floor, but if she tries anything funny, lift her right back up again. Girl, from now on you��re our slave. You��ll teach us how to use the pendant, and if I��m satisfied with the powers, it gives me, I might be gracious and let you go free someday when you��re a useless old hag.��

    ��Yes, Sir,�� she fumbled with the device at the back of her neck, slowly.

    ��Good. It seems you got the message. How long are you going to play with that thing? Why don��t you move the device to the front of your neck so you can see it better?��

    Lobar screamed, losing his grip on Nadia��s hair. Nadia covered her ears and fell backwards into the troll��s belly as Groli scolded the half-troll. Then he saw black liquid dripping from a knife wound on the back of Lobar��s upper arm. Nadia recoiled as Groli fired a clay-maker; it was only an inch from the tip of her nose when a piece of wood intercepted it. A lump of hot clay landed on the folds of Nadia��s kimono. It evaporated off the garment. Nadia wiped sweat from her forehead, dove, and crawled back to the kitchen. Meanwhile, Delia dodged Lobar��s crazed fists as pieces of wood intercepted the imp-man��s clay-makers. After ducking Lobar��s punch, she threw a chair at Groli face. He blasted it.

    A lump of hot clay fell into his eyes. Delia jumped behind Groli and kicked him toward the half-troll. When the imp-man fired to clear the clay, the beam burst through the clay mask and hit Lobar in the stomach. A mass of burning clay melted from a bloody hole in the troll��s midsection. Broken innards exuded from the edges of a wound semi-sealed by the clay. Lobar fell backwards with a piercing scream that lasted for an entire minute. It was so powerful that no one inside Nostrum��s home could move against the shaking. Groli fired wildly into the air to get the clay off his eyes. Upon seeing Lobar��s condition, he turned on Delia in a rage.

    ��You��ll pay for this! You��ll paaaaaaaay! You��ll pay! You��ll pay! You��ll paaaaaaay!��

    He shot clay-makers with recklessly, each one came faster than the last. Delia could barely keep up. Jumping behind Lobar��s body provided cover; Groli wouldn��t risk desecrating it any further. As Groli jumped to get a clear shot, Delia dove to the other side of Lobar��s body and pulled the kitchen knife from Lobar��s arm. Its blade dripped with black goo. She franticly wiped it on her uniform until she could see her reflection, paying no heed to the cuts on her waist.

    ��Stay away from him!�� the half imp jumped high to get a clear shot, ��or I��ll see you rot!��

    ��No,�� Delia rose from her cover, ��You��ll see yourself.��

    The next beam bounced off the blade of the reflective kitchen knife, right back to the one who produced it. The knife melted. The imp-man screamed wildly as part of his body melted into a hunk of black tar.

    ��I��m sorry- Lobaaar!��

    Nadia leaned against the wall as she limped to the living room.

    ��Never underestimate a good utensil,�� Nadia sighed as she slid to her knees. ��I��m bushed.��

    ��Where��s Mardela?�� Delia asked.

    ��She was too weak to go see her husband. So I used the pendant and gave her some of my strength.��

    ��What��s wrong with you?! You��re already weak as it is from everything you��ve done. Do you want to die?��

    ��Not at all,�� Nadia said, resting her head against the door sill.

    Vestor popped through the big hole in the wall, ignored the troll, and scurried directly to Nadia.

    ��Nadia!�� Vestor jumped into her chest and hugged fiercely about the neck, ��You��re okay!��

    ��I didn��t know you were such a fan,�� Nadia giggled, hugging him back. ��Where��s your mother?��

    ��They took her prisoner,�� Vestor said.

    ��Don��t worry,�� Dew removed his sandals before he entered Nostrum��s home through the remains of the doorway. ��I��m sure she won��t be harmed. The prisoners are looking after one another.��

    ��You��ve arrived at a great time,�� Delia said.

    Dew knelt by Delia��s side and kissed her hand. Her face turned a brilliant shade of red.

    ��I owe you greatly for saving the woman I love. I could never gather enough wealth to repay you.��

    Lobar stirred from his rest, pushing himself to stand with an agonizing cry as blood-soaked clay oozed from his waist.  Delia assumed a fighting stance, but Dew held his arm out to forbid her. The same black goo that escaped Lobar��s wounds dripped from his eyes as he drug himself to Groli��s body. Lobar cradled it.

    ��Groli, friend,�� he cried.

    A wailing roar echoed throughout the village. Lobar shuffled through the gaping hole in the building. Everyone watched silently until he was in the yard. Nadia cried.

    ��He��s going to the marshes to die,�� Dew said.

    Vestor jumped from Nadia as Delia picked her up.

    ��Stop crying. Now��s not the time for sympathy. They tried to kill us, remember?��

    "Delia, one does not simply tell a lady to stop crying."

    Delia placed Nadia in Dew��s arms, ��Mardela��s on her way to the shore. I��ll go protect her and help Nefri if needed. You take care of this one.��

    Nadia dried her eyes as Delia darted off. Dew slipped into his sandals and left through the front door. Vestor did his best to keep up.

    ��Where are you taking me?��

    ��Back to the inn, which is safest place in the village. If the worst comes, we can escape the village entirely. Besides, you��re behaving strangely.��

    ��I��m under a spell,�� Nadia rested her head on his shoulder. ��Bradox took away my will. Any man could make me their slave for life just by commanding it today. I even have to tell you this. You could even force me to marry you. There��s nothing I could do about it, unless you wait until tomorrow. Please wait till tomorrow.��

    ��I command you to be yourself, don��t let a spell force you to submit to anyone��s word.��

    ��Thank you, Dew.�� Nadia sighed before she fell sound asleep.

    ��Don��t worry, Nadia,�� Vestor yelled from behind, his ears twitching, ��If anyone hurts you, he��ll have to deal with me.��

    ��There you go,�� Dew laughed. ��You have a new protector and I have more competition.��

 64. Help! Nefri!

    Darrell grabbed a second sword from the sand. A sword in each hand, he let his opponents close in. He exposed himself slightly for a moment. They attacked, he parried their swing and pierced them in turn. He left his weapons in their bodies. One last sword laid in the sand; Meerin was too busy watching Rigvan jump at Nefri to notice Darrell claim it.

    A few careful steps backward into the ocean kept Nefri from being sliced by Rigvan��s daggers. Rigvan jumped on his horse��s saddle and from it somersaulted forward. His blades crisscrossed against her abdomen even as she dodged backwards faster into deeper water. Soon Rigvan found himself dizzy; he stopped, landed, and held his forehead to regain equilibrium.

    The ocean waves lapped with frothy thickness over Nefri��s calves. One of her sandals pulled off her foot as she almost slipped in the tide. A water spell that would bring forth arms of water to drag them into the depths raced through her mind, but it was useless because she couldn��t make a cage with her fingers. What was she even thinking? Water and plant-based magic was Luthial��s specialty. Her left arm barely moved through the pain. A fire spell in the ocean would be pointless anyway. Rigvan ran into the water and swung with his daggers.

    Her right index finger saved her chest from being sliced at the cost of a wound. Her left ear saved her eye. Rigvan stabbed her through the left shoulder just below the collar bone. The force of his blade sent her collapsing into the water. Rigvan stepped on her body and raised his daggers victoriously. CRACK! A crackle, sizzle, and pops played as Rigvan��s skin blackened. The ocean about Rigvan��s legs hissed as he collapsed.

    ��Fool,�� Meerin whispered, ��He allowed her to get a final attack. Perhaps I��ll be the new commander after all.��

    A katana blade lodged itself through Meerin��s throat. The lieutenant choked as he fell off his horse. Darrell��s knees hit the sand. Sweat beaded from his forehead. He smacked his dry tongue against the roof of his mouth as his skin became moonlight. He flung the sword. It couldn��t have flown truer. But Nefri?

    ��NEFRI!��

    Luthial jumped from a cliff overlooking the harbor as waves pushed Nefri ashore. The warrior��s broken arm stretched to the left while her right arm was pinned under her back. Legs curled up tightly. The ocean lapping her body turned a gentle pink. The tattered uniform flapped over broken skin as salt water bathed her wounds. Luthial pulled her out of the salty water and into her arms. Slowly, trembling, with tears streaming down, she stepped backward from the ocean sun as she cradled Nefri tightly.

    Nefri whispered, ��Let me stand.��

    ��You can��t, no I can��t let you.��

    ��I won, let me stand. It doesn��t even hurt.��

    Luthial put Nefri on her feet. The red-haired mercenary��s knees hit the sand. Her head arched back as she reached her right arm and stretched forth her palm toward Luthial. They pressed their palms together in a victory gesture as a stream of red swirled down Nefri��s raw arm. Eyes closed, she sighed, and Luthial caught her before she could fall backwards.

    The fishing crew found a wooden plank suitable to convey Nefri. Clothes were donated off the backs of the men to keep the board soft and clean her wounds; Darrell donated his jacket, laying it over the body. Luthial lifted the bed herself and kept it perfectly balanced. Delia arrived, jumped to Luthial��s side to assist despite her wounded shoulder. Nostrum lay where Morgul had thrown him, refusing assistance. He remained pinned to the junk heap by Nefri��s spear. Darrell walked back over, sat at his side, put his hands over his face, and wept.

    ��It��s all right lad,�� Nostrum assured through labored breath, ��You acquitted yourself well. You��ve no reason to be ashamed.��

    Darrell couldn��t stop weeping; he fell into the sand and went into convulsions, thrashed it with his fists. This continued even as Mardela knelt beside her husband. A calloused hand caressed her cheek eagerly as his eyes flooded.

    "God must be bringing me closer. I��m already seeing visions. If anyone��s listening, tell Mardela that I��m sorry I couldn��t help her. I love her so; I hope she can forgive me for dying like this. Send me out to sea, I want to rest in the ocean.��

    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    Nostrum leaned into his wife��s chest and smiled in his last breath.

    <hr>

    On a high wood table laden with scratches, a clean white cloth lay folded in a bowl of cold water. Rolls of thin cloth stood next to the bowl among open jars of crushed herbs: ginseng, comfrey, and dandelion milk. The cloth was treated with these herbs before being wrapped around Luthial��s shoulder wound. From across the hall came the crack of a bone followed by a tortured scream. Luthial and Mardela winced together. Luthial stood.

    ��Let me go to her, maybe I can help.��

    ��Don��t. There��s nothing you can do right now.��

    ��What are they doing to her?��

    ��Setting the bone to make a cast. They don��t know if it��ll heal perfectly, but the sooner they set it the better. She knows this, that��s why she requested to have it done immediately.��

    Luthial sat down and cried, her hands shook.

    ��I��m afraid. We��ve never done so poorly in battle! I don��t want my Nefri to die. She was already so- so broken when I got there. I thought for sure she was dead. She needed me. She really did need me, and I wasn��t there.��

    ��There��s nothing more you could��ve done.��

    ��I can still be with her,�� Luthial pushed past Mardela, ��I don��t care what anyone thinks. I��m going to be with her.��

    A splint of wet plaster, bandages, and more wet plaster found itself caked around Nefri��s wounded arm. Nefri looked pale, her breathing shallow, but she remained alert enough to acknowledge Luthial with a weak nod. The only chair in the little room was occupied by Delia, but she gave it to Luthial.

    ��It��s been a long night,�� Delia said, ��look after her a few hours for me. She��s the strongest, I��m certain she��ll recover.��

    ��Thank you, Delia,�� Luthial held back her tears, ��I hope she��ll recover too.��

    The fading candles of two remaining lanterns lit the hall, but it mattered little, as the warbling of the wrens and the cool air meant that dawn fast approached. In the dining area, the tables that had been overturned were back in position. Delia noticed a deep indentation in the one near the corner; it had been moved there because of the deep gash it received in battle. With that exception, the restaurant held little evidence that a battle had taken place the night before. Mardela stood at the door, caught herself staring, and came inside.

    ��Have you seen Nadia?�� Delia asked.

    ��She��s sleeping. With the potion she��s taken, she��ll sleep through today into the next. Dew said it was necessary for her to recover undisturbed. Awlena is attnding to her needs. Did you want to tell her something?��

    ��I thought to tell her to abandon her quest. I was going to blame her for our misfortune, but then I thought about what happened. That a warlord from the north choose to attack now wasn��t her fault, and by being here we saved many people. Nefri especially, Morgul and his men must have been quite powerful to do what they did to her.��

    ��What did you decide to say?�� Mardela asked.

    ��I was hoping she could try to heal Nefri. I know she��s drained, but I was hoping she��d at least try.��

    ��I��m sure she��ll do whatever she can. But try to consider her health too. She��s not totally in control of her powers after so much stress. Every time she heals someone, she saps her strength.��

    ��Nefri will recover regardless. I was only hoping to speed it along.��

    <hr>

    The first rays of daylight reflected off the sand where Darrell laid. Coarse grains crunched between fingers and palm. It coated his bare chest. He groaned. Sand clung to him everywhere as he writhed. The soaking remains of a shirt he had torn off and thrown in the ocean washed back on shore nearby. The slice through the back of his arm was covered in salty sand, and the wound oozed.

    The bodies were gone now, yet he kept envisioning their attacks. A mottled sneaker shuffled the sand in front of his face.

    ��Go away,�� he muttered.

    The kick to his stomach produced a dry heave.

    ��Get up. Stop feelin�� sorry for yourself. You ain��t any good to nobody like that.��

    Darrell got up and took a swing at Josh, he missed; he was tired and his whole body felt like it twisted the wrong way as he swung.

    ��I killed four people. I killed four people. Mass murderer.��

    ��Warrior. You helped save hundreds more. It was self-defense, you gotta do what you gotta do.��

    ��That doesn��t make it right,�� Darrell��s voice echoed from the short cliff overlooking the harbor. He knelt back down, throwing his face in the sand.

    ��Get up! Do I have to kick you again?��

    ��Just go away.��

    ��I hate your type. You little rich brats who can��t take reality. You make it harder for everyone else with your snot-ball attitude.��

    ��My dad owns a farm. That doesn��t make me a rich brat.��

    ��I never even had an old man. I��m not even supposed to be alive, and I can��t rely on anyone because I cause fear and hatred wherever I go. You think you got problems, then what does that make me?��

    Darrell sat, brushing the sand out of his hair, ��I can��t stop thinking about the way his eyes looked. I can��t forget that look. I want to forget. God help me, please help me forget. But I can��t. I don��t think I ever will.��

    ��I��ve seen a lot ah things I don��t want to remember.��

    ��How do you get by?��

    ��I try not to think about the bad stuff after its part of the past, but I still have nightmares. Those can��t be avoided, you��ll have��em from time to time.��

    ��Is Nefri dead?��

    ��Not yet. Climb on my back, we need to get you back to the inn and have that arm checked. Then, if Nefri��s feeling better, you can go say hi.��

    ��I can walk,�� Darrell stood shivering in the morning heat. He held back tears. ��I don��t think she��ll want to see me.��

    ��Of course she will. You saved her life.��

 65. Help! Out To Sea!

    A long, open, wooden box with holes punched into the edges for the wooden beams was carried by Deagle and Josh up the longest pier. Dew and Awlena watched from the harbor as they laid it in a boat with colorful fish on its sail. The box sunk the boat slightly deeper into the water. Inside, Lord Nostrum��s body laid atop an arrangement of heavy dull brown rocks covered in a multitude of shells. There were ivory clam shells, long smooth shells resembling brownish marble columns, slicked spiral shells that shone, calcareous fragments, dried starfish, and a few scattered pearls. An aquamarine conch shell laid over the center of his chest.

    The sea breezes did little to quell the mid-afternoon heat as they nailed a shaped slab over the box. Three more heavy slabs were added to the box, which was tied down with multiple loops of strong line. Josh left the boat for another man to take his place with Deagle before it sailed off past the cliffs that protected the harbor. At the top of the shale cliff, Mardela, her skin somewhat reddened, stood alone to watch her husband��s final journey.

    <hr>

    A hanging lantern created shadows of marlins and dolphins which swam across the walls. The windows were opened. The pointed moon hung the in last phase of its diminishing cycle as it fell behind the horizon. Shadows of the trees stretched across the lawn and over the dirt path behind the inn. A small pitcher of water sat by a ceramic cup on a short table by the mat where Nadia slept. The white kimono rested over her shoulders.  Nadia yawned, stretched her bare feet out of the thin white blanket as she awoke to see Mardela, who kept watch beside her. A dolphin shaped shadow swam across Nadia��s collar bone, past where the kimono��s folds separated. Mardela poured water in the ceramic cup and offered it.

    ��You slept through yesterday and into this morning. I hope you feel better.��

    ��A little bit. You��re Mardela right, does Nostrum know you��re okay.��

    ��My husband...�� she squeezed a small portion of her flowery kimono, ��He didn��t survive.��

    Nadia swallowed hard, Dew had filled her in on the situation once they had returned to the inn, but she never had time to consider the possibility.

    ��He died bravely, but that matters little now. He was so concerned for my health he forgot to consider the possibility of an attack despite the trouble to the north. The village is safe thanks to you and your friends. But for next time, I must correct that oversight. This can��t happen again.��

    ��I feel like, I bought this upon you. I��m, so sorry.��

    ��How can you say that after you��ve done so much? Sarsin did not send a force because of you. You helped saved the village without even being asked. You took on a poison curse to save my life. I could never thank you enough.��

    ��Where are the others? Is anyone else hurt?��

    ��The others are resting. They��ll be awake soon. The girl with the long red hair was badly injured. She might never be able to fight again.��

    ��Nefri?��

    ��Yes, I believe that was her name.��

    ��Can I see her?�� Nadia pulled her kimono shut and tied it.

    The light of one long flickering candle danced against the walls. Nefri laid flat on her back against the floor. Her left arm was in a plastered splint, tied to her side so she couldn��t move it. Nadia saw the heavy stitching on her ear and forehead, the bloody bandage around her index finger, and the heavy bandages taped to her waist. Gauze wrapped her chest. Deep purple stained the gashes around Nefri��s wrist. Delia and Luthial sat by her side, but both slept against each other��s shoulder. Nefri; however, stared at the ceiling.

    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    ��My God,�� Nadia whispered softly, ��What did they do to her?��

    ��Nothing I didn��t do twice as bad to them,�� Nefri whispered.

    ��Relax. I��m going to help you heal.��

    ��No,�� Nefri grabbed Nadia��s arm with her good hand. ��You can��t afford to sap your strength anymore.��

    ��Just a little bit,�� Nadia pleaded, ��It��ll keep deep scars from forming if you let me. I promise not to use a great deal of power.��

    ��Fine, but only enough to keep the scars shallow.��

    Nadia��s fingers glowed slightly as she laid her hands over Nefri, they were over the major wounds for a minute when Nefri noticed Nadia��s breathing get heavier.

    ��That��ll be enough. Don��t worry about me. I��ll get well.��

    ��You look terrible. I��m sorry, I shouldn��t of said that.��

    ��No, I didn��t expect some warlord��s men to be a match. I won��t be able to go anywhere for a while, but my friends are going to stay. I��m sorry we can��t go with you any further.��

    ��I can��t go anyway. I don��t have a boat.��

    "Didn��t you hear yet?��

    ��Hear what?��

    Mardela��s voice drifted into the room, ��Lord Nostrum��s sailboat is being prepared for your journey. It��ll be ready after noon today.��

    Nadia hugged Mardela, ��Thank you so much, I never expected it.��

    ��Everyone wishes you and your companions a safe journey,�� Mardela patted her on the back. ��Consider this our thanks for everything you��ve done.��

    ��And you��ll take care of Nefri?��

    ��We��re going to protect the village,�� Nefri whispered, ��and in the meantime, we��ll organize a defense in case Sarsin��s forces return. Dew ordered us to switch our employment for however long this village needs us. Dew, the possessed one, and the other boy from your world who fought well are going with you.��

    ��I wish you three were coming along.��

    ��We��re needed here; besides, they��re going to help me heal.��

    Nadia stood and bowed over Nefri, ��Bye Nefri, take care.��

    ��You too,�� Nefri smiled weakly.

    <hr>

    The Quagmire waited in the usual spot at the end of the harbor. All the fishing equipment had been removed, though the oars still hung along the insides of the vessel. A small shelter built around the lower mast provided enough room for two mats. The stowage for fishing supplies brimmed with fresh water, provisions, and luggage. Nadia was finally back in some normal clothes, blue jeans, and a comfortable red shirt. She never noticed the thin red hairs over the zipper of her bag as she placed it atop the provisions. The others didn��t have much luggage, so the remainder of the space took more water and some jarred lemons. Then, to Nadia��s surprise, Darrell and Josh rolled her bicycle up the pier.

    ��Mardela thought you might be able to use it,�� Josh said, as they rolled it on board.

    Nadia waved to Mardela, who watched from her usual spot on the shale cliff. A few villagers waved their final farewell. There was no more talk about the strange travel costume she wore. The sun annoyed her eyes to remind her that there was a bottle of sunscreen in her bag. Delia came through the crowd and up the pier. Luthial, with her bandaged shoulder, followed close behind.

    ��Good luck, and safe journey,�� Delia offered her hand.

    Nadia took it, and they pulled into a hug. Luthial hugged Nadia as well.

    ��Take care of Nefri,�� Nadia said.

    ��Of course,�� they both said.

    ��Keep the village safe, I will pray for Nefri��s recovery,�� Dew said.

    ��Naaaaadia!��

    Awlena came running from the opposite side of the harbor with her robes flapping behind her and her hand waving. A pack rested on her back. Dew slapped his forehead as his sister jumped against Nadia and gave her the tightest hug she could manage. Their chests pushed together as Nadia tried to take a step back with her arms out. After a long hug, Awlena let go and pointed at her brother.

    ��I��m not staying away and I��m not going back to Nenkyo village. I refuse. Lady Mavenslick needs a proper attendant. Putting your future queen on such a small ship with only men is no way to treat your future queen!��

    Laughter could be heard from the boat as Josh slapped his lap. Dew��s palm continued to rub at his face, ��We did not ration supplies for a crew of five.��

    ��You have plenty of supplies. I have a bag of food on my back. I��m joining this journey. If you��re so worried about supplies, you can stay behind. Let��s go Nadia.��

    Nadia let Awlena lead her into the boat hand-in-hand while Dew followed behind increasingly flushed. Josh and Darrell sat on opposite sides of the big fishing boat. Darrell was curled up while looking at his lap. Josh waved goodbye to Luthial.

    The rope to the pier was cut loose by Nadia, then Dew unfurled new sails of pure white flax. The people waved and yelled blessings as the shore became more distant. Dew, Awlena, Nadia, and Josh waved back until they could no longer the see people on the horizon.

 66. Help! Stowaway!

    Disturbed waters swayed the Quagmire from side to side. The small wooden ship creaked with every passing wave. Josh laid over the storage compartment at the back end of the ship while leaving his foot to dangle in the water. Clouds rolled overhead, but the sun broke through often and not a drop fell from the sky.

    As the clouds opened, Josh closed his eyes and let the sunlight pour down upon his sun-block greased skin. The bike laid in the middle of the boat; its front wheel turned upward so that it spun back-and-forth with the boat��s rocking. The clouds rolled over again. Josh opened his eyes to contemplate the spinning wheel of Nadia��s bike. It made him dizzy; he fell sound asleep and started snoring.

    A bump against the lid of the storage compartment startled him awake and he looked around. Darrell sat to the left trying with his arms wrapped over his knees. He heaved as he pressed his mouth shut. His forehead was sweaty and pale. Dew leaned against the door of the interior cabin so no one could disturb Nadia��s rest. Josh tried to go back to sleep. Something shifted inside the storage again, but as he closed his eyes, he figured it was just the boat rocking. With a light sigh, he fell back to sleep. The next bump failed to wake him even though it reverberated against his back.

    Then the lid lifted enough to roll him towards the water. Josh rose quickly to avoid falling in the ocean and sat on the lid. As he scratched his head, he heard three successive knocks against the inner wall of the container. The sound of its contents shifting alerted him. Josh knelt inside the boat and threw open the lid of the storage compartment.

    The provisions were more disheveled than what could be explained by the boat��s rocking. He pulled Nadia��s bag to the side, and organized the food and water so it was less likely to shift. The beef jerky smelt delicious, as the whole compartment was filled with the aroma of salted dried meat slathered in herbs. Josh knew where everything was, for he had taken mental inventory. A canvas that once held nine pounds worth of jerky between strips of salted waxed paper, now only contained a few crumbs.

    ��Who ate an entire pack of jerky in one night?�� Josh yelled, ��Admit it now and I might spare your life.��

    ��Not me,�� Darrell moaned as he rolled on his back, ��I don��t even want to talk about food.��

    Darrell held his mouth shut tightly before sitting up and leaning over the water. His lunch went back down for the third time. As he braced against the bottom of the bench, he turned a pale shade of green.

    ��We haven��t been out a full day,�� Darrell whined, ��Why do I feel so sick?��

    Dew checked his compass, a heavy device with a reflective case of black quartz. It pointed steadily toward the south pole, as Pozalm��s magnetic pole was in the south.  It was a gift from Mardela. The maps of the Southern Ocean Deagle gave him were in the cabin where Nadia slept, but he didn��t need to check them. Dew opened the stowage compartment and checked the empty beef paper in Josh��s hand.

    ��If you��re hungry, feel free to eat, but please remember, we��ll have to make these rations last through our journeys into the Tramen wilderness.��

    ��I haven��t eaten a thing on this boat yet! And neither as he.�� Josh pointed at Darrell.

    ��But he has!�� Dew said, unzipping Nadia��s bag and pulling Vestor out by the red and white fur of his long elegant tail. A half-eaten apple fell from the boy��s hand and rolled underneath Nadia��s bicycle. Vestor squirmed, but couldn��t free himself.

    ��Hey, lemme�� go! That hurts, you big oaf.��

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    ��First, answer me this fox child. What do you think you��re doing here?��

    Vestor smiled. Perfect teeth with incisors slightly longer, sharper, and more defined than those of a normal adult glimmered in the sunlight. The child bit his lower lip in a way that left the right incisor exposed, giving him a somewhat impish grin. The tip of his left ear folded sideways by the weight of his knit cap as his cheeks glowed.

    ��I thought it would be fun to go with you,�� Vestor played fisticuffs with the air while biting his lower lip. ��I��m going to make sure none of you take advantage of Nadia.��

    ��And how would we do that?�� Josh asked.

    ��I don��t know? You might use her as bait if the food runs out. Pirates do that all the time to pretty girls. I��d never forgive you.��

    Josh put his hand over Vestor��s mouth; the child had every opportunity to bite him, but didn��t.

    ��Do we look like pirates, kid?�� Josh removed his hand.

    ��No, guess not�� but it would be so cool if you were!��

    ��No, it wouldn��t,�� Darrell moaned.

    ��Why not? Tell me why not.��

    ��Because we��d make you walk the plank for being a stowaway, kid,�� Josh looked at Dew, ��Anyway, what are we going to do about him? His parents are probably worried sick.��

    ��Parent. I don��t have a dad.��

    ��Your mother then?��

    ��We can��t turn back now,�� Dew said, ��He��ll have to come along.��

    ��And who��s going to tell Nadia?�� Darrell asked.

    ��She��ll find out soon enough,�� Josh said, ��better let her rest.��

    ��Right,�� Dew nodded, ��Perhaps my sister can make herself useful and watch over him?��

    ��Nadia!�� Vestor screamed, ��Nadia! I want to say hi to Nadia!��

    ��Nadia��s sleeping. She��ll be mostly sleeping through this journey because her powers need to recover. No worries, I��m sure she��ll scold you when she��s awake.��

    ��You might not like what she��ll have say,�� Josh smirked as he grabbed the remains of Vestor��s apple and throwing it back to him.

    ��There you go. Finish that apple and take a rest. And no more raiding the food bin without permission, that stuff��ll have to last. So, are you in love with the lady of the voyage?��

    The apple hit between Josh��s eyes as Vestor turned bright red, ��What kind of sicko, stupid, pervert, question is that? She��s a good friend of my mother, that��s all.��

    ��Really? Is that why you��re redder then a monkey��s-��

    ��Josh! Stop tormenting the child.��

    ��Yah! Stop tormenting me you big ugly fish slime cleaner. Wait, I��m not a child! I��m ten.��

    Josh made a fist; Vestor ran for cover behind Dew��s legs.

    ��You��d strike a little babe? How pitiful.��

    ��Yah! Hey! I��m no babe! I��m ten!��

    Vestor bit Dew��s calf to demonstrate his adulthood, which Dew endured with a mild tense of his back because the nip drew little blood. Vestor scrambled to the stern.

    ��Don��t call me a babe ever again.��

    ��How do you like the brat now?�� Josh asked.

    ��If he ever bites me again. He won��t need to worry about anyone liking him.��

    Vestor gulped before sinking under a rafter. Josh threw the apple back toward him for the second time. It rolled far enough for Vestor to grasp it without coming out of his hiding spot.

    ��Great,�� Darrel sighed, ��Now on top of everything else, we have to babysit.��

    ��I��m ten!��

    <hr>

    In the cabin, Nadia slept soundly under a white kimono draped over her as a blanket. An old sweater covered a small rough pillow. She muttered something about losing time, and her pendant began to glow. A dry breeze from the northern continent developed without warning, propelling the Quaqmire southeast. Robes hung on the wall to receive the flowing air. Long black hair flowed under Awlena as she laid sprawled off her mat.

    The lanky young woman wore plain white underclothes, shorts and a sleeveless cotton shirt. She rolled against Nadia. A slender arm fell against a breeze cooled shoulder as chest pressed into back. Neither of them woke, even as Awlena rolled on her back and hung her right leg over Nadia��s hip. They breathed calmly, deeply, as the ship rocked.

    Daylight filtered into the Quagmire��s cabin through narrow rectangular windows with fitted glass panes. The waterproofing of the seals remained to be tested. Two sleeping mats were tacked securely to the floor at the center of the cabin. Nadia rolled off her mat and rested with her head in the middle of Awleena��s chest. This barely woke the other woman. She blinked, smiled, then cradled Nadia in her slender arms. Her left leg replaced the right over Nadia��s thigh. A breeze from an open port hole above cooled them. As she slept, old memories returned. The power she had used to defeat Bradox opened her subconscious. Deep sleep passed. Nightmares returned. Soft whimpering woke Awlena further. A slender hand gently combed through Nadia��s hair.

    ��There, there, it��s okay. The battle is over. I��m with you now. We��re going to have a nice easy journey.�� she yawned.

 67. Help! Disappointed Mothers!

    An old monkey bar dome of dull gray aluminum dripped from a recent storm. The bars enclosed a thick pool of mud. Nathan held his mother��s hand as they approached. She was a tall, slender woman. Dark brown hair bobbed around her neck. A subdued red gloss wrapped her lips. Her eyes were the same dark green and brown shades as her son��s. She was tanned, but whenever the strap of her blouse slipped it revealed lines of successively paler skin. His mother��s details contrasted sharply with the hazy surroundings. But the bars made his heart beat faster.

    ��I want to climb the bars!��

    ��No, it��s too dangerous. How about we ride the frog instead?��

    Nathan grumbled as his mother picked him up and gently set him on a saddled frog bouncer clear of the mud. He rode it back and forth while his mother clapped. Then she spotted a friend jogging on the macadam path up the hillside.

    ��Ride the frog, okay? Mommy is going to talk to Sam for a moment and will be right back.��

    She waved to the woman and walked over a bit, not too far from her son. Nathan tried to make the frog sway a bit more violently but it proved a bit heavy. He heard the women talking about whatever, he couldn��t be bothered about it. The frog slowed and he sat watching his mom and her friend talk. Though engrossed in conversation, his mother kept him within eyeshot. She never trusted him to do anything on his own. The sun warmed his long pony-tail.

    Then his mother turned her back for a moment. He hopped off the frog. A deceptive push would convince his mother he was still riding it. Her hair glimmered with sunlight as he ran to the ever-beckoning monkey bars. His mother gasped. Reaching them successfully, he tested his prowess. The biggest challenge was finding out how many bars he could skip. He skipped two bars at a time, swinging across like a primate. His mom ran over but he was inside the bars and she wouldn��t go near the mud.

    ��Nathan! get out of there!��

    The voice sounded angrier than he expected and broke his concentration. The next bar was only inches from his fingers before they slipped off the wet metal. He caught the closest bar with his other hand but the grasp was tenuous. His mother reached to grab him, but he held the center bar. His fingers slid over the metal. Nathan��s rump splattered into a deep pool of mud. He pulled himself up, mud coated his shorts and stained much of his shirt, but his hair had come through almost unscathed. His sneakers pulled like suction cups as he slogged through the puddle. It made a hissing and snapping sound Nathan liked, so he took his time.

    ��Hah! I fell!��

    When he reached the edge of the puddle, his mother pulled him through the bars, set him down, and led him by the hand up the hill to Sam. Her rosebud lips pursed in frustration.

    ��Ugh, can I trade this boy in for Jody? Would you accept? Please.��

    Sam looked at the muddy boy, ��No, I think I��ll pass. But if Jody was here, she��d probably have found a way to get dirtier. She��s essentially a boy too.��

    ��I wish I had a little girl who liked to stay away from mud. I have an important meeting with a client and this is the absolute worst time. I can��t take this boy anywhere. I swear!��

    ��I have hand me down dresses for Jody that are little too big for her. If we can get him rinsed off perhaps, we can get him changed.��

    There was a restroom cabin not far from the playground.

    ��I��m fine! I like mud! It��s fun!��

    ��Don��t get that on us!��

    The sound of running water dribbled from the sink. The feeling of shivering as cold water rinsed him. Loafers slapped the cement floor. A towel dried him quickly. Darkness overcame him as his mother helped him get dressed. Muddy clothes dumped in a small plastic bag. A hair pin clipped to his hair as his pony tail was let loose down his shoulders. It all felt rushed. Sneakers were covered in mud so they had to switch to pink sandals that fit poorly. At the very least, he looked clean. A pink dress with a big daisy on the front covered his frame. Sam towered over him as she leaned forward and looked closely.

    ��Well, look at this, you have a girl now!��

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ��What!?�� Nathan shouted as he blushed.

    His mother looked over him as well, ��Stop fidgeting. This wouldn��t have happened if you had listened to me. I told you not to play in the mud!��

    ��I like mud! I hate being a girl!��

    ��It��s just a dress. It��s no big deal. You look very cute.��

    The plastic bag filled with muddy clothing crinkled as his mother picked it up.

    ��He��s so adorable!�� Sam said, ��There��s no way anyone could tell the difference!��

    ��I��m a boy,�� Nathan grumbled and blushed at the same time.

    He frowned and started pulling the dress up. A hand slapped against his hand hard enough to sting and Nathan rubbed the slightly red skin. He stifled tears. All the way back to the white ford with the dented front fender he frowned. His mother rushed as she opened the back door, but took time to kneel beside her son before strapping him in the car seat. There was a slight gleam in her eye.

    ��I don��t want to be a girl,�� Nathan complained, ��Girls are ugly and stupid.��

    ��Nathan, your mom was a girl once. You know that right?��

    Nathan shrugged.

    ��Please deal with it until we get home. I��ll bake you cookies, chocolate chip raison cookies. Just leave your clothes alone and be quiet. Play your game. If you behave, you can be a boy again when we get home.��

    She put a hand-held racing game in his lap.

    ��I promise,�� Nathan said.

    She hugged him. A soft warmth and a clean scent enveloped his senses. It was the first he ever remembered her doing that. She patted his shoulder and ran her fingers through his hair. He smiled as he looked up at her, and she smiled back. Before closing the door, she ruffled his hair one last time and he started laughing.

    An unimposing log cabin built against a steep mountainside housed Joplin��s Bistro. The inside was fairly dark. The mountain behind it and the trees surrounding it provided an overabundance of shade. Four groups of sturdy square tables made of darkly polished wood divided the dining area, leaving a cross-shaped path for the waiters. The hall into the kitchen was well camouflaged. The restrooms were somewhere back there as well, because Nathan always noticed the little figures on the doors. A brunette woman in a loose blouse and long denim dress sipped a glass of water with a lemon wedge at a table near the corner. The two women recognized each other immediately. A hug exchanged between them.

    ��Who is this adorable little girl?�� the lady asked.

    ��I��m Nathan,�� Nathan said, crossing his arms and frowning, ��And I��m only a girl until I get home. Evil wizards did this to me.��

    ��This is my overactive son, Nathan,�� Natalie sighed, ��It��s a long story, but he wasn��t dressed like this a few minutes ago. He jumped in a mud puddle. I was lucky to get this dress from a friend.��

    ��Oh, but he��s so cute, doesn��t it make you wish he were a little a girl?��

    ��My life would be a lot easier.��

    He pulled his mom��s dress.

    ��Mommy, which bathroom do I go too?��

    ��I��ll take you with me.��

    On the way to the bathroom, he tripped over loose carpet.

    The vision shifted out of focus as Nadia awoke trying to catch herself. She caught her breath, looked around, and crawled back to her mat. For a long moment she laid on her back with Awlena leaning into her and stared at the post in the center of her cabin. Eyes moistened. A few drops slid down the sides of her cheeks, even onto her ears. Some air and a bite to eat would be good for her, she thought. She shook her head before wiping her face with her shirt. Slowly she sat up and escaped from her sound asleep cabin mate. Then she emerged from the cabin. The tropical afternoon sun warmed her while the breeze lifted her hair.

    ��How long have I been asleep?��

    ��Nadia!�� Vestor yelled, jumping up into her chest, but falling away quickly because she refused to support him, ��Did you miss me?��

    ��You! You��re from the village! You��re not supposed to be here!��

    ��But I came along anyway! I can��t let you guys have all the adventures to yourself.��

    ��He stowed away in your bag,�� Josh said.

    ��Did not!�� Vestor said, ��I��m way too big to fit with all that stuff. I snuck in while they loaded the supplies. I only went inside her bag to hide from you.��

    ��How could you!? Do you know how irresponsible this is? Your mother is going die worrying about you. I would have never done anything like that to worry my mom! You ought to be ashamed. Now we have to turn back. The entire trip is ruined if we turned back. I��ll never get rid of this curse. I��m going to scream!��

    ��My mom is fine!�� Vestor said confidently, ��I told her before I left. She tried to stop me, but a man��s gotta do what a man��s gotta do. And if you try to go back, I''ll jump in the ocean. I''ll sneak back on the ship. Nobody can catch me. I''m too fast and you''ll never find me if I hide!��

    ��You were too fast for your mother then,�� Dew suggested.

    ��You could say that again,�� Vestor said proudly, ��That��s why you need me to help you find the buried treasure. I��m fast, and I have a good nose.��

    ��It sure knew how to sniff out our food supply and gobble down an entire packet of dried meat,�� Josh said.

    ��It what!?�� Nadia yelled.

    ��I was hungry! A man��s gotta eat!��

    Nadia turned red, made a fist, and approached Vestor slowly.

    ��Come here you little stowaway brat. I��ll give you something to eat: ocean water buffet!��

    ��I didn��t do anything wrong!�� Vestor backed away.

    Darrell vomited over the side of the boat as Nadia and Vestor made the rocking unbearable by chasing each other. Josh laid back down over the storage compartment.

    ��So are we turning around or do we keep going?��

    Nobody listened to him. Darrell continued to heave over the side of the boat. Nadia chased Vestor but he proved too quick and nimble even for her. Dew climbed the mast to get away from the chaos. So, Josh leaned back, put his arms behind his head, and let the sun caress his forehead.

    ��Yep, this is fine.��

 68. Help! More Memories At Sea!

    For three days the wind remained favorable, but then it changed suddenly, reversing their course. Dew was left with no other choice but to lower the sails. He lowered the rigging from the mast. Vestor, Darrell, and Josh were asleep in the cabin. Nadia and Awlena sat down together after helping to lower the sails. Wind teased their long hair. Nadia stretched against Awlena, exhausted and the two fell asleep huddled together as Dew grunted from the stern. The dreams returned.

    A blue bouncy ball rolled across the school yard before stopping in front of the swing Nathan sat on. Two fine wisps of dust blew from under his pink sneakers as he jumped off the black leather seat and picked up the ball. Since the incident at the park, his mother had been buying a lot of yellow and pink clothes. The other boys looked at him as he held the ball. When he ran to them, they turned to other pursuits, leaving him alone. He narrowed his eyes and furrowed his brow as he stomped to a freckled boy with dark brown hair. He offered him the ball but was pushed away.

    ��Don��t you want to play?��

    ��Not with you. I��ll get girl sick.��

    ��I��m not a girl! My name is Nathan!��

    ��Then what are you?��

    ��I��m Nathan, and that��s a boy��s name.��

    ��Boys don��t have long hair. They don��t wear pink.��

    ��Maybe some do?��

    ��No, you��re a girl. Go play with the girls.��

    Nathan stomped his foot and started to cry. More teasing, this time from the other boys. Nathan curled up and shouted, but shouting only made them say it more. A scolding teacher saved him, but he ran away when she tried to talk to him. The next day he found himself alone by his favorite swing. The day after that someone had taken his swing first, and he found himself alone on the bench. The next day the kids wouldn��t let him have the swing or the bench, so he found himself sitting in a shady corner. Jody Fischer came and sat beside him. Nadia remembered her dirty overalls, bandages on her fingers, and ripped denim about her knees. It made her chuckle even in her sleep.

    ��What��s the matter? Don��t let them tease you because you��re a girl.��

    ��What��s the matter?�� someone asked again, but it wasn��t Jody. It was Awlena.

    ��I��m not a girl.��

    ��Oh, you seem a bit lost in thought,��

    ��Nothing. Just some old memories.��

    <hr>

    The afternoon sun beat harshly the next few days, but the sea remained calm and the wind dead still. They drifted aimlessly; however, Dew assured them they were near their destination. Nadia squirted some sun block on her hands, rubbed it into her face and her arms before lying down over the lid of the food compartment where Josh usually laid. A white towel served as her pillow. The sun heated her hair to lull her into soft breath breathing followed by deep sleep.

    In her dream, the sink was a ledge of white ceramic which Nathan could barely peer over, but the toilet served as a stepping stone. He managed to get his knees on the edge of the it. There were scissors in the medicine cabinet, small scissors, but he knew they were there. Once he had them, he ran to his bedroom. Big plastic trucks lay scattered over the floor in a maze of accidents. In front of the mirror, he stared for the longest moment before he held his hair out. Three snips, and his pony-tail looked like it was chewed off by a goat. He threw the lump of hair in the trash. Every pink and yellow shirt in his drawer was mutilated, one by one. After deeming the shirts to be thoroughly ruined, he threw them in the trash over top the locks of hair. Trembling hands put the scissors on his dresser. He played with his trucks without thinking about them. The door creaked open. His father loomed over him with an angry stare. Nathan burst out crying behind a large red dump truck.

    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ��Help! Evil wizards turned me into a girl! I��m a boy. I know I��m a boy because my name��s a boy��s name. Mom thinks I��m a girl! Everyone at school thinks I��m a girl, but I��m really a boy.��

    ��Is that what this is about?�� Norman picked up his son, took him over his knee and spanking him three times before sitting him on the bed. ��That��s for taking the scissors without telling me,��

    ��I��m sorry!��

    ��I know, but you already did the damage. What��s your mother going to say when she gets home?��

    Norman took the bundle of hair and torn shirts out of the trash can. Nathan jumped from the bed as his father took the scissors.

    ��Don��t tell mommy!��

    ��I have to,�� Norman said.

    Nathan screamed as he pulled on his father��s pant leg.

    "Fine. Time for another spanking.��

    After another three slaps, Nathan was placed back in bed. His father tucked the covers over him a little forcefully.

    ��You��re going to stay in here and think about what you��ve done until I call you for supper. Then you��re going right back to your room. And if I hear you screaming, I��ll give you a reason for it.��

    When called down for supper he found an empty chair waiting in front of a steaming plate of peas, mash potatoes, and meatloaf. A decent glass of milk stood behind the arranged utensils. His mother sat on a lounge chair with a book pressed to her knee. She ignored him completely, only Norman gave him instructions, telling him to finish his supper in a half hour and go straight to bed.

    That night, Nathan could hear his parents arguing. He snuck out of bed and walked calmly to the edge of his bedroom door, where he stood without moving a muscle.

    ��How could he do this,�� Natalie cried. ��All his adorable hair!��

    ��I think you need to let Nathan be who he wants to be.��

    ��I don��t have any problems with him being a boy.��

    ��Then why the girl��s shorts and shirts all the sudden? Why not let me take him to the barber and get him a decent hair cut? Don��t you see what this has all come to? It��s confusing him.��

    ��I was sure I��d have a little girl eventually. I can��t help it that I��m not supposed to have another child. It��s not fair. I wanted a little girl so badly, and I can��t even try to get it right the second time.��

    ��We both know what you wanted. You need to accept the fact that he��s not. It might have been okay to dress him in pink and play pretend when he was a baby, but now it��s affecting him negatively, especially at school. How can you expect him not to rebel?��

    She hesitated, ��I��ll try to be more understanding.��

    ��Don��t you love him?��

    ��How dare you! Of course I love my child! I could relate better to a daughter. It��s just the way I feel. I can��t help it.��

    ��He��s a loving, kindhearted, child, but his own mother can��t put aside her selfishness and love him for who he is.��

    ��I''m not a bad mother! That��s not fair! You don��t understand what I��m going through,�� she yelled.

    ��I understand all too well,�� Norman yelled back, ��and you��re not doing right by our son.��

    A dish shattered. Nathan scurried back to bed as his mother ran upstairs. No one bothered to check on him, and his father never followed her up the steps. He shook under the covers as the world swirled and faded to reform into a kitchen.

    Corn flakes tumbled into the bowl as Natalie prepared her son breakfast the next morning. Nathan looked up at her.

    ��I��m sorry mommy. Please don��t be mad at me. If I become a girl from now on, will you like me more?��

    She started crying, hugged him.

    ��No, no! Mommy said things she didn��t mean last night because she was mad. I don��t want you to be a little girl. I want you to be who you want to be.��

    ��But you said you wanted a girl, so I have to be that?��

    His mother sighed.

    ��Sometimes even mommies can get selfish.��

    ��What��s selfish?��

    ��Selfish is when we want something so bad that we don��t think about how other people feel. Like when you wanted the truck that belonged to your friend Bill so you took it. That was selfish. And that��s not okay. I want to have a baby sister for you. I can��t now, but that doesn��t mean I don��t love you. I was selfish because... I tried to make you act like a girl. God gave me a very special little boy. I think you��re perfect just the way you are. I��ll never stop loving you.��

    She hugged him.

    ��I love you too! Mommy? Why don��t you pick a baby sister up at the supermarket?��

    Natalie laughed through a blanket of tears.

    ��You can��t get something that precious from a supermarket. You have to pray really hard and hope God answers.��

    ��I��m going to ask God to get you a baby girl.��

    The dream shifted to a later time. Wind rustled through the trees, blowing heavily to the northeast. It was cold, almost snowing. The first few snowflakes had already hit the ground. In a white karate uniform, his feet bare and hands uncovered, Nathan, four years older now, was on his thirtieth pull up from a low sturdy branch of the old oak tree. The pendant his grandfather had given him when he was six hung from his neck. He wasn��t tired yet, as he was tough, and had the calluses to prove it. His father, who refused to make his son do anything he wouldn��t do, was working out right beside him. That��s when the old white escort pulled into the drive. His mother got out and rushed into the yard.

    ��It��s a girl!�� she yelled while waving to them.

    Nadia woke suddenly, jolted upright, and wiped her sweaty forehead as she took deep breathes of the cool ocean air. The boat rocked gently amidst the wave. Wood groaned.

 69. Help! Pointing At Pebbles And Skipping Stars!

    A round stone whooshed before it plunked into the ocean. The waves devoured the ripple of the splash. Nadia stared over the waves. Josh pushed at her shoulder.

    ��Hey, deep in thought?��

    She bounced slightly where she sat, ��What?��

    Josh pulled another pebble from his pocket and flung it in the water.

    ��Pebble for your thoughts?��

    ��They��re not worth it.��

    Josh sat closer and pulled a pebble half the size of his thumb from his pocket. He opened Nadia��s hand and placed it in her palm.

    ��Throw it. You��ll feel better.��

    Without getting up, Nadia pitched the stone into the ocean and watched as it skipped through several waves, ��My mom. She would have liked me better this way. As a girl, I mean.��

    ��Your mom? You never talked about her before.��

    ��She wanted a girl and got me instead, then found out it would be too risky to have another kid. When I was little, sometimes I would wish I could have been born the way she wanted me, but then later I grew to resent it. My mom was good to me, but we didn��t relate very well.��

    ��Didn��t she love you?��

    ��Of course she did!��

    ��I like your father. He seems like he has it together. I bet he never loses it.��

    ��He did one time,��

    Josh threw another stone; it skipped the waves before sinking.

    ��Can I have a few more?��

    Josh pulled a handful of smooth pebbles from his pocket and placed them in her palm.

    ��So, he beat her pretty bad then?�� Josh asked.

    ��No, nothing like that! Why would he ever do anything like that!? What��s wrong with you?��

    ��Sorry, sorry. What happened?��

    ��Mom went ahead and got pregnant. She refused to give up the baby despite the doctor��s warning. That��s how Natalie was born. Mom was too fragile to make it through another difficult birth. The last time I saw her, she asked me to take care of my little sister. My dad stayed with her until she died, which was�� only a few hours later. I knew it was all over when he came into the waiting room. He looked at me, and just walked out like he was sick. I was already sick myself when he came back and told me. We didn''t leave. We sat and cried like idiots the entire night.��

    ��That��s not what I meant by losing it. But yeah, that sounds like a drag.��

    ��It was so stupid! She wanted a little girl for ten years. Then, when she finally gets what she wants, she leaves us. I bet my little sister would��ve gotten love and affection I never received. Sometimes I envy her for that, but most of the time I pity her because I had a chance to know mom.��

    ��Sounds awful.��

    ��What about you? How did your parents lose it.��

    Josh laughed, ��My old man lost it all the time. My first memory is him beating the old woman.��

    ��You mean your mother?!��

    ��She didn��t deserve to be called a mother. Old man was a psycho. All he ever did was beat her, and she was too much of a coward to stand up to him.��

    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    The scar grew thicker as it and wrapped around his arm.

    "He took a beer bottle and broke it over the bed,�� Josh snarled as a cross shape burned onto his shirt as he stared into the waves. His fingernails scraped at the painted wood.

    Nadia shifted away slowly, ��Josh, snap out of it.��

    ��He beat us both all the time. I couldn��t take it anymore. Creatures were flying around him. One of them took my hand and made me do it. It wasn��t my fault. They made me do it! I was just a kid!��

    Nadia pressed her palms against her chest and closed her eyes. Josh almost collapsed in the water, but she caught him and pulled him back to safety. She waited for his eyes to open.

    ��Whatever you were thinking about. It��s releasing your incubus. There��s something you have to deal with before you can let this go, but I don��t know how to go about it.��

    Josh curled up into the fetal position. He bawled while Nadia sat over him, ��They were both torn to shreds when I woke up. I killed them.��

    ��You didn��t kill them. It��s not your fault. I��m sure of it.��

    ��I was the only one at fault.��

    ��It wasn��t you.��

    ��I could��ve stopped it. I wanted them to all go to away. I wished so hard that it would all end. Don��t you see? It was my fault! I used the power he gave me. And I-��

    ��No! Stop it! I don��t believe it, not one word! You might be a selfish jerk, an ignoramus, an assassin, a moron, and a waste of space, but you��re no murderer. You��re nothing like your father. You��re nothing like Deadleaf!��

    ��Deadleaf was just a customer. Do you even know what you��re talking about? You��re the one who calls me murder-death-kill all the time.��

    ��Of course I doubted you at first. We didn��t exactly start as friends! And�� I don��t know what really happened, but I think a confused boy was taken advantage of. You took control of it. You restrained it on your own and kept it from going wild. An evil person could��ve never done that. And I won��t call you that anymore, okay? Why don��t you get some rest?��

    ��Think I��ll do that. But Nadia, what you said the first time is true. I have so much blood on my hands. I just�� it��s not innocent blood. That��s all I have. It��s not innocent blood.��

    ��Shut up and go sleep, we��ll figure out what to do with you later, okay?��

    Josh nodded, then he rolled over to tuck himself against the boat wall and sleep using a sack as a pillow. Nadia nudged him with her foot.

    ��Why don��t you sleep in the cabin tonight? It��s the��" Nadia gulped, "men��s turn.��

    <hr>

    Side-by-side, Awlena and Nadia laid on their backs looking at the stars on a fur blanket. Favorable winds pushed the vessel. The cool ocean wind contrasted the warmth of Awlena lying beside her. A half-moon shone among the glittering stars. Nadia felt she could pluck one from the clear sky, take it in her hand, and watch the glow pour from between her fingers. But she couldn��t find any of constellations she knew. Awlena pointed at a long formation of stars with a glowing aura.

    ��We call those stars the great dragon. It��s more centered in the sky during the rainy season. There are over thirty stars in the cluster. The big red star is the eye.��

    ��That��s right, the sky is different here,�� she whispered.

    ��What?��

    ��Oh, it��s nothing. Can you point to the dragon again?��

    She could see it as Awlena ran her finger along the constellation. Stars lined up in a slightly irregular pattern, like a wave. Dimmer stars formed the claws of the dragon��s three legs. The dimmer regions around the great beast made it stand out in the night sky, though the moon obscured the tail. A cluster of stars under the dragon��s front leg raised like a small hill with stars under both slopes. This constellation was much thinner, less brilliant than the dragon. Nadia pointed to it.

    ��What��s that then, is that a formation?��

    Awlena put her head against Nadia��s as her eyes followed Nadia��s raised finger. Sweet tea scented breath tickled her nose.

    ��That��s the mongoose. You have a good eye! The dragon and the mongoose are locked in a struggle for supremacy. The dragon brings rain and good fortune, but if it comes too close, disasters spread. The mongoose protects us by luring the dragon, yet keeping it from getting too close.��

    ��That��s an incredible story. I could look at this all night. It��s so calming.��

    Dew��s voice came from above, ��The weather has been on our side this entire journey, favorable winds every day, clear skies, and not so much as a single storm.��

    He looked down from a small post on the mast where he sat cross-legged. He jumped nearby. Arms folded around his chest as he stared at them. Moonlight reflected off their skin while being absorbed by their dark hair.

    ��The vessel is on a proper course. I am going to join the others and get some proper rest. I would suggest you two do the same. I will send Josh to keep watch. As calm as this ocean appears, it would prove foolhardy for everyone to be asleep at one time.��

    Awlena sat up with hip nestled against Nadia��s waist, ��We can keep watch, we��re out here anyhow. One can sleep and the other can watch, once one of us gets tired that is.��

    Dew narrowed his eyes, ��You��ve been a little too insistent on attending Nadia. I don��t trust you alone with her. In other words, I shall send a mongoose so the dragon stays at bay.��

    Nadia lifted with her weight on her elbows and tilted her head, ��Eh?��

    ��She sounds exhausted, dearest sister. Be sure to not keep her awake all night with your fawning and prattling.��

    Awlena stuck out her tongue at her brother. The door creaked as he went inside the cabin with a yawn.

 70. Help! Area 51!

    Cliffs rose half a kilometer straight from the ocean depths. No welcoming shores or sandy beaches were in sight. Waves crashed relentlessly against a wall of brown rock. Dried salt clung to the high-water line. A colony of shellfish darkened the bottommost portion of the cliffs. Fog blocked the view of the heights as it floated in thin wisps. Dew surveyed the coast of the Tramen continent through his scope before shouting the news from the mast.

    ��Land ahead! The cliffs of Tramen are closing in.��

    ��Wake me when we go ashore,�� Darrell moaned.

    Darrell dared to peak over the deck, only to lay back down and watch the sky swirl above him. His palm covered his left eye as he steadied his head against the Quagmire��s rocking. Toward the storage compartment, Josh husked peanuts; when he had five, he flung them into his mouth. He leaned backward and finished chewing before throwing the shells overboard. Nadia left the cabin, climbed to the mast, and snatched the telescope from Dew. He smiled gently. The scope brought the barely visible cliffs into clearer focus. She put her hand over it to ward off the sun. Fog rolled along the cliff while the colonies of crustaceans clung as black and white splotches amidst the rocks.

    ��I see it. It��s almost over.��

    ��It��s about time we got this circus over with,�� Josh said.

    ��We can��t get too close to the cliffs,�� Dew warned.

    ��Why?�� Nadia asked.

    ��The currents are treacherous. We could get pushed far back out to sea. Worse, we could get smashed against the cliffs themselves. There are whirlpools that will drag anyone who attempts to swim into the deep. These waters each unfathomable depth. Even the few beaches where a landing is possible hide deep waters. Tramen is known as the fortress continent for good reason.��

    ��Please Dew, don��t give up,�� Nadia pleaded with hands clasped, ��If anyone can get us to land safely it has to be you, and you know this means the world to me.��

    Dew blushed, ��I��ll try my best, but it might take a while.��

    <hr>

    ��Do you have any fours?�� Darrell asked.

    ��Go fish,�� Nadia said sleepily.

    A warm gust toyed with the flaps of Nadia��s loose sleeveless shirt as she grasped her cards. Darrell didn��t get the card he needed, so his turn passed to Vestor.

    ��Okay, here goes,�� Vestor announced, ��This time I��m going to win it all. You��re all going to go home crying to mommy because the unstoppable menace has beaten you. I never hold anything back. I mean it this time. No mercy. I��m going to-��

    ��Would you just go already?�� Darrell asked.

    ��Do you have any sixes?�� Vestor asked.

    ��We played all the sixes two minutes ago,�� Nadia said, forcefully poking the four sixes in Awlena��s book. ��Haven��t you been paying attention to the rules? You can only ask if someone has a card you have.��

    ��Do I get to go fish? I wanna go fish. I wanna go fish!��

    Nadia put her palms down and leaned over to Vestor until the tip of her nose was perfectly aligned with his.

    ��You don��t want to go fish. That��s bad.��

    Awlena couldn��t help giggling, ��This is your fifth game. You should understand the rules by now. You are ten years old, correct?��

    ��Ah, ah, of course I understand.  But fishing is more fun. I went fishing all the time in the ponds outside the village and caught all sorts of things.��

    ��This is cards,�� Nadia groaned, ��It��s not the same.��

    ��I don��t care. I��m going to fish.��

    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Vestor pulled a card from the pile.

    ��You can��t do it like that!��

    A tug of war ensued as Nadia grabbed the other end of the card. Darrell, who was also a member of the game, sat on his feet and blinked. Awlena held her cards like an outstretched fan. Vestor and Nadia pulled at the disputed card until it ripped in half. They both slid into the arranged cards to make a total mess of the game tally. The king of hearts flew into the air and blew overboard while Nadia and Vestor ended up each holding a halve of the three of diamonds. Vestor jumped back amidst the disheveled cards.

    ��So much for card games,�� Darrell said.

    ��I didn��t even want to catch that,�� Vestor said, throwing his halved card down, ��I��ll fish these other cards instead.��

    ��Keep the whole deck. It��s worthless now, and trying to teach you isn��t worth the hassle.��

    Nadia stood and stretched with a big yawn. A breeze cooled the slightly more golden arms. The port side of the ship faced the Tramen cliffs as it sailed a few miles off the coast. The surfaces were oddly smoothed, except for a few caves at sea level and some craggy outcropping of rocks ahead of the heights. The edges of the cliffs were still sharp, they were neither graduated nor sloped, but still plunged directly into the ocean.

    ��Are you sure we��re going the right way?�� Nadia looked up toward Dew, ��You said we��d be on shore within a few hours and it��s been a whole day already.��

    ��I underestimated in my haste to please you. It��ll be a little while longer until we find a suitable shore.��

    <hr>

    Three days passed.

    The unbroken line of cliffs continued in the distance. Hot, dry, winds blew from the cloudless skies of the continent. A half-eaten cooked fish sat on a plate. The afternoon sun injected its rays into any exposed skin. Nadia pulled herself above the left rail, peeked over the boat, winced after seeing more cliffs, and fell back over the deck. A dab of lip gloss eased the stinging of her sunbaked lips.

    ��How much longer. I��m getting a burn.��

    ��I suggest you rest in the cabin with the others until we find a shore.��

    ��If I leave it to you, I��ll be eighty by the time we land this stupid boat.��

    Josh pounded the storage compartment, ��I suggest we pull this boat forward and scale the cliffs. It��s the only way.��

    ��No way,�� Vestor cried, ��Take me home first.��

    ��The child is right,�� Dew said, ��Scaling the cliffs would be suicide. There are many shores that offer access to the continent. If we��re patient, we��ll come across one.��

    Nadia sat up, ��I don��t have that much time. I have to attend school in less than a week and there��s no way I want to spend eleventh grade as a girl. Besides, my dad can��t buffalo people forever. Someone will think my boy self is missing and get the police involved. Who knows what else could happen. We already wasted too much time in the village. Please, we can��t afford these delays.��

    ��I��m doing my best to navigate efficiently. The delays are nature��s work. Not mine. What are these ��police�� you speak of?��

    ��They protect people from crimes and catch people who break the law. But if they have reason to believe my father did something to me because I��m missing, he��ll be in a lot trouble.��

    ��You can always tell them the truth.��

    ��They wouldn��t believe a word of it.��

    ��Submit your DNA,�� Josh said, ��It would be the same.��

    ��Don��t men and women have different DNA?�� Nadia asked.

    ��Only one chromosome, right?

    ��What if the spell changed my DNA in other ways?��

    Josh smirked, ��Even if they could prove you are who you were, they��d take you away to area 51 and study you until they found out how the change worked. Then they��ll dissect you and write about their findings in top secret documents.��

    Thump.

    Vester leaned over Nadia, ��She fainted?��

    ��Must be sea-sick,�� Josh said.

    <hr>

    The blue telescope proved a rudimentary device with poor magnification by any modern standard. The strong moon provided illumination with the aid of a cloudless night. Dark water sloshed against the vessel. As far as Nadia could tell, the cliffs in the distance remained unbroken. She heard the others snoring in the cabin below, only Vestor sat outside with her. She jumped down from the mast to check on him. He sat calmly over the edge of the cabin hump and watched the ocean. He��d slept in the cabin most of the afternoon and through the early part of the evening despite her warnings and now he couldn��t sleep. She smiled at him, but left him to his own devices and climbed to the mast again. Her eyes strained through the telescope as she scanned the cliffs again.

    This time, she spotted a crack in the cliff that allowed the waters of the ocean access to the interior, a natural harbor. This was her breakthrough. The narrow end of the telescope stuffed into the pocket of her jeans before she jumped to the cabin. Vestor continued to watch the ocean in the moonlight as if nothing was happening. Inside the cabin, everyone slept soundly. Awlena had her own space separate from the boys via a wooden barrier.

    ��I found a passage!�� Nadia shouted, ��I found a passage!��

    Dew sat straight, Darrell opened his eyes but rolled on his stomach and attempted to ignore her. Awlena peeked from behind her improvised barrier.

    ��What news?�� Dew asked.

    ��I found a passage. Everyone awake! We��re going ashore!��

    ��Drop anchor here then and get some rest,�� Dew said, ��We��ll navigate it at daybreak.��

    ��Why not now? Come out and see. I found it because I have to do everything. Does it upset you that much that I found it?��

    Dew sighed, ��Everyone is exhausted. No doubt yourself included. I don��t intend to get us killed for darkness and lack of sleep. Please, drop the anchor and get some sleep. I��ll check in the morning. You can wait a few more hours; it won��t destroy you.��

    "You could at least come out and confirm it."

    Silence as Nadia stood frowning at the moonlit door for a long moment.

    ��Fine! I guess I��ll drop anchor myself too!��

    The cabin door slammed shut.

 71. Help! Dew Is A Stupid Idiot And I Hate Him!

    A heavy hook tipped by spiked metal served as the Quagmire��s anchor. Rust heavily coated the large piece. Thick rust stains smeared the front of Nadia��s sleeveless shirt as she bent her knees and pulled it from its compartment. Why was it so heavy? Was she getting weaker? With a single heave, she threw the anchor into the water. Vestor��s eyes glinted in the moonlight from the other side of the boat. Rusty grime covered her palms, so she dipped them in the ocean before wiping them on her jeans. Next, she went back to the cabin and slid open the door.

    ��I dropped anchor. Thanks for nothing.��

    Dew sat up again, Darrell rolled on his other side. Awlena peeked with exhausted eyes from having her sleep interrupted again.

    "It��s too crowded in here. Is somebody going to clear out so I can sleep?�� Nadia asked.

    No one said anything.

    ��Did you hear me!?��

    ��I can sleep outside,�� Awlena said, ��The air is cool and the moonlight may be nice.��

    Dew motioned her to not get up, ��No! Nadia volunteered for night duty and offered us the cabin of her own free will. We��re not prepared to relinquish it until morning.��

    ��Since when did you get so snotty?�� Nadia asked.

    ��My nasal passages are quite clear.��

    ��You can��t leave a girl out here by herself. It��s getting cold.��

    A thin blanket landed against Nadia��s face.

    ��My sister is very much a lady too and you would gladly interrupt her slumber several times only to force her outside during her rightful turn? You claim to be a man. I��m sure you��ll do fine with a little ocean air. It��s not even raining. Wake us at dawn.��

    ��Fine! You��re a stupid idiot and I hate you anyway.��

    The door slammed shut. Awlena gripped the barrier between herself and guys and stared at her brother. She blinked a few times as Dew clutched his chest.

    ��Are you okay? Thank you.��

    ��She behaves selfishly on occasion. It��s not her usual deportment. The voyage wears on her patience.��

    Awlena reached out and gave her brother a pat on the shoulder, ��Let��s get some sleep and be fresh in the morning.��

    As everyone in the cabin settled themselves back to sleep, Nadia laid with her back against the storage compartment. It wasn��t that cold, forty degrees at the worst, she thought. She watched a plethora of stars mixed with streams of cosmic dust. They ran together into a brilliant mosaic beyond the great dragon. The starlight was as significant as the moonlight. The moon phased a bit faster here. Nadia found herself longing for Awlena to answer more questions about the other constellations. The view made her shiver, or was that a cool wind from the continent?

    ��I��m cold?�� Vestor said, looking right over top of her.

    ��Why don��t you grab a pillow and go in the cabin then? You��re small enough to squeeze in between the guys.��

    Vestor slid under the blanket and nestled against her. He fell asleep quickly. She wrapped an arm around him. After adjusting so her arm wouldn��t go numb, she fell asleep with Vestor in her arms.

    <hr>

    Grunting, Josh and Darrell pulled the anchor upwards by its heavy chain. Rust stained their clothes and bronzed the palms of their hands. The work progressed slowly, but the anchor finally landed in its bin with a snapping clank that awakened Nadia, whose head happened to be against the bin where it landed. As she sat up, Vestor sprung from her chest into immediate wakefulness. A warm breeze toyed with Nadia��s hair as she rolled some hardened crust from her eyes. The tumbling of oars began as Dew latched them to the sides of the boat.

    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    ��We��re going in,�� Josh said.

    Without further ceremony, Dew and Josh each took an oar on opposite sides of the boat and rowed toward the inlet between cliffs. Darrell sat at the stern with a thick paddle to navigate between natural whirlpools. His muscles tensed as he struggled to control the improvised rudder against constantly changing currents. Soon, the dark corridor closed in. Foaming clouds rolled against the cliffs.

    ��Could you guys row a little faster?�� Darrell groaned. ��I��m having trouble keeping this boat steady.��

    ��You��ll have to hold out,�� Dew called, ��It will only get worse the closer we approach.��

    Nadia jumped on the storage compartment lid and took hold of the paddle from the side to help Darrell steer against the wild currents. Vestor took the other side and tried to help as well, only he pulled with the current instead of against it.

    ��You have to keep the boat straight,�� Nadia explained as she wrapped a hand around Vestor��s, ��So you��ll have to work against the current when it pulls the boat away. Since we��re on opposite sides, you��ll have to pull when I push and vice versa. Got it? I��ll tell you how much force to use.��

    ��Okay!�� Vestor said.

    ��Hey, I don��t need help! There are too many people. It��s confusing!�� Darrell said, ��Woman and children to the back!��

    ��Stupid goat head!��

    Vestor kneed Darrel in the hip but the attack wasn��t even registered.

    Nadia kept one arm on the paddle and used the other to give Darrell a moderate blow to the head with her clenched fist.

    ��Who are you calling a woman?��

    ��You. I don��t care what you say, you look like a girl, you act like a girl, you talk like a girl, and you even smell like a girl.��

    ��Smell like a girl! Have you been sniffing me or something!?��

    ��No, well- I�� You have a smell! Okay? I don''t know, we all desperately need a shower.��

    ��She does have a nice smell,�� Vestor agreed.

    ��Fine, but do I fight like a girl?��

    She snatched the paddle to herself. When Darrel tried to take it back, she kicked him overboard. Vestor gasped.

    ��Sailor overboard!�� Dew called.

    Nadia jumped for the side of the of the boat, which left Vestor under the harsh influence of the paddle. The boy lifted it from the water so as not to have it pulled from his hands into the ocean. As Dew ran toward the aft, Nadia reached out and clutched Darrell��s arm. The ocean tugged at his body with more strength than she was prepared for. Dew reached out and pulled as well as the ship went off course. Josh frantically swung his oar to influence the vessel away from the rocks. Awlena ran from the cabin with sleep in her eyes and took the oar Dew abandoned.

    With a strong grip on Darrell��s arm, Dew and Nadia managed to pull him from the stubborn currents. Once his palm latched to the boat��s edge, Darrell pushed himself up and rolled inside. A puddle of salty water dripped on the boards around him as he breathed heavily. Sole possession of the rudder paddle remained with Nadia while Vestor checked on Darrell.

    ��That was uncalled for,�� Dew said.

    ��Don��t even think of getting me wet. I can handle the steering. Darrell isn��t needed here.��

    ��Did you not hear me the first time? That was uncalled for. Not only uncalled for, but downright murderous. I explicitly stated the dangers of these waters, did I not? Do you want your friend��s blood on your head? Is that what you desire? Because you were this close to achieving it with your temper tantrum.��

    ��Harsh,�� Josh whispered while keeping to his rowing, ��But, when ya know, ya know?��

    ��It��s not like I��d let anything happen to him!��

    ��This isn��t a game you nitwit! You felt the undercurrent! He was mere moments from being pulled under! If this is how you help, then go into the cabin and take a nap until we reach the shore! Do I make myself clear?��

    ��Yeah, yeah, whatever. I don��t want to talk about it anymore. Just let me handle this and keep him away from me.��

    Dew threw up his hands, ��Keep him away from you!? Astonishing! I have to return to the oars before we wreck. Please don��t get any of us killed, that��s all I��m going to ask of you.��

    The ocean felt calm for a few minutes as Vestor timidly returned to the rudder. He looked up to see tears staining Nadia��s cheek but said nothing. A fierce current took control of the rudder, swinging the handle to the left and taking Nadia along with it. It hit Vestor in the mouth, but only hard enough to shock him as he backed away. He rolled off the storage bin and felt his lip while holding back tears. The corridor was close now. The cliffs loomed from both sides over the speck that was the Quagmire. The boat pulled toward a death trap of whirlpools and jagged rock formations by the port side cliff face. Nadia dug her heels and pulled the paddle rudder with all her strength.

    Fists tensed; veins bulged. The rudder slowly repositioned to steer against the current. Victory. They could see the natural harbor. A heavy current caught the paddle and Nadia struggled alone against it.

    Snap!

    The handle broke below Nadia��s palms. The paddle floated toward the ocean until it rushed around in circles near the barnacle laden rocks. The boat wobbled as it turned awkwardly. The oarsmen couldn��t steer it alone, not here. The vessel turned one-hundred-and-eighty degrees. The boat swept forward with an inward rush of water. Jagged rocks at the opening to the harbor threated to slice its sides. Salty water splashed as Nadia jumped into the strait with her hands gripped against the boat��s side. Dew shot up and left the oars to Awlena.

    ��For a grain of rice! What is she doing now!?��

    Kicking against the current with all her power slowly steadied the vessel. It turned slowly truer to the passage. The current pulled at her even as Darrell��s hand clutched at her wrist and pulled in the opposite direction.

    She ignored it all and kept kicking. Between her and the vessel, the walls of the cliff closed in.

 72. Help! Shivering Nit-Wit Silent Treatment Fail!

    Kicking feet were pushed toward the rock face as the Quagmire veered to the side. Nadia risked being pinned between the boat and the rocks. As the corner closed in, Josh pushed the cliff with an oar. Muscles tensed as he dug barnacles off the rocks to prevent the Quagmire from smashing into the cliff. Dew broke from steering and gave his oar to Awlena. She tensed her arms and pulled against rushing waters to keep the vessel straight. Joshes oar splintered. The paddle snapped to leave him with a jagged splintery pole.

    Firm hands gripped Nadia by the underarms and pulled her out of the water just before the boat slammed against the cliff. The vessel twirled into the calmer harbor. Dew fell backwards with a soaking, salty, woman coughing as she lay over top of him. He braced her left shoulder and continued to grip her right under arm as she coughed. He lifted her up on her knees as he knelt next to her. Dew��s light robes dripped sea water. Suddenly her clammy cheeks were between his palm as he stared her down intently, tearfully.

    ��Think before you act!��

    Nadia clenched her teeth.

    The Quagmire groaned, then cracked. A split appeared along the inner structure of the starboard side, but the vessel held together. They didn��t take on any water from beneath. The sea calmed as the harbor gave respite from the strait. A narrow beach, not more than two-hundred and fifty meters long and twenty-five meters deep at the widest, rested between high cliffs.

    With the one remaining oar, Awlena paddled until they grounded themselves on the southern edge of the sandy shore. Together, they slid the vessel up the shore until it was nestled against the cliff. The anchor dug into sand. Josh and Darrell organized the supplies, while the others explored. Dew retrieved some items before following after Nadia as she walked along the shady beach shivering.

    ��You��re soaking. I bought you a towel and a change of clothes. Please use the cabin and change.��

    Nadia kept walking as she looked up. Massive sections of smoothed rock in the high cliffs hemmed in the narrow beach. They looked impossible to scale. Her heart began to beat fast until she spotted what looked like sand swept stairs suffering from erosion. A staircase about ten meters wide opened the cliff in the center. It rose gradually to the heights of the continent.

    Carved from the sandstone of the cliff, the steps were low and severely degraded, especially around the edges. Some were smoothed almost to the back of the next step. The staircase formed a road flanked by sandstone cliffs on both sides. The cliffs stretched deep inland, further than the eye could see from the first few steps. Rectangular openings with rounded corners carved at regular intervals, large enough for a person, led into neatly carved shallow caves. While others led to steep branching staircases tunneling behind the cliffs. Vestor scurried into one of the openings and leaned outside a small viewing hole.

    ��Hey Nadia,�� he waved, ��I��m up here!��

    ��You��re shivering, please dry off and change into dry garments.��

    Nadia forced her full attention to Vestor as she waved back to him. Her mouth fell slightly agape, lower lip quivered, as she surveyed the man-made canyon passage. She glanced back into the natural harbor and noticed stones that may have been the remains of a pier. Awlena ran to her side.

    ��The stone moved to create this port must have been staggering.��

    ��I think so too,�� Nadia said, ��Vestor! Don��t go exploring alone! It��s not safe!��

    ��Fine, fine!��

    Nadia, still dripping, hopped up a few stairs and entered the first cave to her left. The archway of the entrance had a smooth polish. The patterns remained well preserved. Sunlight poured through the openings. The ceiling had a polish that nearly shone. A carved relief, the colorings of which had almost completely faded away, lined the upper walls. Packs of running wolves sprinted from each corner. Swirling indents at the back of the pack blew against their race. The center of the back wall contained a carving of people facing tiny imps, but it wasn��t a battle; they exchanged goods. A collection of faded ceramic pots stacked atop one another stood on a counter of polished sandstone. Ages of dust covered them. Shards of faded pottery strewn on the floor among a thin layer of sand cracked under Nadia��s soaked sneakers. An entryway that led toward a back room behind the counter.

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    ��How did they keep these places lit?��

    Awlena stared at the carvings, ��I don��t know, perhaps Dew would have an idea.��

    Nadia looked inside the back room. Her shoulder dampened the entryway. But it was dark so she went no further. Awlena softly laid her hand over Nadia��s shoulder and shook her head. She folded her arms over her chest while pinching her chin between her right thumb and her forefinger. Dew��s sandals crunched against the debris.

    ��What is this place?�� Nadia asked.

    ��This must be the port of Haiflous,�� he explained, ��You did well to find it. It was once the pride of the Tramen Fohar, before they withered to nothing. They had few warriors, as their fertility goddess ensured that the vast majority of children born were maidens.��

    ��So this is the city of the legendary people who sacrificed their fertility goddess,�� Awlena said, ��But, if there were very few men, then that means.��

    ��This canyon was not carved by slaves, nor by hired labor,�� Dew explained.

    ��It��s amazing.��

    "There is no greater wrong than to hold something sacred in contempt. Their leaders decided it was disadvantageous to be a society of women, and as a result, they destroyed themselves. Now there��s nobody left.��

    Nadia turned to Awlena, ��I hear a very stupid wind in this place, let��s leave.��

    Dew grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. Nadia found herself with her back against the wall. Sunlight pouring in from the entrance reflected off her wet hair. ��If you truly have been changed by the gods then you should accept it as a gift. I don��t care what you might think of me. You are truly the most magnificent woman I have ever met, mind, body, and spirit. Don��t throw that away.��

    Awlena gasped as she stood behind them. Nadia looked away toward the entrance, her body tensed. Why couldn��t he just let her alone? The back of her head pushed against the cavern wall. Without thinking, she craned her neck, leaned forward, and closed her eyes. Suddenly warm air bloomed against her cold lips. Stomach rumbled as blood rushed through her shivering form faster than she ever remembered. A hand slid down the soaked sleeve until it warmed her arm. The other hand gently lifted her chin. When her eyes opened, she saw Dew��s slender nose approaching hers. Heart thumped. Bright red flushed through her cheeks. The echo of her slap reverberated throughout the canyon. Dew stepped back as he rubbed his burining cheek while Nadia returned to the outside path.

    ��Awlena, let��s go, these buildings are full of big bugs.��

    Awlena brushed past her brother while accepting the dry clothes and the towel from his open hands. She chased Nadia down the steps back to sandy shore.

    ��He was attempting to apologize. He almost lost you. You nearly had yourself killed."

    ��Who was doing what? I only saw a bug. A big nasty bug.��

    ��Why are you so angry with him if he��s nothing to you?��

    ��Angry!? You just saw him swing me around and try to kiss me. The stupid bastard almost stole my first kiss. I hate him.��

    ��My brother is no bastard! He wasn��t going to kiss you. That��s what you wanted.��

    ��I- how could you!?��

    ��He wanted you to dry off but you��re being difficult. You��re soaking and shivering. Can��t you see that? You��re going to catch cold.��

    ��That��s because I��m a nit-wit!��

    ��What you did was wrong. He was only pointing that out, if a bit harshly.��

    ��Well, I can��t have the most magnificent mind ever and be a nitwit. It��s one or the other!��

    ��You��re not an easy person to describe.��

    ��And what do you mean by that?!��

    Dew skidded in front them with Vestor clinging to his shoulders, ��Nadia, I��m sorry for yelling at you. I don��t want you to be angry with me. But what you did to Darrell was wrong.��

    Nadia turned to Awlena, ��Please tell the nothing in front of me that this nit-wit wants nothing to do with it and wish it should swim back to where it came from.��

    ��Nadia please, we��ll need him if we��re to survive this journey. This is not a goal that you can achieve on your own.��

    Dew walked backward in front of the two women as they returned to the ship, ��I��m sorry. I wanted to convince you to end this journey. I don��t want you to change back. I believe that remaining a woman is what your heart is crying out for. But if you achieve your manhood, I��ll love you as a brother.��

    Nadia stopped and bit her lower lip. She held back tears and gathered her composure as she faced Dew. She wiped tears with her fists. Then a soft punch landed in the center of Dew��s chest. He remained wide open as he stood still. Her fist remained clenched against his chest.

    ��What is wrong with me? Do you know how much that hurt when you called me a nit-wit!? I respect you, but you called me a nit-wit! I don��t want you to think I��m stupid! I��m not a bad person. I��m not�� and worse, you think you can take it back with empty praise like I''m some kind of child!?��

    ��You have a magnificent mind, even if you don''t always demonstrate it. As for calling you a nit-wit, if I had it to do over again, I would say the same. Your impulse followed your worst nature. And I expect you to correct me when I��m at my worst. That��s what friends do.��

    Her fist remained against his chest as she looked. A softness in his eyes made her blush. Hair pushed in front of her face. Nadia pulled her hair back, glanced at Vestor, then toward Awlena. A cold wind from the stairs made her shiver as she removed her fist from Dew��s chest.

    ��I owe Darrell an apology, don��t I?��

    Dew nodded.

    ��The stairs lead up to the high land!�� Vestor pointed upwards while clinging to Dew��s shoulders ��We can get going. Shouldn��t we go help the others pack up now? Shouldn��t Nadia get dry so she stops shivering?��

    ��Sounds like a grand idea,�� Awlena handed over the fluffy towel, ��It looks like Darrell already changed, so let��s get you in dry clothes.��

 73. Help! Shaving Time!

    They opened the holds of the Quagmire. A stale scent of fish overpowered them. Packed inside were the parts of an unassembled supply cart along with a hammer and nails. Josh and Darrell removed the pieces one by one and began hammering them together. The wheels slid onto the axles, which were tied onto the cart. Metal braces nailed into the wood for further support. Darrell took the lead, Josh carried pieces. Dew watched over them with Vestor clinging to his back as all four wheels were fitted properly and the handles sturdily fastened. He loaded every bit of water, all two-hundred and fifty remaining liters contained in three big skins next to the cart as it was being assembled.

    Inside the cabin, wet clothes slapped against the floor. Nadia hid behind a big towel as she dried off, ��I kind of needed a bath anyway.��

    ��Well, next time you decide to clean off, don��t risk getting crushed.��

    Along with fresh undergarments, Nadia decided to wear long cargo shorts with sleeveless shirt and a light red windbreaker jacket of thin material.

    ��I��ll try to be less risky,�� she sighed as she put on some socks and then sandals because her sneakers were soaked, ��I can��t move right in these.��

    Awlena blinked, ��You��re growing hair on your legs. Let��s get that taken care of.��

    ��Ah, what? Oh that!? My legs became hairless after I changed. Maybe I��m changing back!��

    Awlena pulled a straight razor and a small bottle of lotion from one of the drawers and held them up with a sly smile.

    ��Awlena, stay back. NO! I said no!��

    The sound of feet could be heard thumping as Nadia yelled.

    Josh snickered, ��Sounds like they are having a little too much fun in there.��

    Dew rubbed his face, ��No doubt my sister is being overly assertive. I wish she would learn from my example and stop being so annoyingly persistent.��

    Dew continued. With the cart finished, he loaded the water with Joshes help. What remained of the food went in next, five pounds of dried legumes, five pounds of rice, ten pounds of dried corn, five pounds of raisins, two pounds of peanuts, a pound of dates, and a few wrapped loaves of hardened bread. The beef jerky, gone. Three tents of white burlap landed over the food, along with five cotton blankets, five feather pillows. The door to the cabin opened, and the smoothed lower legs glimmered slightly from the ointment. A bag of personal articles hung from her hand, and was promptly tossed into the cart.

    ��I��m going to put my bike in the ruins in case there is high tide. I don��t see how it��s going to be much help with so many of you.��

    ��You can still fly it, can��t you?��

    Nadia pursed her lips before answering, ��Yeah, but if my powers run low, I don��t want to abandon it. And I don��t want to get separated from everyone.��

    Nadia hid her bike in the ruins. Josh brought a box with the fishing net. The remaining boat implements were stacked by Darrell in front of the bike. Vestor carried the herbs, salts, and spices for fish. Sun still poured down over the base of the stairway, so they set up a small fire even though there was no wood to be found anywhere. Instead, they burned the remains of the oars and the paddle handle to cook some lentil stew. Dew returned from the ship with robes of white, cotton cloaks with a big hood.

    ��I had these made for the trek in the desert. The sun at the heights of this continent is unforgiving and the nights are a near freezing chill.��

    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    He passed one to every member of the party. They didn��t hesitate to wear them over their clothes. Vestor looked tearful.

    ��You don��t have one for me.��

    ��You��re not supposed to be here, so how was I to know?��

    Nadia reached over and gave him a head pat, ��You can use one of my spare shirts for a hood.��

    Vestor smiled. They slurped down their soup together. The canyon remained peaceful, not so much as a wind.

    ��Pulling the cart up these stairs s going to be fun. And I can��t imagine the desert will be even ground,�� Darrell said.

    Having devoured her portion, Nadia stood up, ��We��re all exhausted, so let��s rest until morning. And Darrell, I��m sorry for kicking you. You didn��t deserve it. I won��t-��

    Darrell stood and put a hand on her shoulder, ��It��s not fine. But, just this once, I��m calling it a mistake and giving it a pass. Don��t let it happen again.��

    ��It won��t happen again. It would be too awkward for me if you died before I got home.��

    ��Good enough.��

    Dew entered one of the structures and came out with a ceramic pot full of ancient torches, ��These are dry, not sure for how long they��ll burn, but we can use them for our camp. If they prove useful, perhaps we can take one or two along.��

    The moon rose over the shadowy canyon, three quarters of it shone. Though it was still daylight, dusk approached. The air already chilled far beyond what a small dying fire could do to warm it. Torches lit the shallow interiors of two caves. Dew swept the floors so the sleeping mats could be rolled out. He found a counter on which to spread his maps and lit two torches nearby. Cool winds blew through the unblocked openings. Nadia passed Dew and Josh, who were already sleeping. In the second room to the back Dew stood over his maps. Torchlight flickered against his cheeks.

    ��What were you up to?�� Nadia asked.

    ��I was determining the best course to follow,�� Dew said.

    He knelt over the counter as he flattened maps of the continent with his palm. Nadia stood by his side to peer at the maps. He pointed at a location in the interior of the continent before marking their position on the eastern coast. According to the scale of the map, it was only eighty-seven kilometers to their destination.

    ��This marks the location of the ancient temple of the Tramen Fohar, where they sacrificed Ambrosia, the fertility goddess that deemed most of their children be woman. The temple was rededicated to a holy ground for Lodos, the god of war and masculinity. He was the chief deity of the Sparlons, a barbaric tribe that fought constantly with the Tramen civilization. However; before the Tramen Fohar people died completely, they rededicated the temple to Ambrosia.��

    "Looks like all we have to do is trek across this desert, only a little more than fifty miles.��

    Dew��s finger traced a longer route, ��I say we follow the path of the goblin nomads; they can supply us as well and they keep the paths straight. We should go north first, then west, and approach the temple from the north. It��s a safer route. The desert along the straightest path is cursed. I recommend we take this path instead.��

    ��That��s three hundred miles out of the way! I know what you��re thinking. I won��t have it. You want this quest to fail.��

    ��I know of this continent,�� Dew narrowed his eyes, ��You should trust my advice.��

    Vestor peeked inside, he rubbed his eyes before making his presence known with a wave. He ran inside and climbed at the counter only to be ignored except for Dew making sure he didn��t touch the maps and Nadia giving him head pats. His head kept bouncing above the high stone counter as he tried to look at the maps.

    "I have seven days to get back to Earth! That��s it, seven days, or I��m stuck like this for possibly forever. We can make it across the desert in three or four if we work hard, but there is no way we can get there before school starts if we travel three hundred miles more than we have to.��

    ��It��s too dangerous. The longer way is the shortest route. We��re taking the nomad paths.��

    Nadia pounded the stone with her fist, ��You want this to fail!? Or is it because you think I��m a nit-wit!?��

    ��Fine,�� Dew sighed as he checked the compass, ��The desert it is then. A word of warning, it��s known as the sleepless desert for good reason. Anyone who enters finds no rest until they leave. I hope you are prepared for this. What is your plan?��

    ��Then we��ll stay put tonight, move the cart to the end of the stairs in the morning, get extra sleep in the day tomorrow, and head into the desert at dusk. We��ll push nonstop until we��re across the desert, resting only during the hottest part of the day. We should be able to get across in three days without a problem.��

    Dew folded his maps, ��It��s your call, I��m going to get some sleep. If for any reason this decision puts any of us at risk of death we will turn around and regroup here. You''ll simpy have to accept the extra month. Well, seems I��ll be needing as much sleep as I can get. You too fox child.��

    Dew lifted Vestor and held him in his arm.

    Nadia poked at Vestor, ��You��re really short, are you sure you��re ten!��

    ��Our growth spurts come late.��