《Horses and Halberds》


 The Hero

    ¡°No.¡± Ivy said into a dawn so dark, a cock would be scolded for crowing. She marched as unwavering as a train towards her destination.


    ¡°Ivy wait!¡± Called a tall, broad figure underlit by the flickering of a hand candle. It was quite difficult for them to keep up, on account of the frilly maid¡¯s uniform they wore. ¡°You haven¡¯t even finished breakfast!¡± The gigantic maids voice was low and rumbling, but still warm and soothing. Like honey coated gravel.


    Ivy whipped around like a viper. ¡°To the biting fangs with breakfast Bellona!¡± She said with the venom to match my prior words. ¡°I refuse to suffer another moment under that vile witch¡¯s roof!¡±


    Bellona huffed; her craggy face turned down in worry. ¡°She didn¡¯t mean-¡°


    ¡°You heard her as plainly as I! I am simply doing as I am told!¡± Ivy stood now just before the threshold of an earthy and musty scented building.


    Bellona crossed her well-built arms over her chest ¡°This isn¡¯t the time to finally begin obeying your mother.¡±


    Ivy¡¯s teeth groaned silently under the pressure of her own jaw. She glowered at the towering grey skinned woman before her. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare twist this around onto me.¡±


    Bellona spoke levelly. ¡°I am not twisting anything girl, I am merely-¡°


    ¡°You are siding with her once again! Just as this entire fang bitten world seems to do!¡± Ivy stuck an accusing crimson finger in the larger woman¡¯s face.


    Bellona¡¯s features hardened, like sand crushing into rock. She reached a rocky hand up so slowly, Ivy was surprised when the tectonic force of a maid scorned closed around her wrist. ¡°Ivy Humble. If you interrupt me again I will carry you back to the dining room.¡±


    Ivy¡¯s anger did not just melt away, it fled for its life. For just a moment, Ivy was a girl again under that mudslide of pseudo-parental rage. To Ivys disgust her body reacted before her brain could rally her anger back to war. Her muscles relaxed, her shoulders dropped, and her forked tail coiled around her ankle like it was a scolded puppy.


    Bellona did not release Ivy¡¯s wrist.


    After a time, Ivy let out an exaggerated huff. ¡°I¡­apologize Bellona¡­¡±


    Bellona stared down at the crimson toned woman below her for a long beat. Then let go of her wrist. ¡°You¡¯re forgiven.¡±


    Ivy rubbed her assaulted wrist and sneered. ¡°Why not just do it then.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    Ivy straightened, tail returning to its raised position behind her. ¡°Why not just drag me back in there. Clearly I cannot pose any degree of challenge for you, oh mountain maid.¡±


    ¡°Mountain-¡° Bellona shook her head. ¡°When did you become this stubborn child.¡±


    ¡°I am not stubborn, and I am not a child.¡± Ivy said as she turned and stepped into over the threshold.


    Reluctantly the maid followed, raising her light to illuminate the stalls within. ¡°If you aren¡¯t stubborn then I¡¯m a cockatrice.¡±


    The flickering light and footsteps of the two women roused the few horses still kept on the property. Most were the highest echelon of pedigree and molded by master trainers. All but one. That one was only half high echelon pedigree and the other half untamed wild. The daughter of a prized mare and the rugged bad boy stallion from the wrong side of the tracks. Fence. This misbegotten union resulted in a beast three hands taller and a quarter ton heavier than any horse ever held by House Humble.


    That titanic animal was the last to stir at the march of petulance. In curiosity she craned her head, as big as a man¡¯s torso, over her stall door and peered at the source of the noise. Even in the dim light any could recognize Ivy from her tall proud horns. The horse was Immediately overtaken by excitement. She dug at the ground brutally with her hooves. She pressed herself to the door with enough force to bend the wood and strain the latch. She then began snorting and squealing like a toddler starved for attention.


    At the sight Ivy couldn¡¯t help but let a smirk push passed her defenses. She took the massive creature by its cheeks and gave her friend a kiss in the center of her forehead. Where a white diamond decorated her otherwise entirely dusty brown coat.


    ¡°You¡¯re taking Lily?¡± Bellona said.


    Ivy turned and furrowed her brow. ¡°Of course, I am. Why would I not?¡±


    ¡°Well dear, Lily isn¡¯t exactly suited for¡­. Traveling. You understand?¡± She gestured at the bulky animal.


    Ivy smiled. ¡°Luckily for Lily I have plans for more than just travel.¡±


    ¡°Plans? How could you have-¡° Realization struck Bellona. ¡°Dear, you don¡¯t mean¡­¡±


    Ivy placed her hands on her hips and took a heroic pose. ¡°I shall set out to become an acclaimed monster slayer!¡±


    Lily nudged Ivy in the back faltering the heroism taking place.


    ¡°Ah, I apologize big girl.¡± Ivy held Lily by her chin. ¡°We, shall set out to become acclaimed monster slayers!¡±


    Bellona stared blankly. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ you¡¯re joking? Please tell me you¡¯re joking.¡±


    ¡°I would never. Monster slaying is serious business.¡± Ivy opened the stall door just a hair and squeezed herself through. Lily would always rush out if the door was opened fully.


    ¡°Ivy Humble, this isn¡¯t one of your goofy books. You can¡¯t just stride into the woods with just a work horse and think you¡¯ll get fame from killing a few monsters.¡± Bellona held her head in her hands. ¡° I swear child, I should have never taught you to read.¡±


    ¡°Watch your tongue! Those books are historical!¡± Ivy said just before hefting a bulky saddle onto the wide back of Lily. ¡°Although, I¡¯ll admit the Garen the Grey series¡­. bends history. And even then, only slightly. The rest are simple fact.¡±


    ¡°And how do you plan on killing these hypothetical monsters, hmm? With your stories? With the horse?¡± Bellona said.


    Ivy kicked her leg up nearly to her chest, locking her shoe into Lilys tall stirrup. She hopped into position and lifted herself like a gymnast into her friend¡¯s saddle. But instead of sitting, Ivy placed her foot onto the saddle and continued to raise till she was standing. Lily stood as still as a statue the whole while.


    ¡°You have very little faith in I or my horse.¡± Ivy reached above her head and moved a loose plank of wood above her to the side. ¡°If you must know I have my own armaments.¡±


    Bellona scrunched her face in confusion. ¡°Is that the junk you¡¯ve been bringing back from market?¡±


    Ivy yanked a clanking, awkward shaped bag from the hidey hole. ¡°Once again your lack of awareness has been your folly. Where you saw junk, an expert eye saw potential.¡±


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Ivy threw the heap of potential to the stall floor with a loud metallic jangle. The horse in the stall over stamped and snorted from the sound. Lily, of course, remained calm. After retrieving a long far less awkward object wrapped tightly in fabric from the ceiling, Ivy made her descent. Slower and much more careful than her ascension.


    ¡°Now what is that.¡± Bellona said at her wits end.


    Ivy made her way to Bellona slowly, Squeezing herself back out of the stall. She held the object as delicately as one would hold a newborn. She gave Bellona a sly grin and began unwrapping. Now in her hands sat a marvel of metal and handy work. It had a handle of dark oak surrounded in an intricate lace-like basket hilt. The weaving metal reflected the flames glow like a mosaic. The blade was as straight as a beam of light, ending in a point as severe as a needle.


    ¡°This¡­ is my blade. Worry not, I shall put your training to good use. I swear it on my life.¡± Ivy said.


    Bellona placed both her wide hands on the shoulders of her ward and nodded slowly. She spoke as emotionally as a stone. ¡°How did you become so dumb.¡±


    Ivys eyes widened. ¡°What?¡±


    Bellona took the sword from the shocked girl. ¡°Ivy. This is a rapier.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡° I never taught you to use¡­ a rapier. They¡¯re for self-defense Ivy.¡± Bellona¡¯s eye twitched.


    Ivy furrowed her brow. ¡°Aren¡¯t¡­ all swords for self-defense?¡±


    ¡°Self defense from people! Not monsters! It¡¯s half an inch thick! What is this going to do?! What were you thinking?!¡±


    ¡°¡­It looked¡­ really pretty¡­¡±


    Bellona bit down hard on the insults and obscenities that flew through her mind. She needn¡¯t bite them for long, because they flew right back to where they came upon seeing Ivys new demeanor. The horned heiress had a look of deep fury painting her. But it was directed not at the maid but at the ground. Her fists were clenched in rage, but her tail was coiled again in fear.


    Bellona calmed herself with a long deep breath. ¡°Ivy.¡±


    Ivy didn¡¯t look up. ¡°What¡­¡± her voice quavered.


    ¡°Why are you doing this? All this planning, all this sneaking. Just to fight monsters?¡± Bellona asked.


    Ivy shrugged.


    ¡°No. Tell me.¡± She dropped the rapier and held Ivy by the shoulders again. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be doing all this pageantry for nothing.¡±


    Ivy looked up begrudgingly and spoke. ¡°I want¡­ people to like me¡­¡±


    Bellona sighed. ¡°People already like you.¡±


    ¡°No they don¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes they-¡°


    ¡°No, they don¡¯t!¡± Ivy drew back. ¡° They like the Humbles! They like the Humble fortune! Our business! How could anyone like me when they don¡¯t even know who I am.¡±


    ¡°I know you.¡± Bellona said.


    ¡°You¡¯re different¡­¡± Ivy wrapped her arms around herself. ¡°I want people to like me for what I do. How they like Garen the Grey, King Hensil¡­ or grandpa¡­ Not just like me because I own the most stuff.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡± Bellona said after a pause. ¡°And you¡¯re¡­ set on this. This is how you¡¯d like to be known.¡±


    Ivy nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve never been surer of anything in my life.¡±


    Bellona looked at Ivy for a long while. Then groaned like an old dog laying down. ¡°Fine. Get whatever else you¡¯ve been hiding onto Lily and meet me at the front gate.¡± With that she began to head out of the stable.


    Ivy watched her titanic maid leave dumbfounded. ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m getting you a weapon that could protect you from more than just a street thug.¡± Bellona called back.


    ¡°Really! Well¡­ Well, thank you Bellona!¡± Ivy looked down at the rapier on the hay strewn floor below. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ still quite pretty¡­¡± She leaned down.


    From out of sight Bellona shouted. ¡°Leave it!¡±


    ¡°Yes of course.¡± Ivy went to doing as she was told.


    Lily stamped her hooves and swayed from side to side in impatience as her rider loaded her up. Ivy¡¯s ramshackle armor and three emergency outfits took the bulk of saddle bag space. The armor when unassembled did truly seem to be cobbled scrap. Ivy had had to procure the armor over the course of many months to not arouse suspicion from her parents. The most difficult to explain was the breast plate. Ivy had told her father it was a frying pan, a present for the kitchen staff. He believed her. Not because she was convincing but because he had never laid eyes on an actual frying pan.


    Ivy filled her remaining bags with stowed away previsions for her and Lily. Mostly the standard affair of oats, nuts, dried fruits and salted meat. However, Ivy made sure to pack plenty of sugar cubes for her friend and a nice bottle of Humble Bumble Honey Mead for herself. As much as she despised her mother, the woman had created the finest alcoholic drink in all of Breged. Probably in all the lands.


    Suitably previsioned¡­Prevised¡­ Suitably stocked for the road ahead, Ivy finally opened Lilys stall door to its fullest. The animal moved quite fast for her size, gallivanting into the stable hall with all the energy she had held in anticipation. Ivy smiled warmly seeing the big thing at play. The other horses sneered like the popular kids in high school did. No, you¡¯re projecting.


    Ivy shushed Lily soothingly, bringing her to heel. ¡°I know you¡¯re excited big girl, I am too.¡±


    Ivy scratched Lilys cheek and kissed her forehead once more. Lily let out a low rumbling nicker as she pressed her head to Ivy¡¯s torso. Ivy was nearly knocked off her footing by the animal but just hugged the head and laughed.


    ¡°Come on you big goober.¡± Ivy kissed her horse again and took hold of Lilys reins.


    Horse and rider both made their way out of the stable. Ivy looked up at her family¡¯s tall opulent manor and felt just the smallest sliver of fear under its watch. With firm determination she turned from her home. This was the part of the story where the hero left things behind. Even things they found comfortable. She would not allow herself to be talked out of this. Not even by herself.


    True to her word, Bellona was waiting at the Humble Manor entrance gate. The only point of entry in the tall cobblestone wall surrounding the manor and its grounds. She held not only a leather sheathed weapon as tall as the maid was, but also a basket. Likely smuggled away from breakfasts leavings.


    ¡°Have you got everything girl? I¡¯d say you won¡¯t be wanting to make a return trip once you¡¯re out.¡± Bellona said.


    ¡°Yes, I have what I need. Aside from what you bare of course.¡± Ivy looked up at the leather sheath on the end of a long wooden pole. A metal point poked out from the top.


    ¡°Right right. Here it is.¡± Bellona handed over the weapon. It looked far larger in Ivys hands than the mountain maids.


    Ivy unbuckled and uncovered the gift from her maid. On the end of the tall firm handle was a rather heavy metal head that jutted out in three different directions. It sported the wide curved edge of an axe, a wicked barbed hook at its rear, and finally a long spear tip as its crown. A chimeric mix of all the implements you¡¯d enjoy having at the end of a sturdy stick. It had only modest decoration. A rose at the intersection of the tools, with thorny vines etched into the bases of all three tools.


    Ivy looked to her maid, who was now finding room in Ivy¡¯s bag for the cheese, bread and waterskins Ivy neglected to remember.


    ¡°A halberd? But you¡¯ve haven¡¯t shown me how to use this either.¡±


    ¡°Correct. But I showed you how to use a spear, right? And an axe? I¡¯m certain you¡¯ll figure it out.¡± Bellona crammed in the last loaf of crusty bread. ¡°Least bear hide wont bend it like that rapier of yours.¡±


    ¡°I suppose¡­¡± Ivy moved to her steed and mounted with the aid of Bellona.


    Bellona now looked up to Ivy. Their height difference inverted. ¡°Now have you got a place in mind you¡¯re headed?¡±


    Ivy thought for a moment then shook her head. ¡°Truly I had expected to simply wander. Nomadically searching out quarry from the great coast to the boarder of Emond Valor.¡±


    Bellona nodded. ¡°Sure. Thing is you¡¯ve got about a weeks¡¯ worth of food and a horse who needs a farrier, fang near more times than she needs fed.¡±


    ¡°I see your point¡­¡± Ivy said. ¡°Would you happen to have any suggestions?¡±


    Bellona smiled broadly. ¡° I do. Thank you for asking your lady ship.¡±


    ¡°Please just tell me.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Bellona pointed to the road and aimed her finger like she could see the whole journey stretched out before her. ¡°Now, you¡¯re gonna follow the main road beside the river like you¡¯re going to Ala. But you¡¯re not. At the first split in the road you¡¯re gonna head towards the mountains. Do not actually go up the mountains. That¡¯s dwarf and wyvern territory, dwarfs are worse to deal with trust me. Go passed the mountains towards the coast and you¡¯ll find a little village called Apie Fields. Once you¡¯re there look for a Martha Herbeta. She¡¯ll be able to give you board while you¡¯re there.¡±


    ¡°Wait. Apie Fields? Isn¡¯t that the Zolts fief? That¡¯s the middle of nowhere.¡± Ivy protested


    ¡°Yes, it is in the middle of nowhere. And if a monster showed up¡­¡± Bellona raised her brows to Ivy.


    ¡°¡­The Zolts would have to handle it?¡±


    ¡°Mhm. But the Zolts¡­¡±


    Ivy squinted. Then gasped. ¡°The Zolts are idiots! These people are likely up to their necks in monsters! I may very well be their only hope for salvation!¡± Ivy¡¯s eyes burned with the intensity of heroic passion.


    Bellona gave Ivys leg a couple soothing pats. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t go that far. The fields usually have one or two mercenaries helping out. Just until they decide to head somewhere with more coin.¡±


    ¡°Then I shall form a band of heroes! And we will defend these fields from whatever attempts to beset them!¡± Ivy called into the cold damp morning air.


    ¡°Sure girl. Gotta get out there first though.¡± Bellona looked at the road. Cocks were free to crow now as the sun crested just over some of the lowest hills in view.


    Ivy nodded and set her eyes to the road ahead. All she ever wanted was lying before her. Stretched out in paving stones all the way to the horizon. Her story truly began with this one step. Then why couldn¡¯t she do it. Her hands white knuckle gripping the reins, frozen as if by a basilisk¡¯s gaze. No matter how she internally begged, her legs refused to squeeze her mount into motion. She stayed in that state for just long enough to become awkward. Sealing her fate to remain till the end of days. Till Ragnar?k. Till the cleaving of the wor-


    ¡°Girl?¡± Bellona broke the silence. ¡°You gonna get going?¡±


    Ivy gasped out a breath. She hadn¡¯t realized she wasn¡¯t breathing. ¡°D¡­Do you think¡­Ill be okay¡­¡±


    Bellona looked up, all honey and no gravel this time. ¡°Well of course dear. I think you¡¯ll be fantastic Ivy. You¡¯re a mite dense but you¡¯ve got a good head on your shoulders.¡± She reached up and squeezed Ivy¡¯s hand firmly. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be amazing.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­.¡± Ivy shook off her thought and looked down at Bellona. ¡°Thank you. You¡¯ve been¡­instrumental in¡­ well instrumental in me. I thank you, Bellona. For everything.¡±


    Bellona smiled softly. ¡°Well thank you Ivy Humble. Just for being Ivy Humble.¡±


    Ivy firmly squeezed Lily now, letting the large animal know it was time to make their grand escape. Lily had no such jitters as her rider. She craved freedom. The kind of freedom she was created from. No fences, no breeding plans, no more nagging nags claiming she¡¯s a nag. Just her, her rider, and the open road. These thoughts flooded the animal¡¯s mind, pushing her quickly into a charging gallop.


    Lily had never done something like this before. Ivy was flooded with panic. Her maiden voyage thrown into mockery by an unyielding mount not fifty paces from her start. But the panic left the moment sunlight warmed Ivys crimson skin. She looked forward instead of at her mount. The land around her was indescribable. Every hill and every field around her was academically known to her, seen a thousand times from the back of a carriage. This was different. She was here, in the world.


    New sunlight made dew drops into radiant crystals. Lilys thundering hooves created a backdrop of heart resonating beats. These drumbeats awoke and disturbed small burrowing creatures to the surface, creating a small natural audience to Ivys first flight. And framing all this beauty from on high, the sky shown a gorgeous and alluring deep pink.


    Ivy could not hold all her emotions inside for much longer. All her anxiety, all her anger, all her hope came out in a long and heartfelt laugh. The truest kind of laugh. The kind coming directly from the bowels of your spirit. A full chested and true belly laugh. The first laugh of that kind Ivy had ever experienced.


    An unseen force gripped Ivys mind. A cold guilty clutching that bid her to turn around. To gaze at her home for maybe the last time. But her eyes never climbed up the manor. There was nothing and no one in the manor to mourn. Ivy¡¯s eyes landed on a tall, broad, grey skinned mountain brought to her knees by the same grief that turned Ivy¡¯s head.


    Through the tears flowing like rivers down her rocky face, Bellona shouted with the voice of a war horn. ¡°You give them hell! You hear me girl! Give the world hell!¡±


    Ivy choked back her tears with a beaming smile. She raised her halberd high above her head and called back with pride. ¡°It¡¯s all I know to give!¡±


    And with that she rode into the world. A crimson skinned, proudly horned and fork tail woman rode into the world on the back of a behemoth under a red sky. With the singular goal to give this world hell. I assure you. Hell is what it received.

 The Witch

    Ivy rode for what seemed like years, though the beating sun at its full height meant it was a little past noon. Don¡¯t misunderstand, Ivy loved the scenery of her homeland, Breged. Her rolling pastoral hills, vast seas of grassland home to many a fierce wild beast, and of course Ivys ever loyal companion on this leg of the journey, the calm, babbling Grendal River. It¡¯s only that at a certain point rolling becomes monotonous, vast becomes plain and ever loyal becomes ceaseless. The singular interesting sight Ivy had found for the last six hours was a far-off herd of thunder mammoth. But to Ivys annoyance, a similar annoyance to most visiting zoos without multiple viewing platforms, every last one of the tubby things were facing away from her. And adding fictional insult to imagined injury, they were too far off for her to even see if there were any babies. Honestly the nerve.


    Just when Ivy was contemplating the idea of wrangling a mammoth and using it as a mount, she felt a sudden jolt of hunger. Bellona¡¯s words about breakfast rang more reasonable in the woman¡¯s head now. She reached into her saddle bag and pulled out a pouch of raisins and nuts. An odd concoction of Ivys own design, a kind of mix for the trail ahead. As she was about to fill her cheeks with fruity and nutty goodness like a demonic little chipmuck, Ivy remembered the one-ton hulk below her also likely was becoming peckish. Ivy leaned down and pat the side of Lilys neck.


    ¡°Are you getting hungry big girl?¡± Ivy said.


    Lily turned her head to the side and looked at her mistress. Ivy was cooing again in her odd tongue. Lily noticed Ivy was holding a bag of what smelled like fruit. Maybe her mistress was offering her the bag. Lily was growing quite hungry, but like any good steed she knew she always had to be alert. Ready to bolt at a moment¡¯s notice or stand her ground with gusto if she must. But if her mistress was offering her food then mistress couldn¡¯t be rejected. Lily made an attempt to push her muzzle into Ivy¡¯s bag, however it was just out of reach. Lily thought she¡¯d try just a little harder. She didn¡¯t want to offend her rider by not partaking in her gift.


    From Ivys perspective, Lily began nipping at the trail mix bag and spinning in place.


    ¡°Alright, alright big girl, no need to try so hard.¡± Ivy upturned her bag onto the road. The mix became its final form. A true mix of the trail. Each ingredient reveled in the splendor for the few seconds they had before a hungry horse gobbled them down.


    Ivy surveyed the area and noticed a large oak tree nearby, with plenty of shade for a woman and her horse to have a relaxing picnic. She wheeled Lily away from her road snack, which took some effort. She brought the both of them to the tree where Ivy dismounted. Then rummaged through her saddle bag to find some dried meat and Lilys feed bag. Filling the bag and placing it on Lily was very routine to Ivy, and soon enough she was lounging on a tree trunk tearing into a large helping of over salted jerky.


    Ivy had stopped for her break in view of the crossroads. Going right, and following the path of the Grendal, would lead to the heart of Breged. Ala. Mighty walls, a bustling city, the best theater district in the country and all set around an impregnable castle known as Bears Hold. Some believe The Bear may have even built it herself. Whether the Bear had built the city or not she continued to protect it even today, through her chosen warriors. The Green cloaked Paladins of the Bear.


    Of course, Ivy had been to Ala before, just under strict chaperones. Unable to explore the hidden wonders she knew she could rat out. She never got to meet any paladins formally. Just passing by seeing their glistening armor and verdant capes. Everything a hero really should be. And they were only as far from her as home was now.


    To the left. Mystery. The unknown. All she knew was the mountains, of which she was meant to avoid, and Apie Fields. She had no idea how far it would be, the state of the roads or even how this Apie Fields would receive her. She knew though they probably didn¡¯t have paladins. She even wondered how the Zolts were faring.


    Lily awoke Ivy from her idle thoughts with a muzzle digging into her shoulder. Ivy felt the bottom of Lilys feed bag. ¡°All done girl?¡±


    Ivy began to remove Lilys feed bag but noticed the horses¡¯ eyes and ears were set to the side. When Ivy followed her friend¡¯s gaze she found herself looking at a rather large boat. It was sleek and thin, made of a glossy wood in a color darker than any Ivy had seen. The tall mast in the center of the deck had its sails wrapped up tightly. Sails were only good for sea travel.  This vessels go to method of movement down the narrow Grendal were two rows of long oars down either side of the splinter ship.


    Ivy furrowed her brow seeing the vessel. Seeing a boat in a river was normal, Ivy knew boats were often in rivers. What puzzled Ivy was a speedy foreign vessel stopping the middle of nowhere, carrying no cargo plainly seen, baring no marks of origin and-


    It all clicked in Ivys horned head at once.


    Smugglers.


    That must have been it. Why else have no heraldry. Why else stop far from any port or city. Ivy knew she had to do something. Tainted, foreign, possibly illegal goods brought into her home and country couldn¡¯t stand. The ship was likely from Emond Valor, the festering land of witches and warlocks. As Ivy mounted her steed she grit her teeth. Magic made her sick. Bending the laws of nature for your own sick and twisted enjoyment was revolting. Maybe magic was what made the strange vessel so glossy and clean, fang bitten weasels couldn¡¯t even be bothered to clean a boat without magic. Despicable.


    Ivy sat as straight as an arrow in her saddle. Her gaze was icy, and her silhouette became somewhat intimidating. Although the intimidation did mostly come from the horns, and being atop a creature who shared more physicality with a moose than the average horse. Lily had naught but crossed the road when the crew of the ship had lowered a gang plank to the river shore. Ivy¡¯s hand moved down to the haft of her new halberd images danced in her brain of a daring hero facing villainous pirates. Ivy didn¡¯t get her swashbuckling escapade, as much as she wanted it.


    A whip thin cloaked figure strode ethereally out from a cabin at the back of the ship. They were followed by a robust wide set man. Ivy believed he was a man because she was under the impression only male mammoths had tusks. She was mistaken, any mammoth can have tusks it is only a bit more common for females to be born without the ability to grow them. Nevertheless Ivy was correct in this case, the gigantic mammoth headed person was in fact a man.


    Beast men weren¡¯t entirely unknown to Ivy. She had rubbed elbows with a fair few in her families¡¯ trips to Ala for court. Lizard folk, bird people, she even met a man with a boars features once. Though he may have just been ugly. By far the most common were people with the heads of hounds. The Jarl of Wilksgrad was one such as that. She bore the shaggy grey fur and lanky build of a wolfhound. But a mammoth. Unheard of even in the stories she read.


    The figure and the mammoth man made their way down the gang plank. They appeared to be having a conversation, although Ivy could only barely make out the man because of his deep booming voice. He was saying something about the weather or maybe some leather. As they reached the shore he clapped the figure on the back with a hand larger than the person¡¯s torso and exclaimed a hearty farewell.


    Ivy rode a little closer. Convincing herself she hadn¡¯t been noticed.


    The diminutive figure removed their hood facing the ship, revealing long golden blonde hair. The mammoth man climbed his way back to the ship. Then with arms as thick as tree trunks and a trunk as thick as a man¡¯s arm, he hoisted the long plank back onto the ship. He let out his own trumpet of celebration at his feat of strength. The small thin person waved a goodbye at the man their opposite in every way. Then just as silently as it had pulled up to shore the oarsmen pushed off the riverbank and glided off. The boat left only ripples in its wake.


    The figure then turned, immediately meeting Ivy¡¯s gaze. The instancy of the action caused the rider to jolt in place. The person¡¯s face was thin and angular. Everything about them was thin and angular. Their skin was so pale they seemed to be a spirit. Their grey cloak and red robes swaying in the wind was the nly proof this world touched them.


    Then, like they hadn¡¯t just initiated the creepiest riverside staring contest to date, the pale figure just turned and left. They began to glide down the road like they hadn¡¯t a care in the world. Ivy watched them go, filled with an intense curiosity. This was no ghost; ghosts don¡¯t ride boats. They were just a traveler. A traveler who didn¡¯t have anyone to keep her company. Or any form of protection. And yet they weren¡¯t slowed by that lack. Ivy looked down at her mount, then her gaze went to her halberd. She was well equipped, well-armed and riding a tank.


    And if she wanted to be a hero she had to start somewhere. With being the hero to this small defenseless person. Who luckily had just taken the fork towards Apie Fields.  So Ivy rode forward at a trot. Following behind until Lily sat besides Ivys new curiosity.


    The traveler kept gliding onward.


    Well, maybe she was shy, Ivy thought before she spoke. ¡°Hello!¡±


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    The pale skinned person now looked up seeing the crimson skinned heiress up on a literal high horse.


    The stranger looked forward and grumbled words Ivy could hardly hear. ¡°You¡¯re joking¡­¡±


    ¡°My apologies friend, I couldn¡¯t quite catch that?¡± Ivy said cheerily.


    ¡°Nothing¡­ uh- hi. Do you need something?¡± The traveler asked looking at Ivy out of the corner of her eye. Kind of like a weary hound.


    ¡°Well I simply saw we were headed the same direction and thought it kind to introduce myself. My name is Ivy Elizabeth Alexandria Marie Humble, and it is very pleasant to meet you miss.¡±


    ¡°Not miss.¡± The traveler said plainly.


    ¡°Oh. Well, my deepest apologies. I hadn¡¯t meant to offend.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t.¡± Said in a tone that said otherwise.


    ¡°Well, how might I address you, friend. I wouldn¡¯t like a repeat of my offence¡± Ivy said.


    ¡°Yesenia.¡± They said.


    ¡°Yesenia! That¡¯s a rather nice name. Rolls off the tongue well. Yesenia. Quite the name.¡± Ivy smiled broadly. A bit too broad.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re very welcome.¡±


    Silence and the serenity of nature overtook once more. Birds sang far off. Lilys hooves made a gentle rhythm on the cobblestones. It was a lovely day as well, just a spattering of clouds. Only enough to give the sky texture. Perfect picnic weather really.


    ¡°So-.¡± Ivy¡¯s voice invaded the serenity of nature. ¡°Where are you headed friend Yesenia.¡±


    ¡°Apie Fields.¡± Yesenia said.


    ¡°What luck! I¡¯m headed to the same town. Looks like we are going to be traveling friends for a bit longer.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, must be fate...¡±


    The pair began to enter a canopied section of the road. Ivy could already see the road becoming less and less well kept the further they got from the road leading to Ala.


    ¡°You know they really should send someone out here to fix up these roads. They are absolutely dreadful.¡± Ivy said peering down at the root knarred road she wasn¡¯t actually standing on.


    ¡°I doubt anyone ever will.¡±


    Ivy beamed at getting five words out of Yesenia again and followed the current of conversation. ¡°Oh? Why do you say that?¡±


    ¡°Because the royalty of Breged don¡¯t care about people¡±


    ¡°Ah yes maybe that¡¯s-¡° The current had just become rapids. ¡°W- What do you mean by that.¡±


    ¡°I mean, they just don¡¯t care.¡± Yesenia gestured to the trail they were on. ¡°You just said this roads no good and it¡¯s meant to be a trade road to the Andren Mountains.¡±


    ¡°Well I- what I meant was-¡°


    ¡°If royal families can¡¯t think enough about the people to maintain roads they don¡¯t personally walk on, how can you expect them to care about anything.¡± Yesenia said


    ¡°I suppose-¡° Ivy got out.


    ¡°And it all stems from that geriatric King. I say he ought to just be put in the mausoleum now. Doubt the old codger would even notice¡±


    Ivy¡¯s eyes lit up with anger. ¡°Now just wait a second! King Ceratin is a peach. A peach! I bet you¡¯ve never even met the man. If you had you¡¯d be eating your words right now!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to meet him to know he can¡¯t rule properly.¡±


    ¡°He can rule! Breged has been under his care for almost sixty years, and we¡¯ve been flourishing!¡± Ivy began to raise her voice and pulled Lily to a halt.


    ¡°Flourishing? The only places flourishing are Ala and maybe Port Venga. Which might I add basically runs itself at this point.¡± Yesenia stopped as well turning to face Ivy atop her horse head on.


    ¡°Are those not cities of Breged? How can you account for their success if not prime leadership?¡±


    ¡°Port Vengas only doing well because of the Iron Clads. Ala though just steals and leaches off the rest of Breged. I¡¯ve seen the records on the tax hikes¡±


    ¡°Taxes aren¡¯t stealing!¡±


    ¡°Taxation is inherently theft.¡±


    Ivy breathed in deeply in an attempt to calm herself. ¡°Listen Yesenia, you seem nice. How¡¯s about you just resend your clear ignorance on this great land, and we can continue to travel in peace.¡±


    Yesenia squinted at Ivy with cool clarity in their piercing eyes. ¡°Robert Ceratin is an elderly, inconsiderate, cowardly, and incompetent ruler. Breged would be better off if he found a hole to crawl in and die already.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Ivy roared. ¡°I¡¯m gonna-¡°


    ¡°Ladies, ladies you¡¯re both pretty.¡± A voice cut in from behind the arguing duo on the shady path.


    Ivy and Yesenia¡¯s¡¯ heads both shot around. Both represented the extreme hot and cold of anger respectively. Their anger turned to shock once they saw the end of a crossbow aimed at them. The weapon was held confidently by a young skinny man.


    ¡°Now, how about you girls hand over any valuables ya got, and I¡¯ll just let you return to your bickering.¡± The man said with a grin.


    Lily turned to face the man, stamping her hoofs like a bull ready to charge as Ivy said. ¡°You, good sir, have picked just about the worst time to anger me further. I will hand it to you however, you seem very brave to wish to face me.¡±


    ¡°Oh you flirt~. But ain¡¯t nothing brave about two on four.¡± The skinny man chuckled.


    ¡°Two on-¡° Just as Ivy had reached to grasp her halberd she heard a mechanical click from a bush besides her.


    ¡°Slow it down miss knight, or you and your horsys dog food.¡± Said person so short Ivy would have thought he was a child if not for the chin strap beard and steadiness of aim he had with his own crossbow.


    Ivy turned to Yesenia, who was standing just as cooly as before muttering something under their breath. Just past Yesenia was another armed bandit, aiming directly for the pale traveler¡¯s head. Ivy growled in anger looking back at the leader who was as pleased with himself as a tomcat staring at a mouse. The fourth promised bandit emerged from the woods to the leaders left training his weapon on Lilys chest.


    The leader spoke. ¡°This doesn¡¯t have to end messy ladies. Just hand over whatever you¡¯ve got, and we all can just go our separate ways.¡±


    ¡°You cannot treat me this way!¡± Ivy roared at the leader like a marauding bear. ¡°I am Lady Ivy of House Humble! When the authorities hear of this you will rot in Ala¡¯s dungeons!¡±


    The leader furrowed his brow in confusion. His second leaned forward and whispered a few words into his ear. The man began to chuckle as his grin returned prouder than ever.


    ¡°Well that clears up a few things.¡± He snapped his fingers and his second began to approach Ivy and Lily. ¡°Don¡¯t hurt the ¡°Lady¡± boys. She¡¯s worth a pretty penny alive.¡±


    Ivy¡¯s eyes widened realizing what the man meant. She looked around franticly for any path of escape. She can already hear her mother scolding her. Bellona disappointed in her. A Humble held for ransom not even a day away from home. She¡¯ll be the shame of the entire lineage. She couldn¡¯t fathom anyway this could get worse.


    Lily began to panic as well, feeling her rider¡¯s mood and seeing the men with their pointy things pointed at her. Lily snorted and stamped in place. She wouldn¡¯t let them get to Ivy. They would need to get through her first.


    ¡°Jon, shoot the stupid horse. It looks ready to bolt.¡± The leader said without care.


    The little man beside Ivy began to ready a shot directly into Lilys rib cage.


    Ivy shot up a warding hand, nearly falling off her horse. She let out a primal scream of anguish that echoed through the woods around them.


    ¡°No!¡±


    To the riders shock, the man appeared to listen to the plead of terror, lowering his weapon from its intended target. The confusion and frustration plain on his face as he tried to lift it back up went against the notion. Jon heaved and huffed, his face growing red with the exertion of effort just to keep the weapon from falling. But fall it did, and with such force that it shattered on the hard road. You¡¯d imagine a shower of splinters or at least the thing to accidentally have shot itself with the sheer power the fall had. But no. The pile remaining looked more like the crossbow crumbled like a very dry slice of cake.


    Jon and Ivy looked down at the ruined thing in pure bewilderment. Jon then raised his head and with a terror-stricken face and bloodcurdling scream he said.


    ¡°Witch!!¡± and fled into the woods.


    The other bandits looked at their friend¡¯s flight with confusion. But before any of them could mock his cowardice or question his claim, all of their crossbows met the same fate as his. Dropping out of their hands and nearly noiselessly crumbling to the stones.


    Ivy looked around at the scene. Eyes wide and mouth agape. She turned towards the leader, who had lost all of his bravado and cunning and was reduced to just a lanky scared young man.


    ¡°I- I don¡¯t-¡°Ivy finally stammered out.


    ¡°She¡¯s a witch!! Boys run! Don¡¯t let her cast another spell on you!¡± The leader shrieked out turning to bolt down the road.


    The two other boys ran as fast as their legs could carry them. Which was quite fast if you ignored the time they spent tripping over tree roots.


    Ivy¡¯s jaw was practically in her saddle. She slowly turned. The kind of turn accompanied by a door squeak sound effect. She looked down at Yesenia, who had a devilish smirk on their pale face. Yesenia in turn looked up at the horned rider.


    Ivy stammered. ¡° D¡­Did-¡°


    ¡°Yes~?¡± Yesenia said very pleased with themselves.


    Ivy looked on the brink of tears. ¡°D¡­Did I really do that.¡±


    ¡°Yes I di- What?!? No! No, you didn¡¯t. I did!¡± Yesenia shouted.


    ¡°You did!?!¡± Ivy shouted back.


    ¡°Of course I did!¡±


    ¡°Then¡­ then you¡¯re a-¡°  Ivy looked at Yesenia with wide eyes and placed a hand on her halberd.


    ¡°A witch? No. I¡¯m not a witch.¡± Yesenia said.


    ¡°What are you then.¡± Ivy gripped the wooden haft tight in one hand.


    ¡°A wizard.¡±


    ¡°A wizard!?!¡±


    ¡°A wizard. Witches are normally more adept in nature magic, requiring long rituals and rites. You know eye of newt, tongue of dog. Wizards, on the other hand are more in tune with pure arcana. Allowing us to shape the world to our whim with only needing the knowledge of how.¡± Yesenia lectured.


    Ivy¡¯s eyes long since glazed over. ¡°You¡­use magic. I¡¯ve been traveling with a mage¡­¡±


    ¡°And a mage saved your life. But don¡¯t mention it.¡± Yesenia gave Ivy a pat on her knee and began to walk down the trail once more.


    Ivy flinched at the touch. Her embarrassment at the act heating her slowly. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going!¡±


    ¡°Apie Fields.¡± Yesenia said.


    ¡°Y...you can¡¯t just go! I have to turn you in!¡±


    ¡°Turn me in? Are you that far up your king¡¯s ass.¡± Yesenia turned.


    ¡°This is not about the king! Magic is outlawed! The paladins have to deal with you!¡± Ivy drew her halberd and leveled it at Yesenia.


    Yesenia laughed and shook their head in disbelief. ¡°Mugging is also illegal to remind you princess. And where are the paladins.¡±


    ¡°Well.. that¡¯s-¡°


    ¡°No shut up. You¡¯re acting like a fanged idiot. I just saved our lives. And you¡¯re going to just throw me in jail for having the abilities I needed to save us.¡± Yesenia marched back to Ivy and stared her down.


    Ivy pulled her halberd close to herself, looking down at Yesenia. ¡°I thank you for saving me... But the laws of this land clearly-¡°


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t save you when you needed them.¡± Yesenia cut in.


    Ivy felt the icy blade of Yesenia¡¯s words slide neatly into her raging heart. The steam produced drifted upwards, clouding Ivy¡¯s thoughts with a myriad of conflicting emotions. This person truly had saved her life, along with the life of her truest friend. But they were magical. Meaning they could have escaped the situation without allowing Ivy to escape with them. But it¡¯s against the law. So is murder, but even that is permitted under defending oneself. But magic must be worse than murder¡­ somehow. But they used it to save a life. Save my life.


    They saved my life.


    Yesenia was already nearly a hundred paces away when they heard the thundering of a whole stampede closing in behind. They whipped around in shock to see the horrific sight of Lily attempting to slow down from full gallop. The animal got there eventually, only a dozen feet passed the mark. Before Lily had even halted her movement Ivy flung a leg over the saddle, released the other from stirrups and landed with a thud to the road below.


    Ivy marched towards Yesenia with her eyes cold and determined. Yesenia held firm, twisting their fingers into unnatural configurations within the sleeves of their robes. The spells started fizzling immediately as Ivy collapsed before Yesenia, catching herself with one knee. Kneeling as if before a lord.


    ¡°I apologize.¡± Ivy said.


    ¡°You what?¡±


    ¡°You spoke true¡­ you saved my life as well as the life of my steed. And for that I am eternally grateful.¡±


    ¡°Well, good you saw-¡°


    ¡°Even though the means of the rescue were vile and debaucherous with foul magics, I am the same indebted to you.¡±


    ¡°There it is.¡± Yesenia walked passed Ivy. ¡°Whatever helps you sleep at night bootlicker.¡±


    Ivy shot up and began to follow. ¡°I am not-¡°


    Yesenia turned and raised their thin brows. ¡°Hmm? Not what, indebted one?¡±


    ¡°I am not¡­ going to retort. As it is uncouth to do so to one who saved my life.¡± Ivy said.


    Yesenia waved their hand at Ivy. ¡°None of that.¡± They turned to the road. ¡°Arguing with you was fun.¡±


    Ivy took Lilys reins as a lead and walked beside Yesenia. ¡°Fun? You find argument with me a game?¡±


    ¡°I do. A good one. I expected this trip to be pretty boring. But with you the days will fly by.¡±


    ¡°Well, I suppose that counts as a compliment.¡± Ivy smiled for a beat. Then she went pale. ¡°¡­Days?¡±


    Yesenia looked up at Ivy. ¡°Yes, days. How far you think Apie fields is?¡±


    ¡°¡­a few hours away¡­¡± Ivy said.


    Yesenia looked forward and a slight grin took root on their pale face. ¡°What should we talk about first. Your failing kingdom or my vile arts?¡±

 The Knight and The Archer

    They began by speaking on Bregidian politics. It was quite riveting after Ivy understood the concept of mental sparring. Very similar to traditional sparring, the only difference is in one you¡¯re being trained for the most grueling, dangerous sport imaginable. The other, you may be stabbed . They clashed like mad, same as before. But more often than not, the anger and emotion simmered steadily into a stew thoughtful conversation.


    They began to teach instead of bicker. Ivy learned Yesenia was most proficient in the magic of Graviturgy. Then Ivy learned what graviturgy was. Then what gravity was. Yesenia learned very much about the inner workings of the Bregidian aristocracy. Who¡¯s related to who, who¡¯s secretly related to who, who really wants to be related to who. Around day three Yesenia felt that they could reliably spot a marital scandal just off how someone poured a glass of wine. As well, both learned in tandem that traveling in Breged really sucks.


    In just the four days and nights they had traveled they had been, in order. Nearly robbed six more times. Thrice by more teens with crossbows, twice by bands of goblins, and once by a goose who spoke in rhyme. They had been woken nearly every hour of the second night by a massive owl. Not by its noise mind you, thing was church mouse quiet. The mice screams weren¡¯t so. And finally on their last day of traveling, the trio had been nearly crushed in a rockslide. Fortunately, Lily could sense the tremors before they made their impact, and Yesenia is light enough to be easily hoisted into a saddle at a moment¡¯s notice. Only trouble was now the mountain pass they came through was entirely blocked off, but I¡¯m sure that won¡¯t matter in the long run. Wink.


    After days of seeing no sign of civilization Ivy finally spotted small buildings in the distance, along with the tell-tale signs of cultivated land. Just to the trio¡¯s side was rows upon rows of perfectly tended and expertly bred apple trees. Nestled square in the middle of the orchard was a wide and surprisingly ornate manor house.


    Ivy pointed at the manor giddily, elbowing Yesenia, who was now seated behind Ivy in the saddle. ¡°That¡¯s my cousins house.¡±


    Yesenia looked over, away from the tome they were studying. ¡° I thought you¡¯d never been here before.¡±


    ¡°I never have, but it looks almost identical to Humble manor. Only smaller.¡± Ivy chuckled. ¡°They¡¯re the Zolts, the ones I told you about.¡±


    Yesenia nodded. ¡°The shitty ones?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Father told me they¡¯ve always tried to mimic the Humbles. Only thing is they¡¯re atrocious at it.¡± Ivy smirked mockingly at the manor. ¡°I mean really, who prefers cider over wine. It¡¯s like they¡¯re asking to be ridiculed.¡±


    The wizard returned to pondering the book. ¡°Ciders all-¡°


    A heart stopping screech cut through the quiet air like a jagged blade. Ivy¡¯s head whipped around in the direction of the noise. It was coming from a patch of forest on the other side of the Zolts orchard. Ivy strained her eyes to see what could be making such a horrendous noise. She did clock a patch of trees rocking back and forth unnaturally. She began to assume it may just be an injured beast in the forest.


    Until she heard the distinct sound of a man screaming in agony.


    Ivys legs tightened firmly around her mount, which caused the horse to obediently rocket into action. Charging like a locomotive, Lily ran down a column of apple trees. Yesenia¡¯s book flew from their hands. They made an attempt to reach for their book but stopped to avoid of joining it, clutching tightly to Ivy¡¯s torso. Ahead of them, Ivy and Lily could see movement. A very large creature jumping and bucking at an invisible threat. Each thundering hoof beat brought them closer to the beast.


    Time stood almost entirely still as Ivy witnessed the dark mass spread wings twice as wide as Lily was long. Ivy yanked hard on her reins seeing the beast charge towards Lily with near equal speed to the horse. Lily tried to obey but once the pain train starts rolling it¡¯s very difficult to stop. The creature broke the tree line in its charge and Ivy could at last make out some features. Its wide wings looked like that of an eagle, its mighty thundering legs were of a lion, but its head appeared to be nothing but a jet-black ball far too large for its body.


    Suddenly the thing took flight, razor claws missing Lilys snout by only a couple inches. Ivy and Yesenia looked up in awe and horror respectively, seeing the things underbelly pass over them. Ivy could now see the black mass was not its head. This was an ordinary, albeit rather large, griffin with its eagle head tucked down to its chest being pinned down by an interloper. That interloper was a gigantic knight in shimmering ebony armor. The man had to be as tall as Bellona at least, maybe taller. His armor shown and sparkled in the sun as he pulled an arm back and with a fist oddly devoid of weaponry, he punched the griffin in the side of its head.


    Time flashed back into motion, the griffin and knight flew towards the other side of the orchard. Ivy wheeled her great mount around, causing Yesenia to tilt, almost falling out of the saddle. Then once again, the three thundered on apple strewn ground in hot pursuit of the brave knight and his foe. Ivy retrieved her halberd, grinning as she held it to her side. She bore it like a lance, spear tip pointed out and axe blade to the ground.


    Ivy shouted back at Yesenia. ¡°Hold on tight! I fear it¡¯s about to get a might unstable!¡±


    Yesenia clung to Ivy¡¯s waist, unaccustomed to the titanic movements of the large horse. ¡°You¡¯re the only thing that¡¯s unstable!¡±


    Ivy laughed at Yesenia¡¯s response while she watched in glee as the black knight brought both his fists down on the top of the griffin¡¯s head. This sent the mighty animal plummeting to the ground, unfortunately for the knight, his weight made him the first to connect with the hard soil.


    Ivy saw the man writhe in pain, though she heard no shout. The creature loomed above the man shaking off the daze caused by armored hands. The beast raised a lion paw and screeched in hate, ready to gut the man armor and all. The claw never made purchase.


    Ivy plunged her spear tip into the beast¡¯s chest as Lily slammed her muscled chest into the side of the griffin throwing it off the man. From the knight¡¯s perspective it was almost like a painting. Hero astride a mighty steed charging a ferocious beast. He¡¯d never seen a painting where such a scrawny little thing was holding onto the hero for dear life though. To be honest, he hadn¡¯t seen many paintings.


    Lily trampled over the griffin with many cracks, squishes and caws coming from the feline avian monster. It still had fight in it, however. Slowly rising to its feet, it stared Lily and Ivy down with an apex predators¡¯ pride behind its slitted eyes. Ivy swung her halberd around laughing as she stared into the beast¡¯s eyes mimicking its moxie.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Come on then birdie! We want a little fun too!¡± Ivy roared at the creature as it began to stalk like a wolf to the side of them. Lily followed suit keeping slow pace with the beast while watching the griffins every muscle twitch.


    ¡°Not all of us want fun!¡± Yesenia shouted, waving their arms at the griffin


    The griffin clicked its beak a few times watching the horse circling with it. Then the beast flashed its wings to their full width, letting out a horrid mix of roar and screech. So loud and piercing it almost initiated Lilys instincts to panic, but she stood strong.


    The beast suddenly fell silent. Then suddenly fell.


    Ivy looked at it with shock and confusion. Until she saw the feathered end of an arrow stuck into the wound Ivy had inflicted on her would be adversary. Ivy followed the path the arrow must have taken, and it led her to a figure standing just on the edge where orchard met forest. Where the beast had originally emerged from.


    The figure limped forward into the light. Ivy could see a bearded, disheveled man holding a long and thick war bow in one hand. Blood trickled onto the wood of the bow from a gash in the man¡¯s bicep. Ivy quickly dismounted,  leaving Yesenia alone on a horse that made them look like a doll, and ran to the man.


    Once Ivy closed the distance she shouted. ¡°Sir! Are you alright!?¡±


    The man shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m fine.¡± He accepted her help anyways, putting an arm over her shoulders to assist in his limping.


    Ivy now got a better look at this archer. He must be former military, possibly a ranger. It¡¯s the only way to explain his shot. And while injured at that. The man¡¯s arms were covered in tattoos. Localized to his forearms mostly but images and patterns clearly lead down his back and chest, hidden by his blood and sweat soaked shirt. Ivy was rather sad to see a nice tattoo of a doggie was cut in half by the slash in his arm.


    ¡°Is the kid okay?¡± The archer said looking forward.


    Ivy followed his gaze, seeing Yesenia hang off the side of Lily nearly two feet from their feet touching the ground. ¡°The knight? Oh yes I¡¯d say he¡¯s alright. Simply had the wind knocked out of him. He is certainly better than that griffin, you¡¯re quite good with that bow sir.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Marco. And boys not a knight. He¡¯s an idiot.¡±


    They both made their way over to the knight. Who was lying collapsed on the ground, arms spread wide. Marco looked down upon him and delivered a well-placed kick to the knight¡¯s side plating.


    ¡°You alive big guy.¡± Marco said.


    Ivy saw the helm of the man bob up and down in compliance.


    ¡°Good.¡± Marco looked at Ivy. ¡°You got any cloth? Hate to rip this shirt. Last one I got aint too tore up.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Of course!¡± Ivy sat Marco down on the ground and rushed over to Lily and Yesenia, who was still dangling off one side of the saddle.


    Ivy rummaged through her packs for any of her medicinal supplies she had packed. She giggled in glee at the thought of the armored man. Maybe these two men were heroes like her or at least could be molded like Yesenia. She could have a real band of merry heroes starting here. Ivy found her spool of gauze and threw the wizard over her shoulder while she was there. Yesenia made only a few mumbles in protest.


    Ivy turned seeing the two men talking. Well, seeing Marco talk to the knight. Nothing of the helmet¡¯s movements hinted at speech. And what an odd helm now that she was looking at it. Very slender at the mouth but carried a large curved horn pointed skyward, starting just from above the eyes. Speaking of eyes, how did the man see. The helm had no visor, just two pin prick holes. Holes she just saw blink.


    ¡°-ould¡¯ve gotten it alone. Just didn¡¯t expect the thing to take a nosedive. Lucky we had help this time!¡± This voice came from inside of the riders head. Like it was her own thought, only in the voice of a young man.


    The knight, in question at the moment, gestured an arm at her. To which she looked around confused, not only at the gesture but trying to find the source of the voice.


    ¡°Does she not talk?¡± The voice said as the odd man turned to Marco.


    Marco held his hand out for the gauze and let out an exasperated sigh. ¡°Heracles every second you confuse her is a second I have less blood. Quit talking.¡±


    The not knight threw his arms up and relented. ¡°Fine fine whatever you say.¡± Came the inner voice.


    Ivy stared at the creature with wide eyes as she first, placed Yesenia on their feet, then side scuttled over to Marco handing over the gauze. The whole while not taking her eyes off the large ebony thing.


    As Marco bandaged himself Ivy let her eyes take in the truth of Heracles. She now saw there were no gaps in his armor, just overlapping plates sliding organically over each other. What Ivy believed was simple ridging in the armor¡¯s midsection, was a softly twitching set of small, almost vestigial arms pressed to his chest. His true arms were enormous, and clearly powerful with how he had aimed to deal with the griffin. And his face. Ivy now saw the black pin pricks were his eyes, and lower down a set of interlocking mandibles. Mandibles that began to jitter back and forth forming an odd vibrating hiss.


    ¡°Marco if I can¡¯t talk she can¡¯t stare at me.¡± The voice was growing frustrated.


    Ivy looked at Heracles in his small eyes. ¡°Is¡­ is that you? In my head?¡±


    He slouched. ¡°This again- Marco I¡¯ve had to explain it to everyone in town. I swear to he who roars I won¡¯t again.¡±


    Ivy looked puzzled. ¡°He who-¡°


    Marco looked up at Ivy. ¡°He doesn¡¯t make much sense, don¡¯t try. Heracles can¡¯t talk with his mouth, so he talks in your head.¡±


    ¡°In my.. how? How do you do that?¡± Ivy asked.


    ¡°I dunno.¡± Heracles said.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know? How can you not know, it¡¯s your voice.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I just do it. When I want people to hear me, they just hear me.¡±


    Marco stood and spoke. ¡°Most folks guess its magic.¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t.¡± Yesenia cut in from behind Heracles. The insect man¡¯s bulk hid them entirely even sitting down. ¡°It¡¯s similar but its psionics. Most of the people of the desert have the innate talent of psychics.¡±


    Ivy looked astonished. ¡°Desert people?¡±


    Yesenia nodded knocking on Heracles¡¯ bowling ball like shoulder. ¡°This Heracles clearly is one of them. Though you¡¯re quite a bit bigger than the textbooks say.¡±


    Heracles looked down at his body. ¡°Big bigger or fat bigger?¡±


    Marco took Heracles¡¯ hand and helped him stand up; the insect now towered over all in presence. ¡°So you actually weren¡¯t lying about the desert stuff?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± The voice in everyone¡¯s head sounded hurt. ¡°Why would I lie about that ...?¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be bitten, learn something new every day.¡± Marco said.


    Ivy reached a shaky hand forward and touched Heracles¡¯ arm. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ truly one of the people of the desert. From beyond the Wyrm Wall?¡±


    The massive insects face looked down at the horned woman. ¡°We don¡¯t really call ourselves that but yeah. Is that alright?¡±


    ¡°The very same people of the desert who poured over our armies and defeated nearly half the warriors of Breged and Emond Valor fifty years ago.¡± Ivy asked.


    ¡°Ah. Yeah, sounds not alright.¡±


    ¡°No it¡¯s amazing!¡± Ivy exploded causing Heracles to jump a bit. ¡°Well, not for our armies but still! You¡¯re incredible! I¡¯ve read so many stories about your people¡¯s battle with the paladins and the wizards. Is it true your people ride on fog? Can you really not be killed or has one just never died? Is every desert person naked?¡±


    Heracles thought for a moment. ¡°Uh¡­ three no¡¯s and not everyone.¡±


    ¡°Nevertheless! You have to tell me everything you know!¡± Ivy looked up at the insect grinning happily.


    ¡°I¡¯ll uh¡­¡± Heracles scratched the back of his head. ¡°Tell you what I can I guess?¡±


    ¡°Excellent! Tell me on the way we must make it to a Martha Herbata as soon as can be!¡± Ivy raced to her steed and bounded onto her with a single leap. A leap accompanied by a few seconds of awkward wiggling into the saddle.


    Heracles followed. ¡°I don¡¯t know a Martha, but I know Memaw Herbata.¡±


    ¡°Even better! A wise sage to help on our journey into infamy!¡± Ivy rode alongside her new beetle friend towards the small village just in the distance.


    Yesenia and Marco watched as their two idiots made their way off alone.


    ¡°You think she knows what infamy means?¡± Marco said


    ¡°No. No I don¡¯t.¡± Yesenia replied.


    Marco stuck out his hand to the wizard. ¡°Marco.¡±


    Yesenia shook it. ¡°Yesenia.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your deal?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a wizard.¡±


    Marco raised his eyebrows. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, why.¡± Yesenia pulled their hand back.


    ¡°Nothing just¡­ didn¡¯t think ya¡¯d come right out and say it. Mosted peopled call the law on you?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem like most people.¡±


    ¡°Really? Read my thoughts, did ya?¡±


    ¡°No. I saw your gang tattoos.¡± Yesenia walked passed the man. ¡°I doubt most of these people know what any of them mean though right? So, keep quiet and I will too.¡±


    Marco gritted his teeth, then softened into a chuckle. ¡°Fine. Just don¡¯t go raising the dead or immolating any towns folk.¡±


    ¡°I only immolate geese.¡± Yesenia said hiking their robes.


    Marco watched as Yesenia glided down into the orchard. They retrieved their lost book, wiping off some dirt from the cover. Yesenia then looked around studying the trees, squinting their icy eyes at the big arboreous things. Marco furrowed his brow seeing Yesenia begin to knock on the bark of one tree. Nod. Then begin knocking on the bark of another. All while they were watching the leaves and branches with the intensity of a basilisk.


    ¡°You alright?¡± Marco asked from the roadside.


    ¡°These trees are odd.¡±


    ¡°You know about trees?¡±


    ¡°Only what I¡¯ve read.¡±


    ¡°Checks out.¡± Marco continued to watch Heracles and Ivy as they walked.


    Yesenia couldn¡¯t understand it, If the Zolts were truly as shitty as Ivy had made them out to be how could they grow such immaculate trees. Yesenia¡¯s suspicions seemed quelled once she saw, very clearly, a rotten apple hanging from an irregular branch just a few trees deep in a row. They must just be on edge because of the griffin. Yesenia climbed the small incline back to the road and rejoined Marco.


    ¡°Find anything?¡± He asked


    ¡°No.¡± They answered.


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    And with that the two went off to rejoin with their two buffoons. The trio of heroes had now swelled to a staggering quintet. That spelled doom for all the wicked and vile beasts in the surrounding area. Especially the one now slowly pulling the rotten apple back up into its canopy.

 The Bulls Horn

    Apie Fields was just on the other side of pleasant to look at. The kindest term Ivy could produce for the style was rustic. But the word plain continued to pierce her thoughts. Plain and slightly dirty. She thought little villages like this were supposed to be colorful, whimsical even. Ramshackle cottages each of their own style and mark on the landscape. These just looked like houses and stores. Like background houses. Yes, like those. The ones the artist got to lazy to add much detail too, just the essentials.


    But Ivy knew this was the place she needed to get her feet under her. Well to get Lilys feet under both of them. These drab, horribly dressed people needed a knight in shining armor. A real one, not just a beetle who looked like one. Maybe she could convince someone to lock up all these goats to. These kinds of towns always have a few just running around.


    ¡°So, this memaw? Is she affable?¡± Ivy said waving at a few gawkers. It was like they¡¯d never seen a crimson skinned demon riding a seven-foot-tall horse before.


    ¡°I dunno about affable, but she¡¯s real nice.¡± Heracles said, his voice not concerning itself with Ivys ears. ¡°Her and Patty run the tavern just ahead.¡±


    ¡°Oh, a tavern~. All the best stories begin in taverns. Is it dark and dingy? A grimy den of ruffians?¡± Ivy asked hope slowly building.


    ¡°No uh¡­ no grime. Not more than normal. And Memaws got a no rough boy policy.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. Well, I suppose everywhere can¡¯t be as derelict as one would like.¡±


    Ivy rode and Heracles strode up to a two-story wooden building. Far too homey to be the kind of place where shady individuals would send you on extraneous quests. It looked like a nice little eatery. The only signifier it was a tavern was the faint smell of cider and a classic swinging sign. It bore the image of a drinking horn overflowing with orangish liquid and the words ¡°The Bulls Horn¡± at the bottom.


    Ivy dropped off Lily and looked at the place, focusing in on the sign. ¡°Quite the um¡­ name, ay friend?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s pretty common where I come from.¡± Heracles said.


    Ivy looked at him shocked. ¡°You name establishments after The Horned Horror in your deserts?¡±


    ¡°Ooooh you meant the bar. Nah we aint got any horny horrors in the desert. Just regular ones.¡±


    ¡°Of¡­ course. Um, anyways! Would you happen to know where I could stable my horse?¡±


    Heracles shook his head. ¡°Nope. Patty might know, but I don¡¯t really ask horse questions.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± Ivy ended up tying Lilys reins to a fence post off to the side of the tavern. Lily was uncomfortable without her stall but oddly didn¡¯t much mind the open space.


    Heracles had entered the Bulls Horn while Ivy was busy with her horse. Ivy heard voices inside greeting him kindly. She noticed as Heracles moved from her, she could no longer hear his responses. With far too much pomp, the heiress swung the heavy wooden door open and stood a beat in the doorway, awaiting reactions. She was met with nothing to work with. No happy greetings like Heracles but also no grumbles or suspicious glances.


    Some farmers and lumber jacks were drinking and eating some stew. No shady types, no cloaked rogues. There was even a cat sleeping by the fire. The working folk just looked her way, checking to see if they knew her, then returned to idle conversation.


    Slightly disgruntled, the rider strut over to the bar where she saw Heracles settle down into a bar stool. That stool happens to be the true hero of this story. Capable of anything and up to any challenge. The poor things¡¯ legs buckled and creaked under four hundred and ten pounds of pure bug protein. But it struggles on, for it knows the fate of stools who shatter. And his son will not have firewood as a father.


    Ivy stood next to where Heracles was sitting. Heracles called out to someone Ivy assumed was in the kitchen. While the limits of hearing the beetle in your brain was smaller than a voice could carry, it seemed to ring out clear and clean within the range even through walls. Ivy heard a muffled laugh and a call of just a minute come from the kitchen. And as is custom they waited the just a minute.


    When the door swung open Ivy saw a tall barrel-chested man, with muddy green skin and small boar-like tusks poking from the corners of his mouth. Along with him was a likewise green skinned girl, carrying mugs of cider. She ignored the bar and headed to the tables. Ivy raised her hand to greet this man but was struck by the smells of the kitchen. The mouthwatering scent of searing meat, the warm embrace of cinnamon and apple, and something smelling pleasantly of mint. All of it filled her mind with imagined tastes. This would be the moment where a hand of steam beckons her into the kitchen.


    The tusked man wiped his hands clean with a rag. ¡°The usual Heracles?¡±


    ¡°The usual twice plus pie, Patty. We¡¯re celebrating!¡± Heracles said as he placed a hand on Ivy¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Me, Marco and our new buddy just took out that griffin at the Zolts place!¡±


    The large bartender looked at Ivy with peeked interest. ¡°Is that so? You a mercenary too?¡±


    Ivy gave a sing-songy laugh. ¡°I prefer the term Hero actually. But I suppose mercenary can work for the time being.¡±


    Patty nodded in that way polite people do when they don¡¯t believe you. ¡°A hero? Town could use a couple of those. Aint gotta pay em!¡± Patty, along with the few in ear shot, descended into light laughter.


    Ivy laughed as well in her practiced musical way. ¡°Quite right friend, quite right.¡±


    ¡°Let me get you two those drinks.¡± Patty said after the pleasantries were had.


    Ivy sat down beside Heracles while Patty began preparing mugs for the two mercenaries. Ivy protested once she saw him reaching for two bottles of Zolt cider.


    ¡°Oh sir! Don¡¯t you have anything else to drink besides cider?¡±


    Patty gave her a chuckle and a shrug ¡°Nothing else that¡¯ll put any hair on your chest.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°I¡¯d settle for tea.¡± Ivy said giving a to wide grin.


    Patty nodded while he poured Heracles the cider. ¡°Memaw just might have something back there for you. Let me check.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Could you have this Memaw come out as well. I wish to meet her!¡± Ivy said while Patty smiled at a man down the bar.


    ¡°Well, sure. I bet she¡¯d love to.¡± He said with a tusked grin. He left after topping off a few patrons drinks, disappearing to the kitchen.


    After a few moments of waiting and listening to the sounds a beetle makes when drinking, Yesenia and Marco entered the tavern. Yesenia glided over to sit quietly next to Ivy, but Marco took a detour to a table of young men.


    ¡°Hey, could you boys haul in a griffin over to grots place. Said he could use some feathers last time I was over, I¡¯d say it¡¯s got plenty¡± Three men from the table stood and exchanged a few words with Marco before heading to the door. ¡°Remember Grot just needs the feathers ,you boys split up the rest.¡±


    Marco made his way to the wizard, rider and beetle at the bar. Ivy was grinning as she was looking at him.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Marco said seeing her catlike grin.


    ¡°And here I thought Apie Fields didn¡¯t have any heroes.¡± Ivy said semi mockingly.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a griffin carcass, Grots a fletcher. He needs feathers. I need arrows at a discount.¡± Marco rubbed at his bandage as he sat on the other side of Heracles.


    ¡°Of course, darling~.¡± Ivy chuckled out.


    Ivy could hear Marco grumbling, but that quickly ceased as the door to the kitchen opened again. Patty came out with two steaming shepherds¡¯ pies. The mashed potatoes on top were perfectly fluffy and browned on just the peaks. And just the smell of the meat and veggies inside were enough to cause the mouth to water. There were even little hearts baked into the pies crust. Along with the meaty meals were two helpings of apple crumble. The dessert looked well enough, but Ivy was very partial to meat-based foods.


    Ivy was so enraptured by the look and smell of her meal she hardly noticed a cup of tea being placed before her. The teacup was placed by a scrawny, bushy haired, and pale skinned old woman smiling pleasantly at Ivy.


    Ivy looked at her beside the gigantic tank of a man. ¡°Would you happen to be Memaw Martha Herbata?¡±


    The old woman nodded. ¡°Been Memaw bout fifteen years now. Been Martha a bit longer.¡± She let out a quite giggle. ¡°Now, what was it you needed dear?¡±


    ¡°Well, Ma¡¯am-¡° Ivy started.


    ¡°Oh, call me memaw honey.¡± Memaw interrupted.


    ¡°Memaw, yes. I was actually told to look for you. A dear friend said you could provide work for me. I was also hoping that could be extended to my friend. They¡¯re a wiz- ¡°


    Yesenia kicked Ivy hard in the ankle. For such a small person Yesenia had a kick like a mule.


    Ivy feigned a cough to hide the mistake along with the pain. ¡°They¡¯re a¡­. wise council in my adventures.¡±


    Memaw nodded sagely. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry. I had many ¡°wise counselors¡± in my time. Until I met Dennis.¡± Memaw gestured to a small painting of a very large green tusked man, one beefy arm around a petite, scrawny, black-haired woman.


    Ivy laughed before understanding. ¡°Of course, then you under- wait no. No no no, I believe you¡¯re misconstruing my words.¡±


    Memaw chuckled and shook her head. ¡°No shame child. Whenever you¡¯re ready, Memaw will be here. Now who was it that sent you?¡±


    Ivy began to blush at Memaws remarks and Yesenia¡¯s shear lack of embarrassment. ¡°I was sent by Bellona of the Stones Fist clan. She said you could give me quests.¡±


    Memaws ears seemed to perk. ¡°Boulder breaker Bellona? Sent you to me?¡±


    ¡°Boulder Breaker?¡± Ivy questioned.


    ¡°Just a nickname dear. Time long past. Yes, I think I¡¯ll give you work.¡± Memaw looked at Heracles and Marco. ¡°Would you boys be alright extending our deal to these two?¡±


    Heracles immediately responded affirmatively, then he took a beat and looked at Marco. ¡°Oh uh¡­Up to you though Marco.¡±


    Marco leaned back in his stool, looking around the large lump of beetle flesh in the way. He stared at Yesenia and Ivy, the latter of which was giving him very practiced puppy dog eyes. The former had stolen Ivy¡¯s cup of tea and was staring deep into it.


    After enough seconds to be uncomfortable Marco nodded and returned to his newly poured drink. ¡°Sure. Don¡¯t see why not.¡±


    Ivy jumped out of her stool and gave a rather undignified cheer as she pulled Yesenia into a tight hug. Nearly spilling the tea Yesenia had stolen. ¡°You hear that! We did it!¡±


    Yesenia looked up. ¡°Did what? What did we do?¡±


    Marco stood up and stared firmly at the pair. ¡°Course, I only mean you Ivy.¡±


    Ivy let go of Yesenia and who now tore themselves from the drink. Both looked at Marco with different levels of confusion.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ivy said.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got a weapon, armor and a horse. Yesenia aint got any of that. They can¡¯t help with our work in a practical way.¡± Marco said frankly.


    ¡°But they¡¯re-¡° Ivy said frustrated.


    ¡°Practical way, Ivy¡± Marco emphasized the first word harshly.


    Ivy balled her fists up. ¡°Well, that¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s not fair!¡± Ivy shouted.


    A few patrons of the bar looked over. The bar maid watched with wide eyes backing away. Patty stood between the bar and Memaw, Memaw didn¡¯t like that much. Heracles looked back and forth between Marco and Ivy. His mandibles trembled in the same way your lip does when you don¡¯t know what to say. Yesenia just watched Ivy intently as she spoke.


    Ivy continued. ¡°Just because Yesenia can¡¯t¡­. Wield a sword, doesn¡¯t mean they aren¡¯t useful to our cause.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying that. I¡¯m saying the ways Yesenia is useful aint what we need out there.¡± Marco retorted.


    ¡°You don¡¯t even know them! How can you pass judgement like that!¡± Ivy took a step forward.


    Marco took a step as well. He looked down on Ivy, his height equal to her horns but not her eyes. ¡°Exactly. I don¡¯t know you neither. I¡¯m willing to take a risk, cause you proved yourself. Yesenia hasn¡¯t.¡±


    Ivy clenched her fists will her knuckles became a dull pink.


    Ivy raised an accusing finger to Marcos chin. ¡°You can¡¯t-


    A small hand pulled on the back of Ivys tunic. Ivy was yanked back far too easily for someone of her size. Much too easily after she realized Yesenia was the yanker.


    ¡°That¡¯s quite enough. I¡¯m fine on my own.¡± Yesenia now took Ivy¡¯s place standing against Marcos¡¯s bulwark.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Marco said


    ¡°It is.¡± Yesenia raised the cup of stolen tea up to Marcos face. ¡°Drink.¡±


    Marco looked at it and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°You took my tea!¡± Ivy shouted.


    ¡°Hush Ivy, I¡¯m making a point.¡± They shook the tea gently. ¡°Drink Marco.¡±


    Marco shook his head in annoyance but took the cup from Yesenia and, in one defiant drink, downed the contents. ¡°Mint. Just like every batch. Ya happy now?¡±


    ¡°Is it? If that¡¯s true, I may have overestimated your perceptiveness.¡± Yesenia then tugged the bandage off Marcos¡¯ arms, to which he reacted with anger. Then confusion suffocated his quick reation.


    Marcos gash was closing. Very quickly. In a matter of seconds, the wound was gone. No cut, no pain, not even a scar. Only some dried blood on a tattoo of a howling dog.


    Marcos fury reignited as he grabbed Yesenia by the collar of their cloak, nearly taking them to their tip toes. ¡°What did you do!¡±


    Yesenia let out a laugh that chilled the room. ¡°I noticed something you didn¡¯t. Simple as.¡±


    Marco looked at the cup then at Memaw. ¡°What was in this tea, Memaw.¡±


    Memaw let out a chuckle and stepped out from behind her son. ¡°Well¡­ tell you the truth I¡¯ve been¡­ experimenting with a new recipe.¡±


    Patty looked at his mother with shock plain on his face. ¡°Mama!¡±


    ¡°Patrick, I don¡¯t wanna hear it. It¡¯s perfectly safe. And besides me and Marcy are the only ones who drink it anyway.¡± Memaw said.


    The teen barmaid bolted up to the bar. ¡°You told me that was just wild mint!¡±


    ¡°It is wild mint! It¡¯s just¡­¡± Memaw trailed off.


    ¡°You accidentally made quite a good facsimile of a basic healing elixir. Of course, potions do not count as magic under your laws. Just a simple, if strong, home remedy.¡± Yesenia explained to the entire rooms surprise.


    Marcos anger slowly cooled. ¡° What are you gettin at with this.¡±


    ¡°What I¡¯m ¡°gettin¡± at is I know things you don¡¯t. I see things you don¡¯t. And I believe that¡¯s valuable in this line of work.¡±


    Marco grit his teeth. ¡°I see...¡±


    Yesenia softly removed Marcos hand from their cloak and pat it. ¡°Bare minimum, I can carry the tea.¡± They looked at Memaw. ¡°We are going to need quite a bit more of it actually. That is unless my friend here thinks he can keep his arm out of a monster¡¯s mouth next time?¡±


    Memaw gave a soft chuckle and nodded. ¡°Of course. Come on Marcy, you¡¯re helping memaw.¡± The bar maid followed her Memaw into the kitchen reluctantly but obediently.


    Yesenia moved from Marco and took their seat again at the bar. ¡°So, Patrick. Is there any work.¡±


    ¡°Uh- let me see.¡± He started looking through notes and flyers behind the bar, a bit frazzled.


    Ivy sat as well, leaning over to Yesenia as Marco grumbled and walked outside.


    Heracles made a pleasant chirping noise with his true mouth. ¡°I¡¯m real happy you guys got through to him. We¡¯ve been needing a few more hands around here excited to help people.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say I¡¯m excited.¡± Yesenia said blankly with just a hint of anger.


    ¡°But you-¡° Heracles blurted.


    Yesenia looked at Ivy from the corner of their eye. ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to let you defend me alone.¡±


    Ivy placed a hand on her chest and looked sadly at Yesenia. ¡°You¡¯re so sweet!¡± Then she pulled her wizard into a tight hug.


    Yesenia gave Ivy a few pats on her hand. ¡°Mhm. Sure.¡±


    ¡°Here it is!¡± Patty said holding up a letter. ¡°Got this yesterday, seems like the most important. Ole Ryba up at the docks has had a couple problems with something wreaking his dinghies.¡±


    Heracles chirped. ¡°Heh. Dinghy.¡±


    Ivy took the letter and saluted Patty. ¡°We won¡¯t let you down sir. You have my word.¡±


    ¡°Well cool off there soldier, I wasn¡¯t done just yet. Now it doesn¡¯t come from the most reliable source but.¡± Patty leaned over the bar and whispered. ¡°Some say this thing wreaking the boats is...¡±


    Pause for dramatic effect.


    ¡°A dragon.¡±


    ¡°A dragon!¡± Ivy shouted with her entire chest. ¡°That¡¯s amazing! We¡¯ve gotta tell Marco!!¡±


    Ivy rushed out of the bar, clutching the letter like a cherished relic. Heracles quickly followed lumbering out of the tavern calling out to Ivy about wasting food. He carried with him the beautiful pot pies and apple desserts. Yesenia only followed after they had loaded up their satchel with as many, still warm jars of tea as they could. Memaw protested at the weight asking them to get help. Yesenia assured her weight wasn¡¯t an issue for them. Yesenia strode out of the Bulls horn. Their footsteps making very little noise for the heft they hauled.

 Whats up Dock

    ¡°Dragons aren¡¯t real. ¡° Marco spoke flatly while the entire band, horse included, were walking towards to the docks.


    Heracles shook his head confidently. ¡°Marco, I don¡¯t wanna like, question your smarts but dragons are real. I¡¯ve seen them.¡±


    Ivy clapped Heracles on the shoulder causing the beetle to jolt. ¡°Do you attempt to argue with a first-person witness? Dragons are real!¡±


    Marco pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°And being from the desert is it not possible Heracles understands something different to be a dragon? Happens pretty often with him.¡±


    Ivy chuckled defiantly. ¡°Fine then, Heracles explain dragons to me. I¡¯ll tell you if they¡¯re the same.¡±


    Heracles nodded excitedly. ¡°Okay! Well¡­ we got loads of kinds. Sand dragons, ice dragons, haze dragons, uh¡­ burny water dragons.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start with sand dragons? Winged? Horned? Maybe red or blue scales?¡± Ivy asked.


    ¡°Uh, no. Nothing like that. They¡¯re kinda like big purple snakes. With just a big ole mouth.¡± Heracles chirped thinking of them. ¡°They were so tasty~.¡±


    ¡°Alright¡­¡± Ivy changed her approach. ¡°Yesenia! You¡¯re a scholar of sorts! Tell Marco dragons are real.¡±


    ¡°Dragons were real.¡± Yesenia nodded


    ¡°Yes! Wait, were?¡±


    ¡°They all died out a couple thousand years ago.¡± Yesenia explained.


    ¡°But¡­¡± Ivy sulked


    ¡°Lived on in bones and their close cousins wyverns, dragon turtles and hydras. It¡¯s even possible those ¡°sand dragons¡± are distant relatives of the true dragons.¡± Yesenia said with genuine reverence.


    Ivy crossed her arms and pouted. ¡°They¡¯re real... I don¡¯t care what anyone else thinks.¡±


    Marco turned and raised his voice a hair. ¡°Can everybody just stop yappin about dragons.¡±


    ¡°Ya folk here about the dragon?¡± A voice let out from just ahead on the path.


    Marco huffed in annoyance. Ivy saw standing before her a tall, heavy-set man. Well, tall in an awkward way. Around a third of his height was a long thick snake¡¯s neck, which led up to the head of what Ivy recognized as a common Garter snake. His black tipped tongue probed the air, and his large round eyes lacked the slit pupils of most his brethren.


    Ivys pulse quickened. This was a Naga. A creature crafted by the traitor god for his evil deeds. Only Minotaur and Sphinx were more vile, one built for brutal war, the other designed to deliver a quick death. The Naga were The Snakes own deceivers. Once they toppled kingdoms from the shadows and manipulated brother to slay brother. Despite Ivys preconceived notions, this Naga did not seem their ilk. It would be difficult to manipulate much of anything wearing a bucket hat adorned with so many colorful fly hooks.


    The Naga reached a scaled hand out to Marco, who readily shook it. ¡°It isn¡¯t a dragon Ryba.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re as much fun as a leaky boat sonny. Ya know I¡¯m just yanking your chain.¡± Ryba gave a belly jiggling laugh, then surveyed the other three with Marco. ¡°I know big ole Heracles but who¡¯re the greenies?¡±


    Ivy bowed, less out of respect and more to avoid the gaze of the Naga. ¡°Um¡­Ivy Elizabeth Alexandria Marie Humble, my good man. And this is Yesenia.¡± Yesenia gave a small wave then returned to not listening.


    Ryba gave an even heartier laugh. ¡°Lot a names lass! I feel underdressed with just my two! Captain Ryba State, glad to meet ya.¡±


    ¡°Well sir¡­ if we count Captain, you¡¯re up to three.¡± Ivy laughed nervously.


    ¡°Right ya are! Marco where ya been hiding the new hires, wish I snagged this one for the docks.¡± Ryba turned and began walking towards the aforementioned docks.


    There were many docks within view and Marco knew many more outside of those. Each one having to be made for each of the many lakes and ponds here. This area of Apie Fields was called the Thousand Jewels. In truth there were only around sixty. But they were discovered by a very ambitious but easily distractable geographer, who set out to count them all himself. Took him nearly two days. Counting the same sixty-four lakes about sixteen times.


    ¡°What can you tell us about this monster Ryba.¡± Marco started.


    Captain Ryba rubbed his chin and furrowed the spot where brows would be on a mammal. ¡°Very little I¡¯m sorry to say. See, none a my boys have gotten a good look at it. Up till last night we all figured it was vandals wrecking our boats. Thought it was those uh, crossbow kids been round for a time.¡±


    ¡°But now you think it¡¯s a dragon?¡± Marco asked with a bit of condescension.


    ¡°Oh, we knows it¡¯s a monster, maybe not a dragon but aint no man. Couple my boys forgot their poles when we packed up for home. They came back fast as they could, knew I¡¯d have their hides if they lost my poles.¡± Ryba chuckled at that, but his joy waned at his new thought. ¡°They didn¡¯t expect somethin worse than ole Mr. State on the water.¡±


    ¡°What did it look like?¡±  Heracles blurted out.


    Marco turned to look disappointedly at Heracles, but Ryba laughed it off.


    ¡°Sa¡¯ll right Marco, boys excited.¡± Ryba pat Marco on the shoulder. ¡°Boys didn¡¯t get a good look at it. All they saw was a big ole beast with wings smashing up one a my boats.¡±


    ¡°Lots of things have wings. Why are they telling the whole town it¡¯s a dragon.¡± Marco asked flatly.


    Ryba laughed with returning vigor. ¡°Kids said they worked with me too long tah not know what scales in the dark look like.¡±


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    As they neared the dock Captain State was leading too, Heracles slowly fell behind. Ivy turned to see the big bug hesitating with every step. His black dot eyes were focused on the water of the lake, occasionally darting to Marco. When they did, Ivy could swear she heard stuttering noises of half begun words in her head.


    Ivy hung back to be in pace with the large man. ¡°Is everything alright?¡±


    Heracles nodded vigorously. ¡°Yup yeah, everything¡¯s great. Just uh¡­ Need to talk to Marco.¡±


    He bounded forward at his usual pace taking Marco by the arm. They had almost reached the docks.


    ¡°Hey Marco! You all seem to have this under wraps, I¡¯ll¡­ examine the tree line! I- If that¡¯s alright¡­¡± Heracles said.


    Marco nodded and gave Heracles a pat. ¡°Alright, kid. Just don¡¯t putter around, we¡¯re working .¡±


    Heracles bolted for the tree line as fast as a gazelle in chase. Confused, Ivy trotted up to Marco just as he and Ryba set foot on the dock. Ryba was talking about the trials and tribulations this particular boat had underwent before being destroyed. Marco had already stopped listening.


    ¡°Is Heracles alright?¡± Ivy asked in a whisper.


    Marco nodded and whispered back. ¡°He don¡¯t like water. Even creeks set him on edge.¡±


    Ivy looked back at Heracles who was in fact puttering around kicking rocks and looking into bushes. ¡°Odd to think a warrior like him can be afraid of something as mundane as a lake.¡±


    ¡°Well, he spent nineteen years in a desert. You do that and see how well you can swim.¡± Marco said.


    ¡°Point taken. How long have you and Heracles been working together?¡±


    ¡°Few months.¡± Marco said flatly.


    ¡°A few- How old is Heracles?¡± Ivy asked slightly concerned.


    ¡°Nineteen. I just said?¡±


    ¡°Nineteen?!¡± Ivy gave up on the whispering now, Ryba hardly noticed.


    ¡°Least that¡¯s what I gathered. He said some stuff about being nineteen dry seasons old. I¡¯m assuming those are once a year, he doesn¡¯t give me much to go on.¡±


    ¡°How in the world can someone be that big and be younger than even I?¡± Ivy looked at Heracles again who was failing to climb a tree.


    ¡°Yep. Lots of young folk pretty strong these days.¡± Marco said.


    ¡°Marco how old are you?¡± Ivy asked abruptly.


    ¡°Thirty-six.¡± Marco responded.


    ¡°Oh.¡± Ivy said


    ¡°Oh? What do you mean oh?¡±


    ¡°Nothing¡­ I just¡­ I had taken you for older.¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    Ivy turned her head. ¡°Yesenia, how old are you dear?¡±


    ¡°Ninety-one.¡± They responded.


    ¡°Checks out.¡± Marco said.


    ¡°How?!?¡± Ivy shouted.


    Yesenia gestured at their pointed ears. ¡°I¡¯m an elf. Did you not notice that?¡±


    ¡°Well, no! Apologies but I don¡¯t find myself spending much time examining my fellows¡¯ ears.¡±


    ¡°Here she is! My pride and joy! Well former pride and joy tills I fix her up.¡± Ryba called to the bickering three. He had a hand outstretched like a salesman showing off a nearly decimated boat, pulled up from the water onto the end of the dock.


    The boat had clearly seen better days, but it was theoretically seaworthy. Well, pond worthy. The lower hull remained untouched, only wooden planks above the water line were attacked. Attacked quite brutally. Deep gouges marked nearly every inch, most definitely made by long teeth or claws. The whole thing also stunk slightly of vinegar or some other sour fluid.


    Marco got to one knee examining the boat closely. Running his fingers along the deep grooves of assault.


    Ivy watched the woodsman work. ¡°So¡­ Captain State. Have you had run ins with beasts like this before?¡±


    Ryba shook his head. ¡°Nope. We got the odd run in with kelpies and the maidens but, never nothin like this. Not something bound on just wreckin.¡±


    ¡°Just wrecking?¡± Yesenia asked.


    ¡°Now you¡¯d think it wants to gobble us up but no. Thing don¡¯t attack when anybody¡¯s around. Don¡¯t even think it¡¯s eating fish. Bolted as soon as my boys saw it.¡± Ryba said.


    Yesenia furrowed their brow. ¡°So it isn¡¯t interested in hunting people.¡±


    Ivy gasped. ¡°Maybe this dragon is on a personal vendetta! Captain have you ever broken an egg too large to be a birds? Stolen any gold from an unclaimed horde? Wronged a mysterious stranger?¡±


    Ryba laughed. ¡°Wronged my fair share, doubt dragons would waste their time with ole Ryba though.¡±


    ¡°You never know sir.¡± Ivy said


    ¡°For the last bitten time, dragons aren¡¯t real.¡± Marco said not pulling his gaze from the boat.


    Marco was now leaning over the side of the little dinghy examining a strange brackish puddle in the bottom. It was the poolings from several pin prick holes in the far back of the boat. If the boat hadn¡¯t had fish in it at the time of the attack, this liquid was the source of the unpleasant smell. He ran two fingers through the puddle, coating them in odd sludge. Marco then sniffed the fingers like an expert blood hound, or a deranged human.


    His eyes squinted in concentration then, he outstretched a hand to Yesenia without looking. ¡°Hand me a jar of tea.¡±


    Yesenia did as asked without a word.


    Marco, to Ivy¡¯s bug-eyed shock and Yesenia¡¯s mild enjoyment, stuck both sludge covered fingers into his mouth and consumed the fluid. The fool even had the gall to nod sagely as the entirely unknown boat liquid passed down his throat.


    Ivy and Ryba stood for a brief moment in absolute befuddlement. Yesenia took a few steps back and stood in academic curiosity. Marco just sat there on his knees like a stone; eyes closed like he was in deep meditation.


    Ryba was the first to speak. ¡°Boy¡­ Are ya¡­ doin ok?¡±


    Marco nodded.


    ¡°Is it¡­ good?¡± Ivy asked genuinely.


    Marco shook his head.


    His eyes then closed tighter, and his jaw muscles locked. Before anyone could react Marco was doubled over. He clutched his stomach with one arm and in the other hand he gripped his jar with all his might. Ivy instinctively approached but wordlessly Marco raised his hand away from his stomach in a warding motion. She timidly took a few steps back.


    His entire body began to shiver as he started to sweat from the intensity of the pain. With shaking clammy hands Marco unscrewed the lid of the jar. An entirely mundane task, turned herculean under such conditions. The lid clattered to the wooden dock. Marco, with slow methodical movements even through the pain, raised the jar to his lips. Once it hit his throat he began chugging the tea like he had been without water for months.


    Ivy and Ryba could do nothing but stare.


    Marco gasped and heaved for air like a winded animal once all the tea was either in his stomach or drenching his shirt. His breathing gradually returned to normal and with one last deep inhale and slow exhale he rose to his feet. Pushed passed the baffled Ryba and Ivy. And handed Yesenia the empty jar.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± Marco said.


    ¡°My pleasure.¡± Yesenia responded.


    ¡°It was poison!?!¡± Ivy¡¯s shouted after Marco deemed Ryba had traveled far enough away to not be privy to their conversation. Her voice caused a flock of resting birds to take flight over the tree line, creating a rather cinematic shot. Too bad you didn¡¯t see it.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t poison. I never said that.¡± Marco said.


    ¡°Venom, Poison, Same thing Marco! Don¡¯t eat it!¡± Heracles bellowed in the minds of his three companions. Who had rejoined with him at the tree line after the soon to be remembered boat muck incident.


    ¡°No, no he¡¯s right poison and venom are very different.¡± Yesenia said.


    ¡°Why are you on his side! He ate boat goo!¡± Ivy said exasperated.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t boat goo. It¡¯s the venom of whatever attacked the boat.¡± Marco protested.


    ¡°So¡­ the dragon makes boat goo?¡± Heracles asked.


    ¡°Venom.¡± Yesenia and Marco said in unison.


    ¡°This thing is venomous.¡± Ivy asked. ¡°Are we absolutely sure it could not be a dragon?¡±


    ¡°No historical dragons have ever possessed venom.¡± Yesenia said.


    ¡°Maybe this ones just not the historical kind.¡± The bug offered.


    Marco sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. ¡°You know scorpions, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course I do!¡±


    ¡°And they have stingers right.¡± Marco continued.


    ¡°Yeah, pokey long butts.¡±


    ¡°This venom came from a stinger.¡±


    ¡°Okay cool.¡±


    ¡°Are there any dragons with stingers?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t think so?¡±


    ¡°Then do you understand this wasn¡¯t dragon?¡±


    ¡°Not really¡­ but I trust you.¡± Heracles gave Marco a pat on the back.


    Ivy spoke up. ¡°Fine it isn¡¯t a fang bitten dragon. What is it then oh master of the wilds.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Marco said flatly.


    ¡°Fantastic!¡± Ivy threw her hands up.


    ¡°Nothing that lives in this area fits all the descriptions. Closest thing it sounds like is a Wyvern.¡± Marco said.


    ¡°Then it¡¯s a wyvern!¡± Ivy blurted.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± Marco jabbed.


    ¡°Why not?¡± Heracles asked. ¡°They fly. They got scales. They got long pokey butts. They¡¯re big but this could just be a baby. Maybe it flew down from the mountains.¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t a Wyvern.¡± Marco reiterated.


    ¡°It fits everything you laid out. Why can¡¯t you imagine it¡¯s a-¡° Ivy was cut off.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t taste right.¡± Marco said.


    The long pause that followed was broken by Yesenia¡¯s quiet giggles.


    ¡°You¡¯re so dumb.¡± Yesenia said with a faint smile.


    Ivy held her face in her hands. ¡°Fine. What is your plan Marco. I assume you have one already.¡±


    ¡°I do. We¡¯re going to hide in the tree line and wait for this thing come nightfall.¡± Marco said. ¡°I can help you all mask your scents.¡±


    Heracles raised his hand.


    ¡°Yes Heracles.¡± Marco looked at him like a tired parent.


    ¡°What if it pokes us with its long pokey-¡°


    Marco interrupted him. ¡°The venom took around a minute through the stomach. So, we¡¯re gonna half that if it stings you. Everyone make sure to get tea into anyone who¡¯s stung within thirty seconds.¡±


    The group all nodded in acceptance. Yesenia split off quickly, resting themself on a log and cracking open their tomb once more to pour over their writings. Heracles stuck near Marco, his eyes always drifting to the waters edge then darting away. Ivy clapped their hands then placed them on her hips.


    ¡°Wonderful! I have been waiting to clash steel with a beast, seeing as my griffon was so rudely slain before I could fell it. I shall ready up Lily.¡± Ivy exited the group with a trot.


    Marco took a step and stopped Ivy with a firm hand on her elbow ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s a good idea?¡±


    ¡°Is what a good idea?¡± Ivy turned.


    Marco gestured at the large horse. ¡°Maybe it would be safer if she was back at town.¡±


    ¡°The only creature safer with Lily away is whatever is smashing boats.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a big ole target, and I don¡¯t know if we need such a big unwieldy thing around while we hunt.¡±  Marco said.


    Ivy smiled pleasantly. ¡°I shall take your opinion into consideration. But the way I see it I would prefer to have a large, fully wieldy creature in the event this hunt is turned into a battle.¡±


    Marco relented. ¡°Fine. But keep her deeper in the woods. Elks favor we won¡¯t need to risk her.¡±


    ¡°Quite the odd bit of caution from our resident venom drinker.¡± Ivy jabbed as she made her way to her loyal mount.


    Marco sighed as she left and muttered to himself. ¡°Elk protect her¡­¡±

 Amphiptheater

    Marco set up shop in a small clearing near the edge of the tree line that gave a good vantage point to keep an eye on the bedragoned dock. While he waited for anything to happen, he decided to do a bit of housekeeping.


    He divided up the healing teas into four groups, with one jar bring odd man out. Two for each of them. Marco placed the extra into Ivys group, seeing as she¡¯d have two lives to look after. He then had to give Heracles his spare satchel, given the beetle hasn¡¯t taken well to the custom of clothing yourself. But he knew Heracles would likely get himself into a scrap like with the griffin, and the spare might not cut it. Fine. Heracles ended up getting Marco satchel and Marco used his own ratty spare.


    Marco placed two teas besides Yesenia after giving Heracles his new satchel. The wizard studied a small book while sitting on a fallen log. But from their posture you¡¯d think they were sitting in the reading room of King Ceratin. Marco found Ivy cooing and petting her beloved mount. Hardly noticing Marco as he placed the teas into Lilys saddle bags.


    After a time, evening fell . The group slowly came together in the cool air. Ivy told a few stories of her time training with Bellona, this then pushed Yesenia to tell of a few classes in the very secretive tower of Emond Volar. A particular tale of a stern transmutation teacher caused Heracles to go into a long yarn about one of the leaders of the desert clans. A metal man who slew nearly thirty dragons in a flying chariot. Marco listened but deflected when pushed to tell a story of his own.


    He was about to call it a night and reschedule their little stake out when the night air was suddenly assaulted by the shrill sounds of splintering wood.


    Marco and Ivy silently rushed for their weapons. But whereas Marco advanced to the lookout point he had marked, Ivy retreated deeper to be beside her mount. Yesenia calmly and quietly collected the pie tins Heracles had been licking clean into a pile. With little effort, a section of the ground relented to Yesenia¡¯s demand and rose to bury the beef scented tins. Heracles was the first to get a good look at the creature. His blood began to pump looking upon it, fists closed into mallets of chitin.


    All Ryba said was accurate. Two large wings. Only feathered and not leathered. Those wings attached to a powerful muscular chest, flexing and straining with every wing beat.  On the end of its thrashing tail was a baseball sized bulb, where a curved hornet like stinger was placed. Rybas boys had neglected to say and or hadn¡¯t noticed a rather odd fact about this night beast. It¡¯s complete lack of limbs. Heracles thought it looked like a python who never skipped chest day. He guess it¡¯s the only day it could do. Maybe tail day.


    The creature looked in a frenzy. Hissing and snarling as it sunk its toothy maw into the gunnel of a small rowboat. Latched on with its mouth, its tail began to furiously strike punching pin prick holes into this boat as it had to the others. Marco saddled up besides Heracles, watching as the beasts¡¯ wings heaved into the air. The boat rose for a moment then, under the strain of its own weight the plank in the mouth of the creature splintered free. The boats drop seemed to set the beast off again, igniting another furious barrage of teeth and stinger.


    ¡°What in the bitten-¡° Marco whispered.


    ¡°Do you know what that is?¡± Heracles said at normal volume.


    Marco jolted and was ready to scold Heracles, until he remembered how the boy¡¯s voice worked. ¡°It¡¯s an Amphiptere.¡±


    Yesenia crouched down besides Marco squinting at the night shadowed beast. ¡°An amphiptere?¡± Said in hushed breathy tones. ¡°What¡¯s an amphiptere doing in Breged? And in the mountains no less.¡±


    Yesenia and Marco jolted again from the only voice not hushed. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. Its breaking Mr. Rybas boat again.¡±


    Heracles began to stand but Marco held his shoulder firmly. ¡°No kid, we gotta see what its up to...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just smashing shit.¡± Heracles protested.


    Yesenia hissed, not dissimilar to the amphiptere before them. ¡°Don¡¯t be dense. Monsters don¡¯t just attack for no reason.¡±


    ¡°Some do! This thing might not be a dragon but it¡¯s making life hard for Ryba. What if it runs away?¡±


    Marco yanked Heracles back down to his knees. ¡°We aren¡¯t saying let it go. We are saying let us watch it for a bit kid.¡±


    Heracles bristled, his mandibles twitching and clacking together. ¡°Don¡¯t call me kid.¡± With that he pulled away from Marco and pushed his way out of the tree line.


    The amphiptere rent another plank from the boat. But this time when the boat fell to the water, another large object caught its slitted eye. A creature so preoccupied with the flying snake that it hadn¡¯t even noticed the satchel it left behind stuck on a branch.


    The amphiptere hissed and flashed its stinger at Heracles. Heracles walked forward with purpose; fists clenched tight. No protection aside from what the gods provided at his birth. Marco noticed the forgotten satchel and retrieved it with frantic hands. He slung it over his shoulder and raised his bow as he stepped from the tree line.


    ¡°Gods bite it Heracles!¡± Marco roared as he loosed an arrow at the snake creature. It deftly weaved its body to avoid the arrow, hissing in rage.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening out there!¡± Ivy shouted from her hiding place besides lily.


    ¡°Idiocy. Bitten idiocy is what¡¯s happening.¡± Yesenia began to draw sigils in the air with magical flames as they spoke hushed words.


    Ivy heard the creatures¡¯ warding noises. The young woman steeled herself and bounded onto Lilys back. The horse was stamping and huffing in excitement, ready to trample any who threatened her mistress.


    Heracles raised his fists and his psychic voice boomed in the head of the amphiptere. ¡°You stop that right now!¡±


    The creature reeled from the cerebral invasion. In fury and confusion, it lashed out. Rushing at Heracles in a gale of feathers and scales, it tried to latch onto him with its needle teeth. The maw found no purchase on the glossy smooth armor adorning the man. Within the eye of the snake storm, Heracles let two well trained punches fly. One the snake avoided, anticipating this Heracles drove the snake directly into the path of his other hand. Cracking a clean hit on the thick chest of the beast.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Marco knocked a second arrow but didn¡¯t let it fly. The amphiptere was coiled in the air around Heracles. There was no clear shot that didn¡¯t risk punching a hole into the young beetle. Marcos eyes watched calculated, searching for a shot.


    Suddenly Marco was thrust from his concentration by a ball of fire blazing past his head. The burning ember caught the snake¡¯s wing, singeing a few feathers and making the animal recoil in agony.


    Marco whipped his head around to Yesenia, who was emerging from the forest. Already readying another bolt of fire. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± He shouted.


    Yesenia did not stop their incantation. ¡°What am I doing? What are you doing, marksmen?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t fire till he¡¯s clear! Just restrain it!¡±


    Yesenia scoffed. ¡°That much ice would take too long. Honestly your friend deserves a few burns from this behavior.¡±


    Marco seethed. He lowered his bow and used it as a staff to crack Yesenia on the wrist. The flaming sigils puffed into nothingness. ¡°I said wait till he¡¯s clear!¡±


    Yesenia looked at Marco with shock. So much shock they didn¡¯t even have the time to be angry. ¡°How dare you¡­¡±


    Before Yesenia had time to immolate Marco like a goose, Ivy and Lily broke the tree line. They charged at the creature, thundering across the wet mud swiftly. Ivy held her blade straight to her side, cutting the beasts body with nothing more than horse momentum.  Nearly tar black blood splattered on Lilys coat as she curved her path out of reach from the wounded monster. Circling around wide for another go.


    The beast let out a frustrated cry. In revenge on the only thing within reach, its body coiled then tightened around Heracles. Pinning his arms to his side. He flexed and pushed at the body of the snake, but to no avail. The amphiptere flashed its wicked stinger, it looked so long from up close. In nothing but a flash, the stinger was sheathed into the softer armor of Heracles¡¯ inner elbow.


    Heracles boomed in agony. Sending a shockwave of his voice into the minds of not only the beast but his allies as well. That halted the sinister glee of the amphiptere, sending it reeling once more in mental pain. The anger it felt did nothing to loosen its grip. Squeezing its new prey tight enough to crush a fleshier man, the beast beat its wings ferociously. Heracles began to lift into the air, being absconded with, like some half dead deer dragged into a tree by a puma.


    Reeling in kind with the beast, Marco watched on in horror. Thoughts swirled in his brain of ways to make this right. He thought of ways to track the creature back to its lair. But the venom would be long through with the boy by then. Maybe they could take it down over the water. The kid can¡¯t swim. Why couldn¡¯t he just have waited. Why couldn¡¯t he have listened. His mind flitted to the only uncertainty still available.


    Yesenia readied another magical attack and Marco lunged at them. Grappling the much frailer elf. ¡°Stop! Just- just use the grass to tangle it up!¡±


    Yesenia slapped ineffectively at his arm. ¡°Use the- Are you having a fit?! I can¡¯t do that!¡±


    Ivy watched the field of battle like in a dream. Feeling blood on her face for the very first time. Seeing her fast friend being on the edge of a painful death, if Marcos¡¯s reaction to the venom was any to go by. And those here, fighting each other rather than the friend thieving beast rising ever upwards.


    Rising very slowly. Struggling. Heracles is massive in comparison to the average man, even a beast like this is having trouble with his weight.


    Weight.


    ¡°Marco!¡± Ivy¡¯s voice carried like a war horn. All while Lily began her slow build up back into a charge.


    Yesenia and Marco turned to the familiar voice sporting an unfamiliar tone.


    ¡°What!?¡± Marco shouted.


    ¡°Let Yesenia go, right this instant!¡± The command was cold and hard.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you two risk him! I can figure this out!¡± Marcos¡¯s shout bled into pleading.


    ¡°I am figuring this out! Now let them go!¡± Ivy began to stand atop Lilys saddle while lily kept gaining speed.


    ¡°Listen to her idiot!¡± Yesenia hissed.


    Marco watched Ivy, seeing cold resolve in her eyes as she stood atop her horse brandishing her halberd. He listened reluctantly and freed Yesenia, who immediately began their flame spell again.


    ¡°No!¡± Ivy yelled without breaking her eye from her quarry. ¡°No fire! Make Heracles heavier!¡±


    Yesenia stopped their weave confused, then were hit with realization. With well practiced and deft hand movements, Yesenia followed orders.


    The amphiptere¡¯s ascent was halted, then transformed into a gradual descent. In rage the creature flapped harder, its wings attempting to match a hummingbirds for speed. All its effort afforded it was a slower plumet to the ground.


    Ivy held her halberd in both hands firm as a boulder. Lilys charge was aimed just alongside the amphiptere. Just within striking distance. With instinct heightening and training measuring her, Ivy brought down her weapon. Avoiding the fluttering wings, Ivy sliced at the creature¡¯s thinnest point. In another spray of brackish blood, Ivy removed the stinger from the vile snake¡¯s tail. Leaving it implanted inside of Heracles¡¯ arm.


    The creature thrashed. Wings losing rhythm it fell like a stone. Heracles¡¯ new weight made both he and the beast crash to the ground. The impact thud was accompanied by the sickening crackle of amphipteres bones being crushed by its prey.


    ¡°Marco! The wings!¡± Ivy cried as she wheeled Lily around for a return trip to pain town.


    Marco sprang into action. Foregoing his bow and taking fists of arrows into both hands, he ran at full tilt. The creature thrashed and flapped its wings wildly, stretching its long neck to the sky above. Marco dove. Plunging his arrows into the wings with strength flooded by anger. In himself but more functionally in the amphiptere.


    The beast¡¯s body pinned by weight, its wings by arrows, all it could do is stretch its neck to the sky in hissing desperation. Ivy swung her halberd like a baseball bat at the tautly pulled neck, severing the wicked mind from the venomous body.


    The creature writhed like a sun-soaked worm for only a moment. Then the body of the amphiptere caught up with time and fell limp and lifeless.


    Marco spared no time. The battle hadn¡¯t ended, and he knew that. He franticly pulled away the dead heavy wings until he was able to reach Heracles¡¯ head. He looked on the edge of unconsciousness, eyes half closed and mandibles hanging open.


    Ivy and Yesenia rushed over. Yesenia returned Heracles to his normal weight. Marco yanked the stinger out of his friend¡¯s arm, brackish venom oozed out of both stinger and wound. Cradling Heracles¡¯ head in his lap, Marco hurriedly cracked open a jar of life-giving tea. He found it more difficult when the life on the line wasn¡¯t his own. He also found more tears in his eyes.


    Ivy and Yesenia watched on with bated breath as Marco poured the tea into the hole behind the loosely hanging mandibles. None had kept track of the time. Did cutting the stinger off stop or hasten the release of toxin. Was Heracles more or less susceptible to the venom. All questions were made in the seconds of complete silence. The seconds before knowing.


    Then Heracles coughed.


    The only universally recognized sound to pass his throat in the entire time Marco had known him.


    Heracles opened his little black dots and his mandibles tightened back to rigidity. Finally a weary voice sounded in his friend¡¯s minds. ¡°I¡­ almost¡­¡±


    The wizard, rider and woodsman listened intently.


    Heracles shook his head. Still bound in serpent flesh. ¡°I almost had it!¡± He boasted, wiggling with renewed vigor in an attempt to get free.


    Marco looked in shock. Then unable to hold back the tidal wave of emotion, he laughed. His laughter was followed by the measured chuckle of Yesenia, in awe at the situation, and the cheers of success from Ivy. They had slain their first beast as a team.


    And with only minor injury and no death! Near death didn¡¯t count.


    Marco helped Heracles free of his scaled shackles and to his feet. Marco hugged Heracles tight, who of course hugged tightly in return. Then Marco turned to Ivy, and teary eyed said.


    ¡°Thank you, Lady Ivy.¡±


    Ivy chortled at him. ¡°Just Ivy dear. Just Ivy to you all.¡±


    Ivy pulled the other three into a tight group hug. The hug and laughter was then interrupted by cracking twigs and a soft voice.


    ¡°That was incredible!¡± The willowy voice said.


    Ivy was the first to turn to its source. Her eyes widened in shock.


    ¡°What by the gods is that!!!¡±


    Scurrying out from the tree line, holding Marcos forgotten bow in small hands, was a creature. In comparison to this small beast the amphipthere was run of the mill. In the dark it looked to be a walking bush. A topiary in the shape of an oversized chicken. Ghastly details made themselves known once it was in the light of the moon.


    Its basic structure was made of the sun-bleached bones of something long since gone. Bound back together in a crude falsehood of life by foliage, wood and vines. The creature was little more than waist high on its back legs. Those back legs resembled a deer or a dog, though the body plan was far more like a cockatrice but with a much longer tail. The tail coiled around the things feet as it sat down passively. Looking up at the four was the face of a goat, but a goat long dead. If it laid down you¡¯d easily mistake it for a goat skeleton reclaimed by nature. It stared with little green flames as eyes, suspended in the middle of its eye holes


    Then it spoke again.


    ¡°You dropped this!¡± Said the beast. The lower jaw went up and down like a macabre puppet as it spoke in a voice dripping with genuine kindness and joy.


    The entire party looked at the thing in stunned silence. All except Lily. She felt nothing strange from the small boney bush creature.


    The silence lasted for quite some time. The thing tilted its head to the side. It took a few steps forward and gazed up into Marcos stunned face. Then it took Marcos¡¯s hand in its own and placed the riser of the bow into his palm and closed Marcos fingers around it.


    ¡°There you go bubby.¡± It said before returning to its place several feet from the party.

 The Monster

    Under cover of dark, and cover of Ivys spare cloak, the band attempted to sneak an honestly very compliant little bundle into the upper floor of the Bull¡¯s Horn. This was where Patty rented out rooms to travelers and merchants. Marco was neither but he killed monsters so that earned him semi- permanent residence.


    Marco distracted the sleep deprived Patty with news of a job well done. All the while the other three performed the act of calm and collected to varying success. Patty hardly noticed. Marco and Heracles had fried his nerves for strange. He once saw Heracles try to eat a meal with only his ¡°baby arms¡± as a challenge. Taking what looked like a bundle of sticks to his room while miming a lipless whistle was just to be expected.


    Once reaching the privacy of ¡°the boys room¡± as Heracles said, the bug gently placed the bundle dead center. Ivy, Yesenia and Heracles took a few steps back from it and watched with mixes of curiosity and caution. The bundle began to stir, and crawling out from the cloak was nearly beyond words.


    The little monster tilted its head to the side like a curious puppy and spoke in that same willowy voice. ¡°Is this part of joining?¡±


    Ivy thought for a moment then nodded politely. ¡°Well¡­ Yes! It is. Before you can join we need some more¡­ information about you.¡±


    The creature¡¯s tail began to sway behind it. ¡°Okay! Ask me anything!¡±


    ¡°What are you?¡± Heracles blurted out. Ivy elbowed him in the stomach.


    ¡°What he meant to-¡° Ivy started.


    ¡°I¡¯m Capreva!¡± The creature said joyfully.


    Ivy nodded and smiled. ¡°Yes dear, we know. What Heracles means is more-¡° Ivy gestured at her own body. ¡°What are you.¡±


    The little bush goat mimicked Ivys movements, using its oddly lanky arms to wave over its entire physique. ¡°I¡¯m Capreva!¡±


    Yesenia groaned. ¡°This isn¡¯t getting us anywhere.¡± They painted a circle of flame in the air and aimed their finger at Capreva accusatorially. ¡°What brought you to this town.¡±


    Ivy put her hand on the wizards shoulder. ¡°Hey hey! That¡¯s quite unnecessary, he seems harmless.¡±


    The flames in Caprevas eyes grew in wonder. They moved forward timidly and examined the magically sustained fire. ¡°That¡¯s amazing¡­¡±


    ¡°Answer the question.¡± Yesenia said with enough ice to douse her own flames.


    Capreva looked up from the enchanting show of lights. ¡°Oh! Sorry¡­¡± They backed up again resuming the position of a hostage. ¡°I was told to come.¡±


    Ivy¡¯s head whipped to the bone goat. ¡°Told? By whom?¡±


    ¡°A toad.¡±


    ¡°A toad?¡± Heracles questioned.


    Capreva nodded firmly. ¡°Mhm! A cool green one.¡±


    Ivy squinted. ¡°A¡­toad, told you to come to this town.¡±


    ¡°Nope! He told me to come to you guys!¡±


    Yesenias flames intensified along with their glare. ¡°Why exactly did this toad want you to come to us?¡±


    Capreva looked up and their tail wagged again. ¡°To join!¡±


    Ivy waved a crimson hand at the flames in an attempt to shoo them. ¡°Join what exactly?¡±


    ¡°Join you! To help you do your stuff! I wanna help save too! I want to help people.¡± Capreva rose to their feet again, standing arms pressed to their chest like an ancient raptor.


    Yesenias eye twitched and in a dismissive slap, the flames vanished. ¡°By the- damn thing sounds just like you Ivy.¡±


    Ivy bristled. ¡°And what is so wrong about sounding like me? Sounding like a hero you mean?¡±


    Before Yesenia could sling a rebuttal Marco entered the room. He pushed his way past the group, standing between them and Capreva.


    ¡°Quit crowding the little thing!¡± He called as he pushed. He went to one knee and held a hand out to Capreva. ¡°They didn¡¯t hurt you right?¡±


    Capreva shook their skull. ¡°Nope! They were funny!¡±


    Yesenia scoffed. ¡°Marco, why are you having us entertain your little monster?¡±


    Heracles joined in. ¡°Yeah! You¡¯ve never let me bring monsters back to the room before! Not even that little cockatrice¡­¡±


    Marco looked back at them with a stern expression. ¡°They aren¡¯t a monster.¡±


    Ivy put an arm between Yesenia and Marco, sensing the wizards anger. ¡°Then¡­ Do you think you know what this creature is?¡±


    Marco nodded. ¡°I think I do.¡± He looked back to the accused, who was absent mindedly patting Marcos hand with his boney digits. ¡°I think Capreva was sent by The Elk.¡±


    A pregnant pause hung in the air. Probably accompanied by some musical sting. Like a violin whine or something.


    ¡°No uh¡­. It was a toad.¡± Heracles said.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Yesenia glided towards the door. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll be downstairs. Come find me when you primitives are done with your religious drivel.¡±


    Capreva watched them leave and their head sunk. ¡°Aww¡­ they made funny lights¡­¡±


    Ivy moved forward and knelt down with Marco. ¡°Are you certain? This¡­ creature seems to be a mite off from a herald of the Elk.¡±


    ¡°Capreva just told us it was a toad, not a deer. And how is deer talk religious?¡± Heracles said.


    Ivy turned to him. ¡°The Elk, is the patron god of hunters and the embodiment of nature Heracles darling.¡±


    Heracles¡¯ jaws chittered then spoke after thinking long and hard. ¡°But¡­ If you hunt deer, does the elk like that? Or like, are deer off limits?¡±


    Marco gave Heracles a stern dad look. ¡°Stop.¡±


    Heracles shrunk. ¡°Yeah¡­ sorry..¡±


    Marco breathed deep to clean off his anger. ¡°Whether you believe it or not, I think it was sent to help us. I mean, little thing made of bones and leaf shows up right at the end of a hunt. If that aint a sign I don¡¯t know what is.¡±


    Heracles shrugged. ¡°I guess that¡¯s¡­ weird. Not the weirdest though.¡±


    ¡°Seems¡­ far too out of the ordinary to be a coincidence, I agree. And especially with what they have been saying to us¡± Ivy added.


    Marco gave Capreva his full attention again. Looking upon the creature, not as a half-broken skeleton wrapped in vine, but as a representation of nature. Death adorned in life given ability to roam the wild. Not quite animal, not quite plant, with the mannerisms of a human.


    Capreva was just happy to be there.


    Marco asked in a voice much softer than any present had ever heard. ¡°Did the Elk send you Capreva.¡±


    Capreva looked up into the grizzled and world-weary eyes. They looked down, their flame eyes squinting. They scoured their mind for anything to please their new friends.


    ¡°Maybe¡­. The toad gave me some mushrooms. And when I munched on them I saw these¡­ pointy¡­ long splitty things.¡±


    ¡°Antlers?¡± Ivy asked.


    ¡°Maybe!¡± Capreva cheered.


    ¡°Did you guys not hear the part about shrooms?¡± Heracles said.


    Marco ignored him. ¡°Then that settles it. You must have been sent to us for some reason.¡±


    Capreva wiggled their whole body, their bones clicking against their wood. ¡°Does that mean I can join!?¡±


    Marco nodded. ¡°Absolutely. You¡¯re free to join us on hunts for as long as you¡¯d like.¡±


    Capreva bounded and ran around the room in pure excitement. ¡°Yes! We¡¯re gonna save! We¡¯re gonna help! I¡¯ve never been able to help before!¡±


    Ivy stood and watched the little thing prance around like a child told they can have any candy they want. ¡°Quite the excitable little sign wouldn¡¯t you say.¡±


    Marco stood as well. ¡°The Elks never been known to send clear omens.¡±


    ¡°Does it even know how to fight?¡± Heracles asked.


    Marco thought for a moment, then stopped Capreva in their excited rampage with a firm hand on their shoulder. ¡°Capreva.¡±


    ¡°Yeah!?¡± They said still jittery.


    ¡°Do you know how to.. hunt?¡± Marco asked


    ¡°Hunt?¡± Capreva asked looking up at Marco.


    ¡°Like.. what we did to the amphiptere. Can you do that?¡±


    ¡°Oh! Yeah I think so!¡± Capreva said joyfully


    As devout as Marco was he was unconvinced. ¡°How about tomorrow, I show you how to use my bow. You can stay safe from monsters that way.¡±


    ¡°Sounds fun!! I can¡¯t wait for tomorrow! You all are so nice!¡± Capreva hugged Marcos leg.


    Ivy chortled and have the little monster a head tussle between their horns. The feeling of bleached bone reminded them of Caprevas composition. ¡°Well, if all of this is settled dears, I think I¡¯m off to bed. Quite the day! Are we sharing this room, or¡­?¡±


    Marco produced a small key. ¡°Already worked it out. You and Yesenia¡¯s room is to the right.¡±


    Ivy took the key gratefully ¡°Thank you Marco. I don¡¯t mean to insult but this room smells¡­ ripe, to say the least.¡±


    ¡°¡­You¡¯re welcome.¡± Marco said.


    Ivy chuckled as she left the room. Marco began helping Capreva create a little bed, even though the little thing insisted the floor was fine. Heracles watched and eventually turned and opened the door.


    ¡°I¡¯m uh¡­ gonna go take a walk.¡± Heracles said as he stepped through.


    Marco spoke over his shoulder. ¡°Alright.¡±


    Heracles walked down the dark hall. He could hear the thunk of metal on wood as Ivy doffed her armor, Heracles had never seen someone wear so much metal. The floorboards creaked under his heft as he walked pondering what gave the first soft skin the idea to forge metals. Maybe their gods really were looking out for them. Halfway down the rickety staircase Heracles turned to see a dim light. It was candlelight, and in it was Yesenia behind Pattys bar pouring themselves a drink.


    Heracles moved quickly and quietly, taking time to quiet his psychic voice ¡°What are you doing?! Patty doesn¡¯t let anyone back there he¡¯ll kill you!¡±


    ¡°Please.¡± Yesenia said smugly, pouring a mug of cider. ¡°That big lug couldn¡¯t lay a finger on me.¡±


    ¡°But-¡° The beetle began


    ¡°Shhhh. It can be our secret.¡± Yesenia poured a second mug and pushed it towards Heracles.


    Heracles sighed and reluctantly took the mug, sitting in his usual herculean stool. ¡°Fine¡­ but I won¡¯t take the blame.¡±


    ¡°If anyone finds out we can just say Marco meant to pay for us.¡± Yesenia half smiled.


    ¡°Well we wouldn¡¯t have to pay either way, Patty just gets mad when people get behind his bar.¡± Heracles held the mug with both large hands.


    Yesenia paused mid sip and raised an eyebrow at Heracles. ¡°We don¡¯t have to pay? Is the cider that bad?¡±


    Heracles shook his head. ¡°No not that. Well, it isn¡¯t good but that¡¯s not why. Marco has a deal with Memaw.¡±


    Yesenia nodded. ¡°Is this the ¡°deal¡± he added me and Ivy too.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, he told me he always adds new people to it when they join his crew.¡± Heracles took a sip of his cider.


    Yesenia was confused at the geometry of Heracles¡¯ sip but refrained from asking. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t really consider myself part of any crew, but what¡¯s in this deal?¡±


    ¡°Well, all of us get to eat and drink for free here. Its great! Memaw makes the best apple pie. And patty can make really good eggs and-¡° Heracles seemed lost in telling of his favorite foods.


    Yesenia held a hand up. ¡°Stop. I don¡¯t wanna be talking about eggs till morning. What¡¯s in it for Memaw? Seems like an awfully lopsided deal.¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah. Sorry.¡± Heracles shrugged. ¡°Nothing to do with us. Only thing is Memaw just keeps Marcos share when we hunt.¡±


    Yesenia looked shocked. ¡°Marco doesn¡¯t get paid?¡±


    ¡°Mhm. I asked him about it. He said he just liked hunting.¡± Heracles took another sip.


    ¡°And just how many people has he brought into this crew?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t really know. He tells stories about people he worked with, but usually it¡¯s a different name every time.¡± Heracles thought hard. ¡°I think the one before me was a guy called Manny, but he wasn¡¯t here when I got here.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s infuriating.¡± Yesenia took a long drink of their cider and slammed down the mug.


    Heracles jumped at the loud noise. ¡°Sorry! I¡¯ll uh try to remember more!¡±


    Yesenia closed their eyes and pinched the bridge of their nose. ¡°No Heracles, not you. Marco is infuriating.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Yesenia continued. ¡°He trusts perfect strangers enough to let us join this ¡°crew¡± he has going on, but doesn¡¯t trust me to do my magic right? If he was going to micromanage me, he should have just told me I couldn¡¯t join.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ He tried to say no¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s besides the point.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­I guess I feel the same.¡± Heracles admitted


    ¡°Oh really?¡±


    Heracles shrugged. ¡°I dunno, I just¡­ I don¡¯t get why he¡¯s trusting Capreva. I mean we¡¯ve killed stuff that looks just like it. He¡¯s not bringing griffins home, he¡¯s not going all goo goo eyed over roach hounds.¡±


    Yesenia laughed with a smile that never reached their eyes. ¡°There isn¡¯t a god that looks like a griffin. I¡¯m sure if there was, he¡¯d be as protective of them as of this ¡°Capreva¡±.¡±


    Heracles crossed his bulky arms and laid his head on them. His horn nearly in Yesenias face. ¡°I just don¡¯t get it. How can some deer send a twig monster to us.¡±


    ¡°Pfft. The Elk isn¡¯t ¡°some deer¡± he was far more than that.¡± Yesenia explained.


    Heracles looked up squinting, ¡°So now you believe in him too.¡±


    Yesenia chuckled smugly. ¡°Of course not. The man Breged calls ¡°The Elk¡± was a real man. Wapiti Elche. Grand huntsmen and elf of the wild. His tales of heroism were eventually  exaggerated to such drastic scale that now the people of Breged believe him a god. And a deer.¡±


    Heracles sat up. ¡°How do you know all that, but Marco doesn¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°Emond Valor keeps better records. Elves also are the ones doing the record keeping. Mr. Elche died around three thousand years ago.¡± Yesenia closed their eyes and thought for a brief moment. ¡°That¡¯s around one hundred and ten human generations. But only thirty for elves.¡±


    ¡°Jeez. Elves must know everything.¡± Heracles said.


    ¡°We know most things, yes.¡± Yesenia smiled at the thought. ¡°It¡¯s the same story for their Bear, Hound and other menagerie of deities. Just ancient heroes and villains turned to godhood by mortal imagination coupled with time.¡±


    ¡°Do you know anything about ¡°He who Roars¡±. ¡° Heracles asked his voice growing more quiet.


    Yesenia thought then shook their head. ¡°No. Is this a desert god?¡±


    Heracles nodded. ¡°He¡¯s our only god. Just wondering if maybe he isn¡¯t real either¡­¡±


    Yesenia chuckled. ¡°Ah. Happy the tower doesn¡¯t have any dirt on your deity of choice.¡±


    Heracles slowly shook his head and laid it back down on his forearms. His massive frame and indestructible look faded away in Yesenias eyes. He just looked like a child sulking. Yesenia really didn¡¯t know anything about He who Roars or much about the desert at all, aside from anatomy of its residents. They knew about sulking children though. From experience.


    Yesenia spoke with a shrug. ¡°Probably not real though.¡±


    Heracles looked up.


    Yesenia continued. ¡°It sounds like the same thing here. He who Roars? That could be nearly any animal. At least Breged named theirs.¡±


    Heracles let out a little laugh. ¡°Yeah..¡±


    ¡°Whats he even the god of?¡± Yesenia asked


    Heracles shrugged. ¡°Everything I think¡­ He gave us the gift, then told us how to live in the desert.¡±


    Yesenia shook their head. ¡°Listen, anyone who gives you one gift then wants to be worshiped, isn¡¯t even worth it. Even if this guy is real he sounds like a bitten con man.¡±


    Heracles sat up and nodded. ¡°Yeah¡­ Yeah he does!¡±


    Yesenia reached over and pat Heracles on his shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s right you big¡­ you big you! Screw this guy.¡±


    Heracles laughed and chittered. ¡°Screw he who roars!¡±


    Yesenia smiled like a sunbeam on fresh snow and raised their mug. ¡°To no gods!¡±


    Heracles stood and slammed his mug against the wizards. ¡°To no gods!!¡±


    They both began to drink. With renewed joy and vigor. Celebrating the reign of logic and reason over petty gods and superstition. I am not saying any view is wrong or right. That isn¡¯t my job. My job is to recollect events and thoughts and give them to you. And there was an event neither of our heroes heard over their merriment. One could call it a coincidence, another an omen. Call it what you will.


    This event was a crack of lightning, in a cloudless night sky. A crack so loud and drawn out, it could be mistaken for a roar.

 Im not an Archer

    Ivy awoke in the morning to a stinging sunbeam warming her crimson face. She groaned from the effort of leaving the warm blankets. The sound had no chance of waking Yesenia, who had made a privacy curtain around their bed using magic. Less a curtain and more a wall. Of two-inch-thick ice. For someone attempting to hide their wizardly ways, Yesenia was very liberal when it came to ensuring privacy. Ivy had no clue if this would cause water damage.


    Shrugging off the thought, Ivy got to getting dressed. Changing out of her silk night gown and into what the heiress thought was clothing of the working class. A puffy sleeved cream-colored silk shirt, dark leather britches, and knee-high drake leather riding boots. Black drake of course. After applying a thin coating of horn wax, Ivy looked roughly like two thousand- six hundred and thirty-two gold pieces. Or an estimated one million bucks.


    Ivys footfalls were drowned out by the low roar of many voices as she trotted down the stairs. The smell of freshly baked biscuits and well spiced sausages permeated the air as every fisherman, woodsman, or apple picker came to get their fill. Ivy spied Captain Ryba eating a sizable helping of gravy drenched biscuits, boasting loudly to his men on behalf of Marco. Who was trying in vain to pull away from the naga. The captain may have been blessed with the head of a mere garden snake, but his arm held Marcos¡¯ shoulders like a python.


    Bemused at her friends¡¯ discomfort, Ivy exited the throngs of Memaw food enjoyers and made her way to her best friend and loyal mount. The Herbatas had managed to make accommodations for the large animal beside Pattys shed. It was little more than a hitching post, feed bucket and water trough. An indignity to Lilys station but a necessary one for now.


    However, when Ivy rounded to the back of the tavern she saw nary an indignity in sight. Lily was lying atop a bed of hay, assorted leaves and long ruddy brown feathers. Over the horse hung a canopy attached to the shed. Also constructed of leaves and given shape by twigs and twine. Her feed was already full to spilling and with the approach of her mistress Lily pulled herself from her comfort to her hooves.


    Ivy came close and pressed her forehead to Lilys. ¡°Did someone come by and pamper you, big girl? I¡¯ll have to thank this kind soul.¡±


    A voice came from the leaf bed. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it!¡±


    Ivy peered behind lily. Scrambling out of the bed was the odd, slightly disconcerting figure of Capreva. They shook foreign leaves off of themselves like a wet dog before they scurried around the large horses¡¯ legs. Lily seemed unbothered by the little thing, even ceasing her restless hoof stamps long enough for Capreva to get in front of her.


    Ivy got down onto her knee. ¡°You did all this?¡±


    Capreva nodded cheerily. ¡°Mhm! I heard thunder last night, So I thought rain was coming. But I was incorrect!¡±


    ¡°Last night- Didn¡¯t you sleep Capreva?¡± Ivy said concerned tightening her features.


    Capreva shook their head just as cheerily. ¡°Nope. Never got tired!¡±


    ¡°Well uh.. alright¡± Ivy pat the monsters head. ¡°Thank you, little blessing, for looking out for my steed.¡±


    Capreva bristled and beamed with shear excitement. They nuzzled their horned skull into Ivy¡¯s hand. Rider made herself endure the uncomfortable texture, focusing her pets to the horns. They were her anchor to slight normalcy about the beast.  Ivy chuckled at the strangeness of the creature as the gruff image of Marco rounded the corner into the back yard. He had a bow in each of his hands and his quiver on his hip.


    ¡°You found them!¡± Marco said relieved as he slung the bow around his shoulder and came to his knees besides Ivy.


    ¡°Well found is a strong word, darling. More stumbled across.¡± Ivy stood and grinned as Capreva drummed his hands on Marcos forearm.


    Marco sighed and looked the goat skull in its eyes. ¡°Please don¡¯t head out without telling me, okay. I thought you ran off.¡±


    Capreva tilted their head. ¡°I did run off. I ran out here! Well I guess I snuck off. The big one and pretty maker were talking. I didn¡¯t wanna interrupt. Then I made a rain roof for Lily!¡±


    Marco took a second to sort the information. ¡°... Alright. Just, tell me before you leave.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± Capreva shouted enthusiastically.


    Marco let a smile take him. ¡°I¡¯m just glad you¡¯re not gone¡­¡±


    Ivy saw a tenderness wash over the woodsman. It was quite a sight. As if suddenly a shining steel plate began to give at the merest touch. Reduced to sentimental mushy wax. The softening lasted only a moment, man returning to hardened steel as he looked towards Ivy.


    ¡°Do you know anything about archery?¡± Marco asked apropos of nothing.


    Ivy raised an eyebrow. ¡°Uh¡­ Yes? My¡­ Well, my mother taught me a small amount. While I was very young, I haven¡¯t retained very much.¡±


    ¡°Okay, great.¡± Marco stood and pushed a bow into Ivys arms then marched away. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you and Capreva at the same time. Come on bud.¡±


    The monster scampered into Marco wake gleefully, Ivy was more pulled along like a floating barrel.


    ¡°What do you mean teach us both? I had assumed you would only be training Capreva. Seeing as they are a new hire to this organization.¡± Ivy protested as she followed.


    Marco forged ahead. ¡°That was the plan. Till I decided it would do you good to learn too.¡±


    ¡°Do me good? Marco dear, I am not a child. As you have seen, I am quite formidable at my current state.¡±


    Marco ignored Ivy for quite some time. Ivy still followed, more out of stubbornness than curiosity. The vocally elated Capreva and quietly frustrated Ivy were led through the small town past homes, stores and overgrown fields. Their quiet walk through the whole of town ended at the beginning of a forest trail. Opposite end of Apie Fields from the Zolt orchard, staring into untamed countryside.


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Marco slid an arrow from his quiver, knocked it, and pulls the fletching back to his cheek. The point was severe and glinted in the early morning light as it was raised and knocked. With little effort Marco held for a time and faster than the eye could process, the arrow was gone. Nothing but a hearty thunk as evidence of its landing, deep into the trunk of a tall powerful oak tree.


    Ivy gave Marco two sarcastic claps. ¡°Very good darling, quite the skilled shot. But, you needn¡¯t prove anything to me, if that was your aim. I know you¡¯re a hounds eye with that thing, I watched you strike that griffin from nearly three hundred paces.¡±


    ¡°I aint gonna be using this anymore.¡± Marco said flatly.


    Ivy looked at him wide eyed for a beat. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not an archer. I can shoot a bow, but I¡¯m not an archer.¡± Marco knelt down and handed his bow to Capreva. Who accepted it like a paladin being graced with a holy blade.


    Ivy laughed in disbelief. ¡°And pray tell, what¡¯s the difference.¡±


    ¡°Confidence.¡± Marcos word wiped the fake smile off Ivys face. ¡°I¡¯m not confident with a bow. I¡­ hesitate. And that aint fair. Not to you, or the wizard or¡­ or the kid. He could have died to that¡­ bitten thing, and I just stood there and watched.¡± The woodsman paused, looking at Ivy out of the corner of his eye. ¡°But you didn¡¯t.¡±


    The heiress furrowed her crimson brow. ¡°I thank you for the praise, but I find it hard to understand what you¡¯re saying?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m saying, I¡¯ll teach you and bud what I know. Then I¡¯m gonna be where I belong next fight.¡±


    ¡°And that is?¡±


    ¡°Up front.¡± Marco smiled at the words.


    Ivy shook her hand and the tension dropped off her like sheets of snow.  She laughed softly and wagged a finger at Marco. ¡°You sure are quite the odd old man, my friend. But have it your way. I am happy to allow you to cleanse this from your system.¡±


    Marco nodded. ¡°Thank you, Ivy.¡± He peered down at Capreva, who was still staring at the bow like it was made of gold. ¡°You ready to learn little one.¡±


    Capreva jolted to life. ¡°Yeah!! Yes I am sir!!¡± Capreva saluted to Marco.


    Marco chuckled. ¡°Okay good. Start by trying to hit near where I did.¡±


    And so Capreva did. It took the little guy a few shots to get their footing and hand placement correct. You can imagine the challenges of being built like a raptor and being told to fire a bow. Especially when your teacher isn¡¯t Spinosaurus robin hood, it¡¯s just some ape who told you he isn¡¯t an archer. But nevertheless, Capreva got the hang of it. They had the knack. Before an hour of shooting had passed, Capreva was actually landing shots on the tree and not the ground below or leaves above.


    Around the time they began landing their shots, Capreva started to feel bad for the tree. Marco assured the tree was tough. Capreva questioned if Marco was tough. Marco reluctantly agreed. Capreva explained they trusted Marco could very well take one arrow, maybe two, but more seemed cruel. They then began searching for more humane targets. Well, more arborane. Treemane? They shot at dead trees.


    Ivy took their turn in being taught at the second hour. Ivy had been schooled in archery as a child by her mother, but Rose Humble was around as good a teacher as she was a mother. Once she gives you the firm fundamentals you¡¯re mostly on your own. Ivy had never enjoyed archery. It always felt like cheating. Ivy sought the honor of an honest brawl, not turning your foe to a pin cushion before they even saw your face. So once her mother lost interest in teaching, Ivy lost interest in learning.


    She still let herself be taught by Marco. Not only because of his melodramatic whinging, but because she was curious if she was still any good. She wasn¡¯t. Not for lack of trying mind you. Both parties, teacher and student alike were trying their level best. Ivy just couldn¡¯t keep still. Her hands shook under the weight of the bow string. She couldn¡¯t keep her feet from moving, she stamped in place more than Lily ever had.


    Ivy tried to Invision firing at an enemy, but this only compounded the problem. She knew it would just be simpler to advance and fire at the same time. Marco said that was true, but this is for practice not combat. Ivy groaned and eventually grew tired of the exercise just as she had as a girl. Her teacher was very patient, Ivy appreciated that. He told her they could keep goin, but Ivy gave the bow back to Capreva and sat on a stump nearby. Marco made a motion to protest.


    ¡°It¡¯s just about their turn anyways, my friend. Allow yourself to focus on the star pupil. I can still find enjoyment in watching.¡± Ivy said smiling at Marco then winked at Capreva.


    ¡°Well, If you¡¯re sure.¡± Marco said turning back to the dead fallen tree, instructing Capreva where to shoot again.


    The sun was near its noon peak before they all decided to call it quits for the day. Capreva had made steady improvements, nothing spectacular but clear the little monster had talent. Marco chalked this up to celestial origins. Capreva made no objections to the assumption, but never added anything to strengthen the claim either. Ivy was still ever so slightly on the fence.


    Marco broke off from his two pupils. He told them he needed to place an order for something at the town blacksmith. A man named Krowa Dreech. The rider and goat monster waved goodbye as the large man left. Ivy thought she¡¯d need to go and meet this Mr. Dreech at some point as she entered the Bulls Horn. Holding the door for Capreva to scamper inside.


    Almost every patron crowding the dining room had left, likely off to fill the day of work. Just a few stragglers whom Ivy assumed just didn¡¯t have anywhere better to be. Or perhaps they loved Memaws biscuits and gravy more than employment. Heracles was sitting at the bar nursing a jar of healing tea and a headache that could fell a frost giant. Behind the bar stood a very peculiar emptiness.


    Across the room the man meant to fill that void was turning over chairs and lifting booths with panicked strength. He was attempting to make sweet ps ps ps sounds, the surefire alluring tactic of all pet owners. But through Patty¡¯s fear and mild tusks it sounded more like he was hyperventilating with a lisp.


    Ivy made her way over just as Patty had hit his head on a table. ¡°Have you lost something, friend Patty?¡±


    Patty groaned in frustration, pulling himself to his knees looking frazzled. ¡°I can¡¯t find Sparky. Marcys cat.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s terrible. Do you think he¡¯s hiding around the bar?¡± Ivy said in a sweet tone.


    The portly orc huffed as he stood with a little help from a chair. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ he usually stays upstairs when there¡¯s people going in and out. He¡¯s real skittish. But once I got around to feeding him¡­ gods I should have checked on him before opening.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m incredibly sorry for this to happen. Let¡¯s establish a timeframe my friend, when did you see him last.¡± Ivy said trying her best to be helpful.


    Patty sighed defeated. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen him all day. Mom and Marcy haven¡¯t either. Mom thinks he got out in the night. But I swear I closed that rat bitten door.¡±


    Ivy was ready to lay out another tender comforting word but was jolted at the mention of night. Her eyes trailed down slowly to the scuttling little bush beast near her feet. Capreva looked up at her innocently. They had been listening to the entire conversation, delighted just to be there. Ivy glared down into little flames, accusation clear on her face. Capreva tilted their head. Ivy pointed at the door, hiding the gesture from Patty as he walked to the bar. Capreva looked at the door. Ivy made a sound like thunder and pointed harder at the door.


    Very slowly, like molasses in winter, the boney gears within Caprevas head began to turn. Their little flames grew in understanding. Looking back and forth between the door and the grief-stricken bartender, a new feeling grew inside the boney chest. A biting, uncomfortable feeling. Capreva once had termites. This was like that, only in their soul. Capreva was feeling guilt, followed by shame.


    Capreva pulled on Ivys pant leg panicked. ¡°We¡­ I have to find Sparky¡­¡±


    Ivy nodded and pat them on the horn. ¡°We will find him.¡±


    Caprevas tail thumped the ground in the brisk happiness of hope. Quickly they righted themselves in determination and approached the bar. The bush climbed up to a stool then onto the counter, Ivy followed suit. No not onto the counter, but like followed to the bar. Patty was looking distraught at his cider bottles, holding a half empty one.


    His gaze went to Ivy, then to the ghoul of bone and twig gazing at him with flame for eyes. ¡°By the Five! What is that!¡± He recoiled, now holding the bottle like a club spilling the rest of its contents.


    Heracles groaned sourly. ¡°Please don¡¯t yell Pat¡­.¡± The young man rubbed his chitinous temples.


    Ivy put a hand on Caprevas head. ¡°Patty be civil. This is our new friend, Capreva. They just entered with me, did you not see them?¡±


    Capreva waved. ¡°Hello...¡±


    Patty watched Capreva wearily. ¡°I¡­ thought you were a branch¡­¡±


    ¡°Now Patty, why would there be a branch in here.¡± Ivy asked.


    ¡°Why would there be a monster in here!¡± Patty retorted.


    Heracles slammed his large fist down. ¡°Quit. Yelling.¡±


    Ivy moved the conversation a few feet down the bar away from the hungover pugilist and started. ¡°Patty, Capreva is a new member of this team and that comes with certain respects. I expect you to treat Capreva with honor and integrity. Just as you would with any patron.¡±


    Patty looked the arborous theropod over a few times. ¡°And uh¡­ Marco okayed this?¡±


    ¡°Marco proposed it!¡± Ivy said matter-a-factly. ¡°And, they have something they¡¯d like to tell you.¡±


    Capreva nervously rubbed their hands together. ¡°I¡¯m going to get your cat back¡­ We¡¯re gonna get Sparky back sir!¡±


    Patty softened at that, lowering the bottle to the counter. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m good at finding things sir! And I want to be good at helping!¡± Capreva scuttled forward standing at full height on the bar. Just at Pattys eye line. ¡°I swear!¡± With that they shot out their boney hand towards the cat dad.


    Patty let a tusky grin shine slowly on his face. ¡°Alright. I would be¡­ mighty grateful if you did.¡± He reached forward and used two of his fingers to shake Caprevas small hand.


    Ivy smiled at this display and turned to the hulk of bug flesh. ¡°To arms Heracles. We are retrieving Sparky.¡±


    Heracles shook his head. ¡°Nope. No way. I¡¯m not looking for a cat.¡±


    Capreva scuttled across the bar, his boney digits clacking like a rapid chess game. ¡°But why not! It¡¯s a lost kitty!¡±


    Heracles focused his dots into Caprevas flames and huffed dismissively. ¡°All I wanna do is sit here and ride this headache out. Not go wandering in the woods with some deers little brother.¡±


    Ivy came over and shook her head. ¡°You are truly going to let this cat just go missing, because of a headache?¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡± Heracles drank more tea.


    Patty looked back at the bottle rack. ¡°Well son, as long as you¡¯re staying you can help me figure out who knicked four bottles of my cider.¡±


    Heracles stayed still as stone for a long while. Then he dragged himself up and trudged to the stairs. ¡°I¡¯ll get Yesenia¡­¡±

 Pass me the Roach Hound

    A lance of ice flashed into the woods, striking the base of a tree with bone shattering force. It was just off target. The blade of a halberd cleaved through the air lodging itself firmly in the cold soil. It missed its target. A flurry of arrows fired from an untrained boney hand turned several trees and bushes into faux porcupines. Off target. Hammering fists and trampling hooves. Off target. Mystical whirlwinds of ice and devastating blows fueled by rage and frustration. Missed.


    Our six heroes were now back-to-back, dead center inside a natural clearing surrounded by oppressively tall trees. Well, that seems fine just trees. Ah sorry, says here also surrounded by around seventy-five scuttering hissing insectoid horrors. Lovely. These creatures are known in laymen terms as Roach Hounds. Each one looking like your average cockroach, only the size of a medium dog. Ergo the name. These roach hounds were inhumanly fast and quick to react. Leaping from side to side avoiding anything thrown or swung at them.


    These heroes had, whatever comfort it was, completed their task. In Ivys arms atop her proud bellowing steed, Sparky the cat. Orange as they come and struggling to get free. Not for fear of Ivy but fear of going down with her. Now they only had to get this cat back to Marcy. Without all of them becoming roach food.


    Yesenia let another blast of chilled air peel out at the encroaching horde. This launched the hounds back but did little in keeping them down. ¡°Well this is just perfect! Fate led me to die by bugs!¡±


    Marco roared as he slammed his shabby woodcutter axe into the ground. The roach hound he missed hissed at him venomously. ¡°We aren¡¯t going to die! We will think of something!¡± He grunted as he ripped the axe free of the soil.


    Capreva volleyed arrow after arrow from their perch on Heracles¡¯ bulky shoulder. ¡°They seem very mad!¡±


    Heracles punched and kicked at the leaping insects fruitlessly. ¡°Oh wow! Give us more divine wisdom angel of the hunt!¡± Deep in Heracles¡¯ primeval psyche he now understood the plight of powerful beetles and wasps taken down by colonies of murderous ants.


    ¡°No like, mad mad!¡± Capreva shot and sunk an arrow into a hound coming to nip at Heracles¡¯ heels. ¡°These guys usually are nice outside their holes!¡±


    Ivy shouted over the din of hisses and chitters. ¡°You¡¯ve interacted with these things before?!¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ a little? They think I¡¯m a bush.¡±


    Lily stamped at the little beasts as Ivy called. ¡°Do you know anything about them! Weaknesses perhaps?! Likes, dislikes?!¡±


    ¡°We need to kill them not court them!¡± Marco shouted.


    As he did, a roach hound leaped passed his defenses and sunk its jaws deep into the flesh of his thigh. He roared in pain while his blood stained the grass along with the creatures¡¯ face. Yesenia fired a dagger of chilled water vapor into the roach¡¯s body causing it to fall limp. Marco let out a grunt of pain as he wrapped his hands around its body and forcefully ripped it off his leg. The creature taking a small chunk of his meat with it.


    Capreva watched in horror. They held their bow tight to themselves like a precious idol. ¡°Um¡­ uh¡­ the.. lights! The lights, make the lights!!¡± Capreva cried out in realization.


    ¡°The lights?¡± Ivy asked then was struck with the meaning. ¡°Yesenia! They¡¯re saying use fire!¡±


    Yesenia blasted chilling air at a group of roaches as they helped Marco deeper into the circle. ¡°Oh really? Should I Marco? Or are you still scared I¡¯ll start a wild fire?¡±


    Marco groaned both with pain and annoyance. ¡°Just do it¡­¡±


    Yesenia grinned. A glowing sigil formed in the air and from it launched an ember of flame. The roach hound it targeted made no attempt to leap away. Its round vacant orbs were glued to the ball of flaming death headed for it, as were many others. The fire bolt lodged itself in the slack jawed mouth of the insect.


    The air grew still. Nothing appeared to happen to the hound. Yesenia was seconds from scolding the little deer prophet for their invalid information when the hound¡¯s chest began to bulge. There was a light glowing from the cracks in its hard shell. A bright orange light that now began pouring from the thing¡¯s mouth. And with as much fanfare as a royal coronation, the roach hound violently detonated. Bathing the surrounding area in light and smoldering bloody chunks.


    Some of said smoldering chunks landed right in front of the chunk¡¯s former comrades. The hounds not knowing food from certain death, consumed the flaming bits. Heracles witnessed the violent reaction beginning in many of the roaches around him. He franticly began kicking and throwing the suicidal creatures away. Yesenia did the same blasting swaths of them with icy winds.


    Ivy held tight to sparky, who now even more franticly tried to pull free. Yowling as loud as his little lungs could allow. All around the hounds went up in flames, scattering shards of shell and molten meaty bits. Ivy reached down and took hold of her halberd. She looped the hook around Heracles¡¯ horn and yanked him into closer rank with Lily.


    She looked to Yesenia. ¡°Can you make us some cover!¡±


    Yesenia nodded curtly and planted their feet. A frigid cold fell over the party. Wisps of invisible water in the air began to make themselves known, pooling into droplets then flattening into sheets. In seconds the party was surrounded by a dome of water, parts of roach hounds were flung inside by explosions, thankfully doused upon entry.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    A still intact roach pushed through the dome, gnashing hungrily at Yesenias feet. Yesenia grinned with malice seeing the creature only halfway inside. Starting from the crown of the dome, it solidified. Like a soap bubble freezing in winter, the frost crept down every side. The hound squealed in icy hot pain feeling the frost on its mid-section. Yesenia brought a hand down in the motion of a guillotine. The squealing stopped, as the now bisected hound lay limp and lifeless.


    The group huddled together as all around the sounds of explosions and lights of flame turned quiet dusk to a warzone. They just kept eating the flaming remains of their fallen. Ivy mused on why the gods would create such ravenous beasts.


    After full minutes of backyard barbeque level fireworks, the sounds began to dwindle. The hounds intelligent enough to not fall prey to the dazzling display fled into the wilderness. Heracles helped Marco uncap and drink a jar of tea for his leg. Only a dull throbbing remained of what was once a debilitating injury. Marco thanked his friend and stood.


    ¡°Welp. We got the cat.¡± Marco said reaching up trying to sooth the scared feline.


    ¡°Right we did! I¡¯ll chalk this up as another valiant success for us!¡± Ivy cheered happily.


    Yesenia heated the air inside of the ice barrier, slowly it began to melt away. They remained quiet as they did.


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t have made that bubble any faster Yesenia?¡± Heracles said as he picked shell shards out from his own shell.


    ¡°You¡¯re all lucky I made it at all.¡± Yesenia said coldly.


    Heracles bristled. ¡°I was just joking. You don¡¯t have to get so snappy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not ¡°snappy¡±. I¡¯m the only reason we¡¯re alive.¡± The melting quickened. ¡°Not that that matters to some people.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Marco retorted as trickles of water from the dome fell like gentle rain.


    ¡°Nothing. Just¡­ nothing. Stop talking about it.¡± Yesenia continued their heating.


    Ivy chimed in. ¡°My friend, if something is troubling you, you¡¯re free to speak your mind.¡±


    ¡°I said its nothing, its nothing.¡± Yesenia walked through the first opening large enough in the ice and left for town.


    The others followed, after a moment of standing in confusion. Heracles had to break off a few pieces of ice to fit through, Lily and Ivy had to break off even more. They trudged through insectoid viscera and stepped over small craters in the grass, all to get a tiny, spooked cat back to its owner.


    Yesenia entered the Bull¡¯s Horn long before any others. They ignored the Herbata family. Patty and Marcy shot to awareness at Yesenias entry then slumped back down as the wizard went off to bed. Their hopes were not dashed for long as the entirety of the party, sans horse, entered the tavern.


    Marcy leaped out of her stool and ran to Ivy. ¡°Sparky! Is he okay?!¡±


    ¡°Just a little battle weary, but no worse for wear.¡± Ivy said as she gently relinquished the cat to its best friend.


    Marcy squeezed the orange fur ball. Relieved laughter followed along with a few tears rolling down her ruddy grey cheeks. Sparky responded in kind with purrs like a lawnmower and nuzzles firm enough to wipe away even a river of tears. Ivy couldn¡¯t help herself, seeing such a loving reunion. The heiress leaned down and pulled cat and girl alike into a tight hug. Marcys smile beamed and sparky attempted to run.


    Patty¡¯s face was all tusk and smile as he beaconed everyone to come to the bar and sit. Most obliged, all beside Heracles. He made his way upstairs grumbling about shell bits all up in his shell bits and needing a dry bath, whatever that means. Marcy was led to her room as well by her Memaw. Never once did the girl let her cat go. Squeezing him and promising to never let him get lost again all the way to her bedroom. Sparky objected of course, but in a language none present spoke.


    Patty pulled a chair up behind the bar and sat. ¡°So, where did the little escape artist end up getting to.¡±


    ¡°Not far at all sir. He found himself in a bit of a run in near a cottage on the outskirts of the town.¡± Ivy said.


    Marco chimed in. ¡°Ole Miss Naros place.¡±


    Patty raised his brows. ¡°Ole Naro? What was he doing out there?¡±


    Marco shrugged. ¡°Not a bitten clue. But when we found him some roach hounds were trying to run off with him.¡±


    Ivy scoffed. ¡°Dastardly little beasts.¡±


    ¡°They were mad¡­¡± Capreva said almost to quietly for everyone to hear.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Patty said causing Capreva to jump, not knowing anyone had heard them. ¡°Whole rat bitten forest has gone mad.¡±


    ¡°It has gotten bad hasn¡¯t it, Pat?¡± Marco asked rhetorically.


    Patty reached behind the bar and produced a packet of papers, laying them out before Ivy and Marco. ¡°We got four more requests for yall just today, That¡¯s twelve this week..¡±


    Ivy read over a few of the request papers. ¡°Kelpies spotted in the lakes¡­ something smashing trees in the woods¡­ cockatrice nest on the far docks¡­ Polvik disturbances?! How does a Polvik disturb anyone?¡±


    Patty skimmed over that paper. ¡°Oh. That ones from Petunia, I wouldn¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    ¡°What do you thinks riling up the whole forest?¡± Marco asked skimming papers as well.


    Patty retrieved the papers from the monster hunters and sighed. ¡°Couldn¡¯t really tell ya... But! Not for discussion tonight. Tonight, is about thankfulness and due rewards.¡±


    The barrel-chested man put the papers away and produced a jingling palm sized sack. The sack was dropped into Marcos hand just as Memaw was shakily getting down the stairs. Marco felt the weight of the bag and looked at Patty concerned.


    ¡°How much is this?¡±


    ¡°Fifty!¡± Memaw moved behind the bar, standing next to her sitting son. Even sitting she only came to her boy¡¯s neck. ¡°Counted out soon as we closed.¡±


    Marco laughed mirthlessly, handing the pouch to Ivy. ¡°Had to pick a sour number to split¡­¡±


    ¡°Sour?¡± Patty asked feigning ignorance. ¡°Ten each is bout as sour as suger Marco.¡±


    ¡°Ten¡­¡± Marco realized and shook his head. ¡°No but¡­ What about our deal?¡±


    Memaw raised a warding hand. ¡°Deals fine son, quit your yowling.¡±


    Ivy scrunched her nose. ¡°What deal?¡±


    Capreva chimed in cheerily. ¡°I heard the bugma¡­ Heracles! I heard Heracles and the Yesenia talking about a deal yesterday¡­ What¡¯s a deal?¡±


    Marco groaned over stimulated. ¡°Its noth-¡°


    Patty chuckled full bellied. ¡°He didn¡¯t tell you himself?¡±


    Ivy and Capreva shook their heads as Marco placed his into his hands.


    Memaw smiled smugly and rustled Marcos coarse hair. ¡°You big sugar lump.¡± She addressed Ivy and Capreva. ¡°Little Marco here made a deal with me that he wouldn¡¯t take pay for hunting so long as his ¡°crew¡± ate for free. You did say crew back then didn¡¯t you son?¡±


    Marco grumbled through his finger and slowly slid them down his face. ¡°Yeah¡­ I said crew.¡±


    ¡°Crew. A little piratey¡­ and a bit criminal sounding.¡± Ivy said. ¡°Is there any way we could change the wordage to band? Or even cohort?¡±


    Patty smiled and nodded. ¡°Absolutely. Just as long as you make sure Mr. sour takes his share just this time.¡±


    Memaw nodded. ¡°And don¡¯t you worry bout us. Selling that teas gonna be helping oodles. And I doubt none of these newbies eat half as much as my baby bug.¡±


    ¡°Speakin of food!¡± Patty pat Capreva firmly on their back. ¡°What do you eat Capreva. Do ya eat?¡±


    Caprevas whole body scrunched down at the force of the hand. ¡°Uh¡­ I don¡¯t think so. When I¡¯m feeling tired I just lay in a sunbeam.¡±


    Patty nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll open a window for ya then.¡±


    Memaw began to make her march to the stairs again. ¡°Make more friends like Capreva, Marco. I swear if I knew you¡¯d bring in a boy the size of a cliff face¡­¡±


    Patty followed his mother, chuckling at her remark, and helped her back up the stairs. Even at her protest. Ivy returned the pouch of gold to Marco with a smirk while rising from her seat. Marco grumbled some more, heading to bed with the rest. Capreva was close on Marcos heels up until just before climbing the first step. They scampered off at incredible speed causing Marco to turn in alarm.


    Marco saw Capreva bolting for the door and his skin ran white. ¡°Where¡¯re you-¡°


    Capreva reached up like a stretching cat, firmly checking the door. They tugged on the knob with all the force they could muster. Satisfied with the closed nature of the door Capreva bounded back just as fast as they had gone away.


    They looked up at Marco with all the pride a goat skull could express. ¡°It¡¯s shut! I checked!¡±


    Marcos smile split his hardened face. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ glad you checked. Very thoughtful little friend.¡±


    Caprevas tail wagged like a whip, the tip causing minute scrapes in the walls of the stairwell. ¡°I know.¡± Then they trotted upstairs like a show pony.


    Marco followed behind. Walking up to where his friends were. Where his crew was. He realized he may get used to smiling more often.

 Something Clever

    ¡°Ma¡¯am- Ma¡¯am please listen. We can¡¯t-¡± Marco tried to say amiably.


    ¡°Just get rid of him!¡± The crone screeched. ¡°That¡¯s your bleeding job isn¡¯t it?! Getting rid of things?! Just do it!¡±


    Marco and the pillar of the community, Mrs. Petunia, stood knee deep in a flower garden that spanned nearly two acres. Ivy, Heracles, Yesenia and Capreva stood idle nearby. Partaking in varying degrees of enjoyment at Marcos failing de-escalation attempts. The subject of this ¡°getting rid of¡± stood far to nearby for that kind of talk. His brow was arched in worry, his legs rooted by fear, poor things hands only weren¡¯t trembling because he was clutching tight to a staff of firm wood.


    Now let it be known the rod was the shaft of a rather severe looking scythe. But it might as well have been a stick of pasta by how much harm its wielder seemed capable. It was very tall, thin and lanky, dressed in plain workman¡¯s clothes and scruffy boots. The only remarkable feature of this fellow was that the hair on its head wasn¡¯t hair at all. It was straw. Green and lively at the roots but growing straight up, it quickly became the dry fodder all farm animals enjoy.


    Marco let his voice raise slightly to the old matron. ¡°Ma¡¯am. We don¡¯t kill polviks.¡±


    Mrs. Petunia threw her hands up in the air. ¡°I never said kill you fang bitten brute! I said get rid of him! Don¡¯t you dare put words into my mouth son cause I swear on your mama I¡¯ll bite!¡±


    ¡°Is it at possible for me to uh¡­ weigh in?¡± The aforementioned polvik posited.


    Mrs. Petunia whipped around. ¡°You hush up hay for brains! I¡¯ve heard plenty!¡±


    Marco watched with pity as the polvik nodded obediently and lowered his head. ¡°Listen¡­ Ma¡¯am, we can¡¯t just run something off if it hasn¡¯t done anything.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s threatening my livelihood!¡± The old woman bellowed her voice becoming horse.


    Ivy took a few steps forward into the garden and clapped her hands to draw all attention to herself. ¡°How¡¯s about you start by explaining to us how this polvik is harming you in any way, my lady?¡±


    Mrs. Petunia looked ready to burst. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious, stupid girl!¡±


    Ivy maintained her trademark smile through her rising blood pressure and barely squeezed out. ¡°No ma¡¯am. It is not.¡±


    The crone sneered and gestured at the polvik without looking at him. ¡°Look at it. It has a fang bitten scythe.¡±


    ¡°They.¡± Yesenia called out while making notes in a small book. ¡°They have a scythe.¡±


    Mrs. Petunia whirled around in disbelief. ¡°There are more!?¡± There still was only the one polvik.


    ¡°No it¡¯s- actually forget it.¡± Yesenia said returning to silent writing.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, back to the scythe. Are you scared of him- Them? Did they threaten you¡­bodily?¡± Marco asked desperate to understand.


    ¡°No, you rat brained bulls pile. He¡¯s threatening my flowers!¡± She pointed an accusing finger at the polvik.


    Capreva spoke from his place on Lilys hind. ¡°It¡­ cut your flowers for you?¡±


    ¡°No! He-¡° Mrs. Petunia paused. She turned slowly, like a cautious owl, and took the polvik in her gaze fully.


    It smiled nervously, showing a bit too much teeth and waved at the crone.


    The old woman watched them and contemplated for what seemed like ages then fast as a flicker said. ¡°You all can go.¡± And began to hobble to her cabin.


    Ivy stood totally befuddled. ¡°But you-¡°


    ¡°Leave. I said leave.¡± Mrs. Petunia waved them off. ¡°Jobs done, don¡¯t need him gone no more.¡±


    Ivy clenched her jaw until her teeth creaked and started to march after the old bag. ¡°After all of that. How dare-¡°


    Marcos and fell firmly on Ivy¡¯s shoulder, stopping her march. Ivy let out a breath on the verge of a growl, fiendish fire growing behind her eyes. Marco stayed resilient against the heat.


    ¡°Come on. Jobs done just like she said.¡± Marco said calmly.


    Ivy looked at Mrs. Petunia with pure contempt. The old woman hardly noticed, focused on the free labor she could now benefit from by the exploitation of fey spirits. Ivy let out a sharp exhale from her nostrils, like a ten-ton bull. Then she relented. Stomping petulantly as she followed. Capreva, Heracles and Yesenia joined the exodus from the garden in anxious quiet. Well, not Yesenia. Yesenia was just quiet.


    For nearly half their journey back to Apie Fields proper none spoke. Ears only accompanied by the dull foot falls on the well-worn path and the occasional bird call. Though Capreva was used to being alone with the sounds of nature, they sensed the tension in the air. Heat radiated off Ivy, arms crossed and teeth gritting. Marco trod forward unaware or maybe uncaring.


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    Caprevas reedy voice broke the silence ¡°Those¡­ Those flowers seemed¡­. Very happy.¡± Said with a nervous chuckle.


    ¡°Figures.¡± Ivy said as sharp as a spear. ¡°Old crow ought to know how to treat at least one entity of this world. Because clearly, she has no love for her fellow man.¡±


    Marco sighed and shook his head. ¡°She¡¯s old. That¡¯s just how she is.¡±


    ¡°And? So if she were thirty summers younger, you¡¯d have allowed me to speak? Is the age of the bully truly that important?¡± Ivy retorted. ¡°Yesenia is likely that many years her senior and they still act civilly.¡±


    ¡°Hey.¡± Yesenia said with cold offence. ¡°Don¡¯t call me civil.¡±


    ¡°Ivy, you know that isn¡¯t fair. Elf brains¡­ work different¡± Marco said.


    ¡°Work better.¡± Yesenia jabbed.


    Ivy huffed. ¡°This Mrs. Petunias attitude wasn¡¯t fair. Even less fair that you didn¡¯t let me tell her that.¡±


    ¡°Could you just drop it?¡± Marco said sternly.


    Now squeezing her bicep like a vice, Ivy bit back her tongue and reluctantly nodded. They returned to their silence. Capreva rung their hands as they looked to the ground. Anxious at the tension but more anxious at the prospect of another argument.


    Heracles¡¯ voice boomed out once they drew close to town. ¡°So uh, what are we hunting next?¡±


    Marco crossed his arms. ¡°Somethings been stirring up trouble on hunting paths. Grot said the signs of it are leading toward Naros place. But before anything else, we gotta go to Krowas.¡±


    Heracles brightened out of his autopilot stupor. ¡°We¡¯re going to Krowas? Do you think he¡¯s-¡°


    Marco cut him off. ¡°He¡¯s told you every time you ask. He doesn¡¯t know how to make sword gauntlets.¡±


    Heracles slumped his broad shoulders. ¡°I drew designs up for him¡­¡±


    ¡°You can draw?¡± Capreva asked the beetle.


    Heracles nodded and brightened again. ¡°Mostly weapon plans. I used to bring my drawings to the black smith back home.¡±


    ¡°Did they ever make them for you?¡± Capreva asked, tilting their head to the side.


    ¡°He would!¡± Heracles responded excitedly. ¡±One time he made this three bladed sword for me. They were in like a triangle shape. It was real heavy, but I liked it. None of your blacksmiths here are as good as he was¡±


    Ivy¡¯s temper cooled enough for her to crack a grin. ¡°This blacksmith sounds like a true friend and a skilled artisan. Why do you bare no weapons from him?¡±


    The boy dimmed and took a moment to look up at the pale blue sky before answering. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ not allowed¡­it¡¯s a desert thing¡­¡±


    Yesenia quietly removed a hand from their cloak and laid it on Heracles¡¯ shoulder. Needing to raise their arm quite high to achieve even that.


    Ivy¡¯s brows rose almost to her horns at the sight. ¡°¡­I see. Well, mayhap I could attempt to convince this Krowa to take another look at your designs.¡±


    Heracles chittered and nodded. ¡°Thanks Ivy¡­¡± He pat his large hand on Yesenias. The elf still looking frigid even in a moment of compassion.


    Just as the conversation was ending Marco halted the group in front of a very small building. Much more porch than interior, with neatly positioned and tidy workstations lining the outdoor whole of the space. A forge lay cold and clean of ash, quenching trough filled with crystal clear water, even the coal pile was clean of trademark black dust. And sparkling resplendently beside the base of a midnight black statue of a minotaur was a great axe to make the gods weep.


    The etchings on the axe head looked as though they were from a painting. The way the smoothly curving tendrils were depicted, ending in sharp sudden points gave the idea of both a tangled thicket as well as a elks proud rack. Ivy longed to feel the weight of that chunk of metal art in her hands. To feel just how perfectly weighted she knew it must be. Just as she was noticing the stain work on the handle Marco stepped up into the porch forge.


    ¡°¡­ I told you not to get all fancy with it.¡± Marco said to thin air.


    A voice so deep and rumbling it could only be compared to a mammoth sized bumble bee lulled out lazily. ¡°Sorry¡­ I got carried away¡­¡±


    Ivy¡¯s eyes darted around the forge for the source of the voice like grinding granite. She was hard-pressed to pinpoint it¡¯s origin, until it stood up. The ¡°statue¡± once sitting as still as anything, now began to rise from its chair. It towered over even Heracles. Its upturned thick horns almost scraped the ceiling and its short coat of fur was as black as the void. Staring upon this minotaur made you think it could actually be The Horned Horror himself standing before you.


    The minotaur reached down and lifted the axe. It looked like nothing more than a hatchet in its massive blocky hands. ¡°I can¡­. Remake it. If you want.¡±


    Marco strolled forward with no fear of the looming giant. ¡°Gods no.¡± He took the axe looking like a child getting a toy from his father. ¡°it¡¯ll be hard to clean out between these grooves though.¡±


    Ivy¡¯s eyes were locked on the form of the villain from so many story books. She could hardly keep her heart from racing in a cocktail of fear and exuberance. She took an uneasy step backwards, nearly knocking the unaware Yesenia over.


    Yesenia righted themselves and glanced up annoyed. ¡°Please watch where you¡¯re¡­¡± Their eyes drifted up. Over the red horned creature and to the black horned creature. ¡°Oh.¡±


    Krowa and Marco shifted their attention to the wide-eyed Ivy, all while Capreva passed unnoticed towards the smithing tools with glee.


    The minotaur furrowed his brow and rumbled out. ¡°Is everything alright¡­ are you well¡­¡±


    The adrenaline spike from that creature looking her way loosened Ivys faculties enough to choke out. ¡°W¡­well, Yes I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m well. I¡¯m just-¡°


    ¡°She¡¯s religious.¡± Yesenia said flat as a pancake. ¡°You know how dogma gets ahold of people, being what you are.¡±


    Ivy shot a look of abject shock at Yesenia, that quickly pivoted to shameful yet cautious look at the hulking figure.


    ¡°Yes¡­ I understand¡­¡± He scratched the nape of his neck. ¡°No worries at all miss¡­I know I scare people¡­¡±


    Ivys shame nudged her fear aside. ¡°No no, truly it is my place to apologize. You just¡­ frightened me¡­briefly, that is.¡±


    Heracles chuckled and punched Ivys shoulder. ¡°Aww, scared mean ole Krowas gonna make fun of your little horns.¡±


    A red fist slammed into the bugs chitinous chest. ¡°You dare!¡± Ivy roared.


    The roar was follewed by a laugh like a rock bouncing down a hill. ¡°Your horns will grow¡­ don¡¯t worry¡­¡±


    Ivy looked up at the kind eyes and soft smile of the bull¡¯s face. She matched the smile and rolled her eyes dramatically. ¡°I do doubt they¡¯ll ever grow to match yours, blacksmith. Though it¡¯s possible. Stories say my grandfather owned a set to rival The Horned Horror himself.¡±


    Krowa laughed once more. ¡°Must have been quite the horns¡­¡±


    As the others laughed and jested, Yesenia looked towards Marco practicing with the weight of his new axe. Then spoke just loud enough for him to hear. ¡°So Krowa, how is it living in Apie Fields. Are you often mistaken for a servant of a dark god?¡±


    Marcos smile fell from his face.


    ¡°Oh gods no.¡± he waved both massive hands. ¡°Things here aren¡¯t like the rest of Breged¡­ Me and Ryba are proof of that¡­ Long as you¡¯re good people¡­ Nothing else matters much¡­¡±


    Yesenia looked at Marco condescendingly. ¡°Is that a fact?¡±


    Krowa nodded not noticing the tension growing. ¡°Of course it is¡­¡±


    Marco rejoined the group and clapped Krowa on the arm. ¡°The axe is perfect, but I never doubted. I¡¯d keep a good eye on your stock though. My little buds been having a time hard understanding ¡°property¡±.¡±


    Krowa turned as he rumbled. ¡°Little bud...?¡± Then he saw the little twig blight with an arm and tail full of arrows attempting to mosey out the back.


    Krowa let out an uncharacteristically high-pitched shriek at Capreva. They halted in their path for merely an instant before Heracles and Ivy sprung into action. This delighted Capreva and soon enough the two meatheads were locked in a game of tag with an opponent a quarter their size and thrice their speed.


    Marco made his way to Yesenia and unlike them, kept his voice down. ¡°There a problem, wizard?¡±


    Yesenia let out a well-practiced mocking giggle. ¡°When you say it, it sounds like a slur. Probably your tone.¡±


    After a sharp intake and slow outtake, Marco spoke. ¡°Don¡¯t use Krowa to get at me. He don¡¯t deserve that.¡±


    ¡°So now I can¡¯t ask questions?¡± Yesenia said probingly.


    ¡°You know what you were doing.¡±


    ¡°I was genuinely curious. The naga was one thing, but I fail to see how your primitive mind justifies getting your weapons from a minotaur.¡± Yesenias voice slashed out.


    ¡°Rybas not¡­ Listen they aren¡¯t-¡°


    Yesenia cleaved with their ice edged voice. ¡°Aren¡¯t just a naga and a minotaur? I know that. Where do you think most of them went when you ousted them. I know they¡¯re people. Its your faith that thinks they aren¡¯t¡±


    Marco clapped back. ¡°So that¡¯s what this is about? You¡¯re throwing a tantrum over religion?¡±


    Yesenia scoffed. ¡°Please. It isn¡¯t a tantrum if I¡¯m right.¡±


    ¡°As much as I know you¡¯d like to keep this going forever, we¡¯ve got a bitten job to do. We can talk over whatever this is, after.¡± Marco turned and walked towards Krowa.


    ¡°I will be counting the seconds, Barbarian¡± Yesenia grinned.


    Marco let out a sigh as he offered a pouch to Krowa, who was still anxiously watching the chase occurring in his place of business. ¡°Should cover the axe and the arrows, take care.¡± Then shouted to the melee. ¡°First one to the cottage gets first crack at the monster.¡±


    All three halted and eyed each other. Then Heracles bolted towards the woods but Lily entered stage right and blocked the beetle with her own mass. He shouted accusations and curses  as Ivy used him as a stepping stool to mount her steed. Capreva, still holding a bundle of arrows as heavy as they were, vanished into the woods before Lily could reach her top speed. Heracles blitzed after once he shook off his confusion.


    Marco and Yesenia followed in silence.

 Is her Husband Mid To?

    Ivy shook her head and chuckled. ¡°No Heracles. That is her job title. She may not even be married.¡±


    ¡°How are you a mid-wife if you aren¡¯t married?¡± Heracles asked.


    ¡°Its¡­ My friend, that¡¯s just what¡¯s she¡¯s called.¡±


    ¡°I just think it¡¯s wrong to rank women.¡± He crossed his lower arms then his upper ones dramatically.


    These two had stopped their racing once hope in catching up to the elks chosen was thoroughly dashed. Now they just strolled together. Ivy could smell faint salt on the air, mixing with the scent of musky soil and fresh vegetation. The great Bregedian coast wasn¡¯t far, stretching out forever only a brisk walk away. But Ivy knew better than to detour to the beaches.


    All manner of sport and recreation are done in the many lakes of Breged and especially in the mighty river Grendal. You only need to be mindful of the snapping turtles, midday maidens, alligator gar and the odd kelpie. All quite the fearsome beasties, but nothing compared to what dwells even at the ocean¡¯s edge. Harpies patrol the craggy fjords while boulder crabs pepper the beaches. Not to mention the water itself, infested with mermaids and sea serpents.


    It would take a particular type of person to stake their claim this far from town and this close to the ocean. The same type that commonly become mid-wives. And the same type that does not deal fondly with strange creatures appearing on their property. But once again, Capreva has no concept of property. At the end of the path, Heracles and Ivy saw a cozy log cabin. Fully decked with a small garden, various drying herbs and of course a large muscular woman brandishing a woodcutter¡¯s axe at their boney leaf buddy.


    Ivy rushed forward seeing the threatening posture of the woman. ¡°Might I ask what is going on here!¡±


    Capreva and the woman turned. She had the same greyish green skin as Patty and Marcy along with tusks only a hair shorter than Pattys. When she spoke it was with a clarity of intent not usually shared among axe wielding orcs in the words.


    ¡°If this thing comes closer, I¡¯ll probably kill it. I already told it that.¡± Said like she was ordering a loaf a bread and not threatening murder.


    Ivy stood between Capreva and the woman, with Heracles and Lily following close behind. ¡°It needn¡¯t come to that ma¡¯am. I take it you are Lily Naro?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I am. Who are you?¡± Miss Naro didn¡¯t lower the axe.


    ¡°We were sent by the town to help you Miss. They believe there is a beast headed towards your home my lady.¡± Ivys eyes kept darting to the axe, her hand burning to grasp her weapon and level it at this threat.


    The axe tilted slightly down. ¡°You with Marco? Even the fey thing?¡±


    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am! We all are!¡± Capreva chirped. ¡°Sorry for scaring you¡­ I was just excited for winning my first race!¡±


    Miss Naro looked over the four creatures before her, thought a beat, then lowered the axe and turned. ¡°Oh. Well alright. Try not to make anymore noise.¡± Then she entered her cottage and shut the door.


    Heracles walked leading horse Lily. ¡°Pretty rude for someone stuck at middle wife.¡±


    ¡°You know Heracles, I have to agree.¡± Ivy pat Capreva and looked them over. ¡°Did she hurt you at all?¡±


    They shook their head. ¡°Nope! All she did was say I didn¡¯t look right.¡±


    Her brow furrowed. ¡°Rude once again. I think you look right as rain Capreva.¡±


    ¡°Rains nice.¡± Capreva began pawing at the dirt. ¡°This is some good dirt.¡±


    Footsteps and the sound of conversation began to approach up the dirt trail. Ivy looked and saw Marco, Yesenia and a man baring a bow. He was clad in similar plain clothes and leathers to Marco, but he was far slighter of frame and with long black hair. Shealso noticed he had the same thin knife-like ears as Yesenia. She still found it odd that whoever created elves deigned to have their only feature differing from humans to be their ears. Ivy¡¯s lineage at least got creative.


    Yesenia glided up as dispassionate as ever. ¡°Hope you liked your race. Marco two showed up halfway, and they still haven¡¯t stopped talking.¡±


    Marco and the man trudged up after the wizard. Marco laughed about something the man had just said and retorted.


    ¡°Right down the middle? I saw Manny cut one¡¯s head off once but bite me, right down the middle.¡± He chuckled at the thought.


    They were standing before the group now but continued to have their talk, as is tradition for men their age.


    ¡°You know I heard, probably just some ole rumor, that Manny might be coming back to town.¡±


    Marcos eyes widened. ¡°Really? How¡¯d ya hear?¡±


    The elf laughed. ¡°Some other hunters I meet with. Say there¡¯s someone carving up through the plains. And you know Manny, he makes a bit of an entrance.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re tellin me. I tell ya one time he-¡°


    ¡°Marco.¡± Heracles cut in psychically. ¡°Quit old man rambling.¡±


    Marco paused, shocked like he was seeing them there for the first time. Then he cleared his throat and addressed his crew. ¡°Alright¡­ Heracles you already know but everyone this is Grot. He¡¯s the hunter who put the request up.¡±


    Grot waved and smirked at Marco ignoring the accusation. ¡°Howdy all.¡±


    They all made pleasantries I don¡¯t want to focus on.


    Marco continued. ¡°Anyways. Me, Grot and Capreva are gonna go into the woods and track from its last known location. You three are gonna stay here just incase it shows up before we find it.¡±


    Grot chimed in. ¡°And maybe find out what¡¯s attracting it.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡±


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    Ivy raised her hand before she spoke. ¡°Might we have any clues on what to be expecting?¡±


    Marco gestured to Grot who spoke. ¡°All the tracks I¡¯ve been able to find looked feline but, there¡¯s plenty of gaps in the tracks. So what ever it is either stays in the trees or it flies.¡±


    Heracles grumbled. ¡°Another griffin¡­¡±


    Grot shrugged. ¡°Need to be a real big one to do the damage I¡¯ve seen out there. But yeah, for now that¡¯s the best guess.¡±


    ¡°The first was only a struggle fore lack of numbers dear friends. With all of us combined I doubt a city sized griffin would fare favorably.¡± Ivy puffed out her chest and smiled to her comrades.


    ¡°If you say so¡­ just as long as this time I don¡¯t have to ride it¡­¡± Heracles shuddered.


    ¡°Need I remind you kid, that was your rat brained idea.¡± Marco scolded. ¡°We take whatever this is out cleanly. No funny business.¡±


    Yesenia noticed Marcos eyes twitch in their direction and gave Marco nothing but a dead pan stare.


    Marco cleared his throat. ¡°Alright. Capreva come on, you¡¯re with me and Grot buddy. Try to keep up.¡±


    Capreva jolted from their dirt examination. ¡°Yes sir!¡± They followed obediently into the woods alongside the two hunters.


    ¡°Pfft. Funny business he says.¡± Ivy chortled. ¡°We shall show him. We shall partake in the most serious business Marco has ever laid eyes on, won¡¯t we.¡±


    ¡°Nah ima be funny.¡± Heracles said before being punched by Ivy. A punch that escalated into a childish wrestling match in the dirt.


    It was very easy for Capreva to keep up with the two seasoned hunters. Their long man legs made them have to take very open paths through the woods. This gave Capreva ample time to fully savor all the sights around them. No matter how long they spent looking at the forest, it never got any less beautiful. They achieved this by, paradoxically, not looking at the forest. But at the components.


    Every tree tells their story with the openness of a grandfather to his babes. Every leaf rustles as a unified choir before a few renegades break away for their first and last taste of flight. And once they land, they join the bustling city of the litterfall. Ants, worms and beetles hurry about on their ways journeying too and from who knows where. Several beetles looked very similar to Heracles. This made Capreva happy.


    ¡°Capreva.¡± Marco said in a quiet shout.


    Capreva had fallen behind. Preoccupied with their beetle watching. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± They whispered while scurrying over the forest floor.


    Before them was a break in the forest. Break being the operative word. Once tall and proud oaks now laid dead and discarded, their trunks now just eruptions of splinters. Snapshots of the impact of whatever was powerful enough to rend straight through decades old trees. Deep gashes in the bark of already fallen trees showed their fall did not quell this beast¡¯s rage. The creature sought to, for some strange reason, make sure the trees were dead.


    Capreva shivered seeing so much carnage. ¡°What in the world¡­¡±


    Grot stepped into the unnatural clearing. ¡°Quite the sight, huh. It¡¯s been doing this all the way from the Andrens to here.¡±


    ¡°And none of your people have seen it?¡± Marco asked as he followed.


    ¡°Not a one. Only seen its handywork.¡±


    ¡°There ever any bodies?¡±


    Grot shook his head. ¡°Nope. Not even animals. Thing just wreaks havoc for a while, then moves a bit closer to Apie Fields.¡±


    ¡°The amphipthere wasn¡¯t eating either¡­¡± Capreva said somberly as they laid a boney hand on a dead tree.


    ¡°That snake must have had the same madness as this thing.¡± Marco knelt down and ran his fingers through the deep gouges in the trees. Pulling away with fingers coated in sap. ¡°The cuts are new. The creature has to be close. Grot?¡±


    ¡°On it.¡± The elf vanished into the wood.


    Marco looked to his bud. ¡°You stay here. We¡¯ll get you if we find it.¡±


    Just as he turned to disappear aswell, Capreva squeaked out. ¡°Wait!¡±


    He turned but didn¡¯t speak.


    ¡°The¡­ monster. It hasn¡¯t actually hurt anyone¡­ right?¡± Capreva asked.


    ¡°Not that we know of.¡± He responded.


    They wrang their hands nervously. ¡°Then¡­ why are we hunting it¡­¡±


    Marco sighed. ¡°Because it might hurt someone, might already have. It¡¯s going towards town and it clearly aint all there.¡±


    ¡°So¡­ if something goes mad¡­ we should kill it?¡±


    ¡°As a rule of thumb, yeah bud.¡± Marco laughed a bit at the absurdity of the question.


    ¡°Even people¡­?¡±


    He recoiled suddenly. ¡°What?! No, of- ¡° He paused. ¡°Well¡­ Sometimes. But not always. You¡­ you shouldn¡¯t be asking questions like that anyways.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    Marco felt the heat of the twiggy creatures¡¯ ethereal eyes on him. ¡° You shouldn¡¯t be thinking about killing people Capreva!¡± His confusion was slowly transmuted into anger.


    The monster shrunk down like a scolded cat.


    The woodsman rubbed his face, flushed with guilt. ¡°I¡­ Capreva just¡­ just stay here and I¡¯ll answer anything after, okay?¡±


    They nodded and turned from Marco, looking towards a dying tree.


    Biting down his shame Marco rushed off into the woods. Hoping Grot hadn¡¯t already found the beast.


    Capreva stroked the tree like a sick animal. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡­ You¡¯ll get to feed new trees soon¡­¡±


    They looked around the clearing, allowing themselves to feel all the heartbreak of the situation. Grot was right, there was no trace of blood, bones or meat anywhere. That didn¡¯t make it any less stomach turning for Capreva. Whatever had done this wanted only to murder and massacre any trees within its reach. But why. What did the trees do to make the animal so angry.


    If they had the capacity, they would have wept. An animal driven to insanity and mighty wooden friends felled in its rage. They wondered if every hunt would be like this. The thought made them hurt more. They rested their head on the now fully dead tree and softly whimpered in mock sobs.


    Sizzling.


    Their head shot up, confusion putting a pause to pity. Capreva looked at the spot they were laying. There was nothing. They pressed whatever they use to hear up against the bark again. Faint but noticeable, was a low bubbling sizzle. They sat up again, and with great reverence and a whispered apology , they used an arrowhead to cut into the wood.


    Out from the slit, a frothy green fluid flowed. Where it touched, the bark popped and sizzled like water in a hot pan. Caprevas flame eyes grew in undeniable wonder. Like a child they probed at the fluid with the tip of their finger. And much like many children before, they were burned. Capreva yelped and stuck the boney digit into their mouth. More a reflex than actual soothing method when you lack saliva.


    Examining the log closer, Capreva spied a deep puncture. Easily mistakable for the home of any insect or small bird. But listening at the hole proved it led to the sizzling liquid. Going from tree to tree like a battlefield nurse checking for heartbeats Capreva confirmed every tree had a sizzling hole stuck into them. The creature was injecting them with something. The creature had a stinger like the amphiptere.


    ¡°I¡­ I have to tell Marco!¡± Capreva shouted as they scurried with all the haste in their bones.


    They crawled swiftly along the forest floor. No longer sticking to the routes suitable for tall folks. Capreva smelled the air and followed the scent of musk and earthy tones they associated with Marco. Under normal circumstances this would have served them well. But there was something else in these woods that shared much of Marcos scent.


    Breaking out of the forest and into a natural clearing created by a crystal-clear pond and stream. Capreva found a lone creature drinking the cool waters. It raised its head at the motion. Water dripped from its muzzle and light danced while the droplets broke the stillness of the water. Its coat was a deep brown, the color of dark mud and it had the proudest set of antlers Capreva had seen on a living creature.


    It was an Elk.


    Capreva halted in those deep beautiful brown eyes. They collected themselves. ¡°Oh! Um¡­ hello.¡±


    The Elk just watched.


    ¡°Sorry to¡­ interrupt your drink Mr. Elk. Or¡­ can girl elk have antlers¡­¡±


    The Elk raised to its full height.


    ¡°Sorry! I was looking for my friend Marco. Have you¡­ seen him?¡± They came a few steps closer.


    The Elk turned its head to the right, paused for a beat, then turned back.


    They followed its eye line. ¡°That way? Thank you! I¡¯ll head there now!¡± Capreva rushed in that direction, but just before reentering the woods they turned.


    The Elk stared.


    ¡°Can I ask you something first actually?¡±


    The Elk stared.


    ¡°Marco¡­ He said¡­ He said you sent me? Sent me to him¡­ and my other friends.¡±


    The Elk stared.


    ¡°I just wanted to ask¡­ Did you? It¡¯s okay if you didn¡¯t¡­ I just¡­ wanted to know. It would make him really happy if you did.¡± Capreva smiled pleadingly at the animal.


    The Elk stared for several more beats, before turning its face to the sky, then right back to Capreva and resumed.


    ¡°O¡­Okay¡­ I guess you don¡¯t have to tell me¡­ Goodb-¡°


    Capreva was cut off by a piercing scream from above. It sounded like the scream of a woman having a spike driven into her stomach. They didn¡¯t have to wait long to learn it was something much worse. A figure as large as a horse slammed down from the sky like an anvil dropped from heaven. It landed on The Elk with a gruesome crack.


    It held The Elks neck in jaws designed to kill swiftly. It pinned the body to the ground with paws equipped with meat rending claws. Capreva looked mortified at the bent and broken body of The Elk, but they haven¡¯t truly known fear until they looked up and into the eyes of that beast. Sunken, bloodshot, and feral. Its body was once powerful, but hunger had eaten away at its muscles and fat till just its bones and hide remained. And a saggy matted mop that once was a jet-black mane.


    ¡°You¡¯re¡­. starving¡­¡± Capreva whispered.


    The beast growled with inky black malice, unfurling membranous bats wings in a halo above itself. Its wings in this intimidation display added another ten or so feet to its already monstrous visage. Then with one effortless jerk, The Elk finally stopped staring.


    Capreva backed away in terror, directly into a conveniently placed oak tree. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t¡­ mean any harm¡­ big guy¡­¡±


    The creature bit down on the meat within its mouth, still watching Capreva with twitching maddened eyes. Then the animal winced, dropping its kill to the streams babbling shore. They watched stunned, as the beast pawed at its own face and made rumbling whines of discomfort. The smaller of the two monsters also became aware of the bulbous stinger on the end of the Manticores long tail.


    Capreva obviously felt afraid, but also deep sorrow and pity for the animal. Its whines made the little twigs heart ache. It looked so hungry. But for some reason it wouldn¡¯t eat. Something was hurting its head. Something was ailing this poor creature. Capreva made the mistake of taking a tentative step forward.


    The manticore turned its maddened gaze on the na?ve fool.


    It approached at speed, flashing its stinger and flaring its wings once more. Capreva was backed into the tree once again, holding their hands up in fear. They were muttering apologies even as the creature paused close enough to smell the elks blood staining its fur. It held its stinger up to Caprevas throat, sickly green acid dripping from its sudden point. The drops sizzled and popped where they landed.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Capreva held their breath.


    The animal whined again as its muscled form tensed to lunge. But all at once, it unclenched entirely. The twig looked at the maddened wild eyes, which were slowly dilating. Looking like twin sparkling black holes.


    It reared up suddenly and buried its claws into the tree above. Then with some considerable struggle, it yanked its flimsy body up the tree. Using the momentum of the leap it needed only to flap its canvas wings and it rocketed into the sky. Headed straight for Lily Naros cabin.


    The wing beats faded, replaced by heavy boots approaching quickly. They heard Marco shouting their name and Grot let out curses. They did not move. In the haze of lingering fear and freshly flooding relief, Capreva understood why you kill things gone mad.

 Not so Mid Afterall

    ¡°First things first!¡± Ivy said after fixing her now dirt laden hair. ¡°We need to procure some information on what¡¯s leading this creature here. And who more perfect to ask than this cabins only known resident.¡±


    ¡°Unless she¡¯s married.¡± Heracles chimed in.


    ¡°Sure, unless she¡¯s married.¡± Ivy straightened her armor and cracked her knuckles. ¡°Now my friends, allow me to do the talking. I have a way with the working class of this nation.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Yesenia asked.


    ¡°Why yes, my mystical companion. My wet nurse was actually working class. Along with everyone who serviced on mother¡¯s vineyard and apiaries. They found me quite charming, they told me themselves.¡± Ivy smiled broadly and knocked firmly on the door.


    Yesenia grinned. ¡°This is gonna be great.¡±


    There was a sigh, heavy foot falls, then the door swung open. Lily Naro stood a head taller than Ivy, looking slightly annoyed. ¡°Thought I told you to be quiet?¡±


    ¡°You did my good lady, and I apologize profusely for the breach of that arrangement, but I do believe we may have started things off on the wrong foot.¡± Ivy let off a megawatt smile so bright the midwife had to blink it off.


    ¡°Okay?¡± Miss Naro said flatly.


    Ivy cleared her throat and bowed. ¡°I am Ivy Elizabeth Alexandria Marie Humble, and with me of course are my companions¡­¡± She gestured at those behind her.


    ¡°Why do you say that whole thing.¡± Heracles said. ¡°Just say Ivy.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s compensating.¡± Yesenia jabbed.


    ¡°She can¡¯t poop?¡±


    Before Ivy could respond, a laugh left well tusked lips. ¡°You know I got herbs for that, just gotta ask.¡±


    The heiress rose out of the bow forcing herself to keep the smile as bright as ever. ¡°Very¡­ kind ma¡¯am. But I assure you I am in no need of such remedy.¡±  Ivy heard Heracles behind her holding back laughter, causing her pulse to rise.


    The mid wife smirked like a cat pinning a mouse. ¡°Well hun, if you¡¯re ever in need to relieve yourself and ole Lily ain¡¯t there. I¡¯d start with removing the stick from your rear. Could help things start flowing.¡±


    ¡°Stick from¡­¡± Her cheeks flushed a deep purple.


    ¡°Honestly, dunno how you didn¡¯t think of that yourself. Must be uncomfortable.¡± Naro mocked


    Heracles burst out in fits of chittering and clicking, slapping his knees and nearly falling over. Even Yesenia could not keep themselves from having a snicker behind a pale hand. Ivy nearly cracked when she saw even her proud mount, chortling off to the side.


    Ivy steeled herself against the grinning woman. She felt all the smaller under the weight of someone so resembling her maid. But this was not Ballona, and she didn¡¯t not have kindness in her words. So she would receive none in return. She spoke clearly and precisely, annunciating each syllable with the utmost of care.


    ¡°You¡¯re a bitch.¡±


    The laughing screeched to a halt. They gawked at Ivy, horse Lily included, then shot to see the reaction of not horse Lily. The midwife stood arms crossed, as severe as a gatekeeper of the deepest pits of hell. Ivy did not break her stare, clenching her fist for a possible melee.


    Suddenly and without warning, the laughing resumed. A more joyful sound could not be found even with a child on Hens Eve. Deep and echoing through the trees around, Lily Naro let her laugh be known by all the creatures in the whole wood. For some reason the laughter was scaring Ivy more than the hard stares.


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    Miss Naro wiped a tear from her eye. ¡°You are a hoot girl!¡±


    ¡°Um¡­ Thank you?¡± Ivy said.


    ¡°You all come on inside! Let me make you some tea.¡± Lily turned and disappeared inside the cabin.


    Heracles followed close after, pushing passed Ivy. ¡°Do you have any cookies?¡±


    Yesenia approached and gave Ivy a pat on the bicep. ¡°I stand corrected. You do have a way with the working class.¡±


    That pulled Ivy out of her shocked state, and she blustered and nodded. ¡°Yes¡­ Yes! Just as I said! I know how to strike deep into the heart of the folk of Breged! With cursing!¡±


    Both entered the humble cabin. There wasn¡¯t too much in the way of furniture within, a fireplace, simple table, a few chairs and a cot pushed up into a corner. Where the room lacked in furnishing though, it made up in color. Lining the walls was a wide variety of earthy herbs and fanciful flowers at various stages of drying. Bottles and jars of sky knows what stole the mantle place and table. You could even hear the old wood of the table creaking under the weight of so much glass and powder.


    Miss Naro was placing a beat up old kettle over the small flame within the fireplace. Heracles had already taken claim of a chair at the table, looking with wonder at all of the jars. Ivy strolled up beside him gazing over the assortment.


    ¡°Quite the stockpile my lady. Do you plan for a plague?¡± Ivy said with a chuckle.


    ¡°Salways good to be prepared. Never know when somebody needs this or that. Back pain, can¡¯t sleep, cut leg those sorts of things.¡± Lily said.


    Ivy chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m afraid we may have haltered a bit of your business in that market recently.¡±


    ¡°Oh? And how¡¯d ya figure.¡±


    ¡°Well, we discovered that the great Memaw Herbata was accidentally using mystical healing herbs in her tea. I suppose no one realized because none in this town are fond of tea. Quite the pedestrian sort.¡± Ivy mused.


    ¡°Prunella Vulgaris. Yeah I know about it. Grows pretty heavy round these woods.¡± Lily said.


    Ivy paused for a moment. ¡°You knew of the herb?¡± She became defensive. ¡°Then why hadn¡¯t you used it. You could have been making healing draughts for the entire town.¡±


    Lilys kettle began to scream, violently communicating that it had reached boiling. ¡°Mhm. Lady in the woods starts passing out magic potions. I¡¯d say I could do that for bout a few months fore someone decided I was a mage or worse.¡± Using a metal hook the kettle was retrieved.


    ¡°What¡¯s worse than being found to be a mage?¡± Ivy asked peering at Yesenia.


    ¡°Being found a hag.¡± Yesenia said examining Lilys mantle.


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Lily said dropping the kettle on a deeply burnt spot of the table. ¡°At least most agree wizards are somewhat like people.¡±


    ¡°Well, your hag stones don¡¯t really help your case.¡± Yesenia said eyeing a few rounded stones with holes seamlessly flowing through them.


    ¡°Adder stones.¡± Lily said passing out small tin cups. ¡°And they¡¯re just trinkets. Some say they protect ya from spirits.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Yesenia looked around more.


    ¡°Do me next Miss Naro! I wanna learn stuff!¡± Heracles snagged a bundle of light pink flowers set inside toothed leaves. ¡°Is this magic?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s catnip.¡± Lily poured the fragrant tea.


    He tilted his head. ¡°Do you have a cat?¡±


    ¡°No son, it¡¯s for anxiety and digestion. Bout the second best cure for both.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the first?¡± Ivy asked.


    ¡°Sex.¡±


    After a pregnant haha pause Ivy said. ¡°Weeell, Lady Naro as much as I enjoy hags and sex we do actually have a few things to ask you about.¡±


    ¡°Go on, shoot.¡±


    ¡°Have you, perhaps, noticed any sort of strange monster activity around your home recently?¡± Ivy asked.


    ¡°Sides your bush demon?¡±


    ¡°Yes, besides them my lady.¡±


    Miss Naro thought for a moment. ¡°Welp, if we nix the ones y¡¯all already killed. Theres a couple roach hound hives, a few cockatrice nests near the lake beds, seen a few harpies going inland, there¡¯s those living trees down near-¡°


    ¡°Okay, alright. Let me narrow your line of thinking a little. Have you noticed any feline creatures in specific?¡± Ivy smiled mock patently.


    ¡°May also be able to fly.¡± Yesenia added.


    ¡°Hmm. Cat that flies. Spose y¡¯all don¡¯t know if it¡¯s got a cats head or not?¡±


    ¡°No ma¡¯am. We¡¯re going off claw marks and foot prints I¡¯m afraid.¡± Ivy said.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t narrow much then. Could be anything from a Sphinx to a Wumpus if I¡¯m bein honest. How big?¡±


    ¡°Supposedly, quite large.¡±


    ¡°More to the sphinx side then. Found any droppings yet?¡±


    Ivy laughed jovially. ¡°I hadn¡¯t even thought to ask, quite the good question Miss Naro.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Weirdly good questions.¡± Yesenia said eyeing Miss Naro. ¡°You know quite a bit about monsters. Monsters not even from Breged.¡±


    Lily chuckled. ¡°Can¡¯t an old lady have hobbies? Need I remind you, y¡¯all were the ones asking.¡±


    Yesenia stared for a moment. ¡°I guess.¡±


    ¡°Now, could i ask why y¡¯all are asking me bout monsters? Given you¡¯re spose to be the monster hunters.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I apologize for not being clear my lady. You see, this feline beast is heading towards your abode, and we were tasked with finding out why that might be. And to protect you and your home as well, of course.¡±


    Before Lily could speak Heracles stood from his chair. His forcefulness nearly toppled the table and all its herbaceous contents to the floor boards. The suddenness and strength sent everyone¡¯s thoughts elsewhere. He clutched the bundle of light pink herbs in his hand.


    ¡°I figured it out.¡± He said with determination to rival a glacier.


    In a beat, Ivy rolled her hand questioningly. ¡°Figured out what, exactly?¡±


    ¡°You said it¡¯s a cat.¡± Heracles stepped forward towards the fireplace. Burning resolution flickering in his eyes in a dance with the flame¡¯s lights.


    ¡°Son, what are you yapping about?¡± Lily asked.


    Heracles threw the bundle of herbs into the flames and they caught quick. The room was filled with a pungent floral aroma as the leaves curled and flaked into ash. Their smoke twisting into the chimney above and dispersing into the great outside.


    Lily shot up and grabbed Heracles by the shoulder, spinning the boy around. ¡°Now what in the biting fangs did you do that for!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what was attracting the monster! I dunno how you guys didn¡¯t even notice. No brainer really.¡± Heracles crossed his arms pridefully.


    Ivy stepped forward. ¡°Heracles¡­ My friend¡­ What did you just burn?¡±


    ¡°The catnip. You said the things a cat. It smelled the catnip. Duh.¡±


    Ivy brought a hand to her mouth. Yesenia glided outside at speed.


    Lily grasped Heracles by both shoulders. ¡°Son, nothin alive could have smelled that bit of cat nip over everything else in here.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Then it¡­ wait what?¡±


    Lily squeezed his shoulders, threatening to crack his shell.


    Ivy became dizzy with looming dread. ¡°Heracles¡­ The smoke¡­¡±


    ¡°What about the-¡°


    He was interrupted by a screaming whine from outside. It sounded far away. The leathery wing beats foretold it wouldn¡¯t be for long.


    Heracles posture slumped. ¡°Was that¡­¡±


    ¡°The consequences of your funny business? Yes I do believe so.¡±


    ¡°I was gonna say a griffin¡­¡±

 Bad to the Manticore

    The wizard stood still as ice as they watched the monster do the arial equivalent of a lurching shamble. Obviously a manticore. Lions body, bats wing, scorpions tail. Yesenia made note of its size, large but far from a full build. Possibly a juvenile or stricken with illness. No. Malnutrition. Grot claimed hunters had tracked it all the way from the Andren mountains, where the game is largest. It¡¯s unable to feed itself with the comparatively small game in the forests. But why.


    Yesenia mused a moment longer before taking their eyes off the approaching beast and locking them on their spell book. Flipping from page to page and skimming like a lazy editor. When they found a page that met their fancy they dog eared it and continued their audit. They stood carefree as a song bird in the middle of the field. Ivy on the other hand was more like if a songbird had just settled down from a long day after work but only then remembered their egg still needed to be picked up from soccer practice. But now they find out one of their tires magically went flat as soon as they got home. And to make matters worse their partner refuses to let them use their car cause its low on gas. But they knew it wasn¡¯t because they asked them for gas money two days ago. So, either they were lying about the gas being low or what the money was for but nevertheless they were lying. So now they¡¯ll have to shamefully call and ask their mother if they can go and pick up their egg. And you know how their mother can be¡­


    But yeah, Ivy was stressed.


    ¡°Is that a good read, Yesenia?! Just can¡¯t put it down!?¡± Ivy launched herself into Lilys saddle, rocking the stout horse just a hair.


    ¡°Quit. You sound like the barbarian.¡±


    Yesenia aimed their index finger into the sky. Without breaking from their tome they whispered a phrase, and their digit began to glow. Twin flames erupted forth and spiraled around each other as they rose high up into the sky. They gave a white-hot glow as they flew and upon reaching sufficient height, Yesenia brought their hand down swiftly. Both flames imploded, letting off a light that bathed the clearing along with a crack like lightning. The beast roared at the light and took a few moments blinking its heavily dilated eyes.


    Heracles emerged from the cabin. ¡°You missed.¡±


    ¡°Heracles please.¡±


    ¡°No, he¡¯s technically right.¡± Yesenia flipped to a marked page and began another series of hand movements. Bending their fingers into near impossible shapes. ¡°If he didn¡¯t see the flare maybe the woodsman will find us just from his urge to belittle me.¡±


    The manticore dropped in altitude dramatically, skimming over the tops of trees. All was a hazy blur for the animal. Its muscles ached, its wings strained, hunger stabbed at its empty stomach and now even its eyes failed it. But eyes were not what led it here. It drank deep of the scent in the air feeling another rush of pleasure and calm wash over itself. It could only feel peace for a moment before more pain invaded its euphoria.


    ¡°I¡­I hit it. I actually hit it!!¡± Ivy cheered from horseback, then fumbled to ready a second arrow.


    The beast staggered, coming to a shaky stop perched atop a pine. The tree bent and strained under the weight of the animal. The popping and cracking of the bark suddenly sent the manticore into a fury of claws and stinger. It tumbled from the tree, shredding every branch it could grasp as it fell. Even after crashing to the ground, its anger hadn¡¯t been sated. Its vile stinger pounded into the tree¡¯s trunk, every thrust injecting tarry corrosive acid into the innocent tree.


    ¡°By the gods¡­¡± Ivy muttered as she watched in confused horror.


    Yesenias gaze darkened as they watched, never faltering from their complex incantations. ¡°Don¡¯t get close to it¡­¡± They began to take steps backwards.


    Heracles followed suit staring, pardon the pun, bug eyed at the thrashing creature. ¡°Is¡­ is it alright?¡±


    Ivy raised her loaner bow once more. ¡°It matters not. It is our quarry. Sane or otherwise.¡±


    ¡°Ivy wait!¡± Yesenia shouted, but they weren¡¯t able to stop Ivy from loosing her arrow.


    It thudded into the manticore, slamming deep into its haunch and scraping against its bones. The animal howled in agony, then rocked from the ache its own voice had inflicted on its head. Its enfeebled eyes darted in the direction of the pain. It was able to make out broad shapes once more and locked onto the largest shape it could see. Pushing past the pain all over itself the manticore lunged towards Lily and Ivy. Maddened and starved it felt the barest tang of pleasure at imaging the blood wetting its dry tongue.


    Ivy hardly had time to get the surprised look off her face before a sound like thundercrack boomed through the forest. Heracles had leaped with insectoid speed to Ivys aid, slamming his fist into the manticores jaw. His hammer fist shattered the mandibles within its papery skin and the residual momentum sent the large animal flying into the tree line.


    Breaking from shock before their rider Lily charged after the creature. Just as the manticores back made contact with an unforgivingly hard tree, Lily set about her work. Rearing up onto her hind legs, nearly dismounting her rider,  the mare slammed iron shoed hooves into the creatures¡¯ ribs. Its parchment thin hide ripped as jagged bone tore through, and the beast screamed again. This time sounding more the proud hunters call then sniveling animal yelp.


    The manticore lashed out brutally. Lily was large but she was no war horse, she had made a critical error in her assault. Never leave your belly open. The manticore shielded its head and chest with its front paws while Lily continued to hammer at the enemy. With a frankly petulant kick the Manticore made good on Lilys mistake.


    Lilys shill cries pierced the woods deeper than the manticores ever could. Marco and Grots faces ran white with a bitter mixture of fear and shame. Capreva faltered for just a moment, tail straightening and eyes alert. Then completing their mental calculus deviated from Marco and Grot disappearing into the underbrush and away from the human friendly paths. Marco bit down his apprehension and replaced it with a drive to not fail this family.


    Lily staggered backwards, her whinnies and whimpers cut with coughs and sputters. The manticore began to rise, a wicked too human grin forming on its feline face. Before it could strike again with killing claws, Ivy struck with one of her own. She roared as she brought down the halberd¡¯s axe head squarely into the shoulder of the monster. Shattering the socket as it split through bone and tissue. The manticore rocked to the side, forcing the handle of her weapon into Ivy¡¯s stomach and subsequently forcing her off her mount.


    The creature moved erratically, flinging the woman back and forth through the air. Luckily, the length of the polearm left the rider out of reach to the beast. Still her grip on the handle never failed, she knew it would cost her life, and once the beast paused panting, Ivy skidded to the ground with both hands firmly in place. With all of her might she wrenched upwards, ripping the axe head free from its spot in the hard bone.


    Biting cold air touched freshly severed nerves within the bone before being soothed by flowing warm blood. Adrenaline made the pain dull and throbbing opposed to debilitating. This small concession of anatomy made the manticore thankful. Pain could wait for after it has quenched its cracking dry thirst.


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    It lunged at Ivy, flashing mangled fang, claw and stinger. Cold fear made steam on Ivys red hot anger as she braced. The beast again was halted by the fist of the insect knight. His mighty blows pinned the struggling, startled animal to the trees it so feared. Powerful claws met glossy curved armor and slid off leaving only blemishes. Heracles¡¯s fists met only frail scrawny hide leaving broken bones in his wake.


    Ivy, reinvigorated, laughed excitedly as she raised her weapon to strike with her friend. She was halted by the sight of how much thick red blood painted the man. Did he have that much before. It was mostly on his chest and stomach. Then Heracles spoke. The internal voice lacking all mirth and boyish warmth he usually had. He spoke like a stone.


    Between thudding fist falls and batting away the beasts paws he said. ¡°Your horse.¡±


    Ivy turned from her foe and broke into a run, dropping her halberd as she raced to her truest friend. Miss Naro and Yesenia were knelt before the mid-section of the whinnying, crying horse. They were nearly surrounded by a pool of crimson. Ivy collapsed at the neck of her horse and just stared shell shocked.


    The manticore had nearly disemboweled her. Her huge heaving innards were flowing out of three long incisions on her stomach. There was so much blood. Miss Naro was looking as stern as a school teacher while she worked but¡­ Yesenia. Yesenia had lost their cool demeanor to a flood of tears. Their arms were slick with blood up to the elbows and they were shaking.


    Ivy shook free of her paralysis and fumbled over Yesenia and into her saddle bag. ¡°The tea! H- Have you tried the tea!¡± Ivy found her bag empty.


    ¡°Yes girl, we aren¡¯t idiots!¡± Naro snapped. ¡°Wound can¡¯t close with her guts in the way. We have to¡­ we have to push it all back in!¡±


    Miss Naro was doing a commendable job doing what really was the opposite of her profession, but the wizard was a shaking mess. Each time they pushed inside the horse they recoiled with reflexive disgust then poured out more tears from their shame. Ivy steeled herself and took them by their forearm.


    ¡°The tea. Get the tea, my friend.¡±


    Yesenia looked as though they were just splashed with cold water. Like they hadn¡¯t even noticed Ivy till then. After a collecting of thoughts they nodded and stood shakily. Ivy then pulled herself over to her horses¡¯ outward innards. She stared blankly at the mess before her. It was just so much. Then auto pilot had taken over, she began copying the midwifes movements. Tucking everything sloppily back in past the gashes. Gods, the inside was as hot as an oven.


    Yesenia had done their new part well, shakily removing the cap of the jar and pouring the contents into the rapidly fading horse¡¯s mouth. They even attempted to sooth the animal through shockingly quiet tears. Brutally slowly the tea began to work its miracle. Working inwards Miss Naro and Ivy shifted to allow the wounds to seal themselves.


    As tempered relief began to flow into Ivy the sounds of the clash behind her came back into focus. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Heracles on the back foot. The manticore had adapted to the armored foe by forgoing its claws and began bludgeoning Heracles with the bulb on its tail. Like a flail of iron it fell with anger, cracking the thick hide of the fighter. Greenish blood oozed from the fault lines.


    The heiress looked once to her healing mount, then to the wizard who looked all the more of an overwhelmed child every second. She pulled a bloody hand from her friend and placed it on Yesenia¡¯s shoulder, staining the grey cloak with crimson. The wizard jolted at the touch and looked to the rider.


    ¡°Can you help him.¡± Spoken like a caring mother.


    The wizard stammered. ¡°I.. I could¡­ But I¡­¡±


    ¡°Then do it.¡± Ivy pat Yesenia firmly. ¡°I trust you.¡±


    Their eyes became saucers. They sat in silence until a sound like an egg shell being crushed underfoot rattled them. Their eyes darted to the boy. The manticore launched him into a tree leaving shards of carapace lodged in the bark. Seemingly reveling in the payback. Then Yesenia stood. The air got hotter. Grass began to shrivel under sudden summer heat. And Yesenia made the proper hand movements. Exquisitely proper.


    ¡°Get out of there!¡± They shouted sharply. Their tone implied they would not be waiting long.


    Heracles only lingered for enough time to make eye contact with the wizard. Understanding immediately he pressed a foot to the tree behind him and launched off with grasshopper swiftness. The air around the creature began to hum softly once the pugilist was clear, slowly gaining in frequency. It had only the time to see a small frail creature clap its hands when its vision was once again engulfed in blinding light. This light was followed by pain unlike it had ever felt.


    The manticore yowled and shrieked in terror and agony all while Yesenia held the spell in place. Their chest heaved with the effort of the magic. Fingers locked in a complex array that few would have the dexterity to replicate, and fewer could hold it with what felt like a mans weight perched on their wrists.


    The inferno they created burned high. Like a funeral pyre and with any luck that¡¯s what it would be. But Yesenia knew not to let hope cloud logic. This thing was insane. It wanted to die fighting. Even now it was fighting against the flames, unable to take immolation lying down. They came to notice rivulets of sweat running down their face. Their knees gave out, plunging into the dirt below. If nothing else their arms stayed firm, that¡¯s all they really needed anyways.


    Heracles wrapped Yesenia up in his bulky cracked arms. ¡°Hey bud! You can probably stop now!¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± Ivy walked beside Yesenia, leaving the midwife to watch over her recovering mount. ¡°Keep holding. Make it pay.¡±  She whispered the last bit.


    Light and screams filled the clearing as if a window into hell itself had opened up. Ivy continued to watch the monster writhe under the heat and pain. Its struggle was commendable, she had to give it that. But it was a monster, and she was a hero. Their rolls were clear. The rider walked to where her halberd lay, never taking her eyes from the gruesome pyre. Just a few moments longer. Yesenia could hold out, she knew that for sure.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening!¡±  Shrieked a barely audible voice at Ivys feet.


    She looked down to see Capreva clutching the hem of her shirt and looking at her as he always did. The only true difference was the terror in their eyes. Hope flooded her thoughts now. The hope for vengeance.


    ¡°Capreva! Excellent!¡± She leveled her halberd at the flame-soaked creature. ¡°Marco must be close, ay little warrior? He¡¯ll hate to have missed this.¡±


    Capreva looked to the manticore as its roars became coarser and more strained. ¡°M¡­Missed what!?¡±


    Ivy just smirked. ¡°Yesenia!¡± She shouted over the hellish noise. ¡°Drop the flames my friend! We can handle the rest!¡±


    ¡°We!?¡± Capreva croaked.


    Yesenia did as ordered, collapsing into Heracles¡¯ arms. Hands twitching and hazy eyes filling with blood. At that instant the fire fell, revealing what was left of the manticore. Its skin bubbled into blisters, its wings were nothing but their boney supports, and lacking hair its face seemed far more human than lion. Its breathing was hitched and labored but as its eyes raised to meet the creature of bone and wood before it, hate was its only driver.


    It raised its head and let out the last battle cry it ever would. Its cry was matched by the crimson warrior who sprang into a charge. She raised her weapon and buried it into the beast¡¯s scorched bicep. It reacted in kind, slashing with its other paw at Ivys thigh. The warrior let out a scream that gave way to a rebellious laugh. Heaving her axe out of crisp flesh, the madwoman tucked and rolled under her foe. It tried to grab her but before it could, she jabbed upwards and spear tip met belly.


    Capreva watched in horror. This wasn¡¯t like the fight with that amphiptere. Less terrifying. Or was it that he couldn¡¯t see what the aphiptere was going through. They grasped an arrow. The manticore was mad. We put down mad things. Capreva knocked an arrow. They had a hard time telling who was madder though. They pulled the string back. Ivy or the Manticore. Their arrow left flew. They hoped it hit the right monster.


    The manticore barely noticed the tiny thing sink into its shoulder. Pain was a long-gone creature now. Survival wasn¡¯t a question. One last meal. That¡¯s all it wanted. One more time feeling weight in its stomach before drifting into oblivion. This small red monster would make a fine replacement for the horse it protected. After all, a small meal was better than none.


    Ivy dug her nails into the beasts burnt pliable flesh and hoisted herself upwards. Like mounting a horse. Stupid thing couldn¡¯t even buck right. The manticore huffed in frustration trying desperately to reach Ivy. It was far more mobile than a horse though. The creature slammed down on its side, crushing Ivys leg beneath its weight. Through gritted teeth the rider refused to let go. Of the manticore or her weapon.


    More arrows peppered the craggy hide of the animal. Capreva scurried up into a tall pine to avoid the thrashing claws of the desperate creature. As fast as they could knock and aim they were letting arrow fly. The manticore was large enough that even a novice could hit most of their marks. Frustration consumed the animal. Writhing and crying like a spurred toddler on the scorched grass. Capreva stopped listening to the cries and just let arrows fly like a grim automaton.


    Slowly and deliberately Ivy climbed up the beasts spine. She dragged her useless legs behind and had to make frequent pauses to brace for the monsters flailing arms. But she made her way up anyhow. She was a hero after all. Heros endure. The sickening smell of burnt flesh became a reminder of her friends, of their power. And as long as arrows continued to fall, she knew she wasn¡¯t alone.


    Capreva had to stop thinking. Arrow aim fire. The mess seemed so pitiful from above. Arrow aim fire. There was no heat up here, no struggle. Arrow aim fire. It felt too easy. Every mark sunk swiftly into crippled desiccated flesh. Arrow aim fire. They were going to help their friends. This thing wanted to kill them. Arrow aim fire. Capreva wasn¡¯t going to let that happen. Even if it meant the rest of their life would be nothing but arrow aim fire.


    Ivy felt the remnants of a twisted charred mane in her bloody red fist. She reached the head. The rider held fast to the back of the beast¡¯s neck, for she knew now she was out of reach of the worst of this things thrashing. It still went on thrashing, nonetheless. She braced for the final push. Pulling her halberd up to her side, she held it just under the metal head. With firm hands Ivy wedged the hook just under the Manticores neck.


    The cold steel sent a shock of realization into the manticore. It was going to slit my throat. This insignificant little morsel was going to slit my throat. It raged at the shear suggestion of this. Still on its side, the animal pushed all of its energy into one last powerful slash at the parasite. It meant to open up Ivys spine. It never even considered her halberd haft.


    Acting as the power for the lever of its ruin, the manticore pushed against the halberd. Causing the hook to pierce his own throat. His eyes were wide with just how cold he felt. Was it the shock. The shame. No. No it wasn¡¯t those. The red thing was smarter than he thought. His eyes slowly turned to the green foliage above. They couldn¡¯t hurt him anymore, the vile trees. The speaking trees. He even thanked the red thing in the end. For the first time since the trees started speaking, he didn¡¯t feel hungry.


    Ivy hoisted herself up onto the neck of the monster. Its breathing haltered then suddenly faded, along with its eyes. She panted, finally feeling her injuries dragging her into the realm of unconsciousness. By the time Marco had come into her blurring vision, she already knew she had won. She slew the monster. Finished the quest. She let herself fall into well earned sleep, never fearing her injuries would take her into The Pumas maw. Cause she knew with certainty that heroes don¡¯t just die at the halfway point.

 Magic and Control

    Marco lifted the unconscious woman from the wreckage of flesh. If he wasn¡¯t so angry he might have thrown up, just from the sight of what they did to it. You couldn¡¯t even tell what it used to be. Couldn¡¯t even tell it had wings. Grot approached the mangled pile of limbs and crisp skin, turning his nose up at the smell of burnt hair.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Grot began. ¡°Ya think they got it?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t start.¡± Marco bit.


    Capreva sheepishly descended to the ground and followed behind Marco. The hunter carried the rider to the wizard and the insect, gently laying her on the grass. Yesenia wiped minty life blood from their lips, watching as Marco uncapped his only bottle. He cradled her head in his broad hand, pouring the tea into her mouth. The group only let themselves breathe after Ivys bleeding gashes closed up and her chest rose and fell with life. Even after they remained quiet for a time.


    Heracles jolted everyone¡¯s minds to attention. ¡°Is it dead?¡±


    Marco just looked at him. ¡°Are you serious. It looks mulched.¡±


    ¡°Serves it right.¡± Yesenia spit out, exhaustion just apparent in their voice.


    ¡°Is that right?¡± Marco laid Ivys head in the grass. ¡°Looks like it sure pissed you off.¡±


    Yesenia glowered. ¡°It did actually. Do you have a problem with that?¡±


    ¡°We aren¡¯t out here to torture these thing.¡± Marcos eyes were as sharp as an axe head. ¡°Especially not with magic.¡±


    Yesenia froze, then broke out laughing. ¡°You¡¯re joking? Should we have reasoned with it? Had tea with it? It wanted to kill us. It was crazy, and you¡¯re worried about how we killed it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m worried about this team, damn it! Worried about if someone else saw your little light show!¡±


    ¡°It was a flare! I was helping you get back! Seeing as you were taking your sweet time.¡± Yesenia pointed an accusing finger at Marco as they shouted you.


    He slapped their finger away as he stood. ¡°Don¡¯t point that fanged thing at me!¡±


    Yesenia sat in stunned silence.


    Heracles rose and stared down at the hunter. He looked up, taking in just how big the boy was. ¡°Marco¡­ Stop.¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°Are we not looking at the same thing kid?¡± He gestured at the ruined manticore. ¡°What in the bleeding maw could have that thing done to deserve that?¡±


    The boy looked at the corpse then looked down shamefully. ¡°It¡­ It hurt Lily, Marco.¡±


    He looked over seeing the midwife assisting the horse to its feet. He stared for a moment. ¡°Which Lily?¡±


    The wizard growled. ¡°The horse, you bumpkin.¡±


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t you start with that.¡± He reflexably began to point but thought better than it. ¡°Look, I didn¡¯t know it got that bad, I¡¯m-¡°


    ¡°No!¡± They coughed as they rose to their feet. The trembles of deep tire clear in their legs and arms, but not their voice. ¡°You don¡¯t get to save face! You don¡¯t get to just sorry yourself out of this! You came at me!¡±


    Marco gritted his teeth as he watched them stand.


    ¡°You nearly got Heracles killed with that amphiptere and with the griffin! You got your leg half bitten off with those damned roaches, and you weren¡¯t even here for this!¡± Yesenia took two steps forward to look Marco upwards in the eye. ¡°I was there for all of it, you filthy swine herd. How is it that you trusted me more when we were strangers than right now. Why did you even take me in!¡±


    ¡°I thought-¡° Growled out just before being berated again.


    ¡°You thought?! Thought what!? Quit making that face and answer me!¡± Yesenia steamed with anger.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to explain myself to you!¡± He roared.


    Heracles nearly knocked both hunter and wizard off their feet, slamming between them. ¡°Can you guys just stop!¡±


    Both reeled from the force of Heracles,  both physically and mentally. Their anger turned to burning shame as they watched the young man kneel down and lift the unconscious rider into his arms.


    ¡°Kid, I-¡° Marco said.


    ¡°I¡¯m taking her back to Patty¡¯s. You two can keep going for all I care.¡± He started to make the trek back to town followed close behind by Lily the horse. Limping slightly but more worried for her mistress than her own rest.


    Silence reigned for quite some time. After the tension had softened just enough to wiggle out of, Grot excused himself to checking on Miss Naro. At the same time Yesenia felt the days magic on their frail wizardly bones. Exhaustion had already cloaked around them like a weighted blanket. They took to the trail, forgoing another round of shouting. Not because they stopped being mad, but because if they wasted any more energy they wouldn¡¯t make it back to bed.


    Marco watched them go, shoulders finally dropping. His eyes trailed over to his Elk sent blessing. A smile even poked through, seeing the little creature admiring their first kill.


    Caprevas eyes were locked on the heap of meat before them. Just moments ago it was a roaring, slashing, thinking thing. Now just meat. Burnt meat. They heard muffled deep tones and faint ringing as Marco called to them. Lazily they peeled their gaze off the carnage.


    ¡°W¡­what sir?¡± Capreva croaked out.


    ¡°Come on little one.¡± The man smiled warmly. ¡°Even with¡­ all this going on, we still gotta celebrate.¡±


    Capreva tilted their head. ¡°Celebrate? Why? D¡­did something good happen?¡± A twinge of hope leavened their voice.


    ¡°Of course it did. You bagged your first real hunt kid.¡± He looked over the kill with as much paternal pride you could looking at a desiccated heap. ¡°By the looks of it you did your fair share. Pretty good aim too.¡±


    Capreva nodded. ¡°Oh¡­yeah. I uh¡­ just did like what you said¡­ aim where it¡¯s gonna be¡­ get the high ground¡­¡±


    Marco kneeled down and pat the quiet thing on the back. ¡°You did good kid. Don¡¯t worry about Ivy, she¡¯s got too much fire to go down to this thing.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Capreva looked to the manticore again. ¡°Can we just go¡­ please¡­¡±


    Marco nodded ¡°Sure bud.¡±


    Hunter and creature departed from the burnt, rot scented clearing. Capreva taking one last long look at their first kill. They really hoped this got easier. They tore themselves away from the sight, never noticing the large antlered being standing just meters past the heap. Just watching.


    Yesenia had just about enough energy left in them to aid Heracles in putting Ivy in bed. They laid her on her side and removed as much of her armor as possible without endangering her neck. Yesenia found unclipping the armor torturous. Every strap seemed to be of a different sort entirely, almost like ten or twenty smiths all worked together on this mess of personal protection.


    The wizard finally sat down on their bed. Feet and legs immediately radiating sore ache. Their mind on the other hand had not had rest from anger since beginning their walk.


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    They spoke as they took to unclasping their cloak. ¡°Can you believe that oaf Heracles? Blaming me? When he wasn¡¯t even here? I swear these pig herds out here.¡±


    ¡°Please.¡± Heracles firmly boomed in the back of their mind. ¡°Just stop.¡±


    Yesenia bristled. ¡°But he-¡°


    ¡°I know he¡¯s wrong about magic. I get it.¡± Heracles stood up. ¡°I know you helped. You know you helped. He just didn¡¯t know. And he¡¯s not an oaf for just not knowing.¡±


    Yesenia scowled. ¡°So you¡¯re taking his side in this?¡±


    ¡°There aren¡¯t-. ¡°He groaned and chittered in his own tongue. ¡°I caused this. You should be mad at me. I brought it to us, I burnt the catnip like a...¡±


    The wizard saw his mandibles begin to sag in an unfamiliar way. ¡°Heracles you didn¡¯t¡­ I mean you did but¡­¡±


    Before Yesenia could continue he stomped out of the room, shaking anything not tied down firmly in the inn. Patty cursed at the racket, but Memaw settled him down.


    The wizard groaned and flopped backwards onto the pillow. They didn¡¯t have the strength to form their ice barrier tonight. Even making a couple of ice cubes could wind them in this state. All that energy spent for what. Everyone¡¯s either mad at them or in a coma. Maybe the little tree thing wasn¡¯t mad at them. But Yesenia didn¡¯t care.


    ¡°Um¡­ Excuse me, Yesenia sir.¡±


    Excellent. This is why the ice wall matters.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a sir.¡± Yesenia peeked at the door. Seeing Marcy Herbeta standing at their door with two steaming cups they rose.


    Marcy opened her mouth to speak.


    ¡°Stop. I don¡¯t need extra addressing, just my name is fine.¡± The wizard massaged the bridge of their nose. ¡°What are those?¡±


    ¡°T¡­Tea. Memaw thought you¡¯d like something warm to help r...rest¡± The girl smiled nervously showing off the tiny tusks she got from her father.


    Yesenia scrunched their nose with displeasure. ¡°No thank you. I am growing more and more hatred for mint with each passing day.¡±


    ¡°Oh! I..It¡¯s not the magi¡­¡± Marcy caught the word like a foul slur. ¡°The... The healing tea. It¡¯s not that. It¡¯s just green tea.¡±


    Yesenia squinted at the cups. ¡°Fine. Bring it here.¡±


    She did as she was told. Rushing to bedside with trained waitress grace. After handing one cup to the wizard the girl looked towards the sleeping rider. Ivy looked less like the hero of a manticore hunt and more like a drunken aunt laid to early rest. She had also begun to snore.


    ¡°Might as well drink the other one yourself. She isn¡¯t gonna be waking for quite some time.¡± Yesenia took a long sip from the herbal brew, warmth radiating from their chest.


    ¡°I saw Heracles carrying her in¡­ W¡­Why isn¡¯t she awake?¡± Marcy asked.


    ¡°She¡¯s lucky to be alive. Not many wrestle with Manticores and live. And I don¡¯t mean wrestle poetically, she wrestled with it. In the mud.¡± Yesenia shuddered.


    ¡°But¡­ You all had the teas.¡± Her concern drifted into innocent confusion. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t she have been fine after drinking one.¡±


    Yesenia raised their brows at near academic curiosity coming from a Bregidian barmaid, then they pat the bed. ¡°Sit down, my neck hurts.¡±


    Marcy did as told.


    Yesenia collected their thoughts. They weren¡¯t expecting to have to lecture tonight. They had never dealt with the fledglings of the towers but even they would understand concepts entirely alien to Marcy. The girl likely still thought rain was gods tears and thunder was The Hounds war barks.


    They started. ¡°For one the tea isn¡¯t really magical, so you don¡¯t have to stumble around that word anymore. All the healing properties are perfectly natural and produced by the plant itself.¡±


    Marcy nodded.


    ¡°The effects are the same as healing potions, very common in Emond Valor. They close wounds and neutralize toxins in the body but they don¡¯t do anything past that. They don¡¯t replace blood, and they don¡¯t replace sleep. Only the most talented transmuters can produce stimulants capable of-¡°


    The wizard noticed Marcy scrunching her brow in confusion.


    ¡°Am I going to fast?¡± Yesenia asked.


    ¡°N... No it¡¯s just¡­ when Pa told me you¡¯re a wizard¡­ I didn¡¯t really believe him.¡± Marcy sheepishly said.


    Yesenia huffed and shook their head. ¡°Yes, I am a wizard. Not all of us burn down villages and kidnap little girls I assure you.¡±


    The girl looked into her tea. ¡°People around town¡­ they say wizards can¡­ reshape reality, create fire storms and like, make the weather different or¡­ summon demons.¡±


    The wizard nodded. ¡°Yes, all of that is possible.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Marcy tilted her head. ¡°You¡­ need rest? You all can¡¯t just never sleep?¡±


    Yesenia scowled. ¡°I didn¡¯t say none had conquered sleep, I said very few. Around the same amount as can summon demons. At least a demon worth summoning.¡±


    Marcy looked worried again. ¡°So, you really can do that? You could summon demons?¡±


    Yesenia sipped their tea. ¡° I don¡¯t know how to summon a demon. And even the ones who can, aren¡¯t summoning what you think they are. There is no nightmare forest the Puma stalks wandering souls in or planes of fire ruled over by the Bull and his children. We don¡¯t get demons from hell. Demons are manifestations of fear. It isn¡¯t their fault so many people are afraid of religious figures.¡±


    ¡°So¡­ not every wizard summons demons¡­or makes fire and stuff?¡± Marcy asked.


    ¡°All of them could technically. They would just have to learn how. Some things come to certain people easier.¡±


    ¡°What comes easy to you..?¡±


    Yesenia smirked. ¡°The manipulation of energy.¡±


    Marcy squinted. ¡°So¡­ Why don¡¯t you give yourself energy to not sleep?¡±


    ¡°Not that kind of energy. I can bestow or revoke energy to natural phenomena.¡±


    ¡°And that means...?¡±


    The wizard sighed ¡°By removing energy from water vapor I can freeze it. By adding energy to gases in the air I can ignite them. But my true power lies in manipulating gravity itself.¡± They ended on the prideful note.


    Marcy nodded pretending to understand.


    ¡°Right. I forgot the basics of science aren¡¯t even given to your nobles. If that self righteous lunk didn¡¯t know what gravity is, you¡¯re far from understanding it.¡± They gestured at Ivys sleeping form.


    Marcy understood the wizard enough to catch the insult and began to blush with shame. Yesenia tried not to but found themselves feeling the slightest amount of remorse. They should try to control that.


    ¡°Not anything um¡­ against you of course. At least you¡¯re asking about magic. I¡¯ve saved Marcos hide twice now and he still acts like I¡¯m a walking explosive.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ aren¡¯t you? Can¡¯t you¡­lose control?¡± Marcy asked timidly.


    Yesenia laughed. ¡°I¡¯m not just going to blow up randomly if that¡¯s what you¡¯re saying. Any powerful magic takes prep work, calculations and years of research before you¡¯re even able to begin to train with it. Magic can be wild on occasion but so can horses, so can people. The difference is Magic reacts the same every time, as long as you¡¯re clear headed. Magic requires control. Magic is control.¡±


    As they spoke, Marcy slowly looked more and more like a weight was being removed. wondered if they had really broken the bond of ignorance after one lesson. The girl thought hard and chose her words very carefully for what she next spoke.


    ¡°Is it¡­possible¡­ for someone who has never¡­ been taught magic¡­to use it?¡±


    Yesenia thought, then shrugged. ¡°Yes? Some people just do it. Natural born mages are rarer than acquired ones, but they aren¡¯t an oddity.¡± The wizard examined the girls face closely. ¡°Why do you ask?¡±


    Marcys cheeks had turned a deep crimson from embarrassment and fear, brightening up her otherwise greyish green tones. ¡°I¡­ I might¡­I can do¡­¡±


    ¡°Show me.¡± Yesenia said firmly.


    Marcy jolted at the words but just as always, she did as she was told. With shaky hands the young Herbeta reached down to the hem of her shirt. With a firm swift motion she tore an inch long gash into the fabric. She winced at the jagged sound it made. Yesenia watched with tempered skepticism.


    Then, slowing her breathing to a steady rhythm, Marcy focused intently on the tear. A dull blueish light shown behind her green eyes. The light then departed and flew like wisps the short distance to the girl¡¯s index finger. With the bulb of light as her pen, Marcy traced over the tear and with as little effort as it took to rip, it mended. And after only seconds of threads working to rebind with their other halves, there was no trace the garment had ever been ripped.


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Yesenia nodded slightly. ¡°Pretty good.¡±


    ¡°Pretty good?¡± A tone of indignance invaded her voice. ¡°That¡¯s it? Pretty good?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Yesenia shrugged. ¡°I mean it¡¯s very impressive for someone so young. But yes still a simple mending invocation.¡±


    Their words said one thing, but their mind spoke very differently. Chronomancy. The petulant brother school to their own powerful Graviturgy. A terribly small showing but a showing nonetheless. Marcy had not willed the strings to retie or manipulated the air around to knit the threads traditionally. She had rewound the clock as if no damage had been done. If she were in the tower she would be sent to the highest rungs to be trained by only master transmuters and Chornomagi. She could even be in the running for Lavender Seat one day. But here she was in this backwater town. Not even knowing what power she just displayed.


    Honestly though, Yesenia was just sour because their first manifestation was lighting a candle.


    Yesenia covered their jealousy of the youth with feigned concern. ¡°Does anyone else know? I hope you¡¯ve had the good sense to keep this hidden just like me.¡±


    ¡°Weeeell¡­¡± The long well was assisted by fumbled hands and a shrug.


    ¡°Well? Well, what? And don¡¯t shrug, wizards don¡¯t shrug.¡± Yesenia lied.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t recent¡­ Me and Pa have been kind of¡­ turning it into a business? Mending clothes and buckets and stuff¡­¡±


    Yesenia was taken aback. ¡°And how many people have you done this for?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ Aside from Lord and Lady Zolt¡­ Miss Petunia¡­ and um¡­ Marco¡­ uh¡­ Everyone else?¡± Marcy smiled a scared childs smile.


    Yesenias eyes widened to saucers. ¡°You¡¯re joking.¡±


    The youth shook her head, smile turning to grimace.


    ¡°Everyone knows?!¡± They hissed. ¡°And here I am bowing and scraping to that barbarian when he doesn¡¯t even know-¡° Yesenia cut themselves off head turning like an owl to make eye contact. ¡°Do they know about me?¡±


    She nodded all while sinking into her own shoulders.


    ¡°How?! I was so careful!¡± They threw their arms up petulantly.


    ¡°We¡­ kind of guessed¡­ after the tea stuff¡­ and you don¡¯t carry any weapons¡­Rumors spread around here¡­¡± She chuckled nervously expecting another shout from the wizard.


    Yesenia grit their teeth at how easily these farmers had figured them out. But slowly, humor began to win out. Maybe Marco wasn¡¯t as smart as he always acted. Sure he saw Yesenias arcane origins immediately, but so did everyone else. And they were able to hide that knowledge and the existence of a fledgling from even a seasoned  wizard.


    They grinned as deviously as a bobcat, a small laugh building in the back of their throat .


    ¡°Are¡­you okay?¡± Marcy asked growing increasingly fearful of the strange expression on Yesenias face.


    ¡°Yes yes, I am fine. I¡¯m simply¡­ impressed.¡± They pat Marcy on the shoulder. ¡°Impressed in the insight of this town. I underestimated the wisdom this land can produce and I¡¯m sure I won¡¯t make the same mistake again.¡±


    Marcy nodded believing the lie. ¡°Oh! Well, that¡¯s nice. But I.. well, I showed you cause I wanted to ask you something si- sorry, Yesenia.¡±


    ¡°Ask away.¡± Yesenia said musically, high on the failure of the woodsman.


    ¡°Could you teach me more? More¡­. More magic?¡± Innocently asked.


    ¡°What? Really? You want me to teach you? But you¡¯re already-¡° Yesenia paused. ¡°Wait, what about the laws?¡± nice save.


    To that, the frail girls eyes narrowed, and she suddenly grew a spine befitting an orc. Even a quarter orc. ¡°My Papaw always said rules don¡¯t mean nothing if the man who made them is an ass.¡±


    Yesenia nearly spat tea in laughter at the curse crossing such foreign lips. ¡°Well! I think I would have liked your ¡°Papaw¡±. Sounds like the only one in this country who made sense.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ He was the mayor before Miss Wriggly. He was amazing¡­¡± Their mood went from wistful back to resolute with haste. ¡°So¡­ will you teach me? I wanna be able to do more for Pa and for¡­ for Memaw.¡±


    Yesenia tapped their chin with a finger. This was again a facade. Telling Marco of the girls power would anger him, but training her further would enrage the woodsman to no end. Maybe they could even see if that little bush could do magic. Marco would burst a vein.


    ¡°Well Marcy, I think I¡¯ll do it.¡± They cut off her excitement with a raised finger. ¡°If! And only if, we bring this magic business to Marcos¡¯s attention.¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± She cried. The noise causing Ivy to stir and somewhere Sparky to wake from a nap. ¡°But Marco hates magic!¡±


    Yesenia smirked and shook their head. ¡°No no no dear. Marco simply has reservations about magic. Which he is attempting to mend. Why else would he allow me to join his cohort.¡±


    ¡°To¡­ Keep an eye on you?¡±


    Yesenia smiled with too much teeth. ¡°Noooo. He¡¯s working on himself, I can see it. And I believe knowing about someone so close to his heart attaining this gift could be the final blow to¡­ to fell this tree as I think Marco would put it.¡±


    ¡°Maybe¡­¡± Marcy thought it over. Being only a teen the thinking didn¡¯t go all to deep. ¡°Okay¡­ Okay!  And if we do that Pa won¡¯t have to hide the mending stuff either!¡±


    ¡°True.¡± Yesenia mimicked the joy. ¡°We get our things repaired like everyone else and you get some extra practice. A win-win for the whole crew.¡± The word stunk in the wizard¡¯s throat.


    ¡°Okay!¡± Marcy shot up, invigored by a cocktail of anxiety and hope. ¡°We can tell him tomorrow! Together.¡± She beamed at Yesenia. Proud tusks bared in a wolfish grin.


    ¡°Sounds excellent. Now go and get some rest. Your training will begin directly after breakfast.¡± At least whenever Yesenia had breakfast. Which even under the harsh mandates of The Tower was never before noon.


    Marcy nodded and darted out of the room with so much childish glee, she completely forgot the teacups. Yesenia would need to scold her on mindfulness. Never let your emotions cloud your perception,  a prime teaching of The Tower. But that could wait till tomorrow. For now, the wizard drifted to sleep easily. Carried some distance to that goal by bone weariness but passed the finish line of snooze hood by the joy they felt thinking of the face Marco would make when he found out. There were two wizards in Apie Fields.


    Who knows, maybe more.